bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular basis of oncostatin M‐induced SOCS‐3 expression in astrocytes
Authors: Baker Brandi J. , Qin Hongwei , Benveniste Etty N. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractUnder neuropathological conditions, reactive astrocytes release cytokines and chemokines, which act in an autocrine and/or paracrine fashion to modulate production of immunoregulatory factors from cells including microglia, astrocytes, and neurons. In this way, astrocytes play an important role in orchestrating immune responses within the central nervous system (CNS). Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are endogenous, negative regulators of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway and function as attenuators of the immune and inflammatory responses. As such, SOCS proteins may have critical roles in the CNS under neuroinflammatory conditions. In the inflamed CNS, expression of IL‐6 cytokine family member oncostatin M (OSM) is elevated; however, its functional effects are not well understood. We demonstrate that OSM is a potent inducer of SOCS‐3 in astrocytes. Analysis of the SOCS‐3 promoter revealed that an AP‐1 element, two IFN‐γ activation sequence (GAS) elements, and a GC‐rich region are crucial for SOCS‐3 gene expression. Using small interfering RNA against STAT‐3, as well as a STAT‐3 dominant‐negative construct, we demonstrate that STAT‐3 activation is critical for OSM induction of SOCS‐3 expression. The ERK1/2 and JNK pathways also contribute to OSM‐induced SOCS‐3 gene expression. OSM stimulation led to a time‐dependent recruitment of the transcription factors STAT‐3, c‐Fos, c‐Jun, and Sp1 and the coactivators CREB‐binding protein (CBP) and p300 to the endogenous SOCS‐3 promoter. These data indicate that OSM‐induced activation of STAT‐3 and the ERK1/2 and JNK pathways are critical for astrocytic expression of SOCS‐3, which provides for feedback inhibition of cytokine‐induced inflammatory responses in the CNS. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Benzodiazepine‐induced reduction in activity mirrors decrements in cognitive and psychomotor performance
Authors: Dawson Jean , Boyle Julia , Stanley Neil , Johnsen Sigurd , Hindmarch Ian , Skene Debra J. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo assess whether actigraphy is sensitive to benzodiazepine‐induced changes in cognitive and psychomotor performance and sleep.MethodsHealthy young volunteers (n = 23; 11 males), were randomised to a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover trial. Actigraphy was used to record motor activity continuously. Following dosing at 18.00 h with 2.5 mg lorazepam (LZP), psychomotor and cognitive assessments were made at hourly intervals post‐dose for 4 h and after sleep at 14.5 h post‐dose.ResultsActivity levels were significantly reduced after LZP for 5 h post‐dose (p = 0.0104), during sleep (5–13 h) (p < 0.02) and the following morning, 13–14.5 h post‐dose (p < 0.02). At the same time cognitive and psychomotor performance was also significantly impaired (p < 0.05). LZP also significantly increased actigraphic sleep efficiency and sleep per cent (p < 0.02).ConclusionThis study showed that activity levels were significantly reduced following dosing with a benzodiazepine and these changes coincided with impairment of cognitive and psychomotor performance. Actigraphy, therefore, appears to be able to reflect the psychopharmacological effects of a benzodiazepine in changes in daytime function and nocturnal behaviour, which, without waking the subject, is beyond the power of conventional psychometrics. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hillslope runoff from an ice‐cored peat plateau in a discontinuous permafrost basin, Northwest Territories, Canada
Authors: Wright Nicole , Quinton William L. , Hayashi Masaki 
Published: June 2008

AbstractPeat plateaus are important landscape features of many high‐boreal, wetland‐dominated drainage basins. Raised up to 2 m above the surrounding landscape and underlain by permafrost, these forested peatlands provide meltwater drainage to the surrounding wetlands, and to basin runoff. Understanding the factors that control the volume and timing of runoff from peat plateaus is the essential first step towards developing methods of accurately predicting basin runoff from wetland‐dominated basins in the region of discontinuous permafrost, as well as understanding the basin response to hydrological changes brought on by the thermal degradation and thaw of permafrost peatlands. In this study, a water balance approach and the Dupuit–Forchheimer equation were used to quantify sub‐surface runoff from a forested peat plateau at Scotty Creek, a small (152 km2), wetland‐dominated discontinuous permafrost basin in Northwest Territories, Canada. These two computations yielded similar results in both years of study (2004–2005), and showed that runoff accounted for approximately half of the moisture loss from the peat plateau, most of which occurred in response to snowmelt inputs. The melt of ground ice was also a significant source of water during the study periods, which was largely detained in soil storage. Soil moisture conditions prior to soil freezing were a major factor controlling the volume of runoff from the hillslope. Sub‐surface drainage rates declined dramatically after the snowmelt runoff period, when the majority of water inputs went to soil storage and evapotranspiration. The minimal lag between rain events and hydrograph response in both years suggests that much of the runoff produced from rain events is rapidly transported to the adjacent wetlands. These results give insight into how current climate warming predictions for northern latitudes could affect the hydrological response of forested peat plateaus, and the basins which they occupy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Work hour rules and contributors to patient care mistakes: A focus group study with internal medicine residents
Authors: Fletcher Kathlyn E. , Parekh Vikas , Halasyamani Lakshmi , Kaufman Samuel R. , Schapira Marilyn , Ertl Kristyn , Saint Sanjay 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND:The “Swiss cheese model” of systems accidents is commonly applied to patient safety, implying that many “holes” must align before an adverse event occurs. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) instituted work hour limitations to fill one such hole by reducing resident fatigue.OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to determine how residents perceive the impact of the ACGME rules and other factors on patient safety.DESIGN:The study was designed as a focus group study.PARTICIPANTS:Participating in the study were 28 internal medicine residents, of whom 13 were from a university‐based program that includes both an academic medical center and a Veterans Affair (VA) hospital, 9 were from a community‐based program, and 6 were from a freestanding medical college that includes a large private teaching hospital and a VA hospital.MEASUREMENT:Grounded theory analysis was used to examine transcripts of the focus group discussions.RESULTS:A model of contributors to patient care errors emerged including fatigue, inexperience, sign‐outs, not knowing patients, “entropy” (which we defined as “overall chaos in the system”), and workload. Participants described the impact of both intended and unintended consequences of the work hour rules on patient care. Residents reported improved well‐being and less fatigue, but had concern about the effect of reduced continuity on patient care.CONCLUSION:Our focus group participants perceived that the ACGME work hour limitations had minimized the impact of resident fatigue on patient care errors. Other contributors to errors remained and were often exacerbated by methods to maintain compliance with the rules. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2008;3:228–237.
Underutilized time for health education of hospitalized patients
Authors: Chu Eugene S. , Hakkarinen David , Evig Crystal , Page Stacey , Keniston Angela , Dickinson Miriam , Albert Richard K. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND:Our anecdotal observations suggested that hospitalized patients had considerable time during the day when they were not occupied with diagnostic testing or other activities. Accordingly, we sought to quantify the fraction of free time that hospitalized patients had available to participate in health educational activities and if and when during their hospitalization they were interested in participating in these activities and felt capable of doing so.METHODS:From June 25 through August 15, 2005, randomly selected consenting patients admitted to the Internal Medicine service of an academic safety‐net hospital became subjects of a time‐motion study that was conducted from admission to discharge or to hospital Day 6. Another randomly selected group received daily surveys, and patients in a third group were interviewed on Day 2 or 3 of their hospitalization.RESULTS:Time‐motion data, surveys, and interviews were obtained from 13, 138, and 15 patients, respectively. Of the 316 patient‐hours observed, 71% were classified as downtime. More than 80% of patients either “strongly agreed” or “agreed” that they were interested in and capable of being educated on all days of their hospitalization. The themes generated from the interviews included the desire to know more about self‐management, prevention of disease recurrence or progression, and their primary illness.CONCLUSIONS:Adult medical inpatients have considerable time and strong motivation to participate in health educational activities throughout their hospitalization. The current structure for educating hospitalized patients should be supplemented to take these findings into account. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2008;3:238–246. © 2008 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Resource utilization of total knee arthroplasty patients cared for on specialty orthopedic surgery units
Authors: Batsis John A. , Naessens James M. , Keegan Mark T. , Huddleston Paul M. , Wagie Amy E. , Huddleston Jeanne M. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND:The use of specialized orthopedic surgery (SOS) units in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients is well established. The number and costs of arthoplasty surgeries continue to increase, requiring institutions to reexamine their existing practices for financial sustainability.OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study was to determine whether having elective TKA patients in SOS units affects resource utilization and outcomes.DESIGN:The study was designed to retrospectively compare elective TKA patients from 1996 to 2004 admitted directly to SOS units with those admitted to nonorthopedic nursing (NON) units.SETTING:The setting was an academic teaching hospital.PATIENTS:Five thousand five hundred and thirty‐four patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 5082 (patients 91.8%) were admitted to SOS units and 452 (8.2%) to NON units.MEASUREMENTS:The primary outcomes measured were length of stay (LOS) and costs, adjusted for age, sex, surgical year, comorbidities, and American Society of Anesthesiologists status. Secondary outcomes were 30‐day mortality, readmissions, reoperations, and discharge disposition.RESULTS:Mean age of the patients in SOS and NON units was 68.3 and 67.9 years, respectively (P = .50). Adjusted LOS was 0.234 days shorter in SOS units (95% CI: 0.083, 0.385). Adjusted total and hospital cost savings in the SOS unit group were $600 (95% CI: $122, $1079) and $594 (95% CI: $141, $1047), respectively. More NON‐unit patients required unanticipated transfers to the intensive care unit (ICU) from the general postoperative nursing unit (3.1% vs. 1.63%; P = .023); however, the mean number of ICU days did not differ between groups. NON‐unit patients were more likely to be discharged with home health care (P < .001). There were no differences in 30‐day outcomes.CONCLUSIONS:Patients on SOS units following elective TKA have a reduced LOS and decreased total and hospital costs. Our results should encourage hospitals to reevaluate postoperative patient flow to optimize resource utilization. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2008;3:218–227. © 2008 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Cullen's sign associated with metastatic esophageal carcinoma
Authors: Marinella Mark A. , Baumann Michael 
Published: June 2008

AbstractCullen's sign refers to the presence of periumbilical ecchymosis and is most often recognized as a manifestation of hemorrhagic pancreatitis. However, lesser‐appreciated etiologies include ruptured ectopic pregnancy, leaking aortic aneurysm, and intraabdominal malignancy. We report the case of a patient with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the esophagus who developed Cullen's sign shortly before death. Based on this case and previously reported cases, malignancy‐associated Cullen's sign portends a dismal prognosis, and may be considered a pre‐terminal finding. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2008;3:277–278. © 2008 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Prevalence and clinical outcome of inpatient hyperglycemia in a community pediatric hospital
Authors: Palacio Andres , Smiley Dawn , Ceron Miguel , Klein Robin , Cho Irene S. , Mejia Roberto , Umpierrez Guillermo E. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBACKGROUND:Inpatient hyperglycemia in adult patients with and without a history of diabetes is a predictor of poor clinical outcome. No previous studies, however, have examined the association of hyperglycemia and clinical outcome in children admitted to a community pediatric hospital.METHODS:The study was a retrospective observational cohort of pediatric patients admitted to a community children's hospital from January 2004 to August 2004. Medical records of 903 consecutive children admitted to critical and non–critical care areas were reviewed. Of them, 342 patients (38%) had no blood glucose measurements during their hospital stay. In the remaining patients, we determined the prevalence of hyperglycemia and examined the association of hyperglycemia with clinical outcome.RESULTS:A total of 406 patients (75%) had an admission blood glucose ≤120 mg/dL (mean ± SEM 98 ± 1 mg/dL), 103 children (19%) had an admission blood glucose level of 121–179 mg/dL (mean 143 ± 2 mg/dL), and 32 patients (5.9%) had a blood glucose level ≥180 mg/dL (mean 260 ± 18 mg/dL). Seventeen patients (13%) had a known history of diabetes prior to admission. Children with hyperglycemia were more likely to be admitted to the ICU (P < .001) and had a longer length of ICU stay (P < .001), but admission hyperglycemia was not associated with longer hospital stay or higher hospital mortality.CONCLUSIONS:Hyperglycemia is present in one‐fourth of children admitted to the hospital, most of them without a history of diabetes prior to admission. Hyperglycemia was associated with a greater need for ICU care and longer ICU stay but not with increased in‐hospital mortality. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2008;3:212–217. © 2008 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Three‐dimensional reconstruction of the stomatostylet and anterior epidermis in the nematode Aphelenchus avenae (Nematoda: Aphelenchidae) with implications for the evolution of plant parasitism
Authors: Ragsdale Erik J. , Crum John , Ellisman, Mark H. , Baldwin James G. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA three‐dimensional model of the stomatostylet and associated structures has been reconstructed from serial thin sections of Aphelenchus avenae, a representative of Tylenchomorpha, a group including most plant parasitic nematodes. The reconstruction is compared with previous work on bacteriovorous cephalobids and rhabditids to better understand the evolution of the stylet and its associated cells. Two arcade syncytia (“guide ring”) line the stylet shaft, supporting the hypothesis that the stylet shaft and cone (into which the shaft extends and which is not lined by syncytia) are homologous with the gymnostom of cephalobids, the sister taxon of tylenchids. Epidermal syncytia, HypA, HypB, HypC, and HypE, line the cephalic framework, vestibule, and vestibule extension, congruent with the hypothesis that these components are homologous with the cephalobid cheilostom. Relative to outgroups, HypC is expanded in A. avenae, enclosing sensilla that fill most of the cephalic framework. The homolog of syncytium HypD in the cephalobid Acrobeles complexus is not observed in A. avenae. Arcade syncytia are reduced compared with those of cephalobids. Stylet protractor muscles in A. avenae are homologous with the most anterior set of radial muscles of cephalobids. Observations to date test and verify our previous hypotheses of homology of the stomatostylet with respect to the stoma of bacteriovorous outgroups. Reconstruction of the stegostom and pharynx will provide further tests of homology and evolution of feeding structure adaptations for plant parasitism. J. Morphol., 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular interactions of the neuronal GPI‐anchored lipocalin Lazarillo
Authors: Sanchez Diego , Ortega‐Cubero Sara , Åkerström Bo , Herrera Macarena , Bastiani Michael J. , Ganfornina Maria D. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractLazarillo, a glycoprotein involved in axon growth and guidance in the grasshopper embryo, is the only member of the lipocalin family that is attached to the cell surface by a GPI anchor. Recently, the study of Lazarillo homologous genes in Drosophila and mouse has revealed new functions in the regulation of lifespan, stress resistance and neurodegeneration. Here we report an analysis of biochemical properties of Lazarillo to gain insight into the molecular basis of its physiological function. Recombinant forms of the grasshopper protein were expressed in two different systems to test: (1) potential binding of several hydrophobic ligands; (2) protein–protein homophilic interactions; and (3) whether interaction with the function‐blocking mAb 10E6 interferes with ligand binding. We tested 10 candidate ligands (retinoic acid, heme, bilirubin, biliverdin, ecdysterone, juvenile hormone, farnesol, arachidonic acid, linoleic acid and palmitic acid), and monitored binding using electrophoretic mobility shift, absorbance spectrum, and fluorimetry assays. Our work indicates binding to heme and retinoic acid, resulting in increased electrophoretic mobility, as well as to fatty acids, resulting in multimerization. Retinoic acid and fatty acids binding were confirmed by fluorescence titration, and heme binding was confirmed with absorbance spectrum assays. We demonstrate that Lazarillo oligomerizes in solution and can form clusters in the plasma membrane when expressed and GPI‐anchored to the cell surface, however it is unable to mediate cell–cell adhesion. Finally, by ligand‐mAb competition experiments we show that ligand‐binding alone cannot be the key factor for Lazarillo to perform its function during axonal growth in the grasshopper embryo. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Challenges in Glassy Dynamics of Polymers
Authors: Serghei Anatoli 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThis work is focused on the glassy dynamics of polymers under conditions of one‐dimensional confinement (in thin films). Several important topics are addressed: (a) preparative factors with large impact on the molecular dynamics of thin polymer films (oxidative degradation, plasticizing effects, residual stresses leading to metastable states); (b) it is emphasized the necessity to characterize the glass transition by measuring relaxation time distribution functions; (c) it is shown that different experimental techniques do not necessarily deliver converging results when applied to characterise the dynamics of confined polymers; (d) a novel approach is demonstrated which grants a direct experimental access to interfacial polymer dynamics; (e) measurements on nearly isolated polymer chains are presented.magnified image
Rheological Characterization of Self‐Hardening Hydrogel for Tissue Engineering Applications: Gel Point Determination and Viscoelastic Properties
Authors: Fatimi Ahmed , Axelos Monique A. V. , Tassin Jean François , Weiss Pierre 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSummary:Silated hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Si‐HPMC) is a modified biopolymer used in biomaterial's domain. A hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) was functionalised with silane groups. The macromolecular solution of Si‐HPMC (pH 12.9) generates an elastic state at physiological pH (∼7.4). In this work we present the gel formation of Si‐HPMC resulting from the condensation of silanol groups. The crosslinked hydrogel was characterized using rheological techniques. With the scalar percolation model the gelation time was determined as a function of Si‐HPMC concentration at 37 °C.
Protein Adsorption on Derivatives of Hyaluronan
Authors: Lord Megan S. , Pasqui Daniela , Barbucci Rolando , Milthorpe Bruce K. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSummary:Serum protein adsorption and fibroblast cell adhesion on photo reactive hyaluronic acid (Hyal‐N3) and its sulfated derivative (HyalS‐N3) was analysed using a combination of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and cell adhesion assays. There was no significant differences in the amount of protein adsorbed onto the two polymers, however proteins were found to be more loosely bound to HyalS‐N3 compared with Hyal‐N3. Approximately 17% and 31% of the fibronectin interacting with Hyal‐N3 and HyalS‐N3 respectively was found to be irreversibly bound after rinsing with MilliQ water, SDS and urea. Proteins were exposed to the polymers before cell adhesion was monitored for a period of 2 hours in serum free conditions. Minimal cell adhesion was observed on albumin‐coated materials as well as serum precoated Hyal‐N3. Precoating the materials with fibronectin enhanced cell adhesion, although HyalS‐N3 experienced higher levels of cell adhesion than Hyal‐N3 and similar results were found for the serum precoated materials.
Coinage Metal–Glutathione Thiolates as a New Class of Supramolecular Hydrogelators
Authors: Odriozola Ibon , Ormategui Nerea , Loinaz Iraida , Pomposo José A. , Grande Hans J. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSummary:Coinage metal salts (e.g. AuIII, AgI and CuII salts) readily react with thiols to give the corresponding metal(I) thiolates. These thiolate species are known to either self‐assemble into insoluble polymeric species or to form soluble oligomers, depending on the nature of the thiol ligand. Here we demonstrate that this self‐assembling ability can be applied to create supramolecular hydrogels. Glutathione (GSH), a naturally occurring tripeptide, has been used in combination with AuIII, AgI and CuII salts to obtain pH responsive hydrogels that are able to gelate 100 times their weight in water.
Molecular Simulation of the Adsorption of Rod/Coil Blends on Nano‐Patterned Surfaces
Authors: Al Sunaidi Abdullah 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe adsorption of rod/coil blends onto patterned surfaces with periodic stripes of width w was simulated using Monte‐Carlo methods. The rods and the coils were taken to be fused monomers of diameter σ, interacting with the stripes by a square‐well potential of depth ε and width σ. When the interaction was through excluded‐volume interactions only, we observed segregation of the components in the adsorbed layer. The adsorbed rods are strongly aligned along the stripe for w = σ, but lose their orientational order for larger w. When a repulsive interaction between the rods and the coils was introduced, an increase in the surface coverage of the rods with better recognition of the stripes was observed.magnified image