bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental autologous osteochondral plug transfer in the treatment of focal chondral defects: magnetic resonance imaging signs of technical success in sheep
Authors: Uhl M. , Lahm A. , Bley T. A. , Haberstroh J. , Mrosek E. , Ghanem N. , Erggelet C. 
Published: January 2006

Purpose: To describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs of technically successful osteochondral plug transfer and to correlate the findings with histology using the Mankin score. Material and Methods: The study was done in a prospective animal experiment: 11 adult black-head sheep underwent surgical treatment with osteochondral plug transfer of a knee joint. The animals were killed 6 months later and MRI of the joints was done immediately. MRI was applied with a 1.5T MR scanner using a spin-echo (SE) T1-weighted, turbo spin-echo (TSE) T2-weighted with spectral fat suppression and a fat-suppressed 3D-spoiled gradient echo (GRE) sequence (manufacturer's acronym: FLASH®) (TR 50.0 ms, TE 11.0 ms, flip 35°). After MRI, all knee joints were dissected and a biopsy of the plug and the adjacent cartilage was taken. Classification of the cartilage biopsies was carried out in accordance with a modified Mankin score. Results: Cartilage repairs with a hypointense cartilage signal in the FLASH® 3D sequence were correlated with poor histological results (lower Mankin score). Histologically, the regions of cartilage with a hypointense signal showed a fibrocartilage-like repair tissue. Hyaline cartilage with well-defined layers had the same signal intensity in the FLASH® sequence relative to adjacent hyaline cartilage. There were two plugs with a surface defect, graded as Outerbridge grade 1 in MRI and histology. Both had a poor outcome in the histologic Mankin score. Grade 2–4 lesions were not observed in the MRI study nor in the histologic study. Conclusion: MRI is a useful non-invasive tool for evaluating the morphologic status of osteochondral plug transfers. A good postoperative result of the cartilage repair was found histologically if an isointense cartilage signal of the graft was documented in the FLASH® 3D sequence, and the graft had good congruity with the articular surface without defects.
Acute knee trauma: analysis of multidetector computed tomography findings and comparison with conventional radiography
Authors: Mustonen A. O. T. , Koskinen S. K. , Kiuru M. J. 
Published: January 2006

Purpose: To evaluate the multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) findings of acute knee trauma and to compare radiography with MDCT in patients referred to a level 1 trauma center. Material and Methods: During a 5-year period, a total of 415 MDCT examinations were performed on 409 patients with acute knee trauma to reveal complex fracture anatomy or rule out a fracture. MDCT and primary radiographs were re-evaluated with respect to fracture location and trauma mechanism. Tibial plateau fractures were further analyzed depending on anatomical location: anterior-medial, anterior-lateral, posterior-lateral, and posterior-medial regions. Maximal depression of the tibial articular surface was measured. Findings on the primary knee radiographs were compared with MDCT findings. Results: Of the 409 patients, 356 (87%) had a knee fracture. A total of 451 fractures were found in all anatomic regions: distal femur ( n = 49), proximal tibia ( n = 307), patella ( n = 23), and proximal fibula ( n = 72). Primary radiographs were available in 316 (76%) cases. Of these, 225 (71%) had MDCT in order to reveal the fracture anatomy better, and 91 (29%) had a subsequent MDCT after negative plain radiographs. Overall sensitivity of radiography was 83%, while negative predictive value was 49%. On radiography, tibial plateau articular depression was underestimated in all regions except when the fracture consisted of the whole half of the anterior or posterior plateau. The three main injury mechanisms were traffic accident, a simple fall, and sport. In 49 cases (15%), primary radiographs were suboptimal due to positioning. Conclusion: In severely injured patients, diagnostically sufficient radiographs are difficult to obtain, and therefore a negative radiograph is not reliable in ruling out a fracture. In these patients, MDCT is a fast and accurate examination and is also recommended in patients with tibial plateau fractures or complex knee injuries in order to evaluate the fracture adequately.
Iodinated radiographic contrast media possess antioxidant properties in vitro
Authors: Berg K. , Skarra S. , Bruvold M. , Brurok H. , Karlsson J. O. G. , Jynge P. 
Published: January 2006

Purpose: To study potential properties of iodinated radiographic contrast media (IRCM) for intravascular use in in vitro free radical generating reactions. Material and Methods: Superoxide (·O2−) and hydroxyl (·OH) radicals were generated in xanthine oxidase and Fenton reactions. ·O2− was assayed by the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) method, whereas ·OH was assayed by an aromatic hydroxylation (2-hydroxy-benzoic acid) method. Total antioxidant status (TAS) of test substances was determined by a colorimetric assay. Finally, acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in the absence and presence of IRCM. Results: High concentrations (>50 mM) of IRCM inhibited ·O2− production, ionic more than non-ionic IRCM. Medium concentrations (25–50 mM) of IRCM reduced ·OH production, and both types of IRCM were equally potent. Low concentrations (<25 mM) of non-ionic IRCM displayed higher antioxidant capacity than their ionic counterparts when tested in the TAS assay. Visipaque 320® (iodixanol) was found to have the highest TAS value, followed by Omnipaque 350® (iohexol), Hexabrix 320® (ioxaglate), and Urografin 370® (diatrizoate). Conclusion: IRCM have in vitro antioxidant properties in concentrations relevant for their clinical application. These properties may therefore be of potential importance when evaluating IRCM effects in vivo, particularly those concerning cardiovascular and renal function.
Langerhans cell histiocytosis associated with myelodysplastic syndrome in adults
Authors: Billings Steven D. , Hans Christine P. , Schapiro Brian L. , Martin Robert W. , Fivenson David , Fruland Joseph E. , Moores William B. , Cotton Jenny 
Published: January 2006

Background:  Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a group of bone marrow disorders associated with dyplasia of myeloid elements that may have cutaneous manifestations including infections, vasculitis, Sweet's syndrome, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema elevatum diutinum, and leukemia cutis. These cutaneous manifestations are attributed to the underlying bone marrow defect. Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is primarily a pediatric disease, and rarely LCH has been described in association with pediatric MDS. We are aware of only a single case report of LCH associated with MDS in an adult.Methods:  We report two new cases of LCH in elderly patients with underlying MDS. The specimens were examined by routine microscopy as well as immunohistochemical stains for S100 protein and CD1a.Results:  Both patients were elderly men with established diagnoses of MDS. One presented with a solitary pruritic papule while the other had a 2‐year history of erythematous papules involving the trunk and extremities. Histologic examination revealed intraepidermal and dermal collections of mononuclear cells with reniform nuclei. The cells were strongly positive for S100 and CD1a, confirming their identity as Langerhans cells.Conclusion:  Cutaneous LCH may be associated with underlying MDS in adults and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cutaneous eruptions in patients with MDS.
Defective β1‐integrins expression in arsenical keratosis and arsenic‐treated cultured human keratinocytes
Authors: Lee Chih‐Hung , Chen Jau‐Shiuh , Sun Yu‐Lan , Liao Wei‐Ting , Zheng Ya‐Wen , Chai Chih‐Zin , Chen Gwo‐Shing , Yu Hsin‐Su 
Published: January 2006

Background:  β1‐integrins, which localize to the basolateral surface of basal keratinocytes, are important in the differentiation control and proliferation of the epidermis. Many cutaneous diseases with perturbed differentiation, including arsenical keratosis, show altered patterns of integrin distribution and expression. Arsenic may induce arsenical keratosis through the differentiation and apoptosis aberration by integrins. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of integrin and arsenic in the pathogenesis of arsenical keratosis.Methods:  Twenty‐five specimens obtained from 25 patients with arsenical keratosis disease were studied. Immunohistochemistry staining to β1, α2β1, or α3β1 integrins was performed in arsenical keratosis and clinically normal perilesional skin. Western blotting was used to assess the expression of integrin β1 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in arsenic‐treated cultured keratinocytes.Results:  A decreased expression of β1, α2β1, or α3β1 integrins was demonstrated in arsenical keratosis and clinical normal perilesional skin in a large proportion of arsenical keratosis cases studied. The expressions of integrin β1 and FAK were both decreased in arsenic‐treated keratinocytes.Conclusions:  Our results suggest that arsenic induces abnormal differentiation in arsenical keratosis via the effects of integrin expression in keratinocytes.
Implication of MT1‐MMP in the maturation steps of benign melanocytic nevi
Authors: Pérez L. J. , Peñas P. F. , Atienzar M. , García‐Díez A. 
Published: January 2006

Background:  Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteins involved in extracellular matrix breakdown and have been implicated in stages of migration and metastasis. MT1‐MMP is an MMP anchored to the cell membrane. During maturation, melanocytic nevi penetrate the extracellular matrix and express MMPs.Methods:  We studied 10 junctional, 10 compound, and 10 intradermal nevi diagnosed by clinical and histological studies and by performing immunohistochemical study to assess MT1‐MMP activity.Results:  We found evidence of MT1‐MMP expression in melanocytic nevus cells, particularly around the entire border of cell nests. Expression was more intense in junctional nevi and gradually decreased with acquisition of intradermal component and became nonexistent in nevi in the deep dermis.Conclusions:  MT1‐MMP is expressed in the membrane of nevus cells, with expression greater in nest cells in contact with the extracellular matrix. The intensity of expression correlated inversely with the maturation phase of the nevus, being very high in junctional nevi and low in intradermal nevi.
Expression of stromal cell markers in distinct compartments of human skin cancers
Authors: Huber Margit A. , Kraut Norbert , Schweifer Norbert , Dolznig Helmut , Peter Ralf U. , Schubert Roland D. , Scharffetter‐Kochanek Karin , Pehamberger Hubert , Garin‐Chesa Pilar 
Published: January 2006

Background:  The importance of changes in the supporting tumor stroma for cancer initiation and progression is well established. The characteristics of an activated tumor stroma, however, are not completely understood. In an effort to better characterize the desmoplastic response to human skin tumors, we evaluated the expression pattern of three stromal cell markers, fibroblast‐activation protein (FAP), endoglyx‐1, and endosialin, in a series of melanocytic and epithelial skin tumors.Methods:  Immunohistochemistry using antibodies against FAP, endoglyx‐1, and endosialin was carried out in skin samples obtained from 43 patients. Furthermore, microarray data from an independent set of human skin cancers were analyzed.Results:  FAP‐positive fibroblasts were detected in all tumor tissues tested, including cases of melanocytic nevi, melanoma metastases, basal cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. In cutaneous melanoma metastases, we identified different compartments within the stromal response on the basis of the regions of FAP expression. Endoglyx‐1 expression was confined to normal and tumor blood vessel endothelium including ‘hot spots’ of neoangiogenesis within the cutaneous melanoma metastases. Endosialin was selectively induced in subsets of small‐ and medium‐sized tumor blood vessels in melanoma metastases and squamous cell carcinomas.Conclusions:  These data describe novel aspects of stromal marker expression in distinct compartments of human skin tumors and may point to potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies aimed at the tumor stroma.
The inhibitory effects of oxytocin on distal colonic contractile activity in rabbits are enhanced by ovarian steroids
Authors: Xie D. , Chen L. , Liu C. , Liu K. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAims:  To study the effects of oxytocin on isolated rabbit distal colon and the regulation of ovarian steroids by its action.Methods:  Muscle strips parallel to either the circular or the longitudinal fibres were excised and suspended in tissue chambers containing 5 mL Krebs solution (37 °C) and bubbled continuously with 95% O2 and 5% CO2. The effects of oxytocin on isometric spontaneous contractile responses were recorded. The effects of atosiban, tetrodotoxin, Mg2+, progesterone and oestradiol on the oxytocin‐induced response were also examined.Results:  Oxytocin (1, 10 and 100 nmol L−1) dose dependently decreased the area under the contraction curve of distal colonic smooth muscle strips. The oxytocin receptor antagonist atosiban blocked the oxytocin (10 nmol L−1)‐caused responses in a dose‐dependent manner. Tetrodotoxin (10 μmol L−1) had no effect on the oxytocin‐induced response. Mg2+‐free Krebs solution attenuated the oxytocin‐induced response, but oestradiol (0.1 μmol L−1) or progesterone (0.1 μmol L−1) increased the oxytocin‐induced response.Conclusion:  These results suggest that oxytocin inhibits the contractile motility of the distal colon, which is regulated by Mg2+ and ovarian steroids.
Population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic modelling of the antimalarial chemotherapy chlorproguanil/dapsone
Authors: Simpson Julie A. , Hughes Dyfrig , Manyando Christine , Bojang Kalifa , Aarons Leon , Winstanley Peter , Edwards Geoffrey , Watkins William A. , Ward Steve 
Published: January 2006

AimsTo determine the population pharmacokinetics of chlorproguanil, dapsone and the active metabolite of chlorproguanil, chlorcycloguanil; and to estimate the duration of parasitocidal activity for chlorpoguanil/dapsone against Plasmodium falciparum isolates of varying sensitivity.MethodsRich and sparse pharmacokinetic data were collected prospectively from: healthy volunteers (n = 48) and adults (n = 65) and children (n = 68) suffering from P. falciparum malaria. All subjects received 2.0 mg kg−1 of chlorproguanil and 2.5 mg kg−1 of dapsone.ResultsThe population pharmacokinetic parameter estimates for chlorproguanil were ka = 00.09 h−1 (intersubject variability was 44%), CL/F = 51.53 l h−1 (57%), CLD/F = 54.67 l h−1, V1/F = 234.40 l (50%) and V2/F = 1612.75 l; for dapsone were ka = 00.93 h−1, CL/F = 1.99 l h−1 (72%) and V/F = 76.96 l (48%); and for chlorcycloguanil were CLm/Fm = 3.72 l h−1 kg−1 (67%) and Vm/Fm = 12.76 l kg−1 (64%). For dapsone, CL/F and V/F were both significantly positively correlated with body weight. For a 10‐kg child, the mean duration of parasitocidal activity for chlorproguanil/dapsone against the three most susceptible P. falciparum strains was 4.5 days [5th and 95th percentiles 2.4, 7.3] for W282; 5.9 days (3.6, 9.7) for ItG2F6; and 6.1 days (3.7, 10.1) for K39. For an isolate with the ile‐164‐leu mutation, V1/S, activity ranged from 0.8 days (0.0, 3.3) for a 10‐kg child to 1.8 days (0.0, 4.0) for a 60‐kg adult.Conclusions Plasmodium falciparum malaria has no effect on the pharmacokinetic parameters for chlorproguanil, dapsone or chlorcycloguanil. Chlorproguanil/dapsone will probably prove to be ineffective against parasite strains with the mutation ile‐164‐leu, were these to become prevalent in Africa.
The concept of nursing*
Authors: Henderson Virginia 
Published: January 2006

The author contends that with the acceptance of health care as a universal human right has come a variety of national, provincial, state, and local systems for providing health care. An international network of rapid communications makes peoples everywhere aware of the variety of systems and the fact that some systems other than their own show better results, as measured by, for example, the infant mortality rate, or the incidence of venereal disease. Traditional roles for doctors, nurses, health educators, social workers and others are in question.To meet the needs of the people, health educators, physicians, social workers, nurses and all other categories of health personnel must constantly evaluate their roles and be ready to modify them for the common good and modify the programmes that prepare them for their work. While the roles of doctors, nurses and others are, necessarily, in these rapidly changing times, in a fluid state, some health workers must provide a 24‐hour service that helps human beings with their essential daily activities when they lack the strength, knowledge, or will, to carry them out unaided and to work towards the development of a healthy independence. This intimite and essential service is, in the author's opinion, the universal element in the concept of nursing.The most successful preparation of nurses will, the author argues, always include whatever gives them the broadest possible understanding of humanity and the world in which they live. It will also provide an opportunity to see expert nursing care given and to have the satisfaction of seeing the care they themselves give, hasten a person's recovery, help a person cope with a handicap, or die in peace when death is inevitable.
Music improves sleep quality in older adults
Authors: Lai Hui‐Ling , Good Marion 
Published: January 2006

Aim. The aim of this paper is to report an investigation of the effects of soft music on sleep quality in older community‐dwelling men and women in Taiwan.Background. Sleep is a complex rhythmic state that may be affected by the ageing process. Few studies have focused on the effects of music, a non‐pharmacological method of improving the quality of sleep in older adults.Method. A randomized controlled trial was used with a two‐group repeated measures design.Sixty people aged 60–83 years with difficulty in sleeping were recruited through community leaders and screened using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Those reporting depression, cognitive impairment, medical or environmental problems that might interfere with sleep; and those who used sleeping medications, meditation, or caffeine at bedtime were excluded. Participants listened to their choice among six 45‐minute sedative music tapes at bedtime for 3 weeks. There were five types of Western and one of Chinese music. Sleep quality was measured with the PSQI before the study and at three weekly post‐tests. Groups were comparable on demographic variables, anxiety, depressive symptoms, physical activity, bedtime routine, herbal tea use, napping, pain, and pretest overall sleep quality.Results. Music resulted in significantly better sleep quality in the experimental group, as well as significantly better components of sleep quality: better perceived sleep quality, longer sleep duration, greater sleep efficiency, shorter sleep latency, less sleep disturbance and less daytime dysfunction (P = 0·04–0·001). Sleep improved weekly, indicating a cumulative dose effect.Conclusion. The findings provide evidence for the use of soothing music as an empirically‐based intervention for sleep in older people.
Social class inequalities in childhood mortality and morbidity in an English population
Authors: Petrou Stavros , Kupek Emil , Hockley Christine , Goldacre Michael 
Published: January 2006

SummaryThe objective of this study was to examine the association between social class of the head of household at the time of birth and mortality and morbidity during the first 10 years of life in a cohort of all 117 212 children born to women who both lived, and delivered in hospital, in Oxfordshire or West Berkshire during the period 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1988. Logistic regression was used to estimate social class gradients, with odds ratios (OR), for mortality during the early neonatal period, late neonatal period, post‐neonatal period, post‐infancy period and throughout the first 10 years of life. Logistic regression was also used to estimate social class gradients, with ORs, for hospital admission rates for 16 broad groups of diseases during years 0–3, 4–6, 7–10 and throughout the first 10 years of life. Poisson regression was used to estimate social class gradients, with effect sizes, for overall hospital admission rates during years 0–3, 4–6, 7–10 and throughout the first 10 years of life.The study revealed a significant social class gradient in mortality during the first 10 years of life (adjusted OR for each decrement in social class category 1.08; [95% confidence interval 1.03, 1.14]). The study also revealed a significant adjusted social class gradient in hospital admission rates for 14 of the 16 groups of diseases during the first 10 years of life. For the majority of these, the social class gradients had attenuated somewhat by the later childhood years. However, the social class gradient persisted throughout the first 10 years of life for diseases of the respiratory system (1.07 [1.05, 1.08]), diseases of the digestive system (1.06 [1.04, 1.09]), and injury and poisoning (1.07 [1.06, 1.09]). In addition, a significant adjusted social class gradient was found in overall hospital admission rates for each age group studied. This study suggests that there are significant social class inequalities in a wide range of adverse child health outcomes.
Measuring corticotropin‐releasing hormone in pregnant women – comparing blood collection protocols for epidemiological studies
Authors: Strong Emily F. , Kleinman Ken P. , Gillman Matthew W. , Clark Irena , Emanuel Rodica L. , Majzoub Joseph A. , Rich‐Edwards Janet W. 
Published: January 2006

SummaryWe describe a pilot study to determine the effect of delays in blood sample processing under simulated field conditions on measurement of corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH) levels in pregnant women. CRH, a peptide secreted by the placenta into the maternal blood, is of interest in epidemiological studies of gestational duration. Many investigators suspected that CRH might break down quickly after collection, and believed the optimal treatment of blood samples for CRH must include immediate processing under chilled conditions and quick freezing of plasma. Epidemiological studies often have logistical constraints that make such rapid processing unfeasible. To examine how delays in the processing of blood samples might affect the level of measured CRH, we collected whole blood samples from 33 pregnant women attending a prenatal clinic in Boston. We compared CRH levels measured following three different processing delays with the levels of samples that were processed immediately after blood collection, the ‘gold standard’. The delayed strategies involved placing the freshly collected whole blood in a cooler or refrigerator for up to 22 h prior to processing. Correlation coefficients comparing delayed with gold standard processing exceeded 0.96. These results suggest that CRH may be measured in blood samples that were spun and frozen up to 22 h after blood collection.