bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differences in the social networks of ethnic Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese injecting drug users and their implications for blood-borne virus transmission
Authors: AITKEN C. K. , HIGGS P. , BOWDEN S. 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYThe social networks of 49 ethnic Vietnamese injecting drug users (IDUs) and 150 IDUs of other ethnicities recruited in Melbourne, Australia, were examined for ethnic differences in distribution of hepatitis C virus infection risk using social network analysis and molecular epidemiology. Vietnamese IDUs were more highly connected than non-Vietnamese IDUs, and more likely to be members of dense injecting sub-networks. More related infections were detected in IDUs with discordant ethnicities than were captured in the social network data; nonetheless, most dyads and most IDU pairs with related infections had matching ethnicity, confirming that mixing was assortative on that criterion. Mixing was not obviously dissortative by risk; low-risk Vietnamese IDUs injected more frequently than did correspondingly low-risk non-Vietnamese IDUs, but results for other measures were reversed or equivocal. Network measurements suggest that ethnic Vietnamese IDUs are at elevated risk of blood-borne infection, a conclusion supported by their relatively high HIV prevalence.
Estimating the impact of vaccination using age–time-dependent incidence rates of hepatitis B
Authors: HENS N. , AERTS M. , SHKEDY Z. , KUNG'U KIMANI P. , KOJOUHOROVA M. , VAN DAMME P. , BEUTELS Ph. 
Published: May 2007

SUMMARYThe objective of this study was to model the age–time-dependent incidence of hepatitis B while estimating the impact of vaccination. While stochastic models/time-series have been used before to model hepatitis B cases in the absence of knowledge on the number of susceptibles, this paper proposed using a method that fits into the generalized additive model framework. Generalized additive models with penalized regression splines are used to exploit the underlying continuity of both age and time in a flexible non-parametric way. Based on a unique case notification dataset, we have shown that the implemented immunization programme in Bulgaria resulted in a significant decrease in incidence for infants in their first year of life with 82% (79–84%). Moreover, we have shown that conditional on an assumed baseline susceptibility percentage, a smooth force-of-infection profile can be obtained from which two local maxima were observed at ages 9 and 24 years.
The right to life in armed conflict: does international humanitarian law provide all the answers?
Authors: Doswald-Beck Louise 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThis article describes the relevant interpretation of the right to life by human rights treaty bodies and analyses how this might influence the law relating to the use of force in armed conflicts and occupations where international humanitarian law is unclear. The concurrent applicability of international humanitarian law and human rights law to hostilities in armed conflict does not mean that the right to life must, in all situations, be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of international humanitarian law. The author submits that the human rights law relating to the right to life is suitable to supplement the rules of international humanitarian law relating to the use of force for non-international conflicts and occupation, as well as the law relating to civilians taking a “direct part in hostilities”. Finally, by making reference to the traditional prohibition of assassination, the author concludes that the application of human rights law in these situations would not undermine the spirit of international humanitarian law.
Contextualizing proportionality: jus ad bellum and jus in bello in the Lebanese war
Authors: Cannizzaro Enzo 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThis article analyses the role and content of proportionality under contemporary international law governing the use of force, with a view to clarifying the legal framework governing the conduct of the parties to an armed conflict. In the system of jus ad bellum, protection is primarily granted to the interest of the attacked state in repelling the attack; the other competing interests are considered only to curtail the choice of the means to be employed in order to achieve that aim. Conversely, in the system of jus in bello there is by definition no prevailing interest, but instead a variety of interests and values which are entitled to equal protection of the law and must be balanced against each other. The existence of two distinct normative systems, with distinct standards of legality applicable to the same conduct, does not as a rule give rise to major problems. The legality of recourse to force is measured against the proportionality of self-defence, whereas individual actions would have to conform to the requirement of proportionality in jus in bello. However, beyond the large area in which these two standards overlap, there might be situations in which the strict application of the jus ad bellum standard makes it impossible to achieve the aims of jus in bello. In these cases, the proportionality test under jus in bello must be regarded as part of the proportionality test under jus ad bellum. States must thus take humanitarian implications into account in determining the level of security they may seek to obtain using military action.
Honey and royal jelly, like human milk, abrogate lectin-dependent infection-preceding Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion
Authors: Lerrer Batia , Zinger-Yosovich Keren D , Avrahami Benjamin , Gilboa-Garber Nechama 
Published: May 2007

Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibiotic resistance has led to the search of natural compounds, which would competitively block its fucose&gt;fructose/mannose-binding lectin (PA-IIL) that mediates its biofilm formation and adhesion to animal cells. Such compounds were found in human milk (HM) and avian egg whites. The present research has revealed that honey and royal jelly (RJ), which are assigned to protect beehive progeny and are applied for human infection therapy, match HM in PA-IIL blocking. The function of their fructose (higher in honey) and mannosylated glycoproteins (higher in RJ) as powerful decoys in PA-IIL neutralization is of ecological/biological importance and implementability for the antibacterial adhesion therapeutic strategy.
Inter-species transplantation of gut microbiota from human to pigs
Authors: Pang Xiaoyan , Hua Xiuguo , Yang Qian , Ding Dezhong , Che Chuanyan , Cui Li , Jia Wei , Bucheli Peter , Zhao Liping 
Published: May 2007

Abstract
Direct research on gut microbiota for understanding its role as ‘an important organ’ in human individuals is difficult owing to its vast diversity and host specificity as well as ethical concerns. Transplantation of human gut microbiota into surrogate hosts can significantly facilitate the research of human gut ecology, metabolism and immunity but rodents-based model provides results with low relevance to humans. A new human flora-associated (HFA) piglet model was hereby established taking advantage of the high similarity between pigs and humans with respect to the anatomy, physiology and metabolism of the digestive system. Piglets were delivered via cesarean section into a SPF-level barrier system and were inoculated orally with a whole fecal suspension from one healthy 10-year-old boy. The establishment and composition of the intestinal microbiota of the HFA piglets were analyzed and compared with that of the human donor using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence-PCR fingerprinting-based community DNA hybridization, group-specific PCR-temperature gradient gel electrophoresis and real-time PCR. Molecular profiling demonstrated that transplantation of gut microbiota from a human to germfree piglets produced a donor-like microbial community with minimal individual variation. And the microbial succession with aging of those ex-germfree piglets was also similar to that observed in humans. This HFA model provides a significantly improved system for research on gut ecology in human metabolism, nutrition and drug discovery.
Increased Rate of Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection Associated With Use of a Needleless Mechanical Valve Device at a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital
Authors: Salgado Cassandra D. , Chinnes Libby , Paczesny Tammy H. , Cantey J. Robert 
Published: May 2007

Objective.To determine whether introduction of a needleless mechanical valve device (NMVD) at a long-term acute care hospital was associated with an increased frequency of catheter-related bloodstream infection (BSI).Design.For patients with a central venous catheter in place, the catheter-related BSI rate during the 24-month period before introduction of the NMVD, a period in which a needleless split-septum device (NSSD) was being used (hereafter, the NSSD period), was compared with the catheter-related BSI rate during the 24-month period after introduction of the NMVD (hereafter, the NMVD period). The microbiological characteristics of catheter-related BSIs during each period were also compared. Comparisons and calculations of relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were performed using χ2 analysis.Results.Eighty-six catheter-related BSIs (3.86 infections per 1,000 catheter-days) occurred during the study period. The rate of catheter-related BSI during the NMVD period was significantly higher than that during the NSSD period (5.95 vs 1.79 infections per 1,000 catheter-days; RR, 3.32 [95% CI, 2.88–3.83]; P < .001). A significantly greater percentage of catheter-related BSIs during the NMVD period were caused by gram-negative organisms, compared with the percentage recorded during the NSSD period (39.5% vs 8%; P = .007). Among catheter-related BSIs due to gram-positive organisms, the percentage caused by enterococci was significantly greater during the NMVD period, compared with the NSSD period (54.8% vs 13.6%; P = .004). The catheter-related BSI rate remained high during the NMVD period despite several educational sessions regarding proper use of the NMVD.Conclusions.An increased catheter-related BSI rate was temporally associated with use of a NMVD at the study hospital, despite several educational sessions regarding proper NMVD use. The current design of the NMVD may be unsafe for use in certain patient populations.
Clinical and Economic Impact of Multidrug Resistance in Nosocomial Acinetobacter baumannii Bacteremia
Authors: Lee Nan-Yao , Lee Hsin-Chun , Ko Nai-Ying , Chang Chia-Ming , Shih Hsin-I , Wu Chi-Jung , Ko Wen-Chien 
Published: May 2007

Objective.To investigate the impact of antimicrobial resistance on clinical and economic outcomes among hospitalized patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia.Design.A retrospective, matched-cohort study.Setting.A tertiary care university teaching hospitalMethods.A matched case-control (1:1) study was conducted to compare the differences in clinical and economic outcomes of patients with MDR A. baumannii bacteremia and patients with non-MDR A. baumannii bacteremia. Case patients were matched to control patients on the basis of sex, age, severity of underlying and acute illness, and length of hospital stay before onset of bacteremia.Results.Forty-six (95.8%) of 48 cases with MDR A. baumannii bacteremia were eligible for the study and matched with appropriate controls. The sepsis-related mortality rate was 34.8% among cases and 13.0% among controls, for an attributable mortality rate of 21.8% (adjusted odds ratio, 4.1 [95% confidence interval, 1.1-15.7]; P = .036). After the onset of bacteremia, cases and controls had a significantly different length of hospital stay (54.2 vs 34.1 days; P = .006), hospitalization cost (US$9,349 vs US$4,865; P = .001 ), and antibiotic therapy cost (US$2,257 vs US$1,610; P = .014). Thus, bacteremia due to MDR A. baumannii resulted in 13.4 days of additional hospitalization and US$3,758 of additional costs, compared with bacteremia due to non-MDR A. baumannii.Conclusions.Patients with MDR A. baumannii bacteremia had a higher mortality rate and incurred greater medical costs than patients with non-MDR A. baumannii bacteremia.
Impact of Bordetella pertussis Exposures on a Massachusetts Tertiary Care Medical System
Authors: Zivna Iva , Bergin Diana , Casavant Joanne , Fontecchio Sally , Nelson Susan , Kelley Anita , Mathis Sandra , Melvin Zita , Erlichman Rosemarie , Ellison Richard T. 
Published: May 2007

Objective.To assess the impact of outbreaks of Bordetella pertussis infection on a tertiary care medical system.Design.Retrospective study.Setting.Academic tertiary care medical center and affiliated ambulatory care settings.Subjects.All patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) who were in close contact with patients with laboratory-confirmed cases of B. pertussis infection from October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2004.Intervention.Direct and indirect medical center costs were determined, including low and high estimates of time expended in the evaluation and management of exposed patients and HCWs during outbreak investigations of laboratory-confirmed cases of B. pertussis infection.Results.During this period, 20 primary and 3 secondary laboratory-confirmed cases of B. pertussis infection occurred, with 2 primary pertussis cases and 1 secondary case occurring in HCWs. Outbreak investigations prompted screening of 353 medical center employees. Probable or definitive exposure was identified for 296 HCWs, and 287 subsequently received treatment or prophylaxis for B. pertussis infection. Direct medical center costs for treatment and prophylaxis were $13,416 and costs for personnel time were $19,500-$31,190. Indirect medical center costs for time lost from work were $51,300-$52,300. The total cost of these investigations was estimated to be $85,066-$98,456.Conclusions.Frequent B. pertussis exposures had a major impact on our facility. Given the impact of exposures on healthcare institutions, routine vaccination for HCWs may be beneficial.
Isolated ZP-N domains constitute the N-terminal extensions of Zona Pellucida proteins
Authors: Callebaut Isabelle , Mornon Jean-Paul , Monget Philippe 
Published: May 2007

AbstractZona Pellucida (ZP) domains have been found in a wide variety of extracellular proteins, in which they play essential role for polymerization. They are shared by the ZP proteins, which constitute the extracellular coat of animal eggs. Except from ZP3, constituting the primary sperm receptor, the ZP proteins possess, in addition to their C-terminal ZP domains, N-terminal extensions, which are thought to play an important role in the species-specific gamete recognition. Here, we show that these extensions are made of single or multiple copies of a small globular domain, which can be significantly related to the N-terminal region of ZP domains (ZP-N domains). This finding brings new insights into the molecular evolution of ZP proteins, which may have evolved around a common ZP-N architecture, and more generally into the noticeable sequence diversity of ZP-N domains, which can be found as isolated subunits or tightly associated with ZP-C domains to form complete, canonical ZP domains.Contact: isabelle.callebaut@impmc.jussieu.frSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Secondary structure based analysis and classification of biological interfaces: identification of binding motifs in protein–protein interactions
Authors: Guharoy Mainak , Chakrabarti Pinak 
Published: May 2007

AbstractMotivation: The increasing amount of data on protein–protein interaction needs to be rationalized for deriving guidelines for the alteration or design of an interface between two proteins.Results: We present a detaild structural analysis and comparison of homo- versus heterodimeric protein–protein interfaces. Regular secondary structures (helices and strands) are the main components of the former, whereas non-regular structures (turns, loops, etc.) frequently mediate interactions in the latter. Interface helices get longer with increasing interface area, but only in heterocomplexes. On average, the homodimers have longer helical segments and prominent helix–helix pairs. There is a surprising distinction in the relative orientation of interface helices, with a tendency for aligned packing in homodimers and a clear preference for packing at 90° in heterodimers. Arg and the aromatic residues have a higher preference to occur in all secondary structural elements (SSEs) in the interface. Based on the dominant SSE, the interfaces have been grouped into four classes: α, β, αβ and non-regular. Identity between protein and interface classes is the maximum for α proteins, but rather mediocre for the other protein classes. The interface classes of the two chains forming a heterodimer are often dissimilar. Eleven binding motifs can capture the prominent architectural features of most of the interfaces.Contact: pinak@boseinst.ernet.inSupplementary information: A separate file is provided with 3 tables and 2 figures, which are referred to with a prefix ‘S’ in text.
Incidence of Chest Tube Malposition in the Critically Ill
Authors: Remérand Francis , Luce Virginie , Badachi Yasmina , Lu Qin , Bouhemad Belaïd , Rouby Jean-Jacques 
Published: May 2007

Background
Malposition of percutaneously inserted chest tubes is considered as a rare complication in critically ill patients. Its incidence, however, remains uncertain. The aims of the study were to assess the true incidence of chest tube malposition in critically ill patients and to identify predicting factors.

Methods
The authors prospectively studied 122 chest tubes percutaneously inserted in 75 consecutive critically ill patients. For clinical reasons independent of the study, thoracic computed tomography scanning was performed in 63 patients, allowing direct visualization of 106 chest tubes. Based on these findings, chest tube position was classified as intrapleural, intrafissural, or intraparenchymal. Factors predicting chest tube malposition were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results
The mean delay between chest tube placement and thoracic scan was 3.5+/-2.9 days. Twenty-two chest tubes were diagnosed as being intrafissural (21%), and 10 were diagnosed as being intraparenchymal (9%). The only predicting factor associated with the risk of malposition was the use of a trocar for the percutaneous insertion of the chest tube (P=0.032).

Conclusions
Malposition was detected in 30% of percutaneously inserted chest tubes, a higher incidence than previously reported. Avoiding the use of a trocar may reduce significantly the incidence of chest tube malposition.
Effects of Xenon Anesthesia on Cerebral Blood Flow in Humans
Authors: Laitio Ruut M. , Kaisti Kaike K. , Låangsjö Jaakko W. , Aalto Sargo , Salmi Elina , Maksimow Anu , Aantaa Riku , Oikonen Vesa , Sipilä Hannu , Parkkola Riitta , Scheinin Harry 
Published: May 2007

Background
Animal studies have demonstrated a strong neuroprotective property of xenon. Its usefulness in patients with cerebral pathology could be compromised by deleterious effects on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF).

Methods
15O-labeled water was used to determine rCBF in nine healthy male subjects at baseline and during 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of xenon (63%). Anesthesia was based solely on xenon. Absolute changes in rCBF were quantified using region-of-interest analysis and voxel-based analysis.

Results
Mean arterial blood pressure and arterial partial pressure for carbon dioxide remained unchanged. The mean (+/-SD) xenon concentration during anesthesia was 65.2+/-2.3%. Xenon anesthesia decreased absolute rCBF by 34.7+/-9.8% in the cerebellum (P<0.001), by 22.8+/-10.4% in the thalamus (P=0.001), and by 16.2+/-6.2% in the parietal cortex (P<0.001). On average, xenon anesthesia decreased absolute rCBF by 11.2+/-8.6% in the gray matter (P=0.008). A 22.1+/-13.6% increase in rCBF was detected in the white matter (P=0.001). Whole-brain voxel-based analysis revealed widespread cortical reductions and increases in rCBF in the precentral and postcentral gyri.

Conclusions
One MAC of xenon decreased rCBF in several areas studied. The greatest decreases were detected in the cerebellum, the thalamus and the cortical areas. Increases in rCBF were observed in the white matter and in the pre- and postcentral gyri. These results are in clear contradiction with ketamine, another N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist and neuroprotectant, which induces a general increase in cerebral blood flow at anesthetic concentrations.
Effects of Vasopressin on Microcirculatory Blood Flow in the Gastrointestinal Tract in Anesthetized Pigs in Septic Shock
Authors: Hiltebrand Luzius B. , Krejci Vladimir , Jakob Stephan M. , Takala Jukka , Sigurdsson Gisli H. 
Published: May 2007

Background
Vasopressin increases arterial pressure in septic shock even when alpha-adrenergic agonists fail. The authors studied the effects of vasopressin on microcirculatory blood flow in the entire gastrointestinal tract in anesthetized pigs during early septic shock.

Methods
Thirty-two pigs were intravenously anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and randomly assigned to one of four groups (n=8 in each; full factorial design). Group S (sepsis) and group SV (sepsis-vasopressin) were made septic by fecal peritonitis. Group C and group V were nonseptic control groups. After 300 min, group V and group SV received intravenous infusion of 0.06 U.kg.h vasopressin. In all groups, cardiac index and superior mesenteric artery flow were measured. Microcirculatory blood flow was recorded with laser Doppler flowmetry in both mucosa and muscularis of the stomach, jejunum, and colon.

Results
While vasopressin significantly increased arterial pressure in group SV (P<0.05), superior mesenteric artery flow decreased by 51+/-16% (P<0.05). Systemic and mesenteric oxygen delivery and consumption decreased and oxygen extraction increased in the SV group. Effects on the microcirculation were very heterogeneous; flow decreased in the stomach mucosa (by 23+/-10%; P<0.05), in the stomach muscularis (by 48+/-16%; P<0.05), and in the jejunal mucosa (by 27+/-9%; P<0.05), whereas no significant changes were seen in the colon.

Conclusion
Vasopressin decreased regional flow in the superior mesenteric artery and microcirculatory blood flow in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This reduction in flow and a concomitant increase in the jejunal mucosa-to-arterial carbon dioxide gap suggest compromised mucosal blood flow in the upper gastrointestinal tract in septic pigs receiving low-dose vasopressin.