bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Joint Hyperlaxity and its Long-Term Effects on Joints
Authors: Bird Howard A. , Barton L. 
Published: September 2007

The range of movement at a joint varies between individuals. Reasons for this include inherited collagen structure in the joint capsule and ligaments, inherited shape of the bony articulating surfaces and neuromuscular tone which may be acquired and is modified by training. Methods for quantifying the range of movement at joints are described and compared, including the hyperextensometer and the Carter and Wilkinson score. Clini cal patterns of joint hyperlaxity and their correlation with aetiology are discussed. Joint hyperlaxity may be advantageous in certain sports. Coaches need to be aware of optimum methods for improving it as well as for guarding against injury. Conversely, physio therapists may learn from sports physiologists in the manage ment of symptoms arising from patients who have hyperlax joints. Joint stability reduces the risk of injury. Joint hyperlaxity may also be associated with premature osteoarthritis but this is not always so. Joint instability may be the most potent cause though a radiological survey of retired teachers of physical education conducted by our Unit failed to show a higher incidence of osteoarthritis after a life spent in sport than in sedentary controls. However, certain factors that place some individuals at particular risk were identified.
Managing Special Education Needs: Helping and Involving Parents
Authors: Kramer Julien 
Published: September 2007

This paper reviews a period of enormous change and flux in the English education service. It notes that a number of the supports and sources of advice traditionally available to parents ofyoung people with special educational needs and to the young people themselves are now reduced, are being changed or are in the process of being removed. It proposes a new emphasis for service professionals, administrators and the voluntary bodies working in the area of special educational needs. The central premise is that the work and role of the voluntary bodies, in supporting young people with special needs and their parents, should be welcomed and confirmed as a vital element within the educational process. A range of practical service strategies is proposed which is intended to sustain a user friendly educational service during a time of massive change. A model for confirming the potentially significant role of the voluntary bodies in this important area of educational need is offered.
Use of Obstetric Services in Rural Nigeria
Authors: Nwakoby Boniface N. 
Published: September 2007

The pattern and determinants of maternal service utilization were studied in a rural Nigerian community. The study sample consisted of 488 randomly selected women who had a child birth or an abortion between May 1987 and September 1989. Although 93% registered for prenatal care in a health care institution, only 51 % delivered in a health institution while 49% delivered at home mainly under the care of traditional birth attendants. Factors found to be most consistently associ ated with the use of health institutions for delivery were maternal education and occupation, religion, and occupation of the husband. Maternal age, parity and marital status and place of the residence were not significantly associated with the choice between home and institutional delivery. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratio and to quantify the weight of these independent variables found to be significantly associated with the place of delivery as the outcome variable.
Suicide and 'violent' death in a six-year cohort of male probationers compared with pattern of mortality in the general population: evidence of accumulative socio-psychiatric vulnerability
Authors: Pritchard Colin , Cox Malcolm , Dawson Adrian 
Published: September 2007

The 'Health of the Nation' (Department of Health, 1992) suicide targets focus upon the mentally ill, but virtually ignore the mentally abnormal offender. Whilst forensic services deal with the severely disturbed, the majority of offenders remain in the community, despite long-standing psychosocial difficulties. This study explores the mortality rates of a six-year cohort of male probationers (1990-1995) with males in the general population. Male offenders (aged 17-54) had double the death rate, five times the 'external death' rate and nine times the suicide rate of the general population. This paper highlights the need to further improve the health-psychiatric-criminal justice collaboration.
Roof water collection systems in some Southeast Asian countries: status and water quality levels
Authors: Appan A. 
Published: September 2007

There is extensive use of simple and inexpensive roof water collection systems in some Southeast Asian countries. The collected runoff which flows off different types of roofs is affected not only by the inherent quality of the roofing material but also by the contamination of roofs by rodents, birds, etc. Consequently, bacteriological quality levels are excessive though the collected rainwater is still used extensively for potable purposes. From samples collected in most locations, there were positive Total and Faecal Coliform counts though, in terms of physico-chemical parameters, roof water appears to be of a higher quality. Various causes have been attributed to the frequent presence of Faecal Coliform but, mostly, pollution is of animal origin as the Faecal Coliform/Faecal Streptococci ratio is less than unity. It is proposed that the collected roof water be boiled, disinfected with household bleach or be subjected to radiation from sunlight which appears to have good potential to be an effective bactericide. It is recommended that simple testing methods be developed and health education imparted to the various aspects of utilising roof water collection systems.
MiRFinder: an improved approach and software implementation for genome-wide fast microRNA precursor scans
Authors: Huang Ting-Hua , Fan Bin , Rothschild Max F , Hu Zhi-Liang , Li Kui , Zhao Shu-Hong 
Published: September 2007

Abstract

Background
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as one of the most important families of non-coding RNAs that serve as important sequence-specific post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Identification of miRNAs is an important requirement for understanding the mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation. Hundreds of miRNAs have been identified by direct cloning and computational approaches in several species. However, there are still many miRNAs that remain to be identified due to lack of either sequence features or robust algorithms to efficiently identify them.

Results
We have evaluated features valuable for pre-miRNA prediction, such as the local secondary structure differences of the stem region of miRNA and non-miRNA hairpins. We have also established correlations between different types of mutations and the secondary structures of pre-miRNAs. Utilizing these features and combining some improvements of the current pre-miRNA prediction methods, we implemented a computational learning method SVM (support vector machine) to build a high throughput and good performance computational pre-miRNA prediction tool called MiRFinder. The tool was designed for genome-wise, pair-wise sequences from two related species. The method built into the tool consisted of two major steps: 1) genome wide search for hairpin candidates and 2) exclusion of the non-robust structures based on analysis of 18 parameters by the SVM method. Results from applying the tool for chicken/human and D. melanogaster/D. pseudoobscura pair-wise genome alignments showed that the tool can be used for genome wide pre-miRNA predictions.

Conclusion
The MiRFinder can be a good alternative to current miRNA discovery software. This tool is available at http://www.bioinformatics.org/mirfinder/.
Calponin is expressed by subpopulations of connective tissue cells but not olfactory ensheathing cells in the neonatal olfactory mucosa
Authors: Tomé Mercedes , Siladžic Edina , Santos-Silva Alessandra , Barnett Susan C 
Published: September 2007

Abstract

Background
Debate has been ongoing on the relative merits of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and Schwann cells as candidates for transplant-mediate repair of CNS lesions. Both glial cells exhibit similar molecular and cellular properties and to date there has been no antigenic marker identified that can clearly distinguish the two cell types. This inability to distinguish between the two cells types prevents confirmation of a controversial statement that cultures of OECs are contaminated with Schwann cells. Recently, proteomic analysis of foetal OECs and adult Schwann cells identified an actin-binding protein, calponin, as a specific marker for OECs. However, at the same time a recent report suggested that adult OECs do not express calponin. It was not clear if this discrepancy was due to methodology, as cells had to be treated with proteinase K to maximize calponin staining or developmental differences with only foetal/neonatal OECs expressing calponin. For this reason we have examined calponin expression in the peripheral olfactory system of embryonic and neonatal rats in vivo and from cells in vitro to assess if calponin is expressed in a developmental manner.

Results
In this study we show that: i) proteinase K pretreatment had no effect on calponin staining in both OECs and Schwann cells. ii) calponin immunoreactivity was not expressed by embryonic or neonatal OECs in vitro and in vivo although connective tissue from the olfactory mucosa was strongly positive in neonatal rats but not embryonic rats, iii) calponin expression in the olfactory mucosa was heterogeneous, defining subpopulations of connective tissue cells iv) using functional confrontation assays between OECs or Schwann cells with astrocytes, calponin was expressed heterogeneously by astrocytes.

Conclusion
It is concluded that calponin is heterogeneously expressed by neonatal mucosal connective tissue but not expressed by neonatal OECs, embryonic OECs, and neonatal Schwann cells. Furthermore, we propose that calponin is not a specific marker for OECs generated from any developmental age.
Common TNF-α, IL-1β, PAI-1, uPA, CD14 and TLR4 polymorphisms are not associated with disease severity or outcome from Gram negative sepsis
Authors: Jessen Kristine Marie , Lindboe Sarah Bjerre , Petersen Anncatrine Luisa , Eugen-Olsen Jesper , Benfield Thomas 
Published: September 2007

Abstract

Background
Several studies have investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes associated with sepsis and septic shock with conflicting results. Only few studies have combined the analysis of multiple SNPs in the same population.

Methods
Clinical data and DNA from consecutive adult patients with culture proven Gram negative bacteremia admitted to a Danish hospital between 2000 and 2002. Analysis for commonly described SNPs of tumor necrosis-α, (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), plasminogen activator-1 (PAI-1), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), CD14 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) was done.

Results
Of 319 adults, 74% had sepsis, 19% had severe sepsis and 7% were in septic shock. No correlation between severity or outcome of sepsis was observed for the analyzed SNPs of TNF-α, IL-1β, PAI-1, uPA, CD14 or TLR-4. In multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, increasing age, polymicrobial infection and haemoglobin levels were associated with in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion
We did not find any association between TNF-α, IL-1β, PAI-1, uPA, CD14 and TLR4 polymorphisms and outcome of Gram negative sepsis. Other host factors appear to be more important than the genotypes studied here in determining the severity and outcome of Gram negative sepsis.
Generating prior probabilities for classifiers of brain tumours using belief networks
Authors: Reynolds Greg M , Peet Andrew C , Arvanitis Theodoros N 
Published: September 2007

Abstract

Background
Numerous methods for classifying brain tumours based on magnetic resonance spectra and imaging have been presented in the last 15 years. Generally, these methods use supervised machine learning to develop a classifier from a database of cases for which the diagnosis is already known. However, little has been published on developing classifiers based on mixed modalities, e.g. combining imaging information with spectroscopy. In this work a method of generating probabilities of tumour class from anatomical location is presented.

Methods
The method of "belief networks" is introduced as a means of generating probabilities that a tumour is any given type. The belief networks are constructed using a database of paediatric tumour cases consisting of data collected over five decades; the problems associated with using this data are discussed. To verify the usefulness of the networks, an application of the method is presented in which prior probabilities were generated and combined with a classification of tumours based solely on MRS data.

Results
Belief networks were constructed from a database of over 1300 cases. These can be used to generate a probability that a tumour is any given type. Networks are presented for astrocytoma grades I and II, astrocytoma grades III and IV, ependymoma, pineoblastoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET), germinoma, medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma and a group representing rare tumours, "other". Using the network to generate prior probabilities for classification improves the accuracy when compared with generating prior probabilities based on class prevalence.

Conclusion
Bayesian belief networks are a simple way of using discrete clinical information to generate probabilities usable in classification. The belief network method can be robust to incomplete datasets. Inclusion of a priori knowledge is an effective way of improving classification of brain tumours by non-invasive methods.
The DNA binding parvulin Par17 is targeted to the mitochondrial matrix by a recently evolved prepeptide uniquely present in Hominidae
Authors: Kessler Daniel , Papatheodorou Panagiotis , Stratmann Tina , Dian Elke Andrea , Hartmann-Fatu Cristina , Rassow Joachim , Bayer Peter , Mueller Jonathan Wolf 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackgroundThe parvulin-type peptidyl prolylcis/transisomerase Par14 is highly conserved in all metazoans. The recently identified parvulin Par17 contains an additional N-terminal domain whose occurrence and function was the focus of the present study.ResultsBased on the observation that the human genome encodes Par17, but bovine and rodent genomes do not, Par17 exon sequences from 10 different primate species were cloned and sequenced. Par17 is encoded in the genomes of Hominidae species including humans, but is absent from other mammalian species. In contrast to Par14, endogenous Par17 was found in mitochondrial and membrane fractions of human cell lysates. Fluorescence of EGFP fusions of Par17, but not Par14, co-localized with mitochondrial staining. Par14 and Par17 associated with isolated human, rat and yeast mitochondria at low salt concentrations, but only the Par17 mitochondrial association was resistant to higher salt concentrations. Par17 was imported into mitochondria in a time and membrane potential-dependent manner, where it reached the mitochondrial matrix. Moreover, Par17 was shown to bind to double-stranded DNA under physiological salt conditions.ConclusionTaken together, the DNA binding parvulin Par17 is targeted to the mitochondrial matrix by the most recently evolved mitochondrial prepeptide known to date, thus adding a novel protein constituent to the mitochondrial proteome of Hominidae.
Simultaneous integrated boost of biopsy proven, MRI defined dominant intra-prostatic lesions to 95 Gray with IMRT: early results of a phase I NCI study
Authors: Singh Anurag K , Guion Peter , Sears-Crouse Nancy , Ullman Karen , Smith Sharon , Albert Paul S , Fichtinger Gabor , Choyke Peter L , Xu Sheng , Kruecker Jochen , Wood Bradford J , Krieger Axel , Ning Holly 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
Background
To assess the feasibility and early toxicity of selective, IMRT-based dose escalation (simultaneous integrated boost) to biopsy proven dominant intra-prostatic lesions visible on MRI.

Methods
Patients with localized prostate cancer and an abnormality within the prostate on endorectal coil MRI were eligible. All patients underwent a MRI-guided transrectal biopsy at the location of the MRI abnormality. Gold fiducial markers were also placed. Several days later patients underwent another MRI scan for fusion with the treatment planning CT scan. This fused MRI scan was used to delineate the region of the biopsy proven intra-prostatic lesion. A 3 mm expansion was performed on the intra-prostatic lesions, defined as a separate volume within the prostate. The lesion + 3 mm and the remainder of the prostate + 7 mm received 94.5/75.6 Gray (Gy) respectively in 42 fractions. Daily seed position was verified to be within 3 mm.

Results
Three patients were treated. Follow-up was 18, 6, and 3 months respectively. Two patients had a single intra-prostatic lesion. One patient had 2 intra-prostatic lesions. All four intra-prostatic lesions, with margin, were successfully targeted and treated to 94.5 Gy. Two patients experienced acute RTOG grade 2 genitourinary (GU) toxicity. One had grade 1 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity. All symptoms completely resolved by 3 months. One patient had no acute toxicity.

Conclusion
These early results demonstrate the feasibility of using IMRT for simultaneous integrated boost to biopsy proven dominant intra-prostatic lesions visible on MRI. The treatment was well tolerated.
A fatal case of bupropion (Zyban) hepatotoxicity with autoimmune features: Case report
Authors: Humayun Fawwaz , Shehab Thomas M. , Tworek Joseph A. , Fontana Robert J. 
Published: September 2007

Abstract

Background
Bupropion is approved for the treatment of mood disorders and as an adjuvant medication for smoking cessation. Bupropion is generally well tolerated and considered safe. Two randomized controlled trials of bupropion therapy for smoking cessation did not report any hepatic adverse events. However, there are three reports of severe but non-fatal bupropion hepatotoxicity published in the literature.

Case Presentation
We present the case of a 55-year old man who presented with jaundice and severe hepatic injury approximately 6 months after starting bupropion for smoking cessation. Laboratory evaluation demonstrated a mixed picture of hepatocellular injury and cholestasis. Liver biopsy demonstrated findings consistent with severe hepatotoxic injury due to drug induced liver injury. Laboratory testing was also notable for positive autoimmune markers. The patient initially had clinical improvement with steroid therapy but eventually died of infectious complications.

Conclusion
This report represents the first fatal report of bupropion related hepatotoxicity and the second case of bupropion related liver injury demonstrating autoimmune features. The common use of this medication for multiple indications makes it important for physicians to consider this medication as an etiologic agent in patients with otherwise unexplained hepatocellular jaundice.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is transcriptionally induced by the Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) and can be inhibited with Iressa in basal-like breast cancer, providing a potential target for therapy
Authors: Stratford Anna L , Habibi Golareh , Astanehe Arezoo , Jiang Helen , Hu Kaiji , Park Eugene , Shadeo Ashleen , Buys Timon PH , Lam Wan , Pugh Trevor , Marra Marco , Nielsen Torsten O , Klinge Uwe , Mertens Peter R , Aparicio Samuel , Dunn Sandra E 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
Introduction
Basal-like breast cancers (BLBCs) are very aggressive, and present serious clinical challenges as there are currently no targeted therapies available. We determined the regulatory role of Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression in BLBC, and the therapeutic potential of inhibiting EGFR. We pursued this in light of our recent work showing that YB-1 induces the expression of EGFR, a new BLBC marker.

Methods
Primary tumour tissues were evaluated for YB1 protein expression by immunostaining tissue microarrays, while copy number changes were assessed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). The ability of YB-1 to regulate EGFR was evaluated using luciferase reporter, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and gel shift assays. The impact of Iressa on monolayer cell growth was measured using an ArrayScan VTI high-throughput analyser to count cell number, and colony formation in soft agar was used to measure anchorage-independent growth.

Results
YB-1 (27/37 or 73% of cases, P = 3.899 × 10-4) and EGFR (20/37 or 57.1% of cases, P = 9.206 × 10-12) are expressed in most cases of BLBC. However, they are not typically amplified in primary BLBC, suggesting overexpression owing to transcriptional activation. In support of this, we demonstrate that YB-1 promotes EGFR reporter activity. YB-1 specifically binds the EGFR promoter at two different YB-1-responsive elements (YREs) located at -940 and -968 using ChIP and gel shift assays in a manner that is dependent on the phosphorylation of S102 on YB-1. Inhibiting EGFR with Iressa suppressed the growth of SUM149 cells by ~40% in monolayer, independent of mutations in the receptor. More importantly anchorage-independent growth of BLBC cell lines was inhibited with combinations of Iressa and YB-1 suppression.

Conclusion
We have identified for the first time a causal link for the expression of EGFR in BLBC through the induction by YB-1 where it binds specifically to two distinguished YREs. Finally, inhibition of EGFR in combination with suppression of YB-1 presents a potential opportunity for therapy in BLBC.
Alveolar instability caused by mechanical ventilation initially damages the nondependent normal lung
Authors: Pavone Lucio , Albert Scott , DiRocco Joseph , Gatto Louis , Nieman Gary 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
Background
Septic shock is often associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome, a serious clinical problem exacerbated by improper mechanical ventilation. Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) can exacerbate the lung injury caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome, significantly increasing the morbidity and mortality. In this study, we asked the following questions: what is the effect of the lung position (dependent lung versus nondependent lung) on the rate at which VILI occurs in the normal lung? Will positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) slow the progression of lung injury in either the dependent lung or the nondependent lung?

Materials and methods
Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 19) were placed on mechanical ventilation, and the subpleural alveolar mechanics were measured with an in vivo microscope. Animals were placed in the lateral decubitus position, left lung up to measure nondependent alveolar mechanics and left lung down to film dependent alveolar mechanics. Animals were ventilated with a high peak inspiratory pressure of 45 cmH2O and either a low PEEP of 3 cmH2O or a high PEEP of 10 cmH2O for 90 minutes. Animals were separated into four groups based on the lung position and the amount of PEEP: Group I, dependent + low PEEP (n = 5); Group II, nondependent + low PEEP (n = 4);Group III, dependent + high PEEP (n = 5); and Group IV, nondependent + high PEEP (n = 5). Hemodynamic and lung function parameters were recorded concomitant with the filming of alveolar mechanics. Histological assessment was performed at necropsy to determine the presence of lung edema.

Results
VILI occurred earliest (60 min) in Group II. Alveolar instability eventually developed in Groups I and II at 75 minutes. Alveoli in both the high PEEP groups were stable for the entire experiment. There were no significant differences in arterial PO2 or in the degree of edema measured histologically among experimental groups.

Conclusion
This open-chest animal model demonstrates that the position of the normal lung (dependent or nondependent) plays a role on the rate of VILI.