bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and complications of percutaneous tracheostomy in a cohort of 800 mixed ICU patients
Authors: Díaz‐Regañón G. , Miñambres E. , Ruiz A. , González‐Herrera S. , Holanda‐Peña M. , López‐Espadas F. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryPercutaneous tracheostomy is used primarily to assist weaning from mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit. We report our experiences of 800 such procedures performed in the intensive care unit by a collaborative team (critical care and ENT specialists). Most procedures (85.6%) were performed by residents supervised by the intensive care unit staff. Complications occurred in 32 patients (4%). Intraprocedural complications occurred in 17 patients (2.1%), early postprocedural complications in six (0.75%), and late postprocedural complications in nine (1.1%). No deaths were directly related to percutaneous tracheostomy. The incidence of complications was greater in percutaneous tracheostomy performed by the residents during their initial five attempts compared to their later attempts (9.2% vs 2.6%, p < 0.05). The low incidence of complications indicates that bedside percutaneous tracheostomy can be performed safely as a routine procedure in daily care of intensive care unit patients.
Clinical heterogeneity in recessive epidermolysis bullosa due to mutations in the keratin 14 gene, KRT14
Authors: Yiasemides E. , Trisnowati N. , Su J. , Dang N. , Klingberg S. , Marr P. , Melbourne W. , Tran K. , Chow C. W. , Orchard D. , Varigos G. , Murrell D. F. 
Published: August 2008

Summary
Background. Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), the most common subtype of EB, is usually inherited as an autosomal dominant trait caused by mutations in either the keratin 5 (KRT5) or keratin 14 (KRT14) genes. Recessive EBS (R-EBS) is extremely rare.
Methods. We present the first Australian patient diagnosed with R-EBS, to our knowledge, and a comprehensive review of genotypes and phenotypes of R-EBS reported cases.
Results. The female proband, of Turkish descent with consanguineous parentage, was referred to us at the age of 8 years. Clinically, she had a severe phenotype including generalized blisters, mucosal involvement and EB naevi. Immunofluorescence mapping and electron microscopy were consistent with a diagnosis of EBS. Staining for Keratin 14 (K14) was negative. The basal layer, however, reacted with monoclonal antibodies to keratins 6 (K6) and 16 (K16). Mutation screening from genomic DNA showed that the proband was homozygous for the truncation mutation Y204X in exon 3 of KRT14, and both unaffected parents were heterozygous for a single KRT14 Y204X mutation. The phenotype of our patient is reported in more detail and with longer follow-up than those of others published in the literature.
Discussion. The proband’s phenotype was severe as an infant but improved with age, suggesting that an alternative keratin is pairing with K5 in her skin to compensate for the loss of K14 – a novel biological compensatory mechanism. It is interesting that K6 and K16 were expressed, as these are normally positive in hyperproliferative skin disorders.
Metformin maintains the weight loss and metabolic benefits following rimonabant treatment in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Authors: Sathyapalan Thozhukat , Cho Li Wei , Kilpatrick Eric S. , Coady Anne‐Marie , Atkin Stephen L. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryObjective  Rimonabant has been shown to reduce weight, free androgen index (FAI) and insulin resistance in obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to metformin. Studies have shown that significant weight regain occurs following the cessation of rimonabant therapy. This study was undertaken to determine if subsequent metformin treatment after rimonabant would maintain the improvement in weight, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenaemia in PCOS.Design  An extension study for 3 months with the addition of metformin to the randomised open labelled parallel study of metformin and rimonabant in 20 patients with PCOS with a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2. Patients who were on 3 months of rimonabant were changed over to metformin for 3 months, whereas those on 3 months of metformin were continued on metformin for another 3 months.Measurements  The primary end‐point was a change in weight; secondary end‐points were a change in FAI and insulin resistance.Results  The mean weight loss of 6·2 kg associated with 3 months of rimonabant treatment was maintained by 3 months of metformin treatment (mean change +0·2 kg, P = 0·96). Therefore, the percentage reduction in weight remained significantly higher in the rimonabant/metformin group compared to metformin only subjects at 6 months compared to baseline (–6·0 ± 0·1%vs. –2·8 ± 0·1%, P = 0·04). The percentage change in testosterone and FAI from baseline to 6 months was also greater in the rimonabant/metformin group. [Testosterone (–45·0 ± 5·0%vs. –16 ± 2·0%, P = 0·02); FAI (–53·0 ± 5·0%vs. –17·0 ± 12·2%, P = 0·02)]. HOMA‐IR continued to fall significantly in the rimonabant/metformin group between 0, 3 and 6 months (4·4 ± 0·5 vs. 3·4 ± 0·4 vs. 2·7 ± 0·3, respectively, P < 0·01) but not at all in the metformin only group (3·4 ± 0·7 vs. 3·4 ± 0·8 vs. 3·7 ± 0·8, respectively, P = 0·80). Total cholesterol and LDL reduced significantly in both groups, but improvements in triglycerides and HDL were limited to the rimonabant/metformin group.Conclusions  In these obese patients with PCOS, metformin maintained the weight loss and enhanced the metabolic and biochemical parameters achieved by treatment with rimonabant, compared to 6 months of metformin treatment alone.
Cervical smear adequacy: cellularity references were found to increase both interobserver agreement and unsatisfactory rate
Authors: Moore D. , Pugh‐Cain D. , Walker T. 
Published: August 2008

Objectives:  To determine the degree of interobserver variation in the assessment of conventional cervical smear adequacy as defined by The Bethesda System (TBS) 2001, and to determine the effect of using reference images of known squamous cellularity when performing squamous adequacy assessments.Methods:  Experimental pre‐test/post‐test design utilizing 70 conventionally prepared cervical smears. Sample smears containing scant squamous cellularity were independently rated on two occasions by six cytotechnologists. Time 1 was without the use of reference images, and Time 2 was aided by cellularity reference images. The κ statistic was used to compare rater agreement.Results:  The level of agreement increased from an average κ of 0.26 (SD 0.10) for Time 1, to an average κ of 0.40 (SD 0.15) for Time 2. The difference in mean κ values at the two assessments was statistically significant (t = 3.71; P = 0.002). Unanimous agreement among the raters was observed for 15 samples (21.42%) at Time 1 (only one of which was classified as unsatisfactory) and 21 samples (30.00%) at Time 2 (12 of which were classified as unsatisfactory).Conclusion:  Interobserver agreement increased after cellularity reference images were implemented. Using TBS 2001 squamous adequacy criteria and images of known squamous cellularity as references resulted in a decreased number of smears reported as satisfactory.
A novel antagonist of prostaglandin D2 blocks the locomotion of eosinophils and basophils
Authors: Royer J. F. , Schratl P. , Carrillo J. J. , Jupp R. , Barker J. , Weyman‐Jones C. , Beri R. , Sargent C. , Schmidt J. A. , Lang‐Loidolt D. , Heinemann A. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Chemoattractant receptor homologous molecule of Th2 cells (CRTH2) has been shown to mediate the chemotaxis of eosinophils, basophils and Th2‐type T lymphocytes. The major mast cell product prostaglandin (PG) D2 is considered to be the principal ligand of CRTH2.Materials and methods  We developed a novel CRTH2 antagonist, AZ11665362 [2,5‐dimethyl‐3‐(8‐methylquinolin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐indole‐1‐yl]acetic acid, and characterized its efficacy in binding assay in HEK293 cells, eosinophil and basophil shape change assay and migration assay, platelet aggregation and eosinophil release from guinea pig bone marrow. The effects were compared with ramatroban, the sole CRTH2 antagonist clinically available to date.Results  AZ11665362 bound with high affinity to human and guinea pig CRTH2 expressed in HEK293 cells and antagonized eosinophil and basophil shape change responses to PGD2. AZ11665362 was without effect on the PGD2‐induced inhibition of platelet aggregation. In contrast, AZ11665362 effectively inhibited the in vitro migration of human eosinophils and basophils towards PGD2. The release of eosinophils from the isolated perfused hind limb of the guinea pig was potently stimulated by PGD2, and this effect was prevented by AZ11665362. In all assays tested, AZ11665362 was at least 10 times more potent than ramatroban.Conclusions  AZ11665362 is a potent CRTH2 antagonist that is capable of blocking the migration of eosinophils and basophils, and the rapid mobilization of eosinophils from bone marrow. AZ11665362 might hence be useful for the treatment of allergic diseases.
MEK‐inhibitor U0126 in hyperglycaemic focal ischaemic brain injury in the rat
Authors: Farrokhnia N. , Ericsson A. , Terént A. , Lennmyr F. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Hyperglycaemia aggravates ischaemic brain injury, possibly due to activation of signalling pathways involving mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK). In this study, the activation of MAPK/ERK was inhibited using the upstream inhibitor of MAPK‐ERK‐kinase (MEK) U0126, and the effects on focal brain ischaemia were evaluated during normo‐ and hyperglycaemia.Materials and methods  Temporary (90 min) middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced in five groups of rats. U0126 (400 µg kg−1) or vehicle was given as 60‐min intravenous infusions starting either 30 min prior to MCAO or 30 min prior to reperfusion. The infarct size was determined by perfusion with tetrazolium red after 24 h of survival, and the neurology was tested with the 4‐level scale of Bederson and performance on an inclined plane. The inhibitory effect on the targeted MEK enzyme was investigated by analysing the phosphorylation of the downstream target ERK with western immunoblotting. Two subgroups were investigated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion‐weighted (DWI) and perfusion‐weighted imaging (PWI).Results  U0126 effectively reduced the infarct size and improved neurology in hyperglycaemic rats both when given before and after ischemic onset. This effect was not accompanied by any detectable changes in cerebral blood flow on MRI. Normoglycaemic rats had generally milder injuries compared with the hyperglycaemic and there was a nonsignificant trend for U0126 to reduce damage also in the nonhyperglycaemic groups.Conclusions  In conclusion, U0126 appears to be neuroprotective in this model of hyperglycaemic ischaemic brain injury. The findings support the pathogenic importance of the MEK‐ERK pathway in hyperglycaemic‐ischaemic brain injury.
Mild portal endotoxaemia induces subacute hepatic inflammation and pancreatic β‐cell dysfunction in rats
Authors: Hsieh P‐S. , Chan J. Y‐H. , Shyu J‐F. , Chen Y‐T. , Loh C‐H. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Portal endotoxaemia has been speculated to be crucially involved in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatic inflammation, which is highly associated with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study tests whether portal endotoxaemia is a pathogenic link between chronic subacute hepatic inflammation and pancreatic β‐cell dysfunction.Materials and methods  Rats were randomly assigned into two groups: rats with intraportal saline or low‐dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion for 4 weeks. Pathological changes in the liver were evaluated via histological and biochemical examination. Pancreatic insulin secretion was evaluated by in vivo hyperglycaemic clamp study.Results  White blood cell count was significantly increased after intraportal LPS infusion for 4 weeks. Plasma amylase and chemoluminescence counts indicating superoxide levels were significantly increased after LPS treatments for 2 and 4 weeks. Intraportal low‐dose LPS infusion significantly increased tumour necrosis factor‐alpha and interleukin‐6 contents in liver and pancreas. Circulating C‐reactive protein, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and endotoxin levels were not different among groups. The first‐ and second‐phase insulin secretions in hyperglycaemic clamp were significantly decreased in LPS‐treated rats. The histopathological scores, de novo production of reactive oxygen substrate and TBARS contents in the liver and pancreas were significantly increased in LPS‐infused rats. Leucocyte infiltration was clearly visible in pancreatic islets of LPS‐treated rats.Conclusions  The present study demonstrated that mild portal endotoxaemia caused subacute hepatic inflammation and impaired pancreatic insulin secretion, implicating that portal endotoxaemia is a potential risk factor to link chronic subacute hepatic inflammation and pancreatic β‐cell dysfunction.
Autonomic neuropathy precedes cardiovascular dysfunction in rats with diabetes
Authors: Lin Y‐D. , Hsu K‐L. , Wu E‐T. , Tsai M‐S. , Wang C‐H. , Chang C‐Y. , Chang K‐C. 
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Our team previously demonstrated arterial stiffening and cardiac hypertrophy in type 2 diabetic rats at 8 but not 4 weeks after being administered streptozotocin (STZ) and nicotinamide (NA). The present study focused on investigating the effects of type 2 diabetes on cardiac autonomic nerve function in the STZ‐ and NA‐treated animals, using modern spectral estimation technique.Design  An autoregressive process was performed to each detrended signal of heart rate and systolic blood pressure measured in the 4‐ and 8‐week STZ‐NA rats with anaesthesia. The power of low‐frequency and high‐frequency oscillations was automatically quantified with each spectral peak by computing the residuals. The closed‐loop baroreflex gain was estimated using the square root of the ratio between heart rate and systolic blood pressure powers in the low‐frequency band.Results  Compared with the age‐matched controls, both the 4‐ and 8‐week STZ‐NA diabetic rats had significantly decreased low‐frequency oscillations of heart rate but not systolic blood pressure variability, showing a decline in baroreflex gain (0·451 ± 0·060 and 0·484 ± 0·056 vs. 1·196 ± 0·064 ms mmHg−1, P < 0·05). On the other hand, the low frequency–high frequency power ratio of the heart period was also diminished in the two diabetic groups, indicating a shift in sympatho‐vagal balance of the heart control (0·472 ± 0·109 and 0·504 ± 0·090 vs. 1·857 ± 0·336, P < 0·05).Conclusions  The cardiac autonomic dysfunction in the absence of any significant changes in vascular dynamics, 4 but not 8 weeks after induction of type 2 diabetes, suggests that the diabetic autonomic neuropathy may precede arterial stiffening and cardiac hypertrophy in the STZ‐ and NA‐treated rats.
Walking with worms: coral‐associated epifaunal nematodes
Authors: Raes M. , Decraemer W. , Vanreusel A. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAims  To study the community structure and habitat preferences of the Epsilonematidae and Draconematidae in coral degradation zones. To assess the contribution of different localities and microhabitats to meiobenthic diversity in such ecosystems. To discuss dispersive capacities and the occurrence of cryptic species in meiobenthic organisms.Location  Porcupine Seabight (north‐east Atlantic Ocean; continental slope) and a transect along the Kenyan coast (Indian Ocean; shallow lagoon).Methods  In the north‐east Atlantic, dead coral fragments, sponge skeletons and sediment were collected with a boxcorer. Along the Kenyan coast, dead coral fragments and coral gravel were collected during snorkelling and skin diving. Only nematodes belonging to the families Epsilonematidae and Draconematidae were considered. Community structure was analysed using multivariate techniques. Biodiversity was represented via rarefaction curves. Additive partitioning of species diversity was conducted. Turnover between microhabitats within locations and between locations within microhabitats were compared in a ternary plot.Results  Twelve epsilonematid and five draconematid species were found in the Porcupine Seabight. In Kenya, 39 epsilonematid and 20 draconematid species were distinguished. Three species were found at both sampling locations. A table with the known distribution of all currently described species encountered in our study area is provided. At both sampling locations, the communities on coral fragments were significantly different from those in the other microhabitats, and were most diverse. In Kenya, species richness was mainly determined by local diversity and by turnover between localities. The contribution of β‐diversity decreased when abundance data were analysed. Turnover between microhabitats and between coral samples from different localities was higher than turnover between locations for gravel samples.Main conclusions  Coral fragments were recognized as favourable substrata for typically epifaunal nematodes. Species‐specific habitat preferences were explained by finely tuned morphological adaptations. Our results suggest that cosmopolitan species could well be cryptic species, and this explanation for the existence of morphologically identical nematodes in geographically distant areas is weighed up against other plausible explanations. Coral degradation zones are an important source for new species of Epsilonematidae and Draconematidae. The addition of sampling locations contributed to the total number of species, although the added species were generally rare.
Measurement of problem behaviour during medication evaluations
Authors: Zarcone J. , Napolitano D. , Valdovinos M. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractBackground The focus of this review is on methods that are currently being used to evaluate the behavioural effects of medication for individuals with intellectual disabilities. First we describe what has been identified as the ideal criteria for conducting clinical trials and how these criteria may be adapted to do less controlled evaluations. The central theme is a review of the biological measures (e.g. labs, drug levels), behavioural rating scales and direct observation measures that are often used to evaluate medication effects. Issues related to how the side effects of medication can affect behaviour will also be discussed.Conclusion The importance of encouraging communication and collaboration across all systems of care and the use of socially valid measures are discussed.
Homoploid hybrid speciation in animals
Authors: MAVÁREZ JESÚS , LINARES MAURICIO 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAmong animals, evidence for homoploid hybrid speciation (HHS,i.e. the creation of a hybrid lineage without a change in chromosome number) was limited until recently to the virgin chub,Gila seminuda, and some controversial data in support of hybrid status for the red wolf,Canis rufus. This scarcity of evidence, together with pessimistic attitudes among zoologists about the evolutionary importance of hybridisation, prompted the view that HHS is extremely rare among animals, especially as compared with plants. However, in recent years, the literature on animal HHS has expanded to include several new putative examples in butterflies, ants, flies and fishes. We argue that this evidence suggests that HHS is far more common than previously thought and use it to provide insights into some of the genetic and ecological aspects associated with this type of speciation among animals.
Genetic differentiation, hybridization and adaptive divergence in two subspecies of the acorn barnacle Tetraclita japonica in the northwestern Pacific
Authors: TSANG LING MING , CHAN BENNY K. K. , MA KA YAN , CHU KA HOU 
Published: August 2008

AbstractTwo acorn barnacles, Tetraclita japonica japonica and Tetraclita japonica formosana, have been recently reclassified as two subspecies, because they are morphologically similar and genetically indistinguishable in mitochondrial DNA sequences. The two barnacles are distinguishable by parietes colour and exhibit parapatric distributions, coexisting in Japan, where T. j. formosana is very low in abundance. Here we investigated the genetic differentiation between the subspecies using 209 polymorphic amplified fragment length polymorphism markers and 341 individuals from 12 locations. The subspecies are genetically highly differentiated (ΦCT = 0.267). Bayesian analysis and principal component analysis indicate the presence of hybrids in T. j. formosana samples from Japan. Strong differentiation between the northern and southern populations of T. j. japonica was revealed, and a break between Taiwan and Okinawa was also found in T. j. formosana. The differentiation between the two taxa at individual loci does not deviate from neutral expectation, suggesting that the oceanographic pattern which restricts larval dispersal is a more important factor than divergent selection in maintaining genetic and phenotypic differentiation. The T. j. formosana in Japan are probably recent migrants from Okinawa, and their presence in Japan may represent a poleward range shift driven by global warming. This promotes hybridization and might lead to a breakdown of the boundary between the subspecies. However, both local adaptation and larval dispersal are crucial in determining the population structure within each subspecies. Our study provides new insights into the interplay of local adaptation and dispersal in determining the distribution and genetic structure of intertidal biota and the biogeography of the northwestern Pacific.
The final step in the phage infection cycle: the Rz and Rz1 lysis proteins link the inner and outer membranes
Authors: Berry Joel , Summer Elizabeth J. , Struck Douglas K. , Young Ryland 
Published: August 2008

SummaryBacteriophage λ has four adjacent genes –S, R, Rz and Rz1– dedicated to host cell lysis. While S, encoding the holin and antiholin, and R, encoding the endolysin, have been intensively studied, the products of Rz and Rz1 have not been characterized at either the structural or functional levels. Rz1 is an outer membrane lipoprotein and our results indicate that Rz is a type II signal anchor protein. Here we present evidence that an Rz–Rz1 complex that spans the periplasm carries out the final step in the process of host lysis. These results are discussed in terms of a model where endolysin‐mediated degradation of the cell wall is a prerequisite for conformational changes in the Rz–Rz1 complex leading to the juxtaposition and fusion of the IM and OM. Fusion of the two membranes removes the last physical barrier to efficient release of progeny virions.