bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Simulating Epstein-Barr virus infection with C-ImmSim
Authors: Castiglione Filippo , Duca Karen , Jarrah Abdul , Laubenbacher Reinhard , Hochberg Donna , Thorley-Lawson David 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMotivation: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects greater than 90% of humans benignly for life but can be associated with tumors. It is a uniquely human pathogen that is amenable to quantitative analysis; however, there is no applicable animal model. Computer models may provide a virtual environment to perform experiments not possible in human volunteers.Results: We report the application of a relatively simple stochastic cellular automaton (C-ImmSim) to the modeling of EBV infection. Infected B-cell dynamics in the acute and chronic phases of infection correspond well to clinical data including the establishment of a long term persistent infection (up to 10 years) that is absolutely dependent on access of latently infected B cells to the peripheral pool where they are not subject to immunosurveillance. In the absence of this compartment the infection is cleared.Availability: The latest version 6 of C-ImmSim is available under the GNU General Public License and is downloadable from www.iac.cnr.it/~filippo/cimmsim.htmlContact: david.thorley-lawson@tufts.edu
Metabolic network properties help assign weights to elementary modes to understand physiological flux distributions
Authors: Wang Qingzhao , Yang Yudi , Ma Hongwu , Zhao Xueming 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMotivation: Elementary modes (EMs) analysis has been well established. The existing methodologies for assigning weights to EMs cannot be directly applied for large-scale metabolic networks, since the tremendous number of modes would make the computation a time-consuming or even an impossible mission. Therefore, developing more efficient methods to deal with large set of EMs is urgent.Result: We develop a method to evaluate the performance of employing a subset of the elementary modes to reconstruct a real flux distribution by using the relative error between the real flux vector and the reconstructed one as an indicator. We have found a power function relationship between the decrease of relative error and the increase of the number of the selecting EMs, and a logarithmic relationship between the increases of the number of non-zero weighted EMs and that of the number of the selecting EMs. Our discoveries show that it is possible to reconstruct a given flux distribution by a selected subset of EMs from a large metabolic network and furthermore, they help us identify the ‘governing modes’ to represent the cellular metabolism for such a condition.Contact: diana_kingson@yahoo.com.cn(or) Wangqingzhao@eyou.comSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
In vivo kinetics of human natural killer cells: the effects of ageing and acute and chronic viral infection
Authors: Zhang Yan , Wallace Diana L. , De Lara Catherine M. , Ghattas Hala , Asquith Becca , Worth Andrew , Griffin George E. , Taylor Graham P. , Tough David F. , Beverley Peter C. L. , Macallan Derek C. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryHuman natural killer (NK) cells form a circulating population in a state of dynamic homeostasis. We investigated NK cell homeostasis by labelling dividing cells in vivo using deuterium‐enriched glucose in young and elderly healthy subjects and patients with viral infection. Following a 24‐hr intravenous infusion of 6,6‐D2‐glucose, CD3– CD16+ NK cells sorted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by fluorescence‐activated cell sorter (FACS) were analysed for DNA deuterium content by gas chromatography mass spectrometry to yield minimum estimates for proliferation rate (p). In healthy young adults (n = 5), deuterium enrichment was maximal ∼ 10 days after labelling, consistent with postmitotic maturation preceding circulation. The mean (± standard deviation) proliferation rate was 4·3 ± 2·4%/day (equivalent to a doubling time of 16 days) and the total production rate was 15 ± 7·6 × 106 cells/l/day. Labelled cells disappeared from the circulation at a similar rate [6·9 ± 4·0%/day; half‐life (T½) < 10 days]. Healthy elderly subjects (n = 8) had lower proliferation and production rates (P = 2·5 ± 1·0%/day and 7·3 ± 3·7 × 106 cells/l/day, respectively; P = 0·04). Similar rates were seen in patients chronically infected with human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV‐I) (P = 3·2 ± 1·9%/day). In acute infectious mononucleosis (n = 5), NK cell numbers were increased but kinetics were unaffected (P = 2·8 ± 1·0%/day) a mean of 12 days after symptom onset. Human NK cells have a turnover time in blood of about 2 weeks. Proliferation rates appear to fall with ageing, remain unperturbed by chronic HTLV‐I infection and normalize rapidly following acute Epstein–Barr virus infection.
The lived experiences of spiritual suffering and the healing process among Taiwanese patients with terminal cancer
Authors: Chio Chung‐Ching , Shih Fu‐Jin , Chiou Jeng‐Fong , Lin Hsiao‐Wei , Hsiao Fei‐Hsiu , Chen Yu‐Ting 
Published: March 2007

Aims and objectives. The purposes of this study were to explore the lived experiences of spiritual suffering and the change mechanism in healing processes among Taiwanese patients with terminal cancer.Methods. The approach to this study was phenomenological‐hermeneutic. Twenty‐one patients with terminal cancer were invited to participate in a semi‐structured interview that dealt with their experiences of spiritual suffering and the healing process. This study was conducted in the inpatient unit of the oncology department in two general hospitals. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and later analysed using the approach of narrative analysis.Results. According to the results of case narration, the causes of spiritual suffering included cancer, known as a life‐threatening illness, physical pain, treatment complications, uncertain illness progression, disability problems and lack of support. Patients turned to internal resources (including regarding the suffering as a life challenge, volunteering to help other cancer patients and searching for life wisdoms) and external resources (including peer support groups and family support) as they endured spiritual suffering. Taiwanese patients turned to Eastern and Western philosophies of Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism and Christianity as methods to interpret their spiritual suffering.Conclusion. Patients’ positive views of misfortune because of cancer and sufficient social supports were the key elements of the healing process to alleviate spiritual suffering.Relevance to clinical practice. Nurses who learn to participate in suffering assessment are better able to understand spiritual needs of cancer patients. Cancer patients’ views on the change mechanism in healing processes could provide essential information for nurses in developing an effective intervention programme. If nurses consider cultural factors that shape patients’ experiences of spiritual suffering and the healing process, they could learn how to meet the needs of patients better from different cultural backgrounds.
Linkage mapping of AFLP markers in a wild population of great reed warblers: importance of heterozygosity and number of genotyped individuals
Authors: ÅKESSON MIKAEL , HANSSON BENGT , HASSELQUIST DENNIS , BENSCH STAFFAN 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAmplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) are dominant markers frequently used to build linkage maps where heterozygosity could be inferred by a backcross breeding strategy. In the present study, we describe the utilization of an unmanipulated great reed warbler, Acrocephalus arundinaceus pedigree to infer heterozygous genotypes of AFLP markers in order to map these markers to a partial linkage map previously based on microsatellites. In total, 50 of the 83 autosomal AFLPs (60%) and 4 of 5 Z‐linked AFLPs (80%) were mapped. For each marker, on average, 88% of the expected number of heterozygote parents was detected. The likelihood of map assignment was to a large extent due to the number and density of microsatellite markers already in the map. The ‘parsimonious linkage map’, that is the map based on the most parsimonious location of all significantly linked markers, consisted of 21 autosomal linkage groups with 2 to 15 markers and had a total map size of 552 cM in males and 858 cM in females. The Z‐chromosome linkage group with 12 markers had a size of 155 cM. The autosomal ‘framework linkage map’, that is the map based only on markers with an unambiguous position, had a total size of 237 cM in males and 440 cM in females, respectively. The inclusion of AFLPs enlarged the previous map substantially (e.g. the autosomal parsimonious linkage map became 441 cM and 621 cM larger for male and female recombination, respectively). The probability that an AFLP became mapped increased with increasing level of heterozygosity, whereas the probability of mapping into a framework position increased with both heterozygosity and number of genotyped individuals. Our results suggest that AFLP provides a fast and inexpensive means of enlarging genetic maps already composed of markers with high polymorphism, also in wild populations with unmanipulated pedigrees.
Relative sensitivity of hair pluckings and exudate microscopy for the diagnosis of canine demodicosis
Authors: Saridomichelakis Manolis N. , Koutinas Alexander F. , Farmaki Rania , Leontides Leonidas S. , Kasabalis Dimitris 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis study was designed to compare the sensitivity of deep skin scraping, hair plucking, and exudate microscopy for the diagnosis of canine demodicosis. Sixty‐seven dogs diagnosed with demodicosis were enrolled in the study. Thirty dogs had localized and 37 had generalized demodicosis. Twenty‐seven of the 67 dogs had complicated (secondarily infected) and 40 had noncomplicated form. On each dog, a single lesion was randomly selected to obtain one deep skin scraping, hair plucking, and, when present (n = 13) exudate. For skin scraping and exudate microscopy, an area under a cover slip measuring 2.2 × 2.2 mm was examined, while trichography included the evaluation of 100 hair shafts. At least one parasitic element was found in 85.1% of trichograms, and 100% of exudate preparations. The number of parasitic elements was higher in skin scrapings compared to the other two methods. The diagnostic sensitivity of skin scrapings was higher than that of hair pluckings for the total number of samples (P = 0.002) and for those obtained from dogs with the localized (P = 0.004) and the noncomplicated (P = 0.002) forms of the disease. The diagnostic sensitivity of hair pluckings was higher in generalized and complicated demodicosis compared to the localized and noncomplicated variants. Based on these results, exudate microscopy may be equally sensitive to deep skin scrapings, and trichography may be of value in generalized and complicated demodicosis, although a negative result cannot rule it out.
A case of multiple epitrichial sweat gland ductal carcinomas in a horse
Authors: Cihocki L. M. , Divers T. J. , Johnson A. L. , Warren A. L. , Schramme M. , Rassnick K. M. , Scott D. W. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThis case report describes a rare epitrichial sweat gland ductal carcinoma in a 14‐year‐old horse and is the first report of multiple carcinomas of this type in horses. Although several tumours developed, mostly on the distal extremities, over a 2‐year period, the horse remained otherwise healthy. Topical treatment with imiquimod was successful for many of them.
Intradermal injection of heat‐killed Mycobacterium vaccae in dogs with atopic dermatitis: a multicentre pilot study
Authors: Gutzwiller Meret E. Ricklin , Reist Martin , Peel John E. , Seewald Wolfgang , Brunet Laura Rosa , Roosje Petra J. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractCanine atopic dermatitis (cAD) is a common disease with a multifactorial aetiology associated with impaired immunoregulation. The immunopathogenesis has similarities to that of human atopic dermatitis. Clinical signs of allergic disease in humans and mice are reduced by administration of saprophytic mycobacteria that amplify regulatory cytokines and hence the effect of Mycobacterium vaccae on the clinical severity of cAD was investigated. Sixty‐two dogs with cAD, selected according to strict criteria, were treated with a single intradermal injection and evaluated monthly for 3 months in a placebo‐controlled double‐blind clinical trial. Clinical severity was quantified using standardized scores and by owner assessment of pruritus. A single injection of a heat‐killed suspension of M. vaccae was found to be well tolerated and effective in treating mild to moderate cases of cAD demonstrable for 3 months, but was insignificant in more severely affected dogs.
Improving sexual health services in the city: can the NHS learn from clients and the service industry
Authors: Patel Hitesh , Baeza Juan , Patel Mitesh , Greene Linda , Theobald Nick 
Published: March 2007

AbstractObjective  Genitourinary service providers are struggling to meet patient demand and have introduced changes in access structure to cope. In this study, we explored the perspectives of clients and providers upon the different models of access introduced and whether these maintained service quality using the SERQUAL model.Methods  Primary data were collected in May 2005 at two genitourinary medicine clinics, two Accident and Emergency Departments and from members of a university ‘gay’ society all of which were located in London. Forty‐four high‐risk clients and 11 health service providers underwent semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews.Results  Both the walk‐in and appointment‐based access systems were appreciated by clients. Clients said that the most important issue was that they were not turned away when they presented. Health‐care providers had a variety of opinions about the two systems as they had different impacts on morale, training and service provision.Conclusions  Service quality can be maintained by using both walk‐in and appointment‐based systems. This is because our data, in line with Parasuraman's model of service quality, showed that ‘access’ is but one determinant of quality. Having different modes of access facilitates patient choice, which is paramount in a modern health‐care system. However, to provide a good service it is important to maintain a motivated staff, who can be affected by their working environment.
Gender differences in colorectal cancer screening barriers and information needs1
Authors: Friedemann‐Sánchez Greta , Griffin Joan M. , Partin Melissa R. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractContext  Several prior studies have found that women are less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer (CRC) than men. While the source of this screening differential is unknown, recent studies suggest gender differences in barriers to screening might explain the disparity.Objective  This formative study was designed to explore CRC screening barriers, attitudes and preferences by gender.Methodology  Focus group interviews with groups stratified by gender and screening status. Participants included 27 females and 43 males between the ages of 50 and 75 years who receive primary care at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. We conducted interpretive and grounded text analysis of semi‐structured focus group interviews to assess how knowledge, experiences and sociocultural norms shape female and male preferences and barriers to current CRC screening guidelines.Results  Female and male participants reported similar preferences for CRC screening mode, but there were notable differences in the barriers and facilitators to screening. Key findings suggest that women viewed the preparation for endoscopic procedures as a major barrier to screening while men did not; women and men expressed different fears and information preferences regarding endoscopic procedures; and women perceive CRC as a male disease thus feeling less vulnerable to CRC. Gender‐specific barriers may explain women's lower rate of screening for CRC.Conclusion  Colorectal cancer screening promotion interventions, decision aids and clinical practice may benefit by being tailored by gender.
Assessing exercise performance after heart transplantation
Authors: Ulubay Gaye , Ulaslı Sevinc Sarınc , Sezgin Atilla , Haberal Mehmet 
Published: March 2007

Abstract:  Objective:  Heart transplantation improves the survival rate and quality of life in patients with severe symptoms of congestive heart failure and an ejection fraction of 20% or less. Despite marked symptomatic and clinical improvement in those who undergo heart transplantation, exercise capacity often remains reduced, and the factors limiting exercise performance during the post‐transplantation period remain unclear. This study was performed to investigate the factors affecting exercise capacity in heart transplantation recipients.Patients and methods:  Fourteen patients with cardiomyopathy were enrolled in this study. We measured peak exercise oxygen uptake (peak VO2) in seven patients (age range: 42 ± 14 yr) 10–28 months after transplantation, in seven patients (age range: 33 ± 18 yr) with dilated cardiomyopathy before heart transplantation, and in 14 healthy control subjects (age range: 44 ± 12 yr). The left ventricular ejection fraction, Beck Depression Inventory score, Medical Outcome Health Survey Short Form‐36 Questionnaire (SF‐36) results, and immunosuppressive therapy administered were recorded in all patient groups.Results:  All patients in the post‐transplantation group terminated exercise testing before the anaerobic threshold because of general fatigue. All heart transplantation recipients exhibited a left ventricular ejection fraction within the normal range (mean ± SD = 57% ± 2%). The peak VO2 mean values were significantly different among the three groups (p = 0.001). There were statistically significant correlations between the peak VO2 values and the Beck Depression Inventory scores (r = −0.637, p = 0.01), between the peak VO2 values and bodily pain (r = 0.717, p = 0.006), between the peak VO2 values and general health perceptions (r = 0.706, p = 0.007), and between peak VO2 values and postoperative duration (r = 0.843, p = 0.03) in all patient groups.Conclusion:  In the long‐term treatment of heart transplant recipients, exercise training should be considered an important therapeutic tool that enables patients to achieve a good quality of life.
Allometric scaling, metabolic body size and interspecies comparisons of basal nutritional requirements*
Authors: Rucker R. B. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryThe amounts of specific substances needed per day that are generally thought to be nutritionally essential or conditionally important are similar among animal species when expressed per unit of energy consumed or per metabolic body size. Accordingly, a case is made that in addition to basal daily energy utilization, allometric scaling based on metabolic body size (3/4 power of mass or weight in kg) may be used to predict and compare basal nutrient requirements among widely varied species, as well as make comparative toxicological and other biological assessments and predictions. Furthermore, given the increasing evidence for allometric scaling for a broad range of biological phenomena (both empirical and theoretical) there is usually a good biological question to be answered when an organismal process deviates markedly from an allometric scale.
Physiological, numerical and molecular characterization of alkyl ether‐utilizing rhodococci
Authors: Kim Yong‐Hak , Engesser Karl‐Heinrich , Kim Sang‐Jong 
Published: March 2007

SummaryTwenty‐seven Gram‐positive strains were characterized physiologically and numerically and classified them into four groups according to their specific activities for utilization of linear alkyl ethers (AEs), cyclic AEs, monoalkoxybenzenes and 1,4‐diethoxybenzene. The comparative analysis of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and 16S−23S intergenic spacer region showed that they belonged to the genera Rhodococcus and Gordonia. Alkyl ether‐utilizing rhodococci appeared to involve various and diverse cytochromes P450 of the families CYP116 (25 positive strains from 27), CYP153 (5/27), CYP249 (1/27) and a new family P450RR1 (27/27). The presence of P450RR1 was strongly related to the specific activity for utilization of 2‐methoxyphenol and 2‐ethoxyphenol. In addition, 26 of 27 strains contained multiple alkB genes coding for probable non‐haem iron containing alkane monooxygenases and hydroxylases. Similar DNA fragments coding for a tetrahydrofuran monooxygenase A subunit (ThmA) were found in all cyclic AE‐utilizing strains and nearly identical DNA fragments coding for likely orthologues of a propane monooxygenase A subunit (PrmA) in all linear AE‐utilizing strains. The substrate availability in the degradation of aryl AEs, cyclic AEs and linear AEs agreed with the molecular probing of the respective genes encoding cytochrome P450RR1, ThmA and PrmA.
Carbohydrates and mental function: feeding or impeding the brain?
Authors: Gibson E. L. 
Published: March 2007

Summary  Despite over 25 years of research into carbohydrates and mental function, findings have, if anything, become more divergent in recent years, and no clear mechanistic model that satisfactorily explains such variability has been produced. At best, there is some consensus that individuals with poor regulation of glucose, and who find the tests of cognitive performance particularly challenging, may benefit from some improvement in mental function after a specific dose of carbohydrate. Even then, this is mainly limited to hippocampally mediated verbal memory.Recent developments in understanding the regulation of energy supply (principally glucose) for neuronal function suggest that it is too simplistic to assume that ingesting carbohydrates will inevitably improve cognitive function. There is a damping or buffering seen between glucose changes in blood and brain extracellular fluid, and even evidence for an acute dissociation of these glucose changes during task performance in specific brain regions. This may be mainly owing to the role of astrocytes, which are large, star‐shaped cells within the central nervous system that can store glucose as glycogen, and when needed, release energy to neurones ‘on demand’.Variables such as age, effort, personality, glucoregulation, time of day, task demand, task domain, and nature and amount of the carbohydrate, can all affect the outcome. One factor that could be involved in all of these variables is the limbic–hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, which controls release of glucocorticoid hormones such as cortisol, and is believed to be a major route by which the brain regulates its energy supply. Moreover, rapidly absorbed carbohydrate provokes a greater cortisol release during stressful tasks and, like glucose, cortisol is known to have dose‐dependent, and bidirectional, effects on cognitive function, especially memory. This process might help explain recent findings that carbohydrate‐rich foods with lower glycaemic indices provide more benefit to mental function than high‐glycaemic foods.The challenge now is to identify characteristics of both susceptible individuals and the carbohydrate manipulations that can best predict improvements in selective cognitive functions. This should be aided by a better understanding of the regulation of energy supply to the brain, together with knowledge of the relevant nutritional, neuronal, physiological and psychological parameters that would consistently promote improvements in cognitive function by carbohydrates.