bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Independent Evaluation of an Out‐of‐hospital Termination of Resuscitation (TOR) Clinical Decision Rule
Authors: Richman Peter B. , Vadeboncoeur Tyler F. , Chikani Vatsal , Clark Lani , Bobrow Bentley J. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjectives:  Recently, investigators described a clinical decision rule for termination of resuscitation (TOR) designed to help determine whether to terminate emergency medical services (EMS) resuscitative efforts for out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrests (OOHCA). The authors sought to evaluate the hypothesis that TOR would predict no survival for patients in an independent cohort of patients with OOHCA.Methods:  This was a retrospective cohort analysis conducted in the state of Arizona. Consecutive, adult, OOHCA were prospectively evaluated from October 2004 through October 2006. A statewide OOHCA database utilizing Utstein‐style reporting from 30 different EMS systems was used. Data were abstracted from EMS first care reports and hospital discharge records. The TOR guidelines predict that no survival to hospital discharge will occur if 1) an OOHCA victim does not have return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), 2) no shocks are administered, and 3) the arrest is not witnessed by EMS personnel. Data were entered into a structured database. Continuous data are presented as means (±standard deviations [SD]) and categorical data as frequency of occurrence, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated as appropriate. The primary outcome measure was to determine if any cohort member who met TOR criteria survived to hospital discharge.Results:  There were 2,239 eligible patients; the study group included 2,180 (97.4%) patients for whom the data were complete; mean age was 64 (±11) years, and 35% were female. The majority of patients in the study group met at least one or more of the TOR criteria. A total of 2,047 (93.8%) patients suffered from cardiac arrest that was unwitnessed by EMS; 1,653 (75.8%) had an unwitnessed arrest and no ROSC. With respect to TOR, 1,160 of 2,180 (53.2%) patients met all three criteria; only one (0.09%; 95% CI = 0% to 0.5%) survived to hospital discharge.Conclusions:  The authors evaluated TOR guidelines in an independent, statewide OOHCA database. The results are consistent with the findings of the TOR investigation and suggest that this algorithm is a promising tool for TOR decision‐making in the field.
Multicenter Study of Limited Health Literacy in Emergency Department Patients
Authors: Ginde Adit A. , Weiner Scott G. , Pallin Daniel J. , Camargo Jr Carlos A. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjectives:  The objective was to evaluate the prevalence of limited health literacy and its association with sociodemographic variables in emergency department (ED) patients.Methods:  This was a cross‐sectional survey in three Boston EDs. The authors enrolled consecutive adult patients during two 24‐hour periods at each site. They measured health literacy by the short version of the Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S‐TOFHLA). Using multivariate logistic regression, the authors evaluated associations between sociodemographic variables and limited health literacy, as classified by S‐TOFHLA scores.Results:  The authors enrolled 300 patients (77% of eligible). Overall, 75 (25%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 20% to 30%) of participants had limited health literacy. Limited health literacy was independently associated with older age (compared to 18–44 years, odds ratio [OR] 4.3 [95% CI = 2.0 to 9.2] for 45–64 years and OR 3.4 [95% CI = 1.4 to 8.5] for ≥65 years), less education (compared to high school graduates, OR 2.7 [95% CI = 1.1 to 7.3] for some high school or lower and OR 0.43 [95% CI = 0.21 to 0.88] for some college or higher), and lower income (OR 2.8 [95% CI = 1.2 to 6.6] for ≤$40,000 compared to >$40,000). Although ethnicity, race, and language were associated with limited health literacy in unadjusted analyses, the associations were not significant on multivariate analysis.Conclusions:  In this sample, one‐quarter of ED patients would be expected to have difficulty understanding health materials and following prescribed treatment regimens. Advanced age and low socioeconomic status were independently associated with limited health literacy. The ability of a significant subgroup of ED patients to understand health information, especially during illness or injury, requires further study.
Children with Bacterial Meningitis Presenting to the Emergency Department during the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Era
Authors: Nigrovic Lise E. , Kuppermann Nathan , Malley Richard ,   for the Bacterial Meningitis Study Group of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackground:  The epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in children in the era of widespread heptavalent conjugate pneumococcal vaccination (PCV7) is unknown.Objectives:  The objective was to describe the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in children presenting to the emergency department (ED) during the era of widespread PCV7 vaccination.Methods:  The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all children aged 1 month to 19 years with bacterial meningitis who presented to the EDs of 20 U.S. pediatric centers (2001–2004). Bacterial meningitis was defined by a positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture for a bacterial pathogen or CSF pleocytosis (CSF white blood cell [WBC] count ≥10 cells/mm3) in association with either a positive blood culture or a CSF latex agglutination study.Results:  A total of 231 children with bacterial meningitis were identified. The median age was 0.6 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 0.2–4.2). Eight patients (3% of all patients) died. The following bacterial pathogens were identified: Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 77; 33.3%), Neisseria meningitidis (67; 29.0%), Group B Streptococcus (42; 18.2%), Escherichia coli (17; 7.4%), nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (10; 4.3%), other Gram‐negative bacilli (7; 3.0%), Listeria monocytogenes (5; 2.2%), Group A Streptococcus (5; 2.2%), and Moraxella catarrhalis (1; 0.4%). S. pneumoniae serotypes were determined in 37 of 77 patients; of these, 62% were due to nonvaccine serotypes (including 19A).Conclusions:  Although now a rare infectious disease in United States, bacterial meningitis still causes substantial morbidity in affected children. Despite the introduction of PCV7, S. pneumoniae remains the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in U.S. children, with approximately half of cases due to nonvaccine serotypes.
Chronic actinic dermatitis in a patient with adult T‐cell leukemia
Authors: Adachi Yuka , Horio Takeshi 
Published: May 2008

SummaryA patient with chronic actinic dermatitis showed a leukocytosis with peripheral atypical lymphocytes. Histology of cutaneous eruptions disclosed a dense infiltrate of lymphocytes mixed with large hyperchromatic cells in the dermis and Pautrier‐like microabscesses in the epidermis. However, clonal rearrangements of the T‐cell receptors were not detected. On the other hand, monoclonal integration of human T‐cell lymphotrophic virus type I provirus was found in the peripheral lymphocytes. In the present case, pseudolymphomatous changes occurred in association with adult T‐cell leukemia. Southern blot analyses were useful for the correct diagnosis.
Erythema multiforme on exposed and non‐exposed skin following polymorphic light eruption: a case report
Authors: Borges da Costa João , Duarte Reis Miguel , Soares de Almeida Luís , Mayer‐da‐Silva Augusto , Marques Gomes Manuel 
Published: May 2008

SummaryWe report a 35‐year‐old caucasian female with a history of polymorphic light eruption (PLE) who, after the outbreak of pruritic papules following the first sun exposure of the year, developed target lesions in two different bouts, the first on sun‐exposed skin and the second on sun‐protected sites. A diagnosis of erythema multiforme (EM) developing as a result of PLE was made. As far as we were able to search in the literature, EM occurring in two bouts has not been described previously. We discuss the differential diagnosis.
Thioredoxin upregulation by 5‐aminolaevulinic acid‐based photodynamic therapy in human skin squamous cell carcinoma cell line
Authors: Kuhara Tomoe , Watanabe Daisuke , Akita Yoichi , Takeo Tomohiro , Ishida Natsuko , Nakano Aki , Yamashita Noriko , Ohshima Yuichiro , Kawada Morihiro , Yanagishita Takeshi , Tamada Yasuhiko , Matsumoto Yoshinari 
Published: May 2008

SummaryBackground/purpose: 5‐aminolaevulinic acid‐based photodynamic therapy (ALA‐PDT) is widely performed in the clinical setting for superficial skin cancers, giving favorable results, but residual tumor and recurrence occur occasionally. Thioredoxin is a common antioxidant that suppresses apoptosis and facilitates cell growth. We investigated the expression of thioredoxin following ALA‐PDT in human skin squamous cell carcinoma cell line, HSC‐5.Methods: ALA‐PDT was performed in HSC‐5 cells using low‐dose (5 J/cm2, 100 mW/cm2) or high‐dose (30 J/cm2, 100 mW/cm2) irradiation, and the expression of thioredoxin was measured by Western blotting. An MTT assay was used to assess cell growth following a low dose of multiple irradiations. Cell death was examined by Western blotting for caspase‐3 and PARP. Immunofluorescence double staining using annexin V and propidium iodine was also performed.Results: Expression of thioredoxin was only observed following low‐dose exposure ALA‐PDT. Multiple low‐dose exposure ALA‐PDT significantly proliferated cell growth. With high‐dose exposure ALA‐PDT, caspase‐3 and PARP expression were seen, and cell death due to apoptosis and/or necrosis was observed, but thioredoxin was barely detected.Conclusion: Low‐dose exposure ALA‐PDT increased the expression of thioredoxin and facilitated the growth of HSC‐5 cells.
VV124 (UGC4879): a new transitional dwarf galaxy in the periphery of the Local Group
Authors: Kopylov A. I. , Tikhonov N. A. , Fabrika S. , Drozdovsky I. , Valeev A. F. 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
We present the first photometry of individual stars within VV124 (UGC4879) and find that this is the most isolated dwarf galaxy in the periphery of the Local Group. This work is based on imaging and spectroscopic follow-up observations with the 6-m BTA telescope; we resolve VV124 into 1560 stars down to the limiting magnitude levels of V≃ 25.6 and I≃ 23.9. Young blue stellar populations and ionized gas are found near the core, but notably displaced from the centre of the galaxy as traced by dominant evolved red stars. The mean heliocentric radial velocity derived from the spectra of two blue supergiant stars and unresolved continuum sources is −70 ± 15 km s−1. The evolved ‘red tangle’ stellar populations, which contain the red giant branch (RGB), are identified at large galactocentric radii. We use the I-band luminosity function to determine the distance based on the Tip of RGB method, 1.1 ± 0.1 Mpc. This is ∼10 times closer than the values usually assumed in the literature, and we provide revised distance-dependent parameters. From the mean (V—I) colour of the RGB, we estimate the mean metallicity as [Fe/H]≃−1.37 dex. Despite its isolated location, the properties of VV124 are clearly not those of a galaxy in formation, but rather similar to a transitional dIrr/dSph type.
Co-spatial evolution of photospheric Doppler enhancements and Hα flare ribbons observed during the solar flare of 2003 October 28
Authors: Venkatakrishnan P. , Kumar Brajesh , Uddin Wahab 
Published: May 2008

Abstract
The active region NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) AR 10486 which appeared on the solar disc in 2003 October produced a lot of space weather related activity. Here, we report on the co-spatial evolution of the photospheric Doppler enhancements and the chromospheric Hα flare ribbons observed during the 4B/X17.2 class solar flare of 2003 October 28 in this active region. These velocity enhancements exactly match the Hα brightness enhancements in space, and are delayed by approximately 1min in time. Hα brightness attains a maximum nearly at the same time as the peak seen in light curves in high-energy emission observed by KORONAS (Kuznetsov et al. 2006).
Economic Geographies of the Global South: Missed Opportunities and Promising Intersections with Development Studies
Authors: Murphy James T. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThis article examines economic geography's bias toward research in advanced industrial and emerging economies (e.g. China, Eastern Europe) and proposes ideas about how scholars in the field might more significantly engage with the Global South (i.e. developing regions). ‘Southern’ research matters for theory development and policy relevance and there are interesting and important opportunities for economic geographers to learn from, and contribute to, ongoing work in development studies and development geography. Three avenues of research are proposed that can improve the links between these academic communities: research on industrial location, infrastructure development, and communication flows; cultural or relational studies of development's meanings, processes, and practices; and network perspectives on South–North and South–South relationships. Given the dramatic and rapid pace of global market integration today, it is crucial for more economic geographers to find new, interesting, and substantive ways to engage with the developing regions in order to more fully understand and conceptualize the complex practices and processes constituting the world economy and its uneven consequences.
Blocked D phenomenon, a rare condition with Rh D haemolytic disease of newborn – a case report
Authors: SULOCHANA P. V. , RAJESH A. , MATHAI J. , SATHYABHAMA S. 
Published: May 2008

SummaryAccurate Rh testing can be difficult if the red cells are heavily coated with IgG anti D antibodies – a phenomenon called blocked D. Repeatedly, Rh D negative blood group report was obtained in a newborn male baby with severe haemolytic disease and features of kernicterus born to a 2nd gravida B Rh D negative mother. On investigation, the baby was grouped as B Rh D negative by direct grouping, but after elution, D antigen was detected and phenotyped as CcDe. Antibody was identified as anti D. All D antigens of the baby were fully saturated with anti D leaving any antigen to bind with antisera. Direct Coombs test was strongly positive even after three exchange transfusions. The baby also had free antibody apart from the red cell bound and the red cell eluate, gave a titre of 512. The mother was grouped as B Rh D negative and phenotyped as ce. She had IgM and IgG class of anti D with titres 32 and 1024 respectively. She also had IgM anti C (only in neat) and IgG anti‐A with a titre of 512.
Beneficial effects of Kampo medicine Inchin‐ko‐to on liver function and regeneration after hepatectomy in rats
Authors: Ogasawara Takashi , Morine Yuji , Ikemoto Tetsuya , Imura Satoru , Shimada Mitsuo 
Published: May 2008

Aim:  Inchin‐ko‐to (ICKT), Kampo medicine, is known to inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis as well as promote the secretion and excretion of bile. The aim of this study is to clarify the effects of ICKT on liver function and hepatic regeneration after massive hepatectomy in rats.Methods:  Male Wistar rats received 2 g/kg ICKT from 3 days preoperatively and underwent 90% hepatectomy. Liver sections were stained using immunohistochemistry (hemeoxygenase‐1 [HO‐1], α‐smooth muscle actin [SMA], and proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA]).Results:  The survival period was significantly prolonged, and the remnant liver/body weight ratio was significantly increased postoperatively in the ICKT group. The values of transaminase, total bile acid, and total bilirubin were significantly improved in the ICKT group. In the ICKT group, PCNA and HO‐1 were strongly expressed early postoperatively, but the expression of α‐SMA was weak.Conclusion:  The preoperative administration of ICKT has been suggested to provide beneficial effects in promoting hepatic regeneration and preventing postoperative hepatic failure. The reduced activation of stellate cells may be involved in their mechanisms.
Nonclinical Safety Profile of Telbivudine, a Novel Potent Antiviral Agent for Treatment of Hepatitis B
Authors: Bridges Edward G. , Selden Jules R. , Luo Shouqi 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT
Telbivudine is a novel nucleoside drug recently approved for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B. Its nonclinical safety was evaluated in a comprehensive program of studies, including safety pharmacology, acute and chronic toxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. There were no test article-related effects observed in an in vitro hERG assay or in a core battery of safety pharmacology studies (central nervous system, respiratory, and cardiovascular safety pharmacology studies). Telbivudine was well tolerated in rats and in monkeys following single oral doses up to 2,000 mg/kg/day. Except for equivocal axonopathic findings in monkeys and occasional incidences of emesis, soft feces, and minor changes in body weight and food consumption, there was no target organ toxicity observed in mice, rats, or monkeys following oral administration for up to 3, 6, or 9 months, respectively, at doses up to 3,000 mg/kg/day. Axonopathy in the sciatic nerves and in the spinal cords of monkeys dosed at 1,000 mg/kg/day observed in a 9-month study was considered equivocal, as the role of telbivudine in the injury could not be determined. Slightly higher incidences of abortion and premature delivery observed in rabbits dosed at 1,000 mg/kg/day were considered secondary to maternal toxicity. There was no evidence of genotoxicity or carcinogenicity. These results suggest that telbivudine has a favorable safety profile and support its use in patients with chronic compensated hepatitis B viral infection.
Resistance Trends of the
Bacteroides fragilis
Group over a 10-Year Period, 1997 to 2006, in Madrid, Spain
Authors: Betriu Carmen , Culebras Esther , Gómez María , López Fátima , Rodríguez-Avial Iciar , Picazo Juan J. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

The changes in susceptibilities of
Bacteroides fragilis
group strains isolated in our hospital from 1997 to 2006 were studied. A total of 1,343 clinical strains were included. The study showed differences in the resistance rates in the different species of the group. Increasing resistance to clindamycin and moxifloxacin was observed. Susceptibility to imipenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, and metronidazole remained unchanged.
Mutans Streptococcal Infection Induces Salivary Antibody to Virulence Proteins and Associated Functional Domains
Authors: Nogueira R. D. , King W. F. , Gunda G. , Culshaw S. , Taubman M. A. , Mattos-Graner R. O. , Smith D. J. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

The interplay between mucosal immune responses to natural exposure to mutans streptococci and the incorporation and accumulation of these cariogenic microorganisms in oral biofilms is unclear. An initial approach to explore this question would be to assess the native secretory immunity emerging as a consequence of
Streptococcus mutans
infection. To this end, we analyzed salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody to mutans streptococcal glucosyltransferase (Gtf) and glucan binding protein B (GbpB) and to domains associated with enzyme function and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II binding in two experiments. Salivas were collected from approximately 45-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats, which were then infected with
S. mutans
SJ32. Infection was verified and allowed to continue for 2 to 2.5 months. Salivas were again collected following the infection period. Pre- and postinfection salivas were then analyzed for IgA antibody activity using peptide- or protein-coated microsphere Luminex technology.
S. mutans
infection induced significant levels of salivary IgA antibody to Gtf (
P
< 0.002) and GbpB (
P
< 0.001) in both experiments, although the levels were usually far lower than the levels achieved when mucosal immunization is used. Significantly (
P
< 0.035 to
P
< 0.001) elevated levels of postinfection salivary IgA antibody to 6/10 Gtf peptides associated with either enzyme function or MHC binding were detected. The postinfection levels of antibody to two GbpB peptides in the N-terminal region of the six GbpB peptides assayed were also elevated (
P
< 0.031 and
P
< 0.001). Interestingly, the patterns of the rodent response to GbpB peptides were similar to the patterns seen in salivas from young children during their initial exposure to
S. mutans.
Thus, the presence of a detectable postinfection salivary IgA response to mutans streptococcal virulence-associated components, coupled with the correspondence between rat and human mucosal immune responsiveness to naturally presented Gtf and GbpB epitopes, suggests that the rat may be a useful model for defining mucosal responses that could be expected in humans. Under controlled infection conditions, such a model could prove to be helpful for unraveling relationships between the host response and oral biofilm development.
Selected
prfA
* Mutations in Recombinant Attenuated
Listeria monocytogenes
Strains Augment Expression of Foreign Immunogens and Enhance Vaccine-Elicited Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses
Authors: Yan Lin , Qiu Jin , Chen Jianbo , Ryan-Payseur Bridgett , Huang Dan , Wang Yunqi , Rong Lijun , Melton-Witt Jody A. , Freitag Nancy E. , Chen Zheng W. 
Published: May 2008

ABSTRACT

While recombinant
Listeria monocytogenes
strains can be explored as vaccine candidates, it is important to develop attenuated but highly immunogenic
L. monocytogenes
vaccine vectors. Here,
prfA
* mutations selected on the basis of upregulated expression of
L. monocytogenes
PrfA-dependent genes and proteins were assessed to determine their abilities to augment expression of foreign immunogens in recombinant
L. monocytogenes
vectors and therefore enhance vaccine-elicited immune responses (a
prfA
* mutation is a mutation that results in constitutive overexpression of PrfA and PrfA-dependent virulence genes; the asterisk distinguishes the mutation from inactivation or stop mutations). A total of 63 recombinant
L. monocytogenes
vaccine vectors expressing seven individual viral or bacterial immunogens each in nine different
L. monocytogenes
strains carrying wild-type
prfA
or having
prfA
* mutations were constructed and investigated. Mutations selected on the basis of increased PrfA activation in recombinant
L. monocytogenes prfA
* vaccine vectors augmented expression of seven individual protein immunogens remarkably. Consistently, prime and boost vaccination studies with mice indicated that the
prfA
(
G155S
) mutation in recombinant
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA prfA*
strains enhanced vaccine-elicited cellular immune responses. Surprisingly, the
prfA
(
G155S
) mutation was found to enhance vaccine-elicited humoral immune responses as well. The highly immunogenic recombinant
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA prfA*
vaccine strains were as attenuated as the recombinant parent
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA
vaccine vector. Thus, recombinant attenuated
L. monocytogenes
Δ
actA prfA*
vaccine vectors potentially are better antimicrobial and anticancer vaccines.