bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient symptoms after colonic surgery in the era of enhanced recovery – a long‐term follow‐up
Authors: Wennström Berith , Stomberg Margareta Warrén , Modin Marina , Skullman Stefan
Published: February 2010

Aims.  The main purpose of this study was to analyse, prospectively, patient symptoms during the first four weeks following elective colon surgery. A secondary aim was to find areas to improve inpatient information and postoperative care.

Background.  Fast‐track recovery following colon surgery has been proven beneficial to patients in the early postoperative phase. Less is known about the continuous recovery at home.

Design.  A prospective follow‐up survey.

Methods.  Consecutive patients (n = 32) planned for elective colon surgery were evaluated. Both open and laparoscopic operations were included. All followed a fast‐track protocol in hospital. Patient symptoms were recorded by validated quality of life questionnaires (EORTC QLQ‐C 30, EORTC QLQ‐CR 38 and Brief Pain Inventory). An interview was conducted five weeks and one year after surgery.

Results.  The hospital stay was six days, and 10% of patients were readmitted. The fast‐track concept worked well. The main problems after discharge were fatigue, nausea and bowel disturbances. Pain was not a significant issue. Most symptoms had disappeared after four weeks.

Conclusions.  The first period at home is troublesome, and better information about common symptoms is needed. A direct telephone line has been set up to answer questions and to lower patient anxiety.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Clinical guidelines for patient’s discharge planning can be performed based on the results from this study. Further improvement regarding the epidural anaesthesia is needed to reduce minor side effects.
Health care needs of patients during early recovery after total knee‐replacement surgery
Authors: Su Hsiu‐Hui , Tsai Yun‐Fang , Chen Wen‐Jen , Chen Min‐Chi
Published: February 2010

Aim.  The aim of this study was to understand the health care needs and related factors for patients with knee osteoarthritis during the early recovery period after total knee‐replacement surgery.

Background.  Knee‐replacement surgery effectively relieves pain and improves mobility for patients with knee osteoarthritis. With shorter hospital stays, postoperative knee‐replacement patients need guidance from medical personnel about self‐care, but little is known about these patients’ health care needs.

Design.  This descriptive, correlational study used a longitudinal design.

Method.  A convenience sample of 85 patients undergoing total knee‐replacement surgery in northern Taiwan was interviewed before and 1–2 weeks after hospital discharge. Data were collected on participants’ demographic characteristics, disease characteristics, symptom distress and health care needs.

Results.  Participants’ health care needs diminished significantly after hospital discharge. Before hospital discharge, the most important need was medical personnel to help relieve postoperative pain, and health care needs were predicted by symptom distress and age. After hospital discharge, the most important need was medical personnel to help understand the conditions requiring a return visit to hospital, and health care needs were predicted by symptom distress, health care needs before discharge, age and gender.

Conclusions.  The results of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of health care needs before and after discharge, as well as predictive factors for patients undergoing total knee‐replacement surgery.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Given today’s shorter hospital stays, clinicians need to prioritise health care needs indicated by predictive variables. This strategy would help optimise assessment and care management by focusing on patients’ greater health care needs and by tailoring care information and skills to patients’ individual needs.
Salt‐Induced Regulation of Some Key Antioxidant Enzymes and Physio‐Biochemical Phenomena in Five Diverse Cultivars of Turnip (Brassica rapa L.)
Authors: Noreen Z. , Ashraf M. , Akram N. A.
Published: February 2010

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to examine the differential morpho‐physiological responses of five cultivars of turnip (Brassica rapa L.) to salt stress. Five diverse cultivars of turnip (shaljum desi surakh, shaljum purple top, shaljum golden bal, neela shaljum, and peela shaljum) were subjected for 6 weeks to varying levels of NaCl, i.e. 0, 80 and 160 mm in Hoagland’s nutrient solution in sand culture. Imposition of varying levels of salt substantially decreased shoot and root fresh and dry weights, chlorophyll contents, leaf osmotic potential, relative water contents, different gas exchange attributes, total phenolics, malondialdehyde, activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase catalase, and leaf and root K+ levels while enhanced the proline contents, membrane permeability, level of H2O2, leaf and root Na+ and Cl− and leaf Ca2+ in all turnip cultivars under study. Of all cultivars, peela shaljum and neela shaljum were consistently higher in their growth than the other turnip cultivars at all salt concentrations of the growth medium. Photosynthetic capacity (A) and stomatal conductance (gs) were higher in high biomass‐producing cultivars, i.e. peela shaljum and neela shaljum, which provide to be potential selection criteria of salt tolerance in turnip. However, the regulation of antioxidant system was cultivar‐specific under saline conditions.
Spatial distribution of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), vine mealybugs and mealybug parasitoids in vineyards
Authors: Mgocheki N. , Addison P.
Published: February 2010

The mutualistic association between some ant species and honeydew‐producing Hemiptera has been shown to influence the distribution patterns and abundance of these hemipterans and their natural enemies. We studied the spatial distribution patterns of three ant species, mealybugs and mealybug parasitoids for two consecutive growing seasons on three wine grape farms in the Western Cape, South Africa. During the study period, no ant or mealybug controls were applied. Ant and mealybug monitoring was conducted on a total of 21 ha using a presence/absence sampling system, while parasitoids were collected from infested mealybug females. Spatial analysis by distance indices was used to analyse spatial distribution of insects and ArcView™ was used to map the gap, patch and local association indices where significant association and disassociation occurred. Significant associations were found between some ants and parasitoids, while significant disassociations between the ants Crematogaster peringueyi and Linepithema humile; and also between Crematogaster peringueyi and Anoplolepis steingroeveri were found. Interspecific competition between ant species could play a role in the distribution of parasitoids and mealybugs. Our results stress the importance of monitoring for ants and mealybugs and further highlight the importance of restricted chemical applications against ants during the growing season.
Impact of different meadow mowing techniques on field invertebrates
Authors: Humbert J.‐Y. , Ghazoul J. , Sauter G. J. , Walter T.
Published: February 2010

Low‐input meadows are now recognized for their high biodiversity value and form an integral element of many agri‐environmental schemes in Europe. Meadow mowing techniques, however, have become highly mechanized in recent decades and scientific knowledge on the direct impacts of these techniques on field fauna is based on very few and often poorly replicated studies. Yet these studies, despite their limitations, suggest that such impacts can be considerable. With a view to providing a more comprehensive experimental assessment, we evaluated the direct impacts of four different mowing techniques (hand motor mower with cutter bar, rotary mower cut at 9 cm and rotary mower cut at 6 cm with and without a conditioner) on wax invertebrate models and real caterpillars. The size of the organisms, their microhabitat, the tractor wheel effect and the cutting height were also investigated as factors that could potentially affect mowing‐caused mortality. Rotary mowers were found to be more damaging than motor bar mowers on caterpillars (37% vs. 20%), but only on one type of invertebrate wax‐model. Conditioners more than doubled damage to all wax‐models in the vegetation (in average from 11% to 30%) and increased caterpillar mortality from 38% to 69%. Larger organisms were more vulnerable than smaller organisms and ground organisms were strongly impacted by tractor wheels. While conditioner should not be used in meadows where conservation of the inhabiting fauna is of concern, we also recognize that there is no damage‐free mowing technique. We therefore advocate the importance of leaving uncut areas as a refuge for invertebrates.
Action on anaphylaxis action plans
Authors: Kemp Andrew Stewart
Published: February 2010

The provision of a written anaphylaxis action plan is considered to be an essential component of the management of food‐allergic children prescribed self‐injectable adrenaline. Literature review indicates that the evidence that such plans are of benefit is incomplete; however, commonsense would suggest that this is the case. Controlled trials are unlikely to be performed. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy has recently released three anaphylaxis action plans that meet the differing needs of those children prescribed self‐injectable adrenaline, those who do not warrant self‐injectable adrenaline provision and those with insect allergy.
M‐type channels selectively control bursting in rat dopaminergic neurons
Authors: Drion Guillaume , Bonjean Maxime , Waroux Olivier , Scuvée‐Moreau Jacqueline , Liégeois Jean‐François , Sejnowski Terrence J. , Sepulchre Rodolphe , Seutin Vincent
Published: February 2010

Midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, pars compacta and ventral tegmental area are critically important in many physiological functions. These neurons exhibit firing patterns that include tonic slow pacemaking, irregular firing and bursting, and the amount of dopamine that is present in the synaptic cleft is much increased during bursting. The mechanisms responsible for the switch between these spiking patterns remain unclear. Using both in‐vivo recordings combined with microiontophoretic or intraperitoneal drug applications and in‐vitro experiments, we have found that M‐type channels, which are present in midbrain dopaminergic cells, modulate the firing during bursting without affecting the background low‐frequency pacemaker firing. Thus, a selective blocker of these channels, 10,10‐bis(4‐pyridinylmethyl)‐9(10H)‐anthracenone dihydrochloride, specifically potentiated burst firing. Computer modeling of the dopamine neuron confirmed the possibility of a differential influence of M‐type channels on excitability during various firing patterns. Therefore, these channels may provide a novel target for the treatment of dopamine‐related diseases, including Parkinson’s disease and drug addiction. Moreover, our results demonstrate that the influence of M‐type channels on the excitability of these slow pacemaker neurons is conditional upon their firing pattern.
HUMAN CAPITAL MEASUREMENT: A SURVEY
Authors: Folloni Giuseppe , Vittadini Giorgio
Published: February 2010

Abstract After a short history of the concept of human capital (henceforth HC) in economic thought (Section 1), this study presents the two main methods for estimating the value of the stock of HC – the retrospective and prospective one – with a review of the models proposed (Section 2). These methods are linked both to the theory of HC investment as a rational choice (Section 3), the literature analysing the contribution of HC investment to economic growth and the HC estimating method through educational attainment (Section 4). The more recent literature on HC as a latent variable is also assessed (Section 5) and a new method of estimation where HC is seen both as an unknown function of formative indicators and as a ‘latent effect’ underlying earned income is proposed (Section 6). Section 7 concludes.
SUBSAMPLING THE JOHANSEN TEST WITH STABLE INNOVATIONS
Authors: Chen Pu , Hsiao Chih‐Ying
Published: February 2010

By taking into account the thick‐tail property of the errors, cointegration analysis in vector error‐correction models with infinite‐variance stable errors is a natural generalization of cointegration analysis in error‐correction models with normally distributed errors. We study the Johansen test for cointegrated systems under symmetric stable innovations with discrete spectral measures. The results show that the distributions of the Johansen test statistics under these innovations involve nuisance parameters. To overcome the problem of nuisance parameters, we implement a nonparametric subsampling procedure. We document some subsampling simulation results and demonstrate in an empirical example how the test can be used in practice.
NONPARAMETRIC ESTIMATION OF CONDITIONAL CUMULATIVE HAZARDS FOR MISSING POPULATION MARKS
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Dipankar , Pumar Amalia Jácome
Published: February 2010

A new function for the competing risks model, the conditional cumulative hazard function, is introduced, from which the conditional distribution of failure times of individuals failing due to cause j can be studied. The standard Nelson–Aalen estimator is not appropriate in this setting, as population membership (mark) information may be missing for some individuals owing to random right‐censoring. We propose the use of imputed population marks for the censored individuals through fractional risk sets. Some asymptotic properties, including uniform strong consistency, are established. We study the practical performance of this estimator through simulation studies and apply it to a real data set for illustration.
A STEPWISE CONFIDENCE INTERVAL PROCEDURE BASED ON AN ASYMMETRIC LOSS FUNCTION WITH APPLICATIONS TO TOXICOLOGICAL EVALUATION
Authors: Tao Jian , Tang Man‐Lai , Shi Ning‐Zhong
Published: February 2010

The purpose of toxicological studies is a safety assessment of compounds (e.g. pesticides, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals and food additives) at various dose levels. Because a mistaken declaration that a really non‐equivalent dose is equivalent could have dangerous consequences, it is important to adopt reliable statistical methods that can properly control the family‐wise error rate. We propose a new stepwise confidence interval procedure for toxicological evaluation based on an asymmetric loss function. The new procedure is shown to be reliable in the sense that the corresponding family‐wise error rate is well controlled at or below the pre‐specified nominal level. Our simulation results show that the new procedure is to be preferred over the classical confidence interval procedure and the stepwise procedure based on Welch's approximation in terms of practical equivalence/safety. The implementation and significance of the new procedure are illustrated with two real data sets: one from a reproductive toxicological study on Nitrofurazone in Swiss CD‐1 mice, and the other from a toxicological study on Aconiazide.
Nonnative Processing of Verbal Morphology: In Search of Regularity
Authors: Gor Kira , Cook Svetlana
Published: February 2010

There is little agreement on the mechanisms involved in second language (L2) processing of regular and irregular inflectional morphology and on the exact role of age, amount, and type of exposure to L2 resulting in differences in L2 input and use. The article contributes to the ongoing debates by reporting the results of two experiments on Russian verb generation and recognition in a lexical decision task (LDT) with priming by highly proficient late L2 learners, early interrupted (heritage) learners, and adult native speakers of Russian. Inflected verbs varying in regularity, type, and token (lemma) frequency were used. The experiments document the role of obligatory decomposition and complex allomorphy involved in (de)composition and mapping as well as type and token frequency in L1 and L2 verb generation and lexical access, with no sharp division between regular and irregular verbs. The results are inconsistent with either the dual‐system or the single‐system approach to morphological processing, and are compatible with “hybrid” theories combining rule‐based decomposition and input‐frequency‐based probabilistic mechanisms. All of the verb types showed priming effects, both in native and nonnative lexical access. However, the degree of facilitation depended on decomposition costs for different verb types only in nonnative participants. The study also shows differences in early (heritage) and late L2 learners. In the production task, heritage speakers outperformed L2 learners in real, but not novel, verb generation and in the use of the regular default pattern, whereas L2 learners showed an advantage in the use of the cue‐based complex morphological pattern. In the priming task, heritage speakers were faster than late L2 learners and insensitive to morphological complexity, whereas L2 learners showed longer latencies in response to the verbs with complex inflectional morphology. These differences are associated with the differences in their respective language learning backgrounds. It is tentatively suggested that these two groups of learners may rely on different processing mechanisms and, possibly, neural paths.
Hepatitis C virus coinfection and the risk of cardiovascular disease among HIV‐infected patients
Authors: Bedimo R , Westfall A O , Mugavero M , Drechsler H , Khanna N , Saag M
Published: February 2010

Background

Among HIV‐infected patients, hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection is associated with lower cholesterol levels, but it remains unclear how it affects cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods

We performed logistic regression to evaluate acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) events by HCV status among HIV‐infected US veterans in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era (1996–2004). We then performed survival analyses to evaluate incident AMI and CVD, exploring antiretroviral therapy (ART) as a time‐dependent variable.

Results

A total of 19 424 HIV‐infected patients [31.6% of whom were HCV‐coinfected (HIV/HCV)] contributed 76 376 patient‐years of follow‐up. HCV coinfection was associated with lower rates of hypercholesterolaemia (18.0% in HIV/HCV vs. 30.7% in HIV‐only patients; P<0.001), but higher rates of hypertension (43.8%vs. 35.6%; P<0.0001), type 2 diabetes mellitus (16.2%vs. 11.1%; P<0.0001) and smoking (36.7%vs. 24.7%; P=0.009). Rates of AMI and CVD were significantly higher among HIV/HCV than HIV‐only patients: 4.19 vs. 3.36 events/1000 patient‐years, respectively (P<0.001), for AMI; and 12.47 vs. 11.12 events/1000 patient‐years, respectively (P<0.001), for CVD. When analyses were controlled for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, age and duration of ART, hazard ratios (HRs) among those with HIV/HCV (vs. HIV only) were 1.25 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.98–1.61; P=0.072] for AMI and 1.20 (CI 1.04–1.38; P=0.013) for CVD. Hypertension (HR 2.05; P<0.001), greater age (HR 1.79; P<0.001) and longer duration (cumulative years) of antiretroviral use (HR 1.12; P=0.0411) were also associated with increased risk of AMI in the adjusted model.

Conclusions

In the HAART era, HCV coinfection was associated with a significantly increased risk of CVD and a trend towards an increased risk of AMI among HIV‐infected patients.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the skin
Authors: Stefanowska J , Zakowiecki D , Cal K
Published: February 2010

A thorough examination of the skin is essential to screen various diseases accurately, evaluate the effectiveness of topically applied drugs and assess the results of dermatological surgeries such as skin grafts. The assessment of skin properties is also crucial in the cosmetics industry, where it is important to evaluate the effects skin care products have on these properties. The simplest and most widely used method of skin evaluation, the ‘naked eye’ assessment, enables researchers to assess only the skin surface and involves a large amount of inter‐observer variability. Thanks to a great progress that has been made in physics, electronics and computer engineering in recent years, sophisticated imaging methods are increasingly available in day‐to‐day studies. The aim of this review was to present one of these techniques, namely the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to discuss its possible use in skin examination and analysis. We present basic principles of MRI, as well as several interesting applications in the field of dermatology, and discuss the advantages and limitations of this method.
Acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea: a systematic review
Authors: Cho S‐H , Hwang E‐W
Published: February 2010

Please cite this paper as: Cho S‐H, Hwang E‐W. Acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea: a systematic review. BJOG 2010;117:509–521.

Background  The effectiveness of acupuncture in primary dysmenorrhoea is not fully understood.

Objectives  To assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for the symptomatic treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea from randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Search strategy  Nineteen electronic databases, including English, Korean, Japanese and Chinese databases, were systematically searched for RCTs investigating acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhoea up to July 2008 with no language restrictions.

Selection criteria  All RCTs that evaluated the effects of acupuncture compared with controls were included. Studies that assessed the effect of moxibustion or body acupressure were excluded.

Data collection and analysis  The study abstraction and quality assessment of all studies were undertaken following the detailed descriptions of these categories as described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions.

Main results  Twenty‐seven RCTs were systematically reviewed. Only nine of the 27 trials clearly described their methods of randomisation and none of the trials stated the methods of allocation concealment. Compared with pharmacological treatment or herbal medicine, acupuncture was associated with a significant reduction in pain. Three studies reported reduced pain within groups from baseline; however, two RCTs did not find a significant difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture.

Author’s conclusions  The review found promising evidence in the form of RCTs for the use of acupuncture in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea compared with pharmacological treatment or herbal medicine. However, the results were limited by methodological flaws. The evidence for the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea is not convincing compared with sham acupuncture. Further rigorous nonpenetrating placebo‐controlled RCTs are warranted.
Abnormal post‐translational and extracellular processing of brevican in plaque‐bearing mice over‐expressing APPsw
Authors: Ajmo Joanne M. , Bailey Lauren A. , Howell Matthew D. , Cortez Lisa K. , Pennypacker Keith R. , Mehta Hina N. , Morgan Dave , Gordon Marcia N. , Gottschall Paul E.
Published: February 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 113, 784–795.

Aggregation of amyloid‐β (Aβ) in the forebrain of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) subjects may disturb the molecular organization of the extracellular microenvironment that modulates neural and synaptic plasticity. Proteoglycans are major components of this extracellular environment. To test the hypothesis that Aβ, or another amyloid precursor protein (APP) dependent mechanism modifies the accumulation and/or turnover of extracellular proteoglycans, we examined whether the expression and processing of brevican, an abundant extracellular, chondroitin sulfate (CS)‐bearing proteoglycan, were altered in brains of Aβ‐depositing transgenic mice (APPsw – APP gene bearing the Swedish mutation) as a model of AD. The molecular size of CS chains attached to brevican was smaller in hippocampal tissue from APPsw mice bearing Aβ deposits compared to non‐transgenic mice, likely because of changes in the CS chains. Also, the abundance of the major proteolytic fragment of brevican was markedly diminished in extracts from several telencephalic regions of APPsw mice compared to non‐transgenic mice, yet these immunoreactive fragments appeared to accumulate adjacent to the plaque edge. These results suggest that Aβ or APP exert inhibitory effects on proteolytic cleavage mechanisms responsible for synthesis and turnover of proteoglycans. As proteoglycans stabilize synaptic structure and inhibit molecular plasticity, defective brevican processing observed in Aβ‐bearing mice and potentially end‐stage human AD, may contribute to deficient neural plasticity.
Human neuroblastoma cells with MYCN amplification are selectively resistant to oxidative stress by transcriptionally up‐regulating glutamate cysteine ligase
Authors: De Tudela Miguel Veas‐Perez , Delgado‐Esteban María , Cuende Julia , Bolaños Juan P. , Almeida Angeles
Published: February 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 113, 819–825.

Neuroblastoma is a sympathetic nervous system tumour whose degree of malignancy, prognosis and therapy resistance has been associated with the amplification of MYCN oncogene. However, the molecular pathway responsible for such resistance is unknown. To contribute addressing this issue, in this study, we have compared the vulnerability of four human neuroblastoma cell lines differentially amplifying MYCN, namely SK‐N‐BE‐2 and IMR‐32 (MYCN‐amplified cells) and SH‐SY5Y and SK‐N‐SH (MCYN‐non‐amplified cells), to H2O2‐mediated apoptotic death. We found that the high resistance of the MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma cells against oxidative damage can be accounted for by their greater expression of both the mRNA and protein of the catalytic subunit of glutamate‐cysteine ligase (GCLcat), the rate‐limiting step in GSH biosynthesis. Furthermore, we found that MYCN directly binds to an E‐box containing GCLcat promoter and that over‐expression of MYCN in MYCN‐non‐amplified cells stimulated GCLcat expression and provided resistance to oxidative damage; whereas knock down of MYCN in MYCN‐amplified cells decreased GCLcat expression and sensitized them to oxidative damage. Finally, GCLcat knock down enhanced the vulnerability of MYCN‐amplified cells to oxidative damage. These results demonstrate that regulation of GCLcat by MYCN accounts for the survival of neuroblastoma cells against oxidative damage, and suggest that GCL should be considered a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of MYCN‐amplified neuroblastoma.
Cartilage Tissue Engineering With Demineralized Bone Matrix Gelatin and Fibrin Glue Hybrid Scaffold: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Wang Zheng‐Hui , He Xi‐Jing , Yang Zhuang‐Qun , Tu Jun‐Bo
Published: February 2010

To develop a cartilage‐like tissue with hybrid scaffolds of demineralized bone matrix gelatin (BMG) and fibrin, rabbit chondrocytes were cultured on hybrid fibrin/BMG scaffolds in vitro. BMG scaffolds were carefully soaked in a chondrocyte–fibrin suspension, which was polymerized by submerging the constructs into thrombin–calcium chloride solution. Engineered cartilage‐like tissue grown on the scaffolds was characterized by histology, immunolocalization, scanning electron microscopy, biochemical assays, and analysis of gene expression at different time points of the in vitro culture. The presence of proteoglycan in the fibrin/BMG hybrid constructs was confirmed by positive toluidine blue and alcian blue staining. Collagen type II exhibited intense immunopositivity at the pericellular matrices. Chondrogenic properties were further demonstrated by the expression of gene‐encoded cartilage‐specific markers, collagen type II, and aggrecan core protein. The glycosaminoglycan production and hydroxyproline content of tissue grown on the fibrin/BMG hybrid scaffolds were higher than that of the BMG group. In conclusion, the fibrin/BMG hybrid scaffolds may serve as a potential cell delivery vehicle and a structural basis for cartilage tissue engineering.
Prognostic Factors for Adult Patients Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as Mechanical Circulatory Support—A 14‐Year Experience at a Medical Center
Authors: Lan Chinchun , Tsai Pi‐Ru , Chen Yih‐Sharng , Ko Wen‐Je
Published: February 2010

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a resource‐consuming and highly invasive treatment. There were 1100 ECMO cases at the National Taiwan University Hospital between August 1994 and November 2008. Of these, 607 were adults (>18 years old) who received ECMO as mechanical circulatory support. In this study, patient characteristics and complications during the ECMO course were evaluated for their correlation with prognosis. The following factors were significantly different between survivors and nonsurvivors: age, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, brain death, stroke during ECMO, the need for dialysis during ECMO, pre‐ECMO infection, hypoglycemia, acidosis, alkalosis, the need for a distal perfusion catheter, and the amount of red blood cells transfused. Six independent predictors of mortality were identified: age, stroke, the need for dialysis during ECMO, pre‐ECMO infection, hypoglycemia, and alkalosis. Our institution has comparatively extensive experience with adult patients, which may be quite different from other medical centers with respect to distribution of patient age. The findings should lead to better utilization of ECMO for adult patients in the future.
Polyurethane Scaffolds Seeded With Genetically Engineered Skeletal Myoblasts: A Promising Tool to Regenerate Myocardial Function
Authors: Blumenthal Britta , Golsong Peter , Poppe Annika , Heilmann Claudia , Schlensak Christian , Beyersdorf Friedhelm , Siepe Matthias
Published: February 2010

In animal models, intramyocardial injection of primary skeletal myoblasts is supposed to promote tissue regeneration and to improve cardiac function after myocardial infarction. The usage of genetically engineered myoblasts overexpressing the paracrine factors involved in tissue repair is believed to enhance these effects. However, cell therapy via injection is always accompanied by a high death rate of the injected cells. Here, we describe the construction of a growth factor‐producing myoblast‐seeded scaffold to overcome this limitation. Skeletal myoblasts were isolated and expanded from newborn Lewis rats. Cells were seeded on polyurethane (PU) scaffolds (Artelon) and transfected with DNA of VEGF‐A, HGF, SDF‐1, or Akt1 using the lipid‐based Metafectene Pro method. Overexpression was verified by ELISA, RT‐PCR (VEGF‐A, HGF, and SDF‐1) and Western blot analysis (Akt1). The seeded scaffolds were transplanted onto damaged myocardium of Lewis rats 2 weeks after myocardial infarction. Six weeks later, their therapeutic potential in vivo was analyzed by measurement of infarction size and capillary density. Primary rat skeletal myoblasts seeded on PU scaffolds were efficiently transfected, achieving transfection rates of 20%. In vitro, we noted a significant increase in expression of VEGF‐A, HGF, SDF‐1, and Akt1 after transfection. In vivo, transplantation of growth factor‐producing myoblast‐seeded scaffolds resulted in enhanced angiogenesis (VEGF‐A, HGF, and Akt1) or a reduced infarction zone (SDF‐1 and Akt1) in the ischemically damaged myocardium. In summary, we constructed a growth factor‐producing myoblast‐seeded scaffold which combines the beneficial potential of stem cell transplantation with the promising effects of gene‐therapeutic approaches. Because this matrix also allows us to circumvent previous cell application drawbacks, it may represent a promising tool for tissue regeneration and the re‐establishment of cardiac function after myocardial infarction.
Strengthening with a Uniform Compressive Layer Produced by a Dip‐Coating: A Study of Processing Variables
Authors: Moon Haksung , Lange Fred F.
Published: February 2010

A method to uniformly slurry coat ceramic bar specimens to produce a compressive surface layer was investigated by systematically changing critical slurry variables that included the content of the powder, binder, and dispersant. The rheology of the slurries was determined as a function of these three variables. The coating contained a large fraction of alumina relative to the 3 mol% Yittria‐stabilized transformation‐toughened zirconia (TTZ) bars, which enabled the development of compressive stresses during cooling from the densification temperature. After densification, the coating thickness was determined with the optical microscope, and the residual compressive stresses were determined with calibrated Raman microspectroscopy. Before dip coating, the ceramic bars were slightly densified to enable the coating to shrink slightly more than the bar. Also, before coating, the porous bars were filled with water to prevent both slip casting and flaws produced by the out venting of air. Additions of a latex binder to the slurry circumvented cracking when the coating shrank during drying. Too much binder produced a porous coating and reduced the compressive stresses. It was shown that the optimum slurry composition, defined here as the “standard slurry,” would increase the flexural strength by ∼30%, namely 1120±10 MPa, relative to 867±68 MPa for the uncoated 3Y‐TTZ bars.
The pO‐Index and R Ratio Gap Methods for the Assessment of Corrosion Risk in Refractory Materials in Contact with Glass Melts
Authors: Boccaccini Dino N. , Cannio Maria , Romagnoli Marcello , Veronesi Paolo , Leonelli Cristina , Boccaccini Aldo R.
Published: February 2010

Corrosion of refractories used in glass melting technology is a complex phenomenon involving chemical wear (corrosion) and physical/mechanical wear (such as erosion and abrasion) processes as well as thermal shock and spalling. Besides the complexity in the hydrodynamics of a molten silicate bath with which refractory materials are in contact, refractories are polycrystalline heterogeneous materials containing a relatively high porosity. Pores are centers for accelerated corrosion, spalling, and penetration by the hot liquid. In this work, a corrosion study of aluminosilicate refractory crucibles by chromium and calcium oxides during the melting of Cr‐containing soda lime glasses as a function of temperature (1400°–1500°C) and glass basicity has been performed. The features and mechanism of the corrosion process were compared and analyzed as a function of glass acidobasicity (pO‐index) and of the ratio of network‐dwelling cations to A13+ cations (R). The advantage of the pO‐index and ΔR gap methods to assess refractory corrosion risk as a function of the acidobasicity differential between the refractory glassy phase and the glass melt was demonstrated. The change of the concentrations of glass constituents was monitored by ICP analysis of glass samples and correlated to the observed extent of corrosion. The crystalline composition and microstructure of the refractory materials before and after being corroded were studied by XRD analyses and SEM. Cr‐doped corundum was found to be the main crystalline phase in the refractory microstructure and other mixed phases with chromium and aluminum and/or silica, which formed at the boundary layer (interface) between the glasses and the aluminosilicate refractory, were identified. The results provide a useful guide to the selection of refractory materials for application in glass and glass–ceramic manufacture in terms of their corrosion risk.
Fabrication of Silicon Nitride Nanoceramics and their Tribological Properties
Authors: Kim Jae‐Hee , Venkata Manoj Kumar B. , Hong Seong‐Hyeon , Kim Hai‐Doo
Published: February 2010

Si2N2O secondary phase‐free, fully dense nano‐Si3N4 ceramics (≥97% of theoretical density) were developed by combining carbothermal reduction treatment and spark plasma sintering (SPS), and their tribological properties were investigated by subjecting to self‐mated sliding under unlubricated conditions. Commercially available Si3N4 nanopowder was used as a starting material and phenolic resin was used for carbothermal reduction, which was conducted at 1450°C for 10 h. Fully densified Si2N2O phase‐free Si3N4 ceramics with a wide range of grain size from 90 nm to 1.5 μm were fabricated by varying SPS temperature from 1550° to 1750°C. The microstructure of the developed Si3N4 ceramics was changed from nano equi‐axed at 1550°C to large elongated bimodal grain morphology at 1700° or 1750°C. The frictional behavior was not dependent on the microstructure, but the wear rate was strongly influenced such that it decreased by an order of magnitude (from 9.7 × 10−5 to 0.88 × 10−5 mm3/N·m) with decreasing grain size. The dominant wear mechanism was changed from the delamination of tribochemical layer for the ceramics with nano equi‐axed grain microstructure to the fracture and grain pull‐out for the ceramics with duplex microstructure.
The Concept of a Low‐Temperature Synthesis for Superparamagnetic BaFe12O19 Particles
Authors: Drofenik Miha , Ban Irena , Ferk Gregor , Makovec Darko , Žnidaršič Andrej , Jagličić Zvonko , Lisjak Darja
Published: February 2010

Superparamagnetic Ba‐hexaferrite, BaFe12O19, nanoparticles were prepared by reacting tetrahydroxoferrates (III), [Fe(OH)4]−(aq), and barium ions, Ba2+(aq), in an autoclave in the presence of a high concentration of hydroxide ions OH−. The synthesis temperature was between 80° and 140°C. The size and the morphology of the synthesized nanoparticles were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The crystal structure of the nanoparticles was characterized by X‐ray diffraction. The powders synthesized above 120°C exhibited a bimodal particle size distribution, while those synthesized below 120°C showed a monomodal particle size distribution. The field‐cooled/zero‐field‐cooled magnetization measurements showed typical superparamagnetic behavior. The superparamagnetic nanoparticles synthesized below 100°C exhibited a disk‐like shape, on average <10 nm wide and 3 nm thick, with a room‐temperature magnetization of approximately 3 emu/g at 1 T.
Salary and Decision Making: Relationship Between Pay and Focus on Financial Profitability and Prosociality in an Organizational Context
Authors: Jordan Jennifer M.
Published: February 2010

This investigation examined the relationship between organizationally based financial incentives and a focus on profit vs. prosociality during decision making. Participants were 84 managers from a Fortune 200 corporation. Managers read a vignette containing a dilemma and freely generated issues that they considered important in resolving the dilemma. These responses were coded for their inclusion on 3 dimensions: financial profitability, well‐being of nonpowerful stakeholders, and legal culpability. The results demonstrated that salary level predicted an increased focus on the dimension related to financial profitability and decreased focus on the dimensions of prosociality and legal concerns. Implications of these findings and future directions for research are discussed.
Wanting to Be Boss and Wanting to Be Subordinate: Effects on Performance Motivation
Authors: Mast Marianne Schmid , Hall Judith A. , Schmid Petra C.
Published: February 2010

Does dyad members' motivation to take on a high or low power position influence the dyad's performance motivation when assigned to hierarchical roles? Participants in 69 dyads (33 all‐women, 36 all‐men) indicated whether they preferred the high‐power role (owner of an art gallery) or the low power role (assistant to the owner). Power roles were then randomly assigned. The dyad's interaction during task solving was videotaped. Uninvolved coders rated performance motivation as the degree of quality of the superior's and the subordinate's task contributions and effort put into the task. Performance motivation was better if the boss preferred the high power to the low power role, irrespective of the subordinate's role preference. Leadership effectiveness is thus affected by the superior's power motivation.
Association of UVRAG polymorphisms with susceptibility to non‐segmental vitiligo in a Korean sample
Authors: Jeong Taek‐Jo , Shin Min‐Kyung , Uhm Yoon‐Kyung , Kim Hak‐Jae , Chung Joo‐Ho , Lee Mu‐Hyoung
Published: February 2010

Please cite this paper as: Association of UVRAG polymorphisms with susceptibility to non‐segmental vitiligo in a Korean sample. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: e323–e325.

Abstract:  Autoimmune, self‐destructive, oxidative stress and genetic theories have been proposed for the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Autophagy is essential for cellular homeostasis and is implicated in many pathophysiological conditions such as cancer, response to oxidative stress and autoimmunity. The ultraviolet (UV) radiation resistance‐associated gene (UVRAG) activates the Beclin1‐PI(3)KC3 complex, promoting autophagy. To evaluate whether UVRAG polymorphisms are associated with non‐segmental vitiligo (NSV) patients in a Korean sample, we conducted a case–control association study of 225 NSV patients and 439 matched healthy controls. A total of five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of UVRAG were selected for analysis. Among these, two SNPs (rs1458836, rs7933235) showed significant genotypic differences between the NSV patient group and the control group. These two SNPs were located within a strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) block. In addition, the haplotype of the UVRAG polymorphism was associated with NSV. This study suggests a possible association between UVRAG and NSV susceptibility.
Smoking but not homozygosity for CYP1A2 g‐163A allelic variant leads to earlier disease onset in patients with sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda
Authors: Fontanellas Antonio , Martínez‐Fresno María , Garrido‐Astray María Concepción , Perucho Teresa , Morán‐Jiménez María‐Josefa , García‐Bravo María , Méndez Manuel , Poblete‐Gutiérrez Pamela , Frank Jorge , Henriques‐Gil Nuno , De Salamanca Rafael Enríquez
Published: February 2010

Please cite this paper as: Smoking but not homozygosity for CYP1A2 g‐163A allelic variant leads to earlier disease onset in patients with sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda. Experimental Dermatology 2010. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: e326–e328.

Abstract:  Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) results from decreased activity of hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD). Both sporadic and familial forms are characterised by typical cutaneous lesions triggered by genetic/environmental factors. Studies in rodents showed that cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) plays a central role in the synthesis of a competitive inhibitor of hepatic UROD, but there is little evidence in humans. The impact of smoking and CYP1A2 g‐163C > A allelic variant upon first appearance of clinical signs was investigated in 102 patients (80 sporadic‐PCT) and 150 healthy donors from Spain. We found an increase in the frequency of CYP1A2 g‐163A allele in patients with PCT when compared with controls, although the more inducible A/A genotype had no effect on the onset age. In sporadic‐PCT, smoking leads to earlier onset of clinically overt disease in moderate‐to‐heavy smokers (≥10 cigarettes/day). In conclusion, this study provides evidence that smoking hastens the onset of cutaneous symptoms in sporadic‐PCT patients.
Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis caused by a novel mutation in the human hairless transcript
Authors: Ramot Yuval , Horev Liran , Smolovich Irena , Molho‐Pessach Vered , Zlotogorski Abraham
Published: February 2010

Please cite this paper as: Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis caused by a novel mutation in the human hairless transcript. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: e320–e322.

Abstract:  Recently the causes for various forms of hypotrichosis and atrichia have been identified, increasing our understanding of the pathways involved in hair cycling and morphogenesis. Loss‐of‐function mutations of an inhibitory upstream ORF in the human hairless transcript were found as the cause for autosomal dominant Marie Unna hereditary hypotrichosis. At present, only two studies identified several pathogenic mutations. We ascertained a Jewish Ashkenazi family with hypotrichosis simplex of the Marie Unna type in a mother and her two children. Sequencing of the upstream ORF U2HR in the 5′ UTR of the hairless gene resulted in the identification of a novel heterozygous missense mutation c.74C > T resulting in the amino acid change p.P25L. Functional assays confirmed that this mutation led to increased translation of the main HR ORF. This finding extends the mutations’ spectrum of U2HR, and emphasizes its major role in hair growth.
HSP70 inducers from Chinese herbs and their effect on melanin production
Authors: Yamashita Yasuhiro , Hoshino Tatsuya , Matsuda Minoru , Kobayashi Chisa , Tominaga Aya , Nakamura Yasuhiko , Nakashima Koumei , Yokomizo Kazumi , Ikeda Tsuyoshi , Mineda Kazutaka , Maji Daisuke , Niwano Yoshimi , Mizushima Tohru
Published: February 2010

Please cite this paper as: HSP70 inducers from Chinese herbs and their effect on melanin production. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: e340–e342.

Abstract:  Skin hyperpigmentation disorders as a result of abnormal melanin production induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation are both a clinical and a cosmetic problem. This melanin production is mediated by tyrosinase whose expression is positively regulated by microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF). We recently found that expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) inhibits melanin production. In this study, we searched for HSP70 inducers from Chinese herbs and selected an ethanol extract of Eupatorium lindleyanum (E. lindleyanum). Not only melanin production but also the activity and expression of tyrosinase were significantly suppressed in cells treated with E. lindleyanum extract as well as in HSP70‐overexpressing cells. The expression of MITF was clearly suppressed in cells treated with E. lindleyanum extract but not in HSP70‐overexpressing cells. These results suggest that E. lindleyanum extract suppresses the expression of tyrosinase and melanin production through both HSP70‐dependent and HSP70‐independent mechanisms.
Increased levels of serum IL‐31 in chronic spontaneous urticaria*
Authors: Raap Ulrike , Wieczorek Dorothea , Gehring Manuela , Pauls Inga , Ständer Sonja , Kapp Alexander , Wedi Bettina
Published: February 2010

Please cite this paper as: Increased levels of serum IL‐31 in chronic spontaneous urticaria. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 464–466.

Abstract:  IL‐31 represents a novel cytokine involved in pruritic skin diseases including atopic dermatitis (AD). We, therefore, aimed at investigating IL‐31 levels in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CU). We included 46 patients with CU, 26 non‐atopic skin healthy subjects as negative and 28 patients with AD as positive controls. IL‐31 serum levels were analysed using commercial ELISA kit. IL‐31 serum levels were higher in patients with CU compared to healthy controls (P < 0.001), but lower compared to patients with AD (P < 0.001). There was no difference in IL‐31 serum levels in autologous serum skin test positive or negative CU patients and patients with infectious trigger factors including helicobacter pylori infection. IL‐31 serum levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of CU. This is supported by the finding that not all patients with CU respond to antihistamine treatment but to the treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.