bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Helicobacter and Gastric Malignancies
Authors: Ferreira António Carlos , Isomoto Hajime , Moriyama Masatsugu , Fujioka Toshio , Machado José Carlos , Yamaoka Yoshio 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIndividuals infected with Helicobacter pylori, a stomach colonizing bacteria, have an increased risk of developing gastric malignancies. The risk for developing cancer relates to the physiologic and histologic changes that H. pylori infection induces in the stomach. In the last year numerous studies have been conducted in order to characterize the association between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer. These studies range from epidemiologic approaches aiming at the identification of environmental, host genetic, and bacterial factors associated with risk of gastric cancer, to molecular and cell biology approaches aiming at understanding the interaction between H. pylori and the transforming epithelial cell. In this review an account of the last year's research activity on the relationship between H. pylori and gastric cancer will be given.
Helicobacter pylori and Non‐malignant Diseases
Authors: Shirin Haim , Leja Marcis , Niv Yaron 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIn 2007 Helicobacter pylori research continued to deal with some controversies raised in the last decade. The main problems remain unsolved: peptic ulcer disease negative for H. pylori, synergism of H. pylori infection and aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs or cyclooxygenase 2 specific inhibitors, the role of H. pylori eradication in uninvestigated and nonulcer dyspepsia, and the possible protective effect of H. pylori infection against gastroesophageal reflux disease and its complications such as Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma. The incidence and prevalence of peptic ulcer disease as well as ulcer‐related mortality are continuing to decline all over the world. The increasing consumption of anti‐inflammatory and antisecretory drugs was not found to change the trend over the last period and therefore H. pylori was considered the key factor in causing ulcer‐related mortality. Some progress has been achieved in understanding H. pylori‐induced immunological processes, and attack mechanisms, as well as specific pathogenesis in uremic and cirrhotic patients. There is still a lot to learn about the bacterium and host factors related to H. pylori infection and its complications.
Helicobacter pylori Immunology and Vaccines
Authors: Vorobjova Tamara , Watanabe Tomohiro , Chiba Tsutomu 
Published: August 2008

Abstract Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Colonization of H. pylori in the stomach activates Toll‐like and Nod‐like receptors to induce not only innate immunity but also adaptive Th1 responses against this organism. Adaptive Th1 response is not sufficient to clear this organism and, as a result, the infection persists. Insufficient adaptive immunity can be explained by poor activation of Toll‐like receptors, suppressive effects of bacterial factors, and induction of regulatory T‐cell responses. Significant progress in the understanding of innate and adaptive immunity against H. pylori was made during the past year. Recent findings in the fields of vaccines for H. pylori are also reviewed.
Frailty Predicts Some but Not All Adverse Outcomes in Older Adults Discharged from the Emergency Department
Authors: Hastings S. Nicole , Purser Jama L. , Johnson Kimberly S. , Sloane Richard J. , Whitson Heather E. 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether frail older adults, based on a deficit accumulation index (DAI), are at greater risk of adverse outcomes after discharge from the emergency department (ED).DESIGN AND SETTING: Secondary analysis of data from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.PARTICIPANTS: One thousand eight hundred fifty‐one community‐dwelling Medicare fee‐for‐service enrollees, aged 65 and older who were discharged from the ED between January 2000 and September 2002.MEASUREMENTS: The primary dependent variable was time to first adverse outcome, defined as repeat outpatient ED visit, hospital admission, nursing home admission, or death, within 30 days of the index ED visit.RESULTS: Time to first adverse outcome was shortest in individuals with the highest number of accumulated deficits. The frailest participants were at greater risk of adverse outcomes after ED discharge than those who were least frail (hazard ratio (HR)=1.44, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.06–1.96). The frailest individuals were also at higher risk of serious adverse outcomes, defined as hospitalization, nursing home admission, or death (HR=1.98, 95% CI=1.29–3.05). In contrast, no association was detected between degree of frailty and repeat outpatient ED visits within 30 days (HR=1.06, 95% CI=0.73–1.54).CONCLUSION: The DAI as a construct of frailty was a robust predictor of serious adverse outcomes in the first 30 days after ED discharge. Frailty was not found to be a major determinant of repeat outpatient ED visits; therefore, additional study is needed to investigate this particular type of health service use by older adults.
Patterns of Dementia Diagnosis in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Breast Cancer Survivors Who Use Chemotherapy
Authors: Heck Julia E. , Albert Steven M. , Franco Rebeca , Gorin Sherri Sheinfeld 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVES: To determine patterns of dementia diagnosis seen after chemotherapy treatment.DESIGN: Using the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare database, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD‐9) diagnoses of dementia occurring in the years after breast cancer diagnosis were examined.SETTING: The SEER program collects information from population‐based tumor registries in seven metropolitan areas (San Francisco and Oakland, Detroit, Atlanta, Seattle, Los Angeles County, San Jose and Monterey Counties, and the greater California area) and eight states (Connecticut, Iowa, New Mexico, Utah, Hawaii, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Louisiana).PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen thousand three hundred sixty women diagnosed with Stage II, III, or IV breast cancer.MEASUREMENTS: Using validated ICD‐9 diagnoses of dementia, the occurrence of dementia and other cognitive impairment in the years after breast cancer diagnosis in women who received chemotherapy was compared with that of women who did not. To account for group differences, propensity score analysis was used to balance the differences in groups before treatment. Risk of dementia was calculated using Cox proportional hazards modeling.RESULTS: There were significant differences at baseline between individuals who received and did not receive chemotherapy. In the first few years after breast cancer diagnosis, dementia was more common in women who had not had chemotherapy, probably reflecting group differences at baseline. In the longer term, diagnoses of dementia were more common in women who had chemotherapy treatment (hazard ratio=1.20, 95% confidence interval=1.08–1.33).CONCLUSION: These findings suggest the possibility of severe cognitive changes associated with chemotherapy, particularly over the long term.
Time‐Course of Cytokines During Delirium in Elderly Patients with Hip Fractures
Authors: Van Munster Barbara C. , Korevaar Johanna C. , Zwinderman Aeilko H. , Levi Marcel , Wiersinga W. Joost , De Rooij Sophia E. 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVES: To compare the time‐course of cytokine levels in patients with and without delirium and investigate differences in cytokine concentrations in delirium subtypes.DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.SETTING: Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, 2005 through 2007.PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 65 and older admitted for surgery after hip fracture.MEASUREMENTS: Experienced geriatric physicians used the Confusion Assessment Method to assess delirium and the Delirium Symptom Interview to assess delirium subtype. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) and interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, and IL‐12 were assayed in repeated serum samples using a cytometric bead array immunoassay.RESULTS: Of 221 admitted patients, 98 (mean age 84, 50 patients with delirium) were included, resulting in a total of 324 samples. Ninety‐six percent of these samples had TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐10 levels below the reliable detection level. Differences between patients with and without delirium were observed in IL‐6 (median 51 vs 36 pg/mL, P=.01) and IL‐8 (median 15 vs 9 pg/mL, P=.03) levels. Changes over time in IL‐6 and IL‐8 levels in patients with delirium differed significantly from changes in levels in patients without delirium. The highest levels of IL‐6 were present during delirium, and the highest levels of IL‐8 were present before the development of delirium. Patients with the hyperactive (median 71 pg/mL) or mixed (median 73 pg/mL) subtype of delirium had higher IL‐6 levels than patients with hypoactive delirium (median 16 pg/mL) (P=.02).CONCLUSION: IL‐6 and IL‐8 may contribute to the pathogenesis of postoperative delirium in elderly people. IL‐6 may play a role in the hyperactive behavior of delirium.
Prevalence of Sarcopenia Estimated Using a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Prediction Equation in Community‐Dwelling Elderly People in Taiwan
Authors: Chien Meng‐Yueh , Huang Ta‐Yi , Wu Ying‐Tai 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVES: To compare a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) prediction equation for estimating skeletal muscle mass (SM) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐measured SM and to investigate the prevalence of sarcopenia in community‐dwelling elderly people in Taiwan.DESIGN: Cross‐sectional survey.SETTING: Communities in the district of Zhongzheng, Taipei.PARTICIPANTS: Forty‐one volunteers (aged 22–90) for BIA equation validation; 302 individuals aged 65 and older and 200 adults aged 18 to 40 for the investigation of the prevalence of sarcopenia.MEASUREMENTS: Skeletal muscle mass was estimated using a BIA prediction equation and measured using MRI.RESULTS: No statistical difference between MRI‐measured and BIA‐derived SM was observed (difference of −0.44 ± 1.55 kg, P=.08). The prevalence of sarcopenia in was 18.6% in elderly women and 23.6% in elderly men.CONCLUSION: Estimation of SM using a BIA equation was validated in Taiwanese volunteers. It was confirmed that sarcopenia is an emerging health problem in the aging population in Taiwan.
Association Between Lower Digit Symbol Substitution Test Score and Slower Gait and Greater Risk of Mortality and of Developing Incident Disability in Well‐Functioning Older Adults
Authors: Rosano Caterina , Newman Anne B. , Katz Ronit , Hirsch Calvin H. , Kuller Lewis H. 
Published: August 2008

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether, in well‐functioning older adults, a lower score on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and slower gait are associated with greater risk of mortality and of developing incident disability independent of other risk factors, including brain structural abnormalities (white matter hyperintensities, brain infarcts, ventricular enlargement) and whether the combination of varying levels of DSST score and gait speed are associated with a greater risk of mortality and disability than low DSST or slow gait alone.DESIGN: Observational cohort study.SETTING: Community.PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand one hundred fifty‐six (43% men, 29% black, mean age 70.4) participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), free from stroke and physical disability and with a modified Mini‐Mental State Examination (3MS) score of 80 or higher.MEASUREMENTS: Total mortality and incident disability (self‐report of any difficulty performing one or more of the six activities of daily living) ascertained over a median follow‐up time of 8.4 years.RESULTS: By the end of follow‐up, 704 participants had died and 1,096 had incident disability. In Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, race, education, cardiovascular disease, and brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities, lower DSST score and slower gait remained significantly associated with greater risk of mortality and of incident disability. Mortality rates were higher in those who had both low DSST score (<27 points) and slow gait (speed <1.0 m/s) than in those who had only low DSST score, only slow gait, or neither (rates per 1,000 person years (p‐y): 61.2, 42.8, 20.8, and 16.3, respectively). A similar risk gradient was observed for incident disability (82.0, 57.9, 47.9, and 36.0/1,000 p‐y, respectively).CONCLUSION: In well‐functioning older adults, low DSST score and slow gait, alone or in combination, could be risk factors for mortality and for developing disability, independent of other risk factors, including measures of brain integrity.
Performance characteristics of the Food and Drug Administration–licensed Roche Cobas TaqScreen West Nile virus assay
Authors: Pai Anuradha , Kleinman Steven , Malhotra Khushbeer , Lee‐Haynes Lorlelei , Pietrelli Larry , Saldanha John 
Published: August 2008

BACKGROUND: The cobas TaqScreen West Nile virus (WNV) test (Roche Molecular Systems) was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2007 for detecting WNV RNA in pools of six or in individual donations (IDs). A series of studies established the performance characteristics of the assay and test system before FDA licensure.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Analytic sensitivity was determined by probit analysis using multiple source materials. Clinical sensitivity was determined by testing a panel of 315 known WNV RNA–positive specimens. A large clinical specificity study was conducted by five laboratories during months when WNV activity was not expected.RESULTS: The 95 percent limit of detection for ID testing using the Lineage 1 Health Canada WNV reference standard was 40.3 copies per mL (95% individual donation, 35.1‐47.8 copies per mL). Clinical sensitivity was 100 percent (95% confidence interval [CI], 98.8%‐100%) for ID testing and 97.5 percent (95% CI, 95.1‐98.9%) for minipool (MP) testing. Clinical specificity, when resolved to the ID, was 100 percent for both formats and was 99.986 percent at the MP level.CONCLUSION: The cobas TaqScreen WNV test performed on the cobas s 201 system is a fully automated test system with excellent clinical sensitivity and specificity that offers the benefits of automated sample preparation and a secure environment for donor testing information.
Managerial Career Concerns and Risk Management
Authors: Nam Jouahn , Wang Jun , Zhang Ge 
Published: August 2008

AbstractWe present a dynamic model of corporate risk management and managerial career concerns. We show that managers with low (high) initial reputation have high (low) career concerns about keeping their jobs and receiving all future income. These managers are more likely to speculate (hedge) early in their careers. In the later stage of their careers when managers have less career concerns, there is no speculative motive for self interested managers. On the other hand, highly reputable managers have minimal career concerns and they engage in neither hedging nor speculation early in their careers, but they may choose to hedge after poor early performance.
Cell Membrane Stretch and Chest Blow‐Induced Ventricular Fibrillation: Commotio Cordis
Authors: MADIAS CHRISTOPHER , MARON BARRY J. , SUPRON STACEY , ESTES N. A. MARK , LINK MARK S. 
Published: August 2008

Introduction:
Commotio cordis, sudden cardiac death secondary to blunt nonpenetrating chest blows in sports, is reported with increasing frequency. In a swine model, ventricular fibrillation (VF) is induced by a baseball blow to the chest, and the initiation of VF is related to the peak left ventricular (LV) pressure produced by the blow. LV pressure changes likely result in cell membrane stretch and mechanical activation of ion channels. Disruption of cell cytoskeleton that anchors the cell membrane prior to precordial blows offers the opportunity to explore whether cell membrane deformation is critical to commotio cordis.
Methods and Results:
Twelve juvenile swine (mean 12.7 ± 1.6 kg) were randomized to intravenous normal saline (control, n = 6) or 10 mg of intravenous colchicine (n = 6), which is known to depolymerize microtubules. Animals were given up to six blows timed to the vulnerable portion of the cardiac cycle with a 30 mph baseball on the chest directly over the cardiac silhouette. VF was initiated by 14 of the 29 (48%) impacts in the colchicine‐treated animals compared with only 3 of 28 (11%) in the controls (P = 0.002). The peak generated LV pressure did not differ between colchicine animals (405 ± 61 mmHg) and controls (387 ± 115) (P = 0.47). However, animals administered colchicine were more likely to have VF generated by the chest blow at all pressures.
Conclusion:
The initiation of VF by chest blows is significantly increased by selective disruption of the cytoskeleton, suggesting that mechanical deformation of the cell membrane is fundamental to the activation of ion channels and underlies the mechanism of VF in commotio cordis.
Expression of p14ARF, p16INK4a and p53 in relation to HPV in (pre‐)malignant squamous skin tumours
Authors: Küsters‐Vandevelde Heidi V.N. , de Koning Maurits N.C. , Melchers Willem J.G. , Quint Wim G.V. , de Wilde Peter C.M. , de Jong Elke M.G.J. , van de Kerkhof Peter C.M. , Blokx Willeke A.M. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractStudies in cervical dysplasia have reported overexpression of the tumour suppressors p14 and p16 – and absence of p53 – in high‐risk human papilloma virus (HPV)‐ associated lesions. In skin carcinogenesis, the relation between these tumour suppressors and HPV remain unclear. We evaluated the expression of the tumour suppressors p14, p16 and p53 in pre‐malignant and malignant squamous skin tumours, and its relation with risk factors for skin carcinogenesis (HPV, immune status and sun exposure). We performed immunohistochemical stainings for p14, p16 and p53 on paraffin embedded material of 71 pre‐malignant squamous skin lesions and 34 squamous cell carcinomas, from 52 renal transplant recipients (RTRs) and 53 immunocompetent individuals. PCR‐based assays were used for detection and genotyping of β‐papilloma virus (β‐PV) types and mucosal HPV types. P14 expression was independent of the expression of p16 and p53, irrespective of immune status and skin site. In 49 of 105 specimens (46.6%), one or more β‐PV types were detected. We found no significant association between p14, p16 or p53 protein expression and overall presence of β‐PV, irrespective of immune status. There was a significant association between presence of β‐PV and lesions from sun‐exposed skin sites in the RTRs (P= 0.002). We conclude that in skin carcinogenesis, relations between the herein studied tumour suppressors and HPV are different from what one would expect based on findings in cervical neoplasia. P14, p16 and p53 expressions are independent of immune status. Our data indicate that in immunosuppressed patients, β‐PV together with ultraviolet radiation act synergetic in promoting carcinogenesis.
SIRT1 confers protection against UVB‐ and H2O2‐induced cell death via modulation of p53 and JNK in cultured skin keratinocytes
Authors: Cao Cong , Lu Shan , Kivlin Rebecca , Wallin Brittany , Card Elizabeth , Bagdasarian Andrew , Tamakloe Tyrone , Wang Wen‐jun , Song Xiuzu , Chu Wen‐ming , Kouttab Nicola , Xu Aie , Wan Yinsheng 
Published: August 2008

AbstractSIRT1 is a member of a highly conserved gene family (sirtuins) encoding nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+‐dependent deacetylases, originally found to deacetylate histones leading to increased DNA stability and prolonged survival in yeast and higher organisms, including mammals. SIRT1 has been found to function as a deacetylase for numerous protein targets involved in various cellular pathways, including stress responses, apoptosis and axonal degeneration. However, the role of SIRT1 in ultraviolet (UV) signalling pathways remains unknown. Using cell culture and Western blot analysis in this study we found that SIRT1 is expressed in cultured human skin keratinocytes. Both UV radiation and H2O2, two major inducers of skin cell damage, down‐regulate SIRT1 in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. We observed that reactive oxygen species‐mediated JNK activation is involved in this SIRT1 down‐regulation. SIRT1 activator, resveratrol, which has been considered as an important antioxidant, protects against UV‐ and H2O2‐induced cell death, whereas SIRT inhibitors such as sirtinol and nicotinamide enhance cell death. Activation of SIRT1 negatively regulates UV‐ and H2O2‐induced p53 acetylation, because nicotinamide and sirtinol as well as SIRT1 siRNA enhance UV‐ and H2O2‐induced p53 acetylation, whereas SIRT1 activator resveratrol inhibits it. We also found that SIRT1 is involved in UV‐induced AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) and downstream acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), phosphofructose kinase‐2 (PFK‐2) phosphorylation. Collectively, our data provide new insights into understanding of the molecular mechanisms of UV‐induced skin aging, suggesting that SIRT1 activators such as resveratrol could serve as new anti‐skin aging agents.
Liposome‐based vascular endothelial growth factor‐165 transfection with skeletal myoblast for treatment of ischaemic limb disease
Authors: Ye Lei , Haider Husnain Kh. , Esa Wahidah Bte , Su LiPing , Law Peter K. , Zhang Wei , Lim YeanTeng , Poh Kian Keong , Sim Eugene K.W. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThe study aims to use cholesterol (Chol) + DOTAP liposome (CD liposome) based human vascular endothelial growth factor‐165 (VEGF165) gene transfer into skeletal myoblasts (SkMs) for treatment of acute hind limb ischaemia in a rabbit model. The feasibility and efficacy of CD liposome mediated gene transfer with rabbit SkMs were characterized using plasmid carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein (pEGFP) and assessed by flow cytometry. After optimization, SkMs were transfected with CD lipoplexes carrying plasmid‐VEGF165 (CD‐pVEGF165) and transplanted into rabbit ischaemic limb. Animals were randomized to receive intramuscular injection of Medium199 (M199; group 1), non‐transfected SkM (group 2) or CD‐pVEGF165 transfected SkM (group 3). Flow cytometry revealed that up to 16% rabbit SkMs were successfully transfected with pEGFP. Based on the optimized transfection condition, transfected rabbit SkM expressed VEGF165 up to day 18 with peak at day 2. SkMs were observed in all cell‐transplanted groups, as visualized with 6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole and bromodeoxyuridine. Angiographic blood vessel score revealed increased collateral vessel development in group 3 (39.7 ± 2.0) compared with group 2 (21.6 ± 1.1%, P < 0.001) and group 1 (16.9 ± 1.1%, P < 0.001). Immunostaining for CD31 showed significantly increased capillary density in group 3 (14.88 ± 0.9) compared with group 2 (8.5 ± 0.49, P < 0.001) and group 1 (5.69 ± 0.3, P < 0.001). Improved blood flow (ml/min./g) was achieved in animal group 3 (0.173 ± 0.04) as compared with animal group 2 (0.122 ± 0.016; P= 0.047) and group 1 (0.062 ± 0.012; P < 0.001). In conclusion, CD liposome mediated VEGF165 gene transfer with SkMs effectively induced neovascularization in the ischaemic hind limb and may serve as a safe and new therapeutic modality for the repair of acute ischaemic limb disease.