bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Adjunctive Treatment with Combined Cytokines in a Neutropenic Mouse Model of Multidrug‐Resistant Enterococcus faecalis Septicemia
Authors: Nicolau David P. , Onyeji Cyprian O. , Banevicius Mary Anne , Li Jing , Nightingale Charles H. 
Published: June 2004

Study Objective. To examine whether the antienterococcal efficacy of a regimen of gentamicin plus vancomycin combined with granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) is enhanced by concurrent therapy with interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ).Setting. Hospital laboratory.Intervention. Mice rendered neutropenic by cyclophosphamide were intraperitoneally inoculated with a gentamicin‐ and vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus faecalis isolate.Measurements and Main Results. Infected animals were randomized into treatment groups that received G‐CSF alone or in combination with various dosages of IFN‐γ. Additional groups of animals received vancomycin; G‐CSF, G‐CSF plus vancomycin, IFN‐γ, and G‐CSF; or vancomycin with both cytokines. Addition of IFN‐γ to G‐CSF regimen resulted in no significant change (p>0.05) in survival, compared with treatment with G‐CSF alone. Also, the antienterococcal efficacy of antibiotic plus G‐CSF was not modified by coadministration of IFN‐γ.Conclusion. This study suggests that adjunctive application of combined cytokines may not be more beneficial than only G‐CSF in combination with an antibiotic to treat multidrug‐resistant enterococcal infection.
The Safety and Antiviral Effect of Protease Inhibitors in Children
Authors: Temple Mary E. , Koranyi Katalin I. , Nahata Milap C. 
Published: June 2004

Study Objective. To determine the safety and antiviral effect of protease inhibitors (PIs) over 36 months in pediatric patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).Design. Observational study.Setting. Pediatric immunodeficiency clinic.Patients. Twenty‐one children.Intervention. Demographics, dosage regimens, genotype data, viral RNA and CD4+ lymphocyte counts, adverse drug events (ADEs), laboratory tests, and compliance were evaluated over 3 years. Data were analyzed by X2, repeated measures analysis of variance, and paired t tests.Measurements and Main Results. Twenty‐one pediatric patients (aged 3 mo–15 yrs) received PIs over the study period. Average daily doses were ritonavir 26 mg/kg in 12 patients, nelfinavir 94 mg/kg in 16, indinavir 49 mg/kg in 5, and saquinavir 43 mg/kg in 4. Five patients developed resistance to an existing PI. Overall compliance was 70%. Baseline HIV‐1 RNA plasma concentrations were significantly higher than average follow‐up concentrations during 3–36 months in patients taking ritonavir (p<0.001) and nelfinavir (p<0.001). Sample size was insufficient for indinavir or saquinavir. Sixty ADEs occurred, diarrhea being most common. Of patients with ADEs, 55% required increased monitoring and 43% treatment. Ritonavir was associated with the most ADEs (28), followed by nelfinavir (16), indinavir (11), and saquinavir (5). Significant increases between baseline and follow‐up cholesterol levels were found with ritonavir (p=0.02) and nelfinavir (p=0.001), and for serum creatinine (p=0.02) and triglycerides (p=0.02) with ritonavir. Follow‐up triglycerides were significantly higher than baseline for indinavir (p=0.003).Conclusion. Nelfinavir and ritonavir were effective in decreasing HIV‐1 viral loads and improving CD4+ lymphocyte counts. Ritonavir was associated with more ADEs than other PIs. Changes in cholesterol, serum creatinine, and triglycerides were noted with some PIs.
Antimicrobial Activity of Tigecycline (GAR‐936) Against Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus Used Alone and in Combination
Authors: Mercier Renee‐Claude , Kennedy Christine , Meadows Christina 
Published: June 2004

Study Objective. To evaluate the antimicrobial properties of tigecycline, both alone and in combination with other antibiotics, against multidrug‐resistant strains of Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus.Design. In vitro study.Setting. University laboratory.Measurements and Main Results. Tigecycline, both alone and in combination with other antimicrobial agents, was evaluated against two strains of vancomycin‐resistant E. faecium (VREF), three glycopeptide‐intermediately resistant S. aureus strains, and one methicillin‐resistant S. aureus strain. Tigecycline's activity was compared with that of vancomycin, gentamicin, rifampin, and doxycycline, using time‐kill studies and analysis of minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations. Tigecycline also was evaluated in combination with vancomycin, gentamicin, rifampin, and doxycycline in time‐kill studies. The number of log10 colony‐forming units/ml at 24 hours was compared among treatment groups and growth control by analysis of variance. All isolates were susceptible to tigecycline, regardless of their susceptibilities to vancomycin or doxycycline. In time‐kill studies, tigecycline significantly inhibited the bacterial inoculum of all isolates (p<0.05). Although none of the tigecycline combinations studied had enhanced killing activity against VREF, when gentamicin was combined with tigecycline, improved effects were found against both strains. Against three of the S. aureus strains tested, the combination of gentamicin and tigecycline demonstrated enhanced or improved activity independently of each strain's susceptibility to gentamicin.Conclusion. The multidrug‐resistant, gram‐positive bacteria tested, including doxycycline‐resistant isolates, were susceptible to tigecycline. The combination of tigecycline and gentamicin may have improved or enhanced activity against strains of vancomycin‐resistant enterococci and S. aureus.
Etiology and Frequency of Rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Black Corri , Jick Hershel 
Published: June 2004

Study Objectives. To describe the etiology and characteristics of patients with clinically diagnosed rhabdomyolysis in the United Kingdom General Practice Research Database (GPRD), and to estimate the risk of rhabdomyolysis in general and that associated with lipid‐lowering agents in particular.Design. Retrospective analysis.Setting. The GPRD.Patients. A base population of patients aged 20–75 years.Intervention. Patients hospitalized with a computer‐recorded code for acute myositis or myoglobinuria, or with “rhabdo” recorded in free text comments were reviewed for evidence of rhabdomyolysis. Lipid‐lowering treatment among the base population also was calculated.Measurements and Main Results. We identified 25 patients with rhabdomyolysis among 2.5 million in the base population between 1990 and 1999. Seven cases (28%) occurred after a drug overdose and 5 (20%) after septicemia. Among the 2935 concurrent users of statin and fibrate agents, one developed rhabdomyolysis.Conclusion. Only 25 patients out of 2.5 million were found to have rhabdomyolysis. Of those, only one patient was taking a statin and fibrate concurrently, out of almost 3000 concurrent users. The free‐text comments field in the GPRD helped to identify patients with rhabdomyolysis.
Comparison of Gemfibrozil and Fenofibrate in Patients with Dyslipidemic Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Packard Kathleen A. , Backes James M. , Lenz Thomas L. , Wurdeman Richard L. , Destache Christopher J. , Hilleman Daniel E. 
Published: June 2004

Study Objective. To compare the lipid‐lowering effects of gemfibrozil and fenofibrate in patients with dyslipidemic coronary heart disease.Design. Open label, fixed‐dosage, retrospective‐prospective, one‐way crossover from gemfibrozil to fenofibrate.Setting. University‐affiliated outpatient clinics.Patients. Eighty patients with coronary heart disease with a baseline low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) level above 130 mg/dl or a triglyceride level of 200 mg/dl or higher who had been receiving gemfibrozil 600 mg twice/day Thirty‐nine (49%) patients had received concomitant therapy with a 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor (statin) for a minimum of 9 months.Intervention. All patients received gemfibrozil 600 mg twice/day for at least 3 months before being switched to fenofibrate 201 mg/day. Patients receiving concomitant statin therapy before crossover continued the statin at the same dosage after crossover. Before crossover, a fasting lipid profile was determined and patients were queried about the side effects of lipid‐lowering therapy. A repeat fasting lipid profile was obtained 12 weeks after the crossover.Measurements and Main Results. Patients were stratified into those receiving versus those not receiving concomitant statin therapy. In both of these groups, fenofibrate was associated with significantly greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides than gemfibrozil (all p<0.001). In addition, fenofibrate was associated with a significantly greater increase in high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) than gemfibrozil (p<0.001). No patients reported new‐onset adverse effects after the crossover.Conclusions. Compared with gemfibrozil, fenofibrate produced significantly greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and significantly greater increases in HDL. These changes were evident in patients receiving and not receiving concomitant statin therapy.
Modeling the Cost‐Effectiveness of a Smoking‐Cessation Program in a Community Pharmacy Practice
Authors: Tran Mongthuong T. , Holdford David A. , Kennedy Daniel T. , Small Ralph E. 
Published: June 2004

Objectives. To describe some of the costs of providing a smoking‐cessation program in a community pharmacy practice, and to model the program's cost‐effectiveness compared with that of a self‐directed quit attempt.Design and Setting. Data used were based primarily on results from a pharmacist‐directed smoking‐cessation program in a community pharmacy chain practice that achieved continuous abstinence for at least 1 year in 25% of patients. Baseline assumptions were formulated from a MEDLINE literature review and were varied in the sensitivity analysis. Overall costs were based on program costs and retail cost of the selected cessation method (cold turkey, nicotine patch, nicotine gum, or bupropion).Patients. Forty‐eight patients, more than two thirds of whom were women, aged 21–70 years, who had tried at least once to quit smoking.Measurements and Main Results. Incremental cost‐effectiveness was measured in terms of cost/successful quit attempt based on the payer's perspective. Cost/life‐year saved and cost/quality‐adjusted life‐year saved also were calculated for the societal perspective. Incremental cost for an additional patient to quit smoking using the pharmacist‐directed program alternatives versus a self‐directed quit attempt was $236 for the cold turkey method, $936 for nicotine patch, $1232 for nicotine gum, and $1150 for bupropion. Depending on the smoker's age at the time of cessation, the incremental discounted cost‐effectiveness was $720–1418/life‐year saved.Conclusion. This analysis demonstrates that a pharmacist‐directed cessation program is a cost‐effective alternative to a self‐directed quit attempt with respect to payers and society. Additional analyses conducted in community pharmacy practice are necessary to corroborate our results.
Point‐of‐Care versus Laboratory Monitoring of Patients Receiving Different Anticoagulant Therapies
Authors: Reiss Robert A. , Haas Curtis E. , Griffis Deborah L. , Porter Bernadette , Tara Mary Ann 
Published: June 2004

Study Objective. To compare point‐of‐care and standard hospital laboratory assays for monitoring patients receiving single or combination anticoagulant regimens.Design. Prospective analysis.Setting. Nursing units and clinics at a large, community hospital.Patients. One hundred fifty patients receiving anticoagulants for cardiac, vascular, orthopedic, or cancer indications. Thirty patients were enrolled into each treatment group: warfarin, enoxaparin, heparin, warfarin plus enoxaparin, and warfarin plus heparin.Intervention. Capillary and venous blood samples were collected once in each patient for simultaneous measurement of international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) by both assays.Measurements and Main Results. Mean differences in paired INR and paired aPTT by point‐of‐care and standard assays were small, but 95% confidence intervals were wide. The INR differences were greater for the warfarin plus heparin group than for the warfarin group or warfarin plus enoxaparin group; clinical decision agreement was 47% for warfarin plus heparin, 73% for warfarin, and 93% for warfarin plus enoxaparin. The aPTT difference was greater for the warfarin plus heparin than for the heparin group; however, clinical decision agreement, 67% and 70%, respectively, was similar.Conclusions. Point‐of‐care methods showed limited agreement with standard hospital laboratory assays of coagulation for all treatment groups. For INR values, significantly greater disagreement was noted between the assay methods for the warfarin plus heparin group compared with the warfarin group, but the agreement was similar for the warfarin and warfarin plus enoxaparin groups. Our data indicate that the point‐of‐care assays should not be considered interchangeable with standard laboratory assays.
Itraconazole and Fluconazole and Certain Rare, Serious Adverse Events
Authors: Bradbury Brian D. , Jick Susan S. 
Published: June 2004

Study Objective. To determine rates of drug‐induced, rare, serious adverse events affecting the liver, kidneys, skin, or blood, occurring within 45 days of completing a prescription or refill for itraconazole or fluconazole.Design. Population‐based follow‐up study.Setting. United Kingdom‐based General Practice Research Database.Patients. Total of 54,803 users of either fluconazole or itraconazole.Main Results. Four patients were identified with illnesses for which a drug‐induced etiology could not be ruled out; one with an elevated liver function test while taking itraconazole, one with thrombocytopenia, one with neutropenia, and one with an abnormal liver function test just after receiving fluconazole. For itraconazole the rate was 3.2/100,000 prescriptions (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6–17.9) for serious, adverse liver events; for fluconazole 2.8/100,000 prescriptions (95% CI 0.8–10.3) for serious, adverse blood events and 1.4/100,000 prescriptions (95% CI 0.25–8.2) for serious, adverse liver events.Conclusion. Itraconazole and fluconazole do not commonly cause rare, serious adverse events affecting the liver, kidneys, skin, or blood.
Defining the ecological values of rivers: the views of Australian river scientists and managers
Authors: Dunn Helen 
Published: June 2004

Abstract
The first step in making a case for river conservation is to define the particular values and attributes that describe conservation significance.
Australia's rivers vary widely in their characteristics and ecological communities. The conservation values of Australian rivers have not been well articulated.
A survey of Australian river scientists and managers was undertaken to identify the criteria and attributes of rivers of high ecological value. This was the first attempt to establish a baseline for defining natural conservation values for Australian rivers.
The final list comprised five broad criteria with a total of 47 attributes considered to be indicators of high ecological value. These included not only biotic values, but also values attributed to river hydrology, geomorphology, instream processes, and landscape functions.
The list of criteria and attributes provides a context from which specific values may be drawn to assess conservation values of rivers for particular purposes.
Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Restoration of a small‐scale forest wetland in a Belgian nature reserve: a discussion of factors determining wetland vegetation establishment
Authors: Weyembergh Gisèle , Godefroid Sandrine , Koedam Nico 
Published: June 2004

Abstract
The main aim of this restoration attempt within a nature reserve was to recreate sustainable conditions for wetland species, particularly aquatic plants.
In the process of restoration, two phases of activity were distinguished: a pre‐restoration phase, during which information on land‐use history and past vegetation was collected and used to establish clear restoration goals; and a restoration phase for stimulating germination and establishment of target species originating from the soil seed bank and species pool.
Within the first year of the study, pond digging allowed the establishment of extremely rare native species that react positively to mudflat creation and standing water availability. The results of this experiment indicate that pond digging can be a very suitable technique for re‐establishing aquatic and wetland vegetation, providing that the site is well chosen.
An essential prerequisite for successful restoration is a study of the past vegetation of the target site and its surroundings. This work illustrates the importance of past vegetation in affecting current restoration success and provides an example of how restoration projects benefit from knowledge and understanding of both historical and present conditions.
Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Assessing East African trade in seahorse species as a basis for conservation under international controls
Authors: McPherson Jana M. , Vincent Amanda C.J. 
Published: June 2004

Abstract
Seahorses (Hippocampus spp.), many of which are listed as Vulnerable or Endangered on the IUCN Red List, are traded worldwide as souvenirs, aquarium fish and, primarily, for use in traditional medicines. Given concern over the sustainability of this trade, the genus was added to Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in May 2004.
This paper reports findings of the first ever survey of seahorse trade in Africa, conducted in Kenya and Tanzania in May and June 2000.
Seahorse trade in Kenya was found to be negligible, with approximately 10 live seahorses exported as aquarium fish annually. Until 1998, however, Kenya may have imported somewhere from 1 to 2.3 t of dried seahorses annually from Tanzania for re‐export to Asian medicine markets. Seahorse trade in Tanzania remained substantial, with at least 630–930 kg of dried seahorse exported directly to Asia each year.
Accounts of declines in seahorse availability and seahorse size, although few in number, could be early warning signs that wild populations are suffering, at least locally. Close monitoring of future developments in the trade will be essential to allow for timely conservation action as and when necessary, and would contribute to our understanding of the ecological and economical implications of small‐scale, non‐food fisheries.
Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Construction of high‐density bacterial colony arrays and patterns by the ink‐jet method
Authors: Xu Tao , Petridou Sevastioni , Lee Eric H. , Roth Elizabeth A. , Vyavahare Narendra R. , Hickman James J. , Boland Thomas 
Published: June 2004

AbstractWe have developed a method for fabricating bacterial colony arrays and complex patterns using commercially available ink‐jet printers. Bacterial colony arrays with a density of 100 colonies/cm2 were obtained by directly ejecting Escherichia coli (E. coli) onto agar‐coated substrates at a rapid arraying speed of 880 spots per second. Adjusting the concentration of bacterial suspensions allowed single colonies of viable bacteria to be obtained. In addition, complex patterns of viable bacteria as well as bacteria density gradients were constructed using desktop printers controlled by a simple software program. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Blocking caspase‐3 activity with a U6 SnRNA promoter‐driven ribozyme enhances survivability of CHO Cells Cultured in Low Serum Medium and Production of Interferon‐β
Authors: Lai Dazhi , Fu Ling , Weng Shaojie , Qi Lianquan , Yu Changming , Yu Ting , Wang Haitao , Chen Wei 
Published: June 2004

AbstractApoptosis responding to various insults in bioreactors was observed to reduce cell viability and prevent cells from growing to high density. Inhibition of apoptosis in different ways has proved to be effective in keeping cells viable in high density and result in higher recombinant protein production. In apoptosis, death signals activate a family of proteinases, namely caspases, in a cascade and ultimately activate the final effector proteinase, caspase‐3, which cleaves various substrates and drives the cells irreversibly to death. Caspase‐3 is the executioner of an apoptotic cell and thus plays a central role in apoptosis. Therefore inhibition of caspase‐3 may provide an effective way for apoptosis prevention. In this study, we designed a ribozyme targeted at the 451nt of hamster caspase‐3's open reading frame (ORF) and the ribozyme was proved to be effective in cleaving caspase‐3 mRNA in vitro. Then, the ribozyme was cloned into a vector under the control of U6 snRNA promoter, an RNA polymerase III promoter, for high rate of transcription in vivo. The vector was transfected into an interferon‐β producing recombinant CHO cell line, and some clones were screened out that exhibited low caspase‐3 production by Western blot analysis. One such clone was then further analyzed and it showed good anti‐apoptosis property with respect to cell viability, cell density, and interferon‐β production. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fluid mechanics of a spinner‐flask bioreactor
Authors: Sucosky Philippe , Osorio Diego F. , Brown Jason B. , Neitzel G. Paul 
Published: June 2004

AbstractSpinner‐flask bioreactors have been used for the production of articular cartilage in vitro. The dynamic environment within bioreactors is known to significantly affect the growth and development of the tissue. The present research focuses on the experimental and numerical characterization of the flow field within a spinner flask operating under conditions used to produce cartilage. Laboratory experiments carried out in a scaled‐up model bioreactor employ particle‐image velocimetry (PIV) to determine velocity and shear‐rate fields in the vicinity of the construct closest to the stir bar, in addition to turbulence properties. Numerical computations calculated using FLUENT, a commercial software package, simulate the flow field in the same model bioreactor under similar operating conditions. In the computations, scaffolds were modeled as both solid and porous media with different permeabilities and flow rates through various faces of the construct nearest the stir bar were examined. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fundamental Escherichia coli biochemical pathways for biomass and energy production: Identification of reactions
Authors: Carlson Ross , Srienc Friedrich 
Published: June 2004

AbstractCells grow by oxidizing nutrients using a complex network of biochemical reactions. During this process new biological material is produced along with energy used for maintaining cellular organization. Because the metabolic network is highly branched, these tasks can be accomplished using a wide variety of unique reaction sequences. However, evolutionary pressures under carbon‐limited growth conditions likely select organisms that utilize highly efficient pathways. Using elementary‐mode analysis, we demonstrate that the metabolism of the bacterium Escherichia coli contains four unique pathways that most efficiently convert glucose and oxygen into new cells and maintenance energy under any level of oxygen limitation. Observed regulatory patterns and experimental findings suggest growing cells use these highly efficient pathways. It is predicted that five knockout mutations generate a strain that supports growth using only the most efficient reaction sequence. The analysis approach should be generally useful for predicting metabolic capabilities and efficient network designs based on only genomic information. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.