bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Foodstuffs for Preventing Cancer: The Preclinical and Clinical Development of Berries
Authors: Stoner Gary D. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Laboratory research involving berries is a promising example of food-based cancer prevention. Berries contain many known chemopreventive agents such as anthocyanins and ellagitannins that can be greatly concentrated in freeze-dried berry powders. Based on our program of berry research, this commentary presents the first reported stepwise scheme for the preclinical and clinical development of foodstuffs for cancer prevention. Our preclinical work within this scheme includes promising approaches for assessing the chemopreventive potential of berry powder and berry extracts in preclinical model systems, for determining the mechanisms of action of these agents, and for identifying the active constituents in berries. The commentary also presents preliminary results of clinical trials in the oral cavity, esophagus, and colon using various formulations of freeze-dried berries. The relative merits of berry powders, extracts, or individual constituents (anthocyanins) for cancer prevention are also discussed.
Regulated release and functional modulation of junctional adhesion molecule A by disintegrin metalloproteinases
Authors: Koenen Rory R. , Pruessmeyer Jessica , Soehnlein Oliver , Fraemohs Line , Zernecke Alma , Schwarz Nicole , Reiss Karina , Sarabi Alisina , Lindbom Lennart , Hackeng Tilman M. , Weber Christian , Ludwig Andreas 
Published: March 2009

AbstractJunctional adhesion molecule A (JAM-A) is a transmembrane adhesive glycoprotein that participates in the organization of endothelial tight junctions and contributes to leukocyte transendothelial migration. We demonstrate here that cultured endothelial cells not only express a cellular 43-kDa variant of JAM-A but also release considerable amounts of a 33-kDa soluble JAM-A variant. This release is enhanced by treatment with proinflammatory cytokines and is associated with the down-regulation of surface JAM-A. Inhibition experiments, loss/gain-of-function experiments, and cleavage experiments with recombinant proteases indicated that cleavage of JAM-A is mediated predominantly by the disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) 17 and, to a lesser extent, by ADAM10. Cytokine treatment of mice increased JAM-A serum level and in excised murine aortas increased ADAM10/17 activity correlated with enhanced JAM-A release. Functionally, soluble JAM-A blocked migration of cultured endothelial cells, reduced transendothelial migration of isolated neutrophils in vitro, and decreased neutrophil infiltration in a murine air pouch model by LFA-1– and JAM-A–dependent mechanisms. Therefore, shedding of JAM-A by inflamed vascular endothelium via ADAM17 and ADAM10 may not only generate a biomarker for vascular inflammation but could also be instrumental in controlling JAM-A functions in the molecular zipper guiding transendothelial diapedesis of leukocytes.
Preclinical transfusion-dependent humanized mouse model of β thalassemia major
Authors: Huo Yongliang , McConnell Sean C. , Ryan Thomas M. 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
A preclinical humanized mouse model of β thalassemia major or Cooley anemia (CA) was generated by targeted gene replacement of the mouse adult globin genes in embryonic stem cells. The mouse adult α and β globin genes were replaced with adult human α globin genes (α2α1) and a human fetal to adult hemoglobin (Hb)–switching cassette (γHPFHδβ0), respectively. Similar to human infants with CA, fully humanized mice survived postnatally by synthesizing predominantly human fetal Hb, HbF (α2γ2), with a small amount of human minor adult Hb, HbA2 (α2δ2). Completion of the human fetal to adult Hb switch after birth resulted in severe anemia marked by erythroid hyperplasia, ineffective erythropoiesis, hemolysis, and death. Similar to human patients, CA mice were rescued from lethal anemia by regular blood transfusion. Transfusion corrected the anemia and effectively suppressed the ineffective erythropoiesis, but led to iron overload. This preclinical humanized animal model of CA will be useful for the development of new transfusion and iron chelation regimens, the study of iron homeostasis in disease, and testing of cellular and genetic therapies for the correction of thalassemia.
A proteomic approach for studying insect phylogeny: CAPA peptides of ancient insect taxa (Dictyoptera, Blattoptera) as a test case
Authors: Roth Steffen , Fromm Bastian , Gäde Gerd , Predel Reinhard 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackgroundNeuropeptide ligands have to fit exactly into their respective receptors and thus the evolution of the coding regions of their genes is constrained and may be strongly conserved. As such, they may be suitable for the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships within higher taxa. CAPA peptides of major lineages of cockroaches (Blaberidae, Blattellidae, Blattidae, Polyphagidae, Cryptocercidae) and of the termiteMastotermes darwiniensiswere chosen to test the above hypothesis. The phylogenetic relationships within various groups of the taxon Dictyoptera (praying mantids, termites and cockroaches) are still highly disputed.ResultsTandem mass spectrometry of neuropeptides from perisympathetic organs was used to obtain sequence data of CAPA peptides from single specimens; the data were analysed by Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Interference. The resulting cladograms, taking 61 species into account, show a topology which is in general agreement with recent molecular and morphological phylogenetic analyses, including the recent phylogenetic arrangement placing termites within the cockroaches. When sequence data sets from other neuropeptides, viz. adipokinetic hormones and sulfakinins, were included, the general topology of the cladogram did not change but bootstrap values increased considerably.ConclusionThis study represents the first comprehensive survey of neuropeptides of insects for solely phylogenetic purposes and concludes that sequences of short neuropeptides are suitable to complement molecular biological and morphological data for the reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships.
Building blocks for meta-synthesis: data integration tables for summarising, mapping, and synthesising evidence on interventions for communicating with health consumers
Authors: Ryan Rebecca E , Kaufman Caroline A , Hill Sophie J 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Systematic reviews have developed into a powerful method for summarising and synthesising evidence. The rise in systematic reviews creates a methodological opportunity and associated challenges and this is seen in the development of overviews, or reviews of systematic reviews. One of these challenges is how to summarise evidence from systematic reviews of complex interventions for inclusion in an overview. Interventions for communicating with and involving consumers in their care are frequently complex. In this article we outline a method for preparing data integration tables to enable review-level synthesis of the evidence on interventions for communication and participation in health.

Methods and Results
Systematic reviews published by the Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group were utilised as the basis from which to develop linked steps for data extraction, evidence assessment and synthesis. The resulting output is called a data integration table. Four steps were undertaken in designing the data integration tables: first, relevant information for a comprehensive picture of the characteristics of the review was identified from each review, extracted and summarised. Second, results for the outcomes of the review were assessed and translated to standardised evidence statements. Third, outcomes and evidence statements were mapped into an outcome taxonomy that we developed, using language specific to the field of interventions for communication and participation. Fourth, the implications of the review were assessed after the mapping step clarified the level of evidence available for each intervention.

Conclusion
The data integration tables represent building blocks for constructing overviews of review-level evidence and for the conduct of meta-synthesis. Individually, each table aims to improve the consistency of reporting on the features and effects of interventions for communication and participation; provides a broad assessment of the strength of evidence derived from different methods of analysis; indicates a degree of certainty with results; and reports outcomes and gaps in the evidence in a consistent and coherent way. In addition, individual tables can serve as a valuable tool for accurate dissemination of large amounts of complex information on communication and participation to professionals as well as to members of the public.
An exploratory study to evaluate the utility of an adapted Mother Generated Index (MGI) in assessment of postpartum quality of life in India
Authors: Nagpal Jitender , Dhar Rinku Sen Gupta , Sinha Swati , Bhargava Vijaylakshmi , Sachdeva Aarti , Bhartia Abhishek 
Published: March 2009

Abstract

Background
Given the postulated advantages of mother generated index (MGI) in incorporating the patients' viewpoint and in the absence of a validated India specific postpartum quality of life assessment tool we proposed to evaluate the utility of an adapted Mother-Generated-Index in assessing postpartum quality of life (PQOL) in India.

Methods
The study was integrated into a community survey conducted in one district of Delhi by two-stage cluster randomized sampling to recruit women who delivered in the last 6 months. PQOL was assessed using MGI. Physical morbidity and Edinburgh- postnatal-depression-scale (EPDS) were also recorded for validation purposes.

Results
All subjects (249 of 282 eligible) participating in the survey were approached for the MGI evaluation which could be administered to 195 subjects due to inadequate comprehension or refusal of consent. A trend towards lower scores in lower socioeconomic stratum was observed (Primary index score-2.9, 3.7 and 4.0 in lower, middle and higher strata; Secondary Index Score-2.6, 3.2 and 3.0 in lower, middle and higher strata). 59.4% mothers had scores suggestive of possible depression (EPDS; n = 172). Primary index score had a good correlation with validator scores like EPDS (p = 0.024) and number of physical problems (p = 0.022) while the secondary index score was only associated with EPDS score (p = 0.020).

Conclusion
The study documents that the MGI, with its inherent advantages, is a potentially useful tool for postpartum quality of life evaluation in India especially in the absence of an alternative pre-validated tool.
Age Dependence of Early Symptomatic Vertebral Fracture with High-Dose Glucocorticoid Treatment for Collagen Vascular Diseases
Authors: Tatsuno Ichiro , Sugiyama Takao , Suzuki Sawako , Yoshida Tomohiko , Tanaka Tomoaki , Sueishi Makoto , Saito Yasushi 
Published: March 2009

Abstract
Objectives: Collagen vascular diseases requiring treatment with high-dose glucocorticoids are frequently complicated by vertebral fracture. We investigated the incidence of symptomatic vertebral fractures for 20 yr among patients who were treated with high-dose glucocorticoids in the Chiba-Shimoshizu Rheumatic Cohort.
Methods: A total of 2631 patients with collagen vascular diseases (aged ≥18 yr) was registered between 1986 and 2006. The prevalence of symptomatic vertebral fracture was compared between the high-dose glucocorticoid group newly treated with high-dose glucocorticoids (≥20 mg/d prednisolone equivalent) (n = 700), and the non-glucocorticoid controls not treated with glucocorticoids (n = 194).
Results: During the 20-yr study period, symptomatic vertebral fractures occurred more frequently in the high-dose glucocorticoid group (23.9%) than in the non-glucocorticoid controls (2.6%). According to a Kaplan-Meier analysis, the cumulative incidence of symptomatic vertebral fracture was significantly higher in the high-dose glucocorticoid group than in the non-glucocorticoid controls (P &lt; 0.001). Stratified into age quartiles of the high-dose glucocorticoid group (age 18–31, 32–47, 48–59, and 60–88 yr), the patients had a markedly increased incidence of symptomatic vertebral fracture with aging. The hazard ratios were also significantly higher in the older age quartile of 60–68 than in the younger age quartile of 32–47 (P &lt; 0.001 for trend). The hazard ratio was 26-fold higher in patients aged 60–88 than in patients aged 18–31 (P &lt; 0.01). In the group with fractures, the treatment duration before fracture was negatively associated with the initial age (r = −0.6587; P &lt; 0.001).
Conclusions: The prevalence of symptomatic vertebral fractures was higher in the patients treated with high-dose glucocorticoids than the untreated controls. Vertebral fractures were age dependent in patients treated with high-dose glucocorticoids. Treatment duration before fracture incidence was significantly shorter in the older patients.
Determining the deterioration cost for railway tracks
Authors: Öberg J , Andersson E 
Published: March 2009

The cost of maintaining and renewing railway tracks affected by traffic-dependent deterioration is considerable. It is important not only to have proper maintenance regimes, but also to have knowledge of the interaction between vehicles and track in order to reduce the deterioration of both. In a joint project between Banverket (Swedish Rail Administration) and KTH (Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm), a model for track deterioration is developed, considering track settlement, component fatigue, abrasive wear, and rolling contact fatigue of rails. The basis of the model is taken from what is considered as state-of-the-art knowledge. The model is used as a basis for a proposed new track access charging regime for Banverket, able to differ between vehicle types based on their characteristics and tendency to deteriorate the tracks. The model is implemented in an Excel® environment and applied to Swedish mainline traffic and vehicles. Using representative vehicle characteristics in determining track deterioration, it is predicted that there are large differences between different vehicles regarding their deterioration of the tracks. The model predicts axle load, unsprung mass, and wheelset steering capability as decisive for track deterioration. The model is believed to predict realistic results also for heavy-haul rail operations.
Wear and energy-saving freight bogie designs with rubber primary springs: principles and experiences
Authors: Hecht M 
Published: March 2009

The traditional radial steering bogie with swing hanger links is known to be track-friendly but heavy, and expensive in investment and maintenance costs. Whereas the actual bogies with longitudinal stiff axle guidance such as Y25 cause severe wear on wheels and rails in curves, and also develop high running resistance in curves. Bogies with rubbers springs like double rubber ring spring (DRRS), Leicht und LaermArm (LEILA) low weight and low noise, and Gigabox are a new feature with good behaviour in curves and on straight tracks. Good experience over many years with DRRS and 35 t axle load on the German Rheinisch Westfaelische Elektrizitaetswerke (RWE) coal line prove its benefits. For the new designs, LEILA and Gigabox, which are being introduced into the market now, even higher benefits can be demonstrated. The principle design features and the benefits regarding lateral track forces, wear, and traction resistance are evident. Also noise behaviour is an increasing demand for freight operation.
Terlipressin for Children with Extremely Low Cardiac Output After Open Heart Surgery
Authors: Matok Ilan , Rubinshtein Marina , Levy Amalia , Vardi Amir , Leibovitch Leah , Mishali David , Barzilay Zohar , Paret Gideon 
Published: March 2009

Background: Terlipressin, a long-acting analog of vasopressin, has been used successfully in patients with extremely low cardiac output, but its application in children following open heart surgery is limited. Objective: To describe our experience using terlipressin in children with extremely low cardiac output after open heart surgery. Methods: Records were reviewed of all pediatric patients between January 2003 and December 2005 who had undergone open heart surgery, experienced extremely low cardiac output, and were treated with terlipressin as rescue therapy. Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, urine output, and lactate and oxygenation index values were retrieved and analyzed when available. Results: Twenty-nine children who were considered gravely ill despite conventional vasoactive agents received terlipressin as rescue therapy, which rapidly yielded significant improvements in all measured hemodynamic and respiratory indices. Mean ± SD arterial blood pressure increased significantly, from 49 ± 17 to 57 ± 16 mm Hg after 10 minutes (p = 0.004) and to 64 ± 15 mm Hg 24 hours after treatment onset (p = 0.001). Twenty-four hours following terlipressin administration, urine output increased from 1.5 ± 2.1 to 3.0 ± 2.3 mL/kg/h (p = 0.001), the oxygenation index decreased from 16.5 ± 27.9 to 9.5 ± 16.7 in the survivors (p = 0.023), and the inotropic score decreased from 41.9 ± 19.9 to 32.6 ± 18.8 (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Terlipressin caused significant improvement in hemodynamic, respiratory, and renal indices in children with extremely low cardiac output after open heart surgery. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm the drug's safety and efficacy in this population.
Google Scholar Versus PubMed in Locating Primary Literature to Answer Drug-Related Questions
Authors: Freeman Maisha Kelly , Lauderdale Stacy A , Kendrach Michael G , Woolley Thomas W 
Published: March 2009

Background: Google Scholar linked more visitors to biomedical journal Web sites than did PubMed after the database's initial release; however, its usefulness in locating primary literature articles is unknown. Objective: To assess in both databases the availability of primary literature target articles; total number of citations; availability of free, full-text journal articles; and number of primary literature target articles retrieved by year within the first 100 citations of the search results. Methods: Drug information question reviews published in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy Drug Information Rounds column served as targets to determine the retrieval ability of Google Scholar and PubMed searches. Reviews printed in this column from January 2006 to June 2007 were eligible for study inclusion. Articles were chosen if at least 2 key words of the printed article were included in the PubMed Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) database, and these terms were searched in both databases. Results: Twenty-two of 33 (67%) eligible Drug Information Rounds articles met the inclusion criteria. The median number of primary literature articles used in each of these articles was 6.5 (IQR 4.8, 8.3; mean ± SD 8 ± 5.4). No significant differences were found for the mean number of target primary literature articles located within the first 100 citations in Google Scholar and PubMed searches (5.1 ± 3.9 vs 5.3 ± 3.3; p = 0.868). Google Scholar searches located more total results than PubMed (2211.6 ± 3999.5 vs 44.2 ± 47.4; p = 0.019). The availability of free, full-text journal articles per Drug Information Rounds article was similar between the databases (1.8 ± 1.7 vs 2.3 ± 1.7; p = 0.325). More primary literature articles published prior to 2000 were located with Google Scholar searches compared with PubMed (62.8% vs 34.9%; p = 0.017); however, no statistically significant differences between the databases were observed for articles published after 2000 (66.4 vs 77.1; p = 0.074). Conclusions: No significant differences were identified in the number of target primary literature articles located between databases. PubMed searches yielded fewer total citations than Google Scholar results; however, PubMed appears to be more specific than Google Scholar for locating relevant primary literature articles.
Erlotinib-Induced Hepatitis Complicated by Fatal Lactic Acidosis in an Elderly Man with Lung Cancer
Authors: Pellegrinotti Marco , Fimognari Filippo Luca , Franco Alessandro , Repetto Lazzaro , Pastorelli Ruggero 
Published: March 2009

Objective: To report a case of erlotinib-induced hepatitis complicated by fatal lactic acidosis in an elderly patient with lung adenocarcinoma and diabetes mellitus. Case Summary: A 77-year-old man with stage IIIB lung adenocarcinoma was treated with erlotinib 100 mg/day, an epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor, after failure of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The patient also had type 2 diabetes mellitus; metformin therapy had been initiated 5 years before presentation. Twelve days after the start of erlotinib therapy, he developed drug-related acute hepatitis complicated by renal deterioration (aspartate aminotransferase 1400 U/L, alanine aminotransferase 1299 U/L, creatinine 4.4 mg/dL, urea nitrogen 55 mg/dL). Viral causes of hepatitis were excluded and a recent computed tomography scan had ruled out liver metastases. According to the Roussel-Uclaf causality assessment method, the erlotinib-related hepatitis was classified as probable. The patient's condition was soon complicated by the onset of lactic acidosis, which caused death 2 hours after admission. Discussion: In this patient, lactic acidosis was promoted by erlotinib-related hepatitis with initial liver failure (decreased lactate clearance), concomitant metformin treatment (increased lactate production), and acute renal deterioration (metformin accumulation). This is the second case of fatal erlotinib-induced liver toxicity in a patient with lung cancer. In the previous case, death occurred after about 11 days and was entirely due to fulminant hepatitis, whereas in our patient, the liver injury only initiated a drug–disease interaction that caused fatal lactic acidosis within a lew hours. Conclusions: Liver function should be carefully monitored during erlotinib treatment, particularly in elderly and frail patients on multiple medications. Further studies are therefore needed for better testing the safety of erlotinib in such people, commonly encountered in the real world, but often excluded from participation in randomized trials of cancer treatment.