bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Flow Cytometry Study of Lymphocyte Subsets in Malnourished and Well-Nourished Children with Bacterial Infections
Authors: Nájera Oralia , González Cristina , Toledo Guadalupe , López Laura , Ortiz Rocío 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACT

Protein-energy malnutrition is the primary cause of immune deficiency in children across the world. It has been related to changes in peripheral T-lymphocyte subsets. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of infection and malnutrition on the proportion of peripheral-lymphocyte subsets in well-nourished non-bacterium-infected (WN), well-nourished bacterium-infected (WNI), and malnourished bacterium-infected (MNI) children by flow cytometry. A prospectively monitored cohort of 15 MNI, 12 WNI, and 17 WN children was studied. All the children were 3 years old or younger and had only bacterial infections. Results showed a significant decrease in the proportion of T CD3
+
(
P
< 0.05 for relative and
P
< 0.03 for absolute values), CD4
+
(
P
< 0.01 for relative and absolute values), and CD8
+
(
P
< 0.05 for relative values) lymphocyte subsets in WNI children compared to the results seen with WN children. Additionally, B lymphocytes in MNI children showed significant lower values (CD20
+
P
< 0.02 for relative and
P
< 0.05 for absolute values) in relation to the results seen with WNI children. These results suggest that the decreased proportions of T-lymphocyte subsets observed in WNI children were associated with infection diseases and that the incapacity to increase the proportion of B lymphocyte was associated with malnutrition. This low proportion of B lymphocytes may be associated with the mechanisms involved in the immunodeficiency of malnourished children.
Inflammatory Responses in Blood Samples of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients with Pulmonary Infections
Authors: Benito Natividad , Moreno Asunción , Filella Xavier , Miró José M. , González Julià , Pumarola Tomás , Valls María Eugenia , Luna Montserrat , García Felipe , Rañó Ana , Torres Antoni , Gatell José M. 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACT

We analyzed the characteristics of the inflammatory response occurring in blood during pulmonary infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. A prospective study of consecutive hospital admissions of HIV-infected patients with new-onset radiologic pulmonary infiltrates was carried out in a tertiary university hospital from April 1998 to May 2001. Plasma cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were determined at the time of admission and 4, 5, and 6 days later. Patients were included in a protocol addressed to study etiology and outcome of disease. A total of 249 episodes of infection were included, with the main diagnoses being bacterial pneumonia (BP) (118 episodes),
Pneumocystis carinii
pneumonia (PCP) (41 episodes), and mycobacteriosis (36 episodes). For these three patient groups, at the time of admission the median CRP and cytokine levels were as follows: CRP, 10.2, 3.8 and 5 mg/dl, respectively (
P
= 0.0001); IL-8, 19, 3, and 2.9 pg/ml (
P
= 0.045); and TNF-α, 46.4, 44, and 75 pg/ml, respectively (
P
= 0.029). There were no significant differences in levels of IL-1β, IL-6, or IL-10 among the patient groups. A total of 23 patients died. At the time of admission, HIV-infected patients with BP had higher plasma CRP and IL-8 levels than did PCP and mycobacteriosis patients. TNF-α levels were higher in patients with mycobacteriosis. An elevated IL-8 level (>61 pg/ml) at the time of admission was an independent factor associated with higher mortality (odds ratio, 12; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 235.5).
Toll-Like Receptor 2 Arg677Trp Polymorphism Is Associated with Susceptibility to Tuberculosis in Tunisian Patients
Authors: Ben-Ali Meriem , Barbouche Mohamed-Ridha , Bousnina Soufia , Chabbou Abdellatif , Dellagi Koussay 
Published: May 2004

ABSTRACT

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is critical in the immune response to mycobacteria. Herein, we report that the frequency of a human TLR2 Arg677Trp polymorphism (C2029T nucleotide substitution) in tuberculosis patients in Tunisia is significantly higher than in healthy controls (
P
< 0.0001). This finding suggests that this polymorphism could be a risk factor for tuberculosis.
Management of acute cholecystitis in UK hospitals: time for a change
Authors: Cameron I C , Chadwick C , Phillips J , Johnson A G 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
Early cholecystectomy for patients with acute cholecystitis is safe, cost effective, and leads to less time off work compared with delayed surgery. This study was designed to assess current practice in the management of acute cholecystitis in the UK. A postal questionnaire was sent to 440 consultant general surgeons to ascertain their current management of patients with acute cholecystitis. Replies were received from 308 consultants who were involved in treating patients with acute cholecystitis of whom 18 transferred these patients on to another team for further management the day after admission. Thirty two consultants (11%) routinely treated patients by early cholecystectomy, with limiting factors stated to be the availability of surgical staff, theatre space, and radiological investigations. The remaining consultants (n = 258) routinely manage their patients conservatively with intravenous antibiotics and allow the inflammation to resolve before undertaking cholecystectomy at a later date. Indications for undertaking early cholecystectomy during the first admission by this latter group included the presence of spreading peritonitis due to bile leak, empyema, and unexpected space on theatre list. The commonest method for both elective and early cholecystectomy is laparoscopic, but the percentage of consultants using an open method rises from 8% in the elective situation to 47% for urgent early cholecystectomy. Despite evidence which strongly advocates early cholecystectomy, this practice is routinely carried out by only 11% of consultants in the UK at present.
Should doctors wear white coats?
Authors: Douse J , Derrett-Smith E , Dheda K , Dilworth J P 
Published: May 2004

Abstract

Objective
To compare the views of doctors and patients on whether doctors should wear white coats and to determine what shapes their views.

Methods
A questionnaire study of 400 patients and 86 doctors was performed.

Results
All 86 of the doctors’ questionnaires were included in the analysis but only 276 of the patients were able to complete a questionnaire. Significantly more patients (56%) compared with their doctors (24%) felt that doctors should wear white coats (p&lt;0.001). Only age (&gt;70 years) (p&lt;0.001) and those patients whose doctors actually wore white coats (p&lt;0.001) were predictive of whether patients favoured white coats. The most common reason given by patients was for easy identification (54%). Less than 1% of patients believed that white coats spread infection.
Only 13% of doctors wore white coats as they were felt to be an infection risk (70%) or uncomfortable (60%). There was no significant difference between doctor subgroups when age, sex, grade, and specialty were analysed.

Conclusion
In contrast to doctors, who view white coats as an infection risk, most patients, and especially those older than 70 years, feel that doctors should wear them for easy identification. Further studies are needed to assess whether this affects patients’ perceived quality of care and whether patient education will alter this view.
LOCAL NATURE OF COSET MODELS
Authors: KÖSTER S. 
Published: May 2004

The local algebras of the maximal Coset model [Formula: see text] associated with a chiral conformal subtheory [Formula: see text] are shown to coincide with the local relative commutants of [Formula: see text] in ℬ, provided [Formula: see text] possesses a stress-energy tensor.Making the same assumption, the adjoint action of the unique inner-implementing representation [Formula: see text] associated with [Formula: see text] on the local observables in ℬ is found to define net-endomorphisms of ℬ. This property is exploited for constructing from ℬ a conformally covariant holographic image in (1+1) dimensions which proves useful as a geometric picture for the joint inclusion [Formula: see text].Immediate applications to the analysis of current subalgebras are given and the relation to normal canonical tensor product subfactors is clarified. A natural converse of Borchers' theorem on half-sided translations is made accessible.
EFFECTS OF SULFUR AND CARBON ON THE ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND BONDING OF A GRAIN BOUNDARY IN α-IRON
Authors: GESARI S. B. , PRONSATO M. E. , JUAN A. 
Published: May 2004

The electronic structure of a grain boundary (GB) in α- Fe with segregated S and C impurity atoms was calculated by the atom superposition and electron delocalization molecular orbital (ASED-MO) theory. An Fe 176 cluster model was used to simulate the local environment of the Σ5 (013), 36.9° [100] tilt boundary. The results show a site competition on the GB between S and C . The C drives the S away from the boundaries. The C segregation is 4.77 eV more favorable than the S segregation. Both interstitials weaken Fe – Fe bonds perpendicular to the GB plane and simultaneously form new interstitial- Fe bonds, although C presents the possibility of connecting the two halves of the crystal with a bridge Fe – C – Fe bond. These results should be important for understanding the complex mechanism for decohesion α- Fe .
Ideal Evaluation from Coevolution
Authors: Jong Edwin D. de , Pollack Jordan B. 
Published: May 2004

In many problems of interest, performance can be evaluated using tests, such as examples in concept learning, test points in function approximation, and opponents in game-playing. Evaluation on all tests is often infeasible. Identification of an accurate evaluation or fitness function is a difficult problem in itself, and approximations are likely to introduce human biases into the search process. Coevolution evolves the set of tests used for evaluation, but has so far often led to inaccurate evaluation. We show that for any set of learners, a Complete Evaluation Set can be determined that provides ideal evaluation as specified by Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization. This provides a principled approach to evaluation in coevolution, and thereby brings automatic ideal evaluation within reach. The Complete Evaluation Set is of manageable size, and progress towards it can be accurately measured. Based on this observation, an algorithm named DELPHI is developed. The algorithm is tested on problems likely to permit progress on only a subset of the underlying objectives. Where all comparison methods result in overspecialization, the proposed method and a variant achieve sustained progress in all underlying objectives. These findings demonstrate that ideal evaluation may be approximated by practical algorithms, and that accurate evaluation for test-based problems is possible even when the underlying objectives of a problem are unknown.
Comparing Sectarian Practice and Organization: the Qumran Sects in Light of the Regulations of the Shakers, Hutterites, Mennonites and Amish
Authors: Regev Eyal 
Published: May 2004

AbstractThis article tries to demonstrate that the unique regulations of the Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls) sect are derived from its social character as a sect, not from scriptural exegesis or Hellenistic influence. In order to achieve this goal, the article introduces practices that are typical of introversionist sects, and shows that they can also be found in Qumran. Thus the evidence from Qumran contributes to the understanding of the sectarian practices and organization in general. The article compares the regulations from Qumran to those of the Shakers, the Hutterites, the Mennonites and the Amish and also makes inferences concerning the practices of these different sects. The comparison pertains to the procedures of joining the sect, admission to adulthood, annual or semi-annual ceremonial communions, sanctions and punishments, confessions, economical organization and organizational patterns, especially the tendency of keeping the local community small, as well as gender relations and social hierarchy within the sect.
Syndecan-1 up-regulated by ephrinB2/EphB4 plays dual roles in inflammatory angiogenesis
Authors: Yuan Kuo , Hong Tse-Ming , Chen Jeremy J. W. , Tsai Wan Hua , Lin Ming T. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractEphrinB2 and EphB4, its cognate receptor, are important in the vascular development of the mouse embryo. Their roles in human inflammatory angiogenesis, however, are not well understood. By examining hyperinflammatory lesions, we saw that ephrinB2 was predominantly expressed in macrophage-like cells and EphB4 in small venules. Because macrophages usually transmigrate through postcapillary venules during inflammation, we wanted to explore the downstream effects of EphB4 after binding to ephrinB2. By using cDNA microarray technique and following reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we found that syntenin and syndecan-1 were up-regulated in EphB4-positive endothelial cells dose dependently and time dependently after stimulation with preclustered ephrinB2. In vitro, ephrinB2 suppressed the angiogenic effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on EphB4-positive endothelial cells, partially due to syndecan-1's competition with fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) for bFGF. However, ephrinB2 exhibited angiogenic effects in vivo, possibly due to an inflammation-associated enzyme—heparanase. The enzymes could convert the inhibitory effect of ephrinB2 on EphB4-positive endothelial cells to an activating effect by removing poorly sulfated side chains of up-regulated syndecan-1 ectodomain. Depending on the presence of heparanases, the roles of syndecan-1 may be opposite in different physiological settings.
Expression of the chemokine receptor CCR2 on immature B cells negatively regulates their cytoskeletal rearrangement and migration
Authors: Flaishon Liat , Becker-Herman Shirly , Hart Gili , Levo Yoram , Kuziel William A. , Shachar Idit 
Published: May 2004

AbstractImmature B cells are targeted to specific areas in the spleen, where a fraction of these cells receive signals that induce them to mature and participate in the immune response. In this study, we show that the C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) is transcribed in immature B cells, while its message is dramatically down-regulated at the mature stage. CCR2-deficient cells exhibit up-regulation of chemokine-induced actin polymerization, migration, and homing to the lymph nodes of immature B cells. In addition, we demonstrate that control of homing by CCR2 is mediated by its ligand, CCL2/JE, which is secreted by B cells and down-regulates the stromal derived factor-1 (SDF-1) signaling cascade. Thus, this study describes an additional, previously uncharacterized, role for CCR2 and its ligand as negative regulators of the homing of immature B cells.
Megakaryocytes express functional Aurora-B kinase in endomitosis
Authors: Geddis Amy E. , Kaushansky Kenneth 
Published: May 2004

AbstractEndomitosis (EnM) in megakaryocytes (MKs) is characterized by abortion of mitosis in late anaphase and failure of cytokinesis; subsequent reinitiation of DNA synthesis results in polyploidy. Ablation of chromosomal passenger proteins including Aurora-B kinase causes defects in late anaphase and cytokinesis in diploid cells; thus one hypothesis is that the expression or function of these proteins in polyploid MKs is abnormal. It has been reported that Aurora-B kinase mRNA is decreased in polyploid megakaryocytic cells, suggesting that deficiency of Aurora-B kinase is responsible for EnM. We examined the localization of Aurora-B kinase and additional members of the chromosomal passenger protein and aurora kinase families in MKs. We found that in EnM MKs (1) Aurora-B kinase is present and appropriately localized to centromeres in early EnM; (2) in low-ploidy human MKs, centromeric localization of survivin and inner centromere protein (INCENP) can also be demonstrated; (3) the function of Aurora-B kinase, as measured by Ser10 phosphorylation of histone H3, is intact; and (4) aurora-A kinase localizes appropriately to centrosomes in EnM. These results suggest that EnM MKs appropriately express functional Aurora-B kinase and related proteins in early anaphase, making a simple deficiency of this protein an unlikely explanation for polyploidy in this cell type.
Human bone marrow megakaryocytes and platelets express PPARγ, and PPARγ agonists blunt platelet release of CD40 ligand and thromboxanes
Authors: Akbiyik Filiz , Ray Denise M. , Gettings Kelly F. , Blumberg Neil , Francis Charles W. , Phipps Richard P. 
Published: May 2004

AbstractPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor important in lipid metabolism, diabetes, and inflammation. We evaluated whether human platelets and megakaryocytes express PPARγ and whether PPARγ agonists influence platelet release of bioactive mediators. Although PPARγ is mainly considered a nuclear receptor, we show that enucleate platelets highly express PPARγ protein as shown by Western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunocytochemistry. Meg-01 megakaryocyte cells and human bone marrow megakaryocytes also express PPARγ. Platelet and Meg-01 PPARγ bound the PPARγ DNA consensus sequence, and this was enhanced by PPARγ agonists. Platelets are essential not only for clotting, but have an emerging role in inflammation in part due to their release or production of the proinflammatory and proatherogenic mediators CD40 ligand (CD40L) and thromboxanes (TXs). Platelet incubation with a natural PPARγ agonist, 15d-PGJ2, or with a potent synthetic PPARγ ligand, rosiglitazone, prevented thrombin-induced CD40L surface expression and release of CD40L and thromboxane B2 (TXB2). 15d-PGJ2 also inhibited platelet aggregation and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release. Our results show that human platelets express PPARγ and that PPARγ agonists such as the thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic drugs have a new target cell, the platelet. This may represent a novel mechanism for treatment of inflammation, thrombosis, and vascular disease in high-risk patients.
Severe Pulmonary Toxicity in Patients With Advanced-Stage Hodgkin's Disease Treated With a Modified Bleomycin, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Procarbazine, Prednisone, and Gemcitabine (BEACOPP) Regimen Is Probably Related to the Combination of Gemcitabine and Bleomycin: A Report of the German Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group
Authors: Bredenfeld Henning , Franklin Jeremy , Nogova Lucia , Josting Andreas , Fries S. , Mailänder Volker , Oertel Joachim , Diehl Volker , Engert Andreas 
Published: May 2004

Purpose To investigate a new effective, nonleukemogenic polychemotherapy regimen, BAGCOPP (bleomycin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone, gemcitabine) in a phase I/II dose-escalation study in patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin's disease (HD). Patients and Methods Patients in clinical stages IIB with risk factors III and IV were enrolled in this nonrandomized, multicenter trial aimed at defining the maximum-tolerated dose of gemcitabine within a modified escalated BEACOPP regimen. Gemcitabine was given at a starting dose of 800 mg/m2 on days 1 and 4 of each cycle. Results Twenty-seven patients (eight female, 19 male) were enrolled with a median age of 33 years (range, 19 to 65 years). Due to a higher than expected hematotoxicity, the day-4 application of gemcitabine was omitted after 14 patients were included and 59 cycles were given. A total of eight patients developed lung toxicity, mainly pneumonitis (six of eight), which led to the termination of the study. With a median follow-up of 27 months, 25 patients are in continuing complete remission. Conclusion The substitution of etoposide by gemcitabine in the escalated BEACOPP schema is not feasible and leads to severe pulmonary toxicity. This toxicity is probably related to the concomittant application of gemcitabine and bleomycin.
Enantioselective CO2 Fixation Catalyzed by Optically Active Cobalt Complexes
Authors: Tanaka Hirotaka , Kitaichi Yasunori , Sato Mitsuo , Ikeno Taketo , Yamada Tohru 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
In the presence of a catalytic amount of optically active cobalt complexes and amine bases, a racemic epoxide, such as N,N-diphenylaminomethyloxirane, reacted with gaseous carbon dioxide to afford the optically active cyclic carbonate along with the optically active starting epoxide.
Microbial Metabolism of Di-n-butyl Phthalate by Bacterium Bacillus Natto
Authors: Begum Aleya , Katsumata Hideyuki , Kaneco Satoshi , Suzuki Tohru , Ohta Kiyohisa 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
Microbial metabolism behavior of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) in aqueous solution by bacterium Bacillus natto was quantitatively characterized by HPLC. Under the optimal conditions, the degradation percentage of DBP was 72% after 24 h of cultivation. Concerning the metabolites of DBP degradation, dipropyl phthalate, monobutyl phthalate, and phthalic acid were identified by GC/MS.
Correlation of Activated Clotting Time and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time to Plasma Heparin Concentration
Authors: Koerber John M. , Smythe Maureen A. , Begle Robert L. , Mattson Joan C. , Kershaw Beverly P. , Westley Susan J. 
Published: May 2004

Study Objective. To determine the correlation between activated clotting time (ACT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and plasma heparin concentration.Design. Two‐phase prospective study.Setting. University‐affiliated community hospital.Patients. Thirty patients receiving continuous‐infusion intravenous heparin.Interventions. Measurement of ACT, aPTT and plasma heparin concentrations.Measurements and Main Results. Linear and log linear correlations were determined between clotting time tests and heparin concentrations. Linear correlations yielded r values of 0.58 for ACT (p=0.008) and 0.89 for aPTT (p=0.0001). Log linear correlations yielded r values of 0.60 for ACT (p=0.005) and 0.88 for aPTT (p=0.0001). A decision analysis was performed to determine possible consequences of dosage adjustments based on either test in relationship to the decision based on plasma heparin concentration. The decision analysis based on ACT disagreed with corresponding decisions based on plasma heparin concentration in 15 of 30 patients; 13 disagreements may have increased the risk of bleeding, and the other 2 may have increased the risk of thrombosis. Decisions based on aPTT disagreed with corresponding decisions based on plasma heparin concentration in 13 of 30 patients; 2 disagreements may have increased the risk of bleeding, and the other 11 may have increased the risk of thrombosis.Conclusion. There are significant statistical linear and log linear correlations between both clotting time tests and plasma heparin concentrations, with aPTT showing stronger correlation than ACT. However, decisions regarding heparin therapy based on ACT may increase a patient's risk of bleeding, whereas decisions based on aPTT may increase the risk of thrombus progression or rethrombosis.