bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Utility of N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide to Differentiate Cardiac Diseases from Noncardiac Diseases in Young Pediatric Patients
Authors: Hammerer-Lercher Angelika , Geiger Ralf , Mair Johannes , Url Christoph , Tulzer Gerald , Lechner Evelyn , Puschendorf Bernd , Sommer Rudolf 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Background: Previous studies comparing children with cardiac disease with children with lung disease or healthy children indicated that natriuretic peptides are promising markers in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to further clarify the diagnostic usefulness of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) measurements in a less preselected population of children younger than 3 years, a population in which clinical symptoms are frequently unspecific.
Methods: NT-proBNP concentrations (Roche Diagnostics) were measured in sera of 142 pediatric patients (age range, 33–1070 days) presenting at the Gynaecologic and Pediatric Hospital (Linz, Austria) between January 2003 and January 2004. ROC curve analysis for the diagnostic performance of NT-proBNP, the Mann–Whitney U-test for group comparison, and linear regression analysis for influencing factors were performed.
Results: NT-proBNP concentrations were significantly increased in infants with cardiac diseases [median (25th–75th percentile), 3681 (1045–13557) ng/L; n = 23] compared with infants with other diseases [241 (116–542) ng/L; n = 119], and ROC analysis revealed good performance for NT-proBNP in differentiating between infants with and without cardiac diseases [mean area under the curve (AUC) with 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87 (0.76–0.94)]. A subgroup analysis of exactly age- and sex-matched infants was performed, which revealed results comparable to those for the whole study population [mean (95% CI) AUC, 0.84 (0.68–0.93)].
Conclusion: In a heterogeneous group of pediatric patients &lt;3 years of age, NT-proBNP showed good diagnostic performance to distinguish between cardiac diseases and various noncardiac diseases.
Clinical-Scale High-Throughput Analysis of Urinary 8-Oxo-7,8-Dihydro-2′-Deoxyguanosine by Isotope-Dilution Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry with On-Line Solid-Phase Extraction
Authors: Hu Chiung-Wen , Wang Chien-Jen , Chang Louis W , Chao Mu-Rong 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Background: Quantification of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) in urine or blood is used to assess and monitor oxidative stress in patients. We describe the use of on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) and isotope-dilution liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for automated measurement of urinary 8-oxodGuo.
Methods: Automated purification of urine was accomplished with a switching valve and an Inertsil ODS-3 column. After the addition of 15N5-labeled 8-oxodGuo as an internal standard, urine samples were analyzed within 10 min without sample purification. This method was applied to measure urinary 8-oxodGuo in a group of healthy persons (32 regular smokers and 35 nonsmokers). Urinary cotinine was also assayed by an isotope-dilution LC-MS/MS method.
Results: The lower limit of detection was 5.7 ng/L on column (2.0 fmol). Inter- and intraday imprecision (CV) was &lt;5.0%. Mean recovery of 8-oxodGuo in urine was 99%–102%. Mean (SD) urinary concentrations of 8-oxodGuo in smokers [7.26 (3.14) μg/g creatinine] were significantly higher than those in nonsmokers [4.69 (1.70) μg/g creatinine; P &lt;0.005]. Urinary concentrations of 8-oxodGuo were significantly correlated with concentrations of cotinine in smokers (P &lt;0.05).
Conclusions: This on-line SPE LC-MS/MS method is sufficiently sensitive, precise, and rapid to provide high-throughput direct analysis of urinary 8-oxodGuo without compromising quality and validation criteria. This method could be applicable for use in daily clinical practice for assessing oxidative stress in patients.
Molecular Diagnosis of Prader–Willi and Angelman Syndromes by Methylation-Specific Melting Analysis and Methylation-Specific Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification
Authors: Procter Melinda , Chou Lan-Szu , Tang Wei , Jama Mohamed , Mao Rong 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Background: Approximately 99% of Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) and 80% of Angelman syndrome (AS) cases have deletions at a common region in chromosome 15q11.2-q13, uniparental disomy for chromosome 15 (UPD15), or imprinting center defects affecting gene expression in this region. The resulting clinical phenotype (PWS or AS) in each class of genomic abnormalities depends on the parent of origin. Both disorders are characterized at the molecular level by abnormal methylation of imprinted regions at 15q11.2-q13. Other rare chromosome 15 rearrangements and a few smaller atypical deletions associated with abnormal methylation patterns also have symptoms overlapping with either PWS or AS.
Methods: We designed a methylation-specific melting analysis (MS-MA) method for a rapid screening of PWS/AS and evaluated methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) for diagnosis of PWS/AS associated with deletions, UPD15, or rare duplications. Forty-nine previously genotyped samples were tested by MS-MA. We also tested 26 MS-MA genotyped samples and 1 additional sample with rare duplication of chromosome region 15q11-q12.
Results: PWS/AS genotyping results obtained by MS-MA and by MS-MLPA were fully concordant. In addition, MS-MLPA was superior in detecting deletions/rare duplications, possible UPD15, or imprinting center defects, which were usually determined by a laborious fluorescence in situ hybridization method or by chromosomal segregation analysis for the parental-origin using short-tandem repeat makers.
Conclusions: MS-MA appears to be an efficient primary method to diagnose PWS/AS, and use of the quantitative MS-MLPA method provides detailed information about deletions, rare duplications, and possibly UPD.
Oxidized Forms of Glutathione in Peripheral Blood as Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Rossi Ranieri , Dalle-Donne Isabella , Milzani Aldo , Giustarini Daniela 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Background: Reduced glutathione (GSH) and its redox forms, glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and glutathionylated proteins (PSSG), are biomarkers of oxidative stress, but methodologic artifacts can interfere with their measurement. We evaluated the importance of correct sample handling during the preanalytical phase for GSH, GSSG, and PSSG measurement.
Methods: We used human blood for in vitro experiments with oxidants [tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BOOH), diamide, and menadione]. For in vivo experiments, we used rats in which we cannulated the jugular and femoral veins for both oxidant administration and blood collection. We measured GSH, GSSG, and PSSG with HPLC with or without sample pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) to prevent artifacts. We also measured malondialdehyde (MDA) with HPLC, and protein carbonyls (PCO) with spectrophotometric procedures.
Results: When methodologic artifacts were prevented by pretreatment with NEM, GSSG results increased up to 3-fold over the basal concentrations, even in the presence of 5 μmol/L t-BOOH or diamide and 20 μmol/L menadione. PSSG increased by ∼50% at 20 μmol/L t-BOOH or diamide and at 50 μmol/L menadione. PCO and MDA remained unchanged. In vivo oxidation treatments elicited immediate and significant increases in GSSG and PSSG over basal values (up to 200-fold), whereas PCO and MDA showed only slight variation 120 or 180 min after treatment.
Conclusions: With the use of artifact-free measurement methods, GSH, GSSG, and PSSG are potentially powerful and reliable biomarkers of oxidative stress status and can be used to evaluate whether, and to what extent, oxidative stress may be involved in various diseases.
Genotyping of Ovine Prion Protein Gene (PRNP) Variants by PCR with Melting Curve Analysis,
Authors: Schütz Ekkehard , Scharfenstein Melanie , Brenig Bertram 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Background: Scrapie is the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in sheep. Because genetic variants of the ovine PrP gene (PRNP) can be associated with disease risk, the European Union initiated programs to eradicate high-risk PRNP genotypes from sheep livestock. For this purpose, reliable and cost-effective genotyping is needed.
Methods: We amplified DNA to cover the 3 risk codons in exon 3 encoding amino acids 136, 154, and 171. Amplicons were mixed with dye-labeled probe sets, and melting curves were recorded in a LightCycler by use of color and temperature multiplexing. Probe design was based on thermodynamic calculations to ensure unequivocal results for the 3 codons of interest, taking the additional F141 and T137 sequence variants into account.
Results: The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) method, when compared with sequencing, gave exactly the predicted melting temperatures for all possible genotypes. When we validated the method with samples from official certification programs, it showed completely matching results. Turnaround time was ∼5 h after receipt of a whole-blood sample. The method detected the rare sequence variants T137 and F141, which were clearly distinguishable from the other known genotypes by melting curve analysis. One scrapie sheep was ARR/ARR, which is considered the haplotype with the lowest risk.
Conclusions: The FRET-based PRNP genotyping method for sheep is rapid and can differentiate all genotypes at each locus in 1 capillary. The assay is fast and has lower costs than restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis or sequencing.
Real‐time In Situ Monitoring of Human Prostate Photodynamic Therapy with Diffuse Light
Authors: Yu Guoqiang , Durduran Turgut , Zhou Chao , Zhu Timothy C. , Finlay Jarod C. , Busch Theresa M. , Malkowicz S. Bruce , Hahn Stephen M. , Yodh Arjun G. 
Published: May 2006

ABSTRACTPhotodynamic therapy (PDT) requires oxygen to cause cellular and vascular tumor damage. Tissue oxygen concentration, in turn, is influenced by blood flow and blood oxygenation. Real‐time clinical measurement of these hemo‐dynamic quantities, however, is rare. This paper reports the development and application of a probe, combining diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) for measurement of tumor blood oxygenation and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) for measurement of tumor blood flow. The instrument was adapted for clinical use during interstitial prostate PDT. Three patients with locally recurrent prostate cancer received 2 mg/ kg motexafin lutetium (MLu) 3 h before illumination and a total light dose of 100 J/cm2 at 150 mW/cm. Prostrate blood oxygen saturation (StO2) decreased only slightly (?3%) after treatment. On the other hand, prostate blood flow and total hemoglobin concentration over the course of PDT decreased by 50% and 15%, respectively, suggesting MLu‐mediated PDT has an anti‐vascular effect. While it is certainly impossible to draw definite conclusions from measurements of only three patients, the observed differences in tumor blood flow and blood oxygenation responses during PDT can, in principle, be used to choose among tissue oxygen consumption models and therefore emphasize the potential clinical value for simultaneous monitoring of both parameters.
Nonlinear dynamics of a VOC combustion loop reactor
Authors: Altimari Pietro , Maffettone Pier Luca , Crescitelli Silvestro , Russo Lucia , Mancusi Erasmo 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBifurcation analysis of a network of three catalytic combustors with periodically switched feed position is carried out. The influence of the switch time, of the feed temperature and of the heat exchange coefficient at the wall on the dynamical behavior is studied by a numerical continuation technique based on the spatiotemporal symmetry of the forced system. Symmetric and asymmetric periodic regimes are detected as the bifurcation parameters are changed. The stability range of periodic ignited regimes and their bifurcations are analyzed. In particular, it appears that some complex regimes are the only stable ignited regimes at ambient feed temperature in several operating conditions. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006
Mortality in a Swedish rubber tire manufacturing plant: Occupational risks or an “unhealthy worker” effect?
Authors: Wingren Gun 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackgroundIn this cohort study a classification of 12 work categories, with specified common exposures, is used to evaluate the mortality among workers in a Swedish rubber tire plant.MethodsMortality among the cohort members is compared with expected values from national rates. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated for the total cohort, for sub‐cohorts and with the inclusion of a latency requirement.ResultsMale workers had increased risks for total mortality, circulatory death, respiratory death, mental disorders, epilepsy, injuries/poisoning, and for alcohol‐related death. Many risks were noted among workers exposed to dust, fumes, or vapor. No trend in risk with increasing duration of employment was seen.DiscussionSome established risks for rubber workers could be related to some specified work categories. The highest risks were noted among workers having a very short duration of employment indicating a possible “unhealthy worker effect” associated with life‐style factors or to tasks offered to unskilled workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Capturing cases in workers' compensation databases: The example of neck pain
Authors: Van Eerd Dwayne , Côté Pierre , Beaton Dorcas , Hogg‐Johnson Sheilah , Vidmar Marjan , Kristman Vicki 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackgroundThere is a need to more accurately enumerate workers with musculoskeletal injuries who make lost‐time claims to workers compensation boards. The objective of this study is to develop an approach to more accurately enumerate these workers.MethodsLost‐time claims to the Ontario Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) were reviewed. Using neck pain as an example, nature of injury and part of body codes were identified to classify cases. Claims of a random sample of 434 claimants were reviewed. The proportion of claimants classified as having neck pain was computed.ResultsThe proportion of claimants classified with soft‐tissue injuries to the neck varied from 0.88 for codes including “neck/cervical region,” 0.69 for “back region” to 0.05 for those coded as “shoulder/upper arm.”ConclusionsRestricting the enumeration of injuries to specific part of body codes can lead to a gross underestimation of the magnitude of soft‐tissue disorders in epidemiological studies using workers' compensation data. The proposed approach leads to more accurate enumeration. Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:557–568, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hydrocephaly, penoscrotal transposition, and digital anomalies associated with de novo pseudodicentric rearranged chromosome 13 characterized by classical cytogenetic methods and mBAND analysis
Authors: Christofolini Denise Maria , Yoshimoto Maisa , Squire Jeremy A. , Brunoni Décio , Melaragno Maria Isabel , Carvalheira Gianna 
Published: May 2006

AbstractWe report on a patient with hydrocephaly, penoscrotal transposition, oligodactyly, and minor anomalies. Comprehensive cytogenetic studies involving both classical cytogenetic methods and mBAND analysis were used to show a stable dicentric rearranged chromosome 13 that result in a 46,XY,psu dic(13;13)(13pter → 13q32::13q11 → 13pter) de novo karyotype. This aberration probably arose as a consequence of unequal sister chromatid breakage repair events. This report is the first to describe all of the most severe features associated with partial monosomy in one patient. Moreover, the delineation of monosomy 13q32 → qter in this patient facilitates identification of the developmental genes responsible for the clinical features within this region of chromosome 13. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A newly recognized, likely autosomal recessive syndrome comprising agammaglobulinemia, microcephaly, craniosynostosis, severe dermatitis, and other features
Authors: Crow Yanick Joseph , Goodship J.A. , Wright C. , Coady A.M. , Conley M.E. , Gennery A.R. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractWe present a novel, likely autosomal recessive, multi‐system disorder seen in three siblings, two males and one female, born to nonconsanguineous parents. The disease manifests as agammaglobulinemia with marked microcephaly, significant developmental delay, craniosynostosis, a severe dermatitis, cleft palate, narrowing of the choanae, and blepharophimosis. The constellation of clinical signs seen in this family likely represents a new and recognizable form of agammaglobulinemia due to a defect in early B‐cell maturation. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Autistic behavior in children with fragile X syndrome: Prevalence, stability, and the impact of FMRP
Authors: Hatton Deborah D. , Sideris John , Skinner Martie , Mankowski Jean , Bailey Donald B. , Roberts Jane , Mirrett Penny 
Published: May 2006

AbstractWe examined autistic behavior in a cross‐sectional sample of 179 children with fragile X syndrome (FXS) and a longitudinal subset of 116 children using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) to (a) determine a prevalence of autistic behavior in FXS, (b) examine the stability of autistic ratings over time, and (c) assess the association between the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) and autistic behavior. Approximately 21% of the sample of 129 children (25.9% of boys) scored at or above the cutoff for autism. CARS scores increased slowly, yet significantly, over time, and low levels of FMRP were associated with higher mean levels of autistic behavior as measured by the CARS. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The FG syndrome: Report of a large Italian series
Authors: Battaglia A. , Chines C. , Carey J.C. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractInitially described as a rare MCA/MR syndrome occurring only in boys, due to a recessive mutation on the X chromosome [Opitz and Kaveggia, 1974], the FG syndrome (FGS) now emerges as a more common disorder also occurring in girls. Based on over 50 reported cases, FGS is associated with developmental delay (especially speech), hypotonia, postnatal onset relative macrocephaly, prominent forehead, frontal hair upsweep, telecanthus, or ocular hypertelorism, thin vermilion border of the upper lip, relatively short fingers with broad thumbs and halluces, persistent fetal fingertip pads, anal anomalies, and/or constipation. Major malformations are rare, and include pyloric stenosis, anal agenesis, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, and congenital heart defects. Abnormal EEGs and seizures have been reported in almost 70% of patients. Brain MRI shows corpus callosum abnormalities associated with dilatation of lateral ventricles and, less frequently, periventricular nodular heterotopias, mild cerebellar defects, and reduced periventricular white matter. Chiari 1 malformation seems to be frequent. The behavior phenotype appears to be characterized by ADHD, and relatively less developed language, fine motor and executive function skills; whereas visual‐spatial abilities seem to be a relative strength. Five candidate loci are already known but no gene identified. We describe 25 patients referred to the Stella Maris Institute for evaluation of DD/MR, and diagnosed as FGS. They were between 2 and 15½ years at the first observation. High resolution banding, FRAXA/FRAXE DNA analysis, and subtelomere FISH analysis were performed in all of them, and all had normal results. Thirteen patients were followed‐up from 6 months to 9 years. Our report focuses on physical, neurological, developmental findings, and natural history of FGS. Experience with our series of patients suggests that the syndrome may be common, and should be routinely considered in the evaluation of children and adolescents with DD/MR. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis, characterization, flocculation, and rheological characteristics of hydrolyzed and unhydrolyzed polyacrylamide‐grafted poly(vinyl alcohol)
Authors: Krishnamoorthi S. , Singh R. P. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractGraft copolymers of poly(vinyl alcohol) and polyacrylamide (PVA‐g‐PAM) were synthesized using a ceric ion–induced solution polymerization technique at 28°C. Three grades of graft copolymers were synthesized with varying acrylamide concentrations. Three grades of hydrolyzed products of PVA‐g‐PAM were synthesized with varying concentrations of sodium hydroxide solution. Hydrolyzed and unhydrolyzed PVA‐g‐PAM were characterized by viscometry, X‐ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. Rheological investigation was also carried out on the aqueous solutions of various samples. The flocculation characteristics of various materials were investigated by the use of jar and settling tests in 0.25 and 5 wt %, respectively, using kaolin and iron ore suspensions. Among the series of graft copolymers, the one with fewest but longest PAM chains showed superior performance. The flocculation characteristics of the best‐performing graft copolymer were compared with those of various commercially available flocculants in the two suspensions under investigation. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2109–2122, 2006
Divided loyalties: transdetermination and the genetics of tissue regeneration
Authors: Eissenberg Joel C. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractMost tissues contain cells capable of the self‐renewal and differentiation necessary to maintain tissue and organ integrity. These somatic stem cells are generally thought to have limited developmental potential. The mechanisms that restrict cell fate decisions in somatic stem cells are only now being understood. This understanding will be important in the clinical exploitation of adult stem cells in tissue repair and replacement. Experiments performed over fifty years ago in Drosophila showed that developmental restriction could be relaxed in the proliferating larval cells that are destined to form the adult fly integument. This phenomenon, called transdetermination, can serve as a model for mechanisms of stem‐cell commitment. A recent publication1 sheds new light on the mechanism of transdetermination by demonstrating that loss of homeotic gene silencing leads to increased frequency of transdetermination. In addition, the authors link a specific signaling pathway induced by tissue regeneration to the relaxation of homeotic gene silencing. The data identify key mechanisms that control developmental homeostasis and cell fate restriction that could be manipulated to make somatic stem‐cell engineering possible. BioEssays 28: 574–577, 2006. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mitochondrial one‐carbon metabolism is adapted to the specific needs of yeast, plants and mammals
Authors: Christensen Karen E. , MacKenzie Robert E. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractIn eukaryotes, folate metabolism is compartmentalized between the cytoplasm and organelles. The folate pathways of mitochondria are adapted to serve the metabolism of the organism. In yeast, mitochondria support cytoplasmic purine synthesis through the generation of formate. This pathway is important but not essential for survival, consistent with the flexibility of yeast metabolism. In plants, the mitochondrial pathways support photorespiration by generating serine from glycine. This pathway is essential under photosynthetic conditions and the enzyme expression varies with photosynthetic activity. In mammals, the expression of the mitochondrial enzymes varies in tissues and during development. In embryos, mitochondria supply formate and glycine for purine synthesis, a process essential for survival; in adult tissues, flux through mitochondria can favor serine production. The differences in the folate pathways of mitochondria depending on species, tissues and developmental stages, profoundly alter the nature of their metabolic contribution. BioEssays 28: 595–605, 2006. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.