bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing the performance level of Candida mannan antigen testing in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients not receiving fluconazole prophylaxis
Authors: Nihtinen A. , Anttila V‐J. , Richardson M. , Ruutu T. , Juvonen E. , Meri T. , Volin L.
Published: December 2010

A. Nihtinen, V.‐J. Anttila, M. Richardson, T. Ruutu, E. Juvonen, T. Meri, L. Volin. Factors influencing the performance level of Candida mannan antigen testing in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients not receiving fluconazole prophylaxis. Transpl Infect Dis 2011: 13: 266–272. All rights reserved

Abstract: In this study, we evaluated the value of the Platelia®Candida mannan antigen (Ag) sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay test in the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis (IC) and the degree of oral colonization by Candida species in 102 allogeneic stem cell transplantation recipients who were not receiving fluconazole prophylaxis. Of the 2071 serum samples, 98 (4.7%) yielded positive and 78 (3.8%) borderline results with a cut‐off value of 0.5 ng/mL. One patient had IC. In this patient, 6 out of 9 serum samples were positive, the first one 49 days before Candida albicans candidemia. False‐positive results occurred in 92 (4.4%) samples and in 54 (52.9%) patients. Use of valacyclovir and acyclovir was associated with false‐positive or borderline results. The median Ag concentration of the true‐positive results was significantly higher than the concentration of the false‐positive results (1.60 versus 0.62 ng/mL, P<0.001). With higher cut‐off values of 0.75 and 1.0 ng/mL, false‐positive Ag test results were seen in 17 and 7 patients, respectively. Of the 657 oral samples, a total of 92 (14%) samples in 39 (38.2%) patients turned out to be positive. C. albicans grew in 82 samples (89.1%), other Candida species in 9 (9.8%), and Aspergillus fumigatus in 1 sample (1.1%). In conclusion, despite the lack of fluconazole prophylaxis, the incidence of IC was low (1%). False‐positive Ag test results were common with a test cut‐off value of 0.5 ng/mL, and a single positive result does not seem to predict IC. Multiple positive results might predict IC, as 6 out of 9 samples were positive in the only patient with IC, the first one 7 weeks before positive blood cultures.
Differentiation between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia revealed by neural oscillation to speech sounds: an MEG study
Authors: Oribe Naoya , Onitsuka Toshiaki , Hirano Shogo , Hirano Yoji , Maekawa Toshihiko , Obayashi Choji , Ueno Takefumi , Kasai Kiyoto , Kanba Shigenobu
Published: December 2010

Oribe N, Onitsuka T, Hirano S, Hirano Y, Maekawa T, Obayashi C, Ueno T, Kasai K, Kanba S. Differentiation between bipolar disorder and schizophrenia revealed by neural oscillation to speech sounds: an MEG study. Bipolar Disord 2010: 12: 804–812. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Objectives:  Psychiatrists have long debated whether bipolar disorder (BP) and schizophrenia (SZ) are the clinical outcomes of discrete or shared causative processes. SZ shows significantly delayed peak latencies of the evoked neural oscillation (eNO) power and reduced eNO power to speech sounds in the left hemisphere in comparison to normal controls (NC), suggesting deficits in the fast mechanism for identifying speech sounds for SZ. The current study tested the hypothesis that the eNO to speech sounds could be differentiated between BP and SZ patients.

Methods:  The magnetoencephalographic data of 11 BP, 12 SZ, and 15 NC subjects were evaluated, and we analyzed the eNO power and phase‐locking in 20–45 Hz to speech sounds and pure tones in the left hemisphere.

Results:  The major findings were that: (i) BP subjects exhibited larger eNO power to speech sounds compared to NC and SZ; (ii) SZ subjects showed delayed eNO and phase‐locking to speech sounds specifically in the left hemisphere; and (iii) no significant differences were observed in the response to pure tones among the three groups.

Conclusions:  The present study showed that different patterns in eNO to speech sounds are present in BP, SZ, and NC subjects. The eNO to speech sounds in the left hemisphere is a potential index to distinguish BP and SZ.
The relationship of bipolar disorder lifetime duration and vascular burden to cognition in older adults
Authors: Gildengers Ariel G , Mulsant Benoit H , Al Jurdi Rayan K , Beyer John L , Greenberg Rebecca L , Gyulai Laszlo , Moberg Paul J , Sajatovic Martha , Ten Have Thomas , Young Robert C ,   The GERI‐BD Study Group
Published: December 2010

Gildengers AG, Mulsant BH, Al Jurdi RK, Beyer JL, Greenberg RL, Gyulai L, Moberg PJ, Sajatovic M, Ten Have T, Young RC, The GERI‐BD Study Group. The relationship of bipolar disorder lifetime duration and vascular burden to cognition in older adults.Bipolar Disord 2010: 12: 851–858. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Objectives:  We describe the cognitive function of older adults presenting with bipolar disorder (BD) and mania and examine whether longer lifetime duration of BD is associated with greater cognitive dysfunction. We also examine whether there are negative, synergistic effects between lifetime duration of BD and vascular disease burden on cognition.

Methods:  A total of 87 nondemented individuals with bipolar I disorder, age 60 years and older, experiencing manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes, were assessed with the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS) and the Framingham Stroke Risk Profile (FSRP) as a measure of vascular disease burden.

Results:  Subjects had a mean (SD) age of 68.7 (7.1) years and 13.6 (3.1) years of education; 50.6% (n = 44) were females, 89.7% (n = 78) were white, and 10.3% (n = 9) were black. They presented with overall and domain‐specific cognitive impairment in memory, visuospatial ability, and executive function compared to age‐adjusted norms. Lifetime duration of BD was not related to DRS total score, any other subscale scores, or vascular disease burden. FSRP scores were related to the DRS memory subscale scores, but not total scores or any other domain scores. A negative interactive effect between lifetime duration of BD and FSRP was only observed with the DRS construction subscale.

Conclusions:  In this study, lifetime duration of BD had no significant relationship with overall cognitive function in older nondemented adults. Greater vascular disease burden was associated with worse memory function. There was no synergistic relationship between lifetime duration of BD and vascular disease burden on overall cognition function. Addressing vascular disease, especially early in the course of BD, may mitigate cognitive impairment in older age.
Determinants of age‐dependent change in a secondary sexual character
Authors: BALBONTÍN J. , De LOPE F. , HERMOSELL I. G. , MOUSSEAU T. A. , MØLLER A. P.
Published: December 2010

Many secondary sexual characters vary in a systematic way with the age of individuals, with young and old individuals displaying at lower levels than individuals of intermediate age. Analyses quantifying the within‐individual and among‐individual components of phenotypic variation can help partition effects of phenotypic plasticity and selective mortality. We analysed phenotypic variation in the expression of a secondary sexual character, tail length, in male and female barn swallowsHirundo rusticafrom four European populations studied during 11–26 years, using linear mixed effect models to describe age‐related expression. Tail length increased from yearlings to intermediate aged birds with a subsequent decrease at old age. In males, this age‐related pattern was because of both within‐subject and between‐subject effects, with no difference among populations. Males having longer lifespan had shorter tails when young than those having shorter lifespan. Females showed similar patterns of age‐related variation as males, with no difference among populations. The major difference between sexes was that the between‐subject effects (i.e. disappearance effects or selection) were much more important for males compared to females for which lifetime variation in tail length was mainly because of a within‐subject effect (i.e., a plastic response). These findings suggest that whereas males trade greater expression of the secondary sexual character at young age against longevity, that was not the case for females. This is consistent with tail length being more costly in males than in females, with the cost of long tails potentially being offset by elevated mating success, whereas that is not the case in females.
Antibody‐mediated (immune) transfusion‐related acute lung injury
Authors: Bux J.
Published: December 2010

Antibody‐mediated transfusion‐related acute lung injury (immune TRALI) is now recognized as the most common cause of transfusion‐associated major morbidity and death in the Western world. Among the implicated leucocyte antibodies, these ones directed against the human leucocyte antigens (HLA) class II, human neutrophil alloantigens (HNA)‐3a and HLA‐A2 antigens are frequently associated with severe (artificial ventilation required) and fatal cases. There is accumulating evidence that preventive measures such as transfusion of plasma‐rich blood components from male donors or from donors tested negative for leucocyte antibodies are effective in the reduction of severe and fatal immune TRALI.
How much blood is needed?
Authors: Seifried E. , Klueter H. , Weidmann C. , Staudenmaier T. , Schrezenmeier H. , Henschler R. , Greinacher A. , Mueller M. M.
Published: December 2010

Demographic changes in developed countries as their populations age lead to a steady increase in the consumption of standard blood components. Complex therapeutic procedures like haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, cardiovascular surgery and solid organ transplantation are options for an increasing proportion of older patients nowadays. This trend is likely to continue in coming years. On the other hand, novel aspects in transplant regimens, therapies for malignant diseases, surgical procedures and perioperative patient management have led to a moderate decrease in blood product consumption per individual procedure. The ageing of populations in developed countries, intra‐society changes in the attitude towards blood donation as an important altruistic behaviour and the overall alterations in our societies will lead to a decline in regular blood donations over the next decades in many developed countries. Artificial blood substitutes or in vitro stem cell‐derived blood components might also become alternatives in the future. However, such substitutes are still in early stages of development and will therefore probably not alleviate this problem within the next few years. Taken together, a declining donation rate and an increase in the consumption of blood components require novel approaches on both sides of the blood supply chain. Different blood donor groups require specific approaches and, for example, inactive or deferred donors must be re‐activated. Optimal use of blood components requires even more attention.
Primary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in the clival region: A case report and literature review
Authors: Ma Shi‐Rong , Li Kang‐Chu , Xu Yu‐Qiao , Wang Ying‐Mei , Ma Wan‐Ling , Li Qing
Published: December 2010

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare and low‐grade vascular tumor, which usually occurs in the soft tissue, liver, breast, lung and skeleton. Here we submit a case with EHE of the clival region. A 58‐year‐old woman was admitted with a medical history of 3 months headache and 1 month visual deterioration. MRI revealed a well‐circumscribed mass of 4.0 cm × 3.0 cm with bony invasion. The tumor was subtotally removed in a piecemeal fashion. Histologically, the tumor was composed of epithelioid cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for the markers CD31, CD34, factor VIII and vimentin. The pathological result was interpretated as EHE of the clival region. EHE is an uncommon vascular tumor, which is rarely seen in the clival region. Definitive diagnosis depends on histopathologic and immunohistochemical features.
Genetic population structure in horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanumL.): effects of human‐mediated expansion across Europe
Authors: PRADA DARIO , VELLOZA THEODOSIUS M. , TOOROP PETER E. , PRITCHARD HUGH W.
Published: December 2010

The geographical distribution of existing populations of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanumL.) in Europe is determined by past demographic events during the Quaternary. In the present study we evaluate the imprints that northward expansions originated from common ancestry at southern Europe may have left on the present patterns of genetic variation for horse chestnut across the continent. Genetic diversity and levels of population structure in a European south–north gradient, ranging from the Balkans to the Scandinavian Peninsula, were determined with Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers in 159 loci. A family of rarefaction techniques for the estimation of gene diversity was used to exclude potential confounding effects as a result of the unequal sample sizes. The results indicate that northern populations are not more genetically depleted than southern populations, thus suggesting that diversity for this species is not correlated with latitudinal distribution. Detailed hypotheses based on prediction models for different historical events associated with human‐mediated spread of cultivation are examined for a better understanding of the current genetic patterns of regional differentiation.
Impact of depression and activities of daily living on the fear of falling in Korean community‐dwelling elderly
Authors: Shin Kyung Rim , Kang Younhee , Kim Mi Young , Jung Dukyoo , Kim Jeong Soo , Hong Chong Min , Yun Eun Suk , Ma Rye Won
Published: December 2010

This study determined the predictors of the fear of falling (FOF) in 213 South Korean community‐dwelling elderly. The Fall Efficacy Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Korean Geriatric Depression Screening Scale, and Barthel Index were used to measure the FOF, sleep quality, depression, and activities of daily living, respectively. In addition, information regarding the participants' demographic details and the number of types of medication was collected. The data were analyzed by using hierarchical regression. The general regression model, with the FOF as a dependent variable, was statistically significant. The FOF variance was partially explained. Depression and activities of daily living significantly influenced the FOF. Thus, the results indicate that the FOF in community‐dwelling elderly Koreans is affected by depression and activities of daily living. Therefore, an older adult with recognized signs of depression must be provided with more appropriate care and the allocation of specific interventional strategies in order to maintain activities of daily living should be developed to manage the FOF.
Amniotic membrane transplantation for Mooren's ulcer
Authors: Ngan Nguyen D , Chau Hoang TM
Published: December 2010

Abstract

Background:  To describe the outcome of surgery using amniotic membrane transplantation for Mooren's ulcer.

Design:  A prospective interventional case series from the Vietnam National Institute of Ophthalmology.

Participants:  Eighteen eyes of 14 patients with Mooren's ulcer. Seven eyes had recurrent episodes of ulceration, and 11 were not responsive to medical therapy or conjunctival resection.

Methods:  All eyes were treated with amniotic membrane grafts for Mooren's ulcer (10 eyes with multilayer grafts; 8 with a single layer graft). Five eyes with a 360° peripheral ulcer were treated with an overlay amniotic membrane graft, and 13 eyes were treated with a freehand graft tailored to fit the localized defect.

Main Outcome Measures:  Time to epithelial healing. Visual acuity outcome.

Result:  Sixteen of 18 eyes were treated by a single surgery with amniotic membrane with rapid healing of the epithelial defect (mean time to complete epithelialization 12.4 days). Two eyes required a second amniotic membrane graft: one eye required regrafting following a subgraft haemorrhage and another eye required regrafting for a persistent epithelial defect. Vision was stabilized in all eyes with 10 of 18 eyes obtaining vision of 6/12 or better.

Conclusion:  Amniotic membrane transplantation may be a useful treatment for selected patients with Mooren's ulcer especially where systemic immunosuppressive drugs are unavailable.
Retrospective audit of the air‐Q intubating laryngeal airway as a conduit for tracheal intubation in pediatric patients with a difficult airway
Authors: Jagannathan Narasimhan , Kho Melanie F. , Kozlowski Ryan J. , Sohn Lisa E. , Siddiqui Aisha , Wong David T.
Published: December 2010

Objectives:  To assess the efficacy of the ILA as a conduit for tracheal intubation in pediatric patients with a difficult airway.

Aim:  The primary goals of this retrospective audit were to assess the clinical performance of the ILA in pediatric patients with a difficult airway, expand on our initial favorable experience with this device, and collect pilot data for future prospective and comparison studies.

Methods:  The charts of patients with a difficult airway in whom the ILA was used during a period of 1 year in a freestanding pediatric institution were reviewed following a practice change in the authors’ institution favoring the ILA over the laryngeal mask airway as a conduit for tracheal intubation.

Results:  Thirty‐four pediatric patients had an ILA placed during the course of their airway management. Eight of the 34 patients in this cohort required emergent airway management. The median age was 47.1 (0.3–202.2) months and the median weight was 16.3 (3.9–86.0) kilograms. Three of the cases were unanticipated difficult airways and the remaining were anticipated difficult airways as a result of craniofacial syndromes (n = 21), cervical spine instability or immobility (n = 7), or airway hemorrhage (n = 3). Thirty‐three of the 34 patients (97%) were intubated on the first attempt through the ILA, with the aid of a fiberoptic bronchoscope (n = 25), a Shikani Optical Stylet (n = 7), or blindly (n = 2). In one patient, blind tracheal intubation required a second attempt for successful intubation, making the overall success rate 100%. Oxygen desaturation was noted in 6 of the 34 cases.

Conclusions:  In a series of pediatric patients with difficult airways, the ILA was successfully used as a conduit for tracheal intubation in all patients. Visualization techniques may offer a greater degree of success in intubations through the ILA due to the potential for epiglottic down‐folding in children.
Ribosomal tag pyrosequencing of DNA and RNA from benthic coral reef microbiota: community spatial structure, rare members and nitrogen‐cycling guilds
Authors: Gaidos Eric , Rusch Antje , Ilardo Melissa
Published: December 2010

Ribosomal tag libraries based on DNA and RNA in coral reef sediment from Hawaii show the microbial community to be dominated by the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, the archaeal order Nitrosopumilales and the uncultivated divisions Marine Group III (Euryarchaeota) and Marine Benthic Group C (Crenarchaeota). Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) number in the high thousands, and richness varies with site, presence or absence of porewater sulfide (sediment depth), and nucleotide pool. Rank abundance curves of DNA‐based libraries, but not RNA‐based libraries, possess a tail of low abundance taxa, supporting the existence of an inactive ‘rare’ biosphere. While bacterial libraries from two oxic samples differ markedly, those from two anoxic (sulfidic) samples are similar. The four dominant bacterial OTUs are members of genera that include pathogens, but are found in marine environments, and include facultative anaerobes, i.e. dissimilatory nitrate reducers and denitrifiers. This may explain their abundance in both oxic and anoxic samples. A numerous archaeon is closely related to the lithoautotrophic ammonia oxidizer Nitrosopumilus maritimus. Known bacterial ammonia oxidizers are essentially absent, but bacterial nitrite oxidizers are abundant. Although other studies of this reef found evidence for anaerobic ammonia oxidizers, primer bias rendered that clade invisible to this study.
Clinical implications of acellular mucin pools in resected rectal cancer with pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation1
Authors: de Campos‐Lobato L. F. , Dietz D. W. , Stocchi L. , Vogel J. D. , Lavery I. C. , Goldblum J. R. , Skacel M. , Pelley R. J. , Kalady M. F.
Published: December 2010

Aim  Approximately 20% of rectal cancers treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation achieve a pathological complete response (pCR), which is associated with an improved oncological outcome. However, in a proportion of patients with a pCR, acellular pools of mucin are present in the surgical specimen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical implications of acellular mucin pools in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma achieving a pCR after neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by proctectomy.

Method  A single‐centre colorectal cancer database was searched for patients with clinical Stage II and Stage III rectal adenocarcinoma who achieved a pCR (i.e. ypT0N0M0) after neoadjuvant chemoradiation followed by proctectomy between 1997 and 2007. Patients were categorized according to the presence or absence of acellular mucin pools in the resected specimen, and groups were compared. Patient demographics, tumour and treatment characteristics, and oncological outcomes were recorded. Primary outcomes were 3‐year local and distant recurrences, and disease‐free and overall survivals.

Results  Two hundred and fifty‐eight patients with clinical Stage II or Stage III rectal adenocarcinoma were treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Fifty‐eight of these patients had a 58 pCR. Eleven of the 58 patients with a pCR had acellular mucin pools in the surgical specimen. The median follow up was 40 months. The groups were statistically similar with respect to demographics, chemoradiation regimens, distance of tumour from the anal verge, clinical stage and surgical procedure. No patient had local recurrence. Patients with acellular mucin pools had increased distant recurrence (21%vs 5%), decreased disease‐free survival (79%vs 95%) and decreased overall survival (83%vs 95%) rates, although none of these differences was statistically significant.

Conclusion  The presence of acellular mucin pools in a proctectomy specimen with a pCR does not affect local recurrence, but may suggest a more aggressive tumour biology.
Trends in incidence, treatment and survival of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer: a population‐based series
Authors: van der Pool A. E. M. , Damhuis R. A. , IJzermans J. N. M. , de Wilt J. H. W. , Eggermont A. M. M. , Kranse R. , Verhoef C.
Published: December 2010

Aim  The incidence, patterns of care and survival were determined in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) in a population‐based series.

Method  Computer records for patients diagnosed with stage IV CRC diagnosed from 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2007 were retrieved from the Rotterdam Cancer Registry. Surgical resection of the primary tumour, chemotherapy use, hepatic surgery and survival were evaluated according to year of diagnosis, age, gender and primary tumour site.

Results  In the southwestern part of the Netherlands, 19 014 new patients with CRC were diagnosed and synchronous metastatic disease was found in 3482 (18%). This proportion increased during the study period, from 16% to 21%. Surgical resection of the primary tumour was performed in approximately 50% of the patients and did not change over time. Postoperative 30‐day mortality was 8%. Chemotherapy use increased from 18% in the first period to 56% in the latest period. Liver surgery increased from 4% in the first period to 10% in the latest period. Median survival increased from 7 months to 12 months and 2‐year survival increased from 14% to 28%. Two‐year survival declined with increasing age and was significantly worse for right‐sided tumours (14%).

Conclusion  Survival of patients with stage IV CRC has improved over time and this is probably a result of the increased use of chemotherapy and the increased numbers of patients who underwent hepatic surgery.
Doppler‐guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation in patients with Crohn’s disease
Authors: Karin Eliad , Avital Shmuel , Dotan Iris , Skornick Yehuda , Greenberg Ron
Published: December 2010

Aim:  The outcome of Doppler‐guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation (DGHAL) was assessed in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) suffering from grade III haemorrhoids.

Method:  A retrospective study was carried out of patients with CD and symptomatic Grade III haemorrhoids treated by DGHAL. Perioperative and follow‐up data were retrieved from our database of patients undergoing DGHAL.

Results:  The study included seven men and six women. The mean age was 34 years old. All had CD without anorectal involvement. The median duration of haemorrhoidal symptoms was 6.3 years. There was no mortality, new incontinence, faecal impaction, urinary retention, abscess formation or persistent pain following the procedure. Mean pain score based on a visual analogue scale (VAS) decreased from 2.4 at 24 h postoperatively to 1.6 on the seventh postoperative day. All patients had completely recovered by the third postoperative day. At 18 months, three (77%) of the patients were asymptomatic and three had recurrent symptoms.

Conclusion:  Doppler‐guided haemorrhoidal artery ligation is safe and effective in treating Grade III haemorrhoids in patients with CD without rectal involvement.
Bipolar energy for transurethral resection of bladder tumours at low‐power settings: initial experience
Authors: Gupta Narmada P. , Saini Ashish K. , Dogra Prem N. , Seth Amlesh , Kumar Rajeev
Published: December 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using bipolar energy at low‐power setting for transurethral resection (TUR) of bladder tumours.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total, 108 patients (100 males and eight females) with superficial bladder carcinoma undergoing bipolar TUR of bladder tumours (B‐TURBT) with the GyrusTM Plasma kinetic Tissue Management System (Gyrus Medical Ltd, Cardiff, UK) were studied. The initial ten patients were operated at a default setting of 160 W cutting and 80 W coagulation. Subsequently, the current settings were modified to 50 W cutting and 40 W coagulation. The present study reports on the 98 patients who underwent TURBT with low‐power settings. Tumour number, size, shape, location, operating time, hospital stay, blood loss, as well as intraoperative and postoperative complications, were all recorded .The resected tissues were examined by a pathologist who recorded grade, invasion of the muscularis propria and the presence of muscular invasion.

RESULTS

Out of the ten patients who were operated at the recommended default settings of 160 W cutting and 80 W coagulation, three patients had obturator jerks leading to two‐bladder perforation. The results of 98 patients operated on at the low‐power settings of 50 W cutting and 40 W coagulation are reported. Mean ± SD age was 56.34 ± 13.51 years. Tumours were multiple in 62 (63%) patients and single in 36 (37%) patients, with 68 (69%) in the lateral wall and six (6%) involving the ureteric orifice. Mean ± SD tumour size was 2.5 ± 0.81 cm with a mean ± SD resection time of 36.64 ± 16.5 min. The mean drop in haemoglobin was 0.94 ± 0.71 (0.20–4.0), with a mean ± SD (range) drop in haematocrit of 1.33 ± 1.29 (1–7). Five (5%) patients required blood transfusion as a result of preoperative low haemoglobin. Mean ± SD drop in sodium was 2.06 ± 0.66 mEq/L, with no patient developing TUR syndrome. None of the 98 patients developed obturator jerks and perforation at low‐power settings. Complete resection was achieved in 94 (96%) patients. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 3 days.

CONCLUSIONS

TURBT using bipolar energy is safe and effective in the treatment of bladder tumours at power settings lower than the conventionally recommended settings. Lower power settings reduce the number of obturator jerks and perforations.
Nateglinide provides tighter glycaemic control than glyburide in patients with Type 2 diabetes with prevalent postprandial hyperglycaemia
Authors: Bellomo Damato A. , Stefanelli G. , Laviola L. , Giorgino R. , Giorgino F.
Published: December 2010

Diabet. Med. 28, 560–566 (2011)

Aims  Postprandial hyperglycaemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus has been linked to the development of cardiovascular disease. This study compared the effects of mealtime (thrice‐daily) nateglinide with once‐daily glyburide on postprandial glucose levels in patients with Type 2 diabetes and postprandial hyperglycaemia.

Methods  Patients with Type 2 diabetes aged ≥ 21 years with 2‐h postprandial glucose levels ≥ 11.1 mmol/l, HbA1c of 6.5–8.5% (48–69 mmol/mol) and BMI of 22–30 kg/m2 were randomized to 6 weeks’ double‐blind treatment with nateglinide 120 mg three times daily prior to meals, or glyburide 5 mg once daily before breakfast. The primary endpoint was the baseline‐adjusted change in plasma glucose from preprandial (fasting plasma glucose) to 2‐h postprandial glucose levels (2‐h postprandial glucose excursion) at 6 weeks.

Results  Patients were randomized to nateglinide (n = 122) or glyburide (n = 110). The treatment groups were similar in terms of age, gender, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, 2‐h postprandial glucose and HbA1c. At endpoint, nateglinide recipients had significantly greater reductions than those receiving glyburide in both the 2‐h (−2.4 vs. −1.6 mmol/l; P = 0.02) and 1‐h (−1.7 vs. −0.9 mmol/l; P = 0.016) postprandial glucose excursions. Adverse events, most commonly symptomatic hypoglycaemia, were reported in 26% of recipients of glyburide and 22% of recipients of nateglinide. Episodes of suspected mild hypoglycaemia were reported in 24% of recipients of glyburide and 10% of recipients of nateglinide.

Conclusions  Nateglinide leads to greater reductions in postprandial glucose excursions and is associated with a lower risk of hypoglycaemia than glyburide in this selected population of patients with Type 2 diabetes.
Nurse‐led cardiovascular risk factor intervention leads to improvements in cardiovascular risk targets and glycaemic control in people with Type 1 diabetes when compared with routine diabetes clinic attendance
Authors: Wallymahmed M. E. , Morgan C. , Gill G. V. , MacFarlane I. A.
Published: December 2010

Diabet. Med. 28, 373–379 (2011)

Aim  To compare the effects of a dedicated cardiovascular risk factor clinic run by a nurse consultant with routine diabetes clinic attendance in achieving glycaemic and cardiovascular risk targets in patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Methods  Eighty‐one patients (45 male, mean age 34.6 years, mean duration of diabetes 15 years) with an HbA1c≥ 8% (64 mmol/mol) and at least one other risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease were randomized to receive either routine care or intensive nurse‐led cardiovascular risk factor intervention. HbA1c, non‐fasting lipid profile, blood pressure, weight, BMI and insulin dose were recorded at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months.

Results  At baseline there were no differences between the groups. At 12 months, there were significant improvements in the nurse‐led cardiovascular risk factor group: HbA1c [10.1% (87 mmol/mol) vs. 9.3% (78 mmol/mol), P < 0.001], total cholesterol (5.8 vs. 4.3 mmol/l, P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (127 vs. 115 mmHg, P < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (71 vs. 65 mmHg, P < 0.05). Improvements were maintained in all variables at 24 months except diastolic blood pressure. In the routine group, only total cholesterol improved significantly (5.8 vs. 5.2 mmol/l, P < 0.01) after 12 months and this was maintained at 24 months.

Conclusion  A nurse consultant cardiovascular risk factor clinic has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular risk targets in Type 1 diabetes, probably attributable to the increased use of lipid‐lowering and anti‐hypertensive agents and this was maintained at 24 months. Glycaemic control also improved.
LOOKING BACKWARDS, LOOKING FORWARD: HOPES FOR BIOETHICS' NEXT TWENTY‐FIVE YEARS
Authors: SHERWIN SUSAN
Published: December 2010

I reflect on the past, present, and future of the field of bioethics. In so doing, I offer a very situated overview of where bioethics has been, where it now is, where it seems to be going, where I think we could do better, and where I dearly hope the field will be heading. I also propose three ways of re‐orienting our theoretic tools to guide us in a new direction: (1) adopt an ethics of responsibility; (2) explore the responsibilities of various kinds of actors and relationships among them; (3) expand the types of participants engaged in bioethics.
Measuring supplier performance in collaborative design: proposition of a framework
Authors: Le Dain Marie‐Anne , Calvi Richard , Cheriti Sandra
Published: December 2010

With the rapid increase of component outsourcing, suppliers play more important roles in New Product Development (NPD) projects. Previous research has shown that the selection of the appropriate supplier, as well as the choice of both the time and the degree of its involvement, have a major impact on NPD performance. However, the customer firms involved in this activity of collaborative design with suppliers express a need for methods and tools in order to effectively manage these particular relations. This paper presents a framework for the measurement of supplier's performance in the context of NPD projects. This framework has been supported by evidence from the literature and feedbacks from practitioners. It has been developed iteratively by application of an action research approach conducted within six industrial French companies. This development enabled the generation of a robust framework that allows: (a) identifying four main areas of performance expected by the customer in collaborative setting and (b) evaluating suppliers' development efforts throughout the NPD project with appropriate criteria for each stage of the project.
Comparing Conditional Quantile Curves
Authors: DETTE HOLGER , WAGENER JENS , VOLGUSHEV STANISLAV
Published: December 2010

Abstract.  We consider the problem of testing the equality of J quantile curves from independent samples. A test statistic based on an L2‐distance between non‐crossing non‐parametric estimates of the quantile curves from the individual samples is proposed. Asymptotic normality of this statistic is established under the null hypothesis, local and fixed alternatives, and the finite sample properties of a bootstrap‐based version of this test statistic are investigated by means of a simulation study.
The Additive Risk Model for Estimation of Effect of Haplotype Match in BMT Studies
Authors: SCHEIKE THOMAS H. , MARTINUSSEN TORBEN , ZHANG MEI‐JIE
Published: December 2010

Abstract.  In this article we consider a problem from bone marrow transplant (BMT) studies where there is interest on assessing the effect of haplotype match for donor and patient on the overall survival. The BMT study we consider is based on donors and patients that are genotype matched, and this therefore leads to a missing data problem. We show how Aalen's additive risk model can be applied in this setting with the benefit that the time‐varying haplomatch effect can be easily studied. This problem has not been considered before, and the standard approach where one would use the expected‐maximization (EM) algorithm cannot be applied for this model because the likelihood is hard to evaluate without additional assumptions. We suggest an approach based on multivariate estimating equations that are solved using a recursive structure. This approach leads to an estimator where the large sample properties can be developed using product‐integration theory. Small sample properties are investigated using simulations in a setting that mimics the motivating haplomatch problem.
Is the Knowledge Society Gendered?
Authors: Walby Sylvia
Published: December 2010

The article comprehensively reviews the theoretical and empirical work on gender and the knowledge society and introduces the articles of the special issue. Three ways in which the knowledge society and economy are gendered are distinguished: the gendering of human capital; the gendering of networks and the gendering of the definitions of the knowledge society. Using data from the Labour Force Survey, an original analysis of the gendering of the UK knowledge economy is presented. It finds that the choice of definition of the knowledge economy makes a difference to its gender composition: the more centred on technology and fixed capital, the more masculine, the more centred on human capital, the more gender balanced. The knowledge economy provides better work and conditions. Gender gaps are narrower in the knowledge economy than the overall economy: occupational hierarchies are narrowed to women's advantage, while differences in work temporalities are narrowed to men's advantage.
Gender (In)equalities in the Knowledge Society
Authors: Mósesdóttir Lilja
Published: December 2010

The article seeks answers to the question why progress towards gender equality has not turned out to be an inevitable part of the transition towards the knowledge society in Europe, in spite of efforts to ensure such an outcome. In this analysis I demonstrate how the market processes involved in the transition to the knowledge society entail opposing tendencies regarding gender inequalities. The European Union (EU) has brought into play a certain degree of convergence pressure by integrating relevant objectives of the Lisbon Strategy into the European Employment Strategy (EES) in order to pressure member states to develop its model of the knowledge society, which involves economic, employment and social progress. The main concern here is to identify the extent to which the EES and, in particular, the gender mainstreaming strategy is a tool to challenge the market forces underlying gender inequalities. It is argued that the EU's policy processes take as a given, and indeed promote the predominance of market forces in the construction of the knowledge society. Hence, the EU does not have a clear vision of what perpetuates gender inequalities and therefore what needs to be done to change them.
Individualization, Gender and Cultural Work
Authors: Banks Mark , Milestone Katie
Published: December 2010

In the ‘new’ economy the virtues of creative and cultural industry production are widely promoted and idealized. For women, set free from their ‘feudal chains’, the ‘cool creative and egalitarian’ cultural economy — particularly in areas such new media, music, design and fashion — appears to offer paths to workplace freedom. But is this really so? Using evidence from the digital ‘new media’ sector, this article builds on the work of Lash and Adkins that suggests that the ostensibly detraditionalized cultural economy continues to play host to some markedly regressive traditional social structures. In particular it is shown how the new media sector exhibits some clear continuity with the old economy in terms of some enduring gender inequality and discrimination. However, more positively, evidence is presented of how women have been able to take advantage of individualized workplace structures and develop more autonomous and reflexive workplace roles.
Creating Knowledge through Networks: a Gender Perspective
Authors: Durbin Susan
Published: December 2010

This article offers a theoretical analysis of knowledge creation through networking, specifically drawing upon the example of female senior managers as potential knowledge creators. The article constructs a model of networks and their corresponding knowledge and organizational types. It highlights the importance of differentiating between formal and informal networks and shows that senior women have limited access to and are often excluded from strategic informal networks, such as the old boys' network. Restricted network access denies involvement in the exchange and creation of tacit knowledge and ultimately, organizational resources and power. The strength of network ties may also impact upon the quality of knowledge exchanged within networks, its level of complexity and strategic relevance. The article contributes to the debate on the gendering of the knowledge economy and suggests a theoretical approach to understanding women's inclusion and exclusion from knowledge creation in organizations.
(Re)defining Care Workers as Knowledge Workers
Authors: Nishikawa Makiko
Published: December 2010

Care workers are knowledge workers in the sense that their knowledge and skills substantially influence the quality of care. However, the types of knowledge needed by care workers and the ways they expand their knowledge are different from those suggested for typical knowledge workers, who basically acquire and update theoretical knowledge through formal education and training. Using a survey data of Japanese home care workers, it is empirically demonstrated that the quality of care depends on the contexts shared between care workers and their clients, and therefore for care workers to provide effective care, understanding and constructing the appropriate contexts for care in relation with various clients is necessary and primary. It was found that knowledge needed in understanding and constructing the appropriate contexts for care is leant more effectively through collective work, dialogue and reflection with fellow workers than through formal education and training.
The Logical Deduction of Doctrine
Authors: Cassidy Dermot
Published: December 2010

The idea that Roman Catholic doctrines for which there is no early testimony can be explained as logical deductions from undoubtedly early teachings is usually dismissed as obviously false. By invoking the logical properties of doctrines expressed as explicit generalizations, however, and by distinguishing deductions in which all the assumptions represent Apostolic doctrine from those in which all the doctrinal assumptions are Apostolic, a way is found to deduce the disputed doctrines while leaving the immutability of doctrine intact. Although a theory of theological development is thus not needed to justify doctrinal additions, developments in theology nevertheless often motivate the authoritative pronouncements cited by doctrinal deductions. Finally, it is argued that a correct understanding of such deductions improves the prospects for reunion between those whose doctrinal axioms coincide even if differing historical information has rendered them incapable of following the same chain of deductions.
Asset Price Misalignments and the Role of Money and Credit*
Authors: Gerdesmeier Dieter , Reimers Hans‐Eggert , Roffia Barbara
Published: December 2010

This paper contributes to the analysis on the properties of money and credit indicators for detecting asset price misalignments. After a literature review, the paper discusses several approaches useful for detecting asset price busts. Considering a sample of 17 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development industrialized countries and the euro area over the period 1969 Q1–2008 Q3, an asset price composite indicator incorporating developments in both stock and house price markets is constructed and a criterion to identify the periods characterized by asset price busts is proposed. The empirical analysis is based on a pooled probit‐type approach with several monetary, financial and real variables. According to statistical tests, credit aggregates (either in terms of annual changes or growth gap), changes in nominal long‐term interest rates and investment‐to‐GDP ratios jointly with either house or stock price dynamics turn out to be the best indicators helping to forecast asset price busts up to eight quarters in advance. Some robustness checks indicate that both the method used to identify asset price busts and the choice of the binary variable are reliable.
Modulation of Interleukin‐8 and staphylococcal flora by Avène hydrotherapy in patients suffering from chronic inflammatory dermatoses
Authors: Casas C , Ribet V , Alvarez‐Georges S , Sibaud V , Guerrero D , Schmitt A‐M , Redoulès D
Published: December 2010

Background  A number of studies argue in favour of an important role of microbial colonization, in particular of Staphylococcus aureus, in triggering atopic dermatitis (AD) flare‐up and psoriasis, in particular through the superantigenic properties of toxins generated by S. aureus.

Objectives  The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a 3‐week Avène hydrotherapy on the skin surface of patients suffering from psoriasis or atopic dermatitis.

Methods  Skin samples were taken from healthy subjects or atopic (n = 18) or psoriatic patients (n = 39) undergoing hydrotherapy at Avène at the beginning (D0) and the end of treatment (D18). The severity of the dermatosis was evaluated according to SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) or Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores at D0 and D18. Marker of inflammation interleukin 8 (IL‐8), S. aureus colonization (protein A) and enterotoxins were assessed in skin samples using RT‐PCR.

Results  At D0, significant differences were observed between healthy subjects and atopic or psoriatic patients in all the parameters evaluated (IL‐8, protein A). At the end of the hydrotherapy, a significant decrease in SCORAD was associated with a significant reduction of IL‐8, S. aureus colonization and enterotoxin D in patients with atopic dermatitis. Similarly, a significant decrease in PASI was associated with a significant reduction of IL‐8, S. aureus colonization and enterotoxin N in patients with psoriasis.

Conclusions  This study demonstrates the positive effects of Avène hydrotherapy on the skin of patients suffering from chronic dermatosis, with decreased inflammation and reduced colonization by S. aureus.
Clinical efficacy of Avène hydrotherapy measured in a large cohort of more than 10,000 atopic or psoriatic patients
Authors: Merial‐Kieny C , Mengual X , Guerrero D , Sibaud V
Published: December 2010

Background  Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis are chronic skin conditions. Local or systemic treatments are effective, but their effects are transient. Hydrotherapy, used alone or in combination with other treatments, could be considered as one form of care in providing effective management of these dermatoses. The objective of this observational study was to evaluate the benefit of a 3‐week treatment at Avène Hydrotherapy Centre in a very large cohort of patients suffering from atopic dermatitis and psoriasis and to assess the treatment benefits on patients undergoing hydrotherapy for two consecutive years.

Methods  This 8‐year observational study analysed 14 328 records of patients having a dermatological disease and who came to Avène Hydrotherapy Centre for a 3‐week treatment between 2001 and 2009. Among them, patients were suffering from atopic dermatitis (n = 5916) and psoriasis (n = 4887). On admission on D0 (day 0) and at the end of cure on D18 (day 18), the severity of AD and psoriasis were evaluated by SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), respectively. In order to assess the cumulative effect of the hydrotherapy treatment, the evolution of SCORAD or PASI of patients who came 2 years in a row was also calculated.

Results  A significant improvement in SCORAD was observed between D0 and D18 (−41.6%) (P < 0.0001) and similarly, a significant reduction in PASI was noted between D0 and D18 (−54.4%) (P < 0.0001) after 3‐weeks of hydrotherapy. PASI 50 and PASI 75 were 64.3% and 19.5%, respectively. For atopic patients (n = 1102) or patients suffering from psoriasis (n = 833) who came for two consecutive years, a significant SCORAD and PASI improvement was observed on D0 of the second year when compared with D0 of the previous year (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions  This study is the first observational study in such a large cohort demonstrating the benefit of a 3‐week treatment at the Avène Hydrotherapy Centre for atopic and psoriatic patients.