bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self‐sterilizing catheters with titanium dioxide photocatalyst thin films for clean intermittent catheterization: Basis and study of clinical use
Authors: Sekiguchi Yuki , Yao Yanyan , Ohko Yoshihisa , Tanaka Katsuyuki , Ishido Tetsuro , Fujishima Akira , Kubota Yoshinobu 
Published: May 2007

Objective:  Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) requires a large number of disposable catheters or a large amount of water and disinfectant. We made titanium dioxide (TiO2)‐coated catheters for CIC using technology we have developed previously, and examined the photocatalytic antibacterial effect of this catheter using only light energy and the safety of this type of catheter for practical clinical use.Methods:  TiO2‐coated catheters were filled with bacterial cell suspensions and illuminated with a 15‐W black‐light lamp for testing antibacterial potency. Next, we soaked control toxic materials (zinc diethyldithiocarbamate) and the tips of TiO2‐coated catheters in M05 medium, and evaluated cell toxicity from the numbers of V79 colonies in these dilutions. Then, bodyweight curves and histological tissue changes were observed over a period of time in mouse‐transplanted TiO2‐coated catheters and control catheters. Finally, we investigated the use of these TiO2‐coated catheters in 18 patients by questionnaire and bacterial culture of TiO2‐coated catheters and control catheters.Results:  The survival rate of Escherichia coli in the liquid inside the TiO2 catheter decreased to a negligible level within 60 min under ultraviolet (UV)‐A illumination. The survival rate of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens also decreased to a negligible level within 60 min. V79 cells showed no cytotoxicity of this catheter, and there was no difference in bodyweight or foreign body reaction between mouse‐transplanted TiO2‐coated catheters and control catheters. In a preliminary clinical analysis of 18 patients who voluntarily used this catheter, the rate of positive bacterial culture of the tips of TiO2‐coated catheters was 20% versus 60% for conventional catheters after 4 weeks of use.Conclusion:  TiO2‐coated silicone catheters were easily sterilized under certain light sources and were shown to be safe in an experiment using cultured cells and in animal experiments. Sterilizing catheters with TiO2 photocatalyst thin films are expected to be used clinically for clean intermittent catheterization after proper modification based on this study.
Dynamics and incidence patterns of maternal complications in early‐onset hypertension of pregnancy
Authors: Ganzevoort W , Rep A , Bonsel GJ , De Vries JIP , Wolf H ,   PETRA investigators
Published: May 2007

Objective  To describe the variable disease expression and the patterns of development of major maternal morbidity and HELLP (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count) syndrome in women with different subtypes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.Design  Prospective cohort study.Setting  Two university hospitals, tertiary care centres.Population  Two hundred and sixteen women participating in a randomised trial of temporising management in early‐onset hypertensive disease (PETRA trial). Women were between 24 and 34 completed weeks and had either HELLP syndrome, severe pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia or hypertension and fetal growth restriction. Women were delivered in the event of fetal marked heart rate abnormalities, pulmonary oedema, therapy‐resistant hypertension or recurrent HELLP syndrome.Methods  Trial data were reanalysed to assess the time of onset of major maternal morbidity (e.g. pulmonary oedema, liver haematoma), HELLP syndrome and clinical disease. Associations between clinical parameters and prolongation of pregnancy were explored using logistic regression.Main outcome measures  Diagnosis from admittance to discharge, major maternal morbidity and prolongation of pregnancy.Results  The median time to delivery or fetal death was 8.2 (range 0.1–44) days. At study entry, 56 women (26%) had more than one diagnosis; this increased to 171 women (79%) by the time of discharge. The incidence of major maternal morbidity (total 26) was 4.2% at 2–4 days after inclusion and a mean of 1.7% (range 0–2%) thereafter per time frame of 3 days. The mean incidence of new or recurrent HELLP syndrome episodes was 5.5% (range 1.9–8.7%) per time frame of 3 days during the first 3 weeks after inclusion.Conclusions  Pre‐eclampsia is a dynamic disease, with extensive overlap of subtypes of the syndrome. Prolongation of pregnancy in early‐onset hypertensive disorders results in the development of further HELLP syndrome episodes and reversible major maternal morbidity but may improve perinatal healthy survival.
Randomised clinical trial of a laxative alone versus a laxative and a bulking agent after primary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injury
Authors: Eogan M , Daly L , Behan M , O’Connell PR , O’Herlihy C 
Published: May 2007

Objective  To compare two postpartum laxative regimens in women who have undergone primary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injury.Design  Randomised controlled trial.Setting  National Maternity Hospital, Dublin.Population  A total of 147 postpartum women who had sustained anal sphincter injury at vaginal birth.Methods  Women were randomised to receive either lactulose alone thrice daily for the first three postpartum days followed by sufficient lactulose to maintain a soft stool over the following 10 days (lactulose group, n= 77) or the lactulose regimen combined with a sachet of ispaghula husk daily for the first 10 postpartum days (Fybogel™ group, n= 70). All patients kept a diary of bowel habit for the first 10 postpartum days and were invited to return for review at 3 months postpartum.Main outcome measures  Patient discomfort with first postpartum bowel motion, incidence of postnatal constipation and incontinence and incontinence score in postnatal period.Results  Pain scores were similar in the two treatment groups; but incontinence in the immediate postnatal period was more frequent with the two preparations compared with lactulose alone (32.86% versus 18.18%, P= 0.03).Conclusions  This study does not support routine prescribing of a stool‐bulking agent in addition to a laxative in the immediate postnatal period for women who have sustained anal sphincter injury at vaginal delivery.
The Cost‐Effectiveness of Improving Diabetes Care in U.S. Federally Qualified Community Health Centers
Authors: Huang Elbert S. , Zhang Qi , Brown Sydney E. S. , Drum Melinda L. , Meltzer David O. , Chin Marshall H. 
Published: May 2007

Objective. To estimate the incremental cost‐effectiveness of improving diabetes care with the Health Disparities Collaborative (HDC), a national collaborative quality improvement (QI) program conducted in community health centers (HCs).Data Sources/Study Setting. Data regarding the impact of the Diabetes HDC program came from a serial cross‐sectional follow‐up study (1998, 2000, 2002) of the program in 17 Midwestern HCs. Data inputs for the simulation model of diabetes came from the latest clinical trials and epidemiological studies.Study Design. We conducted a societal cost‐effectiveness analysis, incorporating data from QI program evaluation into a Monte Carlo simulation model of diabetes.Data Collection/Extraction Methods. Data on diabetes care processes and risk factor levels were extracted from medical charts of randomly selected patients.Principal Findings. From 1998 to 2002, multiple processes of care (e.g., glycosylated hemoglobin testing [HbA1C] [71→92 percent] and ACE inhibitor prescribing [33→55 percent]) and risk factor levels (e.g., 1998 mean HbA1C 8.53 percent, mean difference 0.45 percent [95 percent confidence intervals −0.72, −0.17]) improved significantly. With these improvements, the HDC was estimated to reduce the lifetime incidence of blindness (17→15 percent), end‐stage renal disease (18→15 percent), and coronary artery disease (28→24 percent). The average improvement in quality‐adjusted life year (QALY) was 0.35 and the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was $33,386/QALY.Conclusions. During the first 4 years of the HDC, multiple improvements in diabetes care were observed. If these improvements are maintained or enhanced over the lifetime of patients, the HDC program will be cost‐effective for society based on traditionally accepted thresholds.
Reduction of AF Recurrence After Pulmonary Vein Isolation by Eliminating ATP‐Induced Transient Venous Re‐Conduction
Authors: MATSUO SEIICHIRO , YAMANE TEIICHI , DATE TARO , INADA KEIICHI , KANZAKI YASUKO , TOKUDA MICHIFUMI , SHIBAYAMA KENRI , MIYANAGA SATORU , MIYAZAKI HIDEKAZU , SUGIMOTO KENICHI , MOCHIZUKI SEIBU 
Published: May 2007

Background: Recent evidence has suggested that the transient re‐conduction of the isolated pulmonary vein (PV) induced by the intravenous injection of adenosine (dormant PV conduction) might predict the incidence of subsequent venous reconnection after the procedure, which is the main cause of the atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after PV isolation (PVI). We tested the hypothesis that the elimination of these dormant PV conductions by additional radiofrequency (RF) applications can improve the efficacy of the PVI. Methods and Results: One hundred forty‐eight patients (124 males; mean age 53 ± 9 years) with drug‐refractory AF underwent the PVI procedure. The standard PVI was performed in 94 patients (Group A), whereas the elimination of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)‐induced dormant conduction using additional RF energy was performed in addition to the standard PVI in other 54 patients (Group B). Dormant conduction was observed in 56% of the patients (30/54) in Group B and 95% of these transient re‐conductions were successfully eliminated by additional RF applications (mean: 1.5 ± 1.0 times). During the mean follow‐up period of 20 months, recurrences of AF after the procedures were observed significantly less frequently in Group B (20%) than in Group A (40%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of additional RF applications to eliminate transient PV reconnection induced by ATP injection led to a reduction of AF recurrence after PVI, most likely due to the minimization of the subsequent PV reconnection.
A comparison of two different techniques for oculomotor torque reduction
Authors: Hoerantner Robert , Priglinger Siegfried , Koch Martina , Haslwanter Thomas 
Published: May 2007

Abstract.Purpose:  To compare the results of two different surgical techniques: ‘Cüppers technique’, in which the torque of oculomotor rectus muscles is reduced by suturing the muscle to the globe in the posterior half of the globe; and ‘Y‐split recessions’, in which the muscle torque is reduced by Y‐splitting the rectus muscles, and reattaching the two halves at an angle to each other.Methods:  We carried out a retrospective analysis of the outcome of surgery on 100 patients with infantile esotropia.Results:  Both techniques show a sufficient reduction of strabismus angle variability, and minimal and maximal strabismus angle.Conclusions:  Both techniques achieve satisfactory results. In addition, the Y‐split technique allows for accurate control of the muscle torque and requires no access to the posterior half of the eye, which can facilitate the surgical approach. For a reduction in muscle torque, the Y‐split recession is a good alternative to the established Cüppers technique.
Urinary and fecal immunoglobulin A, cortisol and 11‐17 dioxoandrostanes, and serum cortisol in metabolic cage housed female cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)
Authors: Paramastri Yasmina , Royo Felix , Eberova Jitka , Carlsson Hans‐Erik , Sajuthi Dondin , Fernstrom Anna‐Linnea , Pamungkas Joka , Hau Jann 
Published: May 2007

AbstractBackground and methods  Quantitative enzyme‐immunoassays of urinary and fecal immunoglobulin A (IgA), cortisol and 11‐17‐dioxoandrostanes (11,17‐DOA), and serum cortisol in eight metabolic‐cage‐housed female cynomolgus monkeys were performed. The monkeys were divided into two groups, B and NB. Group B animals were blood sampled every 6 hours, whereas Group NB animals were not handled/blood sampled.Results  No differences were recorded between the amounts of feces and urine excreted by the two groups. Group B animals excreted more urinary cortisol than did Group NB animals indicating that restraint‐blood sampling resulted in a stress response. Excreted amounts of IgA and 11,17‐DOA (urine and feces) did not differ between the groups.Conclusions  Urinary cortisol was a reliable marker of the stress associated with repeated blood sampling. Declining amounts of excreted urinary cortisol indicated that cynomolgus monkeys acclimated quickly to repeated blood sampling in metabolism cages. Within and between animal variation in amounts of feces voided demonstrated the importance of expressing fecal markers as ‘amounts excreted per time unit per kg body weight’ rather than just measuring the concentrations in fecal samples.
Gata1 regulates dendritic-cell development and survival
Authors: Gutiérrez Laura , Nikolic Tatjana , van Dijk Thamar B. , Hammad Hamida , Vos Nanda , Willart Monique , Grosveld Frank , Philipsen Sjaak , Lambrecht Bart N. 
Published: May 2007

AbstractDendritic cells are key initiators and regulators of the immune response. Dendritic cell commitment and function require orchestrated regulation of transcription. Gata1 is a transcription factor expressed in several hematopoietic lineages. However, Gata1 function has not been explored in the monocytic or dendritic cell compartment. Here, we show that Gata1 is expressed in myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells and that Gata1 ablation affects the survival of dendritic cells. Furthermore, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of dendritic cells prompts Gata1 up-regulation, which is accompanied by increased levels of BclX and Ifng. Our findings show that Gata1 is a transcriptional regulator of dendritic cell differentiation and suggest that Gata1 is involved in the dendritic cell and macrophage lineage separation.
Graft-versus-leukemia effects associated with detectable Wilms tumor-1–specific T lymphocytes after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation for acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Rezvani Katayoun , Yong Agnes S. M. , Savani Bipin N. , Mielke Stephan , Keyvanfar Keyvan , Gostick Emma , Price David A. , Douek Daniel C. , Barrett A. John 
Published: May 2007

AbstractTo determine whether the leukemia-associated Wilms tumor antigen (WT1) contributes to a graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we studied CD8+ T-cell responses to WT1 in 10 human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)–A*0201–positive ALL patients during the early phase of immune recovery after SCT (days 30-120). Seven of 10 patients had detectable WT1 expression in their peripheral blood (PB) before SCT by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Using WT1/HLA-A*0201 tetramers and intracellular interferon-γ (IFN-γ) staining, WT1+ CD8+ T-cell responses after SCT were found only in patients with detectable WT1 expression before SCT (5 of 7 vs. 0 of 3; P < .05). To monitor the kinetics of WT1+ CD8+ T-cell responses and disease regression after SCT, absolute WT1+ CD8+ T-cell numbers and WT1 expression were studied for each time point. The emergence of WT1+ CD8+ T cells was associated with a decrease in WT1 expression, suggesting a WT1-driven GVL effect. Loss of WT1+ CD8+ T-cell responses was associated with reappearance of WT1 transcripts, consistent with a molecular relapse (P < .001). WT1+ CD8+ T cells had a predominantly effector–memory phenotype (CD45RO+ CD27−CD57+) and produced IFN-γ. Our results support the immunogenicity of WT1 after SCT for ALL and highlight the potential for WT1 vaccines to boost GVL after SCT for ALL.
The Deuterator: software for the determination of backbone amide deuterium levels from H/D exchange MS data
Authors: Pascal BD , Chalmers MJ , Busby SA , Mader CC , Southern MR , Tsinoremas NF , Griffin PR 
Published: May 2007

Abstract

Background
The combination of mass spectrometry and solution phase amide hydrogen/deuterium exchange (H/D exchange) experiments is an effective method for characterizing protein dynamics, and protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions. Despite methodological advancements and improvements in instrumentation and automation, data analysis and display remains a tedious process. The factors that contribute to this bottleneck are the large number of data points produced in a typical experiment, each requiring manual curation and validation, and then calculation of the level of backbone amide exchange. Tools have become available that address some of these issues, but lack sufficient integration, functionality, and accessibility required to address the needs of the H/D exchange community. To date there is no software for the analysis of H/D exchange data that comprehensively addresses these issues.

Results
We have developed an integrated software system for the automated analysis and representation of H/D exchange data that has been titled "The Deuterator". Novel approaches have been implemented that enable high throughput analysis, automated determination of deuterium incorporation, and deconvolution of overlapping peptides. This has been achieved by using methods involving iterative theoretical envelope fitting, and consideration of peak data within expected m/z ranges. Existing common file formats have been leveraged to allow compatibility with the output from the myriad of MS instrument platforms and peptide sequence database search engines.
A web-based interface is used to integrate the components of The Deuterator that are able to analyze and present mass spectral data from instruments with varying resolving powers. The results, if necessary, can then be confirmed, adjusted, re-calculated and saved. Additional tools synchronize the curated calculation parameters with replicate time points, increasing throughput. Saved results can then be used to plot deuterium buildup curves and 3D structural overlays. The system has been used successfully in a production environment for over one year and is freely available as a web tool at the project home page http://deuterator.florida.scripps.edu.

Conclusion
The automated calculation and presentation of H/D exchange data in a user interface enables scientists to organize and analyze data efficiently. Integration of the different components of The Deuterator coupled with the flexibility of common data file formats allow this system to be accessible to the broadening H/D exchange community.
Novel subdomains of the mouse olfactory bulb defined by molecular heterogeneity in the nascent external plexiform and glomerular layers
Authors: Williams Eric O , Xiao Yuanyuan , Sickles Heather M , Shafer Paul , Yona Golan , Yang Jean YH , Lin David M 
Published: May 2007

AbstractBackgroundIn the mouse olfactory system, the role of the olfactory bulb in guiding olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) axons to their targets is poorly understood. What cell types within the bulb are necessary for targeting is unknown. What genes are important for this process is also unknown. Although projection neurons are not required, other cell-types within the external plexiform and glomerular layers also form synapses with OSNs. We hypothesized that these cells are important for targeting, and express spatially differentially expressed guidance cues that act to guide OSN axons within the bulb.ResultsWe used laser microdissection and microarray analysis to find genes that are differentially expressed along the dorsal-ventral, medial-lateral, and anterior-posterior axes of the bulb. The expression patterns of these genes divide the bulb into previously unrecognized subdomains. Interestingly, some genes are expressed in both the medial and lateral bulb, showing for the first time the existence of symmetric expression along this axis. We use a regeneration paradigm to show that several of these genes are altered in expression in response to deafferentation, consistent with the interpretation that they are expressed in cells that interact with OSNs.ConclusionWe demonstrate that the nascent external plexiform and glomerular layers of the bulb can be divided into multiple domains based on the expression of these genes, several of which are known to function in axon guidance, synaptogenesis, and angiogenesis. These genes represent candidate guidance cues that may act to guide OSN axons within the bulb during targeting.
Regulation of the microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 in polarized mononuclear phagocytes and its constitutive expression in neutrophils
Authors: Mosca Michela , Polentarutti Nadia , Mangano Giorgina , Apicella Claudia , Doni Andrea , Mancini Francesca , De Bortoli Maida , Coletta Isabella , Polenzani Lorenzo , Santoni Giorgio , Sironi Marina , Vecchi Annunciata , Mantovani Alberto 
Published: May 2007

AbstractPGs are potent mediators of pain and inflammation. PGE synthases (PGES) catalyze the isomerization of PGH2 into PGE2. The microsomal (m)PGES-1 isoform serves as an inducible PGES and is responsible for the production of PGE2, which mediates acute pain in inflammation and fever. The present study was designed to investigate the regulation of expression of mPGES-1 in polarized phagocytes, which represent central, cellular orchestrators of inflammatory reactions. Here, we report that human peripheral blood monocytes did not express mPGES-1. Exposure to LPS strongly induced mPGES-1 expression. Alternatively activated M2 monocytes-macrophages exposed to IL-4, IL-13, or IL-10 did not express mPGES-1, whereas in these cells, IL-4, IL-13, and to a lesser extent, IL-10 or IFN-γ inhibited LPS-induced, mPGES-1 expression. It is unexpected that polymorphonuclear leukocytes expressed high basal levels of mPGES-1, which was up-regulated by LPS and down-regulated by IL-4 and IL-13. Induction of mPGES-1 and its modulation by cytokines were confirmed at the protein level and correlated with PGE2 production. Cyclooxygenase 2 expression tested in the same experimental conditions was modulated in monocytes and granulocytes similarly to mPGES-1. Thus, activated M1, unlike alternatively activated M2, mononuclear phagocytes express mPGES-1, and IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10 tune expression of this key enzyme in prostanoid metabolism. Neutrophils, the first cells to enter sites of inflammation, represent a ready-made, cellular source of mPGES-1.
The contribution of tellurite resistance genes to the fitness of Escherichia coli uropathogenic strains
Authors: Valková Danka , Valkovičová Lenka , Vávrová Silvia , Kováčová Elena , Mravec Jozef , Turňa Ján 
Published: May 2007

AbstractThe presence of tellurite resistance gene operons has been reported in several human pathogens despite the fact that tellurium, as well as its soluble salts, are both rare in nature and are no longer in use as antimicrobial agents. We have introduced the cloned terWZA-F genes from an uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolate into another clinical E. coli isolate that was shown to be ter-gene free. The presence of the introduced genes increased the level of potassium tellurite resistance, as well as the level of resistance to oxidative stress mediated by hydrogen peroxide; and prolonged the ability of particular strains to survive in macrophages. We therefore propose that the contribution of tellurite resistance genes to oxidative stress resistance in bacteria is at least one reason for their presence in the genomes of a broad range of pathogenic microorganisms.