bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incidence of cytomegalovirus infection among the general population and pregnant women in the United States
Authors: Colugnati Fernando AB , Staras Stephanie AS , Dollard Sheila C , Cannon Michael J 
Published: July 2007

AbstractBackgroundCytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common opportunistic infection among HIV-infected individuals, a major source of serious complications among organ-transplant recipients, and a leading cause of hearing loss, vision loss, and mental retardation among congenitally infected children. Women infected for the first time during pregnancy are especially likely to transmit CMV to their fetuses. More children suffer serious disabilities caused by congenital CMV than by several better-known childhood maladies such as Down syndrome or fetal alcohol syndromeMethodsUsing CMV seroprevalence data from the nationally representative Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we estimated CMV incidence among the general United States population and among pregnant women. We employed catalytic models that used age-specific CMV seroprevalences as cumulative markers of past infections in order to derive estimates of three basic parameters: the force of infection, the basic reproductive rate, and the average age of infection. Our main focus was the force of infection, an instantaneous per capita rate of acquisition of infection that approximates the incidence of infection in the seronegative population.ResultsAmong the United States population ages 12–49 the force of infection was 1.6 infections per 100 susceptible persons per year (95% confidence interval: 1.2, 2.4). The associated basic reproductive rate of 1.7 indicates that, on average, an infected person transmits CMV to nearly two susceptible people. The average age of CMV infection was 28.6 years. Force of infection was significantly higher among non-Hispanic Blacks (5.7) and Mexican Americans (5.1) than among non-Hispanic Whites (1.4). Force of infection was significantly higher in the low household income group (3.5) than in the middle (2.1) and upper (1.5) household income groups. Based on these CMV incidence estimates, approximately 27,000 new CMV infections occur among seronegative pregnant women in the United States each year.ConclusionThese thousands of CMV infections in pregnant women, along with the sharp racial/ethnic disparities in CMV incidence, are compelling reasons for accelerating research on vaccines and other interventions for preventing congenital CMV disease. Nevertheless, the relatively low force of infection provides encouraging evidence that modestly effective vaccines and rates of vaccination could significantly reduce CMV transmission.
Lessons from previous predictions of HIV/AIDS in the United States and Japan: epidemiologic models and policy formulation
Authors: Nishiura Hiroshi 
Published: July 2007

AbstractThis paper critically discusses two previous studies concerned with predictions of HIV/AIDS in the United States and Japan during the early 1990s. Although the study in the US applied a historical theory, assuming normal distribution for the epidemic curve, the underlying infection process was not taken into account. In the Japan case, the true HIV incidence was estimated using the coverage ratio of previously diagnosed/undiagnosed HIV infections among AIDS cases, the assumptions of which were not supported by a firm theoretical understanding. At least partly because of failure to account for underlying mechanisms of the disease and its transmission, both studies failed to yield appropriate predictions of the future AIDS incidence. Further, in the Japan case, the importance of consistent surveillance data was not sufficiently emphasized or openly discussed and, because of this, revision of the AIDS reporting system has made it difficult to determine the total number of AIDS cases and apply a backcalculation method. Other widely accepted approaches can also fail to provide perfect predictions. Nevertheless, wrong policy direction could arise if we ignore important assumptions, methods and input data required to answer specific questions. The present paper highlights the need for appropriate assessment of specific modeling purposes and explicit listing of essential information as well as possible solutions to aid relevant policy formulation.
Mortality ascertainment of participants in the National Wilms Tumor Study using the National Death Index: comparison of active and passive follow-up results
Authors: Cotton Cecilia A , Peterson Susan , Norkool Patricia A , Breslow Norman E 
Published: July 2007

AbstractLong term studies of childhood cancer survivors are hampered by difficulties in tracking young adult participants. After performing a National Death Index (NDI) search we sought to identify which factors best predicted a match among known decedents from the National Wilms Tumor Study (NWTS) and to determine if record linkage could substitute for missing follow-up in a cohort of NWTS survivors. To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare passive mortality follow-up using the NDI to active follow-up of a childhood and young adult population.Records for 984 known decedents and 3,406 subjects whose January 1, 2002 vital status was unknown were sent to the NDI in June 2003. In April 2005 NWTS follow-up records were used to reassess January 1, 2002 vital status. Matches were established for 709 of 789 known decedents (sensitivity 89.9%) with a date of death between 1979 and 2001, the calendar period covered by the NDI at the time of the search. No matches were identified among 1,052 subjects known to be alive in 2002 (specificity 100%). Factors associated with decreased sensitivity were an unknown social security number (sensitivity 87.8%), Hispanic ethnicity (76.4%) and foreign birth (56.5%). For 2,351 subjects with 2002 vital status unknown who had 13,166 pre 2002 person-years of missing observation, only 18 deaths were ascertained by the NDI whereas 79.3 were expected based on NWTS mortality data. Mortality analyses based strictly on NDI search results and those based on NWTS follow-up augmented with NDI search results yielded inflated estimates of the 15 year survival rate when compared with estimates based on NWTS active follow-up.Match rates were comparable to those observed in adult populations. Since the same selection factors were likely associated with NDI failure to match and NWTS loss to follow-up, use of the NDI to fill in missing follow-up data appears unwarranted.
Phase II Clinical Trial of Ixabepilone (BMS-247550), an Epothilone B Analog, in Patients With Taxane-Resistant Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Thomas Eva , Tabernero Josep , Fornier Monica , Conté Pierfranco , Fumoleau Pierre , Lluch Ana , Vahdat Linda T. , Bunnell Craig A. , Burris Howard A. , Viens Patrice , Baselga José , Rivera Edgardo , Guarneri Valentina , Poulart Valerie , Klimovsky Judith , Lebwohl David , Martin Miguel 
Published: July 2007

Purpose Ixabepilone (BMS-247550) is an epothilone analog that optimizes the properties of naturally occurring epothilone B. Natural epothilones and their analogs promote tumor cell death by binding to tubulin and stabilizing microtubules, causing apoptosis. This international phase II trial assessed the activity of ixabepilone in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) that was resistant to taxane therapy. Patients and Methods MBC patients, who had experienced disease progression while receiving or within 4 months of taxane therapy (6 months if adjuvant taxane only), and who had a taxane as their last regimen, received ixabepilone (1- or 3-hour infusion of 50 mg/m2 or 3-hour infusion of 40 mg/m2 every 3 weeks). Results Of 49 patients treated with 40 mg/m2 ixabepilone during 3 hours, 35 (73%) had experienced disease progression within 1 month of their last taxane dose. The response rate was 12% (95% CI, 4.7% to 26.5%). All responses (n = 6) were partial; five of six patients had not responded to prior taxane therapy. In responders, the median response duration was 10.4 months. In 20 patients (41%), stable disease was the best outcome. Median time to progression was 2.2 months (95% CI, 1.4 to 3.2 months); median survival was 7.9 months. For treated patients across all cohorts (intent-to-treat population), the response rate was also 12% (eight of 66). Treatment-related adverse events in the study were manageable and primarily grade 1/2. Treatment-related neuropathy was mostly sensory and mild to moderate. Conclusion Ixabepilone (40 mg/m2 as a 3-hour infusion every 3 weeks) demonstrates promising antitumor activity and an acceptable safety profile in patients with taxane-resistant MBC.
Phase II Clinical Trial of Ixabepilone (BMS-247550), an Epothilone B Analog, As First-Line Therapy in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Previously Treated With Anthracycline Chemotherapy
Authors: Roché Henri , Yelle Louise , Cognetti Francesco , Mauriac Louis , Bunnell Craig , Sparano Joseph , Kerbrat Pierre , Delord Jean-Pierre , Vahdat Linda , Peck Ronald , Lebwohl David , Ezzeddine Rana , Curé Hervé 
Published: July 2007

Purpose There is a need for new agents to treat metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in patients for whom anthracycline therapy has failed or is contraindicated. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of the novel antineoplastic, the epothilone B analog ixabepilone, in patients with MBC previously treated with an adjuvant anthracycline. Patients and Methods Patients were age ≥ 18 years and had received a prior anthracycline-based regimen as adjuvant treatment. Ixabepilone as first-line metastatic chemotherapy was administered as a 40 mg/m2 intravenous infusion during 3 hours every 3 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary efficacy end points included duration of response, time to response, time to progression, and survival. Results All 65 patients were assessable for response. Their median age was 52 years (range, 33 to 80 years). ORR was 41.5% (95% CI, 29.4% to 54.4%), median duration of response was 8.2 months (95% CI, 5.7 to 10.2 months), and median time to response was 6 weeks (range, 5 to 17 weeks). Median survival was 22.0 months (95% CI, 15.6 to 27.0 months). Treatment-related adverse events were manageable and mostly grades 1/2: the most common of these (other than alopecia) was mild to moderate neuropathy, which was primarily sensory and mostly reversible in nature. Conclusion Ixabepilone is efficacious and has a predictable and manageable safety profile in women with MBC previously treated with an adjuvant anthracycline.
Static and cyclic stress distributions in a buckling shear panel
Authors: Frost R J , Benham P P 
Published: July 2007

A panel comprising a thin, square, flat plate of clad copper-aluminium alloy to specification B.S.2L.73, bounded by substantial edge members, was subjected to a range of static shear loadings up to a shear-stress ratio of 3·0. The experimentally determined distributions of strains and stresses within the plate reveal the importance of the stresses due to bending resulting from the formation of diagonal shear buckles. Fair agreement between the results of this study and the work of other investigators was obtained. The work presented is part of an investigation into the fatigue-crack propagation behaviour and residual-strength characteristics of flat panels subjected to shear loading, hence an accurate assessment of stress conditions at least along the two diagonals was required. The strains within the plate when subjected to a range of cyclic shear loadings were determined and a relation between cyclic strains and corresponding static strains was obtained. The use of this relation leads to a simple assessment of stress conditions within the plate due to any magnitude of cyclic shear loading.
Deformation and fracture produced in thick cylinders by impulse loading
Authors: Cousins J E 
Published: July 2007

The deformation and fractures produced by internal explosive loading in thick cylinders are different to those caused by a gradually increasing load. Graphs showing the variation in circumferential strain for cylinders of different lengths and diameters are presented and the fractures discussed. The similarity between the fracturing of perspex and mild-steel cylinders is also shown.
Association study of the polymorphisms in the KISS1 gene with central precocious puberty in Chinese girls
Authors: Luan Xiaohui , Zhou Yuxun , Wang Wei , Yu Hong , Li Pin , Gan Xiaohong , Wei Dongzhi , Xiao Junhua 
Published: July 2007

Objective: The kisspeptin/GPR54 pathway has been proven to be crucial in the process of puberty onset, yet the polymorphisms in the KISS1 gene and their relationships with central precocious puberty (CPP) have not been investigated. This study was performed to reveal the relationship between the gene and the disease.
Design and Methods: 272 Chinese Han girls diagnosed to be CPP patients were recruited as Case Group I, 43 unrelated African women as Case Group II, and 288 unrelated normal Chinese Han girls as Control Group. Polymorphism scans of the KISS1 gene were performed for the first time by bidirectional resequencing of the whole gene in a subset of the patients, and then by ligase detection reaction some of the polymorphisms identified were typed in the two groups and the respective haplotypes were constructed. The relationships of the typed polymorphisms and the haplotypes with CPP were evaluated by an association study between genotypes and phenotypes.
Results: By resequencing, eight polymorphisms were identified, five of which were typed forming 18 haplotypes. Although one novel nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism substituting one amino acid in kisspeptin (P110T) was found to be statistically related to the disease (P = 0.025), no further supporting evidence has yet been found. The other polymorphisms and all the haplotypes were not found to be related.
Conclusion: The polymorphism scanning and typing of KISS1 uncovered several potentially meaningful polymorphisms, but the conclusion was not solid and further studies are necessary for function validation of these polymorphisms.
A simple diagnostic test using GH-releasing peptide-2 in adult GH deficiency
Authors: Chihara Kazuo , Shimatsu Akira , Hizuka Naomi , Tanaka Toshiaki , Seino Yoshiki , Katofor Yuzuru , _ _ 
Published: July 2007

Objective: The international, first-line diagnostic test for adult GH deficiency is the insulin tolerance test (ITT), which is contraindicated in some patients due to severe adverse events. Alternatives such as GH-releasing hormone combined with arginine or GH-releasing peptides (GHRP) have been proposed. We validated the use of GHRP-2 for diagnosing adult GH deficiency (GHD).
Methods: Seventy-seven healthy subjects and 58 patients with peak GH<3 μg/l by ITT were enrolled. After overnight fasting, a 100 μg dose of GHRP-2 was administered intravenously; blood samples were taken during the subsequent 2 h and GH measured by immunoradiometric assay.
Results: Serum GH peak occurred within 60 min after GHRP-2 administration in all subjects. GH responses to GHRP-2 were not affected by gender, but were slightly lower in elderly subjects and those with adiposity, although these did not influence diagnosis of GHD. Repeated tests showed favourable reproducibility. Peak GH concentrations after GHRP-2 were significantly (P<0.001) lower in patients (1.36±2.60 μg/l) than the healthy group (84.6±60.9 μg/l) with no difference between hypothalamic and pituitary diseases. Serum GH concentration at the point where sensitivity of response crossed with specificity ranged from 15 to 20 μg/l. A cut-off value of 15 μg/l for diagnosing GHD with GHRP-2 corresponded to the diagnostic value of 3 μg/l in the ITT.
Conclusions: The GHRP-2 provocative test showed favourable reproducibility and was mildly influenced by age and adiposity. Severe GH deficiency could be diagnosed with high reliability using a 15 μg/l (9 μg/l when GH calibrated with recombinant World Health Organization 98/574 standard) cut-off for peak GH concentration.
Lower heart rate variability is associated with higher plasma concentrations of IL-6 in type 1 diabetes
Authors: González-Clemente J-M , Vilardell C , Broch M , Megia A , Caixàs A , Giménez-Palop O , Richart C , Simón I , Martínez-Riquelme A , Arroyo J , Mauricio D , Vendrell J 
Published: July 2007

Objective: In type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors related to insulin resistance, which in turn are associated with low-grade systemic inflammation. Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is considered one of the first indicators of CAN. Since the autonomic nervous system interacts with systemic inflammation, we evaluated CAN to study its possible association with low-grade systemic inflammation.
Design: Cross-sectional study of a group of 120 subjects diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus 14 years before.
Methods: Information recorded: 1) clinical characteristics: sex, age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood pressure (BP), smoking, alcohol intake, insulin dose, HbA1c, and lipid profile; 2) plasma levels of soluble fractions of tumour necrosis factor α receptors 1 and 2, IL-6, and C-reactive protein; 3) insulin resistance by estimation of the glucose disposal rate (eGDR); and 4) tests for CAN: HRV in response to deep breathing (E/I ratio), HRV in response to the Valsalva maneuver, and changes in systolic BP responding to standing.
Results: A significant negative correlation was found between E/I ratio and plasma concentrations of IL-6 (r=−0.244, P=0.032), which remained significant after adjusting for potential confounding factors (age, sex, HbA1c, WHR, diastolic BP, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, retinopathy, nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, insulin dose, and smoking; r=−0.231, P=0.039). No other significant associations were found between inflammation-related proteins, tests for CAN, and eGDR.
Conclusions: These findings suggest a link between low-grade inflammation and early alterations of CAN in type 1 diabetes and may be of importance in the pathogenesis of CAN and/or its clinical implications.
Randomized prospective study comparing a single radioiodine dose and a single laser therapy session in autonomously functioning thyroid nodules
Authors: Døssing Helle , Bennedbæk Finn Noe , Bonnema Steen Joop , Grupe Peter , Hegedüs Laszlo 
Published: July 2007

Objective: To compare the efficacy of interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) with radioiodine in hot thyroid nodules.
Design: Thirty consecutive outpatients with subclinical or mild hyperthyroidism and a scintigraphically solitary hot nodule with extraglandular suppression were randomized to either one ILP session or one radioiodine (131I) dose.
Methods: ILP was performed under continuous ultrasound-guidance and with an output power of 2.5–3.5 W. 131I was given as a single dose based on thyroid volume and a 24-h thyroid 131I uptake. Thyroid function and nodule volume were evaluated at inclusion and at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment.
Results: Normalization of serum TSH was achieved in 7 out of 14 patients in the ILP group and in all 15 patients in the 131I group (P=0.0025). In the ILP group, mean thyroid nodule volume reduction was 44±5% (s.e.m.; P<0.001), and in the 131I group 47±8% (P<0.001), within 6 months, without between-group difference (P=0.73). The mean reduction of total thyroid volume was 7±5% in the ILP group (P=0.20) and 26±8% (P=0.006) in the 131I group (P=0.06 between-group). Two patients in the 131I group developed hypothyroidism but no major side effects were seen.
Conclusions: This first randomized study, comparing ILP with standard therapy, demonstrates that ILP and 131I therapy approximately halves thyroid nodule volume within 6 months; but in contrast to 131I, extranodular thyroid volume is unaffected by ILP and no patient developed hypothyroidism. Using the present design, ILP seems inferior to 131I therapy in normalization of serum TSH. The potential value of ILP as a non-surgical alternative to 131I needs further investigation.
Germline inactivating mutations of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein gene in a large cohort of sporadic acromegaly: mutations are found in a subset of young patients with macroadenomas
Authors: Cazabat Laure , Libè Rossella , Perlemoine Karine , René-Corail Fernande , Burnichon Nelly , Gimenez-Roqueplo Anne-Paule , Dupasquier-Fediaevsky Laurence , Bertagna Xavier , Clauser Eric , Chanson Philippe , Bertherat Jérôme , Raffin-Sanson Marie-Laure 
Published: July 2007

Objective: Germline mutations of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein gene (AIP) have recently been described in three families with GH or prolactin-secreting tumors, as well as in a few patients with apparently sporadic somatotropinomas. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of AIP mutations in a large cohort of patients with apparently sporadic GH-secreting tumors.
Design: One hundred and fifty-four patients were included in a prospective cohort designed to study the genetic predisposition to GH-secreting tumors together with 270 controls.
Methods: In all these subjects, the entire coding sequence of the AIP gene was screened for germline mutations.
Results: AIP mutations were detected in 5 out of 154 patients (3%): nonsense mutations in exon 4 (p.Lys201X; n = 2) and in exon 6 (p.Arg304X), one deletion in exon 3 (c.404delA; pHis135LeufsX21), and one mutation affecting the splice acceptor site of exon 4 (c.469-2 A > G). The five patients with an AIP mutation were significantly younger (mean age ± S.D.: 25 ± 10 vs 43 ± 14 years, P = 0.005) and three of them presented with gigantism. One missense mutation (p.Arg304Gln) was found in a single patient that was absent in all controls.
Conclusions: Germline mutations of the AIP gene were found in a small proportion of patients with sporadic pituitary somatotropinomas. This study shows that age and gigantism are simple clinical features which can help to select patients for mutation screening. It also supports the role of AIP in pituitary tumorigenesis.
Expansion of Manchester Airport
Authors: Congdon L. , Taylor A. 
Published: July 2007

During the past fifty years, the airport at Manchester has grown to become one of the world's busiest. The process of development and a substantial expansion programme has been implemented over the past decade. This programme is on-going and will effectively double the airport's capacity to a maximum of twenty-four million passengers per annum. Whereas the technical aspects of the developments are, in themselves, of interest, this Paper aims to explain their background in terms of the planning process and the planning and design objectives As an airport is complex mixture of conflicting and competing interests, the developmental role of Manchester Airport PLC includes the recognition of these legitimate interests and the creation of a balanced environment for the timely provision of capacity and services for both passengers and airlines. In the financial environment within which Manchester has grown, compromise has been essential to ensure the continued expansion and existence of the airport. This Paper has theo bjectives of (a) summarizing developments at the airport over the past ten years (b) describing the recent schemes for the expansion of the terminal and their inter-relationship (c) explaining the planning background, development proposals and method of implementing construction of the new international terminal at Manchester, which is now on site and programmed to become operational in the spring of 1993.