bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcome of planned home births compared to hospital births in Sweden between 1992 and 2004. A population‐based register study
Authors: LINDGREN HELENA E. , RÅDESTAD INGELA J. , CHRISTENSSON KYLLIKE , HILDINGSSON INGEGERD M. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjective. The aim of this population‐based study was to measure the risk of adverse outcome for mother and child in planned home births in a Swedish population irrespective of where the birth actually occurred, at home or in hospital after transfer. Design. A population‐based study using data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register. Setting. Sweden 1992–2004. Participants. A total of 897 planned home births were compared with a randomly selected group of 11,341 planned hospital births. Main outcome measures. Prevalence of mortality and morbidity among mothers and children, emergency conditions, instrumental and operative delivery and perineal lacerations were compared. Results. During this period in Sweden the neonatal mortality rate was 2.2 per thousand in the home birth group and 0.7 in the hospital group (RR 3.6, 95% CI 0.2–14.7). No cases of emergency complications were found in the home birth group. The risk of having a sphincter rupture was lower in the planned home birth group (RR 0.2, 95% CI 0.0–0.7). The risk of having a cesarean section (RR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.7) or instrumental delivery (RR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2–0.5) was significantly lower in the planned home birth group. Conclusion. In Sweden, between 1992 and 2004, the intrapartum and neonatal mortality in planned home births was 2.2 per thousand. The proportion is higher compared to hospital births but no statistically significant difference was found. Women in the home birth group more often experienced a spontaneous birth without medical intervention and were less likely to sustain pelvic floor injuries.
Chronic hydrocephalus after neurosurgical and endovascular treatment of ruptured intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Jartti P. , Karttunen A. , Isokangas J.-M. , Jartti A. , Koskelainen T. , Tervonen O. 
Published: June 2008

Background: Chronic hydrocephalus is a common sequela of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The technical procedure used to treat intracranial aneurysms, whether neurosurgical clipping or endovascular coiling, may lead to differences in the incidence of chronic posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Purpose: To compare the effects of early neurosurgical and early endovascular treatment on the development of chronic hydrocephalus in patients with SAH. Material and Methods: A retrospective study included 102 clipped and 107 coiled patients with aneurysmal SAH. Clinical condition at admission and shunt dependence were verified from patient data records. The initial and follow-up computed tomography (CT) images were reviewed, and the amount and distribution of blood and the occurrence of hydrocephalus were registered. The values of the cella media index and the width of the third ventricle were calculated. Statistical analysis of the data was performed. Results: No statistically significant differences in the incidence of chronic hydrocephalus or the need for shunting emerged between the treatment groups. After clipping 35% and after coiling 39% of the patients developed chronic hydrocephalus. Twenty-nine percent of the clipped and 31% of the coiled patients underwent a shunt operation. Conclusion: The treatment method used for acutely ruptured intracranial aneurysms, i.e., neurosurgical clipping or endovascular coiling, has no statistically significant effect on the development of chronic hydrocephalus.
Fat-suppressed t2* sequences for routine 3.0-tesla lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging: a preliminary report
Authors: McKinney A. M. , Gadani S. , Palmer C. S. , Vidarsson L. 
Published: June 2008

Background: Clear depiction of the ligamentum flavum on routine lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential in accurately describing the extent of degenerative disease. In routine, noncontrast evaluations, focal fatty deposition or hemangiomas can be difficult to distinguish from malignant foci on fast spin-echo (FSE) T2-weighted images. Purpose: To describe the use of T2* fast field echo (T2FFE) in combination with spectral presaturation inversion recovery (SPIR) fat suppression for noncontrast, routine lumbar spine outpatient MR imaging at 3.0 Tesla (3T). Material and Methods: An axial gradient echo (GE) T2FFE sequence was combined with SPIR fat suppression (T2FFE-SPIR), via a 3T Philips Intera (Philips Medical Systems, Best, The Netherlands) scanner, and added to the routine, noncontrast lumbar MRI examinations, which included sagittal FSE T1-weighted (T1WI), T2-weighted (T2WI), short-tau inversion recovery (STIR), and axial FSE T2WI. The sequence was performed in over 500 patients over a 1-year period, without intravenous contrast, and with slice thickness and planes of section identical to the axial FSE T1WI and T2WI images. The sequence typically lasted about 4.5–6 min. Results: The use of T2FFE-SPIR enabled visualization of the ligamentum flavum in degenerative disease, and the exclusion of focal fatty lesions on FSE T2WI. Other benefits included: the identification of malignant foci, the uncommon detection of hemorrhage, and the elimination of spurious flow voids. Several brief examples are provided to demonstrate the utility of this technique. Conclusion: The addition of T2FFE-SPIR to routine, noncontrast protocols in outpatients could provide further confidence in the visualization of the ligamentum flavum in degenerative disease, and can exclude malignancy in T2-bright areas of focal fatty marrow. Larger studies would be helpful to evaluate the accuracy of this technique versus FSE techniques in depicting degenerative, malignant, or inflammatory disorders.
The prognostic role of magnetic resonance imaging and single-photon emission computed tomography in viral encephalitis
Authors: Misra U. K. , Kalita J. , Srivastav A. , Pradhan P. K. 
Published: June 2008

Background: There is a paucity of studies evaluating the prognostic role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) changes in viral encephalitis. Purpose: To study MRI and SPECT changes in patients with viral encephalitis, and to correlate these changes with clinical findings and outcome. Material and Methods: During 1997–2006, 31 encephalitis patients (aged 2–60 years; nine females, 22 males) underwent both MRI and SPECT studies. Their demographic and clinical data and 6-month outcome were recorded. For the diagnosis of encephalitis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were carried out. Cranial MRI was done on a 1.5T scanner, and 99mTc ethylene cysteine dimer (ECD) SPECT using a gamma camera. Outcome was defined at 6 months as complete, partial, or poor recovery. Results: 19 patients had Japanese encephalitis (JE), one had herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE), and 11 had nonspecific encephalitis. Movement disorders were present in 21, parkinsonian features in 19, and dystonia in 16 patients. MRI was abnormal in 20 patients, and revealed thalamic involvement in 17, basal ganglia in eight, brainstem in 11, and cortical in two. SPECT revealed hypoperfusion in 22 patients, which was cortical in 11, thalamic in 10, basal ganglia in six, and midbrain in one. Cortical involvement was more frequently found by SPECT and brainstem involvement by MRI. Outcome of encephalitis did not differ in the different groups of encephalitis and MRI changes. Conclusion: MRI and SPECT show a spectrum of findings in encephalitis, but these do not correlate with 6-month outcome.
Evolution of lakes in the Huron basin: Deglaciation to present
Authors: Michael Lewis C. F. , Karrow Paul F. , Blasco Stefan M. , McCarthy Francine M. G. , King John W. , Moore Theodore C. , Rea David K. 
Published: June 2008

Water bodies, ancestral to the present lakes including Lake Huron, first appeared in the southern Great Lakes basin about 15,500 14C years (18,800 cal years) BP during the oscillatory northward retreat of the last (Laurentide) ice sheet from its maximum position south of the Great Lakes watershed. Glacial lakes, impounded by a retreating ice margin on their northern shores, were continuously present after 13,000 14C (15,340 cal) BP for 3000 14C (3900 cal) years. Drainage routings varied in time through the Erie and Michigan basins to the Mississippi River system, a probable source for colonizing aquatic organisms, then to the Ontario basin, and finally northeastward to the Ottawa River valley via the isostatically-depressed North Bay outlet by 10,000 14C (11,470 cal) BP. Water levels were generally low between 10,000 and 7500 14C (11,470 and 8300 cal) BP and may have risen several tens of metres for short periods due to overflow of meltwater from upstream subglacial reservoirs or from glacial lakes impounded by residual ice in the Hudson Bay watershed.
About 8000 14C (8890 cal) BP glacial runoff bypassed the Great Lakes, and Huron basin waters descended into hydrologic closure under the influence of the early Holocene dry climate. With increasing precipitation and water supply about 7500 14C (8300 cal) BP the Huron water body again overflowed its North Bay outlet. Differential isostatic uplift (fastest to the north-northeast) raised this outlet and lake level relative to the rest of the basin. The lake finally overflowed southern outlets at Chicago and Port Huron-Sarnia by 5000 14C (5760 cal) BP (during the Nipissing highstand). Enhanced erosion of the latter outlet and continued differential uplift of the basin led to the present configuration of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
ForSim: a tool for exploring the genetic architecture of complex traits with controlled truth
Authors: Lambert Brian W. , Terwilliger Joseph D. , Weiss Kenneth M. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Many important problems in biology involve complex traits affected by multiple coding or regulatory parts of the genome. How well the underlying genetic architecture can be inferred by statistical methods such as mapping and association studies are active research areas. ForSim is a flexible forward evolutionary simulation tool for exploring the consequences of evolution by phenotype, whereby demographic, chance, behavioral and selective effects mold genetic architecture. Simulation is useful for exploring these issues as well as the choice of study design inferential methods.
Contact: bwl1@psu.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Crystal structure of a carbonyl reductase from Candida parapsilosis with anti‐Prelog stereospecificity
Authors: Zhang Rongzhen , Zhu Guangyu , Zhang Wenchi , Cao Sheng , Ou Xianjin , Li Xuemei , Bartlam Mark , Xu Yan , Zhang Xuejun C. , Rao Zihe 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA novel short‐chain (S)‐1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol dehydrogenase (SCR) from Candida parapsilosis exhibits coenzyme specificity for NADPH over NADH. It catalyzes an anti‐Prelog type reaction to reduce 2‐hydroxyacetophenone into (S)‐1‐phenyl‐1,2‐ethanediol. The coding gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and the purified protein was crystallized. The crystal structure of the apo‐form was solved to 2.7 Å resolution. This protein forms a homo‐tetramer with a broken 2‐2‐2 symmetry. The overall fold of each SCR subunit is similar to that of the known structures of other homologous alcohol dehydrogenases, although the latter usually form tetramers with perfect 2‐2‐2 symmetries. Additionally, in the apo‐SCR structure, the entrance of the NADPH pocket is blocked by a surface loop. In order to understand the structure–function relationship of SCR, we carried out a number of mutagenesis–enzymatic analyses based on the new structural information. First, mutations of the putative catalytic Ser‐Tyr‐Lys triad confirmed their functional role. Second, truncation of an N‐terminal 31‐residue peptide indicated its role in oligomerization, but not in catalytic activity. Similarly, a V270D point mutation rendered the SCR as a dimer, rather than a tetramer, without affecting the enzymatic activity. Moreover, the S67D/H68D double‐point mutation inside the coenzyme‐binding pocket resulted in a nearly 10‐fold increase and a 20‐fold decrease in the kcat/KM value when NADH and NADPH were used as cofactors, respectively, with kcat remaining essentially the same. This latter result provides a new example of a protein engineering approach to modify the coenzyme specificity in SCR and short‐chain dehydrogenases/reductases in general.
WtsE, an AvrE‐family type III effector protein of Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii, causes cell death in non‐host plants
Authors: HAM JONG HYUN , MAJERCZAK DORIS , EWERT SOPHIE , SREEREKHA MYSORE‐VENKATARAU , MACKEY DAVID , COPLIN DAVID 
Published: June 2008

SUMMARY Pantoea stewartii subsp. stewartii (Pnss) causes Stewart's bacterial wilt of sweet corn and leaf blight of maize. The pathogenicity of Pnss depends on synthesis of extracellular polysaccharide and an Hrp type III secretion system. WtsE, a type III secreted effector protein, is essential for the virulence of Pnss on corn. It belongs to the AvrE family of effectors, which includes DspA/E from Erwinia amylovora and AvrE1 from Pseudomonas syringae. Previously, WtsE was shown to cause disease‐associated cell death in its host plant, sweet corn. Here, we examine the biological activity of WtsE in several non‐host plants. WtsE induced cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana, tobacco, beet and Arabidopsis thaliana when it was transiently produced in plant cells following agroinfiltration or translocated into plant cells from Pnss, Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Pph). WtsE‐induced cell death in N. benthamiana, tobacco and beet resembled a hypersensitive response and in N. benthamiana it was delayed by cycloheximide. Interestingly, WtsE strongly promoted the growth of Pnss in N. benthamiana prior to the onset of cell death. Deletion derivatives of WtsE that failed to induce cell death in N. benthamiana and tobacco also did not complement wtsE mutants of Pnss for virulence in sweet corn, indicating a correlation between the two activities. WtsE also induced cell death in A. thaliana, where it suppressed basal defences induced by Pph. Thus, WtsE has growth‐promoting, defence‐suppressing and cell death‐inducing activities in non‐host plants. Expression of WtsE also prevented the growth of yeast, possibly due to an innate toxicity to eukaryotic cells.
Estimation of the number of SNP genetic markers required for parentage verification
Authors: Baruch E. , Weller J. I. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryFormulae were developed to compute exclusion probabilities for parentage confirmation for any number of diallelic markers under the assumption that the minor allele frequency (MAF) varied among markers, but has a uniform distribution. Three scenarios were analysed: a progeny with (1) a single putative parent; (2) two putative parents; and (3) one actual parent and one putative parent. Exclusion probabilities were computed for minimum values for the MAFs of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3, and required either one or at least two conflicts for exclusion. The numbers of markers required to obtain 99% exclusion probabilities based on a single conflict for the three minimum MAFs were 54, 45 and 39 for scenario 1; 17, 16 and 15 for scenario 2; and 28, 25 and 24 for scenario 3. The requirement of at least two conflicts for exclusion increased the number of markers required by approximately 45% for all three scenarios and all three minimum MAFs. The results obtained by the analytical formulae were very close to results obtained by simulation and to values in the literature for specific marker sets.
Cisapride and ventricular arrhythmia
Authors: Hennessy Sean , Leonard Charles E. , Newcomb Craig , Kimmel Stephen E. , Bilker Warren B. 
Published: June 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • Case reports have linked cisapride to ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.• However, two prior epidemiological studies have failed to show an association between cisapride and serious arrhythmia. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • Overall, cisapride was associated with a doubling to tripling of the risk of hospitalization for sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmia, and a near eightfold risk in the initial prescription period.• Although potentially arrhythmogenic CYP3A4 inhibitors were associated with an increased risk in cisapride users, this appears to be due to a direct effect of the drugs themselves rather than an interaction with cisapride.AIMSWe aimed to examine the association between cisapride and ventricular arrhythmia, and examine the relationship to dose and CYP3A4 inhibitors.METHODSA nested case–control study was conducted in Medicaid beneficiaries exposed to cisapride, metoclopramide or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) from 1999 to 2000. Cases were hospitalized with a principal International Classification of Diseases‐9 code indicating sudden cardiac death or ventricular arrhythmia. Controls had at least as much event‐free person time following the study prescription as its matched case.RESULTSA total of 145 cases and 7250 controls were identified. The unadjusted rate ratio for cisapride vs. PPIs was 1.49 (95% confidence interval 0.96, 2.25). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for cisapride vs. PPIs was 2.10 (1.34, 3.28). Excluding persons in managed care, the adjusted OR for cisapride was 2.92 (1.55, 5.49). In the initial prescription period, the adjusted OR for cisapride vs. PPIs was 7.85 (1.95, 31.60). Non‐arrhythmogenic CYP3A4 inhibitors were not associated with an increased risk in users of cisapride or PPI inhibitors. The OR for potentially arrhythmogenic CYP3A4 inhibitors was 3.79 (1.76, 8.15) in cisapride users and 3.47 (2.06, 5.83) in PPI users.CONCLUSIONSCisapride was associated with a doubling to tripling of the risk of hospitalization for ventricular arrhythmia, and a nearly eightfold risk in the initial prescription period. Although use of potentially arrhythmogenic CYP3A4 inhibitors was associated with an increased risk, this appears to be due to a direct effect of the drugs themselves rather than an interaction with cisapride.
An international standardization programme towards the application of gene expression profiling in routine leukaemia diagnostics: the Microarray Innovations in LEukemia study prephase
Authors: Kohlmann Alexander , Kipps Thomas J. , Rassenti Laura Z. , Downing James R. , Shurtleff Sheila A. , Mills Ken I. , Gilkes Amanda F. , Hofmann Wolf‐Karsten , Basso Giuseppe , Dell’Orto Marta Campo , Foà Robin , Chiaretti Sabina , De Vos John , Rauhut Sonja , Papenhausen Peter R. , Hernández Jesus M. , Lumbreras Eva , Yeoh Allen E. , Koay Evelyn S. , Li Rachel , Liu Wei‐min , Williams Paul M. , Wieczorek Lothar , Haferlach Torsten 
Published: June 2008

SummaryGene expression profiling has the potential to enhance current methods for the diagnosis of haematological malignancies. Here, we present data on 204 analyses from an international standardization programme that was conducted in 11 laboratories as a prephase to the Microarray Innovations in LEukemia (MILE) study. Each laboratory prepared two cell line samples, together with three replicate leukaemia patient lysates in two distinct stages: (i) a 5‐d course of protocol training, and (ii) independent proficiency testing. Unsupervised, supervised, and r2 correlation analyses demonstrated that microarray analysis can be performed with remarkably high intra‐laboratory reproducibility and with comparable quality and reliability.
The role of NF‐κB in lymphoid malignancies
Authors: Packham Graham 
Published: June 2008

SummaryNuclear Factor kappaB (NF‐κB) transcription factors are central regulators of lymphocyte proliferation, survival and development. Although normally subject to tight control, constitutive activation of NF‐κB promotes inappropriate lymphocyte survival and proliferation, and is recognised as key pathological feature in various lymphoid malignancies. Inhibition of NF‐κB may be an attractive therapeutic approach in these diseases. This review focuses on the mechanisms and functional consequences of NF‐κB activation in lymphoid malignancies and potential therapeutic strategies for inhibition of NF‐κB.
The role of colonic metabolism in lactose intolerance
Authors: He T. , Venema K. , Priebe M. G. , Welling G. W. , Brummer R.‐J. M. , Vonk R. J. 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTLactose maldigestion and intolerance affect a large part of the world population. The underlying factors of lactose intolerance are not fully understood. In this review, the role of colonic metabolism is discussed, i.e. fermentation of lactose by the colonic microbiota, colonic processing of the fermentation metabolites and how these processes would play a role in the pathophysiology of lactose intolerance. We suggest that the balance between the removal and production rate of osmotic–active components (lactose, and intermediate metabolites, e.g. lactate, succinate, etc.) in the colon is a key factor in the development of symptoms. The involvement of the colon may provide the basis for designing new targeted strategies for dietary and clinical management of lactose intolerance.
Soil microbial activity along an arctic‐alpine altitudinal gradient from a seasonal perspective
Authors: Löffler U. C. M. , Cypionka H. , Löffler J. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe knowledge on dynamics of soil microbial activity and its correlation to climate and vegetation is still poor but essential for predicting climatic changes scenarios. Seasonal dynamics of soil microbial activity and cell counts were studied along an arctic‐alpine altitudinal gradient. The gradient comprised 12 ridges from 1000 to 1600 m altitude. Soil samples were collected during March, May, July and September 2005. The effect of temperature, snow depth and vegetation, all of which changed with altitude, on soil microbial activity and bacterial cell counts was analysed. The potential activities of phosphatase and chitinase were determined using fluorescent 4‐methylumbelliferyl labelled analogues. Total and live bacterial cell counts were determined by live‐dead‐staining. We detected marked differences in soil microbial variables along the altitudinal gradient, forming three major clusters: a low alpine belt, a middle alpine belt, and an intermediate transition zone. Our results demonstrated that more frequent occurrence of shrubs and bryophytes would also increase microbial activity. Furthermore, we detected a clear relation (R2 = 0.6; P < 0.02) between high soil temperatures and greater soil microbial activity during summer. As higher temperatures are predicted to promote shrubs and higher humidity to promote bryophytes we expect microbial activity in dry heath tundra soils will increase with anticipated warmer, and in the case of Scandinavia, more humid climates. We did not find winter microbial activity to be less at snow‐free sites than at sites covered by snow up to depths of 30 cm; hence, possible future decreases in snow depth will not result in reduced winter microbial activity. We demonstrate that shrubs support winter microbial activity not only by trapping snow but also directly by increasing the amount of organic carbon.
Efficacy of citric acid against Listeria monocytogenes attached to poultry skin during refrigerated storage
Authors: González‐Fandos Elena , Herrera Bárbara , Maya Naiara 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of citric acid washing on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on poultry legs stored at 4 °C for 8 days. Fresh inoculated chicken legs were dipped into either a 0.052, 0.104 or 0.156 m citric acid solution for 5 min or distilled water (control). Surface pH values, sensorial characteristics and L. monocytogenes, mesophiles and psychrotrophs counts were evaluated. Legs washed with 0.156 m citric acid for 5 min showed a significant (P < 0.05) inhibitory effect on L. monocytogenes compared with control legs, being about 1.55 log units lower in the first ones than in control legs after 1 day of storage. Treatments with 0.156 m citric acid reduced bacterial growth and preserved reasonable sensorial quality after storage at 4 °C for 8 days.