bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal study of negative workplace events among employed rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy controls
Authors: Mancuso Carol A. , Rincon Melina , Sayles Wendy , Paget Stephen A. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectiveMost studies of employment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have focused on job loss. Less is known about workplace events in patients who continued to work. The goal of this longitudinal study was to compare the incidence of negative workplace events between employed patients with RA and healthy controls.MethodsParticipants completed the work domains of the Psychiatric Epidemiology Research Interview Life Events Scale and the Inventory of Small Life Events Scale measuring major and minor workplace events. Events were compared between groups according to psychosocial, clinical, and job characteristics.ResultsA total of 122 patients with RA and 122 healthy controls were enrolled with similar demographic and occupational characteristics. There were no differences in percentages of patients and controls who had at least 1 major (35% versus 31%) or 1 minor (48% versus 55%) negative event. For patients with RA, negative events were associated with having more pain, more fatigue, more social stress, and less job autonomy (P ≤ 0.05). For controls, in addition to social stress, negative events were associated with job characteristics, functional status, and social support (P ≤ 0.05).ConclusionA comparable number of patients with RA and controls had negative workplace events. In addition to the well‐known contributions of job autonomy and pain, social stress and fatigue also were found to be important variables related to negative events in patients with RA. These potentially modifiable variables have not been fully evaluated with respect to long‐term employment in these patients.
Activity limitation in rheumatoid arthritis correlates with reduced grip force regardless of sex: The Swedish TIRA project
Authors: Thyberg Ingrid , Hass Ursula A. M. , NordenskiÖld Ulla , Gerdle Björn , Skogh Thomas 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate activity limitations 3 years after diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to grip force and sex.MethodsA total of 217 patients, 153 women and 64 men, with recent‐onset RA were included. Activity limitations were reported using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Evaluation of Daily Activities Questionnaire (EDAQ). The relationships between activity limitations versus grip force (measured by the Grippit), walking speed, functional impairment, grip ability, pain, plasma C‐reactive protein, the 28‐joint disease activity score and its components, the physician's global assessment of disease activity, and sex were analyzed by partial least squares (PLS).ResultsWomen had significantly lower grip force and more activity limitations (HAQ and EDAQ) than men. The PLS analyses demonstrated that grip force was the strongest regressor of activity limitation, closely followed by walking speed. However, within subgroups based on grip force (group 1 = grip force <114 N, group 2 = 116–206 N, group 3 = 214–321 N, group 4 = grip force >328 N) and including sexes, women and men had corresponding degrees of activity limitation as reported by the HAQ and EDAQ.ConclusionOur results indicate that the more pronounced activity limitations seen in women with RA, as compared with men, may be explained by lower grip force rather than sex.
Clinical responsiveness of self‐report functional assessment measures for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis undergoing intraarticular corticosteroid injections
Authors: Brown G. Ted , Wright F. Virginia , Lang Bianca A. , Birdi Nina , Oen Kim , Stephens Derek , McComas Joan , Feldman Brian M. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectiveThe Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ), Juvenile Arthritis Functional Assessment Report (JAFAR), and Juvenile Arthritis Functional Status Index (JASI) are widely used functional measures for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) that differ in content, format, and completion time. We compared the responsiveness and child‐parent agreement of the JAFAR, CHAQ, and JASI in a prospective, multicenter study.MethodsChildren and adolescents from 5 rheumatology centers were enrolled. Subjects were about to undergo therapy (intraarticular corticosteroid injections [IAS] and methotrexate or hip surgery (MTX/hip]) expected to produce a functional improvement. All subjects were studied before the intervention and at 6 weeks and 6 months posttreatment. At each study visit, the 3 measures were administered in randomized, balanced order to both parents and children.ResultsA total of 92 subjects (mean age 12.8 years) were enrolled in the study, 74 of which were in the IAS group. The responsiveness of all 3 measures was moderate to strong. The standardized response mean at 6 weeks for the IAS group on the JAFAR, CHAQ, and JASI was 0.41 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.18, 0.64), 0.70 (95% CI 0.47, 0.93), and 0.36 (95% CI 0.13, 0.59), respectively. The CHAQ was somewhat more responsive to change at 6 weeks (IAS group: relative efficiency 0.34 [JAFAR], 0.27 [JASI]), but less responsive at 6 months (MTX/hip group: relative efficiency 5.1 [JAFAR], 3.9 [JASI]). All 3 questionnaires showed acceptable parent‐child agreement, and overall, there were few differences between the 3 questionnaires.ConclusionThe functional outcome measures currently used for JIA are all adequately responsive for use in trials or in the clinic setting. The choice of which measure to use should therefore be based on the time available for completion, the intended clinical/research use, and the depth of content required.
Positive association between serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D level and bone density in osteoarthritis
Authors: Bischoff‐Ferrari Heike A. , Zhang Yuqing , Kiel Douglas P. , Felson David T. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the association between serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level and bone mineral density (BMD) in persons with primary knee osteoarthritis (OA).MethodsWe conducted a population‐based survey of the Framingham Study. A total of 228 subjects with primary radiographic knee OA were identified. For vitamin D status, 25(OH)D levels ≤15 ng/ml were classified as vitamin D deficient, 25(OH)D levels 16–32 ng/ml were classified as hypovitaminosis D, and 25(OH)D levels >32 ng/ml were classified as vitamin D replete. We compared average BMD between categories of 25(OH)D levels in subjects with OA using a linear regression model while adjusting for sex, age, body mass index (BMI), knee pain, physical activity, cohort, and disease severity.ResultsMean age was 74.4 years and 36% were men. Of 228 individuals, 15% were vitamin D deficient, 51% had hypovitaminosis D, and 34% were vitamin D replete. Compared with subjects with vitamin D deficiency, those with hypovitaminosis D had a 7.3% higher BMD (adjusted percent difference; P = 0.02) and vitamin D replete subjects had an 8.5% higher BMD (adjusted percent difference; P = 0.02; test for trend across categories: P = 0.04).ConclusionWe observed a significant positive association between serum 25(OH)D and BMD in individuals with primary knee OA, independent of sex, age, BMI, knee pain, physical activity, and disease severity. Given the high prevalence of low 25(OH)D status in persons with knee OA and the positive association between 25(OH)D and BMD, vitamin D supplementation may enhance BMD in individuals with OA.
Effects of supervised cardiovascular training program on exercise tolerance, aerobic capacity, and quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Carvalho Maria Rosenilda P. de , Sato Emilia I. , Tebexreni Antonio S. , Heidecher Raquel T. C. , Schenkman Simone , Neto Turíbio L. Barros 
Published: December 2005

AbstractObjectiveTo determine if supervised cardiovascular training improves exercise tolerance, aerobic capacity, depression, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsSixty women with SLE (ages 18–55 years) were evaluated using Short Form 36, visual analog scale for pain, scale for fatigue, Beck Depression Inventory, and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and participated in a training protocol of incremental load on a treadmill with computed gas metabolic analysis. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) and anaerobic threshold VO2 were calculated with a SensorMedics Vmax29C analyzer (Sensor Medics, Yorba Linda, CA), and heart rate was measured by electrocardiogram. Patients were divided into 2 groups: a training group (41 patients) that participated in the supervised cardiovascular training program and a control group (19 patients) that did not participate in the program. All variables were analyzed at baseline and after 12 weeks for both groups. The training program occurred in the morning for 60 minutes, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon's rank sum test, Mann‐Whitney U test, chi‐square test, and Fisher's exact test. P values <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.ResultsThe 2 groups were homogeneous and comparable at baseline. The training group showed a significant improvement of aerobic capacity measured by anaerobic threshold VO2 (14.67 ± 3.03 versus 17.08 ± 3.35 ml/kg/minute, P < 0.001). Comparison of the training group and control group after 12 weeks showed a significant difference relating to VO2max (24.31 ± 4.61 versus 21.21 ± 3.88 ml/kg/minute, P = 0.01) and anaerobic threshold VO2 (17.08 ± 3.35 versus 13.66 ± 2.82 ml/kg/minute, P < 0.0001). After cardiovascular training, we found a significant improvement of Beck inventory score (8.37 ± 12.79 versus 2.90 ± 3.00, P < 0.001) and HAQ score (0.14 ± 0.21 versus 0.06 ± 0.19, P < 0.01) in the training group.ConclusionThis study showed significant improvement in exercise tolerance, aerobic capacity, quality of life, and depression after a supervised cardiovascular training program in patients with SLE.
A decision theoretic approach to combining information filters: An analytical and empirical evaluation
Authors: Elovici Yuval , Shapira Bracha , Kantor Paul B. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe outputs of several information filtering (IF) systems can be combined to improve filtering performance. In this article the authors propose and explore a framework based on the so‐called information structure (IS) model, which is frequently used in Information Economics, for combining the output of multiple IF systems according to each user's preferences (profile). The combination seeks to maximize the expected payoff to that user. The authors show analytically that the proposed framework increases users expected payoff from the combined filtering output foranyuser preferences. An experiment using the TREC‐6 test collection confirms the theoretical findings.
A well‐mixed, polymer‐based microbioreactor with integrated optical measurements
Authors: Zhang Zhiyu , Szita Nicolas , Boccazzi Paolo , Sinskey Anthony J. , Jensen Klavs F. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractWe describe a 150 µL microbioreactor fabricated in poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) to cultivate microbial cell cultures. Mixing is achieved by a small magnetic stir bar and fluorescent sensors are integrated for on‐line measurement of pH and dissolved oxygen. Optical transmission measurements are used for cell density. The body of the reactor is poly(methylmethacrylate) with a thin layer of poly (dimethylsiloxane) for aeration, oxygen diffuses through this gas‐permeable membrane into the microbioreactor to support metabolism of bacterial cells. Mixing in the reactor is characterized by observation of mixing of dyes and computational fluid dynamics simulations. The oxygenation is described in terms of measured KLa values for microbioreactor, 20–75/h corresponding to increasing stirring speed 200–800 rpm. Escherichia coli cell growth in the microbioreactor is demonstrated and the growth behavior is benchmarked with conventional bench‐scale bioreactors, flasks and tubes. Batch culture experiments with Saccharomyces cerevisiae further demonstrate the reproducibility and flexibility of the microbioreactor system. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Contrasting secretory processing of simultaneously expressed heterologous proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Rakestraw Andy , Wittrup K. Dane 
Published: December 2005

AbstractIn this study, secretory processing of cell‐surface displayed Aga2p fusions to bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) and the single chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragment D1.3 are examined. BPTI is more efficiently processed than D1.3 both when secreted and surface‐displayed, and D1.3 expression imparts a greater amount of secretory stress on the cell as assayed by a reporter of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Surprisingly, simultaneous expression of the two proteins in the same cell somewhat improves BPTI surface display while decreasing D1.3 surface display with minimal effect on UPR activation. Furthermore, co‐expression leads to the accumulation of punctate vacuolar aggregates of D1.3 and increased secretion of the D1.3–Aga2p fusion into the supernatant. Overexpression of the folding chaperones protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and BiP largely mitigates the D1.3 surface expression decrease, suggesting that changes in vacuolar and cell surface targeting may be due, in part, to folding inefficiency. Titration of constitutive UPR expression across a broad range progressively decreases surface display of both proteins as UPR increases. D1.3‐Aga2p traffic through the late secretory pathway appears to be strongly affected by overall secretory load as well as folding conditions in the ER. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin as first‐line treatment in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Bamias Aristotle , Moulopoulos Lia A. , Koutras Aggelos , Aravantinos Gerassimos , Fountzilas George , Pectasides Dimitris , Kastritis Efstathios , Gika Dimitros , Skarlos Dimosthenis , Linardou Helena , Kalofonos Haralambos P. , Dimopoulos Meletios A. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe toxicity of platinum‐based combinations represents a common problem for patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma. The authors previously reported encouraging efficacy for the combination of carboplatin and gemcitabine in patients considered to be unfit for cisplatin‐based treatment. The objective of the current multicenter Phase II study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin as first‐line treatment in unselected patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma.METHODSPatients with previously untreated, bidimensionally measurable, inoperable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma were treated with carboplatin, area under the concentration curve of 5 (Day 1) and gemcitabine at a dose of 1000 mg/m2 (Days 1 and 8), every 21 days for a total of 6 cycles.RESULTSSixty patients (49 men and 11 women, with a median age of 69 yrs) were enrolled in the current study. Intent‐to‐treat analysis demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR) of 38.4% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 26–51.8%) (11.7% complete responses and 26.7% partial responses). The median time to disease progression was 7.6 months (95% CI, 4.5–10.7 mos) and the median overall survival was 16.3 months (95% CI, 12–20.6 mos). The median survival was comparable to that reported for the combination of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (M‐VAC) according to the Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center prognostic model for patients with similar baseline prognostic features. Grade 3 or 4 toxicity (according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0]) included anemia (18%), thrombocytopenia (23%), and neutropenia (52%), with 7 episodes of febrile neutropenia (11%) reported. Nonhematologic toxicity was rare. One toxic death occurred during the study.CONCLUSIONSThe combination of gemcitabine and carboplatin appears to have considerable activity as the first‐line treatment of unselected patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma with manageable toxicity, and deserves further evaluation in this setting. Cancer 2006. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiation treatment for head and neck carcinoma
Authors: Vera‐Llonch Montserrat , Oster Gerry , Hagiwara May , Sonis Stephen 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe current study was conducted to characterize the risks and clinical consequences of oral mucositis (OM) in patients with head and neck carcinoma (HNC) who are receiving radiation therapy.METHODSData regarding 450 HNC patients who had received radiation therapy were collected via chart review from 154 U.S. medical and radiation oncologists. Information obtained included patient characteristics, treatments received, highest recorded grade of OM during radiation therapy (none, mild, moderate, or severe), and outcomes potentially associated with mucosal injury.RESULTSThe mean age (± standard deviation [SD]) of the study subjects was 61.3 years (12.3 yrs); the majority of patients (80%) were men. Primary tumor locations included the oropharynx (26.4%), larynx (26.4%), oral cavity including the lip (24.4%), hypopharynx (13.6%), and nasopharynx (9.1%). The majority of tumors were new and were classified as AJCC Stages III or IV. The majority of patients (83%) received standard radiation therapy; the mean (± SD) cumulative dose was 6285 centigrays (cGy) (± 1158 cGy). Approximately 33% of the patients received concomitant chemotherapy. The majority of patients (83%) developed OM; 29% developed severe OM. Patients with severe OM were more likely to have nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal tumors (adjusted odds ratio [OR] of 10.1 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.1–49.9] and 6.9 [95% CI, 2.4–19.7], respectively), and to have received cumulative radiation doses > 5000 cGy (OR of 10.4; 95% CI, 2.9–37.1) and concomitant chemotherapy (OR of 3.3; 95% CI, 1.4–8.0). Patients with OM had more unplanned breaks in radiation therapy (OR of 3.8; 95% CI, 1.7–8.5) and hospital admissions (OR of 3.5; 95% CI, 1.3–9.5).CONCLUSIONSHNC patients with nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal tumors, and those who receive cumulative radiation doses > 5000 cGy or concomitant chemotherapy, are more likely to develop OM. Patients with OM are at a higher risk of unplanned breaks in radiation therapy and hospitalization. Cancer 2006. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Micrometer scale Ex Vivo multiphoton imaging of unstained arterial wall structure
Authors: Boulesteix T. , Pena A.‐M. , Pagès N. , Godeau G. , Sauviat M.‐P. , Beaurepaire E. , Schanne‐Klein M.‐C. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBackgroundWe characterize the application of multiphoton microscopy to the observation of the extracellular matrix of fresh unstained vessels.MethodCombined two‐photon‐excited fluorescence (2PEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging of large arteries reveals the architecture of elastin and collagen fibers in the vessel wall with remarkable specificity.ResultsWe present elastin/collagen imaging in unstained rat vessels at both micrometer and whole vessel scales, and we characterize the optical properties of rat carotid artery and aorta walls. We apply this method to evidence deleterious effects of residual doses of a pesticide on the vessel wall.ConclusionThis study illustrates the potential of 2PEF/SHG microscopy for pharmacological studies in unlabeled arteries. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Staining and quantification of poly‐3‐hydroxybutyrate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cupriavidus necator cell populations using automated flow cytometry
Authors: Kacmar James , Carlson Ross , Balogh Steven J. , Srienc Friedrich 
Published: December 2005

AbstractBackgroundPoly [(R)‐3‐hydroxybutyric acid] (PHB) is a prokaryote storage material for carbon and energy that accumulates in cells under unbalanced growth conditions. Because this class of biopolymers has plastic‐like properties, it has attracted considerable interest for biomedical applications and as a biodegradable commodity plastic. Current flow cytometric techniques to quantify intracellular PHB are based on Nile red. Here, an improved cytometric technique for cellular PHB quantification utilizing BODIPY 493/503 staining was developed. This technique was then automated using an automated flow cytometry system.MaterialsUsing flow cytometry, the fluorescence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cupriavidus necator with varying PHB content after staining with BODIPY 493/503 and Nile red was compared, and automated staining techniques were developed for both cultures.ResultsBODIPY 493/503 staining had less background staining, higher sensitivity and specificity to PHB, and higher saturation values than did Nile red staining. The developed automated staining procedure was capable of analyzing the PHB content of a bioreactor sample every 25 min and measured the average PHB content with accuracy comparable to offline GC analysis.ConclusionBODIPY 493/503 produced an overall better staining for PHB than did Nile red. When combined with the automated system, this technique provides a new method for the online monitoring and control of bioreactors. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A robust ratio metric method for analysis of Zap‐70 expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Authors: Bakke Antony C. , Purtzer Zoe , Leis Jose , Huang James 
Published: December 2005

AbstractSince Zap‐70 expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells correlates with a lack of somatic mutation of the immunoglobulin variable heavy chain (IgVH) genes, it has been proposed as a surrogate marker for disease prognosis. However, published studies of Zap‐70 expression have used different commercial antibodies and analytic strategies. This study was undertaken to determine if any strategy was broadly applicable in a clinical flow cytometry laboratory.Expression of Zap‐70 was determined in 37 CLL patients using four different commercial antibodies. T, NK, and CLL cells were identified by immunophenotyping along with Zap‐70 expression. Data was analyzed in terms of both percent of CLL cells expressing Zap‐70 and the ratio of Zap‐70 expression in CLL cells compared to that in T + NK cells.Three Zap‐70 antibodies showed wide ranges of Zap‐70 expression as a percentage of tumor cells, while a fourth gave consistently elevated results. Comparing the percent Zap‐70 expression with any two antibodies gave poor correlations (r2 = 0.45–0.63). Our results indicated that the previous analytical strategies were not reproducible. A ratio metric is proposed, which gave better correlations (r2 as high as 0.95) and would allow separation of CLL patients with elevated or decreased Zap‐70 expression. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.