bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Monocyte‐Derived Dendritic Cells from Patients with Active and Treated Paracoccidioidomycosis
Authors: Sato P. K. , Oshiro T. M. , Diogo C. L. , Passos É. C. , Shikanai‐Yasuda M. A.
Published: August 2011

Cellular immune responses are a significant defence mechanism in human paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an endemic mycosis in Latin America; however, little is known about the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in human PCM. We investigated monocyte‐derived DCs from patients with treated (TP) and active PCM (AP) compared with healthy non‐PCM donors (CO). DCs from the TP group showed higher expression of HLA‐DR, CD86 and DC‐SIGN compared with CO, whereas AP showed similar expression to CO. Production of IL‐10 was downregulated by TNF‐α in all groups and lower levels were observed in untreated DCs from AP compared with CO. Conversely, IL‐12p40 was significantly upregulated in the DCs of the TP group. TNF‐α‐activated DCs from the CO group produced significantly lower levels of IL‐12p40 when differentiated from magnetic‐sorted monocytes (MACS) compared with adhered monocyte‐derived DCs. This comparison in the TP group revealed similar levels of IL‐12p40, suggesting a T cell–independent increase in the production of IL‐12p40. Higher expression of surface molecules with increased IL‐12p40 may indicate a better activation of DCs after the treatment of PCM. Our findings suggest that DCs may be crucial in the protective response to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and that in vitro‐generated DCs might be useful in enhancing antifungal immunity, especially during active PCM.
Carbonate platform dominated by peloidal sands: Lower Ordovician La Silla Formation of the eastern Precordillera, San Juan, Argentina
Authors: PRATT BRIAN R. , RAVIOLO MARIANA M. , BORDONARO OSVALDO L.
Published: August 2011

The Lower Ordovician La Silla Formation of the Precordillera of west‐central Argentina is part of the west‐facing early Palaeozoic, tropical carbonate platform succession that comprises the core of the Cuyania terrane. Up to 360 m thick, it is exposed in several thrust sheets over a distance of some 250 km along and across depositional strike over a palinspastically unrestored distance of about 35 km. La Silla Formation is a strikingly pure limestone with subordinate finely crystalline dolomite and rare chert. It accumulated on a more or less uniformly subsiding passive margin. Copious precipitation of microcrystalline calcite, probably influenced by microbial activity to varying degrees, led to the generation of peloids, ooids and aggregates of these grains, as well as small amounts of lime mud, intraclasts, stromatolites and thrombolites. Rare bioclasts are limited mostly to scattered gastropods and trilobite sclerites; bioturbation is present locally. The array of carbonate rock types is grouped into eight recurring lithofacies, in order of decreasing abundance: (i) peloidal grainstone; (ii) laminated dolostone; (iii) intraclastic rudstone; (iv) microbial laminite; (v) peloidal packstone; (vi) ooidal grainstone; (vii) thrombolite boundstone; and (viii) mudstone. These facies represent sediments that formed solely in a shallow subtidal marine environment, with no evidence of restricted conditions, hypersalinity or subaerial exposure. No events of eustatic sea‐level change are recorded. By far the dominant facies is grainstone composed of well‐sorted, fine sand‐sized peloids and peloidal aggregates in homogeneous, tabular to gently undulating, medium to thick beds; cross‐lamination is scarce. Clusters of sub‐metre‐sized microbial patch reefs developed sporadically. The shallow platform is envisaged to have been covered by extensive peloidal sand flats and low‐relief banks, and little lime mud was generated. The setting was probably microtidal and may not have been affected by strong trade winds. It was washed by frequent, relatively gentle wave action but without experiencing powerful storms. In the middle member, anomalous lenses of intraclastic rudstone and laminated dolostone occur as graded beds overlying sharply downcut scoured surfaces up to 20 cm deep; these are interpreted to indicate a phase when accretion was punctuated occasionally by tsunamis generated from rift‐faulting seaward of the platform margin. The remarkably uniform peloidal grainstone composition over a broad area shows that, given the appropriate combination of climate, environmental and ecological factors, large portions of some early Palaeozoic platforms were dominated by grainy sediment and remained under well‐agitated conditions within fair‐weather wave‐base, without distinct lateral facies differentiation or tidal‐flat aggradation.
Dermatologists’ level of compliance with the prescription guidelines of isotretinoin for females of childbearing potential
Authors: AlGhamdi Khalid M. , Khurram Huma , Asiri Yousif A. , Mandil Ahmed
Published: August 2011

Background  Potent teratogenicity limits the use of isotretinoin among females of childbearing potential (FCBP).

Objective  To explore the current practice of dermatologists for pregnancy prevention when prescribing isotretinoin for FCBP.

Materials and methods  A self‐administered questionnaire was distributed to 160 dermatologists attending a national conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2008. The survey was designed to capture the details of precautions taken by dermatologists to prevent pregnancy among isotretinoin users.

Results  Ultimately, 134 dermatologists completed the questionnaire (84% response rate). Their mean age was 39 ± 9.5 years. A total of 82 were female (65%). The median number of FCBP for whom isotretinoin was prescribed by each dermatologist during the previous 12 months was two (range from 0 to 30). Of the 792 total FCBP, seven were reported to have become pregnant (incidence rate of 8.8/1000) while on isotretinoin. Out of those seven, three women terminated the pregnancy (elective abortions: 42.7%). The majority of the dermatologists (79%) always obtained written consent and discussed teratogenic risks (98%); 44% provided written information about potential isotretinoin teratogenicity, and 30% offered printed information on contraception. Survey results also revealed that 62% recommended double contraception for FCBP, 60% always recommended pregnancy testing prior to therapy, but only 16% requested monthly pregnancy tests. In general, 62.4% avoided isotretinoin prescription to FCBP, which was independent of dermatologists’ gender, years of experience, or having a previous incident of isotretinoin‐exposed pregnancy.

Conclusion  Some dermatologists still do not follow the recommendations for isotretinoin prescription to FCBP. This needs to be corrected, especially in countries with restrictions on abortion.
Overview of efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment in patients with atopic dermatitis in Asia and other areas
Authors: Kim Kyu‐Han , Kono Takeshi
Published: August 2011

Objective  To assess the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus ointment in a large population of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) by pooling data from individual Asian studies, and to compare the results of this study with those in the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Materials and methods  We analyzed the pooled data from individual studies conducted in the eight Asian areas. The efficacy assessments included success rate based on Physician’s Global Evaluation of Clinical Response, Eczema Area Severity Index (EASI), Percent Body Surface Area (%BSA) affected, Patient’s Assessment of Itch (Itch), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and children’s DLQI (CDLQI). The results that were published in the United States, Europe, and Japan were cited.

Results  A total of 860 patients were included in this study. The success rates were more than 80% in both adult and pediatric patients. Similar success rates were shown in the United States, European, and Japanese studies. There were no differences in the improvements in %BSA affected, EASI, and Itch between this study and the United States study. In both Asia and the United States, tacrolimus therapy improved total quality of life and all subscales in DLQI and CDLQI. Skin burning and pruritus were common adverse events among the Asian, United States and European studies.

Conclusions  Tacrolimus ointment is an effective and well‐tolerated treatment option in patients with AD in Asia. In this study, the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus are similar to those in the United States, European, and Japan studies.
Wound healing in adult skin: aiming for perfect regeneration
Authors: Heng Madalene C. Y.
Published: August 2011

Wound healing in adult skin, a complex process involving many cell types and processes such as epidermal, fibroblastic, and endothelial cell proliferation, cell migration, matrix synthesis, and wound contraction, almost invariably results in scar tissue formation and wound induration. Unlike in adult skin, wound healing in embryos involves repair processes that result in the essentially perfect regeneration of damaged tissue. This paper discusses key mechanisms that lead to scar tissue formation in adult human skin and treatment modalities, including curcumin gel, that may result in essentially perfect skin regeneration following surgical procedures.
Prospective trial of curettage and cryosurgery in the management of non‐facial, superficial, and minimally invasive basal and squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Peikert Johann M.
Published: August 2011

Background  As a variation of the curettage and destruction technique, cryosurgery can be used in place of electrodesiccation for the destructive component when managing superficial basal and squamous cell carcinomas. There are few studies, though, demonstrating the long‐term cure rate associated with similar methods. This study seeks to determine the long‐term cure rate associated with curettage and cryosurgery in the treatment of small, non‐facial, superficial basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

Materials and methods  Sixty‐nine patients with 100 non‐facial tumors, ≤2 cm in diameter, consisting of superficial basal cell carcinoma, superficial nodular basal cell carcinoma with papillary dermal invasion, squamous cell carcinoma in situ, and squamous cell carcinoma with papillary dermal invasion were prospectively treated with curettage and cryotherapy, and subsequently evaluated at 1‐ and 5‐year intervals.

Results  No tumor recurred after one year of follow‐up, and one recurrence occurred within the 5‐year interval, for a 99% recurrence‐free endpoint. Six patients died of unrelated causes after one year, and before five years, and were thus lost to follow‐up.

Conclusions  Curettage and cryosurgery is a simple, highly effective, and reliable treatment method for select, low‐risk non‐melanoma skin cancers.
Interaction of zearalenone and soybean isoflavone in diets on the growth performance, organ development and serum parameters in prepubertal gilts
Authors: Wang D. F. , Zhang N. Y. , Peng Y. Z. , Qi D. S.
Published: August 2011

The aim of the present research was to determine the interactive effect of zearalenone (ZEA) and soybean isoflavone (ISO) on the growth performance, development of organs and serum parameters in prepubertal gilts. Ninety 75‐day‐old female pigs (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire, 26.5 ± 0.60 kg) were randomly allocated to nine diet treatments during the 21‐day study. The experiment employed a 3 × 3 factorial design using a non‐soybean meal diet with the addition of 0, 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg ZEA and 0, 300 or 600 mg/kg ISO. The results indicated that simultaneous addition of ZEA and ISO had no significant influence on the growth performance in prepubertal gilts. Zearalenone with 2 mg/kg increased (p < 0.05) the relative weight of the reproductive organs (including uterus and vagina) but had no obvious effects (p > 0.05) on the relative weight of the heart, liver, lung, kidney and spleen. Isoflavone at 600 mg/kg could offset the increased weight of the reproductive organs induced by ZEA. Simultaneous addition of ZEA and ISO to prepubertal gilts increased the level of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase in the serum (p < 0.05) at day 14 but their levels decreased (p < 0.05) over time. Zearalenone increased the level of malondialdehyde and decreased the concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase (p < 0.05) in the serum. The results suggested that ISO added to diets at 600 mg/kg could reduce the increase in the relative weight of reproductive organs and relieve the oxidative stress induced by ZEA added at 2 mg/kg during the growth phase in prepubertal gilts.
New onset diabetes after kidney transplantation in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: RUDERMAN IRENE , MASTERSON ROSEMARY , YATES CHRISTOPHER , GORELIK ALEXANDRA , COHNEY SHLOMO J , WALKER ROWAN G
Published: August 2011

Background:  New onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) is a common adverse outcome of organ transplantation that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, infection and graft rejection. In kidney transplantation, apart from traditional risk factors, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) has also been reported by several authors as a predisposing factor to the development of NODAT, but any rationale for an association between ADPKD and NODAT is unclear. We examined the cumulative incidence of NODAT in or own transplant population comparing ADPKD patients with non‐ADPKD controls.

Methods:  A retrospective cohort study to determine the cumulative incidence of patients developing NODAT (defined by World Health Organization‐based criteria and/or use of hypoglycaemic medication) was conducted in 79 patients with ADPKD (79 transplants) and 423 non‐ADPKD controls (426 transplants) selected from 613 sequential transplant recipients over 8 years. Patients with pre‐existing diabetes as a primary disease or comorbidity and/or with minimal follow up or early graft loss/death were excluded.

Results:  Of the 502 patients (505 transplants) studied, 86 (17.0%) developed NODAT. There was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of NODAT in the ADPKD (16.5%; CI 13.6–20.7%) compared with the non‐ADPKD (17.1%; CI 8.3–24.6%) control group. Of the 13 patients in the ADPKD group with NODAT, three required treatment with insulin with or without oral hypoglycaemic agents. Among the 73 NODAT patients in the non‐ADPKD group, eight received insulin with or without oral hypoglycaemics. Furthermore, of the patients that did develop NODAT, there was no difference in the time to its development in patients with and without ADPKD

Conclusion:  There was no evidence of an increased incidence of NODAT in ADPKD kidney transplant recipients.
Effect of exercise on albuminuria in people with diabetes
Authors: KOH KENG‐HEE , DAYANATH BOLONGHOGE , DOERY JAMES CG , POLKINGHORNE KEVAN R , TEEDE HELENA , KERR PETER G
Published: August 2011

Aim:  Spot urine measurement of albumin is now the most commonly accepted approach to screening for proteinuria. Exertion prior to the collection may potentially influence the result of spot urine albumin estimation. We aim to evaluate the effect of exercise on albuminuria in subjects at various stages of diabetic nephropathy in comparison with healthy control volunteers.

Methods:  Thirty‐five people with diabetes (19 with normoalbuminuria (NA), nine with microalbuminuria (MA) and seven with overt proteinuria (OP)) and nine control subjects were assessed. A 1 km treadmill walk was performed. Four spot urine specimens were collected: first morning void, immediately prior to exercise, and 1 h and 2 h after exercise. A random effects linear regression mixed model was used to assess the effect of exercise on albumin/creatinine ratio (uACR). Results are presented separately for male and female subjects with diabetes due to a significant exercise/gender interaction (P < 0.05).

Results:  No significant effect of exercise on uACR was seen in control subjects. In NA males with diabetes no effect of exercise was seen, while in females uACR 1 h after exercise was significantly higher than the early morning sample (3.55 mg/mmol (96% confidence interval 0.27–6.83). Both female and male diabetes subjects with MA have increase in uACR 1 h after exercise (87.8, −24.3–199.4 and 6.7, 2.1–11.3). For both males and females with OP, uACR was significantly increased 1 h post exercise (67.5, 22–113 and 21.6, 8.4–34.8, respectively). In all groups uACR at 2 h after exercise was not significantly different to the early morning sample.

Conclusions:  Exercise increased uACR estimation in normoalbuminuric subjects with diabetes with a larger effect in females. Whether exercise unmasks early diabetic nephropathy in NA subjects requires further study.
Increases in renal replacement therapy in Australia and New Zealand: Understanding trends in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: GRACE BLAIR S , CLAYTON PHILIP , MCDONALD STEPHEN P
Published: August 2011

Aim:  The incidence of end‐stage kidney disease (ESKD) has been increasing worldwide, with increasing numbers of older people, people with diabetic nephropathy and indigenous people. We investigated the incidence of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Australia and New Zealand (NZ) to better understand the causes of these effects.

Methods:  Data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA)registry and relevant population data were used to investigate the incidence of RRT in five demographic groups: Indigenous and non‐indigenous Australians, Māori, Pacific Islanders and other New Zealanders, as well as differences between genders and age groups.

Results:  The numbers of patients commencing RRT each year increased by 321% between 1990 and 2009. This increase was largely driven by increases in patients with diabetic nephropathy. In 2009 35% of new patients had ESKD resulting from diabetic nephropathy 92% of which were type 2. Indigenous Australians, and Māori and Pacific people of NZ have elevated risks of commencing RRT due to diabetic nephropathy, although the risks compared with non‐indigenous Australians have decreased over time. A small element of lead time bias also contributed to this increase. Males are more likely to commence RRT due to diabetes than females, except among Australian Aborigines, where females are more at risk. There is a marked increase in older, more comorbid patients.

Conclusions:  Patterns of incident renal replacement therapy strongly reflect the prevalence of diabetes within these groups. In addition, other factors such as reduced risk of dying before reaching ESKD, and increased acceptance of older and sicker patients are also contributing to increases in incidence of RRT.
Differentiating profiles of speech impairments in Friedreich's ataxia: a perceptual and instrumental approach
Authors: Folker Joanne E. , Murdoch Bruce E. , Rosen Kristin M. , Cahill Louise M. , Delatycki Martin B. , Corben Louise A. , Vogel Adam P.
Published: August 2011

Background: The speech disorder associated with Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is classically described as ataxic dysarthria. However, variable neuropathology beyond the cerebellum, which may include the corticospinal and corticobulbar tracts, means that the dysarthria can be mixed rather than a pure ataxic dysarthria.

Aims: To characterize physiological features of the dysarthria associated with FRDA and identify differential patterns of deviation that may occur across the subsystems of the speech‐production mechanism in a series of seven case studies.

Methods & Procedures: The assessment battery included a perceptual analysis of a speech sample using an interval rating scale, and a range of instrumental measures to investigate the respiratory, laryngeal, velopharyngeal and articulatory systems.

Outcomes & Results: The results demonstrated the variability that exists in the dysarthria associated with FRDA, highlighting the existence of differential profiles of speech impairment. A particular distinction was observed between the presence of hypernasality and phonatory dysfunction, as evidenced by the instrumental results.

Conclusions & Implications: The distinct profiles of dysarthria associated with FRDA indicate that approaches that address multiple subsystems are necessary for the accurate characterization and quantification of the motor speech disorder. Further research is required to investigate the decline in speech function as the disease progresses, as changes in speech function over time may be a good indicator of neurological decline in FRDA.
Intrathecal infusion of bupivacaine and clonidine provides effective analgesia in a terminally ill child
Authors: Whyte Emma , Lauder Gillian
Published: August 2011

The intrathecal infusion of drugs to provide analgesia for terminally ill children with refractory pain is a rarely utilized but very effective technique. A number of pharmacological agents, most commonly opioids and local anesthetics, have been administered intrathecally for this purpose. However, tachyphylaxis and neuraxial opioid‐related side effects can limit their utility. The alpha‐2 agonist clonidine is commonly used to augment local anesthetic techniques for postsurgical pain in children and for the management of refractory cancer pain in adults, but there is only a single report of the use of clonidine intrathecally in a terminally ill child. We present the case of the youngest reported child to have received intrathecal analgesia for terminal care: a 3‐year‐old boy with advanced pelvic rhabdomyosarcoma, whose refractory pain was managed effectively with an intrathecal infusion of bupivacaine and preservative‐free clonidine.
Evans blue as a selective dye marker for white‐light diagnosis of non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer: an in vitro study
Authors: Roelants Mieke , Huygens Ann , Crnolatac Ivo , Van Cleynenbreugel Ben , Lerut Evelyne , Van Poppel Hendrik , de Witte Peter A.M.
Published: August 2011

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

We found that Evans blue preferentially accumulate in spheroids prepared from urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) cells as compared to spheroids composed of normal human urothelial (NHU) cells. The present findings could be important for future developments in clinical diagnostics for early bladder cancer detection staging and grading involving white light cystocopy.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a diagnostic method relying on the preferential accumulation of a dye in non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that is visible in conjunction with white‐light cystoscopy (WLC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated in detail the permeation of Evans blue in urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) spheroids prepared from T24, J82 and RT‐112 human cell lines and spheroids composed of normal human urothelial (NHU) cells.

To gain more insight into the differential accumulation, all spheroids were investigated ultrastructurally using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

RESULTS

We found that, after exposure to Evans blue for 2 h, UCC spheroids accumulated dramatically more dye than spheroids composed of NHU cells.

Using TEM it was found that the malignant spheroids contain similar ultrastructural characteristics, i.e. a wide intercellular space and a decreased number of desmosome‐like cell attachments, to those from clinical samples of non‐papillary carcinoma in situ of the bladder.

CONCLUSION

We believe the present findings could be important for future developments in clinical diagnostics for early bladder cancer detection, staging and grading involving WLC.
The role of transperineal template prostate biopsies in restaging men with prostate cancer managed by active surveillance
Authors: Ayres Benjamin E. , Montgomery Bruce S.I. , Barber Neil J. , Pereira Nicola , Langley Stephen E.M. , Denham Philippa , Bott Simon R.J.
Published: August 2011

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort)

Level of Evidence 3b

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

The optimal method of active surveillance in prostate cancer remains unknown. This study is one of the first to report on the role of transperineal template prostate biopsies in active surveillance. It demonstrates that around one third of men are reclassified with more significant prostate cancer at an early stage in their management. This is a higher proportion than reported in contemporary cancers using standard transrectal biopsies for restaging.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of transperineal template prostate biopsies in men on active surveillance.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 101 men on active surveillance for prostate cancer underwent restaging transperineal template prostate biopsies at a single centre.

Criteria for active surveillance were ≤75 years, Gleason ≤3+3, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) ≤15 ng/mL, clinical stage T1–2a and ≤50% ultrasound‐guided transrectal biopsy cores positive for cancer with ≤10 mm of disease in a single core.

The number of men with an increase in disease volume or Gleason grade on transperineal template biopsy and the number of men who later underwent radical treatment were assessed.

The role of PSA and PSA kinetics were studied.

RESULTS

In all, 34% of men had more significant prostate cancer on restaging transperineal template biopsies compared with their transrectal biopsies.

Of these men, 44% had disease predominantly in the anterior part of the gland, an area often under‐sampled by transrectal biopsies.

In the group of men who had their restaging transperineal template biopsies within 6 months of commencing active surveillance 38% had more significant disease.

There was no correlation with PSA velocity or PSA doubling time.

In total, 33% of men stopped active surveillance and had radical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Around one‐third of men had more significant prostate cancer on transperineal template biopsies.

This probably reflects under‐sampling by initial transrectal biopsies rather than disease progression.
Rethinking the relationship between nestedness and beta diversity: a comment on Baselga (2010)
Authors: Almeida‐Neto Mário , Frensel Daniella M. B. , Ulrich Werner
Published: August 2011

Baselga [Partitioning the turnover and nestedness components of beta diversity. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 19, 134–143, 2010] proposed pairwise (βnes) and multiple‐site (βNES) beta‐diversity measures to account for the nestedness component of beta diversity. We used empirical, randomly created and idealized matrices to show that both measures are only partially related to nestedness and do not fit certain fundamental requirements for consideration as true nestedness‐resultant dissimilarity measures. Both βnes and βNES are influenced by matrix size and fill, and increase or decrease even when nestedness remains constant. Additionally, we demonstrate that βNES can yield high values even for matrices with no nestedness. We conclude that βnes and βNES are not true measures of the nestedness‐resultant dissimilarity between sites. Actually, they quantify how differences in species richness that are not due to species replacement contribute to patterns of beta diversity. Finally, because nestedness is a special case of dissimilarity in species composition due to ordered species loss (or gain), the extent to which differences in species composition is due to nestedness can be measured through an index of nestedness.
The devil you know: parents seeking information online for paediatric cancer
Authors: Gage Elizabeth A. , Panagakis Christina
Published: August 2011

There is a growing interest in understanding the effect that online information‐seeking has on patients’ experiences, empowerment and interactions with healthcare providers. This mixed‐methods study combines surveys and in‐depth interviews with 41 parents of paediatric cancer patients in the USA to examine how parents think about, evaluate, access and use the internet to seek information related to their child’s cancer. We find that, during the acute crisis of a child being diagnosed with cancer, parents preferred to receive information related to their child’s diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options from a trusted healthcare provider rather than through the internet. We find that access to medically related cancer information through the internet was deemed to be untrustworthy and frightening. Parents’ reasons for avoiding online information‐seeking included fear of what they might find out, uncertainty about the accuracy of information online, being overloaded by the volume of information online and having been told not to go online by oncologists. Some parents also had logistical barriers to accessing the internet. While most parents did not turn to the internet as a source of health‐related information, many did use it to connect with sources of social support throughout their child’s illness.
Labour markets during apartheid in South Africa1
Authors: MARIOTTI MARTINE
Published: August 2011

Anecdotal evidence shows that despite extensive restrictions on the hiring of African workers, these workers were increasingly employed in semi‐skilled occupations throughout the apartheid era. This article shows that White skill acquisition throughout the apartheid era reduced the supply of White semi‐skilled workers and led to the removal of job reservation, the process of reserving skilled and semi‐skilled jobs for Whites. Although job reservation declined, there is little evidence of a decline in racial segregation in the labour market. It is concluded that the transformation in the labour market was driven by White economic incentives rather than any evident change in White preferences regarding racial segregation.
Induction of autophagy with catalytic mTOR inhibitors reduces huntingtin aggregates in a neuronal cell model
Authors: Roscic Ana , Baldo Barbara , Crochemore Christophe , Marcellin David , Paganetti Paolo
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 398–407.

Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. This expansion produces a mutant form of the huntingtin protein, which contains an elongated polyglutamine stretch at its amino‐terminus. Mutant huntingtin may adopt an aberrant, aggregation‐prone conformation predicted to start the pathogenic process leading to neuronal dysfunction and cell death. Thus, strategies reducing mutant huntingtin may lead to disease‐modifying therapies. We investigated the mechanisms and molecular targets regulating huntingtin degradation in a neuronal cell model. We first found that mutant and wild‐type huntingtin displayed strikingly diverse turn‐over kinetics and sensitivity to proteasome inhibition. Then, we show that autophagy induction led to accelerate degradation of mutant huntingtin aggregates. In our neuronal cell model, allosteric inhibition of mTORC1 by everolimus, a rapamycin analogue, did not induce autophagy or affect aggregate degradation. In contrast, this occurred in the presence of catalytic inhibitors of both mTOR complexes mTORC1 and mTORC2. Our data demonstrate the existence of an mTOR‐dependent but everolimus‐independent mechanism regulating autophagy and huntingtin‐aggregate degradation in cells of neuronal origin.
Strong stomachs: Arthur Golding, Ovid, and cultural assimilation
Authors: WALLACE JOSEPH
Published: August 2011

This article argues for a new interpretation of the prefatory poems Golding wrote for his published translations of Ovid's Metamorphoses. These prefaces are thoroughly enmeshed both in Golding's own intellectual project of mitigating Ovid's pagan culture and in the wider cultural debates about contact with non‐Christians. This debate often had recourse to the circumstances of early Christians and their proximity to the gentiles and their religious practices. Specifically, the language of eating and digestion was frequently deployed in the early Christian world to suggest the necessity of confronting and processing foreign cultures. Golding's prefaces approach this intellectual legacy through sustained language of food, digestion, and stomachs. For Golding's ideal reader, culture clashes were analogous to eating a variety of foods, requiring strong stomachs. Galenic conceptions of an active, powerful stomach also helped Golding formulate his ideas about cross‐cultural exchange. And as I argue in the last part of the article, Golding's interpretive strategy was not unique, but rather was commonplace in Protestant polemic in the 1560s and '70s.
Delineating Capillary Malformations in the Operating Suite Using White Eyeliner Pencil
Authors: O’Regan Grainne M. , Benjamin Latanya T.
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Delineating the extent of capillary malformations in the operating suite can be challenging because of a variety of physiologic modifiers, including vasodilatation induced by anesthesia, reactive erythema, and filtering of colors with protective laser eyewear. The use of traditional surgical pens to mark the treatment field has limitations; we have found the use of a white eyeliner pencil to delineate lesions a contemporary technique that assists in identifying the target tissue intraoperatively.
Propranolol for Recalcitrant Ulcerated Hemangioma of Infancy
Authors: Hong Esther , Fischer Gayle
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Hemangioma of infancy (HOI) is a common, self‐resolving, benign tumor that frequently requires no intervention. Ulceration is one of the main complications of HOI, and active treatment is usually required to manage pain, potential scarring, and occasionally bleeding and infection. Since the discovery that oral propranolol is an effective treatment for complicated HOI, it has been replacing systemic corticosteroids as first‐line therapy, and early recommendations for treatment protocols have been devised. We report the successful treatment of six children with recalcitrant ulcerated HOI using propranolol. In all cases, complete, rapid healing occurred. Two children experienced recurrence of ulceration after ceasing propranolol, but this was rapidly controlled by restarting treatment. No adverse effects were encountered. We propose that ulceration in HOI is an indication for propranolol treatment if more conservative therapies have failed.
Absence of xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus in blood donors in China
Authors: Mi Zhiqiang , Lu Ying , Zhang Shana , An Xiaoping , Wang Xiaona , Chen Bin , Wang Quanli , Tong Yigang
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND: Xenotropic murine leukemia virus–related virus (XMRV) is a novel human gammaretrovirus that was first identified in patients with prostate cancer in 2006. Subsequent studies have shown that XMRV is also detected in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and even in some healthy controls and blood donors. However, some conflicting findings have been reported by different laboratories or in different regions. The association of XMRV with human diseases and the prevalence of XMRV in different populations needs to be further determined.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: XMRV was screened in 391 blood samples from healthy blood donors in China. Nested reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify gag and env genes of XMRV from total RNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) and plasma, respectively. Quantitative PCR was performed to detect XMRV env gene in genomic DNA of PBMNCs. To enhance the detection sensitivity, plasma was added into LNCaP cells to amplify XMRV in the plasma samples.

RESULTS: No XMRV was found in the 391 blood donors in China or in the LNCaP cells inoculated with plasma from the blood donors.

CONCLUSION: Both PCR and virus isolation in highly permissive LNCaP cells failed to detect XMRV in 391 Chinese blood donors, indicating that XMRV infection might not be present in blood donors in China.
Prevalence of Abnormal Echocardiographic Findings in Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Evaluation of Echocardiography for Identifying Cardiac Abnormalities in Cancer Patients
Authors: Daher Iyad N. , Kim Christopher , Saleh Ramy R. , Plana Juan Carlos , Yusuf Syed Wamique , Banchs Jose
Published: August 2011

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is commonly used to assess cardiac morphology and function in cancer patients. The nature, distribution, and prevalence of significant echocardiographic abnormalities are unknown. We hypothesized that TTEs performed for cancer or cancer treatment indications, have a high prevalence of significant abnormalities (SA), including a large proportion of findings that may be overlooked by other imaging modalities. Methods: All TTE studies performed in a tertiary cancer center over a six‐month period, from January to June 2007, were reviewed. The TTEs were divided into studies performed for a cardiovascular indication (CV) and those done for a cancer‐related indication (CA). Reports were classified as normal, mildly abnormal, and significantly abnormal (SA) based on findings. Abnormal findings’ distributions were compared between indication groups. Results: Three thousand nine hundred and twenty‐four TTEs were performed and divided into either group CV (61.2%) or group CA (38.7%). The most common indication in the CV group was valvular diseases (29.9%). In the CA group, the majority of TTE were requested for evaluation during or after chemotherapy or radiation (94.7%). Around 41.9% of studies in group CV were classified as SA whereas 19.9% (P < 0.001) in the CA group were classified as such. The relative distributions of individual SA findings were compared between the indication groups and were not statistically different. Conclusions: One in five patients who had TTE studies for CA were found to have SA, and 81.5% of these may not have been found with other modalities. The TTE allows safe diagnosis of a wide range of abnormal findings that may be overlooked if alternative but less versatile modalities are used. (Echocardiography 2011;28:1061‐1067)
Self‐reported Financial Conflicts of Interest During Scientific Presentations in Emergency Medicine
Authors: Birkhahn Robert H. , Fromm Christian , Larabee Todd , Diercks Deborah B.
Published: August 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:977–980 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  This study was a review of the scientific abstracts presented at a national conference for the required conflict of interest (COI) disclosure both before the meeting and during presentation.

Methods:  All presenters were given specific instructions regarding COI reporting at the time of abstract acceptance. All poster presentations were required to have a COI statement. Three physicians using standardized data abstraction forms reviewed abstracts accepted for poster presentation at the 2010 annual meeting of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). Posters were reviewed for the presence of a required COI disclosure statement, and these results were compared to the mandatory continuing medical education (CME) disclosure form that was sent by the presenters to the SAEM central office before the meeting.

Results:  There were 412 posters accepted for presentation at the 2010 SAEM annual meeting. The reviewers observed 382 (93%) of the total posters for the conference. Sixty‐nine abstracts (18%) reported a COI. Only 26 (38%) of these were actually reported to the SAEM office on the CME disclosure form before the meeting; the remaining 62% were found on the poster alone. COI that were reported on the CME disclosure form were found on the poster 46% of the time. The remaining posters without a COI actually displayed the mandatory disclosure statement only 14% of the time.

Conclusions:  This review of presentations at a national meeting found a lack of compliance with printed guidelines for COI disclosure during scientific presentation. Efforts to increase uniformity and clarity may result in increased compliance.
Immediate Complications of Intravenous Contrast for Computed Tomography Imaging in the Outpatient Setting Are Rare
Authors: Mitchell Alice M. , Jones Alan E. , Tumlin James A. , Kline Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:1005–1009 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  Despite increasing attention to the long‐term risks of radiation exposure and contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN), institutional guidelines and patient consent procedures for contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CECT) imaging in the emergency department (ED) setting have focused primarily on more immediate complications, directly attributable to the administration of intravenous (IV) iodinated contrast administration. Thus, this study sought to define the risk of these immediate complications with the overall aim of improving institutional guidelines and patient consent procedures.

Methods:  This was a prospective, consecutive cohort study of patients undergoing CECT of any body region in the ED, for complications occurring within 1 week of contrast administration, using predefined implicit definitions. Severe complications were defined as any of the following requiring medical or surgical intervention: bronchospasm with acute respiratory failure, airway obstruction, anaphylactoid shock, or acute pulmonary edema. The development of compartment syndrome, lactic acidosis, or pulmonary edema within 1 week of contrast administration was also considered a severe complication.

Results:  Of 633 patients, only five (0.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.3% to 1.8%) reported any immediate complications, all of which were classified as minor. No patient developed a reaction meeting the study definition of a severe complication.

Conclusions:  The frequency of severe, immediate complications from CECT imaging that includes IV contrast is less than 1%, and the frequency of mild complications is less than 2%. The authors conclude that CECT is associated with a very low rate of severe immediate complications.
Factors Associated With the Use of Cervical Spine Computed Tomography Imaging in Pediatric Trauma Patients
Authors: Mannix Rebekah , Nigrovic Lise E. , Schutzman Sara A. , Hennelly Kara , Bourgeois Florence T. , Meehan William P. , Fleisher Gary , Monuteaux Michael , Lee Lois K.
Published: August 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:906–911 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  The objectives were to identify patient and hospital characteristics associated with the use of computed tomography (CT) imaging of the cervical spine (c‐spine) in the evaluation of injured children and, in particular, to examine the influence of hospital setting.

Methods:  This was a retrospective cohort of children younger than 19 years of age from the Massachusetts Hospital Emergency Department (ED) database who were discharged from the ED with an injury diagnosis from 2005 through 2009. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze characteristics associated with CT imaging of the c‐spine.

Results:  Of the 929,626 pediatric patients diagnosed with an injury in Massachusetts EDs and then discharged home, 1.3% underwent CT imaging of the c‐spine. Rates of CT imaging nearly doubled over the 5 years. In the multivariable model, patient age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.0 to 2.7 for children age 12 to 18 years vs. under 1 year of age) and evaluation outside of a pediatric Level I trauma center (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.1 to 4.3 for children evaluated at non Level I trauma centers vs. pediatric Level I trauma centers; AOR = 2.1, 95% CI = 0.93 to 4.7 for children evaluated at adult Level I trauma centers vs. pediatric Level I trauma centers) were associated with higher rates of CT imaging of the c‐spine.

Conclusions:  Cervical spine CT imaging for children discharged from the ED with trauma diagnoses increased from 2005 through 2009. Older age and evaluation outside a Level I pediatric trauma center were associated with a higher c‐spine CT rate. Educational interventions focused outside pediatric trauma centers may be an effective approach to decreasing CT imaging of the c‐spine of pediatric trauma patients.
Identification of Forensically Important Sarcophagid Flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in China, Based on COI and 16S rDNA Gene Sequences*
Authors: Guo Yadong , Cai Jifeng , Chang Yunfeng , Li Xiang , Liu Qinlai , Wang Xinghua , Wang Xiang , Zhong Ming , Wen Jifang , Wang Jiangfeng
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Insects attracted to cadavers may provide important indications of the postmortem interval (PMI). However, use of the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) for PMI estimation is limited as the species are often not morphologically distinct, especially as immatures. In this study, 23 forensically important flesh flies were collected from 13 locations in 10 Chinese provinces. Then, a 278‐bp segment of the cytochrome oxidase subunits one (COI) gene and a 289‐bp segment of the 16S rDNA gene of all specimens were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced segments showed that all sarcophagid specimens were properly assigned into four species (Boerttcherisca peregrina [Robineau‐Desvoidy, 1830], Helicophagella melanura [Meigen, 1826], Parasarcophaga albiceps [Meigen, 1826], and Parasarcophaga dux [Thompson, 1869]) with relatively strong supporting values, thus indicating that the COI and 16S rDNA regions are suitable for identification of sarcophagid species. The difference between intraspecific threshold and interspecific divergence confirmed the potential of the two regions for sarcophagid species identification.
To Evaluate the Utility of Smaller Sample Sizes when Assessing Dental Maturity Curves for Forensic Age Estimation*,†
Authors: Flood Sara J. , Mitchell Warren J. , Oxnard Charles E. , Turlach Berwin A. , McGeachie John
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  Dental maturation and chronological age estimation were determined from 144 healthy Western Australian individuals aged 3.6–14.5 years. The results were compared with Farah et al.’s previous study which comprised a larger heterogeneous sample of Western Australian individuals (n = 1450). Orthopantomograms were analyzed with the application of Demirjian and Goldstein’s 4‐tooth method based on eight stages of dental mineralization. Analysis of variance revealed no significant differences in dental maturity scores in each age group among the males in both studies; similar results were seen in the females. Paired t‐tests showed no statistical significance overall between chronological and estimated ages for the males in our sample (p = 0.181), whereas the females showed significant differences (p < 0.001). Our results show that smaller samples may be used when assessing dental maturity curves for forensic age estimation.
Using Fire Dynamics Simulator to Reconstruct a Hydroelectric Power Plant Fire Accident
Authors: Chi Jen‐Hao , Wu Sheng‐Hung , Shu Chi‐Min
Published: August 2011

Abstract:  The location of the hydroelectric power plant poses a high risk to occupants seeking to escape in a fire accident. Calculating the heat release rate of transformer oil as 11.5 MW/m2`, the fire at the Taiwan Dajia‐River hydroelectric power plant was reconstructed using the fire dynamics simulator (FDS). The variations at the escape route of the fire hazard factors temperature, radiant heat, carbon monoxide, and oxygen were collected during the simulation to verify the causes of the serious casualties resulting from the fire. The simulated safe escape time when taking temperature changes into account is about 236 sec, 155 sec for radiant heat changes, 260 sec for carbon monoxide changes, and 235–248 sec for oxygen changes. These escape times are far less than the actual escape time of 302 sec. The simulation thus demonstrated the urgent need to improve escape options for people escaping a hydroelectric power plant fire.