bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corneal transplantation in a developing country: problems associated with technology transfer from rich to poor societies
Authors: Vieira Silva Jailton , Júlio de Faria e Sousa Sidney , Mafalda Ferrante Ângela 
Published: May 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  To evaluate the results of penetrating corneal transplantation at a university hospital in Brazil.Methods:  A prospective cohort study was conducted on 146 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty at the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. The participants were followed postoperatively for 36 months or until graft failure.Results:  In this period, 49% of the grafts lost transparency. All the corneal diseases analysed were present in about the same proportions, except for keratoconus and bullous keratopathy, which showed 3% and 73% rates of graft oedema, respectively. Only 8% of the failures could be attributed to rejection. Other variables such as age, multiple surgeries and previous eye conditions could not explain the high rate of graft failure. Non‐adherence to postoperative care increased with age, with a significant association between this behaviour and the rate of graft failure in the older age group. Keratoconus seems to be much less demanding and bullous keratopathy seems to be more exigent in terms of corneal transplantation than other corneal diseases.Conclusion:  Although it involves an apparently simple surgical procedure, corneal transplantation is a demanding enterprise that can lead to very poor results under unfavourable conditions.
Implantation of single‐piece foldable acrylic IOLs in small children in the Ukraine
Authors: Kugelberg Maria , Kugelberg Ulla , Bobrova Nadiya , Tronina Svetlana , Zetterström Charlotta 
Published: May 2006

Abstract.Purpose:  To evaluate the efficacy and outcome of implantation of a single‐piece foldable acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) in children younger than 2 years in the Ukraine.Methods:  A total of 31 children from all over the Ukraine with a median age of 11 months (range 2–28 months) underwent cataract surgery with anterior and posterior capsulorhexis, implantation of a single‐piece AcrySof® SA30AL IOL and anterior dry vitrectomy. Of these, 22 patients attended the last follow‐up. Ten patients had follow‐up periods of 12 months; 12 had follow‐up periods of 18 months. At the postoperative visits, we investigated visual acuity (VA), whether or not the subject had strabismus, lens epithelial cell migration and signs of secondary glaucoma.Results:  The single‐piece IOL remained clinically centred in all eyes. No secondary glaucoma was detected. Eleven patients needed surgery for after‐cataract. All but two patients achieved better VA after surgery. Many patients suffered from deprivation amblyopia as quite a few cataracts were probably congenital; however, the improvement in VA shows that cataract surgery was worth performing despite the late intervention.Conclusion:  The foldable single‐piece acrylic IOL seems to be well tolerated by children aged 0–2 years. No serious complications were seen and no patient developed secondary glaucoma within the follow‐up time. However, lens epithelial cells are very lively in this age group.
pyewacket, a new zebrafish fin pigment pattern mutant
Authors: Mellgren Eve M. , Johnson Stephen L. 
Published: May 2006

SummaryMany mutants that disrupt zebrafish embryonic pigment pattern have been isolated, and subsequent cloning of the mutated genes causing these phenotypes has contributed to our understanding of pigment cell development. However, few mutants have been identified that specifically affect development of the adult pigment pattern. Through a mutant screen for adult pigment pattern phenotypes, we identified pyewacket (pye), a novel zebrafish mutant in which development of the adult caudal fin pigment pattern is aberrant. Specifically, pye mutants have fin melanocyte pigment pattern defects and fewer xanthophores than wild‐type fins. We mapped pye to an interval where a single gene, the zebrafish ortholog of the human gene DHRSX, is present. pye will be an informative mutant for understanding how xanthophores and melanocytes interact to form the pigment pattern of the adult zebrafish fin.
Growth duration and root length density of Solanum sisymbriifolium (Lam.) as determinants of hatching of Globodera pallida (Stone)
Authors: Timmermans B.G.H. , Vos J. , Stomph T.J. , Van Nieuwburg J. , Van der Putten P.E.L. 
Published: May 2006

Abstract Solanum sisymbriifolium is a trap crop for potato cyst nematodes (PCN). In this study, we quantified the effect of different periods of growth of S. sisymbriifolium and root length density on hatching of Globodera pallida, using potato and fallow treatments as references. One‐year‐old and 2‐year‐old G. pallida cysts were used in greenhouse experiments carried out in containers over 2 years. Two methods were used in study hatching. In the first method, 7.5‐cm‐diameter soil cores were removed and backfilled with infested soil. In the second method, cysts were buried in nylon bags. The soil cores infested with cysts used in the first method had very poor root colonisation as compared to surrounding bulk soil. Therefore, the effect of S. sisymbriifolium was strongly underestimated by the soil core method. Hatching of PCN juveniles from cysts, measured with the nylon bag method, increased with the duration of growth of S. sisymbriifolium from 47% after 6 weeks of crop growth up to 75% after 21 weeks of crop growth. Reductions per depth layer were also correlated with root length density and varied between 42.6% at 0.26 cm cm−3 and 85.3% at 5.8 cm cm−3. Based on a single exponential decay function, a general method is presented to estimate for any PCN management measure the average reduction in the number of years needed to ensure that the PCN population falls below a given density. Calculated reductions in the number of years ranged from 2.3 years for 59% hatching (equivalent to 90 days of S. sisymbriifolium) to 4.4 years for 75% of hatching (equivalent to 150 days of S. sisymbriifolium). These reductions were independent of initial and final population density. Our results corroborate the hatch‐inducing effect of S. sisymbriifolium, underline the importance of growth duration and root length density as determinants of the reduction in PCN population that can be achieved and draw attention to the pitfall in methodology that can arise in the study of hatch stimulation.
Patterns of accumulation of Bean common mosaic virus in Phaseolus vulgaris genotypes nearly isogenic for the I locus
Authors: Cadle‐Davidson M.M. , Jahn M.M. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe I locus of Phaseolus vulgaris is genetically and phenotypically well described, conferring incompletely dominant, temperature‐dependent resistance against viruses currently assigned to at least four Potyvirus species. Despite the fact that the resistance allele at this locus, the I gene, has been incorporated into nearly all bean germplasm worldwide, little is known regarding its resistance mechanism. In the present study, P. vulgaris lines nearly isogenic for I were challenged with Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV; genus Potyvirus) in order to investigate at the cellular level the temperature‐dependent resistance reaction. Immunolocalisation and confocal laser scanning microscopy were employed to visualise the virus and to identify patterns of BCMV accumulation in resistant, susceptible and heterozygous genotypes. Virus was detected in all three genotypes regardless of temperature, supporting previous findings that BCMV accumulates in protoplasts containing the I allele. Genotype‐specific and temperature‐specific patterns of virus accumulation suggested a resistance mechanism that depends on host recognition of viral replication and/or local movement.
Simulation/Optimization Modeling for Robust Pumping Strategy Design
Authors: Kalwij Ineke M. , Peralta Richard C. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractA new simulation/optimization modeling approach is presented for addressing uncertain knowledge of aquifer parameters. The Robustness Enhancing Optimizer (REO) couples genetic algorithm and tabu search as optimizers and incorporates aquifer parameter sensitivity analysis to guide multiple‐realization optimization. The REO maximizes strategy robustness for a pumping strategy that is optimal for a primary objective function (OF), such as cost. The more robust a strategy, the more likely it is to achieve management goals in the field, even if the physical system differs from the model. The REO is applied to trinitrotoluene and Royal Demolition Explosive plumes at Umatilla Chemical Depot in Oregon to develop robust least cost strategies. The REO efficiently develops robust pumping strategies while maintaining the optimal value of the primary OF—differing from the common situation in which a primary OF value degrades as strategy reliability increases. The REO is especially valuable where data to develop realistic probability density functions (PDFs) or statistically derived realizations are unavailable. Because they require much less field data, REO‐developed strategies might not achieve as high a mathematical reliability as strategies developed using many realizations based upon real aquifer parameter PDFs. REO‐developed strategies might or might not yield a better OF value in the field.
An Investigation of Numerical Grid Effects in Parameter Estimation
Authors: Zyvoloski George A. , Vesselinov Velimir V. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractModern ground water characterization and remediation projects routinely require calibration and inverse analysis of large three‐dimensional numerical models of complex hydrogeological systems. Hydrogeologic complexity can be prompted by various aquifer characteristics including complicated spatial hydrostratigraphy and aquifer recharge from infiltration through an unsaturated zone. To keep the numerical models computationally efficient, compromises are frequently made in the model development, particularly, about resolution of the computational grid and numerical representation of the governing flow equation. The compromise is required so that the model can be used in calibration, parameter estimation, performance assessment, and analysis of sensitivity and uncertainty in model predictions. However, grid properties and resolution as well as applied computational schemes can have large effects on forward‐model predictions and on inverse parameter estimates. We investigate these effects for a series of one‐ and two‐dimensional synthetic cases representing saturated and variably saturated flow problems. We show that “conformable” grids, despite neglecting terms in the numerical formulation, can lead to accurate solutions of problems with complex hydrostratigraphy. Our analysis also demonstrates that, despite slower computer run times and higher memory requirements for a given problem size, the control volume finite‐element method showed an advantage over finite‐difference techniques in accuracy of parameter estimation for a given grid resolution for most of the test problems.
Understanding the role parents play in tennis success: a national survey of junior tennis coaches
Authors: Gould D , Lauer L , Rolo C , Jannes C , Pennisi N 
Published: May 2006

Objectives:To assess coaches’ perceptions about the role of parents and their positive and negative behaviours in junior tennis.Methods:A national survey of 132 United States junior tennis coaches was completed. The extent and seriousness/impact of parent-child interaction problems and positive behaviours were rated.Results:Parents were perceived as very important for junior tennis success. Most parents (59%) that these coaches had worked with were seen as having a positive influence on their player’s development. However, the respondents also felt that 36% of parents negatively influenced their child’s development. Positive parental behaviours included providing logistical, financial, and social-emotional support, as well as tennis opportunities and unconditional love. Negative parent behaviours included overemphasising winning, holding unrealistic expectations, and criticising their child.Conclusions:Findings are discussed relative to current sport parenting and athletic talent development research and theorising. The need to educate parents is emphasised.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)
Authors: Gallus Alex , Magnani Harry 
Published: May 2006

SummaryClinical outcomes of 1,478 danaparoid treatment case reports for HIT (involving 1,418 patients) treated between 1982 and mid-2004 are analysed. Treatment in 1,291 episodes was for current HIT. Thromboembolism due to HIT was present in 39.4a%. The patients include 33 children and 32 pregnancies. Two hundred twenty-six patients required extra-corporeal circuit use for renal failure, 241 patients had a concomitant thrombophilic disorder, and 351 major operations were performed. Clinical outcomes were assessed during danaparoid treatment (range one day to 3.5 years) plus three months of follow-up. Of the danaparoid-treated patients 83.8a% survived; 63.7a% had no or minor adverse events and 20.1a% suffered serious non-fatal adverse events. New thromboses occurred during 9.7a% of treatment episodes, and 16.4a% of treatment episodes had an inadequate treatment response (i. e. developed one or more of the following: new/extended thrombosis, persistent/new platelet count reduction, unplanned amputation during treatment and follow-up). Major bleeding was reported in 8.1a% of treatment episodes. Clinical cross-reactivity of danaparoid (new/persistent platelet count reduction and/or new/extended thrombosis) was confirmed serologically in 23 of 36 patients with positive pretreatment serological danaparoid cross-reactivity and in 22 of 32 additional patients tested at the time of the new event, i. e. a total of 45 patients (3.2a%). Clinical outcomes of these case reports of patients given danaparoid because of suspected or confirmed HIT appear to be comparable with those reported by others who used direct thrombin inhibitors, especially when a sufficient danaparoid dosing intensity was used in patients with isolated HIT. Post-operative bleeding limits danaparoid use for cardiopulmonary by-pass surgery. Routine clinical and platelet count monitoring are required to minimise adverse reactions due to cross-reactivity.
Activation of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils by streptolysin O from Streptococcus pyogenes leads to the release of proinflammatory mediators
Authors: Nilsson Maria , Sørensen Ole , Mörgelin Matthias , Weineisen Maria , Sjöbring Ulf , Herwald Heiko 
Published: May 2006

Summary
Streptococcus pyogenes is an important Gram-positive pathogen that is strictly limited to infections in humans. Here we report that streptolysin O (SLO),a cytolytic exotoxin secreted by S. pyogenes, activates human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) by perforating these cells. This appears to be followed by an influx of Ca2+ and p38 MAPK activation. As a consequence, PMNs secrete heparin-binding protein, a potent inducer of vascular leakage, and neutrophil-borne proteins, including LL-37, α-defensins, and elastase. The results of the present work therefore suggest that the interaction between SLO and PMNs evokes an exaggerated host response which may contribute to the pathogenesis of local and generalized S. pyogenes infections.
Overexpression of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in mice does not affect adipogenesis or adipose tissue development
Authors: Demeulemeester Diego , Scroyen Ilse , Voros Gabor , Snoeys Jan , De Geest Bart , Collen Désiré , Lijnen H. 
Published: May 2006

SummaryIn order to evaluate a potential functional role of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in development of obesity, we studied the effect of overexpression of human TIMP-1 (hTIMP-1) in C57Bl/6J mice in vivo and in 3T3-F442A preadipocytes in vitro. Stable long-term overexpression of hTIMP-1 in mice was achieved by adenoviral gene transfer, yielding plasma levels exceeding 250 ng/ml at eight weeks after injection. Mice overexpressing hTIMP-1 and kept on a high fat diet for 14 weeks had body weights, adipose tissue weights, and adipocyte diameters that were somewhat, but not significantly, lower than those of control mice. Similar observations were made after overexpression of hTIMP-1 in mice with lipectomy of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, kept on a high fat diet for 20 weeks. In both in vivo models, blood vessels in the adipose tissues were significantly smaller after hTIMP-1 gene transfer than in control mice. Overexpression of hTIMP-1 in 3T3-F442A preadipocytes had no effect on their subsequent differentiation into mature adipocytes. Thus, overexpression of hTIMP-1 in mice had no significant effect on ongoing adipogenesis or adipose tissue development, although the blood vessel size in adipose tissues was reduced.
Haplotypes encoding the factor VIII 1241Glu variation, factor VIII levels and the risk of venous thrombosis
Authors: Eikenboom Jeroen , Vos Hans , Bakker Egbert , Tanis Bea , Doggen Carine , Bertina Rogier , Rosendaal Frits , Nossent A. 
Published: May 2006

SummaryLevels of factorVIII (FVIII) are associated with the risk of venous thrombosis.The FVIII variation D1241E has been reported to be associated with decreased levels of FVIII. Our objective was to study whether D1241E is associated with levels of FVIII and the risk of venous thrombosis and whether this association is caused by D1241E or another linked variation.We analyzed the association of three FVIII gene haplotypes encoding 1241E (further denoted as HT1, HT3, and HT5) with FVIII levels and thrombosis risk. This analysis was performed in the Leiden Thrombophilia Study (LETS). The control populations of two case-controls studies on arterial thrombosis in men and women, respectively, were used to confirm the effects observed on FVIII:C in the LETS.In men,HT1 was associated with a 6% reduction in FVIII:C and witha reduced risk of venous thrombosis [odds ratio 0.4 (CI95 0.2–0.8)]. Logistic regression showed that the risk reduction was only partially dependent of the reduction in FVIII levels. HT1 showed no effects in women on either FVIII:C or risk of thrombosis.The number of carriers of HT3 and HT5 was too low to make an accurate estimate of the risk of venous thrombosis. Neither HT3 nor HT5 showed effects on levels of FVIII:C.When we consider that all three haplotypes encoding 1241E show different effects on FVIII:C and thrombosis risk, it is possible that D1241E is not the functional variation. However, FVIII gene variations do contribute to both levels of FVIII and the risk of thrombosis.
Vitamin K antagonists and pregnancy outcome
Authors: Hannemann Doreen , Meister Reinhard , Eléfant Elisabeth , Paulus Wolfgang , Vial Thierry , Reuvers Minke , Robert-Gnansia Elisabeth , Arnon Judy , De Santis Marco , Clementi Maurizio , Rodriguez-Pinilla Elvira , Dolivo Alla , Merlob Paul , Schaefer Christof 
Published: May 2006

SummaryVitamin K antagonists (VKA) are known to act as teratogens; however, there is still uncertainty about the relative risk for birth defects and the most sensitive period. In a multi-centre (n=12), observational, prospective study we compared 666 pregnant women exposed to phenprocoumon (n=280), acenocoumarol (n=226), fluindione (n=99), warfarin (n=63) and phenindione (n=2) to a non-exposed control group (n=1,094). Data were collected by institutes collaborating in the European Network of Teratology Information Services (ENTIS) during individual risk counselling between 1988 and 2004. Main outcome measures were coumarin embryopathy and other birth defects, miscarriage rate, birth-weight, and prematurity. The rate of major birth defects after 1st trimester exposure was significantly increased (OR 3.86, 95% CI 1.86–8.00). However, there were only two coumarin embryopathies (0.6%; both phenprocoumon). Prematurity was more frequent (16.0% vs. 7.6%, OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.76–3.86), mean gestational age at delivery (37.9 vs. 39.4, p<0.001), and mean birth weight of term infants (3,166 g vs. 3,411 g; p<0.001) were lower compared to the controls. Using the methodology of survival analysis, miscarriage rate reached 42% vs. 14% (hazard ratio 3.36; 95% CI 2.28–4.93). In conclusion, use of VKA during pregnancy increases the risk of structural defects and other adverse pregnancy outcomes.The risk for coumarin embryopathy is, however, very small, in particular when therapy during the 1st trimester did not take place later than week 8 after the 1st day of the last menstrual period. Therefore, elective termination of a wanted pregnancy is not recommended if (inadvertent) exposure took place in early pregnancy. Close follow-up by the obstetrician including level II ultrasound should be recommended in any case of VKA exposure during pregnancy.
Plasma levels of bradykinin are suppressed in factor XII-deficient mice
Authors: Iwaki Takayuki , Castellino Francis 
Published: May 2006

SummaryA genetically-transmissible factor (F) XII-inactivated allele has been produced in mice by targeted replacement of exons 3–8 of the FXII gene with the neomycin resistance gene. Interbreeding of these mice provided offspring homozygous for two inactivated FXII alleles (FXII−/−). Male and female FXII-deficient mice bred normally in all genotypic combinations of the heterozygous and homozygous states, and the offspring survived to adulthood, suggesting that a total FXII deficiency does not affect embryonic development and survival. Neither FXII transcripts nor FXII antigen was found in various tissues of adult FXII−/−mice. No obvious unchallenged coagulopathies were present in FXII−/−adult mice, despite greatly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin times in this mouse cohort. FXII−/−mice were then used to assess the in vivo importance of the plasma FXII/prekallikrein/kininogen pathway in provision of resting plasma bradykinin (BK) levels and in generation of plasma BK stimulated by contact with an artificial surface, using a new and greatly improved plasma BK assay developed during these studies. It was found that approximately 50% of resting BK, and all of the contact-stimulated plasma BK, was provided by this FXII-dependent pathway, without a requirement for FXI. These results provide clear evidence that surface-stimulated BK production, in mice, is dependent on the activation of FXII.
A positive compression ultrasonography of the lower limb veins is highly predictive of pulmonary embolism on computed tomography in suspected patients
Authors: Righini Marc , Sanchez Oliver , Roy Pierre-Marie , Baba-Ahmed Mohamed , Perrier Arnaud , Bounameaux Henri , Le Gal Grégoire 
Published: May 2006

SummaryThe presence of a clot – even asymptomatic – in the proximal lower limb veins of a patient with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) provides evidence for venous thromboembolism and indicates anticoagulant therapy in such patients. We aimed at assessing the diagnostic performance of compression ultrasonography as compared to multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) for the diagnosis of PE. We analyzed data from a large outcome management study that included consecutive outpatients referred to the emergency ward with clinically suspected PE. All high clinical probability patients, and all non-high clinical probability patients with a positive D-dimer test underwent both MSCT and CUS. Of the 756 included patients, 232 had PE ruled out on the basis of a negative D-dimer test, and 524 patients underwent both MSCT and CUS. PE was found in 187 out of the 511 patients witha conclusive MSCT. The sensitivity of CUS for the presence of PE on MSCT was 39% (95% confidence interval: 32 to 46%), and its specificity was 99% (95% CI:97 to 100%). Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 42.2 (95% CI: 13.5 to 131.9) and 0.6 (95% CI: 0.5 to 0.7), respectively. We conclude from that large study of unselected patients that CUS has high specificity but low sensitivity, for the diagnosis of PE at MSCT in suspected patients. It allows ruling in the diagnosis of PE without further invasive and/or expensive testing in suspected patients.