bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Injury prevention education in medical schools: an international survey of medical students
Authors: Villaveces A , Kammeyer J A , Bencevic H 
Published: December 2005

Background:Injuries account for an estimated 9% of global mortality. Health professionals worldwide receive little formal injury prevention training, especially in developing countries.Objective:To identify injury prevention training topics taught in a sample of medical schools throughout the world.Design and setting:Cross sectional survey of 82 medical schools from 31 countries. Based on a convenience sample, respondents recalled the injury prevention concepts they were taught, estimated the time dedicated to these topics, specified the courses and rotations where these concepts were taught, and noted whether they were compulsory or elective sessions.Participants:Medical students in their last year of medical training.Main exposure measures:Student recall of classes and rotations where topics of injury prevention and control were discussed.Results:Basic injury prevention concepts including risk factors for injuries and injury classification systems were not covered in 60% of medical schools. Concepts related to child abuse and neglect and emergency care were more commonly taught than others such as traffic injury prevention and youth violence prevention. In general, injury prevention and control concepts were less frequently taught in Middle Eastern and African universities compared with other regions and some topics such as violence prevention were more frequently taught in medical schools in the Americas. Injury prevention concepts were taught most frequently in preventive medicine, forensic medicine, emergency medicine, surgery and pediatrics courses, and rotations.Conclusions:Injury prevention and control education is infrequent and fragmented in medical schools around the world. Inclusion or further development of curricula on this subject could benefit prevention and control efforts.
Severity of playground fractures: play equipment versus standing height falls
Authors: Fiissel D , Pattison G , Howard A 
Published: December 2005

Aim:To compare the severity of fractures from playground equipment falls to the severity of fractures from standing height falls occurring on the playground.Methods:This case control study used data on all children presenting to the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto) from 1995 to 2002 with a fracture due to a playground fall. Cases were children who fell from a height off playground equipment. Controls were children who fell from standing height on a playground. Fractures were major if they required reduction and minor if they did not.Results:Fractures from equipment falls were 3.91 (95% CI 2.76 to 5.54) times more likely to require reduction than were fractures from standing height falls.Conclusions:Major fractures were strongly associated with falls from playground equipment, whereas minor fractures came from both play equipment and standing height falls. Efforts to prevent major fractures should target playground equipment and the impact absorbing surface beneath it.
SORTING SUFFIXES OF TWO-PATTERN STRINGS
Authors: FRANEK FRANTISEK , SMYTH W. F. 
Published: December 2005

Recently, several authors presented linear recursive algorithms for sorting suffixes of a string. All these algorithms employ a similar three-step approach, based on an initial division of the suffixes of x into two sets: Step 1 sorts the first set using recursive reduction of the problem, Step 2 determines the order of the suffixes in the second set based on the order of the suffixes in the first set, and Step 3 merges the two sets together. To optimize such an algorithm either for space or time, it may not be sufficient to optimize one of the three steps, since in doing so, one might increase the resources required for the others to an unacceptable extent. Franek, Lu, and Smyth introduced two-pattern strings as a generalization of Sturmian strings. Like Sturmian strings, two-pattern strings are generated by iterated morphisms, but they exhibit a much richer structure. In this paper we show that the suffixes of two-pattern strings can be sorted in linear time using a variant of the three-step approach outlined above, but without the need for recursion. It turns out that, given the order of the suffixes in a two-pattern string, one can almost directly list in linear time all the suffixes of its expansion under a two-pattern morphism.
Elevated Markers of Endothelial Dysfunction Predict Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Middle-Aged Men and Women From the General Population
Authors: Thorand Barbara , Baumert Jens , Chambless Lloyd , Meisinger Christa , Kolb Hubert , Döring Angela , Löwel Hannelore , Koenig Wolfgang 
Published: December 2005

Objective—Using the Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA)/Cooperative Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) database, we investigated prospectively whether increased levels of soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), and von Willebrand factor (vWF), all considered to be sensitive markers of endothelial dysfunction, are associated with an increased risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods and Results—In a case–cohort study, concentrations of adhesion molecules were measured in stored samples of 532 case subjects and 1712 noncase subjects. VWF was measured in a subsample with available plasma samples (n=191 case and 580 noncase subjects). Men and women with elevated levels of sE-selectin had a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes after multivariable adjustment. Hazard ratios (95% CIs) comparing tertile extremes of sE-selectin were 2.63 (1.79 to 3.88) and 1.71 (1.07 to 2.75) for men and women, respectively. Elevated levels of sICAM-1 were also associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes; however, the association was not independent of other diabetes risk factors including E-selectin [hazard ratio (95% CI) for tertile 3 versus tertile 1: men, 1.32 (0.89 to 1.96); women, 1.03 (0.64 to 1.67)]. In this study, vWF was not associated with risk of type 2 diabetes.Conclusions—These data support a role of endothelial dysfunction in the etiology of type 2 diabetes.
Radiation Induces Endothelial Dysfunction in Murine Intestinal Arterioles via Enhanced Production of Reactive Oxygen Species
Authors: Hatoum Ossama A. , Otterson Mary F. , Kopelman Doron , Miura Hiroto , Sukhotnik Igor , Larsen Brandon T. , Selle Rebecca M. , Moulder John E. , Gutterman David D. 
Published: December 2005

Objective—Endothelial dysfunction and vascular dysregulation contribute to the pathological effects of radiation on tissues. The objectives of this study were to assess the acute effect of irradiation on acetylcholine (Ach)-induced dilation of gut submucosal microvessels.Methods and Results—Rats were exposed in vivo to 1 to 9 cGy in 3 fractions per week on alternate days for 3 successive weeks for a total dose of up to 2250 cGy. Submucosal microvessels were isolated after varying levels of irradiation. Diameters of isolated vessels were measured using videomicroscopy, and the dose-response relationship to Ach was determined. Dihydroethidine and 2′, 7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate fluorescent probes were used to assess reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. After constriction (30% to 50%) with endothelin, dilation to graded doses of Ach (10−9−10−4M) was observed in control vessels (maximal dilation [MD] 87±3%; n=7). However, Ach-induced dilation was reduced in vessels from irradiated rats (MD=3±9%; n=7;P=<0.05 versus controls). Significant increases in superoxide and peroxides were observed in irradiated microvessels. Irradiated microvessels pretreated with superoxide dismutase–mimetic demonstrated significant improvement in Ach-induced vasodilation compared with irradiation alone, suggesting that superoxide contributes to impaired dilation to Ach after irradiation.Conclusions—Radiation induces acute microvascular dysfunction in the resistance arterioles of the intestine. Enhanced ROS contribute to this dysfunction and therefore may represent a novel therapeutic target to minimize radiation toxicity in the gut.
Skin-derived interleukin-7 contributes to the proliferation of lymphocytes in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Authors: Yamanaka Kei-ichi , Clark Rachael , Rich Benjamin , Dowgiert Rebecca , Hirahara Kazuki , Hurwitz Daniel , Shibata Michio , Mirchandani Nina , Jones David A. , Goddard Deborah S. , Eapen Sara , Mizutani Hitoshi , Kupper Thomas S. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractCutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are malignancies of T cells that have a special affinity for the skin. We have previously reported that much of the T-cell receptor repertoire is altered in CTCL, and both malignant and nonmalignant clones are numerically expanded, presumably in response to T-cell trophic cytokines. We therefore examined levels of the T-cell trophic cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-12, IL-13, and IL-15 in plasma in 93 CTCL patients and healthy controls. Only IL-7 levels were elevated in CTCL. We next looked at lesional skin from patients with CTCL and found elevated levels of IL-7 mRNA. Explant cultures of normal and lesional CTCL skin biopsies revealed significantly more IL-7 protein production in CTCL skin. Additionally, cultures of CTCL skin released greater numbers of T cells than normal skin; this was blocked by the addition of an IL-7 neutralizing antibody. Finally, these cultures induced proliferation of normal peripheral skin-homing T cells that were added to the cultures. These observations led us to postulate that IL-7 produced by skin cells contributes to the survival and proliferation of T cells within skin lesions and is likely the source of elevated circulating IL-7 in CTCL. (Blood. 2006;107:2440-2445)
Fluctuations of functionally distinct CD8+ T-cell clonotypes demonstrate flexibility of the HIV-specific TCR repertoire
Authors: Meyer-Olson Dirk , Brady Kristen W. , Bartman Melissa T. , O'Sullivan Kristin M. , Simons Brenna C. , Conrad Joseph A. , Duncan Coley B. , Lorey Shelly , Siddique Atif , Draenert Rika , Addo Marylyn , Altfeld Marcus , Rosenberg Eric , Allen Todd M. , Walker Bruce D. , Kalams Spyros A. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractT-cell receptor (TCR) diversity of virus-specific CD8+ T cells likely helps prevent escape mutations in chronic viral infections. To understand the dynamics of the virus-specific T cells in more detail, we followed the evolution of the TCR repertoire specific for a dominant HLA-B*08–restricted epitope in Nef (FLKEKGGL) in a cohort of subjects infected with HIV. Epitope-specific CD8+ T cells used structurally diverse TCR repertoires, with different TCRβ variable regions and with high amino acid diversity within antigen recognition sites. In a longitudinal study, distinct Vβ populations within the HIV-specific TCR repertoire expanded simultaneously with changes in plasma viremia, whereas other Vβ populations remained stable or even decreased. Despite antigenic variation in some subjects, all subjects had the consensus sequence present during the study period. Functional analysis of distinct Vβ populations revealed differences in HIV-specific IFN-γ secretion ex vivo as well as differences in tetramer binding, indicating functional heterogeneity among these populations. This contrasts with findings in a subject on antiretroviral therapy with suppression of viremia to less than 50 copies/mL, where we observed long-term persistence of a single clonotype. Our findings illustrate the flexibility of a heterogeneous HIV-1–specific CD8+ TCR repertoire in subjects with partial control of viremia.
Variable phosphorylation states of pigment-epithelium–derived factor differentially regulate its function
Authors: Maik-Rachline Galia , Seger Rony 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe pigment epithelium–derived factor (PEDF) belongs to the family of noninhibitory serpins. Although originally identified in the eye, PEDF is widely expressed in other body regions including the plasma. This factor can act either as a neurotrophic or as an antiangiogenic factor, and we previously showed that the 2 effects of PEDF are regulated through phosphorylation by PKA and CK2. Here, we studied the interplay between the PKA and CK2 phosphorylation of PEDF, and found that a PEDF mutant mimicking the CK2-phosphorylated PEDF cannot be phosphorylated by PKA, while the mutant mimicking the PKA-phosphorylated PEDF is a good CK2 substrate. Using triple mutants that mimic the PKA- and CK2-phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated PEDF, we found that PEDF can induce several distinct cellular activities dependent on its phosphorylation. The mutant mimicking the accumulative PKA plus CK2 phosphorylation exhibited the strongest antiangiogenic and neurotrophic activities, while the mutants mimicking the individual phosphorylation site mutants had either a reduced activity or only one of these activities. Thus, differential phosphorylation induces variable effects of PEDF, and therefore contributes to the complexity of PEDF action. It is likely that the triple phosphomimetic mutant can be used to generate effective antiangiogenic or neurotrophic drugs.
Self-complementary adeno-associated virus vectors containing a novel liver-specific human factor IX expression cassette enable highly efficient transduction of murine and nonhuman primate liver
Authors: Nathwani Amit C. , Gray John T. , Ng Catherine Y. C. , Zhou Junfang , Spence Yunyu , Waddington Simon N. , Tuddenham Edward G. D. , Kemball-Cook Geoffrey , McIntosh Jenny , Boon-Spijker Mariette , Mertens Koen , Davidoff Andrew M. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractTransduction with recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors is limited by the need to convert its single-stranded (ss) genome to transcriptionally active double-stranded (ds) forms. For AAV-mediated hemophilia B (HB) gene therapy, we have overcome this obstacle by constructing a liver-restricted mini–human factor IX (hFIX) expression cassette that can be packaged as complementary dimers within individual AAV particles. Molecular analysis of murine liver transduced with these self-complementary (sc) vectors demonstrated rapid formation of active ds-linear genomes that persisted stably as concatamers or monomeric circles. This unique property resulted in a 20-fold improvement in hFIX expression in mice over comparable ssAAV vectors. Administration of only 1 × 1010 scAAV particles led to expression of hFIX at supraphysiologic levels (8I U/mL) and correction of the bleeding diathesis in FIX knock-out mice. Of importance, therapeutic levels of hFIX (3%-30% of normal) were achieved in nonhuman primates using a significantly lower dose of scAAV than required with ssAAV. Furthermore, AAV5-pseudotyped scAAV vectors mediated successful transduction in macaques with pre-existing immunity to AAV8. Hence, this novel vector represents an important advance for hemophilia B gene therapy.
Total therapy 2 without thalidomide in comparison with total therapy 1: role of intensified induction and posttransplantation consolidation therapies
Authors: Barlogie Bart , Tricot Guido , Rasmussen Erik , Anaissie Elias , van Rhee Frits , Zangari Maurizio , Fassas Athanasios , Hollmig Klaus , Pineda-Roman Mauricio , Shaughnessy John , Epstein Joshua , Crowley John 
Published: December 2005

AbstractPatients with myeloma, treated on the thalidomide arm of total therapy 2 (TT2), had a higher complete response (CR) rate and improved event-free survival (EFS) but not overall survival (OS). To evaluate the benefit of TT2's posttandem autotransplant consolidation chemotherapy and dexamethasone maintenance, outcomes were compared on TT2 without thalidomide (n = 345; median follow-up, 3.5 years) and on predecessor trial TT1 (n = 231; median follow-up, 11.5 years). CR rates were similar (43% vs 41%); however, 5-year estimates of continuous CR (45% vs 32%, P < .001) and 5-year EFS (43% vs 28%, P < .001) were superior with TT2, with a trend for improved OS (62% vs 57%; P = .11). OS was also superior among patients achieving CR and receiving the second transplantation early after the first transplantation. Superior EFS and OS with TT2 versus TT1 was noted in the two thirds presenting without cytogenetic abnormalities (CAs); 4-year posttandem transplantation OS for patients with CAs was 47% with TT1 and 76% with TT2 when combination chemotherapy rather than DEX was applied for consolidation (P = .040). Thus, TT2 (without thalidomide) improved OS of patients without CAs; those with CAs benefited from posttransplantation consolidation chemotherapy. The favorable effects of CR and rapidly sequenced second transplantation attest to the validity of a melphalan dose-response effect in myeloma.
ArrayQuest: a web resource for the analysis of DNA microarray data
Authors: Argraves Gary L , Jani Saurin , Barth Jeremy L , Argraves W Scott 
Published: December 2005

Abstract
Background
Numerous microarray analysis programs have been created through the efforts of Open Source software development projects. Providing browser-based interfaces that allow these programs to be executed over the Internet enhances the applicability and utility of these analytic software tools.

Results
Here we present ArrayQuest, a web-based DNA microarray analysis process controller. Key features of ArrayQuest are that (1) it is capable of executing numerous analysis programs such as those written in R, BioPerl and C++; (2) new analysis programs can be added to ArrayQuest Methods Library at the request of users or developers; (3) input DNA microarray data can be selected from public databases (i.e., the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) DNA Microarray Database or Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO)) or it can be uploaded to the ArrayQuest center-point web server into a password-protected area; and (4) analysis jobs are distributed across computers configured in a backend cluster. To demonstrate the utility of ArrayQuest we have populated the methods library with methods for analysis of Affymetrix DNA microarray data.

Conclusion
ArrayQuest enables browser-based implementation of DNA microarray data analysis programs that can be executed on a Linux-based platform. Importantly, ArrayQuest is a platform that will facilitate the distribution and implementation of new analysis algorithms and is therefore of use to both developers of analysis applications as well as users. ArrayQuest is freely available for use at http://proteogenomics.musc.edu/arrayquest.html.
Polymorphisms of the Flavin containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) gene do not predispose to essential hypertension in Caucasians
Authors: Dolan Ciara , Shields Denis C , Stanton Alice , O'Brien Eoin , Lambert Deborah M , O'Brien John K , Treacy Eileen P 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBackgroundThe recessive disorder trimethylaminuria is caused by defects in theFMO3gene, and may be associated with hypertension. We investigated whether common polymorphisms of theFMO3gene confer an increased risk for elevated blood pressure and/or essential hypertension.MethodsFMO3genotypes (E158K, V257M, E308G) were determined in 387 healthy subjects with ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements, and in a cardiovascular disease population of 1649 individuals, 691(41.9%) of whom had a history of hypertension requiring drug treatment. Haplotypes were determined and their distribution noted.ResultsThere was no statistically significant association found between any of the 4 common haplotypes and daytime systolic blood pressure in the healthy population (p = 0.65). Neither was a statistically significant association found between the 4 common haplotypes and hypertension status among the cardiovascular disease patients (p = 0.80).ConclusionThese results suggest that the variants in theFMO3gene do not predispose to essential hypertension in this population.
The effect of body mass index on global brain volume in middle-aged adults: a cross sectional study
Authors: Ward Michael A , Carlsson Cynthia M , Trivedi Mehul A , Sager Mark A , Johnson Sterling C 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Background
Obesity causes or exacerbates a host of medical conditions, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, and endocrine diseases. Recently obesity in elderly women was associated with greater risk of dementia, white matter ischemic changes, and greater brain atrophy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether body type affects global brain volume, a marker of atrophy, in middle-aged men and women.

Methods
T1-weighted 3D volumetric magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess global brain volume for 114 individuals 40 to 66 years of age (average = 54.2 years; standard deviation = 6.6 years; 43 men and 71 women). Total cerebrospinal fluid and brain volumes were obtained with an automated tissue segmentation algorithm. A regression model was used to determine the effect of age, body mass index (BMI), and other cardiovascular risk factors on brain volume and cognition.

Results
Age and BMI were each associated with decreased brain volume. BMI did not predict cognition in this sample; however elevated diastolic blood pressure was associated with poorer episodic learning performance.

Conclusion
These findings suggest that middle-aged obese adults may already be experiencing differentially greater brain atrophy, and may potentially be at greater risk for future cognitive decline.
Prevalence of antiplatelet therapy in patients with diabetes
Authors: Miller Shaun R , Littenberg Benjamin , MacLean Charles D 
Published: December 2005

Abstract

Objective
To determine the prevalence of, and patient characteristics associated with, antiplatelet therapy in a cohort of primary care patients with Type 1 or Type2 diabetes.

Methods
Subjects participating in a randomized trial of a decision support system were interviewed at home and medication usage verified by a research assistant. Eligibility for antiplatelet therapy was determined by American Diabetes Association criteria and clinical contraindications. The association between antiplatelet use and patient characteristics was examined using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results
The mean age of subjects was 64 years (range 31–93). The prevalence of antiplatelet use was 54% overall; 45% for subjects without known CVD vs. 78% for those with CVD; 46% for women vs. 63% for men; and 45% for younger subjects (age< 65) vs. 62% for senior citizens. After controlling for race/ethnicity, income, education, marital status, insurance status and prescription coverage, the following were associated with the use of antiplatelet therapy: presence of known CVD (OR 3.4 [2.2, 5.1]), male sex (OR 2.0 [1.4, 2.8]), and age > = 65 (OR 1.9 [1.3, 2.7]). The prevalence of antiplatelet therapy for younger women without CVD was 32.8% compared to a prevalence of 90.3% for older men with CVD.

Conclusion
Despite clinical practice guidelines recommending antiplatelet therapy for patients with diabetes, there are still many eligible patients not receiving this beneficial therapy, particularly patients under 65, women, and patients without known CVD. Effective methods to increase antiplatelet use should be considered at the national, community, practice and provider level.