bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Naturally occurring isotopes of an analyte can interfere with doubly deuterated internal standard measurement
Authors: Duxbury K , Owen L , Gillingwater S , Keevil B 
Published: March 2008

Background Internal standards are essential in quantitative mass spectrometry (MS) assays to correct for variability in sample extraction and ionization at the source. In liquid chromatography MS assays, analogues of the analyte with several atoms replaced by their stable isotopes, e.g. 2H (D, deuterium) are often used as internal standards. Methods Possible interference by naturally occurring isotopes of an analyte in the internal standard channel in a liquid chromatography tandem MS assay was assessed using cortisol and its deuterated internal standard, D2-cortisol, as an example. Mass spectra were analysed and standard curves were prepared with varying concentrations of internal standard to determine the extent of any interference. Results The mass spectra showed that a naturally occurring isotope of cortisol at m/z 365 acts in the same way as D2-cortisol and fragments to give a daughter ion of the same m/z. Cortisol-365 can therefore falsely, but significantly, increase the amount of internal standard detected, and this will concomitantly decrease the relative response for cortisol. The standard curves with varying concentrations of internal standard showed that this phenomenon can affect the linearity of an assay. Conclusions Our results show that care is needed in assay development when doubly deuterated internal standards are used. Interference by naturally occurring isotopes of the analyte of interest in the internal standard transition is possible and it is important to ensure that an appropriate internal standard concentration is chosen that permits linearity of the assay over the required range.
Balance of transforming growth factor-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor-BB is associated with kidney allograft rejection
Authors: Pozzetto Ubaldo , Abeni Damiano , Citterio Franco , Castagneto Marco , Capogrossi Maurizio C , Facchiano Antonio 
Published: March 2008

Background About 50% of kidney-transplant patients undergo organ rejection within 10 years. Chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) represents the dominant cause of kidney transplant failure and accounts for 50–80% of graft loss in long-term surviving patients. CAN pathogenesis is multifactorial and not-completely elucidated; several reports indicate TGF-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB expression in CAN suggesting a possible role of these factors in the allograft arteriosclerosis and graft failure. Methods We investigated the plasma expression concentrations of human growth factors with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and appropriate statistical analysis. Results We present evidences showing statistically significant association of CAN with a specific balance between TGF Beat1 and PDGF-BB plasma concentrations, in 129 kidney-transplant patients and 15 healthy controls. Odds ratios were computed to correlate expression-levels with CAN occurrence. Conclusion We believe these data may suggest a novel non-invasive method to identify early molecular markers of graft deterioration.
HIV infection and the pancreas: risk factors and potential management guidelines
Authors: Manfredi Roberto , Calza Leonardo 
Published: March 2008

Summary One thousand and eighty-one evaluable HIV-infected patients were assessed for pancreatic abnormalities in a prospective case–control study including the whole follow-up period of each patient (minimum 12 months). The 435 patients (40.2%), who experienced at least one episode of confirmed pancreatic laboratory abnormality had a longer duration of seropositivity, exposure to protease inhibitors, a more frequent immunodeficiency, AIDS, chronic liver and/or biliary disease and hypertriglyceridaemia, while no relation was found with antiretroviral administration, and the duration of type of nucleoside analogues, when compared with the 646 controls. High and prolonged laboratory alterations eventually associated with signs of organ involvement occurred in 166 cases (38.2%), and were related to the administration of didanosine, stavudine, lamivudine, pentamidine, cotrimoxazole or antitubercular/antimycobacterial therapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, illicit substance or alcohol abuse, opportunistic infections, chronic liver and/or biliary disease, a protease inhibitor-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and hypertriglyceridaemia (usually associated with HAART administration). No difference was noticed between the 46 patients with clinical and/or imaging evidence of pancreatic involvement and the 120 asymptomatic subjects. Although recurrences of enzyme alterations involved 69.6% of patients, only in 30.1% of cases did a change of the underlying antiretroviral or antimicrobial therapy become necessary. An acute, uncomplicated pancreatitis occurred in nine of the 46 symptomatic subjects (19.6%). A two to four-week gabexate and/or octreotide administration (performed in 79 cases of 166, 47.6%), achieved a significant laboratory, clinical and imaging cure or improvement in 82.3% of cases, with a better success rate of combined (gabexate mesilate plus octreotide) vs. single (gabexate mesilate or ocreotide) therapy. Reduced disease recurrences and a better tolerability of antiretroviral regimens, were also noticed.
Transmission of Chlamydia and genital warts during sleepwalking
Authors: Mohanty Kailash 
Published: March 2008

Summary A boy aged 15 years infected a girl of 13 years with Chlamydia and genital warts. The boy has been engaged in sexual activities for the last four years. There was no dispute that the boy had had sex with the girl. He was prosecuted but acquitted by the Court on the ground of ‘defence of sleepwalking’. This is the first case where sexually transmitted infections like Chlamydia and genital warts have been transmitted sexually through sleepwalking. This case also raises the issues of underage sex and issues of confidentiality.
Successful reversal of threatening carotid artery occlusion in HIV-associated non-aneurysmal vasculitis
Authors: Taylor C L , Varma A , Herwadkar A , Bonington A 
Published: March 2008

Summary We report a case of HIV-associated carotid vasculitis, causing cerebral infarction. Immediate corticosteroid treatment was followed by improvement, with radiological documentation of reversal of the vasculitic changes, preventing arterial occlusion. Vasculitis should be considered as a diagnosis in stroke in HIV and steroid treatment considered as a potentially life-saving intervention.
Empathy: improving the quality of the genitourinary medicine consultation
Authors: Sonnex Chris 
Published: March 2008

Summary The interaction between patient and practitioner remains core to the provision of medical care. Physicians who display a warm, friendly and reassuring manner during their consultations are reported to be more effective in their delivery of care, with empathy, in particular, emerging as a key factor. This paper examines the concept of empathy and discusses how this may be achieved, with particular emphasis on the genitourinary medicine consultation.
Uptake of 48-hour access appointments in genitourinary medicine
Authors: Carlin E M , Kellock D J 
Published: March 2008

Summary Timely access to genitourinary (GU) medicine services is important in the control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). A target has been set that by March 2008, 100% of patients will be offered a GU medicine appointment within 48 hours. Strategic Health Authorities have also been asked to plan for 95% of patients to be seen within 48 hours. We sought to identify why patients decline appointments offered within 48 hours by collecting prospective data over three months. Additional data was collected over 18 working days to identify if alternative options would be acceptable to decliners. Overall, 1577 patients contacted the clinic, 1524 (96.6%) were offered a 48-hours appointment, 1108 (72.7%) accepted it, 416 (27.3%) declined it and 66.3% citing work commitments as the reason. In 118 patients, who declined the appointment offered; 43.2% indicated no alternative option was acceptable, 23.7% chose a Saturday appointment, which in 78.6% would have exceeded 48 hours. Hence, 73 (61.9%) patients would not have accepted an appointment within 48 hours. The balance of public health control, mixed service provision and informed patient choice is discussed.
Sequential Testing of Product Designs: Implications for Learning
Authors: Erat Sanjiv , Kavadias Stylianos 
Published: March 2008

Past research in new product development (NPD) has conceptualized prototyping as a “design-build-test-analyze” cycle to emphasize the importance of the analysis of test results in guiding the decisions made during the experimentation process. New product designs often involve complex architectures and incorporate numerous components, and this makes the ex ante assessment of their performance difficult. Still, design teams often learn from test outcomes during iterative test cycles enabling them to infer valuable information about the performances of (as yet) untested designs. We conceptualize the extent of useful learning from analysis of a test outcome as depending on two key structural characteristics of the design space, namely whether the set of designs are “close” to each other (i.e., the designs are similar on an attribute level) and whether the design attributes exhibit nontrivial interactions (i.e., the performance function is complex).This study explicitly considers the design space structure and the resulting correlations among design performances, and examines their implications for learning. We derive the optimal dynamic testing policy, and we analyze its qualitative properties. Our results suggest optimal continuation only when the previous test outcomes lie between two thresholds. Outcomes below the lower threshold indicate an overall low performing design space and, consequently, continued testing is suboptimal. Test outcomes above the upper threshold, on the other hand, merit termination because they signal to the design team that the likelihood of obtaining a design with a still higher performance (given the experimentation cost) is low. We find that accounting for the design space structure splits the experimentation process into two phases: the initial exploration phase, in which the design team focuses on obtaining information about the design space, and the subsequent exploitation phase in which the design team, given their understanding of the design space, focuses on obtaining a “good enough” configuration. Our analysis also provides useful contingency-based guidelines for managerial action as information gets revealed through the testing cycle. Finally, we extend the optimal policy to account for design spaces that contain distinct design subclasses.
Comparing Moisture Meter Readings with Measured Equilibrium Moisture Content of Gypsum Board
Authors: Greenwell Dale J. , Menetrez Marc Y. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
Moisture meters routinely used in the field to determine the moisture content in gypsum wallboard are primarily designed and manufactured to measure the moisture content of wood. Often they are used to decide whether to replace wallboard by determining if moisture is qualitatively higher or lower than another location. Because the moisture meter is so widely used, it is necessary to establish methods to ensure their usefulness and dependability as an aid in wallboard moisture detection and remediation. A method was developed to create a series of gypsum wallboard moisture content reference standards by exposing wallboard sample sections to static moisture content levels. Gravimetric analysis revealed good accuracy and precision of the reference standards to their theoretical values. A moisture meter was then compared against these reference standards to determine the meter’s accuracy and precision.
Lösungsansatz für eine integrierte Automatisierung von Produktion und Logistik (Approach for an Integrated Automation of Production and Logistic)
Authors: Münnemann Ansgar , Zöller Markus 
Published: March 2008

Der Beitrag beschreibt Wege und Handlungsbedarf zu einer weiteren Integration von Produktion und Logistik. Die aktuelle Automatisierungslandschaft in der Prozessindustrie wird dargestellt und ein konkretes Realisierungsbeispiel einer integrierten Abfüllautomatisierung wird erläutert. Der Beitrag zeigt die Heterogenität der zum Einsatz kommenden Systeme im Bereich der Produktionslogistik und die daraus resultierenden Integrationsherausforderungen bei der Umsetzung von systemübergreifenden Automatisierungsapplikationen. Als Ansatz für eine Verbesserung der Effizienz und Nachhaltigkeit von derartigen Automatisierungslösungen wird ein allgemeines Informationsmodell für logistische Prozesse vorgestellt, das als generische Schnittstelle zwischen System- und Applikationsebene dient.
This paper describes means and needs for a further integration of production and logistics. The actual automation landscape at the process industry is presented and an example of an integrated filling process is described. The paper describes the heterogeneity of the automation system landscape and the resulting tasks for an implementation of across systems automation applications. A generic information modell for logistic processes is presented as an approach for increasing efficiency and sustainability of such automation solutions by using this information model as an interface between system layer and application layer of an integrated automation.
Periodontal Management of Gingival Enlargement Associated With Sturge‐Weber Syndrome
Authors: Bhansali Rahul S. , Yeltiwar Ramreddy K. , Agrawal Amit A. 
Published: March 2008

Background: Sturge‐Weber syndrome (encephalotrigeminal angiomatosis) is a rather uncommon congenital condition that is characterized by a combination of venous angioma of leptomeninges over the cerebral cortex and ipsilateral angiomatous lesions of the face and sometimes of the skull, jaws, and oral soft tissues. It is commonly referred to as Sturge‐Weber syndrome after Sturge and Weber who first described this affliction in 1879. This article presents a case of Sturge‐Weber syndrome associated with severe gingival enlargement, its management, and follow‐up results.Methods: A 15‐year‐old male patient was referred to the Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, for severe gingival enlargement. A detailed dental and medical history, clinical examination, and investigations confirmed the diagnosis of Sturge‐Weber syndrome. This report reveals a classic presentation of the syndrome with emphasis on its oral manifestations. Periodontal management included thorough scaling and root planing followed by periodontal flap surgery to treat the gingival enlargement. Histopathologic examination of the excisional biopsy specimen revealed features suggestive of fibrous gingival enlargement.Results: Reevaluation of the patient after 2 years showed remarkable (90%) reduction of the gingival enlargement in the maxillary arch and complete diminution (100%) in the mandibular arch. However, a slight recurrence was noted in the maxillary right quadrant.Conclusions: Sturge‐Weber syndrome is clinically important to the periodontist because of its associated gingival vascular features and their complicating manifestations. Periodic systemic and oral examinations are recommended to identify and prevent any complications from the cranial and oral lesions.
Predictability of Clinical Outcomes Following Regenerative Therapy in Intrabony Defects
Authors: Aichelmann‐Reidy Mary Elizabeth , Reynolds Mark A. 
Published: March 2008

Background: Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) and guided tissue regeneration (GTR) support substantial gains in clinical attachment level (CAL), reductions in probing depth (PD), and gains in defect fill compared to open flap debridement (OFD) in intrabony defects. Although these regenerative therapies support improvements in mean clinical parameters, it is unclear whether the procedures improve the predictability of clinical outcome. The purpose of this study was to examine the relative variability in clinical outcome measures, independent of the magnitude of gains, in regenerative studies comparing DBM or GTR to OFD therapy for the management of intrabony defects. For comparative purposes, a similar analysis was performed evaluating the consistency of clinical outcomes with other (non‐DBM) bone replacement graft (BRG) materials relative to OFD alone.Methods: Fifty‐five randomized controlled clinical trials comparing regenerative therapy (seven DBM, 22 BRG, and 26 GTR) to OFD and meeting inclusion criteria provided mean change scores (pretreatment to post‐treatment) and variance estimates for CAL, PD, and bone fill, allowing for calculation of a coefficient of variability (CV) for each measure within studies. The mean CV for each measure was submitted to an analysis of variance or covariance with repeated measures (P ≤0.05) to compare relative variation in treatment outcomes.Results: DBM was associated with a significantly lower relative variability (mean ± SE) in CAL gain (96.3 ± 38.6 versus 137.7 ± 30.9) and defect fill (69.1 ± 11.2 versus 133.1 ± 15.3) compared to OFD alone. As a group, other BRGs were found to support significant reductions in variation in CAL and defect fill. GTR therapy was associated with significantly lower CV for CAL compared to OFD (50.6 ± 5.0 versus 68.7 ± 8.2, respectively). Variability in defect fill was similar for GTR and OFD.Conclusions: DBM and GTR therapy support more consistent improvements in clinical parameters; however, with the exception of defect fill following bone grafting, the reduction in variability in clinical outcomes was relatively modest compared to OFD alone. Overall, the treatment of intrabony defects is associated with a relatively high degree of variability in clinical outcome, regardless of therapeutic approach.
Clinical and Radiographic Changes Around Dental Implants Inserted in Different Levels in Relation to the Crestal Bone, Under Different Restoration Protocols, in the Dog Model
Authors: Pontes Ana Emília F. , Ribeiro Fernando S. , da Silva Vanessa C. , Margonar Rogério , Piattelli Adriano , Cirelli Joni A. , Marcantonio Elcio 
Published: March 2008

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic changes that occur around dental implants inserted in different levels in relation to crestal bone under different restoration protocols.Methods: Thirty‐six implants were inserted in the edentulous mandible of six mongrel dogs. Each implant was assigned to an experimental group according to the distance from the top of the implant to the crestal bone: Bone Level (at crestal bone level), Minus 1 (1 mm below crestal bone), or Minus 2 (2 mm below crestal bone). Each hemimandible was submitted to a restoration protocol: conventional (prosthesis was installed 120 days after implant placement, including 30 days with healing cap) or immediate (prosthesis was installed 24 hours after implant placement). Fixed partial prostheses were installed bilaterally in the same day. After 90 days, clinical and radiographic parameters were evaluated.Results: As long as the implants were inserted in more apical positions, the first bone‐to‐implant contact (fBIC) was positioned more apically (P <0.05). However, the apical positioning of the implants did not influence the ridge loss or the position of the soft tissue margin (PSTM) (P >0.05). In addition, in immediately restored sites, the PSTM was located significantly more coronally than that in conventionally restored sites (P = 0.02).Conclusions: Despite the more apical positioning of the fBIC, the height of the peri‐implant soft tissues and ridge was not jeopardized. Moreover, the immediate restoration protocol was beneficial to the maintenance of the PSTM. Further studies are suggested to evaluate the significance of these results in longer healing periods.
Use of Engineered Bone for Sinus Augmentation
Authors: Beaumont Christian , Schmidt Roswitha J. , Tatakis Dimitris N. , Zafiropoulos Gregory‐George 
Published: March 2008

Background: Tissue‐engineered bone grafts represent an appealing alternative for maxillary sinus augmentation because they eliminate the significant drawbacks associated with extra‐ and intraoral bone‐harvesting procedures. In the present case series, we document the outcomes of sinus augmentation surgery using tissue‐engineered bone grafts.Methods: Three patients requiring bilateral sinus augmentation received tissue‐engineered bone grafts combined with xenograft prior to implant placement. Implants were placed and loaded 6 and 12 months postaugmentation, respectively. Radiographs were taken and clinical examinations were performed preoperatively and at 4, 6, 12, and 18 months postaugmentation. Biopsies were obtained at 4 and 6 months postaugmentation. Standardized orthopantomograms were used to measure the posterior maxilla bone height.Results: None of the patients experienced untoward complications during or following the therapeutic procedures. Ten implants were inserted into the augmented sinuses and loaded. Biopsies revealed a lack of inflammation or pathology; newly formed fibrous bone with osteoblastic activity and xenograft particles was evident. Compared to 4 months postaugmentation, augmented tissue was more mature at 6 months. The postoperative (18 months) bone height in augmented areas was significantly greater than the preoperative height (P <0.0001), representing an ∼4.5‐fold increase in bone height.Conclusions: Sinus augmentation using tissue‐engineered bone grafts was successful in all three cases, permitting the subsequent insertion and loading of dental implants. The present cases demonstrated the feasibility of using engineered bone for sinus augmentation. Controlled clinical trials will be required to evaluate this new and evolving treatment modality.
Progression of Periodontal Disease in a Maintenance Population of Smokers and Non‐Smokers: A 3‐Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Fisher Sean , Kells Leah , Picard Jean‐Pierre , Gelskey Shirley C. , Singer David L. , Lix Lisa , Scott David A. 
Published: March 2008

Background: Cigarette smoking is accepted as an important factor that increases the risk for the initiation and progress of chronic periodontitis. However, the effect of cigarette smoking on the recurrence of disease in patients undergoing regular maintenance therapy is less understood. Therefore, we set out to assess disease progression longitudinally in smoking and non‐smoking subjects with chronic periodontitis undergoing periodontal maintenance therapy every 3 to 4 months.Methods: A total of 108 subjects undergoing regular maintenance therapy for chronic periodontitis were followed over a 3‐year period. Self‐reports of smoking status were confirmed by analysis of exhaled carbon monoxide concentrations. Clinical parameters (plaque index [PI], bleeding on probing [BOP], clinical attachment loss [CAL], probing depth [PD], and tooth loss) were recorded at yearly reevaluation visits. The study was carried out in a university hospital setting.Results: Longitudinal measurements were obtained from 81 (75%) subjects. There were no differences in inflammatory indices at baseline or over time (PI and BOP; both P >0.05) between smokers (N = 16; age: 54 ± 6 years) and non‐smokers (N = 65; age: 59 ± 14 years). Likewise, there was no difference between the smoking groups with respect to disease progression (measured as changes in prevalence [number] and proportion [percentage] of progressing sites and as mean CAL, PD, and tooth loss; all P >0.05).Conclusion: In this small population, regular maintenance treatment in a cross‐section of highly motivated subjects with chronic periodontitis seemed to be equally successful in preventing progressive periodontal tissue destruction in current smokers and current non‐smokers.