bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review of Randomized Trials Comparing Radiofrequency Ablation with Antiarrhythmic Medications in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: NAIR GIRISH M. , NERY PABLO B. , DIWAKARAMENON SYAMKUMAR , HEALEY JEFFREY S. , CONNOLLY STUART J. , MORILLO CARLOS A. 
Published: September 2008

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia seen in clinical practice. Until recently, antiarrhythmic medications have been the only commonly employed treatment for maintaining sinus rhythm. However, antiarrhythmic medications have a modest long‐term efficacy and the potential for serious side effects. Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is now emerging as a viable alternative to antiarrhythmic medications in maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with AF. Several randomized trials comparing RF ablation with antiarrhythmic medications have now been published. Objectives: To perform a systematic review of published randomized trials comparing RF ablation with antiarrhythmic medications in the treatment of AF. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed and two authors independently abstracted the data from trials. A statistical analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis Software™ (BIOSTAT, Englewood, NJ, USA). Results: A total of six trials were identified. Overall, RF ablation reduced the risk of AF recurrence by 65% at 1 year compared with antiarrhythmic medications.
Conclusions: In selected patients with AF, RF ablation reduced the risk of AF recurrence at 1 year by 65% compared with antiarrhythmic medications.
Increased activated Akt expression in renal cell carcinomas and prognosis
Authors: Hager Martina , Haufe Heike , Kemmerling Ralf , Hitzl Wolfgang , Mikuz Gregor , Moser Patrizia L. , Kolbitsch Christian 
Published: September 2008

AbstractRenal carcinogenesis is promoted by overexpression of the activated serine/threonine kinase Akt (p‐Akt) and supposedly a concomitant reduction in phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 tumour suppressor gene (PTEN), which normally inhibits the activation of Akt. Because promising anti‐cancer therapies increasingly focus on pathways involving p‐Akt and PTEN, the present study evaluated the expression of p‐Akt in renal cell carcinomas and compared it with prognosis. P‐Akt and PTEN expression were analysed in a tissue microarray (TMA) from renal cell carcinoma (n= 386) and adjacent uninvolved renal tissue (n= 32) specimens. Increased p‐Akt was found more often in the nucleus than in the cytoplasm, and PTEN was concomitantly reduced in about 50% of cases. Neither tumour grade nor stage influenced p‐Akt expression, whereas the clear cell and papillary subtypes showed increased p‐Akt more often than did the chromophobe or sarcomatoid types. Increased cytoplasmic and nuclear p‐Akt levels were independent prognostic factors for diminishing patient survival. The present study found significantly increased nuclear but also cytoplasmic p‐Akt expression in renal cell carcinoma subtypes. Increased nuclear and cytoplasmic p‐Akt was an independent prognostic factor for diminishing patient survival. The considerable number of high‐grade and high‐stage RCC showing increased p‐Akt and reduced PTEN would justify further evaluation of therapeutic concepts based on inhibitors of the PI3K/p‐Akt/mTOR pathway.
Thyroid hormone induces artery smooth muscle cell proliferation: discovery of a new TRα1‐Nox1 pathway
Authors: Wang Xiuqing , Sun Zhongjie 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThyroid hormone (T3) can stimulate protein synthesis and cell growth. NOX1 is a mitogenic oxidase. The aim of this study was to test a novel hypothesis that T3 induces artery smooth muscle cell proliferation by up‐regulating NOX1. Immunofluoresence confocal microscopy was used to visualize the sub‐cellular localization of NOX1 and TRα1 in rat aorta smooth muscle (RASM) cells. Optical sectioning showed that TRα1 and NOX1 co‐localized around the nucleus. T3 promoted RASM cell proliferation as determined by the fact that T3 significantly increased the number of cytokinesis cells, proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) and smooth muscle α‐actin (SM α‐actin). T3 increased NOX1 expression at both the transcription (mRNA) and translation (protein) levels as evaluated by RT‐PCR and Western blot, respectively. T3 also significantly increased the intracellular ROS production based on the oxidation of 2’,7’‐dichlorodihydrofluoresein (H2DCF) to a fluorescent 2’,7’‐dichlorofluoresein (DCF). RNAi silence of TRα1 or NOX1 abolished T3‐induced intracellular ROS generation and PCNA and SM α‐actin expression, indicating that TRα1 and NOX1 mediated T3‐induced RASM cell proliferation. Notably, RNAi silence of TRα1 blocked the T3‐induced increase in NOX1 expression, whereas silence of NOX1 did not affect TRα1 expression, disclosing a new pathway, i.e. T3‐TRα1‐NOX1‐cell proliferation. TRα1 and NOX1 co‐localized around the nucleus. T3 induced RASM cell proliferation by up‐regulating NOX1 in a TRα1‐dependent manner.
Oxidative stress in NPC1 deficient cells: protective effect of allopregnanolone
Authors: Zampieri Stefania , Mellon Synthia H. , Butters Terry D. , Nevyjel Marco , Covey Douglas F. , Bembi Bruno , Dardis Andrea 
Published: September 2008

AbstractNiemann‐Pick C disease (NPC) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the abnormal function of NPC1 or NPC2 proteins, leading to an accumulation of unesterified cholesterol and glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in the lysosomes. The mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology in NPC disease are not clear. Oxidative damage is implicated in the pathophysiology of different neurological disorders and the effect of GSL accumulation on the intracellular redox state has been documented. Therefore, we determined whether the intracellular redox state might contribute to the NPC disease pathophysiology. Because the treatment of NPC mice with allopregnanolone (ALLO) increases their lifespan and delays the onset of neurological impairment, we analysed the effect of ALLO on the oxidative damage in human NPC fibroblasts. Concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation were higher in fibroblasts from NPC patients than in fibroblasts from normal subjects. Fibroblasts from NPC patients were more susceptible to cell death through apoptosis after an acute oxidative insult. This process is mediated by activation of the NF‐κB signalling pathway. Knockdown of NPC1 mRNA both in normal fibroblasts and in human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells caused increased ROS concentrations. ALLO treatment of fibroblasts from NPC patients or NPC1 knockdown cells reduced the levels of ROS and lipid peroxidation and prevented peroxide‐induced apoptosis and NF‐kB activation. Thus, these findings suggest that oxidative stress might contribute to the NPC disease and ALLO might be beneficial in the treatment of the disease, at least in part, due to its ability to restore the intracellular redox state.
Hepcidin suppression and defective iron recycling account for dysregulation of iron homeostasis in heme oxygenase‐1 deficiency
Authors: Kartikasari Apriliana E. R. , Wagener Frank A. D. T. G. , Yachie Akihiro , Wiegerinck Erwin T. G. , Kemna Erwin H. J. M. , Winkels Dorine W. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractHeme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) contribution to iron homeostasis has been postulated, because it facilitates iron recycling by liberating iron mostly from heme catabolism. This enzyme also appears to be responsible for the resolution of inflammatory conditions. In a patient with HO‐1 deficiency, inflammation and dysregulation of body iron homeostasis, including anemia and liver and kidney hemosiderosis, are evidenced. Here we postulated that HO‐1 is critical in the regulation of ferroportin, the major cellular iron exporter, and hepcidin, the key regulator of iron homeostasis central in the pathogenesis of anemia of inflammation. Our current experiments in human THP‐1 monocytic cells indicate a HO‐1‐induced iron‐mediated surface‐ferroportin expression, consistent with the role of HO‐1 in iron recycling. Surprisingly, we observed low hepcidin levels in the HO‐1‐deficient patient, despite the presence of inflammation and hemosiderosis, both inducers of hepcidin. Instead, we observed highly increased soluble transferrin receptor levels. This suggests that the decreased hepcidin levels in HO‐1 deficiency reflect the increased need for iron in the bone marrow due to the anaemia. Using human hepatoma cells, we demonstrate that HO‐activity did not have a direct modulating effect on expression of HAMP, the gene that encodes for hepcidin. Therefore, we argue that the decreased iron recycling may, in part, have contributed to the low hepcidin levels. These findings indicate that dysregulation of iron homeostasis in HO‐1 deficiency is the result of both defective iron recycling and erythroid activity‐associated inhibition of hepcidin expression. This study therefore shows a crucial role for HO‐1 in maintaining body iron balance.
High‐dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for follicular lymphoma undergoing transformation to diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Hamadani Mehdi , Benson Jr. Don M. , Lin Thomas S. , Porcu Pierluigi , Blum Kristie A. , Devine Steven M. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe transformation of follicular lymphoma (FL) to high‐grade histology occurs in up to 70% of patients. The role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in transformed FL is poorly defined. Twenty‐four FL patients with histologically confirmed transformation to diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma underwent unpurged autologous HSCT at our institution. Their median age was 56 yr. The median number of prior chemotherapies was 2 (range 1–6). Thirteen patients had residual nodal disease measuring more than 2 cm and four patients had bulky disease at the time of HSCT. Six patients had refractory disease at transplantation. At a median follow‐up of 38 months, 3‐yr progression‐free survival following autologous HSCT was 40%. The 3‐yr overall survival was 52%. The cumulative incidence of relapse and non‐relapse mortality rate was 41% and 25%, respectively.
Mn2+ regulates myeloma cell adhesion differently than the proadhesive cytokines HGF, IGF‐1, and SDF‐1α
Authors: Slørdahl Tobias S. , Hov Håkon , Holt Randi U. , Baykov Vadim , Syversen Tore , Sundan Anders , Waage Anders , Børset Magne 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAdhesion of multiple myeloma (MM) cells in the bone marrow (BM) is important for the growth and survival of the myeloma cells. Very late antigen‐4 (VLA‐4) is one of the main adhesion receptors that mediate MM cell binding to fibronectin (FN). In this study we have examined the effect of divalent cations on adhesion of MM cells to FN, and compared this type of adhesion with the adhesion induced by the cytokines HGF, IGF‐1 and SDF‐1α. Mn2+ induced adhesion in all cell lines tested. Cytokine‐ and Mn2+‐induced VLA‐4‐mediated adhesion were different in many respects, including binding specificity, adhesion kinetics and the activation state of VLA‐4. To study a potential role of divalent cations in vivo, we measured the concentrations of divalent cations in BM plasma from 14 MM patients. We also found that Mn2+‐mediated adhesion to FN activated the MAPK pathway, indicating that the interaction of MM‐cells with FN mediated by Mn2+ could play a critical role for growth and proliferation. In conclusion, this study shows a potential important role of divalent cations in MM cell biology and supports earlier studies pointing to activated VLA‐4 as a key for homing of MM cells to the BM.
Validity and clinical feasibility of the ADHD rating scale (ADHD‐RS) A Danish Nationwide Multicenter Study
Authors: Szomlaiski N , Dyrborg J , Rasmussen H , Schumann T , Koch SV , Bilenberg N 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAim: To establish the validity of a Danish version of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (ADHD‐RS), secondly to present national norm scores compared to that of United States and other European data and thirdly to evaluate ADHD‐RS when used for monitoring treatment effectiveness.Methods: A Danish translation of the ADHD‐RS was used on a normative sample of 837 children. Two clinical samples, 138 hyperkinetic disorder (HKD) cases and 110 clinical controls were recruited from eleven Danish Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) centres and assessed according to usual clinical standards. The HKD children were rated by parents and teachers at baseline and at follow‐up 3 months later.Results: Internal validity of ADHD‐RS was high and the factor structure supported the diagnostic classification system ICD‐10. The questionnaire discriminated HKD patients in a mixed clinical sample, and was sensitive to change in symptom load as measured before and after commencing of the treatment.Conclusion: The Danish version of ADHD‐RS is valid and clinically feasible when measuring HKD symptom load in a CAMH‐setting. The questionnaire provides useful data in patient management, quality improvement and service planning as well as in effectiveness studies of different interventions for patients with HKD and related disorders in routine clinical settings.
Soothing methods used to calm a baby in an Arab country
Authors: Abdulrazzaq Yousef Mohamed , Kendi Asma Al , Nagelkerke Nicolaas 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis study was undertaken to determine how mothers soothed their crying infants. A total of 1137 mothers of different cultural backgrounds were approached, 998 agreed to participate in the study, but only 716 completed the questionnaire through a telephone interview. Analysis was restricted to 702 mothers from the UAE nationality, other Arabs, other Muslims, Indians and Philippinos. The questionnaire contained 23 questions on different soothing methods. The most common soothing method was breast‐feeding (99.1%), followed by holding and carrying the infant (96.9%), letting infant suck on his thumb or finger (87.3%), herbal tea (65%), night bottle (42.1%) and swaddling infant (19.5%). Over 90% of mothers of all nationalities, preferred not to use pacifiers. Soothing herbs were often used, with the commonest being anise (165 mothers used anise). Fennel tea was also used by a substantial number of mothers (75), with gripe water (64), cumin (33), chamomile (32), mint (22) and fenugreek (16) making up most of the rest.Conclusion: Mothers' ethnicity and nationality strongly impacted on the soothing methods used, with Arabs more often using herbal tea, prone positioning and swaddling to calm infants and illustrate the importance of culture in the upbringing of children from a very early age.
Fragmentation and Genetic Diversity in Romnalda (Dasypogonaceae), a Rare Rain forest Herbaceous Genus from New Guinea and Australia
Authors: Shapcott Alison , Bau Billy , Powell Michael 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTRain forests are expected to be amongst the ecosystem types most affected by fragmentation due to their high species diversity, high endemism, complexity of interactions, and contrast with surrounding altered matrix. Due to their shorter life cycles and dependence on canopy cover, rain forest understory herbs are expected to indicate the effects of recent fragmentation more rapidly than canopy trees. This study investigated all four known species of the genus Romnalda, all of which are rare rain forest herbaceous species, to investigate the possible effects of habitat fragmentation and isolation on genetic diversity and gene flow. Allozymes were used as genetic markers and regional remnant vegetation maps were used to compare landscape fragmentation. We found that R. strobilacea populations in a highly fragmented landscape were genetically depauperate compared with those of its congeneric species that are found within continuous rain forest habitats and that allelic diversity decreased with decreasing population size but not geographic distance in R. strobilacea. Given the similarity among the species, our results indicate that all Romnalda species are potentially susceptible to loss of genetic diversity due to habitat fragmentation within relatively short timeframes. The results indicate that populations are not highly genetically differentiated and there is little evidence of genetic provenance where the species have restricted geographic ranges. Thus, species recovery programs would be better to focus on maintaining population size and genetic diversity rather than population differentiation.
An inhomogeneous jet model for the rapid variability of TeV blazars
Authors: Boutelier T. , Henri G. , Petrucci P.-O. 
Published: September 2008

Abstract
We present a new time-dependent inhomogeneous jet model of non-thermal blazar emission, which reproduces the entire spectral energy distribution together with the rapid gamma-ray variability. Ultrarelativistic leptons are injected at the base of a jet and propagate along the jet structure. We assume continuous reacceleration and cooling, producing a relativistic quasi-maxwellian (or ‘pile-up’) particle energy distribution. The synchrotron and synchrotron self-Compton jet emissivity are computed at each altitude. Klein–Nishina effects as well as intrinsic gamma–gamma absorption are included in the computation. Due to the pair production optical depth, considerable particle density enhancement can occur, particularly during flaring states. Time-dependent jet emission can be computed by varying the particle injection, but due to the sensitivity of pair production process, only small variations of the injected density are required during the flares. The stratification of the jet emission, together with a pile-up distribution, allows significantly lower bulk Lorentz factors, compared to one-zone models. Applying this model to the case of PKS 2155-304 and its big TeV flare observed in 2006, we can reproduce simultaneously the average broad-band spectrum of this source as well as the TeV spectra and TeV light curve of the flare with bulk Lorentz factor lower than 15.
Bio‐Political Geographies
Authors: Schlosser Kolson 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThis article reviews the debate on bio‐politics in order to clarify its many uses and applications in geography. In doing so, I review how bio‐politics is conceived by Foucault, Hardt and Negri, and Agamben, as well as how geographers have employed, added to, or disagreed with their insights. More specifically, I structure this review around how various analysts have understood the relationship between bio‐political power and ‘traditional’ forms of sovereign power, and, relatedly, how a focus by geographers on micro‐scales of analysis can help explore this relationship.
Clinical utility of the new beckman‐coulter parameter red blood cell size factor in the study of erithropoiesis
Authors: URRECHAGA E. 
Published: September 2008

SummaryCHr has been used as a diagnostic tool, together with biochemical markers, to distinguish IDA from ACD, and is incorporated to NKF‐K/DOQI guidelines for the monitoring of rHuEPO therapy. The measurement of CHr has been restricted to the analysers of a single manufacturer, Siemens. Red blood cell size factor (RSf) is a new parameter provided by Beckman‐Coulter which joins together the volume of erythrocytes and the volume of reticulocytes
image

The aims of the study were to establish the values of RSf in normal population and in different types of anemia to investigate its clinical usefulness in the study of erythropoiesis and its correlation with CHr. Samples from 449 patients (learning group) were run sequentially on both LH 750 (Beckman‐Coulter) and Advia 2120 (Siemens) analysers. Good correlation between CHr and RSf was observed, r2 = 0.85. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for RSf and the diagnosis of restricted erythropoiesis

Cut off
87.7 fl

AUC
0.983

Sensitivity
99.4%

Specificity
90.6%

The diagnostic usefulness of RSf was evaluated on a validation group which included 220 consecutive patients with anemia. This study shows a very good level of agreement between RSf and CHr. Both are suitable parameters for the study of erythropoiesis.
Seed supply for broadscale restoration: maximizing evolutionary potential
Authors: Broadhurst Linda M. , Lowe Andrew , Coates David J. , Cunningham Saul A. , McDonald Maurice , Vesk Peter A. , Yates Colin 
Published: September 2008

AbstractRestoring degraded land to combat environmental degradation requires the collection of vast quantities of germplasm (seed). Sourcing this material raises questions related to provenance selection, seed quality and harvest sustainability. Restoration guidelines strongly recommend using local sources to maximize local adaptation and prevent outbreeding depression, but in highly modified landscapes this restricts collection to small remnants where limited, poor quality seed is available, and where harvesting impacts may be high. We review three principles guiding the sourcing of restoration germplasm: (i) the appropriateness of using ‘local’ seed, (ii) sample sizes and population characteristics required to capture sufficient genetic diversity to establish self‐sustaining populations and (iii) the impact of over‐harvesting source populations. We review these topics by examining current collection guidelines and the evidence supporting these, then we consider if the guidelines can be improved and the consequences of not doing so. We find that the emphasis on local seed sourcing will, in many cases, lead to poor restoration outcomes, particularly at broad geographic scales. We suggest that seed sourcing should concentrate less on local collection and more on capturing high quality and genetically diverse seed to maximize the adaptive potential of restoration efforts to current and future environmental change.
Male mating strategy and the introgression of a growth hormone transgene
Authors: Valosaari Kata‐Riina , Aikio Sami , Kaitala Veijo 
Published: September 2008

AbstractEscaped transgenic organisms (GMO’s) may threaten the populations of their wild relatives if able to hybridize with each other. The introgression of a growth enhancement transgene into a wild Atlantic salmon population may be affected by the transgene’s effects not only on fitness parameters, but also on mating behaviour. Large anadromous GMO males are most preferred in mating, but a transgene can also give the large sneakers a reproductive advantage over the smaller wild individuals. With a simulation model, we studied whether the increase in the proportion and mating success of sneakers in transgenic and hybrid genotypes could facilitate the introgression of a transgene into wild population after the release of GMOs. The model combines population dynamics and Mendelian inheritance of a transgenic trait. We found that the introgression of the transgene is strongly affected by the greater mating preference of large GMO males. Furthermore, the difference in reproductive success between the anadromous versus sneaker strategy defines how much GMO’s have to be preferred to be able to invade. These results emphasize the importance of detailed knowledge of reproductive systems and the effect of a transgene on the phenotype and behaviour of GMOs when assessing the consequences of their release or escape to the wild.