bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Leaf hydraulic conductivity and stomatal responses to humidity in amphistomatous leaves
Authors: MOTT KEITH A. 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTThe response of stomata to changes in humidity for a single surface of an amphistomatous leaf was investigated in Xanthium strumarium and Vicia faba using gas exchange and direct observation of stomatal apertures. The stomatal response to humidity for a given surface was found to be the same whether or not the humidity for the opposite surface was changed concurrently. Stomata on the surface for which humidity was constant showed no response to changes in humidity for the opposite surface. Despite large changes in epidermal turgor on the surface for which humidity was changed, there was no change in epidermal turgor for the surface with constant humidity. Measurements of transpiration and epidermal turgor as functions of the mole fraction gradient of water between leaf and air were used to calculate a value for leaf hydraulic resistance. The results suggest that in these species, the mechanism for the stomatal response to humidity resides in the epidermis or the mesophyll very close to the epidermis, and that most of the hydraulic resistance of the leaf occurs between the xylem and the evaporating sites.
CARDIOVASCULAR AND SURVIVAL PARADOXES IN DIALYSIS PATIENTS: Homocysteine‐Lowering Is Not a Primary Target for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Suliman Mohamed E. , Lindholm Bengt , Bárány Peter , Qureshi Abdul Rashid , Stenvinkel Peter 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe homocysteine (Hcy) theory states that total homocysteine (tHcy) is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most frequent causes of hyperhomocysteinemia in the presence of high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is not yet any conclusive answer to the question whether Hcy may contribute to, or predict, cardiovascular events or mortality in CKD patients or whether it is just an innocent bystander biologically related to other potential risk factors for CVD. Moreover, tHcy levels in CKD are influenced by several commonly occurring confounding factors, such as inflammation and protein‐energy wasting (PEW). These factors are also associated with morbidity and mortality and altogether this may explain why Hcy does not show up as a cardiovascular risk but in fact is reversely associated with clinical outcome. Thorough evaluation of such reverse association may not necessarily imply that the principles of Hcy being a contributor to vascular pathophysiology are different in CKD patients but rather indicate that other superimposed factors, such as PEW and inflammation, are more important. These confounders contribute significantly to the unacceptably high mortality rate in this patient population and may require nutritional and anti‐inflammatory interventions to improve clinical outcome. So far, the results of recent folic acid intervention trials do not support the use of folic acid supplementation for lowering tHcy and improving survival in CKD patients. Although we are still waiting for the results from several ongoing controlled randomized trials in this area, future studies are needed to evaluate if thiol‐exchange agents, besides folic acid, as part of a future multifactorial intervention regime targeting inflammation, PEW, oxidative stress as well as hyperhomocysteinemia may decrease CVD risk in this high‐risk patient population.
An extensive polymerase chain reaction–allele‐specific polymorphism strategy for clinical ABO blood group genotyping that avoids potential errors caused by null, subgroup, and hybrid alleles
Authors: Hosseini‐Maaf Bahram , Hellberg Åsa , Chester M. Alan , Olsson Martin L. 
Published: August 2007

BACKGROUND: ABO genotyping is complicated by the remarkable diversity at the ABO locus. Recombination or gene conversion between common alleles may lead to hybrids resulting in unexpected ABO phenotypes. Furthermore, numerous mutations associated with weak subgroups and nondeletional null alleles should be considered. All known ABO genotyping methods, however, risk incorrect phenotype predictions if any such alleles are present.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: An extensive set of allele‐specific primers was designed to accomplish hybrid‐proof multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA fragments for detection of ABO alleles. Results were compared with serologic findings and ABO genotypes defined by previously published PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism/PCR–allele‐specific polymorphism (ASP) methods or DNA sequencing.RESULTS: Phenotypically well‐characterized samples from blood donors with common blood groups and rare‐subgroup families were analyzed. In addition to the commonly encountered alleles (A1, A1(467C>T), A2, B, O1, O1v, and O2), the new method can detect hybrid alleles thanks to long‐range amplification across intron 6. Four of 12 PCR‐ASP procedures are used to screen for multiple infrequent subgroup and null alleles. This concept allows for a low‐resolution typing format in which the presence of, for example, a weak subgroup or cis‐AB/B(A) is indicated but not further defined. In an optional high‐resolution step, more detailed genotype information is obtained.CONCLUSION: A new genotyping approach has been developed and evaluated that can correctly identify ABO alleles including nondeletional null alleles, subgroups, and hybrids resulting from recombinational crossing‐over events between exons 6 and 7. This approach is clinically applicable and decreases the risk for erroneous ABO phenotype prediction compared to previously published methods.
Peripheral blood progenitor cell mobilization with intermediate‐dose cyclophosphamide, sequential granulocyte‐macrophage–colony‐stimulating factor and granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor, and scheduled commencement of leukapheresis in 225 patients undergoing autologous transplantation
Authors: Bashey Asad , Donohue Michael , Liu Lin , Medina Bridget , Corringham Sue , Ihasz Anita , Carrier Ewa , Castro Januario E. , Holman Peter R. , Xu Ronghui , Law Ping , Ball Edward D. , Lane Thomas A. 
Published: August 2007

BACKGROUND: Interpatient variability in the kinetics of peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) mobilization is commonly seen with conventional chemotherapy‐based mobilization regimens. This necessitates the availability of leukapheresis (LP) facilities 7 days a week.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The efficacy of an approach where LP was invariably commenced on Day 11 after intermediate‐dose cyclophosphamide followed by sequential administration of granulocyte‐macrophage–colony‐stimulating factor (CSF) and granulocyte–CSF (Cy/GM/G) was retrospectively analyzed in 225 consecutive, unselected patients undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for all diagnoses other than acute leukemia at our center. Cy/GM/G was scheduled to avoid weekend LP.RESULTS: After Cy/GM/G, a CD34+ cell yield of at least 2.0 × 106 per kg was achieved in 90.7 percent of patients. Optimal yield (OY; ≥5 × 106 or 10 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg depending on diagnosis) was achieved in 67.6 percent of patients. Only three patients (1.3%) required LP on Saturday or Sunday. Febrile neutropenia (FN) was encountered in 5.3 percent. PBPC yield was highest on Day 1 of LP (p  < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, platelet (PLT) count on Day 1 of LP (PLT‐D1LP) was positively associated with achievement of OY (p  < 0.001). PLT‐D1LP and diagnosis of myeloma were associated with a shorter time to achieve a CD34+ cell yield of at least 5 × 106 per kg (p  < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively).CONCLUSION: Cy/GM/G with scheduled LP commencement on Day 11 enables optimal CD34+ cell yields in most patients undergoing autologous transplantation, despite a low risk of FN and avoidance of weekend LP.
Platelet and red blood cell phagocytosis kinetics are differentially controlled by phosphatase activity within mononuclear cells
Authors: Aslam Rukhsana , Kim Michael , Speck Edwin R. , Seetanah Arjuna Contram , Molinski Steven , Freedman John , Semple John W. 
Published: August 2007

BACKGROUND: Anti‐D treatment is effective in increasing platelet (PLT) counts in patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP); however, the exact mechanism of action is unknown. Previous results have suggested that anti‐D–coated red blood cells (RBCs) affect reticuloendothelial system phagocytosis by stimulating agents (e.g., reactive oxygen species) that alter signaling pathways within the phagocyte. To address this, a flow cytometric assay was used to compare the kinetics and signaling pathways responsible for opsonized PLT and RBC phagocytosis.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Human RBCs or PLTs were labeled with the fluorescent dye CM‐Green, opsonized with Rh immune globulin or anti‐MHC, respectively, and incubated with THP‐1 monocytes with or without signal transduction inhibitors and intracellular fluorescence was analyzed.RESULTS: Compared with opsonized PLTs, phagocytosis of opsonized RBCs was significantly slower (p  < 0.0001) and, within 2 hours, induced a state of phagocytic refractoriness; resting the mononuclear cells (MNCs) for up to 24 hours did not rescue their ability to further mediate PLT phagocytosis. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (wortmannin, LY294002, myricetin, and quercetin), protein kinase C (staurosporine), and Syk kinase (piceatannol) inhibited both opsonized RBC and opsonized PLT phagocytosis. In contrast, opsonized RBC phagocytosis was significantly (p  < 0.0001) enhanced by the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor phenyl arsine oxide, whereas PLT phagocytosis was significantly reduced (p  < 0.0001). Of interest, phosphatase inhibition during opsonized RBC phagocytosis induced a longer (48 hr) phagocytic refractoriness period in the MNCs.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the early kinetics and signaling events related to phosphatase activity regulate how mononuclear phagocytes engulf opsonized RBCs and induce phagocytic refractoriness for further PLT phagocytosis.
Oral health‐related quality of life: a critical appraisalof assessment tools used in elderly people
Authors: Hebling Eduardo , Pereira Antonio Carlos 
Published: August 2007

Objective:  The purpose of this study was to undertake a critical appraisal of oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) measurements used for research in the elderly.Background:  A variety of OHRQoL measurements have been developed in the past 20 years as a result of increased concern about the impact of oral conditions on a person’s quality of life. There is need for an assessment aimed at prioritising the recommended measurements to be used for different purposes in the elderly.Materials and methods:  Original English language papers using measurements to assess OHRQoL in the elderly were identified from Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, Medline and Lilacs databases. The search included all papers published from 1985 to February 2007. The criteria of assessment were: (i) measurement criteria (number of items and domains, and classification of the results found for each measurement); (ii) quantitative–qualitative criteria (frequency, acceptability, reproducibility, reliability, sensitivity and capability of being reproduced in other language versions).Results:  In a total of 152 papers selected, 20 measurements were identified. However, only seven fulfilled all the measurement and quantitative–qualitative criteria.Conclusion:  Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index, Subjective Oral Health Status Indicators, Oral Health Impact Profile‐49, Dental Impact on Daily Living, Oral Health Impact Profile‐14, Oral Impact on Daily Performances and German Version of the Oral Heath Impact Profile were considered as instruments of choice to assess OHRQoL in the elderly. The other 13 instruments identified require further research aimed at a validation process and the use of a language other than English.
ZAP‐70 is highly expressed in most cases of childhood pre‐B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: WANDROO F. , BELL A. , DARBYSHIRE P. , PRATT G. , STANKOVIC T. , GORDON J. , LAWSON S. , MOSS P. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe tyrosine kinase ZAP‐70 plays a critical role in signal transduction in T cells and NK cells but has limited expression in primary human B cells. ZAP‐70 is, however, expressed in adult B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia where it correlates with a poor prognosis. We wished to determine if ZAP‐70 is also expressed in pediatric B cell malignancy. A quantitative PCR assay for ZAP‐70 expression was established and ZAP‐70 expression in a range of human B cell lines was compared with expression in the Jurkat T cell line. ZAP‐70 expression was then determined in bone marrow lymphoblasts obtained from 12 patients with pre‐B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). ZAP‐70 expression was not detected in mature B cell lines but was detected in pre‐B cell lines at a level comparable to that seen in T cells. ZAP‐70 expression was strongly expressed in nine of the 12 cases of primary pre‐B cell lymphoblastic leukemia. The T cell‐associated protein kinase ZAP‐70 is highly expressed in pre‐B lineage cells and most cases of pre‐B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. ZAP‐70 expression may hold prognostic value for pre‐B ALL and raises the prospect of a novel therapeutic target.
Quantitation of cytological parameters of malignant lymphocytes using computerized image analysis
Authors: JAHANMEHR S. A. HAMID , ROGERS M. , ZHENG J. , LAI R. , WANG C. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryComputerized image analysis may add to morphological evaluation by turning qualitative data into quantitative values. In this study, image analysis program was used to quantitate cytological parameters of lymphocytes in B‐cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and B‐cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B‐PLL) were selected to represent typically small, medium, and large‐sized lymphocytes, respectively. Image analysis was performed to determine the morphological parameters. A set of measurements was generated for quantitation of total cell area, cell diameter, cytoplasm area, nuclear area, nuclear/cell ratio, and nuclear density. The quantitated parameters substantiated morphological characteristics of the tumor cells. Comparative assessments demonstrated that CLL, MCL, and PLL can be differentiated by the quantitative descriptors. The results from image analysis may assist in defining morphological criteria and in developing quantitative cell morphology.
Proportion of injury deaths with unspecified external cause codes: a comparison of Australia, Sweden, Taiwan and the US
Authors: Lu T H , Walker S , Anderson R N , McKenzie K , Bjorkenstam C , Hou W H 
Published: August 2007

Background:The proportion of injury deaths with unspecified external cause codes has been used as an indicator of the level of comprehensiveness and specificity of information on death certificates provided by certifiers.Objective:To compare the proportion of unspecified external cause codes across countries.Methods:Multiple-cause-of-death mortality data for people who died in 2001 due to external causes in Australia, Sweden, Taiwan and the USA were used for this international comparison study. The proportion of injury deaths coded as due to an unspecified external cause (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, ICD-10, chapter XX) to all injury deaths in each block was calculated.Results:Sweden (33%) had the highest proportion of use of the least specific code (ICD-10 code X59 exposure to unspecified factor), followed by Australia (17%), Taiwan (13%) and the USA (7%). More than two-thirds of the deceased for whom an ICD-10 code X59 was assigned in Sweden and Australia were those aged ⩾65 years, and more than half of them had femoral fractures. The percentage of use of the unspecified codes within specific groups of external causes was relatively high for falls and unintentional drowning.Conclusions:Caution should be used in examining the compensatory effects of the unspecified external event code (ICD-10 code X59) on specific external causes (especially falls) when making international comparisons. Efforts are needed to educate certifiers to report sufficient information for specific coding so as to provide more useful information for injury prevention.
Prevalence of behaviors related to cigarette-caused fires: a survey of Ontario smokers
Authors: O’Connor R J , Bauer J E , Giovino G A , Hammond D , Hyland A , Fong G T , Cummings K M 
Published: August 2007

Objective:To identify the prevalence and correlates of behaviors related to the risk of cigarette-caused fires.Design and setting:Random-digit-dialed telephone survey in Ontario, Canada, July–September, 2005.Subjects:596 current cigarette smokers.Outcome measures:Prevalence of fire-risk events and behaviors such as burning clothing or objects in the home, leaving lit cigarettes unattended, dozing while smoking, and smoking in bed and correlates of these behaviors. Respondents were also asked if they ever worry about cigarette-caused fires.Results:One in four smokers admitted to leaving lit cigarettes unattended in the last 30 days, while 15% admitted to smoking while in bed. Leaving lit cigarettes unattended was independent of demographic, socioeconomic or nicotine dependence indicators, but was related to worry about burning other persons with a cigarette (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.85) and smoking inside the home (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.66 to 5.35). Persons who were not white (OR 3.97, 95% CI 1.80 to 8.80), aged 18–24 years (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.41 to 9.96), who had high nicotine dependence (OR 9.13, 95% CI 2.22 to 37.52) and worried about burning objects in their home (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.31 to 4.52) were more likely to smoke in bed. 10 (1.7%) smokers reported having ever had a fire in their home started by a cigarette.Conclusions:Smokers engage in behaviors such as smoking in bed and leaving lit cigarettes unattended that may place them at an increased risk of cigarette-caused fires. As governments move to regulate cigarette ignition propensity, it is important to establish surveillance for behaviors related to fire risk.
Use of national health interview data to measure the burden of disease and injuries
Authors: Basterra-Gortari F J , Segui-Gomez M 
Published: August 2007

Background:Although it is acknowledged that injuries place a substantial burden on populations throughout the world, few studies have measured the burden of non-fatal injuries and compared it with that of other health conditions.Methods:Data for the adult population were obtained from the 2001 Spanish National Health Interview, a household telephone survey of the Spanish population. Differences in six measures of burden were compared for up to 11 conditions by age and gender. Proportions and their 95% CIs are reported.Results:Injuries contribute 11–23% of the total health burden of the adult Spanish population, depending on which of the six indicators is used. They rank first and second out of the 11 conditions with regard to emergency visits and hospital admission, respectively. They rank third to sixth when other measures are chosen (ie, reduction in leisure activities, reduction in main activities, consulting a doctor, bedridden for half a day). Rheumatological, cardiovascular, and respiratory conditions are the only other conditions with a burden of comparable magnitude.Conclusion:In the adult Spanish population, injuries are an important cause of burden, regardless of the specific indicator used to define burden. These findings are likely to be equally applicable in similar countries. This type of comparison may raise the profile of injuries among health professionals and policy makers.
US women’s choices of strategies to protect themselves from violence
Authors: Runyan Carol W , Casteel Carri , Moracco Kathryn E , Coyne-Beasley Tamera 
Published: August 2007

Objectives:To examine the extent to which US women’s self-protection strategies are associated with either their personal or vicarious victimization experiences.Design:A cross-sectional random digit dial telephone survey.Setting:Continental United States.Subjects:Non-institutionalized, English-speaking women, age 18 and older.Outcome measures:Women’s self-protection strategies.Results:1800 US women were interviewed (response rate 73%). They were found to use a wide variety of strategies to protect themselves. Their reported self-protection strategies did not vary relative to their assessment of the safety of their neighborhoods, but 47% avoided doing things they needed to do and 71% avoided doing things they wanted to do because of their fear of victimization. Victimization experiences, either personal or vicarious, were associated with increased weapon ownership and carrying. Compared with those with no victimization experiences, those with both personal and vicarious experience were more likely to have guns (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.08 to 2.29), carry weapons (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.66 to 4.28), carry devices (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.09 to 2.26), and use home strategies (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.33 to 2.78), suggesting a cumulative impact of multiple types of exposure to violence.Conclusions:Ultimately, this research may help to guide women in making decisions about their choices of self-protection strategies and may help to inform policies about what approaches US women will support. Examining women’s patterns of strategy selection in other cultural contexts could be valuable for identifying and promoting interventions acceptable to women.
Risk perception, road behavior, and pedestrian injury among adolescent students in Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Poudel-Tandukar Kalpana , Nakahara Shinji , Ichikawa Masao , Poudel Krishna C , Jimba Masamine 
Published: August 2007

Objective:To examine the relationship between the perceived safety of specified road behaviors, self-described road behaviors, and pedestrian injury among adolescent students in Kathmandu, Nepal.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1557 adolescents in grades 6–8 across 14 schools in Kathmandu using a self-administered questionnaire in 2003. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the data.Results:Adolescents were more likely to suffer from pedestrian injury when they did not always “wait for green signals to cross the road”. There were no significant associations between road behaviors such as “looking both ways along the road before crossing” or “playing in the road or sidewalks” and pedestrian injury. Adolescents who “perceived it safe to cross the road from any point” or “did not perceive it to be safer to cross the road at a zebra crossing” were less likely to “look both ways” or “wait for green signals” before crossing the road. Adolescents who “perceived it to be safe to play in the road” were more likely to play in the road or sidewalk. Similarly, this study showed a positive association between road safety education and adolescents’ road crossing behaviors.Conclusion:Adolescents’ road behaviors, except for compliance with green signals, were not significantly associated with pedestrian injury. This suggests that a behavioral approach without modification of the traffic environment (such as provision of crossing signals) might not effectively prevent the occurrence of pedestrian injury in developing countries with poor traffic conditions.