bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anatomical Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy in Patients with a Preexisting Three-Piece Inflatable Prosthesis: A Series of Case Reports
Authors: Deho’ Federico , Salonia Andrea , Briganti Alberto , Zanni Giuseppe , Gallina Andrea , Rokkas Konstantinos , Guazzoni Giorgio , Rigatti Patrizio , Montorsi Francesco 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Only few reports addressed the outcome of patients submitted to anatomical radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) with an indwelling inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP).

Aim
To assess the feasibility and safety of RRP in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer and a previously implanted with an IPP.

Main Outcome Measures
We evaluated the surgical parameters and the follow-up functional results in this particular patient population.

Methods
Four patients previously submitted to IPP implant for severe erectile dysfunction underwent RRP for organ-confined prostate cancer. Patients’ charts were carefully reviewed to investigate pre- and perioperative details. Patients were evaluated by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. Patients were then contacted to assess long-term functional and oncological outcome.

Results
The outcome of the procedures was comparable to a normal population in terms of operating time, estimated blood loss, hospitalization time, and pathological outcome. No injury to the preexisting penile implant was reported. Continence was obtained in 3 (75%) patients at catheter removal, and in 1 (25%) patient at the 1-month follow-up. No major intra- and postoperative complications were reported. All patients were able to use their prosthesis after RRP. No statistical difference in pre- and post-RRP EF domain scores was found.

Conclusion
The presence of an IPP in patients with prostate cancer is not a contraindication to perform an anatomical RRP. Surgery can be performed safely without injuring the implant and the clinical outcome in these patients is satisfactory. Postoperative implant use is not affected by RRP.
Screening for Erectile Dysfunction in Men with Lifelong Premature Ejaculation—Is the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) Reliable?
Authors: McMahon Chris G. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Some men with premature ejaculation (PE) and normal erectile function record contradictory response/s to The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) and may be incorrectly categorized as suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aims
The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of false positive SHIM diagnosis of ED in men with lifelong PE.

Main Outcome Measures
SHIM, stopwatch intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT).

Methods
A prospective observational study of men with normal erectile function and lifelong PE, diagnosed using the ISSM definition of lifelong PE, was conducted. The SHIM was self-administered at Visit 1. Mean per subject stopwatch IELT was determined from four subsequent intercourse attempts.

Results
Seventy-eight subjects with a mean age of 33.2 ± 8.3 years and a geometric mean IELT of 15.9 ± 2.3 seconds were enrolled. The mean SHIM score for all subjects was 20.4 ± 6.0. Fifty-two subjects (66.7%) have SHIM scores of &gt;21 (mean 24.3 ± 1.1), consistent with normal erectile function, and a geometric mean IELT of 18.3 ± 2.2 seconds. Twenty-six subjects (33.3%) had SHIM scores &lt;22 (mean 12.7 ± 3.7), consistent with a false positive diagnosis of ED, and a geometric mean IELT of 10.5 ± 2.3 seconds. The incidence of false positive SHIM diagnosis of ED (SHIM &lt; 22) was inversely related to the IELT. Although the geometric mean IELT for subjects with SHIM scores &lt;22 was significantly less than that of all subjects and subjects with SHIM scores &gt;21, there were no significant differences between the geometric mean IELT or the IELT distribution of all subjects vs. the normal erectile function IELT (SHIM &gt; 21) cohort.

Conclusion
This study demonstrates a 33.3% false positive SHIM diagnosis of ED in men with PE. This is likely to limit subject recruitment in clinical trials by exclusion of subjects with low-range IELTs but is unlikely to result in significantly different baseline IELTs or IELT distributions.
PERSPECTIVE: Infection and inflammation in somatic maintenance, growth and longevity
Authors: Kopp Elizabeth B. , Medzhitov Ruslan 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAll organisms must display a certain degree of environmental adaptability to survive and reproduce. Growth and reproduction are metabolically expensive and carry other costs that contribute to aging. Therefore, animals have developed physiologic strategies to assess the harshness of the environment before devoting resources to reproduction. Presumably, these strategies maximize the possibility for offspring survival. Current views of aging reflect a trade‐off between reproductive fitness and somatic maintenance whereby environmental stress induces an adaptive metabolic response aimed at preserving cellular integrity while inhibiting growth, whereas favorable environmental conditions (abundance of food and water, and optimal temperature, etc.) promote growth and reproductive maturity but simultaneously increase cellular damage and aging. Here we propose that the prevalence of infectious pathogens in a given niche represents an additional environmental factor that, via innate immune pathways, actively shifts this balance in favor of somatic maintenance at the expense of reproduction and growth. We additionally propose the construction of a genetic model system with which to test this hypothesis.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Probability of emergence of antimalarial resistance in different stages of the parasite life cycle
Authors: Pongtavornpinyo Wirichada , Hastings Ian M. , Dondorp Arjen , White Lisa J. , Maude Richard J. , Saralamba Sompob , Day Nicholas P. , White Nicholas J. , Boni Maciej F. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractUnderstanding the evolution of drug resistance in malaria is a central area of study at the intersection of evolution and medicine. Antimalarial drug resistance is a major threat to malaria control and directly related to trends in malaria attributable mortality. Artemisinin combination therapies (ACT) are now recommended worldwide as first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria, and losing them to resistance would be a disaster for malaria control. Understanding the emergence and spread of antimalarial drug resistance in the context of different scenarios of antimalarial drug use is essential for the development of strategies protecting ACTs. In this study, we review the basic mechanisms of resistance emergence and describe several simple equations that can be used to estimate the probabilities of de novo resistance mutations at three stages of the parasite life cycle: sporozoite, hepatic merozoite and asexual blood stages; we discuss the factors that affect parasite survival in a single host in the context of different levels of antimalarial drug use, immunity and parasitaemia. We show that in the absence of drug effects, and despite very different parasite numbers, the probability of resistance emerging at each stage is very low and similar in all stages (for example per‐infection probability of 10−10–10−9 if the per‐parasite chance of mutation is 10−10 per asexual division). However, under the selective pressure provided by antimalarial treatment and particularly in the presence of hyperparasitaemia, the probability of resistance emerging in the blood stage of the parasite can be approximately five orders of magnitude higher than in the absence of drugs. Detailed models built upon these basic methods should allow us to assess the relative probabilities of resistance emergence in the different phases of the parasite life cycle.
Review of hemoglobin A1c in the management of diabetes
Authors: GALLAGHER Emily Jane , LE ROITH Derek , BLOOMGARDEN Zachary 
Published: January 2009

AbstractHemoglobin HbA1c (A1c) has been used clinically since the 1980s as a test of glycemic control in individuals with diabetes. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) demonstrated that tight glycemic control, quantified by lower blood glucose and A1c levels, reduced the risk of the development of complications from diabetes. Subsequently, standardization of A1c measurement was introduced in different countries to ensure accuracy in A1c results. Recently, the International Federation of Clinical Chemists (IFCC) introduced a more precise measurement of A1c, which has gained international acceptance. However, if the IFCC A1c result is expressed as a percentage, it is lower than the current DCCT‐aligned A1c result, which may lead to confusion and deterioration in diabetic control. Alternative methods of reporting have been proposed, including A1c‐derived average glucose (ADAG), which derives an average glucose from the A1c result. Herein, we review A1c, the components involved in A1c formation, and the interindividual and assay variations that can lead to differences in A1c results, despite comparable glycemic control. We discuss the proposed introduction of ADAG as a surrogate for A1c reporting, review imprecisions that may result, and suggest alternative clinical approaches.
Do plant sterol concentrations correlate with coronary artery disease in type 1 diabetes? A report from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications Study
Authors: SHAY Christina Marie , EVANS Rhobert Wyn , ORCHARD Trevor John 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground: It has been suggested that plant sterol absorption is increased in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and that this may relate to the increased cardiovascular risk seen in T1DM. The cardiovascular benefit of lowering low‐density lipoprotein–cholesterol with statin medication has also been shown to be influenced by plant sterol absorption.Methods: The relationship between sterol concentrations, coronary artery disease (CAD), and the use of statin medications in T1DM was compared between participants with CAD (Minnesota codes 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1–4.3, 5.1–5.3, and 7.1; n = 82), from the Pittsburgh Epidemiology of Diabetes Complications (EDC) study, and those without (n = 213). Serum sterol concentrations reflecting cholesterol absorption (β‐sitosterol and campesterol) and synthesis (desmosterol and lathosterol) were assayed and analyzed by gas chromatography and were expressed as a ratio of total cholesterol (×103).Results: No differences were observed in markers of cholesterol absorption between individuals with and without CAD. In patients with CAD, significantly lower levels were observed for both sterol markers reflecting cholesterol synthesis compared with individuals without CAD [desmosterol: 0.34 vs 0.42, respectively (P = 0.003); lathosterol 0.47 vs 0.54, respectively (P = 0.019)]. Further stratification by statin medication use revealed significantly lower levels of synthesis‐reflecting sterols in individuals taking statin medication, particularly those with CAD.Conclusions: Although previous reports suggest that higher levels of cholesterol absorption in T1DM potentially increase cardiovascular risk in this population, the present data suggest no differences in cholesterol absorption between T1DM individuals with and without CAD.
Synthesis and Antimalarial Activities of Cyclen 4-Aminoquinoline Analogs
Authors: Khan M. O. Faruk , Levi Mark S. , Tekwani Babu L. , Khan Shabana I. , Kimura Eiichi , Borne Ronald F. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

In an attempt to augment the efficacy of 7-chloro 4-aminoquinoline analogs and also to overcome resistance to antimalarial agents, we synthesized three cyclen (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) analogs of chloroquine [a bisquinoline derivative, 7-chloro-4-(1,4,7,10-tetraaza-cyclododec-1-yl)-quinoline HBr, and a 7-chloro-4-(1,4,7,10-tetraaza-cyclododec-1-yl)-quinoline-Zn
2+
complex]. The bisquinoline displays the most potent in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activities. It displays 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC
50
s) of 7.5 nM against the D6 (chloroquine-sensitive) clone of
Plasmodium falciparum
and 19.2 nM against the W2 (chloroquine-resistant) clone, which are comparable to those of artemisinin (10.6 and 5.0 nM, respectively) and lower than those of chloroquine (10.7 and 87.2 nM, respectively), without any evidence of cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, indicating a high selectivity index (>1,333 against D6 clone and >521 against W2 clone). Potent antimalarial activities of the bisquinoline against chloroquine- and mefloquine-resistant strains of
P. falciparum
were also confirmed by in vitro [
3
H]hypoxanthine incorporation assay. The in vivo antimalarial activity of the bisquinoline, as determined in
P. berghei
-infected mice, is comparable to that of chloroquine (50% effective dose, ≤1.1 mg/kg when given orally); no apparent toxicity has been observed up to the highest dose tested (3 × 30 mg/kg). The bisquinoline inhibits in vitro hemozoin (β-hematin) formation with an IC
50
of 1.1 μM, which is about 10-fold more potent than chloroquine (IC
50
9.5 μM). Overall, this article describes the discovery of a new class of cyclen 4-aminoquinoline analogs as potent antimalarial drugs.
Relationship between Susceptibility to Daptomycin In Vitro and Activity In Vivo in a Rabbit Model of Aortic Valve Endocarditis
Authors: Chambers H. F. , Basuino L. , Diep B. A. , Steenbergen J. , Zhang S. , Tattevin P. , Alder J. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

Daptomycin is approved for treatment of
Staphylococcus aureus
bacteremia and right-sided endocarditis. Increases in daptomycin MICs have been associated with failure. A rabbit model of aortic valve endocarditis was used to determine whether MIC correlates with activity in vivo and whether a higher daptomycin dose can improve efficacy. Two related clinical
S. aureus
strains, one with a daptomycin MIC of 0.5 μg/ml and the other with a MIC of 2 μg/ml, were used to establish aortic valve endocarditis in rabbits. Daptomycin was administered once a day for 4 days at 12 mg/kg of body weight or 18 mg/kg to simulate doses in humans of 6 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Endocardial vegetations, spleens, and kidneys were harvested and quantitatively cultured. The strain with a MIC of 2 μg/ml had a survival advantage over the strain with a MIC of 0.5 μg/ml with >100 times more organisms of the former in endocardial vegetations at the 12-mg/kg dose in a dual-infection model. Both the 12-mg/kg dose and the 18-mg/kg dose completely eradicated the strain with a MIC of 0.5 from vegetations, spleens, and kidneys. The 12-mg/kg dose was ineffective against the strain with a MIC of 2 in vegetations; the 18-mg/kg dose produced a reduction of 3 log
10
units in CFU in vegetations compared to the controls, although in no rabbit were organisms completely eliminated. Increasing the dose of daptomycin may improve its efficacy for infections caused by strains with reduced daptomycin susceptibility.
Activity of Posaconazole and Other Antifungal Agents against
Mucorales
Strains Identified by Sequencing of Internal Transcribed Spacers
Authors: Alastruey-Izquierdo Ana , Castelli Maria Victoria , Cuesta Isabel , Monzon Araceli , Cuenca-Estrella Manuel , Rodriguez-Tudela Juan Luis 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

The antifungal susceptibility profiles of 77 clinical strains of
Mucorales
species, identified by internal transcribed spacer sequencing, were analyzed. MICs obtained at 24 and 48 h were compared. Amphotericin B was the most active agent against all isolates, except for
Cunninghamella
and
Apophysomyces
isolates. Posaconazole also showed good activity for all species but
Cunninghamella bertholletiae
. Voriconazole had no activity against any of the fungi tested. Terbinafine showed good activity, except for
Rhizopus oryzae
,
Mucor circinelloides
, and
Rhizomucor variabilis
isolates.
Detection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Type 1 M184V and K103N Minority Variants in Patients with Primary HIV Infection
Authors: Toni Thomas A. , Asahchop Eugene L. , Moisi Daniela , Ntemgwa Michel , Oliveira Maureen , Masquelier Bernard , Brenner Bluma G. , Wainberg Mark A. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTWe used an allele-specific real-time PCR assay to explore the presence of K103N and M184V minority species among primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and their potential influence in HIV transmission. Thirty randomly chosen antiretroviral drug-naive patients lacking both the K103N and the M184V mutations as determined by conventional sequencing methods were studied, and K103N and M184V viral minority species were found in three (10%) and four (11%) patients, respectively.
Mucor circinelloides
as a Cause of Invasive Maxillofacial Zygomycosis: an Emerging Dimorphic Pathogen with Reduced Susceptibility to Posaconazole
Authors: Khan Zia U. , Ahmad Suhail , Brazda Arnost , Chandy Rachel 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

A case of maxillofacial zygomycosis caused by
Mucor circinelloides
, identified by phenotypic and molecular methods and treated successfully with liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) and surgical debridement, is described. The isolate was resistant to posaconazole. This report underscores the importance of prior susceptibility testing of zygomycetes to guide therapy with the most effective antifungal agent for an improved prognosis.
Use of Sloppy Molecular Beacon Probes for Identification of Mycobacterial Species
Authors: El-Hajj Hiyam H. , Marras Salvatore A. E. , Tyagi Sanjay , Shashkina Elena , Kamboj Mini , Kiehn Timothy E. , Glickman Michael S. , Kramer Fred Russell , Alland David 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

We report here the use of novel “sloppy” molecular beacon probes in homogeneous PCR screening assays in which thermal denaturation of the resulting probe-amplicon hybrids provides a characteristic set of amplicon melting temperature (

T
m

) values that identify which species is present in a sample. Sloppy molecular beacons possess relatively long probe sequences, enabling them to form hybrids with amplicons from many different species despite the presence of mismatched base pairs. By using four sloppy molecular beacons, each possessing a different probe sequence and each labeled with a differently colored fluorophore, four different

T
m

values can be determined simultaneously. We tested this technique with 27 different species of mycobacteria and found that each species generates a unique, highly reproducible signature that is unaffected by the initial bacterial DNA concentration. Utilizing this general paradigm, screening assays can be designed for the identification of a wide range of species.
Impact of Blood Cultures Drawn by Phlebotomy on Contamination Rates and Health Care Costs in a Hospital Emergency Department
Authors: Gander Rita M. , Byrd Linda , DeCrescenzo Michael , Hirany Shaina , Bowen Michelle , Baughman Judy 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT

We conducted a prospective comparison of blood culture contamination rates associated with dedicated phlebotomists and nonphlebotomy staff in the emergency department (ED) at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, TX. In addition, hospital charges and lengths of stay were determined for patients with negative, false-positive, and true-positive blood culture results. A total of 5,432 blood culture collections from two ED areas, the western wing of the ED (ED west) and the nonwestern wing of the ED (ED nonwest), were evaluated over a 13-month period. Phlebotomists drew 2,012 (55%) of the blood cultures in ED west while nonphlebotomy staff drew 1,650 (45%) in ED west and 1,770 (100%) in ED nonwest. The contamination rates of blood cultures collected by phlebotomists were significantly lower than those collected by nonphlebotomists in ED west (62/2,012 [3.1%] versus 122/1,650 [7.4%];
P
< 0.001). Similar results were observed when rates between phlebotomists in ED west and nonphlebotomy staff in ED nonwest were compared (62/2,012 [3.1%] versus 100/1,770 [5.6%];
P
< 0.001). Comparison of median patient charges between negative and false-positive episodes ($18,752 versus $27,472) showed $8,720 in additional charges per contamination event while the median length of stay increased marginally from 4 to 5 days. By utilizing phlebotomists to collect blood cultures in the ED, contamination rates were lowered to recommended levels, with projected reductions in patient charges of approximately $4.1 million per year.
HIV-1-mediated delivery of a short hairpin RNA targeting vascular endothelial growth factor in human retinal pigment epithelium cells
Authors: Lombardi G , Calistri A , Curtarello M , Giudice G L , Piermarocchi S , Prosdocimo G , Palù G , Parolin C 
Published: January 2009

Background:Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play a major role in the pathological neovascularisation that occurs in degenerative retinal diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although several approaches to attenuate VEGF show significant promise, repeated treatments are required to achieve therapeutic benefits. As lentiviruses efficiently and stably infect resting cells, a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-based vector was used for the delivery and long-term endogenous expression of a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) specific for VEGF in postmitotic human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.Methods:An HIV-1 vector expressing a shRNA targeting VEGF was developed and adopted to transduce RPE cell cultures, in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions in vitro. Intracellular VEGF expression was analysed by western blotting, and the release of VEGF in culture supernatants was determined by ELISA.Results:At least 90% of RPE cells were successfully transduced by HIV-1 virions. Inhibition of VEGF expression and reduction by 95% of VEGF release in transduced cells were achieved. Moreover, shRNA-VEGF effectively and specifically prevented hypoxia-induced VEGF upregulation.Conclusion:HIV-1-mediated delivery of a shRNA-VEGF leading to gene expression knockdown could represent a novel therapeutic strategy against neovascularisation-related eye diseases.
HISTORY: The Use of the Kalman Filter for Human Motion Tracking in Virtual Reality
Authors: Welch Gregory F 
Published: January 2009

In 1960 Rudolph E. Kalman published his now famous article describing a recursive solution to the discrete-data linear filtering problem (Kalman, “A new approach to linear filtering and prediction problems,” Transactions of the ASME—Journal of Basic Engineering, 82 (D), 35–45, 1960). Since that time, due in large part to advances in digital computing, the Kalman filter has been the subject of extensive research and applications, particularly in the area of autonomous or assisted navigation. The purpose of this paper is to acknowledge the approaching 50th anniversary of the Kalman filter with a look back at the use of the filter for human motion tracking in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).In recent years there has been an explosion in the use of the Kalman filter in VR/AR. In fact, at technical conferences related to VR these days, it would be unusual to see a paper on tracking that did not use some form of a Kalman filter, or draw comparisons to those that do. As such, rather than attempt a comprehensive survey of all uses of the Kalman filter to date, what follows focuses primarily on the early discovery and subsequent period of evolution of the Kalman filter in VR, along with a few examples of modern commercial systems that use the Kalman filter.This paper begins with a very brief introduction to the Kalman filter, a brief look at the origins of VR, a little about tracking in VR—in particular the work and conditions that gave rise to the use of the filter, and then the evolution of the use of the filter in VR.