bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surgical complications of patient undergoing renal transplantation in China
Authors: YUNG Y.P. , MAH I.S.F. , CHAN W.H. , AU W.H. , MAN C.W. 
Published: April 2004

Introduction: Owing to the severe shortage of organ donation in our locality, large number of end‐stage renal failure (ESRF) patients have to consider the option of renal transplant in mainland China. The objective of this study is to assess the complication rate of patients having renal transplantation done in China.Patients and Method: Medical record of 119 patients with renal transplant done in China since 1/1/1990 were reviewed with particular attention to surgically related complications. Results were compared with some oversea series.Results: 109 out of 119 patients who had received renal transplant in China are being followed up at the time of review (nine died and one dropped out for unknown reason). The mean follow time was 32 months (1–123). Surgical complications occurred in 32 patients (26%). Four graft lost due to rupture arterial anastomosis, arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis and anastomotic pseudoaneurysm. Ten patients(8%) had renal artery stenosis requiring angioplasty. nine patients (7.5%) had wound related problems (three gapped wound, four wound infection and two incisional hernia). Two patients (1.6%) with urinary leakage. Three patients (2.5%) with ureteric stricture. six patients (5%) had perinephric collection. One patient with wound haematoma in early postop period requiring clot evacuation.Discussion: The complications rate in our group is similar to oversea series. Renal transplantarion is the most cost‐effective treatment of ESRF. More and more patient had transplantation done in China. Patients frequently ask about the safety and results of having operation in China. Our result provide an insight into this question though more solid conclusion is required by gathering more results from other hospitals.
Two new potent and convenient predictors of mortality in older nursing home residents in Japan
Authors: Tajima Orie , Nagura Eiichi , Ishikawa‐Takata Kazuko , Ohta Toshiki 
Published: April 2004

Background:  Malnourishment is closely connected with poor health outcomes in frail elderly. However, the relative importance of specific nutritional predictors of mortality remains unclear in the Japanese population. We investigated the potent nutritional factors associated with mortality from nutritional assessments of three parameters in Japanese frail elderly.Methods:  Ninety residents in a nursing home in Japan, aged 65 and over (18 men, 72 women; mean age 82.2 ± 8.0 years) were enrolled in a 38‐month follow‐up study. The eligibility condition for analysis was having lived at the nursing home for more than 30 days, so three participants were excluded. Three nutritional parameters, which included: anthropometric measurements (body mass index, mid‐arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and calf circumference); serum markers (albumin, total protein, prealbumin, retinol binding protein and total cholesterol); and food intake, were assessed. After categorizing each putative factor according to tertile distribution, risk of mortality was analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models.Results:  At the end of the 38‐month follow‐up period, 29 participants had died. After adjustment for gender, age, clinical status, and functional status, three indicators (i.e. mid‐arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and lipid intake) showed a significant relationship with mortality. When all of the putative factors were included in a stepwise procedure, mid‐arm circumference and lipid intake were significantly associated with adjusted mortality.Conclusion:  Among institutionalized Japanese frail elderly, lower levels of mid‐arm circumference and lipid intake could potently predict an increased risk of mortality. These two indicators may be useful for many kinds of assessments and intervention for the improvement of health conditions in Japanese frail elderly.
Nutritional assessment of elderly Japanese nursing home residents of differing mobility using anthropometric measurements, biochemical indicators and food intake
Authors: Tajima Orie , Nagura Eiichi , Ishikawa‐Takata Kazuko , Furumoto Satoko , Ohta Toshiki 
Published: April 2004

Background:  Awareness and evaluation of individual nutritional status are required for optimal support of the elderly population. A Japanese Anthropometric Reference Data ( JARD 2001) was established as a new gold standard, however, its utility for very frail elderly with differing mobility and the relationship with biochemical parameters and food intake remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between nutritional status and mobility deficits in Japanese nursing home residents, and to compare the ability of JARD 2001 to detect malnutrition with other indicators.Methods:  In 130 Japanese nursing home residents (26 men, 104 women; mean age 82.2 ± 9.0 years), anthropometric measurements (body mass index, mid‐arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness and calf circumference), serum markers (albumin, total protein, prealbumin, retinol binding protein, total cholesterol, HDL‐cholesterol, triglyceride, white blood cells, erythrocyte, hemoglobin and lymphocytes) and food intake were assessed. The nutritional indicators were compared among categories according to severity of mobility deficits, and the ability to detect malnutrition was examined in each parameter.Results:  The bedridden elderly had significantly lower nutritional indicators, including anthropometric indexes, albumin, HDL‐cholesterol and food intake, compared with other elderly who can move with or without a wheelchair. When protein‐energy malnutrition was defined as below 1.2 g/kg/day protein intake, 36.7% of the residents were considered to have an intake deficiency. The JARD 2001 was better able to identify the deficiency than albumin level in the independent and the chair‐bound, while albumin could detect the malnourished subjects more sensitively than anthropometric measurements in the bedridden.Conclusion:  Poor nutritional indicators could relate with mobility deficits among institutionalized Japanese frail elderly. The ability of indicators to detect malnutrition diverged with the severity of mobility deficits. The JARD 2001 criteria should be adopted for the elderly with at least an ability to move about by wheelchair, and appropriate anthropometric reference standards for very frail people must be reconsidered.
A cross‐sectional study of buccal cervical sensitivity in UK general dental practice and a summary review of prevalence studies
Authors: Rees JS , Addy M 
Published: April 2004

Abstract:  Aim:  The initial aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity (DH) in a cross‐sectional study of patients visiting general dental practitioners in the UK over a period of one calendar month.Methods:  Eighteen dental practitioners examined 5477 patients over a period of one calendar month, and patients who were diagnosed with DH were questioned further about their occupation and smoking habits. The amount of buccal gingival recession associated with the sensitive teeth was also recorded, as was the presence of periodontal disease.Results:  One hundred and fifty‐two patients were diagnosed as having DH, giving a prevalence figure of 2.8%. The commonest teeth affected were the first molars and premolars, and the commonest initiating factor was cold drinks. A tendency for a greater number of DH teeth was also found for patients with periodontal disease who also smoked. There was also a tendency for the patients with DH teeth to come from higher social groups.Conclusion:  At the time of conducting this study, the European Federation of Periodontology had not recommended that sensitive teeth associated with periodontal disease and treatment be termed root sensitivity (RS). The title of this paper was therefore chosen to reflect this decision, and the data represent teeth both within and between subjects with DH and RS.
Characteristics of patients with severe root resorption
Authors: Sameshima GT , Sinclair PM 
Published: April 2004

Structured AbstractAuthor – Sameshima GT, Sinclair PMObjectives – The purpose of this study was to compare a group of patients in whom all four maxillary incisors were resorbed at least 20% with a matched group.Materials and Methods – Retrospective, case–control. Root resorption was measured on pre‐ and post‐treatment periapical radiographs collected from 868 patients treated in private practices in southern California. Diagnostic and treatment factors were recorded, and vertical and horizontal apical movement calculated from cephalometric films. Root shape was assessed with a six‐object non‐parametric rating system. From this patient population, 25 patients were found who had >20% root resorption on all four maxillary incisors. A case control group without severe root resorption matched by sex, treating office, age at start, ethnicity, and duration of treatment was created with two controls for each severe case.Results – There were no statistically significant differences found for extractions, use of Class II and finishing elastics, transverse treatments, overjet, overbite, vertical, tooth length, habits, and root shape. Higher estimated risk was found for abnormal root shape for both maxillary incisors, and tongue thrust. Horizontal apical displacement was not significantly different (p = 0.07) but severely resorbed incisors were retracted an average of one millimeter further.Conclusions – Twenty‐five of 868 patients were found to have over 20% of all four of their maxillary incisors resorbed. This is <3% of the total patients. Matching this group by sex, ethnicity, office, treatment time, and age greatly reduced the number of factors that would differentiate these patients from 50 who did not get severe root resorption. We conclude that horizontal root displacement, tongue thrust, and abnormal root shape may have higher estimated risk but interoffice variability and treatment time cannot be underestimated.
Synthesis of Nitro‐Substituted Polyfunctional Biphenyls by Negishi Cross‐Coupling of o‐Nitroarylzinc Reagents
Authors: Sapountzis Ioannis , Dube Henry , Knochel Paul 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe iodine‐magnesium exchange reaction allows the preparation of polyfunctional arylmagnesium species bearing a nitro group in the ortho‐position. After transmetalation to the corresponding arylzinc compound, these organometallics undergo a palladium‐catalyzed Negishi cross‐coupling with various aryl iodides to provide polyfunctional biphenyls bearing nitro groups in moderate to good yields.
Calbindin‐immunoreactive neurones in the ovine rumen
Authors: Pfannkuche Helga , Schellhorn Corinna , Schemann Michael , Gäbel Gotthold 
Published: April 2004

AbstractIn small laboratory animals, such as guinea pigs, immunoreactivity for the calcium‐binding protein calbindin (CALB) can be used to distinguish functionally different classes of myenteric neurones. The rumen of sheep is a highly specialized gastrointestinal region, and the control of its functions requires specific intrinsic innervation patterns. The aim of this study was to neurochemically identify and characterize CALB‐positive myenteric neurones of the ovine rumen. Therefore, we performed quadruple immunohistochemistry against CALB, substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) using whole‐mount preparations of the ruminal myenteric plexus. On average, 3 ± 2 and 1 ± 0.4 myenteric neurones/ganglion were CALB‐immunoreactive in suckling lambs and adult sheep, respectively. These neurones had Dogiel type‐I morphology. Most of them (89.2% ± 8.7% and 71.7% ±44.8% in suckling lambs and adult sheep, respectively) did not colocalize any of the other antigenes. Since it has been shown in previous studies that ruminal myenteric neurones are immunoreactive for either choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or NOS, we defined neurones which were CALB‐positive and NOS‐negative as CALB/ChAT. The other CALB‐positive neurones were encoded CALB/NOS/±VIP (10.3% ± 9.3% and 26.7% ± 46.2% in suckling lambs and adult sheep, respectively) or CALB/ChAT/SP (0.5% ± 1.0% and 1.7% ± 1.9% in suckling lambs and adult sheep, respectively). We used cryostat sections of the ruminal wall to analyze the projections of the CALB‐positive neurones. CALB‐immunoreactive somata were exclusively located within the myenteric plexus. CALB‐immunoreactive nerve fibers were found primarily in the lamina propria of the ruminal papillae. We conclude that CALB‐positive myenteric neurones within the ovine rumen project to the epithelium; however, their functional role remains to be investigated. Anat Rec Part A 278A:528–532, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Partitioning of model toxins to hydrophobically terminated DAB dendrimers
Authors: King M. , Duan X. , Sheardown H. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractDendrimers are attractive in biological and biomedical applications due to the similarity in their molecular size to biologically relevant molecules and the large number of chain ends available functionalization. In the current work, we examined the potential of diamino butane (DAB) dendrimers functionalized with long alkyl chains as partitioning agents for hydrophobic toxins for use as a prefiltering stage in a bioartiticial liver. DAB dendrimers of various generations that had been previously fully modified with palmitoyl chloride were obtained. A study of the kinetics of partitioning of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) suggested that while significant toxin removal occurred in 30 s, although a slight time dependent increase in removal was noted up to 60 minutes. The partitioning of 6 hydrophobic toxins from aqueous solution to the modified dendrimers in 30 minutes was examined. The results demonstrated that a number of factors, including the pKa of the toxin, its octanol water partitioning coefficient and molecular size contributed to the level of toxin removal. Toxin removal on a molar basis increased with increasing dendrimer generation for all toxins, with the modified G5 dendrimers partitioning 50–100 toxin molecules in most cases. Dendrimer modification with C4 alkyl chains rather than Cl5 chains significantly decreased toxin removal, although chains longer than C10 seemed to partition equal amounts of toxins. The results of the study demonstrate that water‐soluble dendrimers modified with hydrophobic end groups may be useful for the removal of toxins from the blood in a prereaction step for a bioartificial liver, but that a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of removal may be necessary before it is possible to predict the levels of toxin removal. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Organic Spin Clusters: Annelated Macrocyclic Polyarylmethyl Polyradicals and a Polymer with Very High Spin S=6–18
Authors: Rajca Andrzej , Wongsriratanakul Jirawat , Rajca Suchada , Cerny Ronald L. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractSynthesis and magnetic studies of annelated macrocyclic polyradicals and a related high‐spin polymer with macrocyclic repeat units are described. Polyarylmethyl polyether precursors to the polyradicals and the related polymer are prepared by using Negishi cross‐coupling of difunctionalized calix[4]arene‐based macrocycles. The three lowest homologues, with high degree of monodispersity, are tetradecaether (14‐ether) 3‐(OCH3)14, octacosaether (28‐ether) 4‐(OCH3)28, and dotetracontaether (42‐ether) 5‐(OCH3)42, in which 2, 4, and 6 calix[4]arene‐based macrocycles are annelated to the center macrocycle, respectively. The evidence for their annelated structures (ladder connectivities) is based upon FAB‐MS and the 1H NMR based end‐group analysis. The absolute masses (4–12 kDa) were determined by FAB‐MS and GPC/MALS. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) provides the radii of gyration of 1.7, 2.0, and 3.2 nm for 4‐(OCH3)28, 5‐(OCH3)42, and polymer 6‐(OCH3)n, respectively. The corresponding polyarylmethyl polyradicals 3 and 4, and polymer 6 possess average values of S≈6–7, S≈10, and S≈18, respectively, as determined by SQUID magnetometry and numerical fits to linear combinations of Brillouin functions. The quantitative values of magnetization at saturation and of magnetic susceptibilities indicate that about 40–60 % of unpaired electrons are present at low temperatures (T=1.8–5 K). For polyradical 3, the variable temperature magnetic data are fit to the Heisenberg Hamiltonian based model. The variable magnetic field data at low temperatures are also fit to a percolation‐based model for organic spin cluster, with random distribution of chemical defects, and ferromagnetic versus antiferromagnetic couplings, providing quantitative agreement between the experiment and the theory. For polyradical 3 (with S≈6–7), annealing at room temperature for 0.5 h leads to a polyradical with S≈5.
CD8α‐ and Langerin‐negative dendritic cells, but not Langerhans cells, act as principal antigen‐presenting cells in leishmaniasis
Authors: Ritter Uwe , Meißner Anja , Scheidig Christina , Körner Heinrich 
Published: April 2004

AbstractIn the early phase of leishmaniasis three types of potential antigen‐presenting cells, including epidermal Langerhans cells (LC), dermal dendritic cells (DC) and inflammatory DC, are localizedat the site of infection. Therefore, it has been a central question which cell type is responsible for the initiation of a protective immune response. In the early stage of an anti‐Leishmania immune response, detectable Leishmania major antigen was localized in the paracortex of the draining lymph nodes (LN). Characterization of antigen‐positive cells showed that L. major co‐localized with DC of a CD11c+ CD8α– Langerin– phenotype. To determine the area of antigen uptake, dermis or epidermis, and to further define the type of antigen‐transporting cells, L. major was inoculated subcutaneously and concurrently LC were mobilized with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). After 3 days, DC carrying L. major antigenwere always FITC–, indicating a dermal and not an epidermal origin. Moreover, addition of L. major antigen to ex vivo isolated CD8α– and CD8α+ DC fromthe draining LN of L. major‐infected C57BL/6 mice demonstrated that both DC subpopulations were able to stimulate antigen‐specific T cell proliferation in vitro. Without addition of exogenous antigen only the CD8α– Langerin– DC were capable of stimulating antigen‐specific T cell proliferation. Thus, we demonstrate that CD8α– Langerin– DC and not LC are the basis of the protective immune response to intracellular L. major parasites in vivo.
Ultra‐sensitive class I tetramer analysis reveals previously undetectable populations of antiviral CD8+ T cells
Authors: Barnes Eleanor , Ward Scott M. , Kasprowicz Victoria O. , Dusheiko Geoffrey , Klenerman Paul , Lucas Michaela 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA major breakthrough in cellular immunology has been the development of HLA class I tetramers to analyze CD8+ T cell responses. However, in many situations, including persistent virusinfection, specific T cell responses are rarely detected using this technology. This raises the question of whether such responses are ‘deleted’ (or ‘exhausted’) or present below the conventional detection limit for class I tetramer staining. In particular, persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by very weak or apparently absent specific CD8+ T cell responses, even though they are readily detectable in acute disease. Therefore, we assessed the use of anti‐PE‐labeled magnetic beads to enrich tetramer‐positive HCV‐specific T cells and identify previously undetectable populations. Using the enrichment technique, HCV‐specific T cells could be detected in the majority of infected individuals, whereas these responses were not detected using conventional tetramer staining (8/15 vs. 1/15; p=0.01). Magnetic enrichment could reliably detect very rare HCV‐specific responses at frequencies of >0.0011% of CD8+ T cells (∼1/million PBMC), and phenotypic analysis of these rare populations was possible. Therefore, this direct ex vivo technique revealed the persistence of very low frequencies of virus‐specific CD8+ T cells during chronic virus infection and is readily transferable to the study of other viral, self‐ or tumor‐specific T cells.
Involvement of filamentous actin in setting the threshold for degranulation in mast cells
Authors: Tolarová Helena , Dráberová Lubica , Heneberg Petr , Dráber Petr 
Published: April 2004

AbstractPrevious studies using cytochalasins and latrunculin B, inhibitors of actin polymerization, showed that filamentous (F)‐actin had a negative regulatory role in Fcϵ receptor I (FcϵRI) signaling. How F‐actin is involved in regulating the activation of mast cells is unknown. In this study we investigated the role of F‐actin in mast cell activation induced by aggregation of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored proteins Thy‐1 and TEC‐21, and compared it to activation via FcϵRI. Pretreatment of rat basophilic leukemia cells with latrunculin B inhibited the Thy‐1‐induced actin polymerization and elevated the Thy‐1‐mediated secretory and calcium responses. Inhibition of actin polymerization followed by Thy‐1 aggregation resulted in an increased tyrosine phosphorylation of Syk, phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ), Gab2 and linker for activation of T cells (LAT) adapters, and some other signaling molecules. Enzymatic activities of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase, PLCγ, and phosphatase SHP‐2 were also up‐regulated, but tyrosine phosphorylation of ezrin was inhibited. Similar changes were observed in FcϵRI‐activated cells. Significant changes in intracellular distribution, tyrosine phosphorylation, and/or enzymatic activities of signaling molecules occurred in latrunculin‐pretreated cells before cell triggering. The combined data suggest that actin polymerization is critical for setting the thresholds for mast cell signaling via aggregation of both FcϵRI and GPI‐anchored proteins.
Recognition of HLA‐A3 and HLA‐A11 by KIR3DL2 is peptide‐specific
Authors: Hansasuta Pokrath , Dong Tao , Thananchai Hathairat , Weekes Michael , Willberg Christian , Aldemir Hatice , Rowland‐Jones Sarah , Braud Veronique M. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe recognition of MHC class I molecules by killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIR) is central to the control of NK cell function and can also modulate the CTL activation threshold. Among KIR receptors, KIR3DL2 is thought to interact with HLA‐A3 and ‐A11, although direct evidence has been lacking. In this study, we show that HLA‐A3 and ‐A11 tetramers specifically bind to KIR3DL2*001 transfectants and that this recognition is peptide‐specific. Single amino acid substitutions in the nonamer peptide underline a critical role for residue 8 in recognition of KIR3DL2. However, the role of this interaction in vivo still remains to be established.
Flammability of oil‐based painted gypsum wallboard subjected to fire heat fluxes
Authors: Mowrer Frederick W. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe flammability of painted gypsum wallboard (GWB) exposed to fire heat fluxes is investigated. GWB samples coated with multiple layers of alkyd/oil‐based paint are subjected to constant incident heat fluxes of 35, 50 and 75 kW/m2 in the Cone Calorimeter for periods of 5, 10 and 15 min. A number of coats of alkyd/oil‐based interior semi‐gloss enamel paint, including 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 coats, are applied over a single coat of oil‐based primer to the exposed surface of 16 mm (5/8 in.) thick type X GWB. Unpainted type X GWB is also evaluated under the same exposure conditions. The potential for upward flame spread based on the Cone Calorimeter results is evaluated. The occurrence of paint ‘blistering’ is observed to have a significant effect on the time to ignition and consequently on the potential for upward flame spread. Further work is needed to evaluate the conditions under which ‘blistering’ will occur and its effects on the potential for surface flame spread on painted gypsum wallboard. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.