bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health condition of Łódzkie province inhabitants compared to Polish citizens
Authors: Suwała Małgorzata , Gerstenkorn Andrzej
Published: June 2013

Introduction. Systematic study of the population’s health condition is a primary goal of national healthcare and should be a base for taking significant resolutions as far as the state health policy is concerned. The comparison of the main negative indicators of the Poles’ health condition broken down by the province shows a vast diversity.
Aim. The aim of the study is to present the current health situation of the Łódzkie province.
Material and methods. The study uses the information about health condition and chosen factors of Poland’s health situation by the province included in the publications of the Central Statistical Office, National Institute of Hygiene, Regional Centre of Public Health in Łódź, the Government Population Council in the years 2007-2010.
Results. It is worth noticing that Łódzkie province has the highest percentage of retirement age population in Poland (18.5%, Poland 16.5%), a very high feminization ratio – 110.2 (Poland 107.1) as well as the lowest population growth factor -2.24‰ (Poland +0.9). The overall standardized mortality rate was (2010) at 1017.0/100 thousand of people (Poland 784.2). Deaths due to cardiovascular system failure comprised 46% of all deaths, however, the standardized mortality rate in Łódzkie province was the highest in Poland and amounted to 509.8/100 thousand people (Poland 449.6). The life expectancy of Łódzkie province inhabitants was the lowest in Poland for both males and females, and amounted to 70.1 and 79.4 years in 2010. The incidence of viral hepatitis and tuberculosis, as well as road safety coefficients, are also very low in the Łódzkie province.
Conclusions. The poor health condition is influenced to a great extent by socio-demographic population structure, feminization and progressive population aging. In recent years, in the Łódzkie province, the general standardized mortality rate, as well as the number of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, external causes and diseases of the digestive system, have been the highest in Poland.
Self-evaluation of Polish midwives’ health state
Authors: Iwanowicz-Palus Grażyna , M.Bień Agnieszka , Stadnicka Grażyna , Golonka Ewa
Published: June 2013

Introduction. Legal provisions enacting midwives’ works take for granted their ability to evaluate newborns’ and females’ health state in all stages of their lives.
Aim. The work aimed at presenting a self-evaluation of health situation that midwives made, together with determinants for this self-evaluation.
Material and methods. The research involved 3569 midwives from all over Poland. The research material was collected over one year. The data were collected by means of poll diagnostic method, and the questionnaire technique was used.
Results. Over a half of the researched midwives – whatever region of Poland they came from (p>0.05) – evaluated their health (57.44%) and physical condition (54.89%) as good. Only few midwives admitted their health state was bad and very bad (2.72%), and made the same evaluation of their physical condition (2.63%). The majority of midwives (63.35%) declared that their health state was comparable to that of their peers, whereas a group who thought it to be considerably worse was over tenfold smaller (6.33%). Midwives who evaluated their health state as very good mostly belonged to statistically significant, varied (p<0.001) groups of individuals comprised: the youngest, aged under 30, single, childless, with higher education completed and a short work experience, highly appreciating their housing, material conditions and their life standards.
Conclusions. Midwives who were very satisfied with their health state were the youngest unmarried people, childless with higher vocational education; they enjoyed a good material status and evaluated their health higher than their peers.
Psycho-social determinants in health state self-evaluation by Polish midwives
Authors: Iwanowicz-Palus Grażyna , Bień Agnieszka M. , Stadnicka Grażyna , Golonka Ewa
Published: June 2013

Introduction. Professional work could be the source of life satisfaction, it could enhance the psychophysical condition. However it happens that professional activity brings negative effects and might be very aggravating.
Aim. The work aimed at assessing psycho-social determinants in health self-evaluation by Polish midwives.
Materials and method. The investigation was performed by means of the diagnostic polling method, using the questionnaire polls, and involved 3569 midwives from all regions of Poland. The method made use of the Polish adaptation of the Sense of Coherence Questionnaire SOC-29, a questionnaire poll for measuring sources of support, as well as
a personal questionnaire to describe socio-demographic characteristics of the group.
Results. Midwives who evaluated their mental health state as very good hardly ever or very rarely experienced difficult situations that triggered stress in their personal and professional lives (p=0.0000). In difficult situations, they always received support from their friends (p=0.001), their family (p=0.0024), their colleagues (p=0.0081), as well as from their superiors (p=0.0004). They also enjoyed a high global level of the sense of coherence (p=0.0000).
Conclusions. Good self-evaluation of the investigated midwives was positively correlated with a high sense of coherence. There was also noted a correlation between very good and good self-evaluation of health state and support received from family, friends, colleagues and superiors.
Bacterial pneumonia as a result of mechanical ventilation in patients treated in intensive care units – epidemiological importance
Authors: Leszcz Katarzyna , Słomka Tomasz , Karwat Irena Dorota , Sobieszczański Jarosław
Published: June 2013

Introduction. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is among the most common hospital infections in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The most important risk factors of VAP are endotracheal catheterization and mechanical ventilation.
Aim. The objective of the study was evaluation of the prevalence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and determination of the type of microbiological agents in specimens collected from the bronchial tree.
Material and methods. The study covered 42 patients: 59.5% of males and 40.5% of females, hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), in whom mechanical ventilation was applied. Airway secretion was grown on a solid agar medium: Columbia agar with 5% sheep blood, chocolate agar, McConkey and Sabouraud media. Identification of the bacterial strains grown was based on the determination of their biochemical properties, with the use of commercial assays (bio-Merieux): ID 32E and ID 32GN and tests ID 32 STAPH and API 20 STREP.
Results. In the group of 42 patients who received mechanical ventilation (59.5% of the total number of hospitalized patients) VAP developed in 17 patients (40.5%). From the specimens 30 (34.9%) strains of Gram-negative rods, 19 (22%) strains of Gram-positive cocci, and 13 (15.1%) fungi were grown. The largest number of strains was isolated in patients who received artificial ventilation until day 20 of hospitalization.
Conclusions. The microorganisms most often isolated from the upper airways were Gram-negative rods; patients admitted to ICU from other wards were colonized with bacterial flora conveyed with them from the original ward; the duration of artificial ventilation increases the risk of occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Choking with foreign bodies – analysis of the problem of children living in the Lublin province
Authors: Rybojad Beata , Rudnicka-Drożak Ewa
Published: June 2013

Introduction. Foreign bodies (FB) aspirated through the oral cavity are important therapeutic and social problems in children. They are the cause of death and permanent injuries, including hypoxia caused by prolonged suffocation.
Aim. The aim of the research was to analyze the factors predisposing to ingestion hazard among children and to draw attention to the problem of educating tutors in providing first aid in case of choking.
Material and methods. The research method was the analysis of medical records of patients of the Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Audiology and Phoniatrics, Children’s University Hospital (DSK), Medical University of Lublin, hospitalized for suspected FB aspiration into the lower respiratory tract or esophagus.
Results. Of the 307 patients, 55% were children from rural areas. There was no significant relationship between clinical symptoms and the place of residence of the patients. Also, the type of FBs did not differentiate urban and rural children. A significant group consisted of children having parents with elementary education. The influence of seasonality – frequent FBs in children occurred in rural areas during the summer and autumn months, which could be due to the involvement of parents in the field work.
Conclusion. The reasons why the following analysis has been made is a wide scale of the problem of foreign bodies in children and unsatisfactory training of health care workers who may come into contact with young patients in health or life-threatening situations due to choking.
Anticancer properties of selected plant polyphenols from the group of flavonoids and stilbenes
Authors: Majewski Grzegorz , Lubecka-Pietruszewska Katarzyna , Kaufman-Szymczyk Agnieszka , Fabianowska-Majewska Krystyna
Published: June 2013

During recent 10 years, numerous biological, clinical and epidemiological studies have been aimed at explaining the health-related role of natural plant polyphenols (i.e. flavonoids and stilbens) in human health. The consequences of some polyphenols effects are effective protection and reduction of the risk of many disorders (e.g. cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and cancer diseases) which were initiated by reactive free radicals. The polyphenols action results from their antioxidant activity leading to decrease in the level of reactive oxygen species and reactive carcinogenic metabolites.
The studies of several scientific groups and of our team indicate that natural plant flavonoids and stilbens contained in vegetables, fruits and herbs modulate, by epigenetic mechanism, expression of tumour suppressor genes, encoding proteins that participate in regulation of intracellular signal pathways, inhibition of cell cycle and/or in stimulation of proapoptotic genes. Thus, natural bioactive compounds which inhibit cancer cell growth, invasive capacities, and metastases can be efficacious in both cancer therapy, cancer prevention and stimulation of the anticancer drugs effects.
The present article includes scientific knowledge about sources of the plant flavonoids and stilbens, their chemical structure, bioavaibility and anitioxidant properties. There are also explained the compounds epigenetical mechanism of the anticancer actions.
Apparent Argatroban Resistance in a Patient with Elevated Factor VIII Levels
Authors: Kennedy Dina M , Alaniz Cesar
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE

To report a case in which there was a lack of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) correlation with plasma argatroban concentrations in a patient with elevated factor VIII levels who was diagnosed with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

CASE SUMMARY

A 59-year-old female with a history significant for basal cell carcinoma was transferred from an outside hospital and underwent resection of a third ventricle mass. The postoperative hospital course was complicated by subdural hematoma, HIT, and pulmonary embolism. Upon initiation of argatroban, we faced difficulty in maintaining therapeutic aPTT values despite administration of significantly higher than usual doses of argatroban (up to 7 μg/kg/min). A coagulation abnormality was suspected and an argatroban concentration was obtained; results showed an elevated level of 2.2 μg/mL (therapeutic range 0.4–1.2), with a corresponding aPTT of 53.1 seconds. A coagulopathy workup revealed an excess of factor VIII activity. Thereafter, argatroban concentrations were used for dose adjustments and the infusion was titrated to a final rate of 2.75 μg/kg/min.

DISCUSSION

The lack of correlation of aPPT values with argatroban administration has not been described in the literature and, to our knowledge, similar cases have not been reported. We were unable to achieve an increase in aPTT, despite aggressive argatroban dosing in a patient with increased factor VIII activity. A definitive mechanism for this is not entirely known; however, it is thought to be secondary to contributing underlying causes such as excessive clotting factors, circulating inflammatory proteins, or other aspects.

CONCLUSIONS

With the initiation of argatroban therapy, particular attention should be given to ensure that aPTTs correlate with dosing to prevent life-threatening bleeding complications. Excessive argatroban dosing requirements should prompt further investigation into potential confounders such as elevated factor VIII levels.
Impact of Severe Hypothyroidism on Cyclophosphamide Disposition and Routes of Metabolism and Transport in a Patient with Treatment-Resistant Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Jang So Yoon , Dooley Mary Anne , Joy Melanie S
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE

To report what we believe to be the first case of severe hypothyroidism with reduced drug metabolism and transport activity.

CASE SUMMARY

A 32-year-old African American woman with a history of treatmentresistant lupus nephritis and concurrent hypothyroidism was participating in a clinical study to evaluate cyclophosphamide pharmacokinetics in patients with glomerulonephritis due to lupus nephritis and small-vessel vasculitis. Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels ranged from 60 to 300 μIU/mL, despite high doses of thyroid replacement hormone (levothyroxine 400 μg twice weekly). The pharmacokinetics of the probe drug cocktail (flurbiprofen/fexofenadine) were altered, with formation clearance of flurbiprofen (CYP2C9 function) lower in our patient versus the average value in our study cohort, suggesting a reduction in activity. The area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 hours for fexofenadine (transporter function) was 2-fold higher in our patient compared to that of other study patients. Pharmacokinetic data showed markedly decreased cyclophosphamide clearance and exposure to 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide, as well as a reduced metabolic ratio of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide to cyclophosphamide.

DISCUSSION

Previous cases of altered pharmacokinetics and toxicity of medications in patients with mild to moderate thyroid dysfunction have been published. Our case evaluated the impact of a severe form of hypothyroidism on cyclophosphamide pharmacokinetics and probe drug metabolism and transport. If changes were not demonstrated at the extreme spectrum of hypothyroidism, there would be little concern for changes in patients with less severe disease. Profound hypothyroidism likely contributed to the patient's poor response to cyclophosphamide treatment through its influence on CYP isoenzymes responsible for the activation to 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide and possibly through reduced transport function.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should monitor for significant hypothyroidism in patients who are prescribed drugs (eg, cyclophosphamide) that require metabolic conversion to form active therapeutic moieties.
Intravenous Sodium Bicarbonate Therapy in Severely Acidotic Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Authors: Duhon Bryson , Attridge Rebecca L , Franco-Martinez A Crystal , Maxwell Pamela R , Hughes Darrel W
Published: June 2013

BACKGROUND

The use of intravenous bicarbonate in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) may be considered for patients with a pH less than 6.9 according to the American Diabetes Association. The impact of this therapy on resolution of acidosis in patients with DKA is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the use of intravenous bicarbonate therapy was associated with improved outcomes in patients with severe DKA who were seen in the emergency department.

METHODS

This review was conducted from 2007 to 2011 in the emergency department of a tertiary teaching hospital. Adults diagnosed with DKA with an initial pH less than 7.0 were included. Patients were stratified into 2 groups based on receipt of intravenous bicarbonate. The primary study outcome was time to resolution of acidosis, defined as return to pH greater than 7.2. Secondary outcomes included length of stay; continuous infusion insulin use; and intravenous fluid, potassium, and insulin requirements within the first 24 hours of hospital admission, beginning upon admittance to the emergency department. We also conducted a subgroup analysis of patients with an initial pH less than 6.9.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in time to resolution of acidosis (8 hours vs 8 hours; p = 0.7) or time to hospital discharge (68 hours vs 61 hours; p = 0.3) between patients who received intravenous bicarbonate (n = 44) compared with those who did not (n = 42). The median dose of intravenous bicarbonate was 100 mEq (100–150) for patients who received intravenous bicarbonate. Insulin and fluid requirements in the first 24 hours were significantly higher in patients who received intravenous bicarbonate compared with those who did not (100 units vs 86 units; p = 0.04 and 7.6 L vs 7.2 L; p = 0.01, respectively). There was no significant difference in hours of continuous insulin infusion (27 hours vs 26 hours; p = 0.09) or potassium requirements in the first 24 hours of hospital stay (135 mEq vs 120 mEq; p = 0.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Intravenous bicarbonate therapy did not decrease time to resolution of acidosis or time to hospital discharge for patients with DKA with an initial pH less than 7.0.
Music Builds Character Aristotle, Politics VIII 5, 1340a14–b5
Authors: Brüllmann Philipp
Published: June 2013

This essay offers a new interpretation of Aristotle’s remarks on how music affects the character of its listeners (Pol. VIII 5, 1340a14-b5). I will argue that these remarks appear less cryptic if we remember that Aristotle’s conception of moral virtue regards emotions not just as motivational forces (which help or hinder us from doing the right things) but as constitutive of virtuous behaviour itself. The main advantage of this approach to Polities VIII 5 is that it fits the dialectical setting of the text, which is marked by a disagreement over the powers of music and by the attempt to rely on empirical observations.
An allometric method for measuring leaf growth in eelgrass, Zostera marina, using leaf length data
Authors: Echavarría-Heras Héctor , Solana-Arellano Elena , Leal-Ramírez Cecilia , Vizcaino Ernesto Franco
Published: June 2013

The rate of production of leaf biomass in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) is an indicator variable for environmental influences on the growth of this important seagrass species. The efforts to restore eelgrass meadows from the harmful human influences make the use of nondestructive evaluations essential. We present, here, an indirect procedure for the estimation of the growth rates of eelgrass leaves by using easily obtained measurements of leaf length and increases in leaf length, and allometric parameters linked to the scaling of leaf biomass and leaf length. This allometric method includes criteria that allow the estimation of leaf growth rates even when the sizes of some of the leaves cannot be determined because of herbivory or other environmental factors. To validate the proposed method, we performed simulation studies and analyzed data from two natural eelgrass populations in the East Pacific (México). These allometric projections of leaf growth rates displayed a high level of correspondence with observed values. We show that whenever the allometric parameters for the scaling of eelgrass leaf dry weight in terms of leaf length have been previously fitted, the method proposed here can provide an alternative for estimating biomass production that is both accurate and nondestructive and uses easily obtained data on leaf length and increases in leaf length between the sampling periods.
MDR-1 genotypes and quetiapine pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers
Authors: González-Vacarezza Nicolás , Dorado Pedro , Peñas-Lledó Eva M. , Fariñas Humberto , Estévez-Carrizo Francisco E. , LLerena Adrián
Published: June 2013

Background: P-glycoprotein is an efflux transporter encoded by the multidrug-resistance MDR-1 gene, which influences the absorption and excretion of a variety of drugs. The relation between quetiapine pharmacokinetics and MDR-1 genetic polymorphisms remains controversial. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the association between quetiapine plasma concentrations and MDR-1 genetic polymorphisms in a bioequivalence trial.

Methods: Quetiapine bioequivalence was studied in 24 unrelated healthy Caucasian adults with an open-label, randomized, cross-over, two-sequence and two-period design. Subjects were genotyped for 3435C>T and 1236C>T single-nucleotide polymorphisms. A linear mixed model was performed to compare pharmacokinetic parameters.

Results: Subjects with 3435T/T genotype vs. C carriers showed a higher area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 36 h (p=0.01). Subjects classified according to 1236C>T SNP and haplotypes showed no statistically significant differences.

Conclusions: These results suggest that the polymorphic MDR-1, in particular the 3435C>T allelic variant, might influence plasma levels of quetiapine.
Concept of interactions between consumable substances in Ayurveda with special reference to foods and drugs
Authors: Sarkar Prasanta Kumar , Chaudhari Supriyo , Chattopadhyay Abichal
Published: June 2013

Ayurvedic medicines are available in the market as over-the-counter products. Today people use prescription and nonprescription medicines along with Ayurvedic medicines for quick relief from ailments. In the ancient texts of Ayurveda, the concept of interactions with various examples of food interactions and food-drug interactions are mentioned. Recent studies and publications reported drug interactions of Ayurveda medicines and modern drugs. In the present review article, the concept of interactions mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts along with the examples of food interactions, food-drug interactions and the recent research work and publications indicating the interactions of the Ayurvedic drugs and drug interactions of Ayurvedic medicines and modern drugs are compiled. This will help the consumer of the prescription and nonprescription medicines with the Ayurvedic medicines to be cautious about the probable interactions.
Guaranteed to Fail: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and What to Do about Them**
Authors: Acharya Viral , Richardson Matthew , Van Nieuwerburgh Stijn , White Lawrence J.
Published: June 2013

In July 2008, in a column in the Canadian newspaper National Post, David Frum, the former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, wrote: “The shapers of the American mortgage finance system hoped to achieve the security of government ownership, the integrity of local banking and the ingenuity of Wall Street. Instead they got the ingenuity of government, the security of local banking and the integrity of Wall Street.” He has a point.
The Potential Scarcity of Rare Elements for the Energiewende
Authors: Bradshaw Alex M. , Reuter Benjamin , Hamacher Thomas
Published: June 2013

In the next few decades there is expected to be a global shift in power generation from fossil fuels and nuclear fission to various forms of renewable energy. This process will be accompanied, however, by a strong demand for non-fuel raw materials required for the generation, storage, transmission and utilisation of these energy forms. Some of the raw materials are potentially exhaustible; some are already regarded, rightly or wrongly, as geochemically “scarce”. Many of them have been characterised by steep price increases in recent years. Examples are neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium for rare earth-based permanent magnets in wind turbines; indium, gallium, selenium and tellurium for thin film solar cells; helium. The supply situation with regard to such elements is often described as “critical”. A possible geochemical scarcity is, however, not the only factor contributing to this designation; the supply situation is influenced by various other parameters. We discuss the use of the terms “critical” and “criticality” in this context, pointing out the confusion which arises because of a different meaning of the terms in the physical sciences. In examining the elements mentioned above – both with respect to the supply situation and to their specific energy-oriented applications – we look at the issues of potential geochemical scarcity, substitutability and extraction as by-product. Together with the recycling potential these are three important indicators, or constraint parameters, in so-called criticality analyses. Geochemical scarcity already seems to play a role in the case of helium and could also soon become apparent for tellurium, indium and possibly dysprosium. We conclude that geochemical scarcity may pertain as a consequence of mineral depletion when average grades of ore are falling, but at the same time inflation-corrected mineral prices are rising. The use of rare metals for the production of renewable energy – like nearly all resource-consuming systems in our society – does not satisfy “strong” sustainability criteria.
A general and efficient entry to asymmetric tetrazines for click chemistry applications
Authors: Wang Danzhu , Chen Weixuan , Zheng Yueqin , Dai Chaofeng , Wang Lifang , Wang Binghe
Published: June 2013

The importance of click chemistry is widely recognized. Among all the known click reactions, those involving tetrazines represent the fastest click reactions reported and are generating a great deal of interest. However, there is no efficient entry to asymmetric tetrazines and those with strong electron withdrawing groups, which limits the development of this field. Herein, we report a general and efficient entry to asymmetric tetrazines with strongly electron withdrawing groups.
Delamination detection in a 90-year-old glulam block with scanning dry point-contact ultrasound
Authors: Neuenschwander Jürg , Sanabria Sergio J. , Schuetz Philipp , Widmann Robert , Vogel Mareike
Published: June 2013

Glued laminated timber (glulam) is known in timber constructions since more than 100 years. Glulam members can delaminate due to aging and excessive changes of temperature and humidity. This results in significantly reduced load bearing capability of the affected structural members. This contribution focuses on the ultrasonic point-contact inspection of gluing plane delamination as a nondestructive method. Ultrasonic measurements on a section of a 90-year-old roofing glulam member are presented. The results are compared with manual detection and evaluation of delamination with a feeler gauge, with X-ray computed tomography analyses, and with numerical simulations. Appropriate data evaluation of the mechanized ultrasonic results allows the determination of material separation that are deeper than 20 mm in the signature of the surface wave and large-scale delamination (>80% of the complete bonding width) in the back-wall echo. Numerical simulations based on the finite-difference time-domain method shed light into the details of the wave propagation and support the experimental findings.
Secretion of a bundle of (1→3)-β-glucan hollow fibrils from protoplasts of callus suspension under a Ca2+-rich and acidic stressed condition
Authors: Matsuo Shintaro , Takenaga Akane , Seyama Tomoko , Kondo Tetsuo
Published: June 2013

A fiber bundle composed of hollow fibrils is secreted from protoplasts of white birch (Betula phatyphylla Sukatcher var. japonica Kan No. 8) leaves callus and the secretion is more efficient in an acidic medium containing high concentration of Ca2+. The influence of the Ca2+ concentration and pH has been investigated concerning the number of cells secreted. The secreted hollow fibers were very thin. The 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra indicated that the fibers are composed of linear (1→3)-β-glucan without branches (callose). The potential utilization of such unique callose fibers and their optimized production needs more investigation.
Effect of hydrothermal treatment intensity on the formation of degradation products from birchwood
Authors: Borrega Marc , Niemelä Klaus , Sixta Herbert
Published: June 2013

Hydrothermal treatments (HT) of birchwood were conducted at various intensities to extract the hemicelluloses before pulping. The amount of hemicellulose-derived sugars in the hydrolysates, including xylulose, an isomerization product of xylose, reached first a maximum and then decreased with further increasing treatment intensity. The hydrolysates also contained furanic compounds, carboxylic acids, and a large variety of aromatics, the amounts of which were dependent on HT intensity. At high treatment intensities, furfural and acetic acid were the main products quantified. Numerous nonvolatile, low molar mass carboxylic acids were also formed, with 3-deoxypentonic acid being the most abundant. Additionally, almost 40 aromatic monomers and up to 30 dimers were detected. Syringaldehyde was the main monomer and syringaresinol was the main dimer. Some aromatic compounds could not be identified. The complexity of the hydrolysates, particularly after high-intensity HT, requires selective filtration and purification methods before the hydrolysates can be utilized in downstream processes.
Adolescents with anorectal malformation: physical outcome, sexual health and quality of life
Authors: Stenström Pernilla , Kockum Christina Clementson , Benér Despina Katsianikou , Ivarsson Camilla , Arnbjörnsson Einar
Published: June 2013

Background: The necessity of referring adolescents with anorectal malformation (ARM) from pediatric units to adult care is unclear. The issue requires knowledge about the health of the adolescent.

Objective: To examine the physical outcome, sexual health and quality of life (QoL) in adolescents with ARM.

Methods: At medical counseling, 24 adolescents with ARM, 15–21 years of age, answered questionnaires about physical outcome according to the Krickenbeck follow-up and QoL according to SF 36 and gastrointestinal quality of life (Giqli). Matched control groups were used; 15 adolescents participated in deep interviews about sexual health and body imaging.

Results: Fecal soiling, constipation and gas incontinence were much higher for ARM patients compared with controls (p<0.05). QoL regarding large bowel function was lower for both genders compared with controls (p<0.05). Females scored lower in physically related QoL (p<0.05). Social and sexual adaption to the symptoms was obvious in the deep interviews.

Conclusion: Adolescents with ARM have considerable intestinal symptoms, which influence QoL and require adaption in intimate situations. A referral to adult care seems to be important, and continuous cooperation between the pediatric surgeon and adult care is suggested.
Modelling the Effect of Processing Parameters of Continuous Flow High Pressure Throttling System and Microfluidizer on Particle Size Distribution of Soymilk
Authors: Sivanandan Litha , Toledo Romeo T. , Singh Rakesh K.
Published: June 2013

Texture, appearance, and emulsion stability of soymilk are affected by the size and distribution of suspended particles. To produce soymilk which contains all solids in the soy, whole dehulled beans were used in the study. A microfluidizer with throttling valve attachment was used to study the influence of various pressure levels on the particle size distribution of soymilk. Soymilk was processed with a continuous flow high pressure throttling (CFHPT) system to study the effects of different pressures and flow rates in the temperature rise and particle size distribution of soymilk. The results showed that there existed a significant effect of flow rate through the CFHPT on the particle size suspended in soymilk. Temperature rise was proportional to increase in pressure of the CFHPT system. Significant decrease in particle size of soymilk was obtained by increasing pressure for both CFHPT and microfluidizer. Empirical models were established between the pressure applied, volume fraction of particle size, and particle size diameter obtained for soymilk in each system.
Planning Marketing Channels: Case of the Olive Oil Agribusiness in Portugal
Authors: Manuel de Sousa Fragoso Rui
Published: June 2013

Marketing channels play an important role in the competitiveness of agribusiness value chains. Thus, this paper proposes a model for planning marketing channels in agribusiness that also considers transaction costs. This model is developed in two steps, diagnostic and decision, and is applied to the olive oil agribusiness in Portugal. The diagnostic step includes analysis of the agribusiness chain value, marketing channels, transaction characteristics, and institutional environment. The decision step fits the information from the diagnostic into a qualitative cost–benefit analysis, based on a multi-criteria problem of ordering preferences.
Dichloroacetate at therapeutic concentration alters glucose metabolism and induces regulatory T-cell differentiation in alloreactive human lymphocytes
Authors: Eleftheriadis Theodoros , Pissas Georgios , Karioti Aggeliki , Antoniadi Georgia , Antoniadis Nikolaos , Liakopoulos Vassilios , Stefanidis Ioannis
Published: June 2013

Background: Most cancer cells rely on aerobic glycolysis. Dichloroacetate (DCA) inhibits aerobic glycolysis and is a promising relatively nontoxic anticancer compound. However, rapidly proliferating effector T-cells also rely on aerobic glycolysis, whereas regulatory T-cells (Treg) do not. The effect of DCA on glucose metabolism and Treg differentiation was evaluated in alloreactive lymphocytes.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy volunteers were used in a two-way mixed lymphocyte reaction. Lymphocyte proliferation was assessed by cell counting; DCA cytotoxicity, by lactate dehydrogenase release assay; and glucose uptake and aerobic glycolysis, by measuring in the supernatants the correspondent glucose and lactate concentrations. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) was measured in the supernatants, whereas the Treg signature transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) was measured in cell lysates by means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: DCA had a minor effect on lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxicity. However, DCA decreased glucose uptake and inhibited aerobic glycolysis. Finally, DCA markedly increased the production of IL-10 and the expression of FOXP3.

Conclusions: DCA inhibits aerobic glycolysis and induces Treg differentiation in human alloreactive lymphocytes. This could result in decreased immunosurveillance in case of its use as an anticancer drug. However, DCA could play a role as an immunosuppressant in the fields of transplantation and autoimmunity.
Causal inference under multiple versions of treatment
Authors: VanderWeele Tyler J. , Hernan Miguel A.
Published: June 2013

Abstract: In this article, we discuss causal inference when there are multiple versions of treatment. The potential outcomes framework, as articulated by Rubin, makes an assumption of no multiple versions of treatment, and here we discuss an extension of this potential outcomes framework to accommodate causal inference under violations of this assumption. A variety of examples are discussed in which the assumption may be violated. Identification results are provided for the overall treatment effect and the effect of treatment on the treated when multiple versions of treatment are present and also for the causal effect comparing a version of one treatment to some other version of the same or a different treatment. Further identification and interpretative results are given for cases in which the version precedes the treatment as when an underlying treatment variable is coarsened or dichotomized to create a new treatment variable for which there are effectively “multiple versions”. Results are also given for effects defined by setting the version of treatment to a prespecified distribution. Some of the identification results bear resemblance to identification results in the literature on direct and indirect effects. We describe some settings in which ignoring multiple versions of treatment, even when present, will not lead to incorrect inferences.
A Class of Unbiased Estimators of the Average Treatment Effect in Randomized Experiments
Authors: Aronow Peter M. , Middleton Joel A.
Published: June 2013

We derive a class of design-based estimators for the average treatment effect that are unbiased whenever the treatment assignment process is known. We generalize these estimators to include unbiased covariate adjustment using any model for outcomes that the analyst chooses. We then provide expressions and conservative estimators for the variance of the proposed estimators.
Estimating the Effect of a Community-Based Intervention with Two Communities
Authors: van der Laan Mark J. , Petersen Maya , Zheng Wenjing
Published: June 2013

Due to the need to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based programs in practice, there is substantial interest in methods to estimate the causal effects of community-level treatments or exposures on individual level outcomes. The challenge one is confronted with is that different communities have different environmental factors affecting the individual outcomes, and all individuals in a community share the same environment and intervention. In practice, data are often available from only a small number of communities, making it difficult if not impossible to adjust for these environmental confounders. In this paper we consider an extreme version of this dilemma, in which two communities each receives a different level of the intervention, and covariates and outcomes are measured on a random sample of independent individuals from each of the two populations; the results presented can be straightforwardly generalized to settings in which more than two communities are sampled. We address the question of what conditions are needed to estimate the causal effect of the intervention, defined in terms of an ideal experiment in which the exposed level of the intervention is assigned to both communities and individual outcomes are measured in the combined population, and then the clock is turned back and a control level of the intervention is assigned to both communities and individual outcomes are measured in the combined population. We refer to the difference in the expectation of these outcomes as the marginal (overall) treatment effect. We also discuss conditions needed for estimation of the treatment effect on the treated community. We apply a nonparametric structural equation model to define these causal effects and to establish conditions under which they are identified. These identifiability conditions provide guidance for the design of studies to investigate community level causal effects and for assessing the validity of causal interpretations when data are only available from a few communities. When the identifiability conditions fail to hold, the proposed statistical parameters still provide nonparametric treatment effect measures (albeit non-causal) whose statistical interpretations do not depend on model specifications. In addition, we study the use of a matched cohort sampling design in which the units of different communities are matched on individual factors. Finally, we provide semiparametric efficient and doubly robust targeted MLE estimators of the community level causal effect based on i.i.d. sampling and matched cohort sampling.
Polymorphisms in the activin A receptor type 2A gene affect the onset time and severity of preeclampsia in the Turkish population
Authors: Zeybek Burak , Celik Handan Ak , Aydin Hikmet Hakan , Askar Niyazi
Published: June 2013

Aim: To investigate the possible roles of selected single nucleotide gene polymorphisms (SNPs) of the activin A receptor type 2A (ACVR2A) gene in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Methods: Ninety-four patients with preeclampsia and 166 healthy pregnant women were included in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from venous blood and were stored at −80°C before the analysis. Selected ACVR2A SNPs (rs10497025, rs1128919, rs13430086) were determined in an ABI 7900 HT Real-Time PCR instrument.

Results: For all three SNPs, no statistically significant difference was found between preeclampsia and control groups in terms of genotype and allele frequencies. In the late preeclampsia group, with regard to the rs1128919 SNP, the frequency of GG genotype was found to be significantly lower (P=0.02). Although the frequency of “A” allele was found to be higher (P=0.05; OR=1.54), and the “G” allele was found to be lower (P=0.05; OR=0.65), the results did not reach statistical significance in late preeclamptic patients. For the rs1128919 SNP, the frequency of the AA genotype was found to be significantly higher in both mild (P=0.004) and severe (P=0.0001) preeclampsia groups, whereas the frequency of GG genotype was found to be significantly lower (P=0.008, and P=0.0001, respectively). For the rs13430086 SNP, while the frequency of the AA genotype was found to be significantly lower in both mild (P=0.02) and severe (P=0.0001) preeclamptic patients, the frequency of TT genotype was found to be significantly higher in only severe preeclampsia group (P=0.0001).

Conclusion:
ACVR2A gene polymorphisms may play a role in the development of preeclampsia.
MTHFR C677T polymorphism, folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine in recurrent pregnancy losses: a case control study among north Indian women
Authors: Puri Manju , Kaur Lovejeet , Walia Gagandeep Kaur , Mukhopadhhyay Rupak , Sachdeva Mohinder Pal , Trivedi Shubha Sagar , Ghosh Pradeep Kumar , Saraswathy Kallur Nava
Published: June 2013

Aim: The present study attempts to understand the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T (MTHFR C677T) in recurrent pregnancy losses in North Indian women because of hyperhomocysteinemia in light of serum folate and vitamin B12.

Methods: One hundred and seven women with three or more consecutive unexplained recurrent pregnancy losses and 343 women with two or more successful and uncomplicated pregnancies were recruited. Plasma homocysteine, serum folate and vitamin B12 were analyzed using chemiluminescence. MTHFR C677T detection was completed in all subjects.

Results:
MTHFR genotypic distribution among cases and controls showed no significant difference (P=0.409). However, MTHFR C677T polymorphism was found to be significantly associated with increased homocysteine in the case group (P=0.031). Hyperhomocysteinemia and vitamin B12 deficiency were found to be significant risk factors for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) (OR=7.02 and 16.39, respectively). Folate deficiency was more common in controls (63.47%) as compared to the case group (2.56%).

Conclusion: Low vitamin B12 increases homocysteine, specifically among T allele carrying case mothers, suggesting T allele is detrimental with B12 deficiency. The study emphasizes the importance of vitamin B12 in the prevention of RPL in North Indian women.
Philosophie und die Frage nach Gott
Authors: Buchheim Thomas
Published: June 2013

Kunde von Gott haben wir nur durch das vieltausendjährige und weitverzweigte Hörensagen, weder durch einen eigenen Schlüssel der Vernunft noch durch eine Form von Anschauung oder Gefühl. Deshalb gehört zu dem, wer oder was Gott heißt, die Getrenntheit vom endlichen Subjekt. Gerade dadurch aber ist die Frage, ob es Gott gibt, das Paradigma der nicht durch Kohärenz von Ansichten, sondern allein durch tatsächliche Korrespondenz entschiedenen Wahrheit. Und dies verbindet die auf den Leitstern des Wahren verpflichtete Philosophie von Anfang an mit der Gottesfrage. Näher betrachtet, sind es drei rationale Leitfäden, die die Philosophie von Beginn an auf die Frage nach Gott gelenkt haben: (1) die Selbstkontrastierung des Sterblichen gegenüber dem Unsterblichen; (2) der Versuch einer zureichenden Begründung des Begründungsbedürftigen; (3) Gott als spekulativer Konjunktiv philosophischer Betrachtung. In Beziehung auf alle drei werden sowohl positive Beispiele aus der Geschichte der Philosophie als auch mögliche skeptische Reserven geltend gemacht.
Limits of Reason and Limits of Faith. Hermeneutical Considerations on Evolution Theology
Authors: Bestebreurtje Frank Peter
Published: June 2013

In the science-religion debate, both scientific and theological approaches suffer from an abstract conception of time and history. This is epitomised by evolution theory and by theological trends trying to match it with biblical and Christian doctrines. On the one hand, thinking in millions of years voids time of any sensible meaning; on the other hand, thinking Darwin and the Bible together compromises both in regards to history. The notion of the “imaginary”, drawn from Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age, helps to circumscribe some of the hermeneutical gaps involved, and enables a more nuanced assessment of the respective claims made in the debate. The “Imaginary” points to the necessity of reflecting on the status of one’s own thought in regard to the past. In that sense, both evolution theory and evolution theology are confined to what one may call the “modern imaginary”. An example of the mismatch between evolution theory and Christian doctrine is found in Alvin Plantinga. As the debate largely hinges on hermeneutics, this contribution is part of a broader endeavour to redefine hermeneutics as an ethics.
Tryptophan degradation and neopterin levels by aging
Authors: Sipahi Hande , Girgin Gozde , Inanici Fatma , Ariogul Servet , Sahin Gonul , Baydar Terken
Published: June 2013

Increased neopterin concentrations and altered tryptophan degradation are observed in diseases concomitant with cellular immune activation. This may be involved in the pathogenesis of several age-related disorders such as neurodegenerative disorders, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular system disorders and malignancies. Therefore, in the present study, the evaluation of immune system activation by determination of tryptophan degradation and serum neopterin levels was carried out in volunteers aged ≥65 and <65 years old. The kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio was calculated to estimate indoleamine-(2,3)-dioxygenase (IDO) activity. Tryptophan levels in the elderly (53.1±1.6 μmol/L) were lower than individuals under 65 years (61.4±2.2 μmol/L), whereas kynurenine concentrations in geriatrics and adults were 5.0±0.2 μmol/L and 4.3±0.2 μmol/L, respectively (both p<0.05). The kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio was also significantly higher in geriatrics (92.1±3.2) than adults (73.5±2.8) (p<0.05). Neopterin levels were slightly higher in geriatrics compared to adults under 65 years old (p>0.05). Effects of gender, smoking habit, pathology and drug use on measured parameters were also evaluated. In conclusion, our findings show that aging is associated with immune activation, and immune activation may be induced by the number of existing pathologies as well as the number of drugs used.
Joint Spatio-Temporal Modeling of Mycobacterium bovis Infections in Badgers and Cattle – Results from the Irish Four Area Project
Authors: Kelly Gabrielle E.
Published: June 2013

In Ireland and in the UK, bovine tuberculosis (bTB) infects cattle and wildlife badgers (Meles meles linnaeus) and badgers contribute to the spread of the disease in cattle. Isotropic and anisotropic spatio-temporal models are fitted to cattle herd and badger sett bTB incidence data from the Four Area Project using sequences of linear geostatistical models. An association was found between the spatial distribution of the disease in cattle and badgers in two of three areas. The limited association may be due to irregularity of sett territories, fragmentation of farms, TB-test insensitivity, temporal lags associated with transmission or non-spatial transmission. A statistical methodology is outlined whereby hypotheses related to spatial correlation structure may be tested.