bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Macrovascular thrombosis is driven by tissue factor derived primarily from the blood vessel wall
Authors: Day Sharlene M. , Reeve Jennifer L. , Pedersen Brian , Farris Diana M , Myers Daniel D. , Im Michael , Wakefield Thomas W. , Mackman Nigel , Fay William P. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Leukocytes and leukocyte-derived microparticles contain low levels of tissue factor (TF) and incorporate into forming thrombi. Although this circulating pool of TF has been proposed to play a key role in thrombosis, its functional significance relative to that of vascular wall TF is poorly defined. We tested the hypothesis that leukocyte-derived TF contributes to thrombus formation in vivo. Compared to wild-type mice, mice with severe TF deficiency (ie, TF–/–, hTF-Tg+, or “low-TF”) demonstrated markedly impaired thrombus formation after carotid artery injury or inferior vena cava ligation. A bone marrow transplantation strategy was used to modulate levels of leukocyte-derived TF. Transplantation of low-TF marrow into wild-type mice did not suppress arterial or venous thrombus formation. Similarly, transplantation of wild-type marrow into low-TF mice did not accelerate thrombosis. In vitro analyses revealed that TF activity in the blood was very low and was markedly exceeded by that present in the vessel wall. Therefore, our results suggest that thrombus formation in the arterial and venous macrovasculature is driven primarily by TF derived from the blood vessel wall as opposed to leukocytes.
Pulmonary function and exercise capacity in survivors of severe acute respiratory syndrome
Authors: Ong K-C. , Ng A.W-K. , Lee L.S-U. , Kaw G. , Kwek S-K. , Leow M.K-S. , Earnest A. 
Published: September 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate pulmonary function and exercise capacity in a group of survivors of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).At 3 months after hospital discharge, 46 survivors of SARS underwent the following evaluation: spirometry, static lung volumes and carbon monoxide transfer factor (TL,CO). In total, 44 of these patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing.No abnormalities were detected in the pulmonary function tests in 23 (50%) of the patients. Abnormalities of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC andTL,COwere detected in seven (15%), 12 (26%), one (2%) and 18 (39%) patients, respectively. All of these abnormalities were mild except in one case. In 18 patients (41%), the maximum aerobic capacity was below the lower limit of the normal range. Breathing reserve was low in four patients and significant oxygen desaturation was detected in a further four patients. Comparison of the measured exercise capacity with resting pulmonary function tests showed many cases of discordance in impairment.In conclusion, pulmonary function defects were detected in half of the recovered severe acute respiratory syndrome patients 3 months after hospital discharge, but the impairment was mild in almost all cases. Many patients had reduced exercise capacity that cannot be accounted for by impairment of pulmonary function.
Side-effects of fluticasone in asthmatic children: no effects after dose reduction
Authors: Visser M.J. , van der Veer E. , Postma D.S. , Arends L.R. , de Vries T.W. , Brand P.L.P. , Duiverman E.J. 
Published: September 2004

To assess long-term effects and side-effects of fluticasone propionate (FP), a 2-yr study was performed, comparing a step-down dose approach (1,000 µg·day−1, with reductions every 2 months to 500, 200 and 100 µg·day−1for the remainder of the study)versusa constant dose (200 µg·day−1).In 55 children with chronic persistent asthma, aged 6–10 yrs, airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and systemic side-effects (height, bone parameters and adrenal cortical function) were assessed at predetermined intervals in a double-blind prospective 2-yr study.AHR improved after 4 months treatment with 1,000 µg·day−1FP followed by 500 µg·day−1, without significant differences during long-term treatment between the two approaches. Dose-dependent reduction of growth velocity, adrenal cortical function and biochemical bone turnover was found during therapy with 1,000 and 500 µg·day−1FP when compared with 200 µg·day−1.In conclusion, doses of 1,000 and 500 µg·day−1fluticasone propionate are associated with marked reductions of growth velocity, bone turnover and adrenal cortical function. However, conventional doses (≤200 µg·day−1fluticasone propionate) appear to be safe in the long-term management of childhood asthma. From a safety point of view, high doses of fluticasone propionate should only be prescribed in exceptions,e.g.in persistent severe asthma.
Cystic fibrosis patients and families support cross-infection measures
Authors: Griffiths A.L. , Armstrong D. , Carzino R. , Robinson P. 
Published: September 2004

A clonal strain ofPseudomonas aeruginosa(PA) was isolated in 1999 at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, after five unrelated children with cystic fibrosis (CF) died from severe lung disease aged <5 yrs. Subsequently, more than half of the patients in the clinic with PA were found to harbour this strain, and segregation measures were instituted at the hospital to prevent further spread.The aim of this study was to assess CF parent and patient responses to the segregation measures to determine overall support. A questionnaire was sent out to the families of 291 CF children treated at the centre.A 65% response rate was obtained. The majority of parents (85%) and patients ≥12 yrs old (63%) were positive about the segregation measures instituted. A total of 11% of parents and 25% of patients were unsure, and 4% of parents and 12% of children gave negative responses. Those who were not happy listed reasons such as concerns about the emotional impact of not socialising with other CF children, inconclusive evidence about person–person spread of infection and feelings of alienation created in the clinic by the separation.In conclusion, the majority of responding cystic fibrosis patients and their families understand and are supportive of infection control measures instituted at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Surfactant proteins in pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in adults
Authors: Brasch F. , Birzele J. , Ochs M. , Guttentag S.H. , Schoch O.D. , Boehler A. , Beers M.F. , Müller K.M. , Hawgood S. , Johnen G. 
Published: September 2004

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disorder characterised histologically by an intra-alveolar accumulation of fine granular eosinophilic and periodic acid-Schiff positive material.In a retrospective study, the composition of the intra-alveolarly accumulated material of adult patients with PAP was analysed by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.In patients with PAP, the current authors found an intra-alveolar accumulation of surfactant protein (SP)-A, precursors of SP-B, SP-B, variable amounts of mono-, di-, and oligomeric SP-C forms, as well as SP-D. Only in one patient was a precursor of SP-C detected. By means of immuno-electron microscopy, the current authors identified not only transport vesicles labelled for precursors of SP-B and SP-C, but also transport vesicles containing either precursors of SP-B or SP-C in type-II pneumocytes in normal human lungs.It is concluded that pulmonary alveolar proteinosis in adults is characterised by an intra-alveolar accumulation of surfactant protein A, precursors of surfactant protein B, and surfactant proteins B, C and D. The current data provide evidence that not only an impairment of surfactant clearance by alveolar macrophages, but also an abnormal secretion of transport vesicles containing precursors of surfactant protein B (but not surfactant protein C) and an insufficient palmitoylation of surfactant protein C, which may lead to the formation of di- and oligomeric surfactant protein C forms, play a role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.
Can psychological factors help us to determine adherence to CPAP? A prospective study
Authors: Wild M.R. , Engleman H.M. , Douglas N.J. , Espie C.A. 
Published: September 2004

The present study objective was to establish whether pretreatment social cognitive variables may contribute to the explanation of variance in adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS).A total of 119 of 180 consecutive OSAHS patients were recruited to the study prior to initial CPAP titration. Patients completed psychological measures of health value, health locus of control (incorporating internality, chance, powerful others) and self-efficacy prior to CPAP titration. Objective adherence data were measured by CPAP unit time clocks and collected at 3-month follow-up. Average nightly use was calculated over this period.Logistic regression of prospective predictors of adherence produced a model comprising psychological (health value, internality, powerful others), as well as clinical variables (Epworth score, body mass index, apnoea/hypopnoea index, CPAP pressure). This model explained 24% of the variance in CPAP use, and correctly identified 75% of adherers and 53% of nonadherers.Although the psychological variables explained only a small amount of the overall variance in adherence behaviour, this result provides further support for the hypothesis that psychological variables contribute, in part, to continuous positive airway pressure adherence. Future research should focus on highlighting discrete variables, which may helpfully inform psychologically based interventions aimed at improving the use of continuous positive airway pressure by patients with obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome at risk of discontinuance.
Dynamic hyperinflation and tolerance to interval exercise in patients with advanced COPD
Authors: Vogiatzis I. , Nanas S. , Kastanakis E. , Georgiadou O. , Papazahou O. , Roussos Ch. 
Published: September 2004

Dynamic hyperinflation (DH) contributes importantly to the limitation of constant-load exercise (CLE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, its role in the limitation of interval exercise (IE) remains to be explored.The change (Δ) in inspiratory capacity (IC) was measured to reflect changes in DH in 27 COPD patients (forced expiratory volume in one second mean±sem% predicted: 40±3) at the end of a symptom-limited CLE test at 80% of peak work capacity (WRmax) and an IE test at 100% WRmax(30 s of work, alternated with 30 s of unloaded pedalling).At the limit of tolerance in both IE and CLE, patients exhibited similar DH (ΔIC: 0.39±0.05 L and 0.45±0.05 L, respectively). However, exercise endurance time (tend) for IE (32.7±3.0 min) was significantly greater than for CLE (10.3±1.6 min). The IEtendcorrelated with resting IC, expressed as % pred normal. At 30 and 90% of total IEtend, ΔIC (0.43±0.06 and 0.39±0.05 L, respectively) and minute ventilation (31.1±1.6 and 32.7±2.2 L·min−1, respectively) were not significantly different.Resting hyperinflation helps to explain the limitation of interval exercise. Implementation of interval exercise for rehabilitation should provide important clinical benefits because it prolongs exercise endurance time and allows sustaining higher stable ventilation.
Home respiratory polygraphy for diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing in heart failure
Authors: Quintana-Gallego E. , Villa-Gil M. , Carmona-Bernal C. , Botebol-Benhamou G. , Martínez-Martínez Á. , Sánchez-Armengol Á. , Polo-Padillo J. , Capote F. 
Published: September 2004

The present study assessed the usefulness of home cardiorespiratory polygraphy as an alternative to overnight polysomnography for the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing in heart failure.A total of 75 patients with chronic stable heart failure due to systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤45%) underwent polysomnography at the Virgen del Rocio Hospital and cardiorespiratory polygraphy at home. The two studies were performed in random order and within 30 days. The accuracy of polygraphical findings was determined by sensitivity and specificity obtained by area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves for apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) thresholds of ≥5, ≥10 and ≥15 in the polysomnography.The area under the ROC curve for AHI ≥5, ≥10 and ≥15 was 0.896, 0.907 and 0.862, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of polygraphy compared with polysomnography ranged 78.6–84%, with sensitivities of 68.4–82.5%, and specificities of 88.6–97.8% for the different AHI thresholds. Altogether, 29 patients had an AHI ≥10 (central pattern 24, obstructive pattern 5). Sensitivity and specificity of home polygraphy for identifying the sleep-disordered breathing pattern was 100%.These data show that home cardiorespiratory polygraphy has a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing associated with heart failure.
XHM: A system for detection of potential cross hybridizations in DNA microarrays
Authors: Flikka Kristian , Yadetie Fekadu , Laegreid Astrid , Jonassen Inge 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background
Microarrays have emerged as the preferred platform for high throughput gene expression analysis. Cross-hybridization among genes with high sequence similarities can be a source of error reducing the reliability of DNA microarray results.

Results
We have developed a tool called XHM (cross hybridization on microarrays) for assessment of the reliability of hybridization signals by detecting potential cross-hybridizations on DNA microarrays. This is done by comparing the sequences of the probes against an extensive database representing the transcriptome of the organism in question. XHM is available online at http://www.bioinfo.no/tools/xhm/.

Conclusions
Using XHM with its user-adjustable parameters will enable scientists to check their lists of differentially expressed genes from microarray experiments for potential cross-hybridizations. This provides information that may be useful in the validation of the microarray results.
Combined analysis of expression data and transcription factor binding sites in the yeast genome
Authors: Nagaraj Vijayalakshmi H , O'Flanagan Ruadhan A , Bruning Adrian R , Mathias Jonathan R , Vershon Andrew K , Sengupta Anirvan M 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background
The analysis of gene expression using DNA microarrays provides genome wide profiles of the genes controlled by the presence or absence of a specific transcription factor. However, the question arises of whether a change in the level of transcription of a specific gene is caused by the transcription factor acting directly at the promoter of the gene or through regulation of other transcription factors working at the promoter.

Results
To address this problem we have devised a computational method that combines microarray expression and site preference data. We have tested this approach by identifying functional targets of the a 1-α 2 complex, which represses haploid-specific genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Our analysis identified many known or suspected haploid-specific genes that are direct targets of the a 1-α 2 complex, as well as a number of previously uncharacterized targets. We were also able to identify a number of haploid-specific genes which do not appear to be direct targets of the a 1-α 2 complex, as well as a 1-α 2 target sites that do not repress transcription of nearby genes. Our method has a much lower false positive rate when compared to some of the conventional bioinformatic approaches.

Conclusions
These findings show advantages of combining these two forms of data to investigate the mechanism of co-regulation of specific sets of genes.
POSA: Perl Objects for DNA Sequencing Data Analysis
Authors: Aerts Jan A , Jungerius Bart J , Groenen Martien AM 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background
Capillary DNA sequencing machines allow the generation of vast amounts of data with little hands-on time. With this expansion of data generation, there is a growing need for automated data processing. Most available software solutions, however, still require user intervention or provide modules that need advanced informatics skills to allow implementation in pipelines.

Results
Here we present POSA, a pair of new perl objects that describe DNA sequence traces and Phrap contig assemblies in detail. Methods included in POSA include basecalling with quality scores (by Phred), contig assembly (by Phrap), generation of primer3 input and automated SNP annotation (by PolyPhred). Although easily implemented by users with only limited programming experience, these objects considerabily reduce hands-on analysis time compared to using the Staden package for extracting sequence information from raw sequencing files and for SNP discovery.

Conclusions
The POSA objects allow a flexible and easy design, implementation and usage of perl-based pipelines to handle and analyze DNA sequencing data, while requiring only minor programming skills.
Spontaneous activity of rat pretectal nuclear complex neurons in vitro
Authors: Prochnow Nora , Schmidt Matthias 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background
Neurons in the mammalian pretectum are involved in the control of various visual and oculomotor tasks. Because functionally independent pretectal cell populations show a wide variation of response types to visual stimulation in vivo, they may also differ in their intrinsic properties when recorded in vitro. We therefore performed whole-cell patch clamp recordings from neurons in the caudal third of the pretectal nuclear complex in frontal brain slices obtained from 3 to 6 week old hooded rats and tried to classify pretectal neurons electrophysiologically.

Results
Pretectal neurons showed various response types to intracellular depolarizations, including bursting and regular firing behavior. One population of pretectal nuclear complex neurons could be particularly distinguished from others because they displayed spontaneous activity in vitro. These cells had more positive resting potentials and higher input resistances than cells that were not spontaneously active. The maintained firing of spontaneously active pretectal cells was characterized by only small variances in interspike intervals and thus showed a regular temporal patterning. The firing rate was directly correlated to the membrane potential. Removing excitatory inputs by blockade of AMPA and/or NMDA receptors did not change the spontaneous activity. Simultaneous blockade of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic input by a substitution of extracellular calcium with cobalt neither changed the firing rate nor its temporal patterning. Each action potential was preceeded by a depolarizing inward current which was insensitive to calcium removal but which disappeared in the presence of tetrodotoxin.

Conclusions
Our results indicate that a specific subpopulation of pretectal neurons is capable of generating maintained activity in the absence of any external synaptic input. This maintained activity depends on a sodium conductance and is independent from calcium currents.
Malaria and anemia prevention in pregnant women of rural Burkina Faso
Authors: Miaffo Caroline , Some Florent , Kouyate Bocar , Jahn Albrecht , Mueller Olaf 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background
Pregnant women are a major risk group for malaria in endemic areas. Only little information exists on the compliance of pregnant women with malaria and anaemia preventive drug regimens in the rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In this study, we collected information on malaria and anaemia prevention behaviour in pregnant women of rural Burkina Faso.

Methods
Cross-sectional qualitative and quantitative survey among 225 women of eight villages in rural northwestern Burkina Faso. Four of the villages had a health centre offering antenatal care (ANC) services while the other four were more than five kilometers away from a health centre.

Results
Overall ANC coverage (at least one visit) was 71% (95% in health centre villages vs 50% in remote villages). Malaria and anaemia were considered as the biggest problems during pregnancy in this community. ANC using women were quite satisfied with the quality of services, and compliance with malaria and anaemia prevention regimens (chloroquine and iron/folic acid) was high in this population. Knowledge on the benefit of bed nets and good nutrition was less prominent. Distance, lack of money and ignorance were the main reasons for women to not attend ANC services.

Conclusions
There is an urgent need to improve access of rural SSA women to ANC services, either through increasing the number of rural health centres or establishing functioning outreach services. Moreover, alternative malaria and anaemia prevention programmes such as intermittent preventive treatment with effective antimalarials and the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets need to become implemented on a large scale.
Valgus and varus deformity after wide-local excision, brachytherapy and external beam irradiation in two children with lower extremity synovial cell sarcoma: case report
Authors: Fletcher Daniel T , Warner William C , Neel Michael D , Merchant Thomas E 
Published: September 2004

Abstract
Background
Limb-salvage is a primary objective in the management of extremity soft-tissue sarcoma in adults and children. Wide-local excision combined with radiation therapy is effective in achieving local tumor control with acceptable morbidity and good functional outcomes for most patients.

Case Presentation
Two cases of deformity after wide-local excision, brachytherapy and external beam irradiation for lower-extremity synovial cell sarcoma are presented and discussed to highlight contributing factors, time course of radiation effects and orthopedic management. In an effort to spare normal tissues from the long-term effects of radiation therapy, more focal irradiation techniques have been applied to patients with musculoskeletal tumors including brachytherapy and conformal radiation therapy. As illustrated in this report, the use of these techniques results in the asymmetric irradiation of growth plates and contributes to the development of valgus or varus deformity and leg-length discrepancies.

Conclusions
Despite good functional outcomes, progressive deformity in both patients required epiphysiodesis more than 3 years after initial management. There is a dearth of information related to the effects of radiation therapy on the musculoskeletal system in children. Because limb-sparing approaches are to be highlighted in the next generation of cooperative group protocols for children with musculoskeletal tumors, documentation of the effects of surgery and radiation therapy will lead to improved decision making in the selection of the best treatment approach and in the follow-up of these patients.