bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Renal and Cardiovascular Effects of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Plus Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonist Therapy in Children With Proteinuria
Authors: Lubrano Riccardo , Soscia Francesca , Elli Marco , Ventriglia Flavia , Raggi Claudia , Travasso Elisabetta , Scateni Simona , Di Maio Valeria , Versacci Paolo , Masciangelo Raffaele , Romero Stefano 
Published: August 2006

OBJECTIVE. We investigated whether the combination of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist offers better control of proteinuria and cardiovascular parameters without causing adverse side effects.
METHODS. We enrolled 10 children (mean age: 12.3 ± 4.06 years) with proteinuria resulting from chronic renal diseases of various causes. The study consisted of 2 phases, 3 months each, for an overall 6-month observation time. During phase 1 (3 months), each child was assigned randomly to treatment with either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist alone. During phase 2, each child was advanced to combination therapy with the addition of an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist or an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, respectively. Renal function tests, echocardiography, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed at the beginning of the study (time 0), at 3 months (time 1), and at 6 months (time 2).
RESULTS. At time 2, proteinuria (change: −80.21 ± 10.75%), interventricular septum index (change: −13.63 ± 18.64%), posterior wall of the left ventricle index (change: −30.71 ± 20.32%), and left ventricular mass index (change: −28.33 ± 24.44%) were reduced significantly, compared with time 0 and time 1. No untoward side effects were detected during the study.
CONCLUSIONS. In the short term, the combination of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists for children with proteinuria of renal origin reduced proteinuria significantly, compared with baseline or either drug alone. Furthermore, echocardiographic studies gave evidence of reduction of left ventricular hypertrophy. Additional studies are needed to evaluate long-term results.
Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate and an Optimized Background Regimen of Antiretroviral Agents as Salvage Therapy: Impact on Bone Mineral Density in HIV-Infected Children
Authors: Gafni Rachel I. , Hazra Rohan , Reynolds James C. , Maldarelli Frank , Tullio Antonella N. , DeCarlo Ellen , Worrell Carol J. , Flaherty John F. , Yale Kitty , Kearney Brian P. , Zeichner Steven L. 
Published: August 2006

OBJECTIVE. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, a nucleotide analog HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitor with demonstrated activity against nucleoside-resistant HIV, is approved for use in adults but not children. Metabolic bone abnormalities have been seen in young animals given high-dose tenofovir and HIV-infected adults that were treated with oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. However, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is being used in children despite a lack of bone safety data. We hypothesized that, given the higher rate of bone turnover that is associated with normal skeletal growth, the potential for TDF-related bone toxicity may be greater in children than in adults.
METHODS. Fifteen highly antiretroviral-experienced HIV-infected children who were 8 to 16 years of age (mean ± SD: 12 ± 2) and required a change in therapy received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 175 to 300 mg/m2 per day (adult dose equivalent) as part of highly active antiretroviral therapy for up to 96 weeks. Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and blood and urine markers of bone metabolism were measured at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 weeks.
RESULTS. Median z score (SD score compared with age, gender, and ethnicity-matched control subjects) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip were decreased from baseline at 24 weeks and 48 weeks and then stabilized. Lumbar spine bone mineral apparent density (which estimates volumetric bone mineral density independent of bone size) z scores also decreased at 24 weeks. Absolute decreases in bone mineral density were observed in 6 children; the mean age of these children was significantly younger than the bone mineral density stable group (10.2 ± 1.1 vs 13.2 ± 1.8 years). The change in lumbar spine bone mineral density correlated with decreases in HIV plasma RNA during treatment. Metabolic markers of bone formation and resorption were variable. Two children in whom tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was discontinued because of bone loss that exceeded protocol allowances demonstrated partial or complete recovery of bone mineral density by 96 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate use in children seems to be associated with decreases in bone mineral density that, in some children, stabilize after 24 weeks. Increases in bone markers and calcium excretion suggest that tenofovir disoproxil fumarate may stimulate bone resorption. Bone turnover is higher in children than in older adolescents and adults because of skeletal growth, potentially explaining the greater effect seen in young children. Decreases in bone mineral density correlate with decreases in viral load and young age, suggesting that young responders may be at greater risk for bone toxicity.
Urinary S100B Protein Concentrations Are Increased in Intrauterine Growth-Retarded Newborns
Authors: Florio Pasquale , Marinoni Emanuela , Di Iorio Romolo , Bashir Moataza , Ciotti Sabina , Sacchi Renata , Bruschettini Matteo , Lituania Mario , Serra Giovanni , Michetti Fabrizio , Petraglia Felice , Gazzolo Diego 
Published: August 2006

BACKGROUND. Intrauterine growth retardation is one of the major causes of perinatal mortality and morbidity. To date, there are no reliable methods to detect brain damage in these patients.METHODS. We conducted a case-control study in tertiary NICUs from December 2001 to December 2003 with 42 intrauterine growth retardation infants and 84 controls. Routine laboratory variables, neurologic outcome at 7-day follow-up, ultrasound imaging, and urine concentrations of S100B protein were determined at 5 time points. Urine S100B levels were measured by an immunoluminometric assay at first urination, 24, 48, and 72 hours, and 7 days after birth. Routine laboratory parameters and neurologic patterns were assessed at the same time as urine sampling.RESULTS. S100B protein was significantly higher at all of the monitoring time points in urine taken from intrauterine growth retardation newborns than in control infants. When intrauterine growth retardation infants were corrected for the presence of abnormal (group A) or normal (group B) neurologic examination 7 days after birth, S100B was significantly higher at all of the predetermined monitoring time points in group A infants than in group B or controls. At a cutoff of 7.37 multiples of median at first urination, S100B achieved a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 99.1% as a single marker for predicting an adverse neurologic outcome. Twenty of 126 patients had neurologic abnormalities, making an overall prevalence of the disease in our population of 15.9% (pretest probability). With respect to the performance of S100B in predicting brain damage, its positive and negative predictive values were 91.0% and 99.0%, respectively.CONCLUSIONS. Increased urine S100B protein levels in intrauterine growth retardation newborns in the first week after birth suggest the presence of brain damage reasonably because of intrauterine hypoxia. Longitudinal S100B protein measurements soon after birth are a useful tool to identify which intrauterine growth retardation infants are at risk of possible neurologic sequelae.
Median Nerve Conduction Velocity and Central Conduction Time Measured With Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in Thyroxine-Treated Infants With Down Syndrome
Authors: van Trotsenburg A. S. Paul , Smit Bert J. , Koelman Johannes H. T. M. , Dekker-van der Sloot Marijke , Ridder Jeannette C. D. , Tijssen Jan G. P. , de Vijlder Jan J. M. , Vulsma Thomas 
Published: August 2006

OBJECTIVE. The aim of this study was to determine whether thyroxine treatment would improve nerve conduction in infants with Down syndrome.
METHODS. A single-center, nationwide, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial was performed. Neonates with Down syndrome were assigned randomly to thyroxine (N = 99) or placebo (N = 97) treatment for 2 years. Daily thyroxine doses were adjusted regularly to maintain plasma thyrotropin levels in the normal range and free thyroxine concentrations in the high-normal range. The outcome measures were nerve conduction velocity and central conduction time, determined through median nerve somatosensory evoked potential recording, at the age of 24 months.
RESULTS. At the age of 24 months, somatosensory evoked potential recordings for 81 thyroxine-treated and 84 placebo-treated infants were available for analysis. Nerve conduction velocity and central conduction time did not differ significantly between the 2 treatment groups (nerve conduction velocity: thyroxine: 51.0 m/second; placebo: 50.1 m/second; difference: 0.9 m/second; central conduction time: thyroxine: 8.83 milliseconds; placebo: 8.73 milliseconds; difference: 0.1 milliseconds).
CONCLUSIONS. Postnatal thyroxine treatment of infants with Down syndrome did not alter somatosensory evoked potential-measured peripheral or central nerve conduction significantly. The absence of favorable effects suggests that pathologic mechanisms other than mild postnatal hypothyroidism underlie the impaired nerve conduction. The absence of adverse effects suggests that longstanding plasma free thyroxine concentrations in the high-normal range are not harmful to nerve maturation.
Preferred Collagen Fiber Orientation in Human Peri-implant Bone After a Short- and Long-term Loading Period: A Case Report
Authors: Traini Tonino , Pecora Gabriele , Iezzi Giovanna , Piattelli Adriano 
Published: August 2006

Abstract
Immediate loading of dental implants offers treatment cost advantages to patients and avoids the functional and psychological problems caused by the wearing of provisional dentures. There is evidence that the amount of transverse collagen fiber orientation in bone is influenced by mechanical stresses and strains. Two osseointegrated dental implants in humans were used in the present study. Two implants inserted in the maxilla were analyzed: 1 short-term implant (implant A) immediately loaded and retrieved after 4 months of loading and 1 long-term implant (implant B) immediately loaded and retrieved after 12 years. We hypothesized that the bone functional strain caused by immediate loading correlated well with the collagen fiber organization occurring after both short- and long-term functional healing. Circularly polarized light (CPL) was used to assess the area fraction extension related to the transverse collagen fiber orientation in the bone matrix. After evaluating a total of 68 digitized images taken at ×50 magnification, birefringence measurements were performed all around the implant surfaces by using 2 central sections from each implant. The results showed that the bone-to-implant contact (BIC) percentage for implant A was 67.9% ± 9.5% (mean ± SD), whereas the BIC percentage for implant B was 74.6% ± 11.2% (mean ± SD). The area fraction extension was 2.7% ± 1.4 % (mean ± SD) for implant A, whereas the area fraction extension was 4.7% ± 1.2% (mean ± SD) for implant B. The CPL measurements of the birefringence for transverse collagen fibers of implant A vs implant B indicated that the bone fraction area difference was not high. In the bone near both dental implants, no differences were found in the amount of transverse collagen fibers. Immediate loading seemed to determine and maintain the collagen fiber's orientation over a long period.
Immediate Implant Placement: A Case Series
Authors: Hoffmann Oliver , Beaumont Christian , Zafiropoulos Gregor-Georg 
Published: August 2006

Abstract
A major drawback of implant therapy is the comparatively long healing period involved. Early and immediate loading of dental implants can significantly decrease the treatment time and thus result in an increase in patients' comfort. In this report, 3 cases of placement and immediate loading of the final implants are presented. In 2 of these cases, where preliminary augmentation was necessary, provisional implants were placed after the procedure and immediate provisional dentures were delivered. With the exception of 1 case, in which 1 implant failed, no adverse events were observed. All cases are in function now for 3 to 5 years after implant placement. The observations from this limited number of cases confirm that immediate loading of implants could be a viable treatment option.
Maxillary Single-tooth Replacement Utilizing a Novel Ceramic Restorative System: Results to 30 Months
Authors: Ormianer Zeev , Schiroli Guido 
Published: August 2006

Abstract
This study reports on the first longitudinal results of an alumina (70%)-zirconia (30%) ceramic restorative system for implant-supported, single-tooth replacement in the anterior maxillary jaw. Eighteen patients (9 men, 9 women, mean age = 42.4 years) were treated with 22 implants placed into 19 extraction sockets and 3 residual ridges. Eight implants were immediately loaded with nonoccluding provisional prostheses. All implants were definitively loaded with fully occluding ceramic restorations after osseointegration and soft tissue maturation. Patients were monitored from 7 to 30 months (mean = 18.1 months) after loading. All implants osseointegrated and were successfully restored. One case of abutment screw loosening occurred because of patient parafunction (bruxing), and another patient reported chewing pain attributed to malocclusion. Both problems were successfully resolved without further incidence. Within the context of this study, single-tooth replacement in the anterior maxillary jaw was successfully achieved with alumina-zirconia ceramic single-tooth restorations with up to 30 months of clinical function.
Random Chemistry as a New Tool for the Generation of Small‐Compound Libraries
Authors: Kapková Petra , Heller Eberhard , Kugelmann Eva , Faber Johan , Bringmann Gerhard , Kessler Ulrich , Folkers Gerd , Holzgrabe Ulrike 
Published: August 2006

AbstractAdvances in modern medicinal chemistry have enabled scientists to engineer new pathways aiming at the generation of novel chemical entities. Random chemistry, the serendipitous synthesis of small‐compound libraries by γ‐irradiation of a highly active lead compound or pharmacophoric fragments of active compounds, represents a complementary methodology, which provides both, compounds with resembling molecular structure and rearranged structures not previously known. Since the libraries are likely to be derived from radical chemistry, Fenton's reagent was applied to a methanol/water solution of tacrine to mimic the irradiation. Indeed, the experiment resulted in a similar product spectrum as found for tacrine in water and methanol solutions after 60Co irradiation. However, the application of Fenton's reagent is limited due to its poor solubility in organic solvents. Since the drugs we are aiming for should exhibit high water solubility, this limitation can be regarded as an advantage at the same time. Further extension of the random chemistry approach led to the successful irradiation of non‐active but drugable single fragments and combinations of fragments, i.e. the irradiation of tetrahydroisoquinoline and benzylamine, both being fragments of naphthylisoquinolines with antiplasmodial activity. The obtained isoquinoline derivatives were found to exhibit anti‐infective activities and thus are promising new lead structures.
Performance and microbial analysis of defined and non‐defined inocula for the removal of dimethyl sulfide in a biotrickling filter
Authors: Sercu B. , Boon N. , Beken S. Vander , Verstraete W. , Van Langenhove H. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe performance and microbial communities of three differently inoculated biotrickling filters removing dimethyl sulfide (DMS) were compared. The biotrickling filters were inoculated with Thiobacillus thioparus TK‐m (THIO), sludge (HANDS) and sludge + T. thioparus TK‐m + Hyphomicrobium VS (HANDS++), respectively. The criteria investigated were length of the start‐up period, the maximum elimination capacity, and the effects of intermittent loading rates, low pH, peak loading and very low loading rate on the DMS removal efficiency. The HANDS++ reactor exhibited the best performance considering all treatments. HANDS performed almost equally well as HANDS++, except during the determination of the ECmax, while THIO was generally the least efficient. During stable DMS loading at concentrations of 20 ppmv or lower, all reactors exhibited similar and high removal efficiencies (>99%). Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis showed the establishment of T. thioparus in the biofilm of all reactors, but not of Hyphomicrobium VS. Quantitative monitoring of the introduced bacterial strains was performed with a newly developed real‐time PCR protocol. Initially, the inoculated strains were exclusively found in the reactors in which they were added. Afterwards, however, both strains developed in the biofilm of all three reactors, although T. thioparus attained higher cell densities than Hyphomicrobium. The presence of T. thioparus in THIO was related with the DMS loading rates that were applied, in the sense that intermittent DMS loading and very low DMS loading rates (0.5 ppmv) induced a decrease in gene copy numbers. Real‐time PCR and DGGE both gave consistent results regarding the presence of Hyphomicrobium VS and Thiobacillus thioparus TK‐m in the reactors. Only real‐time PCR could be used to detect bacteria comprising of less than 1.4% of the total bacterial community (∼105 copies ring−1). Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;96:661–672. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Harvesting and concentration of human influenza A virus produced in serum‐free mammalian cell culture for the production of vaccines
Authors: Kalbfuss Bernd , Genzel Yvonne , Wolff Michael , Zimmermann Anke , Morenweiser Robert , Reichl Udo 
Published: August 2006

AbstractA process scheme for the harvesting and concentration of cell culture‐derived human influenza A virus is presented. The scheme comprises two static filtration steps, chemical inactivation by β‐propiolactone and cross‐flow ultrafiltration. Human influenza A virus A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) was produced in roller bottles with serum‐free medium using MDCK cells as a host. Cultivations resulted in specific hemagglutination (HA) activities of 393 HAU (100 µL)−1 and turbidities of 0.479 OD measured as the extinction of light at 700 nm (mean values are presented). The concentrations of soluble protein and DNA in the harvests were 72 µg/mL and 5.73 µg/mL, respectively. An average product yield of 79% based on HA activity was achieved after clarification by depth (85%) and microfiltration (93%). The turbidities of cell culture supernatants were reduced to 2% of their initial value. Concentration with 750 kDa hollow‐fiber modules by a factor of 20 resulted in 97% recovery of the product when operated at a constant flux of 28 L/(m2 h) and a wall shear rate of 9,500 s−1. The amount of protein and DNA could be reduced to 16% and 33% of their initial amount, respectively. An overall product yield of 77% was achieved. Clarified supernatants and concentrates were further analyzed by non‐reducing SDS–PAGE and agarose gel electrophoresis. Particle volume distributions of concentrates were obtained by dynamic light scattering analysis. From the results it can be concluded that the suggested process scheme is well suited for the harvesting and concentration of cell culture‐derived influenza A virus. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97:73–85. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new method for the joint visualization of vascular structures and connective tissues: Corrosion casting and 1 N NaOH maceration
Authors: Sangiorgi Simone , Manelli Alessandro , Dell'Orbo Carlo , Congiu Terenzio 
Published: August 2006

AbstractCorrosion casting combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been widely used to study the morphofunctional aspects of microcirculation in many organs. In this study, we present an optimization of the corrosion casting (CC) technique associating it with NaOH 1 N maceration method to obtain a clear visualization of the relationships existing between the microvascular architecture of an organ and its extracellular matrix. Briefly, experiments were performed macerating the tissue previously injected with a low viscosity acrylic resin in 1 N NaOH and then observing it at SEM. In this study, we present an application of this technique to better evaluate the extracellular components of the vascular wall in medium‐sized and capillary vessels both in skin and in kidney. The results obtained yielded clear images of the three‐dimensional layout of medium‐sized and capillary vessels in comparison with the extracellular environment. Furthermore, detailed information was obtained on the three‐dimensional layout of fibers constituting the walls of venules, arterioles, and capillaries. In addition, the tubular collagenic structures surrounding the excretory tubules of the kidney and the dermal glands of the skin were depicted and their relationships with their vascular supply described in detail. Microsc. Res. Tech. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Transcriptional Coordination of the Metabolic Network in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wei Hairong , Persson Staffan , Mehta Tapan , Srinivasasainagendra Vinodh , Chen Lang , Page Grier P. , Somerville Chris , Loraine Ann 
Published: August 2006

Abstract
Patterns of coexpression can reveal networks of functionally related genes and provide deeper understanding of processes requiring multiple gene products. We performed an analysis of coexpression networks for 1,330 genes from the AraCyc database of metabolic pathways in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We found that genes associated with the same metabolic pathway are, on average, more highly coexpressed than genes from different pathways. Positively coexpressed genes within the same pathway tend to cluster close together in the pathway structure, while negatively correlated genes typically occupy more distant positions. The distribution of coexpression links per gene is highly skewed, with a small but significant number of genes having numerous coexpression partners but most having fewer than 10. Genes with multiple connections (hubs) tend to be single-copy genes, while genes with multiple paralogs are coexpressed with fewer genes, on average, than single-copy genes, suggesting that the network expands through gene duplication, followed by weakening of coexpression links involving duplicate nodes. Using a network-analysis algorithm based on coexpression with multiple pathway members (pathway-level coexpression), we identified and prioritized novel candidate pathway members, regulators, and cross pathway transcriptional control points for over 140 metabolic pathways. To facilitate exploration and analysis of the results, we provide a Web site (http://www.transvar.org/at_coexpress/analysis/web) listing analyzed pathways with links to regression and pathway-level coexpression results. These methods and results will aid in the prioritization of candidates for genetic analysis of metabolism in plants and contribute to the improvement of functional annotation of the Arabidopsis genome.