bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Study to Determine the Safety and Efficacy of Cultured and Expanded Autologous Fibroblast Injections for the Treatment of Interdental Papillary Insufficiency Associated With the Papilla Priming Procedure
Authors: McGuire Michael K. , Scheyer E. Todd 
Published: January 2007

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of using autologous fibroblast injections following a minimally invasive papilla priming procedure to augment open interproximal spaces.Methods: Twenty‐one patients with open interproximal spaces were enrolled in this study, with 20 patients retained to study completion. Two primary sites were selected and randomized to receive autologous fibroblast injections or placebo injections beginning 1 week following the papilla priming procedure; two additional injections were performed 7 to 14 days following the initial injections. Up to seven additional sites could be treated per patient, and the analyses were conducted for the primary and secondary sites. The primary efficacy parameter was the percentage change in papillary height of the primary treatment areas from baseline to the 4‐month visit, as measured by a periodontal probe from the base of the contact area to the tip of the interproximal papilla. Digital image analysis and diagnostic models were used to confirm clinical measurements. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used by the examiner and subject to assess the defect change from baseline to 2, 3, and 4 months. Tissue texture also was assessed by the examiner.Results: The primary efficacy analysis failed to show a significant treatment effect at 4 months, but the treatment areas showed a statistically significant mean percentage increase from baseline in papillary height (P = 0.0067; signed‐rank test) at 2 months. The difference between test and placebo sites in papillary height at 2 months approached statistical significance (P = 0.0730), suggesting that the test treatment was superior to the placebo treatment. The examiner and subject VASs were statistically significantly different from baseline for both treatment groups, and the VAS was superior for the test sites over the placebo. Based on safety data, the test treatment was deemed safe.Conclusions: This early‐phase study using cell transplantation of autologous cultured and expanded fibroblasts following a papilla priming procedure suggests that the treatment is safe and may be efficacious for treating papillary insufficiency, especially in the early phases (2 months) of healing. The analysis of the investigator and subject VAS assessments indicates that the test treatment was superior to the placebo treatment. The finite measurement required to detect a change creates a problem that needs to be addressed in future studies.
The Effectiveness of Subgingival Scaling and Root Planing: An Evaluation of Therapy With and Without the Use of the Periodontal Endoscope
Authors: Geisinger Maria L. , Mealey Brian L. , Schoolfield John , Mellonig James T. 
Published: January 2007

Background: A fiber‐optic periodontal endoscope was developed to aid in the visualization of subgingival structures and to improve the diagnosis and management of periodontal diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether use of the periodontal endoscope with scaling and root planing (SRP) resulted in a decrease in residual calculus compared to SRP alone.Methods: Fifteen subjects with 50 tooth pairs participated in this study. Each tooth per pair was randomized to receive SRP with or without the endoscope. Teeth were extracted, and a stereomicroscope and digital image analysis was used to determine percent residual calculus present in a masked fashion.Results: There was 2.14% (P < 0.001) more residual calculus at control versus test sites. At buccal/lingual and interproximal surfaces, mean differences in residual calculus were 1.30% (P <0.015) and 2.93% (P < 0.001), respectively. Test treatment time decreased significantly as operator experience increased. There were no statistically significant differences between residual calculus for test and control teeth at shallower probing depths; however, at deeper probing depths, the use of the endoscope resulted in significantly less residual calculus.Conclusions: The use of the periodontal endoscope resulted in a statistically significant overall improvement in calculus removal during SRP, which was most evident in deeper probing depths. The clinical significance of this level of improvement is unknown.
Two Subgingival Plaque‐Sampling Strategies Used With RNA Probes
Authors: Krigar Diana‐Maria , Kaltschmitt Jens , Krieger Jörg K. , Eickholz Peter 
Published: January 2007

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the results of microbiological RNA‐probe analysis after subgingival plaque sampling applying two different strategies.Methods: In 220 patients, clinical examinations were obtained prior to commencement of therapy for aggressive or generalized severe chronic periodontitis (n = 113), after combined mechanical and antibiotic anti‐infective periodontal therapy (n = 43), or because of periodontal pockets despite adequate therapy (n = 64). Subgingival plaque samples were obtained from the three pockets with the deepest probing depths. Two sterile paper points were inserted simultaneously into the periodontal pockets. One paper point from each pocket was put into a separate transport vial; the second paper point was pooled (multiple site test [MT3]) with paper points from each of the two other sampling sites from the respective patient into a transport vial. The content of each vial was analyzed separately for Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythensis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Treponema denticola (Td) with a commercially available RNA‐probe test.Results: For all tested pathogens, log‐transformed numbers of bacteria were higher in pooled samples compared to the mean values for the separate samples (P ≤0.01). However, for Td only, statistically significant differences in frequency were seen between the separate samples and MT3. These findings were observed over all samples as well as after evaluation of subgroups separately.Conclusions: Pooling of plaque samples increased the bacterial counts per analysis compared to separate samples and thus may increase the probability of detecting existing pathogens. However, this observation only was statistically significant for the frequency of Td.
Measuring downside risk and severity for global output
Authors: Wang Yan , Yao Yudong 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThis paper attempts to provide a critical measure of downside risk and severity for global output by applying the Value at Risk approach to four country groups in the world as a ‘portfolio’. Global output downside risk, measured by global Growth at Risk (GaR), estimates the worst possible growth decline, relative to the baseline projection, with a specified probability over a given time horizon. This measure serves as a practical summary for predicting the risk for output downturn given a one‐year time horizon, based on the past growth distribution of individual countries and correlation among their growth rates. Our empirical estimates show that the downside risk that the world economy faced in 2002 was not as severe as the last global downturn in 1992–1993. In particular, the global GaR estimates that the worst outcome of the global economy in 2002, at 95% confidence level, was a growth rate of 0.34%.  Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Realistic human error rates for process hazard analyses
Authors: Wincek John C. , Haight Joel M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractWhile human error has long been recognized as a contributor to process incidents, Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) teams often struggle to agree on the frequency at which human errors might occur. This difficulty in reaching a consensus can be due to the varied backgrounds and experiences of team members, as well as the degree to which they believe human error is inevitable as opposed to simply being a reason for discipline. A process that combines research‐based, quantitative estimates of human error rates with plant experience and intuition is proposed for use during qualitative PHAs. Use of these quantitative estimates within a qualitative PHA is described, along with one facility's successful implementation of this process. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2007.
Effects of phorbol esters, A23187 and vasopressin on oleate metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes
Authors: Nomura Takahide , Tachibana Masakatsu , Nomura Hiroko , Chihara Masaru , Hagino Yasumichi 
Published: January 2007

AbstractStudies were conducted to compare the metabolic effects of vasopressin, 4β‐phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate (PMA) and A23187 on ketogenesis and oleate metabolism in isolated hepatocytes from fed rats. Vasopressin inhibited the formation of acid‐soluble products from [1‐14C]oleate (0.25 mM, 0.5 mM and 1 mM), the inhibition being most marked at low (0.25 mM) concentration of oleate. Conversion of [1‐14C]oleate into14CO2 and esterified products was stimulated by vasopressin. The stimulatory effect of this hormone on14CO2 production was most marked at high (1 mM) concentration of oleate, whereas that on [1‐14C]‐oleate esterification was most marked at low (0.25 mM) concentration of oleate. These vasopressin actions were abolished when hepatocytes were incubated in the absence of calcium in the medium. Our results strongly suggest that both increase in esterification and increase in oxidation to CO2 contribute to the anti‐ketogenic action of vasopressin when oleate is added as substrate, although the relative extent of their contribution varies according to the oleate concentration. The anti‐ketogenic action of vasopressin was mimicked by PMA but not by A23187. PMA also caused a stimulation of [1‐14C]oleate esterification although the effect was diminished at 1 mM [1‐14C]oleate. A23187 failed to affect [1‐14C]oleate esterification. The metabolic effects of PMA were elicited in the absence of extracellular calcium, too. Conversion of [1‐14C]oleate into14CO2 was only slightly increased by both PMA and A23187 when 1 mM [1‐14C]oleate was added as substrate. The marked stimulatory effect of vasopressin on14CO2 production from [1‐14C]oleate was not reproduced even by the combination of PMA and A23187. The possible involvement of protein kinase C and calcium mobilization in the regulation of oleate metabolism is discussed.
An interleukin-4-dependent precursor clone is an intermediate of the differentiation pathway from an interleukin-3-dependent precursor clone into myeloid cells as well as B lymphocytes
Authors: Kinashi Tatsuo , Tashiro Kel , Inaba Kayo , Takeda Toshio , Palacios Ronald , Honjo Tasuku 
Published: January 2007

Abstract
An Interleukin-3-dependent progenitor clone LyD9 and its Interleukin-4-dependent derivative clone K-4 were shown to differentiate into myeloid cells as well as B lymphocytes by coculture with bone marrow stroma cells. The K-4 clone is an Intermediate between myeloid/lymphoid cells and the LyD9 clone that requires Interleukin-4 for differentiation into B lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor-dependent derivatives (LS-1 and KGM) were also established from Induced LyD9 cells. LS-1 and K-GM were myeloid-committed cells.
High Prevalence of α‐1‐Antitrypsin Heterozygosity in Children With Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Campbell Kathleen M , Arya Gajra , Ryckman Frederick C , Alonso Maria , Tiao Greg , Balistreri William F , Bezerra Jorge A 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTObjective:α‐1‐antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is the most common genetic cause of liver disease in children; however, the role of polymorphic heterogeneity in the A1AT gene as a modifier of other forms of pediatric liver disease is not clear. We hypothesized that non‐M A1AT allele variants are more common in children with chronic liver disease than in the general population.Methods:A retrospective, single‐center study was performed in which A1AT phenotypes were obtained by reviewing charts of children with chronic liver disease. Chi‐square analysis was used to compare allele frequencies in the population of children with liver disease with published epidemiologic data and to compare allele frequencies among disease subgroups.Results:The frequency of A1AT Z and other alleles was increased in children with chronic liver disease (n = 241) when compared with the published reference database (P < 0.001). This increase remained significant when the population was divided into disease subsets: biliary atresia (n = 67) and other liver disease (n = 174) (P < 0.001 for both). Among children with biliary atresia referred for liver transplant evaluation, the presence of a non‐M allele was associated with a lower mean age at transplant listing than the MM phenotype (235 vs 779 days, P = 0.036) and more frequent loss of native liver by 24 months of age (90% vs 65%, P = 0.04).Conclusions:A1AT non‐M alleles are more frequent in children with chronic liver disease than in the general population. We speculate that these non‐M alleles may act as genetic modifiers in pediatric liver disease in general and modulate disease progression in children with biliary atresia in particular.
Effect of Omeprazole on Acid Gastroesophageal Reflux and Gastric Acidity in Preterm Infants With Pathological Acid Reflux
Authors: Omari Taher I , Haslam Ross R , Lundborg Per , Davidson Geoffrey P 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTIntroduction:Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy is increasingly being used to treat premature infants with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); however, the efficacy of PPI on acid production in this population has yet to be assessed in this patient group. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 0.7 mg/kg/d omeprazole on gastric acidity and acid gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants with reflux symptoms and pathological acid reflux on 24‐h pH probe.Methods:A randomized, double blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover design trial of omeprazole therapy was performed in 10 preterm infants (34–40 weeks postmenstrual age). Infants were given omeprazole for 7 d and then placebo for 7 d in randomized order. Twenty‐four‐hour esophageal and gastric pH monitoring was performed on days 7 and 14 of the trial.Results:Compared to placebo, omeprazole therapy significantly reduced gastric acidity (%time pH <4, 54% vs 14%, P < 0.0005), esophageal acid exposure (%time pH <4, 19% vs 5%, P < 0.01) and number of acid GER episodes (119 vs 60 episodes, P < 0.05).Conclusions:Omeprazole is effective in reducing esophageal acid exposure in premature infants with pathological acid reflux on 24‐h pH probe; however, the far more complex issues of safety and efficacy have yet to be addressed.
Assessment of Sperm Apoptosis in Cryopreserved Bull Semen After Swim‐up Treatment: A Flow Cytometric Study
Authors: Chaveiro A , Santos P. , Da Silva FM 
Published: January 2007

ContentsThe techniques used to prepare bovine spermatozoa forin vitrofertilization, to enhance the percentage of motile sperm cells include the swim‐up (SU) method, among others. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation and plasma membrane integrity as the indicator of apoptosis and necrosis in post‐thaw bull sperm after SU treatment using annexin V‐fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) assay. A flow cytometric method was employed to measure apoptosis levels on frozen‐thawed bull spermatozoa. The assay detects PS translocation across the plasma membrane using a fluorescein‐labelled annexin‐V and PI. By using the annexin V/PI assay four different subpopulations of sperm were observed: (i) a population of apoptotic sperm, labelled with annexin V–FITC but not with PI; (ii) a population of early necrotic spermatozoa, sperm labelled with annexin–FITC and PI; (iii) a population of necrotic sperm, labelled with PI but not with annexin–FITC; and (iv) a population of fully viable sperm cells, sperm not labelled with annexin V–FITC and without PI. Results clearly indicated that SU technique itself could have an adverse effect on the spermatozoa membrane stability. It has also been found, significant differences between bulls in the levels of apoptotic sperm, after SU treatment.
NGF augments the autophosphorylation of Ret via inhibition of ubiquitin‐dependent degradation
Authors: Pierchala Brian A. , Tsui Cynthia C. , Milbrandt Jeffrey , Johnson Eugene M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractNerve growth factor (NGF) is required for the trophic maintenance of postnatal sympathetic neurons. A significant portion of the growth‐promoting activity of NGF is from NGF‐dependent phosphorylation of the heterologous receptor tyrosine kinase, Ret. We found that NGF applied selectively to distal axons of sympathetic neurons maintained in compartmentalized cultures activated Ret located in these distal axons. Inhibition of either proteasomal or lysosomal degradation pathways mimicked the effect of NGF on Ret activation. Likewise, NGF inhibited the degradation of Ret induced by glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor‐dependent activation, a process that requires ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. NGF induced the accumulation of autophosphorylated Ret predominantly in the plasma membrane, in contrast to GDNF, which promoted the internalization of activated Ret. An accretion of monoubiquitinated, but not polyubiquitinated, Ret occurred in NGF‐treated neurons, in contrast to glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor that promoted the robust polyubiquitination of Ret. Thus, NGF stimulates Ret activity in mature sympathetic neurons by inhibiting the ongoing ubiquitin‐mediated degradation of Ret before its internalization and polyubiquitination.
Effects of Cash and Counseling on Personal Care and Well‐Being
Authors: Carlson Barbara Lepidus , Foster Leslie , Dale Stacy B. , Brown Randall 
Published: January 2007

Objective. To examine how a new model of consumer‐directed care changes the way that consumers with disabilities meet their personal care needs and, in turn, affects their well‐being.Study Setting. Eligible Medicaid beneficiaries in Arkansas, Florida, and New Jersey volunteered to participate in the demonstration and were randomly assigned to receive an allowance and direct their own Medicaid supportive services as Cash and Counseling consumers (the treatment group) or to rely on Medicaid services as usual (the control group). The demonstration included elderly and nonelderly adults in all three states and children in Florida.Data Sources. Telephone interviews administered 9 months after random assignment.Methods. Outcomes for the treatment and control group were compared, using regression analysis to control for consumers' baseline characteristics.Principal Findings. Treatment group members were more likely to receive paid care, had greater satisfaction with their care, and had fewer unmet needs than control group members in nearly every state and age group. However, among the elderly in Florida, Cash and Counseling had little effect on these outcomes because so few treatment group members actually received the allowance. Within each state and age group, consumers were not more susceptible to adverse health outcomes or injuries under Cash and Counseling.Conclusions. Cash and Counseling substantially improves the lives of Medicaid beneficiaries of all ages if consumers actually receive the allowance that the program offers.
Case Histories of Six Consumers and Their Families in Cash and Counseling
Authors: San Antonio Patricia M. , Simon‐Rusinowitz Lori , Loughlin Dawn , Eckert J. Kevin , Mahoney Kevin J. 
Published: January 2007

Objective. To examine how the lives of consumers and their caregivers were affected by making choices and controlling their own resources with the cash option, this paper focuses on six case studies from the Cash and Counseling Demonstration Program.Data Sources. Twenty‐one consumers, caregivers, and state consultants were interviewed about their experiences in the program.Study Design. The data come from a larger study of over 200 interviews conducted from June 2000 to August 2004. Interview data were analyzed for themes about caregiving and program satisfaction.Principal Findings. Cash and Counseling benefited consumers and caregivers by allowing consumers increased continuity and reliability of care, increased ability to set hours of care, more satisfaction with how caregiving is offered and more satisfaction with the quality of care.Conclusions. The cash option allowed consumers to create, schedule, and manage their own model of care. Some consumers faced challenges in the program with paperwork, accounting, worries about receiving care, and some ineffective state consultants who could have been more helpful.
Human Prolactin Promotes Human Secondary Immunoglobulin Response in Human/SCID Mouse Chimeras
Authors: Zhang Jian , Sun Rui , Tian Zhigang 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTRecombinant human prolactin (rhPRL) was administered to huPBL-SCID mice to determine its effects on production of human immunoglobulin (Ig). The huPBL-SCID mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 10 μg rhPRL every other day for a total of 10 injections. The results reconfirmed that rhPRL significantly increased the numbers of human CD3+T cells and human CD19+B cells in spleens, lymph nodes, and thymuses of huPBL-SCID mice. The huPBL-SCID mice were then concurrently given various doses of diphtheria-tetanus (DT) vaccine and 10-μg i.p. injections of rhPRL and were examined for the presence of human DT-specific proliferation of lymph node cells in vitro and antibody production in vivo. rhPRL greatly improved the engraftment of functional human lymphocytes (CD3+T cells and CD19+B cells) in DT-immunized huPBL-SCID mice. The rhPRL-treated, DT-immunized huPBL-SCID mice produced significantly larger amounts of DT-specific antibodies in response to the vaccine. The predominant Ig isotype induced after immunization was IgG. Thus, rhPRL stimulation promotes human secondary IgG responses in huPBL-SCID mice.
Comparative Evaluation of Etest and Sensititre YeastOne Panels against the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M27-A2 Reference Broth Microdilution Method for Testing
Candida
Susceptibility to Seven Antifungal Agents
Authors: Alexander Barbara D. , Byrne Terry C. , Smith Kelly L. , Hanson Kimberly E. , Anstrom Kevin J. , Perfect John R. , Reller L. Barth 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACT

To assess their utility for antifungal susceptibility testing in our clinical laboratory, the Etest and Sensititre methods were compared with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A2 reference broth microdilution method. Fluconazole (FL), itraconazole (I), voriconazole (V), posaconazole (P), flucytosine (FC), caspofungin (C), and amphotericin B (A) were tested with 212
Candida
isolates. Reference MICs were determined after 48 h of incubation, and Etest and Sensititre MICs were determined after 24 h and 48 h of incubation. Overall, excellent essential agreement (EA) between the reference and test methods was observed for Etest (95%) and Sensititre (91%). Etest showed an ≥92% EA for MICs for all drugs tested; Sensititre showed a ≥92% EA for MICs for I, FC, A, and C but 82% for FL and 85% for V. The overall categorical agreement (CA) was 90% for Etest and 88% for Sensititre; minor errors accounted for the majority of all categorical errors for both systems. Categorical agreement was lowest for
Candida glabrata
and
Candida tropicalis
with both test systems. Etest and Sensititre provided better CA at 24 h compared to 48 h for
C. glabrata
; however, CA for
C. glabrata
was <80% for FL with both test systems despite MIC determination at 24 h. Agreement between technologists for both methods was ≥98% for each agent against all organisms tested. Overall, Etest and Sensititre methods compared favorably with the CLSI reference method for determining the susceptibility of
Candida
. However, further evaluation of their performance for determining the MICs of azoles, particularly for
C. glabrata
, is warranted.