bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A combination of catalase and trehalose as additives to conventional freezing medium results in improved cryoprotection of human hematopoietic cells with reference to in vitro migration and adhesion properties
Authors: Sasnoor Lalita M. , Kale Vaijayanti P. , Limaye Lalita S. 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation of hematopoietic cells from cord blood is an essential component in unrelated transplant settings. Cell damage during freezing is caused by multiple factors, of which membrane damage and oxygen free radical generation are two major factors. It was reported earlier that a combination of catalase and trehalose as additives in freezing medium affords better cryoprotection in terms of long‐term culture assays.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Mononuclear and CD34+ cells isolated from cord blood were used as a source of hematopoietic cells. KG1a cell line was used as a model system in adhesion assays. The cells were frozen in a programmable freezer and stored at −196°C. Various homing‐related assays were carried out on the frozen cells.RESULTS: Herein it is reported that these two additives afford better preservation of adhesion‐ and migration‐related properties of the frozen cells. The test cells frozen with additives resulted in improved migration toward stromal‐derived factor‐1α and showed higher expression of its receptor CXCR4. Colony‐forming unit assay of migrated test cells showed that these cells are early progenitors having capacity to give rise to all types of myeloid colonies. Test cells also show increased expression of FLT3R and improved responsiveness to FLT3 ligand, the homing‐related cytokine. Adhesion to stroma and extracellular matrix was better in test cells as compared to control cells.CONCLUSION: The present data provide evidence that addition of catalase and trehalose to the conventional freezing medium preserves migration‐ and adhesion‐related properties of the hematopoietic graft.
Correlation between in vitro aggregation and thromboxane A2 production in fresh, liquid‐preserved, and cryopreserved human platelets: effect of agonists, pH, and plasma and saline resuspension
Authors: Valeri C.R. , Macgregor H. , Ragno G. 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND: Some of the tests used to assess the quality of fresh and preserved platelets (PLTs) include PLT number, PLT morphology, pH of the PLT medium, PLT response to hypotonic stress, and PLT aggregation to agonists. This study was performed to assess the function of fresh and preserved PLTs by their response to aggregation and their production of thromboxane A2 after in vitro stimulation with agonists.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: PLTs isolated by apheresis procedures were stored at 22°C for as long as 5 days and then frozen with 6 percent dimethyl sulfoxide, stored at −80°C, thawed, washed, and resuspended in medium. The effects of agonists and the pH and composition of the medium on PLT aggregation and PLT production of thromboxane A2 after stimulation were measured.RESULTS: The agonists and the pH and composition of the medium affected both the aggregation response and the production of thromboxane A2 by the fresh and preserved PLTs. PLT aggregation response to arachidonic acid (AA) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) was significantly lower in the cryopreserved PLTs than in the fresh and preserved PLTs. After stimulation with AA and ADP, the cryopreserved PLTs produced more thromboxane than did the fresh and liquid‐preserved PLTs.CONCLUSIONS: The agonists and the pH and composition of the medium affected the response to aggregate and produce thromboxane in vitro in both the fresh and the liquid‐preserved PLTs. PLT thromboxane A2 production may be a better in vitro test than PLT aggregation to assess PLT function in vivo.
Inactivation of viruses in platelet concentrates by photochemical treatment with amotosalen and long‐wavelength ultraviolet light
Authors: Lin Lily , Hanson Carl V. , Alter Harvey J. , Jauvin Valérie , Bernard Kristen A. , Murthy Krishna K. , Metzel Peyton , Corash Laurence 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND: Viral contamination of platelet (PLT) concentrates can result in transfusion‐transmitted diseases. A photochemical treatment (PCT) process with amotosalen‐HCl and long‐wavelength ultraviolet light (UVA), which cross‐links nucleic acids, was developed to inactivate viruses and other pathogens in PLT concentrates.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: High titers of pathogenic or blood‐borne viruses, representing 10 different families, were added to single‐donor PLT concentrates containing 3.0 × 1011 to 6.0 × 1011 PLTs in approximately 300 mL of 35 percent plasma and 65 percent PLT additive solution (InterSol). After PCT with 150 µmol per L amotosalen and 3 J per cm2 UVA, residual viral infectivity was assayed by sensitive cell culture or animal systems.RESULTS: Enveloped viruses were uniformly sensitive to inactivation by PCT whereas nonenveloped viruses demonstrated variable inactivation. Log reduction of enveloped viruses for cell‐free HIV‐1 was >6.2; for cell‐associated HIV‐1, >6.1; for clinical isolate HIV‐1, >3.4; for clinical isolate HIV‐2, >2.5; for HBV, >5.5; for HCV, >4.5; for DHBV, >6.2; for BVDV, >6.0; for HTLV‐I, 4.2; for HTLV‐II, 4.6; for CMV, >5.9; for WNV, >5.5; for SARS‐HCoV, >5.8; and for vaccinia virus, >4.7. Log reduction of nonenveloped viruses for human adenovirus 5 was >5.2; for parvovirus B19, 3.5‐>5.0; for bluetongue virus, 5.6‐5.9; for feline conjunctivitis virus, 1.7‐2.4; and for simian adenovirus 15, 0.7‐2.3.CONCLUSION: PCT inactivates a broad spectrum of pathogenic, blood‐borne viruses. Inactivation of viruses in PLT concentrates with amotosalen and UVA offers the potential to prospectively prevent the majority of PLT transfusion‐associated viral diseases.
Possible transmission of human herpesvirus‐8 by blood transfusion in a historical United States cohort
Authors: Dollard Sheila C. , Nelson Kenrad E. , Ness Paul M. , Stambolis Veronica , Kuehnert Matthew J. , Pellett Philip E. , Cannon Michael J. 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND: Transmission of human herpesvirus‐8 (HHV‐8) by blood transfusion in the United States appears plausible but has not been demonstrated. The objective of this study was to evaluate evidence of HHV‐8 transmission via blood transfusion.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Serum specimens were collected before and 6 months after surgery from 406 patients who enrolled in the Frequency of Agents Communicable by Transfusion study (FACTS) in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1986 to 1990. The change in HHV‐8 serostatus was measured by a lytic‐antigen immunofluorescence assay.RESULTS: Of the 284 patients who were initially HHV‐8‐seronegative and who received transfusions, 2 seroconverted, 1 with a postsurgery antibody titer of 1:160 and the other with a titer of 1:1280. These patients received 12 and 13 units of blood, respectively. None of the HHV‐8‐seronegative patients who did not receive transfusions seroconverted. If seroconversion was caused by transfused blood, the transmission risk per transfused component was 0.082 percent.CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report suggesting transmission of HHV‐8 via blood components in the United States. Because linked donor specimens were not available, other routes of transmission cannot be excluded; however, the evidence is consistent with infection being caused by transfusion. Future studies should include contemporary US populations with linked donor specimens and populations at higher risk for HHV‐8 infection.
West Nile virus in Canadian blood donors
Authors: Cameron Cherie , Reeves Jackie , Antonishyn Nick , Tilley Peter , Alport Ted , Eurich Bernie , Towns Dale , Lane Debra , Saldanha John 
Published: March 2005

BACKGROUND:Blood donation screening for West Nile virus (WNV) RNA by nucleic acid testing (NAT) was implemented in Canada in July 2003, and 14 WNV RNA–positive donations were identified. Samples were screened in minipools of six donations with a WNV assay (TaqScreen, Roche). Two of the donors were identified by single‐donor screening that was initiated in the province of Saskatchewan, which had the highest prevalence of WNV in the country, in early September 2003.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:The original 14 samples and follow‐up samples (2‐35 days after donation), available from 13 of the 14 donors were tested with an in‐house, real‐time, quantitative WNV NAT assay that was specific for WNV. A Health Canada reference reagent was used for calibration. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were determined with commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kits.RESULTS:All donors tested positive for the presence of WNV with the in‐house assay. Two donors, 18 and 19, identified by single‐donor testing, had extremely low levels of viremia and that could only be detected in 1:38 or 1:39 replicate tests. The titers of the remaining index samples ranged from below log2.8 (the limit of quantitation) to log4.7 NAT detectable units per mL. Three samples, from Donors 17, 18, and 19, were IgM‐positive, whereas samples from Donors 18 and 19 were also IgG‐positive. The remaining 10 donors with follow‐up samples all seroconverted.CONCLUSION:The 14 WNV donor samples detected by routine screening were confirmed as WNV RNA–positive by a WNV RNA–specific in‐house assay and by demonstration of seroconversion in 13 of the 14 donors.
Sibling effects on smoking in adolescence: evidence for social influence from a genetically informative design
Authors: Slomkowski Cheryl , Rende Richard , Novak Scott , Lloyd‐Richardson Elizabeth , Niaura Raymond 
Published: March 2005

AbstractAims  Behavioral genetic research has suggested that sibling effects on smoking may reflect social rather than genetic processes. We utilize a genetically informative sample of adolescents to test this proposition, focusing on sibling relationship processes (social connectedness) shown to be influential in studies of deviancy.Design  A combined twin‐sibling design was employed to disentangle genetic and non‐genetic effects.Participants  We utilized a sample of 1421 adolescent sibling pairs participating in the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). These sibling pairs represent a spectrum of genetic relatedness and include monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, biological siblings, half‐siblings and unrelated siblings.Measurements  Participants completed self‐report questionnaires on smoking behavior, quality of relationship with their sibling (social connectedness) and peer and parental smoking.Findings  Main effects of both shared environment and genetics were found on adolescent smoking frequency. Social connectedness between siblings moderated shared environmental influences on smoking frequency at each time period, as well as on change in smoking frequency. Shared environmental effects were more pronounced when siblings reported high levels of social connectedness. These environmental sibling effects on smoking were significant after controlling for parent and peer smoking.Conclusions  This report extends prior research on sibling effects on smoking by identifying specific relationship dynamics that underlie transmission of risk within sibships and providing evidence that such relationship dynamics represent social rather than genetic processes.
Could the high level of cirrhosis in central and eastern Europe be due partly to the quality of alcohol consumed? An exploratory investigation
Authors: Sz cs Sándor , Sárváry Attila , McKee Martin , Ádány Róza 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTBackground  The burden of alcohol‐related diseases differs widely among countries. Since the 1980s, a band of countries in Central and Eastern Europe have experienced a steep rise in deaths from chronic liver diseases and cirrhosis. A possible risk factor is the consumption of illegally produced home‐made spirits in these countries containing varying amounts of aliphatic alcohols and which may be hepatotoxic. However, little is known about the composition of such beverages.Aims  To compare the concentration of short‐chain aliphatic alcohols in spirits from illegal and legal sources in Hungary.Design  Samples taken from commercial retailers and illegal sources were collected and their aliphatic patterns and alcohol concentrations were determined by gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis.Findings  The concentrations of methanol, isobutanol, 1‐propanol, 1‐butanol, 2‐butanol and isoamyl alcohol were significantly higher in home‐made spirits than those of from commercial sources.Conclusions  The results suggest that the consumption of home‐made spirits is an additional risk factor for the development of alcohol‐induced cirrhosis and may have contributed to high level of liver cirrhosis mortality in Central and Eastern Europe. Restrictions on supply and sale of alcohol from illicit sources are needed urgently to reduce significantly the mortality from chronic liver disease.
Deterioration over time in effect of Motivational Interviewing in reducing drug consumption and related risk among young people
Authors: McCambridge Jim , Strang John 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTAim  To test whether beneficial effects of a single session of Motivational Interviewing (MI) on alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use apparent after 3 months were maintained until 12 months.Design  Cluster randomized trial, allocating 200 young people in the natural groups in which they were recruited to either MI (n = 105) or to an assessment‐only control condition (n = 95).Setting  Ten further education colleges across inner London.Participants  Two hundred young people who were current users of illegal drugs (age range 16–20 years) with whom contact was established through peers trained for the project.Intervention  The intervention was adapted from MI in the form of a topic‐based 1‐hour single‐session discussion.Measurements  Changes in cigarette, alcohol, cannabis and other drug use and perceptions of risk and harm between the time of recruitment and follow‐up interviews after 3 and 12 months.Findings  A satisfactory follow‐up rate (81%) was achieved. After 12 months, 3‐month differences between MI and assessment‐only groups have disappeared almost entirely. Unexpected improvements by the assessment‐only control group on a number of outcomes suggest the possibility of reactivity to the research assessment at 3‐month follow‐up.Conclusion  In the terms of the original experiment, there is little evidence of enduring intervention effectiveness shown by between‐group differences after 12 months. Deterioration of effect is the most probable explanation, although reactivity to 3‐month assessment, a late Hawthorne effect, cannot be ruled out.
Predicting the early therapeutic alliance in the treatment of drug misuse
Authors: Meier Petra S. , Donmall Michael C. , Barrowclough Christine , McElduff Patrick , Heller Richard F. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTAims  To predict the early therapeutic alliance from a range of potentially relevant factors, including clients’ social relationships, motivation and psychological resources, and counsellors’ professional experience and ex‐user status.Design  The study recruited 187 clients starting residential rehabilitation treatment for drug misuse in three UK services. Counsellor and client information was assessed at intake, and client and counsellor ratings of the alliance were obtained during weeks 1, 2 and 3.Measurements  The intake assessment battery included scales on psychological wellbeing, treatment motivation, coping strategies and attachment style. Client and counsellor versions of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI‐S) were used for weekly alliance measurement. Hierarchical linear models were used to examine the relationship between alliance and predictor variables.Findings  Clients who had better motivation, coping strategies, social support and a secure attachment style were more likely to develop good alliances. Findings with regard to counsellor characteristics were not clear cut: clients rated their relationships with ex‐user counsellors, experienced counsellors and male counsellors as better, but more experienced counsellors rated their alliances as worse.Conclusions  The findings offer important leads as to what interventions might improve the therapeutic alliance. Further work will need to establish whether the therapeutic alliance and ultimately treatment outcomes can be enhanced by working on improving clients’ motivation and psychosocial resources.
Impacts of federal precursor chemical regulations on methamphetamine arrests
Authors: Cunningham James K. , Liu Lon‐Mu 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTAims  The US government regulated precursor chemicals, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, multiple times to limit methamphetamine production/availability and thus methamphetamine problems. Research has found that the regulations reduced methamphetamine hospital admissions, but authors have argued that other problems were unaffected. This study examines whether the regulations impacted methamphetamine arrests.Design  ARIMA‐intervention time‐series analysis with control series.Setting  California (1982–2001).Measurements  Dependent variable series: monthly methamphetamine arrests. Control series: monthly marijuana arrests and cocaine/heroin arrests.Interventions  Bulk powder ephedrine and pseudoephedrine: regulated November 1989. Products containing ephedrine as the single active medicinal ingredient: regulated August 1995. Pseudoephedrine products: regulated October 1997. Large‐scale producers used ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in these forms. Ephedrine combined with other active medicinal ingredients (e.g. various cold medicines)—used mainly by small‐scale producers: regulated October 1996.Findings  The regulation targeting small‐scale producers (1996) had no significant impact. In contrast, methamphetamine arrests stopped rising and dropped 31% to 45% each of the three times precursor chemicals used by large‐scale producers were regulated. Within 3 years of the bulk powder regulation (1989) and again within 2 years of the ephedrine single ingredient regulation (1995), arrests fully rebounded. During the 4 years following the last regulation (pseudoephedrine products, 1997) arrests only partially rebounded. These effects parallel those reported on hospital admissions. The control series were generally unaffected.Conclusions  Precursor regulations targeting large‐scale producers impacted methamphetamine arrests, a criminal justice problem, much as they impacted the public health problem of methamphetamine hospital admissions. Ongoing research is needed to determine whether these problems eventually fully rebound from the last regulation.
Gender differences in the association between substance use and elevated depressive symptoms in a general adolescent population
Authors: Poulin Christiane , Hand Denise , Boudreau Brock , Santor Darcy 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTAims  This study explores gender differences in the association between substance use and elevated depressive symptoms in the general adolescent population.Design  Cross‐sectional self‐reported anonymous survey, the 2002/2003 Student Drug Use Survey in the Atlantic Provinces. The sample design was a single‐stage cluster sample of randomly selected classes stratified by grade and region.Setting  The four Atlantic provinces of Canada.Participants  A total of 12 771 students in junior and senior high schools of the public school systems, representing a response rate of about 97%. The average age of participants was 15.2 years.Measurements  The measure of elevated depressive symptoms was a 12‐item version of the CES‐D with three categories of depression risk validated in a companion study.Findings  The prevalence of very elevated depressive symptoms was 8.6% in females and 2.6% in males. Alcohol use and cigarette smoking were found to be independent predictors of elevated depressive symptoms in females, but not males; cannabis use was found to be an independent predictor of elevated depressive symptoms in both males and females. Age was found to have a curvilinear relationship with elevated depressive symptoms in females but not in males. The adolescent's academic performance and province of residence were found to be independent risk factors of elevated depressive symptoms among both males and females. About 10.3% of adolescents considered to be potential candidates for needing help reported having received help because they felt depressed.Conclusions  The association between depression risk and age, alcohol use, cigarette smoking and cannabis use in the general adolescent population is not straightforward and may differ according to gender. There is unmet need for help for depression among adolescents.
Adolescent drinking level and adult binge drinking in a national birth cohort*
Authors: Jefferis B. J. M. H. , Power C. , Manor O. 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTAims  To assess (i) continuities in binge drinking across adulthood and (ii) the association between adolescent drinking level and adult binge drinking.Design  Population‐based prospective birth cohort.Setting  England, Scotland and Wales.Participants  All births during one week in March 1958 (n = 8520 in analysis).Measurements  Alcohol consumption reported at 16, 23, 33 and 42 years. Binge drinkers were identified by dividing number of units of alcohol consumed in the last week by usual drinking frequency, with limits of ≥10 units/occasion for men and ≥7 for women.Findings  Four in five cohort members drank alcohol at least twice a month. Prevalences of binge drinking at 23, 33 and 42 years among men were 37%, 28% and 31% and among women 18%, 13% and 14%. Most binge drinkers in adulthood changed drinking status during this period. Nevertheless, binge drinking at age 23 increased the odds of binge drinking at 42 years: odds ratio (OR) 2.10 (95% CI 1.85, 2.39) for men; OR 1.56 (95% CI 1.29,1.89) for women. Women who rarely or never drank aged 16 were less likely than light drinkers (0–2 units/week) to binge drink as adults, OR at 23 years 0.65 (95% CI 0.55, 0.77). Men who were heavier drinkers (≥7 units/week) at 16 years were more likely than light drinkers to binge drink throughout adulthood; at 42 years, OR 1.64 (95% CI 1.33, 2.08).Conclusions  Binge drinking is common in British men and women throughout adulthood with continuities between the 20s and 40s. Adolescent drinking has a modest although important association with adult binge drinking.
Nefazodone in out‐patient treatment of inhaled cocaine dependence: a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Passos Sonia Regina Lambert , Camacho Luiz Antonio Bastos , Lopes Claudia S. , Borges dos Santos Maria Angélica 
Published: March 2005

ABSTRACTAims  To assess the efficacy of oral nefazodone in the treatment of cocaine dependence.Design  A 10‐week randomized double‐blind clinical trial was performed.Methods  All 210 subjects fulfilled Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version IV (DSM‐IV) criteria for cocaine dependence and were assigned randomly to 300 mg/day of oral nefazodone (N) or placebo (P). Self‐reported drug use, retention interval in treatment, adherence to prescription and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Hamilton scale.Findings  Abstinence from cocaine for 3 weeks or more was achieved by 49.5% (N) and 45.7% (P) (P = 0.58), but 16.2% (N) and 22.9% (P) used other drugs during abstinence. The average interval to resumption of drug use was 33.9 days (N) and 36.1 days (P). Adverse effects were reported by 45.8% (N) and 29.5% (P) (P = 0.01). Treatment for these events was needed more often in N (24.0%) than in P (9.5%) (P < 0.02).Conclusions  These results do not support the indication of nefazodone for out‐patient treatment of inhaled cocaine dependence with or without other associated drug dependence diagnoses.