bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chronic hyperglycemia modulates osteoblast gene expression through osmotic and non‐osmotic pathways
Authors: Botolin Sergiu , McCabe Laura R. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractInsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM; type I) is a chronic disease stemming from little or no insulin production and elevated blood glucose levels. IDDM is associated with osteoporosis and increased fracture rates. The mechanisms underlying IDDM associated bone loss are not known. Previously we demonstrated that osteoblasts exhibit a response to acute (1 and 24 h) hyperglycemia and hyperosmolality. Here we examined the influence of chronic hyperglycemia (30 mM) and its associated hyperosmolality on osteoblast phenotype. Our findings demonstrate that osteoblasts respond to chronic hyperglycemia through modulated gene expression. Specifically, chronic hyperglycemia increases alkaline phosphatase activity and expression and decreases osteocalcin, MMP‐13, VEGF and GAPDH expression. Of these genes, only MMP‐13 mRNA levels exhibit a similar suppression in response to hyperosmotic conditions (mannitol treatment). Acute hyperglycemia for a 48‐h period was also capable of inducing alkaline phosphatase and suppressing osteocalcin, MMP‐13, VEGF, and GAPDH expression in differentiated osteoblasts. This suggests that acute responses in differentiated cells are maintained chronically. In addition, hyperglycemic and hyperosmotic conditions increased PPARγ2 expression, although this increase reached significance only in 21 days chronic glucose treated cultures. Given that osteocalcin is suppressed and PPARγ2 expression is increased in type I diabetic mouse model bones, these findings suggest that diabetes‐associated hyperglycemia may modulate osteoblast gene expression, function and bone formation and thereby contribute to type I diabetic bone loss. J. Cell. Biochem. 99: 411–424, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
On the efficient evaluation of Fourier patterns for nanoparticles and clusters
Authors: Cervellino Antonio , Giannini Cinzia , Guagliardi Antonietta 
Published: April 2006

AbstractSamples made of an isotropically oriented ensemble of atomic clusters or structures that are not large crystals (i.e. extended less than 10 periods in each direction) are at the frontier of today's material science and chemistry. Examples are nanoparticles, nanotubes, amorphous matter, polymers, and macromolecules in suspension. For such systems the computation of powder diffraction patterns (which may provide an efficient characterization) is to be performed the hard way, by summing contributions from each atom pair. This work deals with performing such computation in the most practical and efficient way. Three main points are developed: how to encode the enormous array of interatomic distances (which increase as the square or higher powers of the cluster diameter) to a much smaller array of equispaced values on a coarse grid (whose size increases linearly with the diameter); how to perform a fast computation of the diffraction pattern from this equispaced grid; how to optimize the grid step to obtain an arbitrarily small error on the computed diffraction pattern. Theory and examples are jointly developed and presented. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 27: 995–1008, 2006
Human subcutaneous adipose cells support complete differentiation but not self‐renewal of hematopoietic progenitors
Authors: Corre Jill , Barreau Corinne , Cousin Beatrice , Chavoin Jean‐Pierre , Caton David , Fournial Gerard , Penicaud Luc , Casteilla Louis , Laharrague Patrick 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAdipose tissue is now considered as an endocrine organ implicated in energy regulation, inflammation and immune response, and as a source of multipotent cells with a broad range of differentiation capacities. Some of these cells are of a mesenchymal type which can—like their bone marrow (BM) counterpart—support hematopoiesis, since in a previous study we were able to reconstitute lethally irradiated mice by cells isolated from adipose tissue. In the present study, we established that cells derived from the stroma‐vascular fraction of human subcutaneous fat pads support the complete differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors into myeloid and B lymphoid cells. However, these cells are unable to maintain the survival and self‐renewal of hematopoietic stem cells. These features, similar to those of BM adipocytes, are the opposite of those of other cell types derived from mesenchymal progenitors such as BM myofibroblasts or osteoblasts. Because it is abundant and accessible, adipose tissue could be a convenient source of cells for the short‐term reconstitution of hematopoiesis in man. J. Cell. Physiol. 208: 282–288, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The evolution of immune mechanisms
Authors: Danilova Nadia 
Published: April 2006

AbstractFrom early on in evolution, organisms have had to protect themselves from pathogens. Mechanisms for discriminating “self” from “non‐self” evolved to accomplish this task, launching a long history of host–pathogen co‐evolution. Evolution of mechanisms of immune defense has resulted in a variety of strategies. Even unicellular organisms have rich arsenals of mechanisms for protection, such as restriction endonucleases, antimicrobial peptides, and RNA interference.In multicellular organisms, specialized immune cells have evolved, capable of recognition, phagocytosis, and killing of foreign cells as well as removing their own cells changed by damage, senescence, infection, or cancer. Additional humoral factors, such as the complement cascade, have developed that co‐operate with cellular immunity in fighting infection and maintaining homeostasis. Defensive mechanisms based on germline‐encoded receptors constitute a system known as innate immunity. In jaw vertebrates, this system is supplemented with a second system, adaptive immunity, which in contrast to innate immunity is based on diversification of immune receptors and on immunological memory in each individual.Usually, each newly evolved defense mechanism did not replace the previous one, but supplemented it, resulting in a layered structure of the immune system. The immune system is not one system but rather a sophisticated network of various defensive mechanisms operating on different levels, ranging from mechanisms common for every cell in the body to specialized immune cells and responses at the level of the whole organism. Adaptive changes in pathogens have shaped the evolution of the immune system at all levels. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 306B, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acrolein‐mediated mechanisms of neuronal death
Authors: Liu‐Snyder Peishan , McNally Helen , Shi Riyi , Borgens Richard Ben 
Published: April 2006

AbstractIt is well known that traumatic injury in the central nervous system can be viewed as a primary injury and a secondary injury. Increases in oxidative stress lead to breakdown of membrane lipids (lipid peroxidation) during secondary injury. Acrolein, an alpha,beta‐unsaturated aldehyde, together with other aldehydes, increases as a result of self‐propagating lipid peroxidation. Historically, most research on the pathology of secondary injury has focused on reactive oxygen species (ROS) rather than lipid peroxidation products. Little is known about the toxicology and cell death mediated by these aldehydes. In this study, we investigated and characterized certain features of cell death induced by acrolein on PC12 cells as well as cells from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and sympathetic ganglion in vitro. In the companion paper, we evaluated a possible means to interfere with this toxicity by application of a compound that can bind to and inactivate acrolein. Here we use both light and atomic force microscopy to study cell morphology after exposure to acrolein. Administration of 100 μM acrolein caused a dramatic change in cell morphology as early as 4 hr. Cytoskeletal structures significantly deteriorated after exposure to 100 μM acrolein as demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy, whereas calpain activity increased significantly at this concentration. Cell viability assays indicated significant cell death with 100 μM acrolein by 4 hr. Caspase 3 activity and DNA fragmentation assays were performed and supported the notion that 100 μM acrolein induced PC12 cell death by the mechanism of necrosis, not apoptosis. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Language ability and adjustment: Western expatriates in China
Authors: Selmer Jan 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAlthough the standard of English proficiency is rising in China, using English in conversations with Chinese host nationals may be difficult. Therefore, proficiency in the Chinese language may promote the adjustment of foreign business expatriates in China. To test this proposition, a mail survey was directed to Western business expatriates assigned to China. Controlling for the time expatriates had spent in China, results showed that their language ability had a positive association with their sociocultural adjustment. Not surprisingly, this positive relationship was strongest for interaction adjustment and weakest for work adjustment. The straightforward implications of these clear findings are discussed in detail. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Patent protection and foreign direct investment
Authors: Seyoum Belay 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe importance of development and use of products embodying intellectual property rights has increased dramatically. The growing share of knowledge‐intensive products in worldwide trade, together with the increase in international technological competition, has magnified the importance of patents and other forms of intellectual property. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of patent protection on inward foreign direct investment (FDI). It also examines the relative importance of other variables such as market size, trade orientation, unemployment rates, and so on. The findings are supportive of the fact that the level of patent protection is a strong determinant of investment flows. A proper understanding of this relationship will help firms and governments devise appropriate intellectual property policy to encourage the growth and expansion of FDI. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus AureusCarriage Among Patients After Hospital Discharge
Authors: Vriens Menno R. , Blok Hetty E. M. , Gigengack-Baars Ada C. M. , Mascini Ellen M. , Werken Chris van der , Verhoef Jan , Troelstra Annet 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground and Objective:At the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), follow-up implies an inventory of risk factors and screening for MRSA colonization among all MRSA-positive patients for at least 6 months. If risk factors or positive cultures persist or re-emerge, longer follow-up is indicated and isolation at readmission. This study investigated how long MRSA-positive patients remained colonized after hospital discharge and which risk factors were important. Furthermore, the results of eradication therapy were evaluated.Design:All patients who were positive for MRSA at the UMCU between January 1991 and January 2001 were analyzed regarding carriage state, presence of risk factors for prolonged carriage ofStaphylococcus aureus, and eradication treatment.Results:A total of 135 patients were included in the study. The median follow-up time was 1.2 years. Eighteen percent of the patients were dismissed from follow-up 1 year after discharge. Only 5 patients were dismissed after 6 months. Among patients with no risk factors, eradication treatment was effective for 95% within 1 year. Among patients with persistent risk factors, treatment was effective for 89% within 2 years.Conclusions:Based on these findings, eradication therapy should be prescribed for all MRSA carriers, independent of the presence of risk factors. MRSA-positive patients should be evaluated for 6 months for the presence of risk factors and MRSA carriage. Screening for risk factors is important because intermittent MRSA carriage was found in a significant number of our patients. Patients with negative MRSA cultures and without risk factors for 12 months can be safely dismissed from follow-up. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2005;26:629-633)
Reduction in Nosocomial Transmission of Drug-Resistant Bacteria After Introduction of an Alcohol-Based Handrub
Authors: Gordin Fred M. , Schultz Maureen E. , Huber Ruth A , Gill Janet A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective:To assess quantitatively the clinical impact of using an alcohol-based handrub (ABHR) in the hospital environment, measuring impact as the incidence of new, nosocomial isolates of drug-resistant organisms.Design:An observational survey from 1998 to 2003 comparing the first 3 years of no ABHR use with the 3 years following, when an ABHR was provided for hand hygiene.Setting:An inner-city, tertiary-care medical center.Intervention:At baseline, an antimicrobial soap with 0.3% triclosan was provided for staff hand hygiene. The intervention was placement in all inpatient and all outpatient clinic rooms of wall-mounted dispensers of an ABHR with 62.5% ethyl alcohol. Data were collected on change in the incidence of three drug-resistant bacteria.Results:During the 6 years of the survey, all new, nosocomially acquired isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea were recorded. On comparison of the first 3 years with the final 3 years, there was a 21% decrease in new, nosocomially acquired MRSA (90 to 71 isolates per year; P = .01) and a 41% decrease in VRE (41 to 24 isolates per year; P < .001). The incidence of new isolates of C. difficile was essentially unchanged.Conclusion:In the 3 years following implementation of an ABHR, this hospital experienced the value of reductions in the incidence of nosocomially acquired drug-resistant bacteria. These reductions provide clinical validation of the recent CDC recommendation that ABHRs be the primary choice for hand decontamination. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2005;26:650-653)
Risk Factors for Nosocomial Infective Endocarditis in Patients with Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus AureusBacteremia
Authors: Hsu Ron-Bin 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground and Objective:Nosocomial infections caused by methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) are increasing. Only a few studies of MRSA infective endocarditis have been conducted, and none have reported its risk factors. We sought to determine the host-related risk factors for infective endocarditis in patients with nosocomial MRSA bacteremia.Setting:A 2,000-bed, university-affiliated, tertiary-care hospital.Patients:Thirty-one patients with nosocomial MRSA infective endocarditis between October 1996 and May 2003.Design:A retrospective chart review was conducted. Data were compared with those from a control group of patients with nosocomial MRSA bacteremia. Logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for nosocomial infective endocarditis.Results:Compared with patients who had nosocomial MRSA bacteremia and no infective endocarditis, patients who had infective endocarditis had a higher incidence of chronic liver disease and a lower incidence of immunodeficiency. The risk of developing infective endocarditis was approximately 10% for patients with nosocomial MRSA bacteremia.Conclusion:Patients with MRSA bacteremia and underlying chronic liver disease were prone to infective endocarditis. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2005;26:654-657)
Mupirocin for Controlling Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus Aureus: Lessons From a Decade of Use at a University Hospital
Authors: Vivoni Adriana M. , Santos Kátia R. N. , de-Oliveira Márcia P. , Giambiagi-deMarval Marcia , Ferreira Adriana L. P. , Riley Lee W. , Moreira Beatriz M. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:From 1990 to 1995 at Hospital Universitario dementino Fraga Filho, patients colonized or infected with methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) were treated with mupirocin to eliminate MRSA carriage. In 1995, 65% of MRSA patients at this hospital had mupirocin-resistant isolates. Starting in 1996, mupirocin use was restricted to patients colonized, but not infected, with MRSA.Objectives:To describe the use of mupirocin for controlling MRSA over a decade and to analyze the molecular epidemiology of mupirocin-resistant MRSA infections at this hospital.Setting:A 490-bed, tertiary-care university hospital.Methods:The incidence densities of patients with MRSA and acquisition of mupirocin by the hospital were calculated for the period 1992–2001.S. aureusisolates from 1999–2000 were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Mupirocin-resistant MRSA isolates from 1994–1995 and 1999–2000 were analyzed forileS-2gene background polymorphisms.Results:The incidence density of MRSA patients increased slightly over time, whereas the purchase of mupirocin decreased dramatically. Mupirocin-resistant MRSA infections decreased from 65% in 1994–1995 to 15% in 1999–2000. The MRSA Brazilian clone, detected in 1992, was still highly prevalent. The sameileS-2 encoding plasmid found in 1994–1995 persisted in three identical MRSA isolates from 1999–2000 belonging to the Brazilian clone.Conclusions:After mupirocin use decreased, theileS-2 encoding plasmid persisted in only a few Brazilian clone isolates. Our data on mupirocin-resistant MRSA incidence and mupirocin use strongly suggested that restricted use was related to decreased rates of mupirocin resistance at our hospital. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2005;26:662-667)
Risk Factors for Acquisition of Clostridium difficile–Associated Diarrhea among Outpatients at a Cancer Hospital
Authors: Palmore Tara N. , Sohn SeJean , Malak Sharp F. , Eagan Janet , Sepkowitz Kent A 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is an important infection in hospital settings. Its impact on outpatient care has not been well defined.Objective:To examine risk factors of ambulatory cancer patients with CDAD.Design:Case-control study.Setting:Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a tertiary-care hospital.Methods:Cases of CDAD among oncology outpatients from January 1999 through December 2000 were identified via positive C. difficile toxin assay results on stool specimens sent from clinics or the emergency department. A 1:3 matched case-control study examined exposures associated with CDAD.Results:Forty-eight episodes of CDAD were identified in cancer outpatients. The mean age was 51 years; 44% were female. Forty-one (85%) had received antibiotics within 60 days of diagnosis, completing courses a median of 16.5 days prior to diagnosis. Case-patients received longer courses of first-generation cephalosporins (4.8 vs 3.2 days; P = .03) and fluoroquinolones (23.6 vs 8 days; P < .01) than did control-patients. Those receiving clindamycin were 3.9-fold more likely to develop CDAD (P < .01). For each additional day of clindamycin or third-generation cephalosporin exposure, patients were 1.29- and 1.26-fold more likely to develop CDAD (P < .01 and .04, respectively). The 38 CDAD patients hospitalized during the risk period (79.2%) spent more time as inpatients than did control-patients (19.3 vs 9.7 days; P <. 001).Conclusions:Antibiotic use, especially with cephalosporins and clindamycin, and prolonged hospitalization contributed to the development of CDAD. Outpatient CDAD appears to be most strongly related to inpatient exposures; reasons for the delayed development of symptoms are unknown.
Nonuniform Risk of Bloodstream Infection with Increasing Central Venous Catheter-Days
Authors: McLaws Mary-Louise , Berry Geoffrey 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective:To determine whether the conventional rate for central venous catheter (CVC)-associated bloodstream infection (BSI) accurately reflects risk for patients exposed for a variety of in situ periods.Patients and Methods:Intensive care unit patients (n = 1,375) were monitored for 7,467 CVC-days. They were monitored until catheter removal, until diagnosis of CVC-associated BSI, or for 24 hours after discharge.Results:The BSI rate was 3.7 per 1,000 CVC-days. Ninety-three percent of these patients had CVCs in situ for 1-15 days. These patients were exposed to 59.7% of all CVC-days; the remaining 7% were exposed to 40.3% of all CVC-days. BSI rates stratified by exposure periods of 1-5 and 6-15 days were 2.1 and 4.5 per 1,000 CVC-days, respectively. The rates for 16-30 and 31-320 days were 10.2 and 2.1 per 1,000 CVC-days, respectively. The probability of BSI with a CVC in situ was 6 in 100 by day 15, 14 in 100 by day 25, 21 in 100 by day 30, and 53 in 100 by day 320.Conclusion:The conventional aggregated rate better reflects the risk for the majority of patients rather than for patients exposed to the majority of CVC-days. It does not reflect the true probability of risk for all exposures, especially beyond 30 days. CVCs in situ from 1 to 15 days had less risk of BSI than CVCs in situ more than 15 days, which may explain why scheduled CVC replacement at days 5 to 7 has not been found beneficial.
Surveillance of Nosocomial Infections in a Neurologic Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Zolldann Dirk , Spitzer Christoph , Häfner Helga , Waitschies Birgit , Klein Wolfgang , Sohr Dorit , Block Frank , Lütticken Rudolf , Lemmen Sebastian W. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective:To assess data on the epidemiology of nosocomial infection (N1) among neurologic intensive care patients.Design:Prospective periodic surveillance study.Setting:An 8-bed neurologic intensive care unit (ICU).Patients:All those admitted for more than 24 hours during five 3-month periods between January 1999 and March 2003.Methods:Standardized surveillance within the German infection surveillance system.Results:Three hundred thirty-eight patients with a total of 2,867 patient-days and a mean length of stay of 8.5 days were enrolled during the 15-month study period. A total of 71 NIs were identified among 52 patients. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were the most frequent N1 (36.6%), followed by pneumonia (29.6%) and bloodstream infections (BSIs) (15.5%). The overall incidence and incidence density of NIs were 21.0 per 100 patients and 24.8 per 1,000 patient-days, respectively. Incidence densities were 9.8 UTIs per 1,000 urinary catheter-days (CI95, 6.4-14.4), 5.6 BSIs per 1,000 central venous catheter-days (CI95, 2.8-10.0), and 12.8 cases of pneumonia per 1,000 ventilation-days (CI95, 8.0-19.7). Device-associated UTI and pneumonia rates were in the upper range of national and international reference data for medical ICUs, despite the intensive infection control and prevention program in operation in the hospital.Conclusion:Neurologic intensive care patients have relatively high rates of device-associated nosocomial pneumonia and UTI. For a valid comparison of surveillance data and implementation of targeted prevention strategies, we would strongly recommend provision of national benchmarks for the neurologic ICU setting.