bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ligation of CD47 mediates phosphatidylserine expression on erythrocytes and a concomitant loss of viability in vitro
Authors: Head David J. , Lee Zoe E. , Swallah Muhammed M. , Avent Neil D. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryCD47 ligation has been shown to induce phosphatidylserine (PS) expression as part of a death pathway in nucleated blood cells. Using Annexin V binding assays we showed that ligation of CD47 with the specific CD47‐binding peptide 41NK, anti‐CD47 monoclonal antibody, and its natural ligand thrombospondin‐1 also induced PS expression on enucleated erythrocytes. PS expression was associated with a concomitant loss of erythrocyte viability in vitro. Further characterisation of the CD47‐PS signalling pathway on erythrocytes may help develop clinical strategies to further preserve the life of blood donations and improve our understanding of certain types of haemolytic anaemias.
Premedication with acetaminophen or diphenhydramine for transfusion with leucoreduced blood products in children
Authors: Sanders Robert P. , Maddirala Sunil D. , Geiger Terrence L. , Pounds Stanley , Sandlund John T. , Ribeiro Raul C. , Pui Ching‐Hon , Howard Scott C. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryFebrile non‐haemolytic or allergic reactions occur in 0·1–30% of transfusions; physicians often premedicate patients with acetaminophen or diphenhydramine to prevent these reactions. The effectiveness of this practice has not been demonstrated. In this retrospective review of all transfusions at our institution during 2002, 385 patients received 7900 evaluable leucoreduced, irradiated blood products (4280 single‐donor apheresis platelets and 3620 packed red blood cells). Febrile reactions occurred in 0·95% of 4108 transfusions with, and 0·53% of 3792 transfusions without, acetaminophen premedication. Allergic reactions occurred in 0·90% of 4315 transfusions with, and 0·56% of 3585 transfusions without, diphenhydramine premedication. In a multivariate analysis that adjusted for age, patient category, transfusion location, product, transfusion history, and reaction history, premedication with acetaminophen was associated with a statistically non‐significant increase in the odds of a febrile reaction (odds ratio 1·74; 95% confidence interval 0·71–4·23; P = 0·22), and diphenhydramine with a non‐significant increase in allergic reactions (odds ratio 1·74; 95% confidence interval 0·99–3·06; P = 0·054). Reactions occurred in only 1·3% of the 518 transfusions to patients with a history of two or more prior reactions. Febrile and allergic transfusion reactions were rare in paediatric patients transfused with leucoreduced, irradiated blood products, whether premedication was used or not.
Tracking and characterisation of transfused platelets by two colour, whole blood flow cytometry
Authors: Hughes Darren L. , Evans Gillian , Metcalfe Paul , Goodall Alison H. , Williamson Lorna M. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryWe describe a flow cytometric technique to study transfused platelets in patients. By selecting donor/recipient pairs discrepant for HLA‐A2, transfused platelets were identified using anti‐HLA‐A2 with a detection limit of <5%, and accuracy within 4·3% of predicted (r2 > 0·96, P < 0·0001). In two of three episodes, transfused platelets were present in greater numbers than predicted from increment counts. Platelets with bound fibrinogen fell from 20·9 ± 23·6% of donor platelets pretransfusion to 1·7 ± 0·3% 1 h post‐transfusion, whereas P‐selectin‐positive platelets fell gradually, from 24·1 ± 6·7 to 7·3 ± 3·3% at 6 h. This method avoids radio or chemical labelling, and could be used to assess novel platelet preparations post‐transfusion.
Serum interleukin (IL)‐1, IL‐2, sIL‐2Ra, IL‐6 and thrombopoietin levels in patients with chronic myeloproliferative diseases
Authors: Panteli Katerina E. , Hatzimichael Eleftheria C. , Bouranta Paraskevi K. , Katsaraki Afroditi , Seferiadis Konstantinos , Stebbing Justin , Bourantas Konstantinos L. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryA number of growth factors are involved in clonal haematopoietic expansion and their clinical significance in patients with chronic myeloproliferative diseases requires further evaluation. Using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays, we analysed serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐1a, IL‐1b, IL‐2, IL‐6, the soluble IL‐2 receptor alpha (sIL‐2Ra), and thrombopoietin (TPO), in 25 individuals with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), 40 with essential thrombocythaemia (ET), eight with polycythaemia vera (PV), 10 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and 27 normal controls. These were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics including overall survival, and histopathological bone marrow features, including angiogenesis. The serum derived from patients with MMM, ET, PV and CML contained significantly higher IL‐2 and sIL‐2Ra than healthy subjects, while IL‐6 levels were higher only in MMM and CML than controls. IL‐2, sIL‐2Ra and IL‐6 levels were raised during the transformation phase of CML, during progression of MMM to AML, and ET and PV to myelofibrosis (P < 0·001). There was a positive correlation between IL‐2, sIL‐2Ra, IL‐6 and angiogenesis in bone marrow samples. Cytokines may be useful markers for predicting clinical evolution, reflecting increased angiogenesis. This requires further evaluation to guide diagnostic and therapeutic options.
Superior mobilisation of haematopoietic progenitor cells with glycosylated G‐CSF in male but not female unrelated stem cell donors
Authors: Fischer Johannes C. , Frick Markus , Wassmuth Ralf , Platz Alexander , Punzel Michael , Wernet Peter 
Published: August 2005

SummaryGranulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) effectively mobilises haematopoietic stem cells to the peripheral blood. It is unclear whether the mobilisation of stem cells with lenograstim (glycosylated G‐CSF) or filgrastim (non‐glycosylated G‐CSF) leads to a higher cell number of collected engraft able progenitor cells. Thus, we investigated harvesting efficiency of the licensed G‐CSF preparations in mobilising peripheral stem cells in a randomised study. A total of 501 healthy unrelated donors, including 339 males and 162 females received either lenograstim (n = 261) or filgrastim (n = 240) at 10 μg/kg body weight (BW) per day. Aphaeresis was performed on day 5 and, if necessary, on day 6 of mobilisation. The number of CD34+ cells collected was 11·5% higher in the lenograstim group (7·19 × 106 vs. 6·44 × 106/kg BW donor; P < 0·03). Univariate variance analysis revealed that this effect was caused by male donors: more progenitors cells per kg BW of the donor (7·73 × 106 vs. 6·88 × 106; P < 0·017) and of the recipient (10·1 × 106 vs. 8·88 × 106, P < 0·029) could be harvested. There was no significant difference in the percentage of donors in whom a second aphaeresis was required (9·6% vs. 11·6%). Lenograstim mobilises progenitor cells into the peripheral blood more effectively in males than filgrastim.
Phosphoinositide 3‐kinase/Akt inhibition increases arsenic trioxide‐induced apoptosis of acute promyelocytic and T‐cell leukaemias
Authors: Tabellini Giovanna , Tazzari Pier Luigi , Bortul Roberta , Evangelisti Camilla , Billi Anna Maria , Grafone Tiziana , Martinelli Giovanni , Baccarani Michele , Martelli Alberto M. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryRecent studies suggest that the prosurvival signal transduction pathway involving phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt can confer an aggressive, apoptosis‐resistant phenotype to acute leukaemia cells. We have investigated the effect of modulating this signalling pathway on the sensitivity of leukaemic cell lines (NB‐4, CEM, Jurkat, MOLT‐4) and acute promyelocytic primary blasts to apoptosis induced by 1 μmol/l As2O3. Whereas parental NB‐4 cells did not display any phosphorylated (active) Akt, CEM, Jurkat and MOLT‐4 cells exhibited high levels of Akt activation. Consistently, treatment of NB‐4 cells with pharmacological inhibitors of the PI3K/Akt pathway (LY294002, wortmannin) did not increase sensitivity of these cells to arsenic trioxide (As2O3), whereas siRNA knock‐down of Akt enhanced As2O3‐induced apoptosis of CEM, Jurkat and MOLT‐4 cells. Overexpression of a constitutively active Akt cDNA rendered NB‐4 cells less susceptible to As2O3. Upon prolonged exposure to As2O3, we isolated a NB‐4 cell clone that was resistant to As2O3 and displayed high levels of active Akt. LY294002 treatment of acute promyelocytic primary blasts with elevated Akt phosphorylation levels resulted in an increased sensitivity to As2O3. These results may provide a rationale for the development of combined or sequential treatment with PI3K/Akt inhibitors to improve the efficacy of As2O3 on acute leukaemias and also to overcome As2O3 resistance.
Variables influencing Platelet Function Analyzer‐100TM closure times in healthy individuals
Authors: Haubelt Hannelore , Anders Christof , Vogt Anette , Hoerdt Petra , Seyfert Ulrich Theo , Hellstern Peter 
Published: August 2005

SummaryWe investigated the relationship between platelet function analyzer (PFA‐100TM) closure times (CT) and bleeding time (BT), platelet aggregation (PA) induced by ADP, arachidonic acid, and collagen, blood cell counts, and von Willebrand factor (VWF) in 120 well‐characterised healthy individuals. Pre‐analytical and analytical conditions were standardised comprehensively. In a substantial number of cases the differences between duplicate measurements exceeded 15%. The reference range (5th and 95th percentiles) for CT with the collagen/epinephrine (CEPI) and the collagen/ADP (CADP) cartridge was 93–223 s and 64–117 s respectively. Re‐examination of 11 individuals with CEPI‐CT above the 95th percentile revealed considerable batch‐to‐batch variation of CEPI‐CT. Males had significantly longer CADP than females (P = 0·002). CEPI and CADP‐CT measured pm were significantly longer than corresponding values determined am (P = 0·003 and P < 0·0001 respectively). Blood group O was associated with greater CEPI and CADP‐CT and lower VWF levels compared with non‐O blood groups (P = 0·008, P = 0·0003 and P < 0·0001 respectively). Linear regression analysis revealed association between CEPI‐CT, CADP‐CT and VWF (P < 0·0001), but no relationship was found between CT and BT or between CT and PA. We conclude that VWF plasma levels modulate PFA‐100TM CT to a greater extent than platelet function. Establishment of reliable reference ranges and careful standardisation of pre‐analytical and analytical conditions is a prerequisite for obtaining reliable PFA‐100TM results. Duplicate measurements are necessary.
Splenectomy for the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Authors: Kappers‐Klunne M. C. , Wijermans P. , Fijnheer R. , Croockewit A. J. , van der Holt B. , de Wolf J. T. M. , Löwenberg B. , Brand A. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryPlasma exchange is the treatment of choice for patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and results in remission in >80% of the cases. Treatment of patients who are refractory to plasma therapy or have relapsing disease is difficult. Splenectomy has been a therapeutic option in these conditions but its value remains controversial. We report on a series of 33 patients with TTP who were splenectomised because they were plasma refractory (n = 9) or for relapsed disease (n = 24). Splenectomy generated prompt and unmaintained remissions in all except five patients, in whom remission was delayed (n = 4) or who died with progressive disease (n = 1). Four postoperative complications occurred: one pulmonary embolism and three surgical complications. Median follow‐up after splenectomy was 109 months (range 28–230 months). The overall postsplenectomy relapse rate was 0·09 relapses/patient‐year and the 10‐year relapse‐free survival (RFS) was 70% (95% CI 50–83%). In the patients with relapsing TTP, relapse rate fell from 0·74 relapses/patient‐year before splenectomy to 0·10 after splenectomy (P < 0·00001). Two patients died from first postsplenectomy relapse. Although these results are based on retrospective data and that the relapse rate may spontaneously decrease with time, we conclude that splenectomy, when performed during stable disease, has an acceptable safety profile and should be considered in cases of plasma refractoriness or relapsing TTP to reach durable remissions and to reduce or prevent future relapses.
Complimentary and alternative medicine use among patients starting warfarin
Authors: Ramsay Nadine A. , Kenny Martin W. , Davies Graham , Patel Jignesh P. 
Published: August 2005

SummaryThe use of complimentary and alternative medicines (CAM) among the UK population is on the increase. For patients requiring warfarin therapy, it is important to maintain an adequate and safe level of anticoagulation. As some forms of CAM can interact with warfarin, it is imperative that any patient considered for warfarin, is asked about their use of CAM. Our report describes the incidence and type of CAM usage among patients about to start or recently commenced on warfarin therapy attending our outpatient anticoagulant clinic. All patients attending clinic for the first time were seen by a pharmacist. A retrospective analysis of the pharmaceutical care plans for all patients seen during 2003 were analysed regarding the degree of CAM usage. Of 631 care plans reviewed, 170 (26·9%) patients were taking some form of CAM. Ninety‐nine (58% of all CAM users) were taking a CAM that could interact with warfarin; the commonest forms were cod‐liver oil capsules and garlic capsules. We conclude that many patients new to warfarin therapy were significant users of CAM, many of which had the potential to interact with warfarin. By taking a full drug history, potential CAM/warfarin interactions could be avoided.
Subclinical inflammation and soleus muscle intramyocellular lipids in healthy Asian Indian males
Authors: Sinha Sanjeev , Rathi Manish , Misra Anoop , Kumar Virendra , Kumar Mahesh , Jagannathan N. R. , Pandey Ravindra Mohan , Dwivedi Manjari , Luthra Kalpana 
Published: August 2005

SummaryObjectives  The relationship between C‐reactive protein (CRP), a marker of subclinical inflammation, and intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) content, a novel correlate of insulin resistance, has not previously been investigated.Method and design  We estimated IMCL content in soleus muscle in 30 healthy Asian Indian males using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS), and correlated it with body mass index (BMI), measures of abdominal obesity, percentage of body fat (%BF), serum lipoproteins, fasting and post‐oral glucose load serum insulin levels and other surrogate markers of insulin resistance.Results  Soleus muscle IMCL content was significantly correlated with age (ρ = 0·64, P < 0·001), BMI (ρ = 0·41, P < 0·05), %BF (ρ = 0·53, P ≤ 0·01), waist circumference (ρ = 0·45, P < 0·05) and waist‐to‐hip circumference ratio (ρ = 0·58, P < 0·01) but did not correlate significantly with insulin resistance measured by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA‐IR) or CRP levels. CRP levels did not correlate with the HOMA‐IR value.Conclusions  Soleus muscle IMCL content correlated significantly with measures of generalized and abdominal obesity but not with insulin sensitivity or CRP levels in healthy Asian Indian males. Studies are needed in other ethnic groups to corroborate these data.
Effects of spring acid episodes on macroinvertebrates revealed by population data and in situ toxicity tests
Authors: LEPORI F. , ORMEROD S. J. 
Published: August 2005

Summary1. While streams in Europe and North America are now recovering chemically from chronic acidification, severe episodic acidification continues to threaten sensitive biota. To appraise further the biological importance of episodic acidification, we surveyed the distribution of the mayfly Baetis alpinus in streams in the Southern Alps (Canton Ticino, Switzerland) in relation to runoff acidity during spring floods. Moreover, to improve mechanistic understanding, in situ toxicity assays were carried out on nymphal B. alpinus during low flows and spring floods, both in streams prone to acid episodes and in well‐buffered controls.2. Streams surveyed for invertebrates represented three groups which contrasted in susceptibility to episodic acidity. Group one included streams that were acid (alkalinity <0) in spring; group two streams were susceptible to acid episodes because of low base‐flow alkalinity (<200 μeq L−1); and group three streams were well‐buffered and unlikely ever to be acid. The abundance of B. alpinus was similar among groups during stable flows in winter and summer, but was significantly lower in groups one and two following spring snowmelt.3. During the bioassays, control streams remained circumneutral to alkaline (pH >6.4). By contrast, episodic streams were circumneutral at low flows, but became acid (pH 4.5–5.6 and total dissolved aluminium to 276 μg L−1) during intense spring snowmelt. After 15‐day exposures, nymphal B. alpinus survival in the circumneutral control streams exceeded 92% irrespective of flow. In the episodic streams, survival matched the controls during low flows, but declined significantly to 10–20% during acid episodes in spring. Shorter exposure (2–4 days) to pH 5.5–5.7 did not cause significant mortality either during the exposure or over the following 7 days, indicating that B. alpinus might recover from short acid episodes.4. Our data suggest that the spring distribution of B. alpinus in acid sensitive parts of the Alps directly reflects the toxicity of acid runoff during snowmelt. Our study illustrates that even mild episodic acidification can have significant consequences in Alpine streams for one of the most important invertebrate indicators of acidity.
Impact of resuspended sediment on zooplankton feeding in Lake Waihola, New Zealand
Authors: LEVINE SUZANNE N. , ZEHRER REGLINDIS F. , BURNS CAROLYN W. 
Published: August 2005

Summary1. Wind‐induced sediment resuspension in shallow lakes affects many physical and biological processes, including food gathering by zooplankton. The effects of suspended sediment on clearance rate were determined for a dominant cladoceran, Daphnia carinata, and calanoid copepod, Boeckella hamata, in Lake Waihola, New Zealand.2. Animals were incubated at multiple densities for 4 days in lake water containing different amounts of suspended lake sediment. Rates of harvest of major food organisms were determined for each sediment level (turbidity) from changes in net growth rate with grazer density.3. Daphnia cleared all food organisms 7–40 μm in length at similar rates, but was less efficient in its removal of free bacteria, phytoplankton <7 μm, and large cyanobacterial filaments. Elevation of sediment turbidity from 2 to 10 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) (63 mg DW L−1 added sediment) reduced Daphnia clearance of phytoplankton, heterotrophic flagellates and ciliates by 72–100%, and of amoebae and attached bacteria by 21–44%. Further inhibition occurred at higher turbidity.4. Boeckella hamata removed microzooplankton primarily, rather than phytoplankton. The rate at which it cleared rotifers was reduced by 56% when turbidity was increased from 2.5 to 100 NTU.5. In the absence of macrozooplankton, algal growth increased with sediment turbidity, suggesting that sediment also inhibits rotifer grazing.6. As mid‐day turbidity in Lake Waihola is ≥10 NTU about 40% of the time, sediment resuspension may play a major role in moderating energy flow and structuring pelagic communities in this lake.
Ecosystem engineering by larvae of net‐spinning stream caddisflies creates a habitat on the upper surface of stones for mayfly nymphs with a low resistance to flows
Authors: NAKANO DAISUKE , YAMAMOTO MASAMICHI , OKINO TOKIO 
Published: August 2005

Summary1. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the effect of larval retreats of the net‐spinning stream caddisfly Hydropsyche orientalis on abundances on flow exposed stone surfaces of nymphs of the mayfly Ephemerella setigera, which prefer slow flow conditions, and to determine whether the construction of retreats ameliorated the habitat and made it more suitable for E. setigera.2. In a field experiment, artificial substrates with retreats of H. orientalis had higher E. setigera abundances than substrates lacking retreats. In addition, abundances of E. setigera nymphs increased significantly with those of H. orientalis larvae on the upper surface of boulders in streams.3. The drift loss of E. setigera from plates, with and without retreats, was investigated along a current velocity gradient in a laboratory channel experiment. Nearly all E. setigera nymphs remained on the plates with retreats, even at the highest current velocity. In contrast, on the plates without retreats, the drift loss of E. setigera nymphs increased as the current velocity increased.4. These results suggested that the habitat amelioration by H. orientalis retreats provided a refuge location for E. setigera nymphs and increased their abundances on stone surfaces exposed to flow forces.
On the ecology of the rotiferCephalodella hoodifrom an extremely acidic lake
Authors: WEITHOFF GUNTRAM 
Published: August 2005

Summary1. The biovolume‐specific carbon content, relative egg volume (a measure of per‐offspring reproductive investment), growth and grazing rates, and the gross growth efficiency (GGE) of the rotiferCephalodella hoodi, isolated from an extremely acidic habitat (pH 2.65), were determined and compared with literature values for rotifers living in circum‐neutral habitats in order to reveal potential special features or adaptations related to the extreme habitat ofC. hoodi.2. Of the two dominant phytoflagellates (Ochromonassp. andChlamydomonas acidophila) that occur in the natural habitat ofC. hoodi, onlyC. acidophilapromoted positive growth and reproduction and, thus, the following results were obtained withC. acidophilaas a food alga.3. The body volume‐specific carbon content ofC. hoodiis in the range of that found in rotifers from circum‐neutral lakes, suggesting that no costly carbon investment, brought about by the thickening of the lorica, for example, was required to withstand low pH.4. The egg volume ofC. hoodiexhibited no phenotypic plasticity dependent on the food concentration and, thus,C. hoodiallocated a constant, absolute amount of energy to each individual offspring. No adaptation to low food densities was found.5. A dome‐shaped type II functional response curve was found to describe the ingestion ofChlamydomonasas a source of food.6. Compared with other rotifers,C. hoodihad a high threshold and half‐saturating food concentration (=low affinity) but also a high maximum growth rate and a relatively high GGE, suggesting no severe adverse effect of low pH.