bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rapid Diagnosis of Pharyngitis Caused by Group A Streptococci
Authors: Gerber Michael A. , Shulman Stanford T. 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARY
Although commercial rapid antigen detection tests (RADTs) are more expensive than blood agar plate (BAP) cultures, the advantage they offer is the speed with which they provide results. Rapid identification and consequent prompt treatment of patients with pharyngitis due to group A beta-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) can reduce the risk of spread of GABHS, can allow patients to return to school or work sooner, and may reduce the acute morbidity of this illness. In most studies, RADTs have been compared with BAP cultures as the criterion standard. However, these comparisons are complicated by the fact that there is no universally accepted procedure for performing a BAP culture. The great majority of the RADTs that are currently available have a high specificity (i.e., 95% or greater) and a sensitivity of between 70 and 90% compared with BAP cultures. Few published studies have compared the performance of various RADTs to each other or examined the performance of various RADTs in the office setting. There is also relatively little published information about how physicians in practice actually use RADTs, but the available information suggests that many physicians do not follow recommended guidelines. While the development of easy-to-perform RADTs for the diagnosis of GABHS pharyngitis has altered clinical practice substantially, only limited data about cost-effectiveness are currently available.
Clinical Microbiology of Bacterial and Fungal Sepsis in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants
Authors: Kaufman David , Fairchild Karen D. 
Published: July 2004

SUMMARYTwenty percent of very-low-birth-weight (<1500 g) preterm infants experience a serious systemic infection, and despite advances in neonatal intensive care and antimicrobials, mortality is as much as threefold higher for these infants who develop sepsis than their counterparts without sepsis during their hospitalization. Outcomes may be improved by preventative strategies, earlier and accurate diagnosis, and adjunct therapies to combat infection and protect the vulnerable preterm infant during an infection. Earlier diagnosis on the basis of factors such as abnormal heart rate characteristics may offer the ability to initiate treatment prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. Molecular and adjunctive diagnostics may also aid in diagnosing invasive infection when clinical symptoms indicate infection but no organisms are isolated in culture. Due to the high morbidity and mortality, preventative and adjunctive therapies are needed. Prophylaxis has been effective in preventing early-onset group B streptococcal sepsis and late-onsetCandidasepsis. Future research in prophylaxis using active and passive immunization strategies offers prevention without the risk of resistance to antimicrobials. Identification of the differences in neonatal intensive care units with low and high infection rates and implementation of infection control measures remain paramount in each neonatal intensive care unit caring for preterm infants.
Increased urinary excretion of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in engine room personnel exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Nilsson R , Nordlinder R , Moen B E , Øvrebø S , Bleie K , Skorve A H , Hollund B E , Tagesson C 
Published: July 2004

Background:Previous investigations indicate that engine room personnel on ships are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from oil and oil products, with dermal uptake as the major route of exposure. Several PAH are known carcinogens and mutagens.Aims:To investigate the urinary excretion of a marker for oxidative DNA damage, 8-hydroxydeoxy-guanosine (8OHdG), in engine room personnel, and to study the association between 8OHdG and 1-hydroxypyrene (1OHP), a biological marker for PAH exposure.Methods:Urine samples were collected from engine room personnel (n = 36) on 10 Swedish and Norwegian ships and from unexposed controls (n = 34) with similar age and smoking habits. The exposure to oils, engine exhaust, and tobacco smoke 24 hours prior to sampling was estimated from questionnaires. The urinary samples were frozen for later analyses of 8OHdG and 1OHP by high performance liquid chromatography.Results:Excretion in urine of 8OHdG (adjusted to density 1.022) was similar for controls (mean 18.0 nmol/l, n = 33), and for those who had been in the engine room without skin contact with oils (mean 18.7 nmol/l, n = 15). Engine room personnel who reported skin contact with oil had increased excretion of 8OHdG (mean 23.2 nmol/l, n = 19). The difference between this group and the unexposed controls was significant. The urinary levels of ln 1OHP and ln 8OHdG were significantly correlated, and the association was still highly significant when the effects of smoking and age were accounted for in a multiple regression analysis.Conclusion:Results indicate that exposure to PAH or possibly other compounds from skin contact with oils in engine rooms may cause oxidative DNA damage.
Determination of serum IgG antibodies toBacillus anthracisprotective antigen in environmental sampling workers using a fluorescent covalent microsphere immunoassay
Authors: Biagini R E , Sammons D L , Smith J P , Page E H , Snawder J E , Striley C A F , MacKenzie B A 
Published: July 2004

Aims:To evaluate potential exposure toBacillis anthracis(Ba) spores in sampling/decontamination workers in the aftermath of an anthrax terror attack.Methods:Fifty six serum samples were obtained from workers involved in environmental sampling forBaspores at the American Media, Inc. (AMI) building in Boca Raton, FL after the anthrax attack there in October 2001. Nineteen sera were drawn from individuals both pre-entry and several weeks after entrance into the building. Nine sera each were drawn from unique individuals at the pre-entry and follow up blood draws. Thirteen donor control sera were also evaluated. Individuals were surveyed forBaexposure by measurement of serumBaanti-protective antigen (PA) specific IgG antibodies using a newly developed fluorescent covalent microsphere immunoassay (FCMIA).Results:Four sera gave positive anti-PA IgG results (defined as anti-PA IgG concentrations ⩾ the mean μg/ml anti-PA IgG from donor control sera (n = 13 plus 2 SD which were also inhibited ⩾ 85% when the serum was pre-adsorbed with PA). The positive sera were the pre-entry and follow up samples of two workers who had received their last dose of anthrax vaccine in 2000.Conclusion:It appears that the sampling/decontamination workers of the present study either had insufficient exposure toBaspores to cause the production of anti-PA IgG antibodies or they were exposed to anthrax spores without producing antibody. The FCMIA appears to be a fast, sensitive, accurate, and precise method for the measurement of anti-PA IgG antibodies.
Urinary excretion half life of trichloroacetic acid as a biomarker of exposure to chlorinated drinking water disinfection by-products: Figure 1
Authors: Bader E L , Hrudey S E , Froese K L 
Published: July 2004

Aims:To measure accurately urinary elimination half life of trichloroacetic acid (TCAA).Methods:A longitudinal pilot exposure/intervention study measured the elimination half life of TCAA in urine. Beverage consumption was limited to a public water supply and bottled water of known TCAA concentration, and ingestion volume was managed. The five participants limited fluid consumption to only the water provided. Consumption journals were kept by each participant and their daily first morning urine (FMU) samples were analysed for TCAA and creatinine. TCAA elimination half life curves were generated from a two week washout period using TCAA-free bottled water.Results:Individual elimination half lives ranged from 2.1 to 6.3 days, for single compartment exponential decay, the model which fit the data.Conclusion:Urinary TCAA is persistent enough to be viable as a biomarker of medium term (days) exposure to drinking water TCAA ingestion within a range of realistic concentrations.
Mortality and cancer incidence among alachlor manufacturing workers 1968–99
Authors: Acquavella J F , Delzell E , Cheng H , Lynch C F , Johnson G 
Published: July 2004

Background:Alachlor is the active ingredient in pre-emergent herbicide formulations that have been used widely on corn, soybeans, and other crops. It has been found to cause nasal, stomach, and thyroid tumours in rodent feeding studies at levels that are much higher than likely human exposures.Aims:To evaluate mortality rates from 1968 to 1999 and cancer incidence rates from 1969 to 1999 for alachlor manufacturing workers at a plant in Muscatine, Iowa.Methods:Worker mortality and cancer incidence rates were compared to corresponding rates for the Iowa state general population. Analyses addressed potential intensity and duration of exposure.Results:For workers with any period of high alachlor exposure, mortality from all causes combined was lower than expected (42 observed deaths, SMR 64, 95% CI 46 to 86) and cancer mortality was slightly lower than expected (13 observed deaths, SMR 79, 95% CI 42 to 136). Cancer incidence for workers with potential high exposure was similar to that for Iowa residents, both overall (29 observed cases, SIR 123, 95% CI 82 to 177) and for workers exposed for five or more years and with at least 15 years since first exposure (eight observed cases, SIR 113, 95% CI 49 to 224). There were no cases of nasal, stomach, or thyroid cancer.Conclusions:There were no cancers of the types found in toxicology studies and no discernible relation between cancer incidence for any site and years of alachlor exposure or time since first exposure. Despite the small size of this population, the findings are important because these workers had chronic exposure potential during extended manufacturing campaigns, while use in agriculture is typically limited to a few days or weeks each year.
Evaluation of the protective effectiveness of gloves from occupational exposure to 2-methoxyethanol using the biomarkers of 2-methoxyacetic acid levels in the urine and plasma
Authors: Chang H-Y , Lin C-C , Shih T-S , Chan H , Chou J-S , Huang Y-S 
Published: July 2004

Aims:To evaluate the protective effectiveness of gloves from occupational exposure to 2-methoxyethanol (2-ME); and to examine the association of 2-methoxyacetic acid (MAA) in urine and plasma collected simultaneously from low 2-ME exposure and high 2-ME exposure workers in a semiconductor copper laminate circuit board manufacturing plant.Methods:Eight hour time weighted breathing zone monitoring was performed to verify the 2-ME exposure classification between workers in regular and special operations. Urine and plasma samples were simultaneously collected from 74 exposed and 80 non-exposed workers. MAA concentrations in the urine (UMAA) and plasma (PMAA) were measured using previously published methods. Three types of gloves worn by workers (cotton, rubber, and no gloves) were recorded by direct observations in the workplace and validated by person-to-person interview. Protective effectiveness indices (PEI) were used to evaluate the glove effectiveness.Results:There was no detectable 2-ME/MAA in the air, or in urine and plasma samples in non-exposed workers. The average UMAA and PMAA in special operations were 72.63 mg/g Cr. and 29.72 mg/l, significantly higher than values in regular operations (5.44 mg/g Cr. and 2.58 mg/l, respectively). PMAA showed satisfactory correlation to UMAA in all participants from both regular and special operations. The rubber gloves provided significant reduction in 2-ME uptake, whereas cotton gloves provided little protection with fluctuating effectiveness, based on PEI estimates.Conclusions:PMAA, similar to UMAA, could serve as a specific biomarker for 2-ME exposure. Wearing impermeable rubber gloves during high risk tasks can reduce major 2-ME exposure. Other improvements, including engineering control, should be provided to diminish worker exposure to 2-ME in occupational environments.
No association between the use of cellular or cordless telephones and salivary gland tumours
Authors: Hardell L , Hallquist A , Hansson Mild K , Carlberg M , Gertzén H , Schildt E-B , Dahlqvist Å 
Published: July 2004

Aim:To investigate the association between the use of cellular or cordless telephones and the risk for salivary gland tumours.Methods:Cases were assessed from the six regional cancer registries in Sweden. Four controls matched for sex and age in five year age groups were selected for each case. A total of 293 living cases and 1172 controls were included.Results:There were 267 (91%) participating cases and 1053 (90%) controls. Overall no significantly increased risk was found. Odds ratios were 0.92 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.44) for use of analogue phones, 1.01 (95% CI 0.68 to 1.50) for use of digital phones, and 0.99 (95% CI 0.68 to 1.43) for use of cordless phones. Similar results were found for different salivary gland localisations. No effect of tumour induction period or latency was seen, although few subjects reported use for more than 10 years.Conclusions:No association between the use of cellular or cordless phones and salivary gland tumours was found, although this study does not permit conclusions for long term heavy use.
Assessing and intervening on OSH programmes: effectiveness evaluation of the Wellworks-2 intervention in 15 manufacturing worksites
Authors: LaMontagne A D , Barbeau E , Youngstrom R A , Lewiton M , Stoddard A M , McLellan D , Wallace L M , Sorensen G 
Published: July 2004

Aims:(1) To develop a transparent and broadly applicable method for assessing occupational safety and health (OSH) programmes or management systems; (2) to assess OSH programmes in a sample of manufacturing worksites; and (3) to determine whether a management focused occupational health intervention results in greater improvement in OSH programmes compared to minimal intervention controls.Methods:OSH programmes were assessed using an adaptation of the US Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s 1995 Program Evaluation Profile. Scores were generated from 91 binary indicator variables grouped under four “Essential Elements”. Essential Element scores were weighted to contribute to an overall programme score on a 100 point scale. Seventeen large manufacturing worksites were assessed at baseline; 15 sites completed the 16 month intervention and follow up assessments.Results:There was considerable variation in Essential Element scores across sites at baseline as judged by our instrument, particularly in “management commitment and employee participation” and “workplace analysis”. Most sites scored highly on “hazard prevention and control” and “training and education”. For overall OSH programme scores, most sites scored in the 60–80% range at baseline, with four sites scoring below 60%, suggesting weak programmes. Intervention sites showed greater improvements than controls in the four programme elements and in overall programme scores, with significantly greater improvements in “management commitment and employee participation”.Conclusions:The OSH programme assessment method used is broadly applicable to manufacturing work settings, and baseline profiles suggest needs for improvement in OSH programmes in most such worksites. Despite a small sample size, results showed that sustained management focused intervention can result in improvement in these OSH programme measures.
Asymptomatic sensitisation to grapes in a sample of workers in the wine industry: Table 1
Authors: Kalogeromitros D , Rigopoulos D , Gregoriou S , Mousatou V , Lyris N , Papaioannou D , Katsarou-Katsari A 
Published: July 2004

Aims:To assess the prevalence of sensitisation to grapes (Vitis viniferavar.agiorghitiko) in a population with repeated exposure to grape allergens through direct cutaneous contact as well as through the gastrointestinal tract.Methods:One hundred and twenty subjects were enrolled in each of four groups: grape harvesters, winery workers in selection of grapes, winery workers operating de-stemming/crushing/pressing machines, and administrative personnel. Sensitisation to grapes was examined by skin prick-to-prick tests with fresh fruit and juice.Results:Eight harvesters and five workers in grape selection had positive reaction to the grapes tested. No machine operators or administrative personnel had positive tests. The likelihood of sensitisation was estimated at 3.7% per year of occupation by logistic regression analysis. None of the employees reported symptoms associated with sensitisation to grapes.Conclusion:Asymptomatic sensitisation to grapes was detected only in workers handling the fruit, suggesting that sensitisation is more likely to occur through cutaneous exposure and/or minor wounding than through the gastrointestinal tract. Prevalence rates were high and the clinical impact needs to be further investigated.
TWO NOVEL INTEGRATED OPTICAL SENSOR TYPES FOR MEASURING CHEMICAL CONCENTRATIONS, BASED ON CHEMICALLY INDUCED CHANGES OF MODAL FIELD PROFILES
Authors: LAMBECK PAUL V. , HOEKSTRA HUGO J. W. M. , VAN LITH JORIS , VAN ELZAKKER GIJS 
Published: July 2004

Two novel principles of sensing chemical concentrations by integrated optical sensors are presented. Both sensors are of the refractive type implying that a change of chemical concentration manifests itself as a change of the refractive index of a material located within the field profile of a guided mode. In contrast to common practice it is not the induced change of the effective refractive index N eff , but the change of the modal field profiles that is utilized for sensing, and here the changes of the refractive index finally show up as changes of the attenuation of a propagating mode. In the segmented waveguide sensor (SWS) the dependence of the modal transfer at the transition between two adjacent channel segments on the refractive index distributions of both segments is exploited while the second one relies on changes of the modal absorption as a result of a change of the penetration of the modal field into an absorptive region. Sensitivity and resolution-potential of both principles have been analyzed theoretically also taking into account the properties of peripheral equipment. Based on structures producible with SiON technology a SWS with a refractive index resolution of 5×10-7 can be easily designed. In an implementation of the second principle suited for immuno-sensing, a resolution in the thickness of the immuno-layer better than 10-4 nm is shown to be theoretically feasible. A SWS sensor has been realized; theoretically and experimentally obtained performance corresponds well to each other.
Accessory cell function of airway epithelial cells
Authors: Oei Erwin , Kalb Thomas , Beuria Prarthana , Allez Matthieu , Nakazawa Atsushi , Azuma Miyuki , Timony Michael , Stuart Zanetta , Chen Houchu , Sperber Kirk 
Published: July 2004

Oei, Erwin, Thomas Kalb, Prarthana Beuria, Matthieu Allez, Atsushi Nakazawa, Miyuki Azuma, Michael Timony, Zanetta Stuart, Houchu Chen, and Kirk Sperber. Accessory cell function of airway epithelial cells.We previously demonstrated that airway epithelial cells (AECs) have many features of accessory cells, including expression of class II molecules CD80 and CD86 and functional Fcγ receptors. We have extended these studies to show that freshly isolated AECs have mRNA for cathepsins S, V, and H [proteases important in antigen (Ag) presentation], invariant chain, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DM-α and HLA-DM-β, and CLIP, an invariant chain breakdown product. A physiologically relevant Ag, ragweed, was colocalized with HLA-DR in AECs, and its uptake was increased by granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IFN-γ treatments, which had no effect on CD80 and CD86 expression. We demonstrate the presence of other costimulatory molecules, including B7h and B7-H1, on AECs and the increased expression of B7-H1 on AECs after treatment with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and IFN-γ. Finally, we compared T cell proliferation after allostimulation with AECs and dendritic cells (DCs). The precursor frequency of peripheral blood T cells responding to AECs was 0.264% compared with 0.55% for DCs. DCs stimulated CD45RO+, CD45RA+, CCR7+and CCR7−CD4+, and CD8+T cells, whereas AECs stimulated only CD45RO+, CD45RA−, CCR7−, CD4+, and CD8+T cells. There was no difference in cytokine production, type of memory T cells stimulated (effector vs. long-term memory), or apoptosis by T cells cocultured with AECs and DCs. The localization of AECs exposed to the external environment may make them important in the regulation of local immune responses.
Minocycline Exerts Multiple Inhibitory Effects on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor–Induced Smooth Muscle Cell Migration
Authors: Yao Jianhua S. , Chen Yongmei , Zhai Wenwu , Xu Kaiyan , Young William L. , Yang Guo-Yuan 
Published: July 2004

Widely used tetracycline antibiotics affect many cellular functions relevant to human vascular disease including cell proliferation, migration, and matrix remodeling. We examined whether minocycline inhibited human aortic smooth muscle cell (HASMC) migration induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
After the establishment of an optimal dose, minocycline treated HASMC were exposed to VEGF. HASMC migration, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activities, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) phosphorylation were determined by smooth muscle cell (SMC) invasion assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction, zymograms, and Western blot analysis, respectively.

We demonstrated that VEGF and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced SMC migration in a dose-dependent manner. MMP-9, but not MMP-2, mRNA was increased during VEGF stimulation. MMP-9 activity was increased from 1.5- to 2.5-fold in a dose-dependent manner (
P
<0.05). Both ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKt pathways were activated during VEGF-induced HASMCs migration. We then demonstrated that minocycline can inhibit VEGF-induced HASMC migration (
P
<0.05). The effects may be through the inhibition of MMP-9 mRNA transcription, protein activities and downregulation of ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt pathway phosphorylation.

Our results indicated that minocycline exerts multiple effects on VEGF-induced SMC migration, including inhibition of MMP-9 mRNA transcription and protein activities and downregulating ERK1/2 and PI3K signal pathways, suggesting minocycline may be a potentially therapeutic approach to inhibit disease process induced angiogenesis.