bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The association between clinical integration of care and transfer of veterans with acute coronary syndromes from primary care VHA hospitals
Authors: Sales Anne E , Pineros Sandra L , Magid David J , Every Nathan R , Sharp Nancy D , Rumsfeld John S 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
Background
Few studies report on the effect of organizational factors facilitating transfer between primary and tertiary care hospitals either within an integrated health care system or outside it. In this paper, we report on the relationship between degree of clinical integration of cardiology services and transfer rates of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients from primary to tertiary hospitals within and outside the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system.

Methods
Prospective cohort study. Transfer rates were obtained for all patients with ACS diagnoses admitted to 12 primary VHA hospitals between 1998 and 1999. Binary variables measuring clinical integration were constructed for each primary VHA hospital reflecting: presence of on-site VHA cardiologist; referral coordinator at the associated tertiary VHA hospital; and/or referral coordinator at the primary VHA hospital. We assessed the association between the integration variables and overall transfer from primary to tertiary hospitals, using random effects logistic regression, controlling for clustering at two levels and adjusting for patient characteristics.

Results
Three of twelve hospitals had a VHA cardiologist on site, six had a referral coordinator at the tertiary VHA hospital, and four had a referral coordinator at the primary hospital. Presence of a VHA staff cardiologist on site and a referral coordinator at the tertiary VHA hospital decreased the likelihood of any transfer (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.27–0.77, and 0.46, p = 0.002, CI 0.27–0.78). Conversely, having a referral coordinator at the primary VHA hospital increased the likelihood of transfer (OR 6.28, CI 2.92–13.48).

Conclusions
Elements of clinical integration are associated with transfer, an important process in the care of ACS patients. In promoting optimal patient care, clinical integration factors should be considered in addition to patient characteristics.
Nutrition education: a questionnaire for assessment and teaching
Authors: Makowske Mary , Feinman Richard D 
Published: January 2005

AbstractIt is generally recognized that there is a need for improved teaching of nutrition in medical schools and for increased education of the general population. A questionnaire, derived in part from a study of physician knowledge, was administered to first year medical students in order to assess their knowledge of various aspects of nutrition and metabolism, and as a teaching tool to transmit information about the subject. The performance of first year students was consistent with a generally educated population but there were surprising deficits in some fundamental areas of nutrition. Results of the questionnaire are informative about student knowledge, and immediate reinforcement from a questionnaire may provide a useful teaching tool. In addition, some of the subject matter can serve as a springboard for discussion of critical issues in nutrition such as obesity and markers for cardiovascular disease. A major barrier to improved teaching of nutrition is the lack of agreement on some of these critical issues and there are apparent inconsistencies in recommendations of government and health agencies. It seems reasonable that improved teaching should address the lack of knowledge of nutrition, rather than knowledge of official guidelines. Student awareness of factual information should be the primary goal.
A remission spectroscopy system for in vivomonitoring of hemoglobin oxygen saturation in murine hepatic sinusoids, in early systemic inflammation
Authors: Wunder Christian , Brock Robert W , Krug Alfons , Roewer Norbert , Eichelbrönner Otto 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
Background
During the early stages of systemic inflammation, the liver integrity is compromised by microcirculatory disturbances and subsequent hepatocellular injury. Little is known about the relationship between the hemoglobin oxygen saturation (HbsO2) in sinusoids and the hepatocellular mitochondrial redox state, in early systemic inflammation. In a murine model of early systemic inflammation, we have explored the association between the sinusoidal HbsO2 detected with a remission spectroscopy system and 1.) the NAD(P)H autofluorescence (an indicator of the intracellular mitochondrial redox state) and 2.) the markers of hepatocellular injury.

Results
Animals submitted to 1 hour bilateral hindlimb ischemia (I) and 3 hours of reperfusion (R) (3.0 h I/R) exhibited lower HbsO2 values when compared with sham. Six hours I/R (1 hour bilateral hindlimb ischemia and 6 hours of reperfusion) and the continuous infusion of endothelin-1 (ET-1) further aggravated the hypoxia in HbsO2. The detected NAD(P)H autofluorescence correlated with the detected HbsO2 values and showed the same developing. Three hours I/R resulted in elevated NAD(P)H autofluorescence compared with sham animals. Animals after 6.0 h I/R and continuous infusion of ET-1 revealed higher NAD(P)H autofluorescence compared with 3.0 h I/R animals. Overall the analysed HbsO2 values correlated with all markers of hepatocellular injury.

Conclusion
During the early stages of systemic inflammation, there is a significant decrease in hepatic sinusoidal HbsO2. In parallel, we detected an increasing NAD(P)H autofluorescence representing an intracellular inadequate oxygen supply. Both changes are accompanied by increasing markers of liver cell injury. Therefore, remission spectroscopy in combination with NAD(P)H autofluorescence provides information on the oxygen distribution, the metabolic state and the mitochondrial redox potential, within the mouse liver.
Phase I vaccination trial of SYT-SSX junction peptide in patients with disseminated synovial sarcoma
Authors: Kawaguchi Satoshi , Wada Takuro , Ida Kazunori , Sato Yuriko , Nagoya Satoshi , Tsukahara Tomohide , Kimura Sigeharu , Sahara Hiroeki , Ikeda Hideyuki , Shimozawa Kumiko , Asanuma Hiroko , Torigoe Toshihiko , Hiraga Hiroaki , Ishii Takeshi , Tatezaki Shin-ichiro , Sato Noriyuki , Yamashita Toshihiko 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
Background
Synovial sarcoma is a high-grade malignant tumor of soft tissue, characterized by the specific chromosomal translocation t(X;18), and its resultant SYT-SSX fusion gene. Despite intensive multimodality therapy, the majority of metastatic or relapsed diseases still remain incurable, thus suggesting a need for new therapeutic options. We previously demonstrated the antigenicity of SYT-SSX gene-derived peptides by in vitro analyses. The present study was designed to evaluate in vivo immunological property of a SYT-SSX junction peptide in selected patients with synovial sarcoma.

Methods
A 9-mer peptide (SYT-SSX B: GYDQIMPKK) spanning the SYT-SSX fusion region was synthesized. Eligible patients were those (i) who have histologically and genetically confirmed, unresectable synovial sarcoma (SYT-SSX1 or SYT-SSX2 positive), (ii) HLA-A*2402 positive, (iii) between 20 and 70 years old, (iv) ECOG performance status between 0 and 3, and (v) who gave informed consent. Vaccinations with SYT-SSX B peptide (0.1 mg or 1.0 mg) were given subcutaneously six times at 14-day intervals. These patients were evaluated for DTH skin test, adverse events, tumor size, tetramer staining, and peptide-specific CTL induction.

Results
A total of 16 vaccinations were carried out in six patients. The results were (i) no serious adverse effects or DTH reactions, (ii) suppression of tumor progression in one patient, (iii) increases in the frequency of peptide-specific CTLs in three patients and a decrease in one patient, and (iv) successful induction of peptide-specific CTLs from four patients.

Conclusions
Our findings indicate the safety of the SYT-SSX junction peptide in the use of vaccination and also give support to the property of the peptide to evoke in vivo immunological responses. Modification of both the peptide itself and the related protocol is required to further improve the therapeutic efficacy.
Gene expression profiling of melanoma cells – searching the haystack
Authors: Brafford Patricia , Herlyn Meenhard 
Published: January 2005

AbstractCancer is being increasingly recognized as a very heterogeneous disease, both within an individual tumor and within a tumor type and among tumor types. This heterogeneity is manifested both at the genetic and phenotypic level and determines the progression of disease and response to therapy. It is possible to see the heterogeneity in examples of differential disease progression and response to therapy of the same tumor type, as morphology does not always reveal underlying biology. The diagnosis of tumors by histopathological and morphological criteria cannot fully account for the variability seen in prognosis and therapy outcome. Here we review some recent concepts that have emerged from the genetic analysis of metastatic melanoma.
Construction of predictive promoter models on the example of antibacterial response of human epithelial cells
Authors: Shelest Ekaterina , Wingender Edgar 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
Background
Binding of a bacteria to a eukaryotic cell triggers a complex network of interactions in and between both cells. P. aeruginosa is a pathogen that causes acute and chronic lung infections by interacting with the pulmonary epithelial cells. We use this example for examining the ways of triggering the response of the eukaryotic cell(s), leading us to a better understanding of the details of the inflammatory process in general.

Results
Considering a set of genes co-expressed during the antibacterial response of human lung epithelial cells, we constructed a promoter model for the search of additional target genes potentially involved in the same cell response. The model construction is based on the consideration of pair-wise combinations of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS).
It has been shown that the antibacterial response of human epithelial cells is triggered by at least two distinct pathways. We therefore supposed that there are two subsets of promoters activated by each of them. Optimally, they should be "complementary" in the sense of appearing in complementary subsets of the (+)-training set. We developed the concept of complementary pairs, i.e., two mutually exclusive pairs of TFBS, each of which should be found in one of the two complementary subsets.

Conclusions
We suggest a simple, but exhaustive method for searching for TFBS pairs which characterize the whole (+)-training set, as well as for complementary pairs. Applying this method, we came up with a promoter model of antibacterial response genes that consists of one TFBS pair which should be found in the whole training set and four complementary pairs.
We applied this model to screening of 13,000 upstream regions of human genes and identified 430 new target genes which are potentially involved in antibacterial defense mechanisms.
Article processing charges, funding, and open access publishing at Journal of Experimental & Clinical Assisted Reproduction
Authors: Sills Eric Scott , Vincent Tina Thibault , Palermo Gianpiero D 
Published: January 2005

Abstract

Journal of Experimental & Clinical Assisted Reproduction is an Open Access, online, electronic journal published by BioMed Central with full contents available to the scientific and medical community free of charge to all readers. Authors maintain the copyright to their own work, a policy facilitating dissemination of data to the widest possible audience without requiring permission from the publisher. This Open Access publishing model is subsidized by authors (or their institutions/funding agencies) in the form of a single £330 article processing charge (APC), due at the time of manuscript acceptance for publication. Payment of the APC is not a condition for formal peer review and does not apply to articles rejected after review. Additionally, this fee is waived for authors whose institutions are BioMed Central members or where genuine financial hardship exists. Considering ordinary publication fees related to page charges and reprints, the APC at Journal of Experimental & Clinical Assisted Reproduction is comparable to costs associated with publishing in some traditional print journals, and is less expensive than many. Implementation of the APC within this Open Access framework is envisioned as a modern research-friendly policy that supports networking among investigators, brings new research into reach rapidly, and empowers authors with greater control over their own scholarly publications.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme 2003–2004
Authors: Harvey Ken J 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) grew by 8% in 2003–04; a slower rate than the 12.0% pa average growth over the last decade. Nevertheless, the sustainability of the Scheme remained an ongoing concern given an aging population and the continued introduction of useful (but increasingly expensive) new medicines. There was also concern that the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement could place further pressure on the Scheme. In 2003, as in 2002, the government proposed a 27% increase in PBS patient co-payments and safety-net thresholds in order to transfer more of the cost of the PBS from the government to consumers. While this measure was initially blocked by the Senate, the forthcoming election resulted in the Labor Party eventually supporting this policy. Recommendations of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee to list, not list or defer a decision to list a medicine on the PBS were made publicly available for the first time and the full cost of PBS medicines appeared on medicine labels if the price was greater than the co-payment. Pharmaceutical reform in Victorian public hospitals designed to minimise PBS cost-shifting was evaluated and extended to other States and Territories. Programs promoting the quality use of medicines were further developed coordinated by the National Prescribing Service, Australian Divisions of General Practice and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. The extensive uptake of computerised prescribing software by GPs produced benefits but also problems. The latter included pharmaceutical promotion occurring at the time of prescribing, failure to incorporate key sources of objective therapeutic information in the software and gross variation in the ability of various programs to detect important drug-drug interactions. These issues remain to be tackled.
Multilevel examination of minor salivary gland biopsy for Sjögren's syndrome significantly improves diagnostic performance of AECG classification criteria
Authors: Morbini Patrizia , Manzo Antonio , Caporali Roberto , Epis Oscar , Villa Chiara , Tinelli Carmine , Solcia Enrico , Montecucco Carlomaurizio 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe recently observed low reproducibility of focus score (FS) assessment at different section depths in a series of single minor salivary gland biopsies highlighted the need for a standardized protocol of extensive histopathological examination of such biopsies in Sjögren's syndrome. For this purpose, a cumulative focus score (cFS) was evaluated on three slides cut at 200-μm intervals from each of a series of 120 salivary biopsies. The cFS was substituted for the baseline FS in the American–European Consensus Group (AECG) criteria set for Sjögren's syndrome classification, and then test specificity and sensitivity were assessed against clinical patient re-evaluation. Test performances of the AECG classification with the original FS and the score obtained after multilevel examination were statistically compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The diagnostic performance of AECG classification significantly improved when the cFS was entered in the AECG classification; the improvement was mostly due to increased specificity in biopsies with a baseline FS ≥ 1 but <2. The assessment of a cFS obtained at three different section levels on minor salivary gland biopsies can be useful especially in biopsies with baseline FSs between 1 and 2.
Endothelin-1 in osteoarthritic chondrocytes triggers nitric oxide production and upregulates collagenase production
Authors: Manacu Christina Alexandra , Martel-Pelletier Johanne , Roy-Beaudry Marjolaine , Pelletier Jean-Pierre , Fernandes Julio C , Shipkolye Fazool S , Mitrovic Dragoslav R , Moldovan Florina 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThe mechanism of endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, MMP-1 production and MMP-13 production was investigated in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes. The cells were isolated from human articular cartilage obtained at surgery and were cultured in the absence or presence of ET-1 with or without inhibitors of protein kinase or LY83583 (an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase and of cGMP). MMP-1, MMP-13 and NO levels were then measured by ELISA and Griess reaction, respectively. Additionally, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and phosphorylated forms of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, p44/42, stress-activated protein kinase/Jun-N-terminal kinase and serine-threonine Akt kinase were determined by western blot. Results show that ET-1 greatly increased MMP-1 and MMP-13 production, iNOS expression and NO release. LY83583 decreased the production of both metalloproteases below basal levels, whereas the inhibitor of p38 kinase, SB202190, suppressed ET-1-stimulated production only. Similarly, the ET-1-induced NO production was partially suppressed by the p38 kinase inhibitor and was completely suppressed by the protein kinase A kinase inhibitor KT5720 and by LY83583, suggesting the involvement of these enzymes in relevant ET-1 signalling pathways. In human osteoarthritis chondrocytes, ET-1 controls the production of MMP-1 and MMP-13. ET-1 also induces NO release via iNOS induction. ET-1 and NO should thus become important target molecules for future therapies aimed at stopping cartilage destruction.
High-resolution optical coherence tomographic imaging of osteoarthritic cartilage during open knee surgery
Authors: Li Xingde , Martin Scott , Pitris Costas , Ghanta Ravi , Stamper Debra L , Harman Michelle , Fujimoto James G , Brezinski Mark E 
Published: January 2005

AbstractThis study demonstrates the first real-time imaging in vivo of human cartilage in normal and osteoarthritic knee joints at a resolution of micrometers, using optical coherence tomography (OCT). This recently developed high-resolution imaging technology is analogous to B-mode ultrasound except that it uses infrared light rather than sound. Real-time imaging with 11-μm resolution at four frames per second was performed on six patients using a portable OCT system with a handheld imaging probe during open knee surgery. Tissue registration was achieved by marking sites before imaging, and then histologic processing was performed. Structural changes including cartilage thinning, fissures, and fibrillations were observed at a resolution substantially higher than is achieved with any current clinical imaging technology. The structural features detected with OCT were evident in the corresponding histology. In addition to changes in architectural morphology, changes in the birefringent or the polarization properties of the articular cartilage were observed with OCT, suggesting collagen disorganization, an early indicator of osteoarthritis. Furthermore, this study supports the hypothesis that polarization-sensitive OCT may allow osteoarthritis to be diagnosed before cartilage thinning. This study illustrates that OCT, which can eventually be developed for use in offices or through an arthroscope, has considerable potential for assessing early osteoarthritic cartilage and monitoring therapeutic effects for cartilage repair with resolution in real time on a scale of micrometers.
Down-regulation of normal human T cell blast activation: roles of APO2L/TRAIL, FasL, and c- FLIP, Bim, or Bcl-x isoform expression
Authors: Bosque Alberto , Pardo Julián , Martínez-Lorenzo Mª José , Iturralde María , Marzo Isabel , Piñeiro Andrés , Alava Mª Angeles , Naval Javier , Anel Alberto 
Published: January 2005

AbstractA systematic study was undertaken to characterize the role of APO 2 ligand/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (APO2L/TRAIL) and Fas ligand (FasL) together with the expression of several anti- or proapoptotic proteins in the down-regulation of normal human T cell responses. We have observed for the first time that the higher sensitivity of normal human T cell blasts to apoptosis and activation-induced cell death (AICD) as compared with naïve T cells correlates with the increased expression of Bcl-x short (Bcl-xS) and Bim. T cell blasts die in the absence of interleukin 2 (IL-2) with no additional effect of death receptor ligation. In the presence of IL-2, recombinant APO2L/TRAIL or cytotoxic anti-Fas monoclonal antibodies induce rather inhibition of IL-2-dependent growth and not cell death on normal human T cell blasts. This observation is of physiological relevance, as supernatants from T cell blasts, pulse-stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or through CD3 or CD59 ligation and containing bioactive APO2L/TRAIL and/or FasL expressed on microvesicles or direct CD3 or CD59 ligation, had the same effect. Cell death was only observed in the presence of cycloheximide or after a pulse through CD3 or CD59, correlating with a net reduction in cellular Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1β-converting enzyme-inhibitory protein long (c-FLIPL) and c-FLIPS expression. We also show that death receptor and free radical generation contribute, at least partially, to AICD induced by PHA and also to the inhibition of IL-2-dependent cell growth by CD3 or CD59 ligation. Finally, we have also shown that T cell blasts surviving PHA-induced AICD are memory CD44high cells with increased c-FLIPS and Bcl-xL expression.
Nanocrystals of Coordination Polymers
Authors: Uemura Takashi , Kitagawa Susumu 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
This review highlights the recent progress of nanosize crystals based on coordination polymers (CP). Development of synthetic method with controllable size and shape in nanometer regime as well as understanding of size and surface effects of the CP nanocrystals is urgently requisite on behalf of future application of them to new organic–inorganic hybrid nanomaterials.
Conversion of Conventional NiO Powders into Nanostructures by a Simple Chemical Method
Authors: Qi Jian Quan , Zhang Ting , Lu Mei , Wang Yu , Chen Wan Ping , Li Long Tu , Chan Helen Lai Wah 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
We report the synthesis of nanostructured nickel oxide and nickel hydroxide from conventional NiO powders onto different substrates by a chemical method which simply involves dissolving and decomposition steps. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations have revealed various morphologies of the nanostructures on different substrates. With the described method, no impurity residue will remain on the substrates, hence requiring no additional washing and separation processing.
Synthesis of Large-Pore Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica (PMO) with Bicontinuous Cubic Structure of Ia–3d Symmetry
Authors: Zhang Zhendong , Yan Xiaoxia , Tian Bozhi , Shen Shaodian , Chen Dehong , Zhu Guangshan , Qiu Shilun , Zhao Dongyuan 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
Ordered three-dimensional (3-D) bicontinuous cubic Ia–3d-type periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) with large pore size ( &gt;6 nm) has been synthesized by using triblock copolymer P123 as a template and 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane as an organically bridged silica source.
Synthesis and Characterization of Single Crystal α-Fe2O3 Nanobelts
Authors: Wang Hongzhe , Zhang Xingtang , Liu Bing , Zhao Huiling , Li Yuncai , Huang Yabin , Du Zuliang 
Published: January 2005

Abstract
Single crystal nanobelts of hematite (α-Fe2O3) with narrow width distribution centered at 230 nm and length up to several microns have been prepared in NaCl flux using a simple solid-state reaction. Characterizations show that the as-prepared nanobelts are single-crystalline.