bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lack of inhibitory effects of the anti‐fibrotic drug imatinib on endothelial cell functions in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Venalis Paulius , Maurer Britta , Akhmetshina Alfiya , Busch Nicole , Dees Clara , Stürzl Michael , Zwerina Jochen , Jüngel Astrid , Gay Steffen , Schett Georg , Distler Oliver , Distler Jörg H.W. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by microangiopathy with progressive loss of capillaries and tissue fibrosis. Imatinib exerts potent anti‐fibrotic effects and is currently evaluated in clinical trials. The aim of the present study was to exclude that the anti‐fibrotic effects of imatinib are complicated by inhibitory effects on endothelial cell functions, which might augment vascular disease in SSc. Endothelial cells and mice were treated with pharmacologically relevant concentrations of imatinib. The expression of markers of vascular activation was assessed with real‐time PCR. Proliferation was analysed with the cell counting experiments and the MTT assay. Apoptosis was quantified with caspase 3 assays, annexin V in vitro and with TUNEL staining in vivo. Migration was studied with scratch and transwell assays. Tube forming was investigated with the matrigel assay. Imatinib did not alter the expression of markers of vascular activation. Imatinib did not increase the percentage of annexin V positive cells or the activity of caspase 3. No reduction in proliferation or metabolic activity of endothelial cells was observed. Imatinib did not affect migration of endothelial cells and did not reduce the formation of capillary tubes. Consistent with the in vitro data, no difference in the number of apoptotic endothelial cells was observed in vivo in mice treated with imatinib. Imatinib does not inhibit activation, viability, proliferation, migration or tube forming of endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Thus, treatment with imatinib might not augment further endothelial cell damage in SSc.
Incidence, risks, and outcome of idiopathic pneumonia syndrome early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Zhu Kang‐Er , Hu Jun‐Yan , Zhang Tao , Chen Jie , Zhong Jun , Lu Yu‐Hong 
Published: September 2008

AbstractWe retrospectively analyzed 23 cases with early‐onset idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) of 192 patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from April 1997 to October 2007. Risk factors for IPS development were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards model, including age, gender, underlying disease, disease status at transplant, transplant type, conditioning regimens, donor type, acute graft‐vs.‐host disease (GVHD), severity of acute GVHD (aGVHD), human leukocyte antigen (HLA) disparity, and organ involvement of aGVHD. Factors that were significant at the 0.1 level on univariate analysis were evaluated by multivariate analysis. Twenty‐three of 192 patients developed IPS (12.0%). Median time to IPS onset after allogeneic HSCT was 76 d (range 32–120 d); median time to death after the diagnosis of IPS was 9 d (range 3–92 d); 20 patients with IPS died because of the rapid progression of respiratory failure (87.0%). Nineteen patients with IPS developed aGVHD (82.6%), with grade III–IV aGVHD in 11 patients (47.8%) and aGVHD of gut in 16 patients (69.6%). The following six factors were associated with an increased risk of IPS by univariate analysis: not in remission, unrelated donor, HLA disparity, occurrence of aGVHD, grade III–IV aGVHD and aGVHD of gut. These risk factors were entered into a multivariate analysis model. Only unrelated donor, grade III–IV aGVHD and aGVHD of gut are identified as being significantly associated with the occurrence of IPS, and among them, aGVHD of gut was associated with the largest risk of IPS, suggesting that the lung may be a target organ of aGVHD.
When should phototherapy be stopped? A pilot study comparing two targets of serum bilirubin concentration
Authors: Barak Mila , Berger Irit , Dollberg Shaul , Mimouni Francis B , Mandel Dror 
Published: September 2008

AbstractObjective: The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of two groups of jaundiced newborns randomized to one of the two targets of total serum bilirubin (TSB) for phototherapy discontinuation.Design: Infants treated with phototherapy were assigned to two groups: in the ‘high‐threshold’ group, phototherapy was interrupted when TSB decreased to ≥1 mg/dL (17 μmol/L) below the limit requiring phototherapy and in the ‘low‐threshold’ group when TSB decreased to ≥3 mg/dL (51 μmol/L) below the same limit.Results: Fifty‐two infants were enrolled, 25 in the high‐ and 27 in the low‐threshold group. Phototherapy duration was significantly shorter in the high‐ than in the low‐threshold group (22.3 ± 13 vs. 27.6 ± 12 h, respectively, p = 0.03). Length of hospital stay was 84±30 h in the high‐ and 94 ± 24 h in the low‐threshold group (p = 0.05). Additional phototherapy was required in 20% of the high‐ versus 18% of the low‐threshold group (p = 0.58). In the presence of haemolysis or G6PD deficiency, 28% of the infants required re‐phototherapy and 8.3% when such factors were absent (p = 0.06).Conclusion: Phototherapy duration may be shortened by using higher TSB limits for interruption. When hyperbilirubinaemia is accompanied by risk factors, the infants should be followed for longer periods, since some of them will need re‐phototherapy.
Sensitization and allergy to turnip rape: a comparison between the Finnish and French children with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Poikonen S , Rancé F , Puumalainen TJ , Le Manach G , Reunala T , Turjanmaa K 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAim: Finnish children with atopic dermatitis (AD) are frequently sensitized and show positive food challenge to turnip rape. We examined whether French children are also allergic to this oilseed plant and whether mustard could be the cross‐reacting allergen.Methods: Turnip rape and mustard challenge was performed to 14 Finnish and 14 French children with atopic dermatitis and positive skin prick test to turnip rape. Specific IgE antibodies were measured by ImmunoCAP and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: Open labial or oral challenge to turnip rape was positive in 14 (100%) Finnish and five (36%) French children and mustard challenge in five Finnish and five French children. IgE antibodies to oilseed rape and mustard were slightly more frequent in the Finnish (100% and 93%) than in the French (93% and 71%) children but rare (4%) in the 28 matched controls. The same findings were true for IgE antibodies to purified 2S albumin allergens, which showed similar cross‐wise IgE inhibition patterns.Conclusion: French children with atopic dermatitis show IgE antibodies to turnip rape, oilseed rape and mustard similarly to the Finnish children. 2S albumin allergens in the seeds of these plants are highly cross‐reactive and therefore, they all could be important sensitizers in children with atopic dermatitis.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and transposition of great arteries associated with maternal diabetes and presumed gestational diabetes
Authors: Chaudhari Milind , Brodlie Malcolm , Hasan Asif 
Published: September 2008

AbstractMaternal diabetes mellitus affects the foetal heart both structurally and functionally. In early gestation, it has a teratogenic effect causing defects of primary cardiogenesis. In late gestation, it causes a unique form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We report an infant of a diabetic mother and an infant where there was presumed gestational diabetes during the pregnancy who presented with combined severe hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and complex transposition of the great arteries. This rare combination of structural and functional cardiac abnormalities reflects the different mechanisms and timings of injury that may occur to the foetal heart in association with maternal diabetes and has not been previously reported. The combination has significant implications regarding medical and surgical management, and necessitates prolonged supportive therapy whilst awaiting regression of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy followed by delayed arterial switch operation.Conclusion: We describe two infants with the unusual combination of both hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and transposition of the great arteries. One was an infant of a diabetic mother, and the second was associated with presumed gestational diabetes.
Tree Regeneration in Church Forests of Ethiopia: Effects of Microsites and Management
Authors: Wassie Alemayehu , Sterck Frank J. , Teketay Demel , Bongers Frans 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTTree regeneration is severely hampered in the fragmented afromontane forests of northern Ethiopia. We explored how trees regenerate in remnant forests along the gradient from open field, forest edge to closed sites and canopy gaps inside the forest. We investigated the effects of seed sowing, litter removal, and weeding on the regeneration success along this gradient. Regeneration success was investigated for four indigenous tree species, and measured in terms of seedling establishment, growth, and survival. Species performed differently according to site conditions. Within the forest, local canopy openings facilitated seed germination (Ekebergia), seedling growth (all species except Olea), or survival (Ekebergia and Olea), suggesting that all species benefited from local high light conditions in the forest. Outside the forest, germination (all species) and growth rates (Juniperus and Olea) were lower in the open field, most probably due to water stress in the dry season. Outer edge conditions favored growth for three of the four species. Natural seed germination was, however, zero at any site for Juniperus and Olea and low for Ekebergia and Prunus in the open field. Soil scarification influenced germination positively, while weeding did not have a positive effect. These results suggest that simple measures may improve seedling establishment, and that, for some species, forest edges are particularly useful for growth and survival after succesful establishment. Together with erecting fences, needed to protect seedlings against grazing, seed sowing, planting seedling, and soil scarification may contribute to maintain and restore church forests in the fragmented landscapes of northern Ethiopia.
Landscape‐Scale Environmental and Floristic Variation in Costa Rican Old‐Growth Rain Forest Remnants
Authors: Sesnie Steven E. , Finegan Bryan , Gessler Paul E. , Ramos Zayra 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTStudies of tropical rain forest beta‐diversity debate environmental determinism versus dispersal limitation as principal mechanisms underlying floristic variation. We examined the relationship between soil characteristics, terrain, climate variation, and rain forest composition across a 3000 km2area in northeastern Costa Rica. Canopy tree and arboreal palm species abundance and soils were measured from 127 0.25‐ha plots across Caribbean lowlands and foothills. Plot elevation, slope, temperature, and precipitation variation were taken from digital grids. Ordination of forest data yielded three floristic groups with strong affinities to foothills and differing lowland environments. Variation in floristics, soil texture, and climate conditions showed parallel patterns of significantly positive spatial autocorrelation up to 13 km and significantly negative correlation beyond 40 km. Partial Mantel tests resulted in a significant correlation between floristic distance and terrain, climate and soil textural variables controlling the effect of geographical distance. Separate comparisons for palm species showed significant correlation with Mg and Ca concentrations among other soil factors. Arboreal palm species demonstrated a stronger relationship with soil factors than did canopy trees. Correlation between floristic data and geographical distance, related to seed dispersal or unmeasured variables, was not significant after controlling for soil characteristics and elevation. Canopy trees and palms showed differing relationships to soil and other environmental factors, but lend greater support for a niche‐assembly hypothesis than to a major role for dispersal limitation in determining species turnover for this landscape.
Edge‐effects Drive Tropical Forest Fragments Towards an Early‐Successional System
Authors: Tabarelli Marcelo , Lopes Ariadna V. , Peres Carlos A. 
Published: September 2008

RESUMOO futuro da biodiversidade das florestas tropicais e dos serviços ambientais prestados por este ecossistema está intrinsecamente ligado a nossa habilidade de entender as mudanças deflagradas pela fragmentação de habitats e por outras forças que dirigem a dinâmica biológica em paisagens antrópicas. Neste artigo nós reunimos evidências empíricas e teóricas para argumentar que os efeitos de borda deflagram um processo sucessional rápido e inevitável, o qual conduz a maioria dos fragmentos de florestas neotropicais em direção a um sistema sucessional inicial. Este tipo de sistema emerge e persiste uma vez que os efeitos de borda favorecem, de forma permanente, um pequeno grupo de espécies pioneiras redundantes em detrimento de um grupo muito diverso de espécies que compõe as florestas maduras. Esta mudança na direção de um sistema inicial representa um conjunto de processes inter‐relacionados, a qual define a assinatura dos ambientes expostos aos efeitos de borda em termos de estrutura de comunidades e do funcionamento do ecossistema. Nossa intenção é que este ensaio estimule a investigação e, também, uma melhor compreensão das forças que determinam a natureza dos ecossistemas em paisagens alteradas pela ação antrópica. Esta compreensão é um passo fundamental para a definição de normas do uso da terra que sejam capazes de ampliar o papel das paisagens antrópicas em termos de retenção de biodiversidade e prestação de serviços ambientais.
Cardiac autonomic function and baroreflex changes following 4 weeks of resistance versus aerobic training in individuals with pre‐hypertension
Authors: Collier S. R. , Kanaley J. A. , Carhart Jr R. , Frechette V. , Tobin M. M. , Bennett N. , Luckenbaugh A. N. , Fernhall B. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAim:  Cardiac autonomic modulation and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) are altered in individuals with hypertension. Aerobic exercise (AE) training has been shown to improve both measures, yet little is known about the effects of resistance exercise (RE). The purpose of this study was to examine the heart rate variability (HRV) and BRS following 4 weeks of resistance or aerobic training in a population with borderline high blood pressure (BP).Methods:  Twenty‐nine mild hypertensives were recruited and randomly assigned to 4 weeks of RE or AE training. Before and after training, resting measures of HRV frequencies and BRS were obtained.Results:  There was a significant decrease in resting systolic BP for both exercise training modes (RE 136 ± 3.0 pre‐ to 132 ± 3.4 post‐training vs. AE 142 ± 4.0 pre‐ to 137 ± 3.6 mmHg post‐training, P = 0.019). Diastolic BP decreased significantly following both exercise training modes (RE 78 ± 1.31 pre to 74 ± 1.1 post vs. AE 80 ± 1.7 pre to 77 ± 1.6 mmHg post, P = 0.002). A significant time by training mode interaction for low frequency :  high frequency (HF) ratio (P = 0.017) with AE decreasing the ratio (275.21 ± 67.28 to 161.26 ± 61.49) and RE increasing this ratio (143.73 ± 65.00 to 227.83 ± 59.41). Natural log‐transformed (ln) HRV values showed a time‐by‐training mode interaction for ln HF (P = 0.05) as ln HF increased (4.7 ± 0.38 to 5.4 ± 0.35 ms2) following AE and decreased (5.98 ± 0.37 to 5.76 ± 0.42 ms2) following RE. BRS increased following aerobic training and decreased after resistance training (6.74 ± 1.2 to 7.94 ± 1.3 and 10.44 ± 1.2 to 9.1 ± 1.2 ms mmHg−1 respectively, P = 0.021).Conclusions:  Aerobic exercise improved the autonomic nervous system (increasing vagal tone, reducing sympathovagal balance while increasing BRS) while RE showed no improvements in cardiac autonomic tone and decreased BRS.
An enhanced level of motor cortical excitability during the control of human standing
Authors: Tokuno C. D. , Taube W. , Cresswell A. G. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAim:  The study examined the role of the motor cortex in the control of human standing.Methods:  Subjects (n = 15) stood quietly with or without body support. The supported standing condition enabled subjects to stand with a reduced amount of postural sway. Peripheral electrical stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) was applied to elicit a soleus (SOL) H‐reflex, or motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) in the SOL and the tibialis anterior (TA). Trials were grouped based on the standing condition (i.e. supported vs. normal) as well as sway direction (i.e. forward and backward) while subjects were standing normally.Results:  During normal when compared to supported standing, the SOL H‐reflex was depressed (−11 ± 4%), while the TMS‐evoked MEPs from the SOL and TA were facilitated (35 ± 11% for the SOL, 51 ± 15% for the TA). TES‐evoked SOL and TA MEPs were, however, not different between the normal and supported standing conditions. The data based on sway direction indicated that the SOL H‐reflex, as well as the SOL TMS‐ and TES‐evoked MEPs were all greater during forward when compared to backward sway. In contrast, the TMS‐ and TES‐evoked MEPs from the TA were smaller when swaying forward as compared to backward.Conclusions:  The results indicated the presence of an enhanced cortical excitability because of the need to control for postural sway during normal standing. The increased cortical excitability was, however, unlikely to be involved in an on‐going control of postural sway, suggesting that postural sway is controlled at the spinal and/or subcortical levels.
Aeromobilities: Geographies, Subjects and Vision
Authors: Adey Peter 
Published: September 2008

AbstractStudies of the social and cultural dimensions of airspace and aerial transportation have evaded much geographical investigation until recently. While transport geographers have sought to trace out the economic, political and organisational dimensions and linkages air‐transport creates between places, new scholarship is beginning to contribute through disparate techniques, theories and methodologies, more sensitive to social and cultural theory. As this article suggests, however, they have not gone far enough in exploring both the multiple spatialities of aeromobility and, furthermore, the spaces in which aeromobilities count most critically for human life and quality. This article provides a short overview of recent research that has used a disparate set of approaches to the study of aeromobilities. Issues from passenger profiling, strategic bombing to extraordinary rendition are explored.
Plants, Mobilities and Landscapes: Environmental Histories of Botanical Exchange
Authors: Pawson Eric 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis article explores environmental histories of botanical transfers, drawing on the emerging literature of mobilities in social science and historical research about patterns of plant movement. It sees such movement as integral to the annexation of nature by culture that characterises modernity. Using the metaphor of the web, the multi‐directional complexity of these flows is assessed, to counter the seductive thesis of European ‘ecological imperialism’. In addition to the widely acknowledged role of institutions, such as botanic gardens, in assembling and disseminating plant materials in calculative ways, attention is also drawn to commercial linkages. Elements of the refashioned landscapes that resulted are identified: these reveal the tensions of order, mobility and hybridity that also characterise modernity.
Virtual patient instruction for dental students: can it improve dental care access for persons with special needs?
Authors: Sanders Carla , Kleinert Harold L. , Boyd Sara E. , Herren Chris , Theiss Lynn , Mink John 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTAn interactive, virtual‐patient module was produced on compact disc (CD‐ROM) in response to the critical need to increase dental students' clinical exposure to patients with developmental disabilities. A content development team consisting of dental faculty members, parents of children with developmental disabilities, an individual with a developmental disability, and educational specialists developed the interactive, virtual‐patient module. The module focused on a young man with congenital deafblindness presenting as a new patient with a painful molar. Students were required to make decisions regarding clinical interactions throughout the module. Differences in both comfort and knowledge level were measured pre‐ and post‐module completion, as well as the dental students' overall satisfaction with the learning experience. Significant results were obtained in students' perceived comfort and knowledge base. Participants reported overall satisfaction using the modules. This study demonstrated that an interactive, multi‐media (CD‐ROM), virtual patient learning module for dental students could be an effective tool in providing students needed clinical exposure to patients with developmental disabilities.
Anton Banko, the Slovenian inventor behind the success of Charles Kelman
Authors: HAWLINA M 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBehind the success story of phacoemulsification that started with Charles Kelman, there was an ingenious engineer that helped him to create the first clinically useful apparatus. Anton Banko was born in a Slovenian family in Istria, very close to actual venue of EVER meeting. He studied engineering and electrics in Ljubljana and later moved to United Sates where he worked in the field of ultrasound instruments for dental use Cavitron company as the director of research and development. Charles Kelman turned to him with a request to construct an ultrasound device for cataract removal and their first joint US patent No. 3589363 was filed on 25th July 1967. A year later, Anton Banko established his own company in New York, named Surgical Design, and the company produced a series of very reliable and successful phaco machines that are still used worldwide. Anton Banko continued to develop many other patents used in ocular surgery including instrument for vitrectomy that he patented in 1969 after which a combined Mackool/Heslin Ocusystem machine was designed. Sadly , he died of incurable disease soon after the success of his company which since then is led by his son William. Anton Banko's wish to donate one of the machines to the University Eye Hospital in Ljubljana was conweyed by his family. Due to his legacy, surgeons from Slovenia started to use phacoemulsification as early as in 1989 after training in the wetlab of Surgical Design company. Anton Banko remains one of the giants of instrumentation in ocular surgery with Slovenian origins.