bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A hypothesis-generating study to evaluate platelet activity in diabetics with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Brophy Donald F , Martin rika J , Gehr Todd WB , Carr Marcus E 
Published: March 2005

AbstractBackgroundIt is well described that diabetes mellitus is a hypercoagulable state. It is also known that patients with renal dysfunction have impaired platelet aggregation and function. It is not well described how renal dysfunction affects the hypercoagulability associated with diabetes. This post-hoc sub-group analysis compares platelet function, clot structure and thrombin generation time at baseline, and following enoxaparin exposure in three groups of subjects.Methods30 total subjects were evaluated in the three groups: Group I: normal controls (n = 10), Group II: subjects with renal dysfunction but without diabetes (n = 13), and Group III: subjects with concomitant diabetes and renal dysfunction (n = 7). For each subject, platelet contractile force (PCF), clot elastic modulus (CEM) and thrombin generation time (TGT) were simultaneously measured in whole blood at baseline, and following increasing enoxaparin antifactor Xa activity exposure. The group means for each parameter were determined and compared using one-way analysis of variance, with post-hoc Tukey-Kramer test.ResultsAt baseline, subjects in Group III (diabetics with concomitant renal dysfunction) display significantly enhanced platelet activity, as measured by PCF (p = 0.003) and CEM (p = 0.03), relative to the non-diabetic Groups I and II. Subjects in Group II (renal dysfunction without diabetes) had significantly prolonged TGT values relative to controls when the antifactor Xa activity concentration reached 0.5 (p = 0.007), 1.0 (p = 0.005) and 3.0 IU/mL (p < 0.0001), respectively. There were no differences between Group II and Group III with respect to TGT at these antifactor Xa activity concentrations. When the antifactor Xa activity concentration reached 3.0 IU/mL, Groups II and III formed significantly less rigid blood clots (CEM p = 0.003) and also trended toward reduced PCF (p = 0.06) relative to Group I.ConclusionThis hypothesis-generating sub-group analysis suggests that at baseline, patients with concomitant diabetes and renal dysfunction have significantly enhanced platelet activity (PCF), and form more rigid blood clots (CEM) compared to controls and subjects with renal dysfunction but no diabetes. This may suggest that the presence of renal dysfunction does not ameliorate the hypercoagulable state associated with diabetes. Secondly, it appears that subjects with renal dysfunction but without diabetes have an enhanced response to enoxaparin relative to controls.
EMBASE search strategies for identifying methodologically sound diagnostic studies for use by clinicians and researchers
Authors: Wilczynski Nancy L , Haynes R Brian ,   the Hedges Team
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
Accurate diagnosis by clinicians is the cornerstone of decision making for recommending clinical interventions. The current best evidence from research concerning diagnostic tests changes unpredictably as science advances. Both clinicians and researchers need dependable access to published evidence concerning diagnostic accuracy. Bibliographic databases such as EMBASE provide the most widely available entrée to this literature. The objective of this study was to develop search strategies that optimize the retrieval of methodologically sound diagnostic studies from EMBASE for use by clinicians.

Methods
An analytic survey was conducted, comparing hand searches of 55 journals with retrievals from EMBASE for 4,843 candidate search terms and 6,574 combinations. All articles were rated using purpose and quality indicators, and clinically relevant diagnostic accuracy articles were categorized as 'pass' or 'fail' according to explicit criteria for scientific merit. Candidate search strategies were run in EMBASE, the retrievals being compared with the hand search data. The proposed search strategies were treated as "diagnostic tests" for sound studies and the manual review of the literature was treated as the "gold standard." The sensitivity, specificity, precision and accuracy of the search strategies were calculated.

Results
Of the 433 articles about diagnostic tests, 97 (22.4%) met basic criteria for scientific merit. Combinations of search terms reached peak sensitivities of 100% with specificity at 70.4%. Compared with best single terms, best multiple terms increased sensitivity for sound studies by 8.2% (absolute increase), but decreased specificity (absolute decrease 6%) when sensitivity was maximized. When terms were combined to maximize specificity, the single term "specificity.tw." (specificity of 98.2%) outperformed combinations of terms.

Conclusion
Empirically derived search strategies combining indexing terms and textwords can achieve high sensitivity and specificity for retrieving sound diagnostic studies from EMBASE. These search filters will enhance the searching efforts of clinicians.
International Retrovirology Association brings together scientists and clinicians to bridge discoveries about human T-lymphotropic viruses from the laboratory to clinical trials
Authors: Murphy Edward , Jacobson Steven , Franchini Genoveffa , Taylor Graham P , Hanchard Barrie , Morgan Owen , Lairmore Michael 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and HTLV-2 were among the first human retroviruses discovered in the early 1980's. The International Retrovirology Association is an organized effort that fostered the efforts of scientists and clinicians to form interdisciplinary groups to study this group of retroviruses and their related diseases. The Association promotes excellent science, patient education, and fosters the training of young scientists to promote "bench-to-bedside" research. The International Conference on Human Retrovirology: HTLV and Related Viruses sponsored by the Association supports clinicians and researchers in the exchange of research findings and stimulation of new research directions. This years conference will be held from June 22 to 25, in Montego Bay, Jamaica http://www.htlvconference.org.jm/. Since its inception in 1988, these conferences have provided a highly interactive forum for the global community of HTLV scientists. This is of particular importance as HTLV research enters its third decade and a new generation of scientists takes over this important work. Many of the scientists attending the meeting will be from developing countries where HTLV is endemic, consistent with the history of international collaborations that have characterized HTLV research. The International Conference on Human Retrovirology provides a unique opportunity for researchers of all disciplines interested in HTLV infections to meet their peers and to address the questions facing clinicians and scientists who study retroviruses, like HTLV.
Is there a dysfunction in the visual system of depressed patients?
Authors: Fountoulakis Konstantinos N , Fotiou Fotis , Iacovides Apostolos , Kaprinis George 
Published: March 2005

Abstract

Background
The aim of the current study was to identify a possible locus of dysfunction in the visual system of depressed patients.

Materials and Methods
Fifty Major Depressive patients aged 21–60 years and 15 age-matched controls took part in the study The diagnosis was obtained with the SCAN v 2.0. The psychometric assessment included the HDRS, the HAS, the Newcastle Scales, the Diagnostic Melancholia Scale and the GAF scale. Flash Electroretinogram and Electrooculogram were performed in all subjects. The statistical analysis included ANCOVA, Student's t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient were used.

Results
The Electro-oculographic findings suggested that all subtypes of depressed patients had lower dark trough and light peak values in comparison to controls (p < 0.001), while Arden ratios were within normal range. Electroretinographic recordings did not reveal any differences between patients and controls or between subtypes of depression.

Discussion
The findings of the current study provide empirical data in order to assist in the understanding of the international literature and to explain the mechanism of action of therapies like sleep deprivation and light therapy.
Promoter features related to tissue specificity as measured by Shannon entropy
Authors: Schug Jonathan , Schuller Winfried-Paul , Kappen Claudia , Salbaum J Michael , Bucan Maja , Stoeckert Christian J 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
The regulatory mechanisms underlying tissue specificity are a crucial part of the development and maintenance of multicellular organisms. A genome-wide analysis of promoters in the context of gene-expression patterns in tissue surveys provides a means of identifying the general principles for these mechanisms.

Results
We introduce a definition of tissue specificity based on Shannon entropy to rank human genes according to their overall tissue specificity and by their specificity to particular tissues. We apply our definition to microarray-based and expressed sequence tag (EST)-based expression data for human genes and use similar data for mouse genes to validate our results. We show that most genes show statistically significant tissue-dependent variations in expression level. We find that the most tissue-specific genes typically have a TATA box, no CpG island, and often code for extracellular proteins. As expected, CpG islands are found in most of the least tissue-specific genes, which often code for proteins located in the nucleus or mitochondrion. The class of genes with no CpG island or TATA box are the most common mid-specificity genes and commonly code for proteins located in a membrane. Sp1 was found to be a weak indicator of less-specific expression. YY1 binding sites, either as initiators or as downstream sites, were strongly associated with the least-specific genes.

Conclusions
We have begun to understand the components of promoters that distinguish tissue-specific from ubiquitous genes, to identify associations that can predict the broad class of gene expression from sequence data alone.
The microbial selenoproteome of the Sargasso Sea
Authors: Zhang Yan , Fomenko Dmitri E , Gladyshev Vadim N 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
Background
Selenocysteine (Sec) is a rare amino acid which occurs in proteins in major domains of life. It is encoded by TGA, which also serves as the signal for termination of translation, precluding identification of selenoprotein genes by available annotation tools. Information on full sets of selenoproteins (selenoproteomes) is essential for understanding the biology of selenium. Herein, we characterized the selenoproteome of the largest microbial sequence dataset, the Sargasso Sea environmental genome project.

Results
We identified 310 selenoprotein genes that clustered into 25 families, including 101 new selenoprotein genes that belonged to 15 families. Most of these proteins were predicted redox proteins containing catalytic selenocysteines. Several bacterial selenoproteins previously thought to be restricted to eukaryotes were detected by analyzing eukaryotic and bacterial SECIS elements, suggesting that eukaryotic and bacterial selenoprotein sets partially overlapped. The Sargasso Sea microbial selenoproteome was rich in selenoproteins and its composition was different from that observed in the combined set of completely sequenced genomes, suggesting that these genomes do not accurately represent the microbial selenoproteome. Most detected selenoproteins occurred sporadically compared to the widespread presence of their cysteine homologs, suggesting that many selenoproteins recently evolved from cysteine-containing homologs.

Conclusions
This study yielded the largest selenoprotein dataset to date, doubled the number of prokaryotic selenoprotein families and provided insights into forces that drive selenocysteine evolution.
Prospective study of risk factors for attempted suicide among patients with DSM–IV major depressive disorder
Authors: Sokero T. Petteri , Melartin Tarja K. , Rytsälä Heikki J. , Leskelä Ulla S. , Lestelä-Mielonen Paula S. , Isometsä Erkki T. 
Published: March 2005

BackgroundThere are few prospective studies on risk factors for attempted suicide among psychiatric out- and in-patients with major depressive disorder.AimsTo investigate risk factors for attempted suicide among psychiatric out- and in-patients with major depressive disorder inthe city of Vantaa, Finland.MethodThe Vantaa Depression Study included 269 patients with DSM–IV major depressive disorder diagnosed using semi-structured interviews and followed up at 6- and 18-month interviews with a life chart.ResultsDuring the 18-month follow-up, 8% of the patients attempted suicide. The relative risk of an attempt was 2.50 during partial remission and 7.54 during a major depressive episode, compared with full remission (P<0.001). Numerous factors were associated with this risk, but lacking a partner, previous suicide attempts and total time spent in major depressive episodes were the most robust predictors.ConclusionsSuicide attempts among patients with major depressive disorder are strongly associated with the presence and severity of depressive symptoms and predicted by lack of partner, previous suicide attempts and time spent in depression. Reducing the time spent depressed is a credible preventive measure.
Predictors of outcome following treatment for chronic fatigue
Authors: Darbishire Lucy , Seed Paul , Ridsdale Leone 
Published: March 2005

SummaryWe explored the role of baseline characteristics of 105 patients who presented with fatigue in primary care in determining outcome following either graded exercise or cognitive–behavioural therapy. Meeting the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome was the most powerful predictor of poor outcome and this negative effect was enhanced by greater functional impairment or greater perceived negative consequences, but was not further enhanced by both.
Aggression in drug-dependent in-patients
Authors: Rajesh G. S. , Day Ed 
Published: March 2005

Aims and MethodAssociations have been reported between aggression and psychoactive substance use, and a link with violence has been demonstrated in community samples. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and nature of aggressive incidents and to examine the factors associated with violence in a specialist substance misuse treatment unit. Data were collected about assaults, aggressive patients and the object of their aggression during a 12-month period.ResultsEighteen of 165 patients admitted during this period were involved in aggressive incidents. Patients dependent on more than one substance were significantly more aggressive than other categories of drug users. Past history of assaultive behaviour, younger age group and shorter duration of use were also significantly associated with incidents of aggression. Socio-demographic variables such as gender, marital and employment status were poor predictors of aggression.ConclusionsThe incidence of serious violence in this substance misuse treatment unit was low when compared with other psychiatric units. The findings suggest that there are differences in levels of aggression among the various types of drug users. The study reinforces the need for an accurate drug history in order to improve the quality of risk assessment.
Chemoradiation With and Without Surgery in Patients With Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus
Authors: Stahl Michael , Stuschke Martin , Lehmann Nils , Meyer Hans-Joachim , Walz Martin K. , Seeber Siegfried , Klump Bodo , Budach Wilfried , Teichmann Reinhard , Schmitt Marcus , Schmitt Gerd , Franke Claus , Wilke Hansjochen 
Published: March 2005

Purpose Combined chemoradiotherapy with and without surgery are widely accepted alternatives for the curative treatment of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. The value of adding surgery to chemotherapy and radiotherapy is unknown. Patients and Methods Patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus were randomly allocated to either induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy (40 Gy) followed by surgery (arm A), or the same induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy (at least 65 Gy) without surgery (arm B). Primary outcome was overall survival time. Results The median observation time was 6 years. The analysis of 172 eligible, randomized patients (86 patients per arm) showed overall survival to be equivalent between the two treatment groups (log-rank test for equivalence, P < .05). Local progression-free survival was better in the surgery group (2-year progression-free survival, 64.3%; 95% CI, 52.1% to 76.5%) than in the chemoradiotherapy group (2-year progression-free survival, 40.7%; 95% CI, 28.9% to 52.5%; hazard ratio [HR] for arm B v arm A, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.3 to 3.5; P = .003). Treatment-related mortality was significantly increased in the surgery group than in the chemoradiotherapy group (12.8% v 3.5%, respectively; P = .03). Cox regression analysis revealed clinical tumor response to induction chemotherapy to be the single independent prognostic factor for overall survival (HR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.47; P < .0001). Conclusion Adding surgery to chemoradiotherapy improves local tumor control but does not increase survival of patients with locally advanced esophageal SCC. Tumor response to induction chemotherapy identifies a favorable prognostic group within these high-risk patients, regardless of the treatment group.
Low Microsatellite Instability Is Associated With Poor Prognosis in Stage C Colon Cancer
Authors: Kohonen-Corish Maija R.J. , Daniel Joseph J. , Chan Charles , Lin Betty P.C. , Kwun Sun Young , Dent Owen F. , Dhillon Varinderpal S. , Trent Ronald J.A. , Chapuis Pierre H. , Bokey E. Leslie 
Published: March 2005

Purpose The significance of low microsatellite instability (MSI-L) in colorectal cancer is poorly understood. No clear biologic distinction has been found between MSI-L and microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer, and these two phenotypes are usually combined when analyzed against the well-defined high MSI (MSI-H) phenotype. Evidence is emerging that an O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene defect is associated with MSI-L. Therefore, to further define this phenotype, we undertook a detailed analysis of the prognostic significance of MSI-L and loss of MGMT expression in colon cancer. Patients and Methods The study cohort was 183 patients with clinicopathologic stage C colon cancer who had not received adjuvant therapy. We analyzed MSI status, MGMT, and mismatch repair protein expression, as well as MGMT and p16 promoter hypermethylation. Results We showed that MSI-L defines a group of patients with poorer survival (P = .026) than MSS patients, and that MSI-L was an independent prognostic indicator (P = .005) in stage C colon cancer. Loss of MGMT protein expression was associated with the MSI-L phenotype but was not a prognostic factor for overall survival in colon cancer. p16 methylation was significantly less frequent in MSI-L than in MSI-H and MSS tumors and was not associated with survival. Conclusion MSI-L characterizes a distinct subgroup of stage C colon cancer patients, including the MSI-L subset of proximal colon cancer, who have a poorer outcome. Neither the MGMT defect nor p16 methylation are likely to contribute to the worse prognosis of the MSI-L phenotype.
Adoptive Cell Transfer Therapy Following Non-Myeloablative but Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Patients With Refractory Metastatic Melanoma
Authors: Dudley Mark E. , Wunderlich John R. , Yang James C. , Sherry Richard M. , Topalian Suzanne L. , Restifo Nicholas P. , Royal Richard E. , Kammula Udai , White Don E. , Mavroukakis Sharon A. , Rogers Linda J. , Gracia Gerald J. , Jones Stephanie A. , Mangiameli David P. , Pelletier Michelle M. , Gea-Banacloche Juan , Robinson Michael R. , Berman David M. , Filie Armando C. , Abati Andrea , Rosenberg Steven A. 
Published: March 2005

PurposeWe investigated the combination of lymphodepleting chemotherapy followed by the adoptive transfer of autologous tumor reactive lymphocytes for the treatment of patients with refractory metastatic melanoma.Patients and MethodsThirty-five patients with metastatic melanoma, all but one with disease refractory to treatment with high-dose interleukin (IL) -2 and many with progressive disease after chemotherapy, underwent lymphodepleting conditioning with two days of cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg) followed by five days of fludarabine (25 mg/m2). On the day following the final dose of fludarabine, all patients received cell infusion with autologous tumor-reactive, rapidly expanded tumor infiltrating lymphocyte cultures and high-dose IL-2 therapy.ResultsEighteen (51%) of 35 treated patients experienced objective clinical responses including three ongoing complete responses and 15 partial responses with a mean duration of 11.5 ± 2.2 months. Sites of regression included metastases to lung, liver, lymph nodes, brain, and cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues. Toxicities of treatment included the expected hematologic toxicities of chemotherapy including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and lymphopenia, the transient toxicities of high-dose IL-2 therapy, two patients who developed Pneumocystis pneumonia and one patient who developed an Epstein-Barr virus–related lymphoproliferation.ConclusionLymphodepleting chemotherapy followed by the transfer of highly avid antitumor lymphocytes can mediate significant tumor regression in heavily pretreated patients with IL-2 refractory metastatic melanoma.
Randomized Phase II Study of Temozolomide and Radiotherapy Compared With Radiotherapy Alone in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme
Authors: Athanassiou Helen , Synodinou Maria , Maragoudakis Evagelos , Paraskevaidis Mihalis , Verigos Cosmas , Misailidou Despina , Antonadou Dosia , Saris George , Beroukas Konstantinos , Karageorgis Pantelis 
Published: March 2005

Purpose Surgery remains the standard treatment for glioma, followed by radiotherapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy. Despite multidisciplinary approaches, the median survival time for patients with glioblastoma multiform (GBM) remains at less than 1 year from initial diagnosis. Temozolomide (TMZ), an oral alkylating agent, has shown promising activity in the treatment of malignant gliomas. We conducted a multicenter randomized phase II study comparing the efficacy and safety of TMZ administered concomitantly and sequentially to RT versus RT alone in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. Patients and Methods One hundred thirty patients with pathologically confirmed, newly diagnosed GBM were randomly assigned (110 assessable patients) to receive either TMZ 75 mg/m2/d orally, concomitantly with RT (60 Gy in 30 fractions; group A, n = 57), followed by six cycles of TMZ (150 mg/m2 on days 1 through 5 and 15 to 19 every 28 days), or RT alone (60 Gy in 30 fractions; group B, n = 53). Results Median time to progression was 10.8 months in group A and 5.2 months in group B (P = .0001). One-year progression-free survival rate was 36.6% in group A and 7.7% in group B. Median overall survival (OS) time was also significantly better in group A versus group B (13.4 v 7.7 months, respectively; P < .0001), as was the 1-year OS at 56.3% v 15.7% (P < .0001), respectively. Toxicity was mainly hematologic. One patient with grade 4 myelotoxicity died as a result of sepsis. The other side effects were mild. Conclusion TMZ combined with RT (concomitantly and sequentially) seems to be more effective than RT alone in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. The combined-modality treatment was well tolerated.