bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review of Health Care Interventions for Pain in Patients With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Martinez Kathryn A. , Aslakson Rebecca A. , Wilson Renee F. , Apostol Colleen C. , Fawole Oluwakemi A. , Lau Brandyn D. , Vollenweider Daniela , Bass Eric B. , Dy Sydney M.
Published: February 2013

Purpose:

Poorly controlled pain is common in advanced cancer. The objective of this article was to synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of pain-focused interventions in this population.

Methods:

We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and DARE from 2000 through December 2011. We included prospective, controlled health care intervention studies in advanced cancer populations, focusing on pain.

Results:

Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria; most focused on nurse-led patient-centered interventions. In all, 9 (47%) of the 19 studies found a significant effect on pain. The most common intervention type was patient/caregiver education, in 17 (89%) of 19 studies, 7 of which demonstrated a significant decrease in pain.

Conclusions:

We found moderate strength of evidence that pain in advanced cancer can be improved using health care interventions, particularly nurse-led patient-centered interventions.
Commonly Prescribed Medications in a Population of Hospice Patients
Authors: Sera Leah , McPherson Mary Lynn , Holmes Holly M.
Published: February 2013

Although much attention has been placed on appropriate symptom management at the end of life, little is known about the medications actually prescribed to people in hospice care. The purpose of this study was to determine the most commonly prescribed medications in a population of hospice patients. A retrospective review of a patient information database was conducted. The 6 most common drugs (acetaminophen, morphine, haloperidol, lorazepam, prochlorperazine, and atropine) were included in emergency kits provided to patients at admission. Opioid and nonopioid analgesics, anxiolytics, anticholinergics, and antipsychotics were the most commonly prescribed pharmacologic classes. This description of prescribing practices could be useful in creating more informed care plans, educating health care personnel, and anticipating the changing medication needs of patients as they enter hospice care.
Initial Assessment of Patients Without Cognitive Failure Admitted in Palliative Care
Authors: Gonçalves Ferraz
Published: February 2013

Aim:

To develop a screening tool that was short, not time consuming but able to detect the patients’ main problems at admission.

Methods:

A list of 106 symptoms/problems derived from a review of the literature was created and shortened using a Delphi process.

Results:

Thirteen experts scored each item with a numeric rating scale of 0 to 10 for relevance. After 3 rounds, the list was shortened to 14 items: general question—what bothers you the most? symptoms/problems—pain, lack of appetite, vomiting, tiredness/fatigue, nausea, constipation, shortness of breath, depression, anxiety, difficulty sleeping; activity (dressing, washing, etc); support from family/friends; and well-being.

Conclusion:

The final tool is short and seems to include the relevant items that would make it useful for clinical practice.
When Do Legislators Defy Popular Sovereignty? Testing Theories of Minority Representation Using DOMA
Authors: Bishin Benjamin G. , Smith Charles Anthony
Published: February 2013

What explains the behavior of legislators on bills that restrict the rights of marginalized minorities? Studies of representation typically focus on factors like party or public opinion but seldom account for theories of minority representation like electoral capture or subconstituency politics. One reason for this is that data allowing for the comparison of these theories are seldom available for U.S. House districts. We overcome this hurdle by implementing multilevel regression with post-stratification to estimate opinion on gay marriage during the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act vote. We show that subconstituency politics explains legislators’ behavior better than electoral capture, party, or public opinion.
Metatarsal Head Resurfacing for Advanced Hallux Rigidus
Authors: Kline Alex J. , Hasselman Carl T.
Published: February 2013

Background:

Advanced stages of first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) arthritis have traditionally been treated with various arthroplasties or arthrodesis. Studies suggest the outcomes of arthrodesis are superior to those of metallic joint replacement; however, complications and suboptimal outcomes in active patients still remain with arthrodesis of the first MTP joint. This study reports results of patients with advanced MTP arthritis who underwent metallic resurfacing of the metatarsal side of the MTP joint.

Methods:

From 2005 to 2006, 26 patients (30 implants) with stage II or III hallux rigidus underwent resurfacing with the HemiCAP® implant and consented to participate in a study comparing pre- and postoperative radiographs, range of motion (ROM), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society, and Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) scores. Average age of these patients was 51 years. Patients were assessed at a mean of 27 months with outcome measures and contacted at 60 months to assess current symptoms and satisfaction.

Results:

Assessment at 27 months demonstrated statistically significant improvements in ROM, AOFAS, and SF-36 scores ( P < .05) when compared to baseline. Mean preoperative AOFAS scores improved from 51.5 to 94.1. Mean active ROM improved from 19.7 to 47.9 degrees. Mean passive ROM improved from 28.0 to 66.3 degrees. Mean RAND SF-36 physical component score improved significantly from 66.7 to 90.6. Average time for return to work was 7 days. At 60 months, all patients reported excellent satisfaction with their current state and would repeat the procedure. Implant survivorship was 87% at 5 years. Of the 30 implants, 4 were revised at 3 years.

Conclusion:

The results at 5 years were very promising. Preservation of joint motion, alleviation of pain, and functional improvement data were very encouraging. Because minimal joint resection was performed, conversion to arthrodesis or other salvage procedures would be relatively simple if further intervention became necessary.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, prospective case series.
Acquired and Heritable Thrombophilia in Indian Patients With Pediatric Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
Authors: Pai Navin , Ghosh Kanjaksha , Shetty Shrimati
Published: February 2013

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in children is more often associated with underlying pathological conditions than with hereditary thrombophilia. The present study is a retrospective analysis of thrombophilia in 285 pediatric patients with venous thrombosis at different sites. Four common thrombophilia markers, that is protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, and factor V Leiden (FVL) mutation, were analyzed. Thrombosis in hepatic and portal veins was more common in pediatric patients (73%) when compared to other sites (27%). Overall, hereditary thrombophilia accounted for 15.5% of the patients with venous thrombosis. The FVL mutation, which was the major causative factor in Budd–Chiari syndrome and portal vein thrombosis cases in the adult group, was not a major contributing factor in pediatric group, that is, 1.8% of the patients. In conclusion, the risk factors for venous thrombosis vary in different age groups.
Relation of Angiographic Thrombus Burden With Electrocardiographic Grade III Ischemia in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Kurt Mustafa , Karakas Mehmet Fatih , Buyukkaya Eyup , Akçay Adnan Burak , Sen Nihat
Published: February 2013

Background:

We aimed to investigate the association between electrocardiographic (ECG) grade III ischemia and angiographic thrombus burden in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

Methods:

The study population consisted of 307 patients with STEMI. Baseline ECGs of the patients were analyzed for grade III ischemia; angiographic thrombus burden was assessed by thrombolysis in myocardial infarction thrombus classification.

Results:

A total of 108 (35%) patients had low thrombus burden whereas 199 (65%) patients had high thrombus burden. Grade III ischemia was more prevalent in patients with high thrombus burden (25.1% vs 11.1%, P = .004). Only grade III ischemia (odds ratio: 2.59, 95% confidence interval 1.24-5.39, P = .011) and history of coronary artery disease (CAD) were found to be the independent predictors of high thrombus burden.

Conclusion:

Grade III ischemia on ECG and previous history of CAD were independent predictors of coronary thrombus burden in patients with STEMI who underwent pPCI.
Experimental investigation of the blade/seal interaction
Authors: Baïz Sarah , Fabis Jacky , Boidin Xavier , Desplanques Yannick
Published: February 2013

The use of dynamic seals to reduce the rotor/stator dynamic clearance in jet engine compressor stages leads to a higher rubbing occurrence between each blade and the coated inside of the casing. This article describes the development of a test rig capable to investigate forces and wear at the dynamic blade/seal interaction, in conjunction with blade kinetics. Testing conditions are consistent with those of low-pressure compressor stages of jet engines: high-speed rubbing occurs between a TA6V blade substitute and an aluminium–silicon/boron nitride abradable seal. The platform is instrumented to allow a dynamic measurement of forces and displacements as well as high-speed imaging of the blade/seal interaction zone throughout the experiment. The experiments showed that the blade incursion speed and penetration depth in the abradable seal both affect the amplitude and frequency of blade vibration. The amount and severity of blade incursions into the abradable seal have an impact on seal wear type and intensity, which can in turn increase blade excitation.
Clinical characteristics and outcome of multiple sclerosis in Korea: does multiple sclerosis in Korea really differ from that in the Caucasian populations?
Authors: Kim Su-Hyun , Huh So-Young , Kim Woojun , Park Min Su , Ahn Suk-Won , Cho Joong-Yang , Kim Byung Jo , Kim Ho Jin
Published: February 2013

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) in Asia is thought to have different clinical characteristics from MS in Western countries; however, previous studies in Asia were performed without properly differentiating neuromyelitis optica (NMO) from MS.

Objectives:

To evaluate the clinical characteristics of MS in Korea after careful exclusion of potential explanations other than MS, particularly NMO spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Methods:

This study is a retrospective review of consecutive MS patients attending five referral hospitals in Korea. All patients’ MS diagnoses were re-evaluated.

Results:

Of the 105 patients, 70 were female and 35 were male. The mean age of onset was 30.4 years and the mean disease duration was 5.4 years. On initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 58% and 64% fulfilled the criteria for dissemination in space for the 2005 and 2010 McDonald criteria, respectively. Spinal cord lesions were observed in 78% of patients, primarily present as multiple small lesions with a mean length of 0.9 vertebral segments. The median time from disease onset to an Expanded Disability Status Scale 6 was 20 years.

Conclusions:

After careful exclusion of NMOSD, we found that the clinical pattern of MS in Korea does not fundamentally differ from that seen in Western countries.
Socioeconomic differences in healthcare utilization, with and without adjustment for need: An example from Stockholm, Sweden
Authors: Agerholm Janne , Bruce Daniel , Ponce de Leon Antonio , Burström Bo
Published: February 2013

Aim: Previous studies have shown varying degrees of inequity of utilization of healthcare in Sweden. Studies based solely on register data cannot take into account differences in health status while studies based solely on self-reported data from surveys may potentially have biased data on healthcare utilization. The aim of this study was to investigate socioeconomic differences in utilization of outpatient healthcare services in Stockholm County, comparing analysis based on only register data, with analysis based on health survey data linked to register data. Methods: We linked data from a public health survey in Stockholm County 2006 ( n = 34,707) to register data on sociodemographic background characteristics and outpatient healthcare utilization in 2007. Negative binomial regression analysis was used to estimate income differentials in healthcare utilization adjusting for self-rated health and limiting longstanding illness. Results: Income differentials in the number of visits to doctors were found in favour of lower-income groups among people aged 25–64 years when only controlling for age. When controlling for health status, income differentials in favour of higher-income groups were observed among men (all ages) and among women aged 65+ years, with higher-income groups having 11–49% more visits than the lowest income group. Conclusions: The findings suggest that health status should be taken into account when analysing socioeconomic differences in healthcare utilization. When using only register based data there is a risk of underestimating or disregarding differences.
‘Making the most of it …’: How young Romanians and Moroccans in north-eastern Italy use resources from their social networks
Authors: Saint-Blancat Chantal M. , Zaltron Francesca
Published: February 2013

The integration of young immigrants is a key issue in European societies. The article examines how Moroccan and Romanian youths employ their family social networks to move beyond them to get access to other available resources in their context of migration. We find that youths evaluate families as their main source of social capital. But how do they combine family and kinship resources to build new networks? The study draws on 57 in-depth interviews with teenagers from secondary schools in the Veneto Region, a paradigmatic area for the increasing ethnic pluralization of Italian society. Moving beyond the usual understandings of social capital and social networks we focus first on the relationship between bonding and bridging, in particular the distinction between horizontal and vertical bridging among migrants. Then attention is paid to the agency of youths, stressing their social competence to overcome initial difficulties such as gender inequalities or the limits of bonding solidarity.
A Merged Model of Quality Improvement and Evaluation
Authors: Woodhouse Lynn D. , Toal Russ , Nguyen Trang , Keene DeAnna , Gunn Laura , Kellum Andrea , Nelson Gary , Charles Simone , Tedders Stuart , Williams Natalie , Livingood William C.
Published: February 2013

Quality improvement (QI) and evaluation are frequently considered to be alternative approaches for monitoring and assessing program implementation and impact. The emphasis on third-party evaluation, particularly associated with summative evaluation, and the grounding of evaluation in the social and behavioral science contrast with an emphasis on the integration of QI process within programs or organizations and its origins in management science and industrial engineering. Working with a major philanthropic organization in Georgia, we illustrate how a QI model is integrated with evaluation for five asthma prevention and control sites serving poor and underserved communities in rural and urban Georgia. A primary foundation of this merged model of QI and evaluation is a refocusing of the evaluation from an intimidating report card summative evaluation by external evaluators to an internally engaged program focus on developmental evaluation. The benefits of the merged model to both QI and evaluation are discussed. The use of evaluation based logic models can help anchor a QI program in evidence-based practice and provide linkage between process and outputs with the longer term distal outcomes. Merging the QI approach with evaluation has major advantages, particularly related to enhancing the funder’s return on investment. We illustrate how a Plan-Do-Study-Act model of QI can (a) be integrated with evaluation based logic models, (b) help refocus emphasis from summative to developmental evaluation, (c) enhance program ownership and engagement in evaluation activities, and (d) increase the role of evaluators in providing technical assistance and support.
An automatic visual analysis system for tennis
Authors: Connaghan Damien , Moran Kieran , O’Connor Noel E
Published: February 2013

This article presents a novel video analysis system for coaching tennis players of all levels, which uses computer vision algorithms to automatically edit and index tennis videos into meaningful annotations.

Existing tennis coaching software lacks the ability to automatically index a tennis match into key events, and therefore, a coach who uses existing software is burdened with time-consuming manual video editing. This work aims to explore the effectiveness of a system to automatically detect tennis events. A secondary aim of this work is to explore the benefits coaches experience in using an event retrieval system to retrieve the automatically indexed events. It was found that automatic event detection can significantly improve the experience of using video feedback as part of an instructional coaching session. In addition to the automatic detection of key tennis events, player and ball movements are automatically tracked throughout an entire match and this wealth of data allows users to find interesting patterns in play. Player and ball movement information are integrated with the automatically detected tennis events, and coaches can query the data to retrieve relevant key points during a match or analyse player patterns that need attention. This coaching software system allows coaches to build advanced queries, which cannot be facilitated with existing video coaching solutions, without tedious manual indexing. This article proves that the event detection algorithms in this work can detect the main events in tennis with an average precision and recall of 0.84 and 0.86, respectively, and can typically eliminate manual indexing of key tennis events.
Increased Production of Clusterin in Biopsies of Repair Tissue following Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation
Authors: McCarthy Helen S. , Malda Jos , Richardson James B. , Roberts Sally
Published: February 2013

Objective

To characterize the immunolocalization of clusterin in the repair cartilage of patients having undergone autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and evaluate correlation to clinical outcome.

Design

Full-depth core biopsies of repair tissue were obtained from 38 patients who had undergone ACI at an average of 18 ± 13 months previously (range 8-67 months). The biopsies were snap frozen, cryosectioned, and clusterin production immunolocalized using a specific monoclonal clusterin antibody and compared with normal and osteoarthritic cartilage. Clinical outcome was assessed from patients preoperatively, at the time of biopsy, and annually postoperatively.

Results

Intensity of immunostaining for clusterin decreased with age in healthy cartilage tissue. Clusterin was detected to a variable degree in 37 of the 38 ACI cartilage biopsies, in single and clustered chondrocytes, in the pericellular capsule and the cartilage extracellular matrix, as well as the osteocytes and osteoid within the bone. Chondrocytes in hyaline repair tissue were significantly more immunopositive than those in fibrocartilage repair tissue. Clinical outcome improved significantly post-ACI, but did not correlate with the presence of clusterin in the repair tissue.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate the presence of clusterin in actively repairing human cartilage and indicate a different distribution of clusterin in this tissue compared to normal cartilage. Variability in clusterin staining in the repair tissue could indicate different states of chondrogenic differentiation. The clinical significance of clusterin within repair tissue is difficult to assess, although the ideal functioning repair tissue morphology should resemble that of healthy adult cartilage.
Nice Guys Finish Last and Guys in Last Are Nice
Authors: Lin-Healy Fern , Small Deborah A.
Published: February 2013

True altruism involves sacrifice and is thus incompatible, in people’s minds, with benefits to the benefactor. Consistent with this prototype, selflessly motivated prosocial actors are perceived as less likely to benefit from their acts compared with selfishly motivated actors (“Nice guys finish last”), and prosocial actors who benefit are perceived as less benevolent than those who do not (“Guys in last are nice”)—even in situations for which benefits are randomly determined and completely out of the control of the actor. The studies present supportive evidence of the reflexive association between a pure, selfless motive and sacrifice with respect to both individuals and organizations.
The Bold and the Bashful
Authors: Cameron Jessica J. , Stinson Danu Anthony , Wood Joanne V.
Published: February 2013

Successful romantic relationship initiation often requires bold and direct action, but direct action can increase the possibility of rejection. These dual possible outcomes create interpersonal risk, which should prompt self-esteem differences in behavior. When risk is present, lower self-esteem individuals, who prefer to avoid social costs, will be less likely to use direct initiation behaviors than higher self-esteem individuals, who prefer to approach social rewards. However, eliminate social risk and these self-esteem differences in behavior will be similarly eliminated. Furthermore, reflecting gender-role prescriptions, we expected these effects to be evident among men, but not women. We test these hypotheses in a naturalistic study assessing retrospective behavioral reports and in a controlled laboratory experiment using behavioral coding to assess actual initiation behavior. Results were consistent with our hypotheses, revealing that gender moderated the links between self-esteem, risk, and initiation behavior in a manner consistent with gender roles.
Exploring Elite Female Athletes’ Interpretations of Sport Media Images
Authors: Kane Mary Jo , LaVoi Nicole M. , Fink Janet S.
Published: February 2013

Scholars have produced a body of evidence demonstrating media portrayals of sportswomen emphasize femininity/heterosexuality versus athletic competence and argue that such coverage trivializes women’s sports. Little research attention has been given to how these portrayals are interpreted by various audiences, including female athletes. This study explores how elite female athletes respond to the ways they are represented within sport media. We employed reception research where viewers deconstruct the meaning of texts and how that meaning impacts their feelings toward a subject. We examined the subject of sportswomen’s dual identities to determine how they wished to be portrayed. Thirty-six team and individual sport athletes were shown images ranging from on-court competence to off-court soft pornography and asked to choose which image best represented themselves and their sport, as well as increased interest/respect for their sport. Results indicated that competence was the overwhelming choice for best “represents self/sport” and “increases respect.” Forty-seven percent of respondents picked soft porn to best “increase interest.” This latter finding reflected participants’ belief that “sex sells” women’s sports, particularly for male audiences. Results were analyzed using critical feminist theory to unpack sport media and its relationship to gender, privilege, and power.
Stress analysis and deformation prediction of a heavy hydraulic turbine blade casting during casting and heat treatment
Authors: Liu B C , Kang J W , Huang T Y
Published: February 2013

Owing to their large and curved shape, blade castings, a key component for heavy hydro turbines, are susceptible to deformation during casting and heat treatment. In the present paper, the stress analysis of a blade casting during both casting and heat treatment is performed. The coupled thermo-stress and thermo-phase transformation stress models are used for casting and heat treatment respectively. Machining allowance distribution is used as the deformation criterion and an algorithm of inverse deformation determination is presented. The mechanical properties of the martensitic stainless steel ZG0Cr13Ni4Mo (13Cr–5Ni–1Mo) at different temperatures are measured under as cast and heat treated status. Finally, the inverse deformation of the blade during both casting and heat treatment processes is obtained, and a series of sections of the blade casting with inverse deformation design are given for pattern making. The calculated deformation results are compared to the measured one, and they are basically in agreement.
Microstructural modelling of dynamic recrystallisation in Nb microalloyed steels
Authors: Xie G L , Wang X T , Chen L
Published: February 2013

Microstructural evolution in thermomechanical processing is of great importance to obtain good final properties for high strength low alloy steels. This work presents a microstructure based physical model to describe the microstructural evolution of Nb microalloyed steels under controlled rolling. Several factors of dislocation density, recovery, recrystallisation and precipitation have been coupled in the model. The dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) behaviour of Nb microalloyed steels has been investigated to derive the model. The recrystallisation is described as a nucleation grain growth process, and critical radius of subgrain has been used to estimate the occurrence of dynamic recrystallisation. Predictions of microstructural evolution under various hot rolling conditions using this model agree well with reported experimental results. The correlation among evaluation time, DRX rate and recrystallisation grain size can be effectively predicted by this model under different deformation conditions of hot rolling.
Murine natural killer immunoreceptors use distinct proximal signaling complexes to direct cell function
Authors: May Rebecca M. , Okumura Mariko , Hsu Chin-Jung , Bassiri Hamid , Yang Enjun , Rak Gregory , Mace Emily M. , Philip Naomi H. , Zhang Weiguo , Baumgart Tobias , Orange Jordan S. , Nichols Kim E. , Kambayashi Taku
Published: February 2013

Key Points

Two distinct proximal signaling complexes involving SLP-76 and LAT1/LAT2 or ADAP are formed by immunoreceptor-activated NK cells. Both signaling pathways formed by LAT1/LAT2 and ADAP with SLP-76 are required for the optimal functioning of immunoreceptor-activated NK cells.
Epigenetics of hypoxic pulmonary arterial hypertension following intrauterine growth retardation rat: epigenetics in PAH following IUGR
Authors: Xu Xue-Feng , Lv Ying , Gu Wei-Zhong , Tang Li-Li , Wei Jia-Kai , Zhang Li-Yan , Du Li-Zhong
Published: February 2013

Background

Accumulating evidence reveals that intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) can cause varying degrees of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) later in life. Moreover, epigenetics plays an important role in the fetal origin of adult disease. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of epigenetics in the development of PAH following IUGR.

Methods

The IUGR rats were established by maternal undernutrition during pregnancy. Pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (PVEC) were isolated from the rat lungs by magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS). We investigated epigenetic regulation of the endothelin-1 (ET-1) gene in PVEC of 1-day and 6-week IUGR rats, and response of IUGR rats to hypoxia.

Results

The maternal nutrient restriction increased the histone acetylation and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) binding levels in the ET-1 gene promoter of PVEC in IUGR newborn rats, and continued up to 6 weeks after birth. These epigenetic changes could result in an IUGR rat being highly sensitive to hypoxia later in life, causing more significant PAH or pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that epigenetics is closely associated with the development of hypoxic PAH following IUGR, further providing a new insight for improved prevention and treatment of IUGR-related PAH.
STOP using just GO: a multi-ontology hypothesis generation tool for high throughput experimentation
Authors: Wittkop Tobias , TerAvest Emily , Evani Uday S , Fleisch K Mathew , Berman Ari E , Powell Corey , Shah Nigam H , Mooney Sean D
Published: February 2013

Background

Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis remains one of the most common methods for hypothesis generation from high throughput datasets. However, we believe that researchers strive to test other hypotheses that fall outside of GO. Here, we developed and evaluated a tool for hypothesis generation from gene or protein lists using ontological concepts present in manually curated text that describes those genes and proteins.

Results

As a consequence we have developed the method Statistical Tracking of Ontological Phrases (STOP) that expands the realm of testable hypotheses in gene set enrichment analyses by integrating automated annotations of genes to terms from over 200 biomedical ontologies. While not as precise as manually curated terms, we find that the additional enriched concepts have value when coupled with traditional enrichment analyses using curated terms.

Conclusion

Multiple ontologies have been developed for gene and protein annotation, by using a dataset of both manually curated GO terms and automatically recognized concepts from curated text we can expand the realm of hypotheses that can be discovered. The web application STOP is available at http://mooneygroup.org/stop/.
Serum biomarker analysis of collagen disease patients with acute-onset diffuse interstitial lung disease
Authors: Oka Shomi , Furukawa Hiroshi , Shimada Kota , Hayakawa Hiromi , Fukui Naoshi , Tsuchiya Naoyuki , Tohma Shigeto
Published: February 2013

Background

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is frequently associated with collagen diseases. The prognosis of acute-onset diffuse ILD (AoDILD) occurring in collagen disease patients is very poor. Here, we investigated serum biomarker profiles of AoDILD to find markers predicting outcome in patients with collagen diseases.

Methods

A solid-phase antibody array was used for screening 274 biomarkers in pooled sera from collagen disease patients in the AoDILD state and in the stable state. Biomarkers in individual sera were detected without pooling by bead-based immunoassay.

Results

The serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, osteopontin, interleukin (IL)-2 receptor α(IL-2Rα), and IL-1 receptor antagonist were significantly increased in AoDILD, but TIMP-2, MMP-3, and eotaxin 2 levels were decreased. The MMP-3 to MMP-1 ratio was reduced in AoDILD state. This tendency was also observed in RA patients with AoDILD. Moreover, serum IL-6 level was significantly increased in the AoDILD state in patients with acute exacerbation of ILD (AE-ILD). Serum TIMP-1 and IL-2Rα levels were significantly increased in the AoDILD state in patients with drug-induced ILD (DI-ILD), whereas TIMP-2, MMP-3, and eotaxin 2 levels were decreased. The MMP-3 to MMP-1 ratio was reduced in AoDILD state in patients with DI-ILD. The serum TIMP-3,MMP-9, osteopontin, IL-2Rα, MMP-1, and MMP-8 levels were significantly increased in the AoDILD state in patients who subsequently died, whereas TIMP-2 and MMP-3 levels were decreased in those who survived. The MMP-3 to MMP-1 ratio was reduced in AoDILD state in patients who died, but not in those who survived.

Conclusions

Serum biomarker profiles could represent prognosis markers for AoDILD in collagen diseases.
Systematic and quantitative mRNA expression analysis of TRP channel genes at the single trigeminal and dorsal root ganglion level in mouse
Authors: Vandewauw Ine , Owsianik Grzegorz , Voets Thomas
Published: February 2013

Background

Somatosensory nerve fibres arising from cell bodies within the trigeminal ganglia (TG) in the head and from a string of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) located lateral to the spinal cord convey endogenous and environmental stimuli to the central nervous system. Although several members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily of cation channels have been implicated in somatosensation, the expression levels of TRP channel genes in the individual sensory ganglia have never been systematically studied.

Results

Here, we used quantitative real-time PCR to analyse and compare mRNA expression of all TRP channels in TG and individual DRGs from 27 anatomically defined segments of the spinal cord of the mouse. At the mRNA level, 17 of the 28 TRP channel genes, TRPA1, TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPC4, TRPC5, TRPM2, TRPM3, TRPM4, TRPM5, TRPM6, TRPM7, TRPM8, TRPV1, TRPV2, TRPV4, TRPML1 and TRPP2, were detectable in every tested ganglion. Notably, four TRP channels, TRPC4, TRPM4, TRPM8 and TRPV1, showed statistically significant variation in mRNA levels between DRGs from different segments, suggesting ganglion-specific regulation of TRP channel gene expression. These ganglion-to-ganglion differences in TRP channel transcript levels may contribute to the variability in sensory responses in functional studies.

Conclusions

We developed, compared and refined techniques to quantitatively analyse the relative mRNA expression of all TRP channel genes at the single ganglion level. This study also provides for the first time a comparative mRNA distribution profile in TG and DRG along the entire vertebral column for the mammalian TRP channel family.
Study design of DIACORE (DIAbetes COhoRtE) – a cohort study of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2
Authors: Dörhöfer Lena , Lammert Alexander , Krane Vera , Gorski Mathias , Banas Bernhard , Wanner Christoph , Krämer Bernhard K , Heid Iris M , Böger Carsten A ,   for the DIACORE Study Group
Published: February 2013

Background

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) is highly associated with increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), end stage renal disease (ESRD) and cardiovascular morbidity. Epidemiological and genetic studies generate hypotheses for innovative strategies in DM2 management by unravelling novel mechanisms of diabetes complications, which is essential for future intervention trials. We have thus initiated the DIAbetes COhoRtE study (DIACORE).

Methods

DIACORE is a prospective cohort study aiming to recruit 6000 patients of self-reported Caucasian ethnicity with prevalent DM2 for at least 10 years of follow-up. Study visits are performed in University-based recruiting clinics in Germany using standard operating procedures. All prevalent DM2 patients in outpatient clinics surrounding the recruiting centers are invited to participate. At baseline and at each 2-year follow-up examination, patients are subjected to a core phenotyping protocol. This includes a standardized online questionnaire and physical examination to determine incident micro- and macrovascular DM2 complications, malignancy and hospitalization, with a primary focus on renal events. Confirmatory outcome information is requested from patient records. Blood samples are obtained for a centrally analyzed standard laboratory panel and for biobanking of aliquots of serum, plasma, urine, mRNA and DNA for future scientific use. A subset of the cohort is subjected to extended phenotyping, e.g. sleep apnea screening, skin autofluorescence measurement, non-mydriatic retinal photography and non-invasive determination of arterial stiffness.

Discussion

DIACORE will enable the prospective evaluation of factors involved in DM2 complication pathogenesis using high-throughput technologies in biosamples and genetic epidemiological studies.
The relationship between preoperative creatinine clearance and outcomes for patients undergoing liver transplantation: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Wenger Urs , Neff Thomas A , Oberkofler Christian E , Zimmermann Manuel , Stehberger Paul A , Scherrer Marcel , Schuepbach Reto A , Cottini Silvia R , Steiger Peter , Béchir Markus
Published: February 2013

Background

Renal failure with following continuous renal replacement therapy is a major clinical problem in liver transplant recipients, with reported incidences of 3% to 20%. Little is known about the significance of postoperative acute renal failure or acute-on-chronic renal failure to postoperative outcome in liver transplant recipients.

Methods

In this post hoc analysis we compared the mortality rates of 135 consecutive liver transplant recipients over 6 years in our center subject to their renal baseline conditions and postoperative RRT. We classified the patients into 4 groups, according to their preoperative calculated Cockcroft formula and the incidence of postoperative renal replacement therapy. Data then were analyzed in regard to mortality rates and in addition to pre- and peritransplant risk factors.

Results

There was a significant difference in ICU mortality (p=.008), hospital mortality (p=.002) and cumulative survival (p<.0001) between the groups. The highest mortality rate occurred in the group with RRT and normal baseline kidney function (20% ICU mortality, 26.6% hospital mortality and 50% cumulative 1-year mortality, respectively). The hazard ratio in this group was 9.6 (CI 3.2-28.6, p=.0001).

Conclusion

This study shows that in liver transplant recipient’s acute renal failure with postoperative RRT is associated with mortality and the mortality rate is higher than in patients with acute-on-chronic renal failure and postoperative renal replacement therapy.
Systematic evaluation of the methodology of randomized controlled trials of anticoagulation in patients with cancer
Authors: Rada Gabriel , Schünemann Holger J , Labedi Nawman , El-Hachem Pierre , Kairouz Victor F , Akl Elie A
Published: February 2013

Background

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that are inappropriately designed or executed may provide biased findings and mislead clinical practice. In view of recent interest in the treatment and prevention of thrombotic complications in cancer patients we evaluated the characteristics, risk of bias and their time trends in RCTs of anticoagulation in patients with cancer.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search, including a search of four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI the Web of Science, and CENTRAL) up to February 2010. We included RCTs in which the intervention and/or comparison consisted of: vitamin K antagonists, unfractionated heparin (UFH), low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), direct thrombin inhibitors or fondaparinux. We performed descriptive analyses and assessed the association between the variables of interest and the year of publication.

Results

We included 67 RCTs with 24,071 participants. In twenty one trials (31%) DVT diagnosis was triggered by clinical suspicion; the remaining trials either screened for DVT or were unclear about their approach. 41 (61%), 22 (33%), and 11 (16%) trials respectively reported on major bleeding, minor bleeding, and thrombocytopenia. The percentages of trials satisfying risk of bias criteria were: adequate sequence generation (85%), adequate allocation concealment (61%), participants’ blinding (39%), data collectors’ blinding (44%), providers’ blinding (41%), outcome assessors’ blinding (75%), data analysts’ blinding (15%), intention to treat analysis (57%), no selective outcome reporting (12%), no stopping early for benefit (97%). The mean follow-up rate was 96%. Adequate allocation concealment and the reporting of intention to treat analysis were the only two quality criteria that improved over time.

Conclusions

Many RCTs of anticoagulation in patients with cancer appear to use insufficiently rigorous outcome assessment methods and to have deficiencies in key methodological features. It is not clear whether this reflects a problem in the design, conduct or the reporting of these trials, or both. Future trials should avoid the shortcomings described in this article.
Effect of Mukitake mushroom (Panellus serotinus) on the pathogenesis of lipid abnormalities in obese, diabetic ob/ob mice
Authors: Inoue Nao , Inafuku Masashi , Shirouchi Bungo , Nagao Koji , Yanagita Teruyoshi
Published: February 2013

Background

Various mushrooms have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of lifestyle diseases in eastern countries, and several compounds that modulate the immune system, lower blood lipid levels, and inhibit tumor and viral action have been isolated. The fruiting body of Panellus serotinus (Mukitake) is recognized in Japan as one of the most delicious edible mushrooms, and previous studies have demonstrated that the dietary intake of powdered whole Mukitake or Mukitake extracts prevents the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in leptin-resistant db/db mice. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the Mukitake diet on the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice.

Results

After 4 weeks of feeding, hepatomegaly, hepatic lipid accumulation, and elevated hepatic injury markers in the serum were markedly alleviated in Mukitake-fed ob/ob mice compared with control mice. Moreover, the mild hyperlipidemia in control ob/ob mice was attenuated and the elevated atherogenic index was reduced in Mukitake-fed ob/ob mice. These effects were partly attributable to the suppression of hepatic lipogenic enzyme activity due to the Mukitake diet.

Conclusion

The current results showed that Mukitake supplementation is beneficial for the alleviation of NAFLD and dyslipidemia in obese, diabetic ob/ob mice.
Approximation of fixed points for nonexpansive semigroups in Hilbert spaces
Authors: Yao Yonghong , Kang Jung Im , Cho Yeol Je , Liou Yeong-Cheng
Published: February 2013

In this paper, we propose two new algorithms for finding a common fixed point of a nonexpansive semigroup in Hilbert spaces and prove some strong convergence theorems for nonexpansive semigroups. Our results improve and generalize the corresponding results given by Shimizu and Takahashi (J. Math. Anal. Appl. 211:71-83, 1997), Shioji and Takahashi (Nonlinear Anal. TMA 34:87-99, 1998), Lau et al. (Nonlinear Anal. TMA 67:1211-1225, 2007) and many others.

MSC:47H05, 47H10, 47H17.
An application on the second-order generalized difference equations
Authors: Manuel Mariasebastin Maria Susai , Kılıçman Adem , Xavier Gnanadhass Britto Antony , Pugalarasu Rajan , Dilip Devadanam Suseela
Published: February 2013

In this paper, we study the solutions of the second-order generalized difference equation having the form of

Δ
ℓ
2

u
(
k
)
+
f

(
k
,
u
(
k
)
)

=
0
,

k
∈
[
a
,
∞
)
,
a
>
0
,
ℓ
∈
(
0
,
∞
)
,

where

Δ
ℓ

u
(
k
)
=
u
(
k
+
ℓ
)
−
u
(
k
)

. Then we provide applications on

ℓ

2
(
ℓ
)

and

c

0
(
ℓ
)

.

AMS Subject Classification:39A12, 39A70, 47B39, 39B60.
Dynamics of resistance mutations to NS3 protease inhibitors in a cohort of Brazilian patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (genotype 1) treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin: a prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Hoffmann Luísa , Ramos Juliene Antonio , de Souza Elizabeth Valentin , de Araújo Ramos Ana Lucia , Villela-Nogueira Cristiane Alves , Ürményi Turán Péter , Tanuri Amilcar , Rondinelli Edson , Silva Rosane
Published: February 2013

About sixty thousand new cases of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are recorded in Brazil each year. These cases are currently treated with pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV) with an overall success rate of 50%. New compounds for anti-HCV therapy targeted to the HCV NS3 protease are being developed and some already form the components of licensed therapies. Mapping NS3 protease resistance mutations to protease inhibitors or anti-viral drug candidates is important to direct anti-HCV drug treatment.

Methods

Sequence analysis of the HCV NS3 protease was conducted in a group of 68 chronically infected patients harboring the HCV genotype 1. The patients were sampled before, during and after a course of PEG-IFN-RBV treatment.

Results

Resistance mutations to the protease inhibitors, Boceprevir and Telaprevir were identified in HCV isolated from three patients (4.4%); the viral sequences contained at least one of the following mutations: V36L, T54S and V55A. In one sustained virological responder, the T54S mutation appeared during the course of PEG-IFN and RBV therapy. In contrast, V36L and V55A mutations were identified in virus isolated from one relapsing patient before, during, and after treatment, whereas the T54S mutation was identified in virus isolated from one non-responding patient, before and during the treatment course.

Conclusions

The incidence and persistence of protease resistance mutations occurring in HCV from chronically infected patients in Brazil should be considered when using protease inhibitors to treat HCV disease. In addition, patients treated with the current therapy (PEG-IFN and RBV) that are relapsing or are non-responders should be considered candidates for protease inhibitor therapy.
Synthesis and characteristics of (Hydrogenated) ferulic acid derivatives as potential antiviral agents with insecticidal activity
Authors: Huang Guang-Ying , Cui Can , Wang Zhi-Peng , Li Yong-Qiang , Xiong Li-Xia , Wang Li-Zhong , Yu Shu-Jing , Li Zheng-Ming , Zhao Wei-Guang
Published: February 2013

Background

Plant viruses cause many serious plant diseases and are currently suppressed with the simultaneous use of virucides and insecticides. The use of such materials, however, increases the amounts of pollutants in the environment. To reduce environmental contaminants, virucides with insecticidal activity is an attractive option.

Results

A series of substituted ferulic acid amide derivatives 7 and the corresponding hydrogenated ferulic acid amide derivatives 13 were synthesized and evaluated for their antiviral and insecticidal activities. The majority of the synthesized compounds exhibited good levels of antiviral activity against the tobacco mosaic virus (TMW), with compounds 7a, 7b and 7d in particular providing higher levels of protective and curative activities against TMV at 500 μg/mL than the control compound ribavirin. Furthermore, these compounds displayed good insecticidal activities against insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts, which can spread plant viruses between and within crops.

Conclusions

Two series of ferulic acid derivatives have been synthesized efficiently. The bioassay showed title compounds not only inhibit the plant viral infection, but also prevented the spread of plant virus by insect vectors. These findings therefore demonstrate that the ferulic acid amides represent a new template for future antiviral studies.