bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hiatus Hernia Repair with Bilateral Oesophageal Fixation
Authors: Mendis Rajith , Cheung Caran , Martin David
Published: April 2015

Background. Despite advances in surgical repair of hiatus hernias, there remains a high radiological recurrence rate. We performed a novel technique incorporating bilateral oesophageal fixation and evaluated outcomes, principally symptom improvement and hernia recurrence.Methods. A retrospective study was performed on a prospective database of patients undergoing hiatus hernia repair with bilateral oesophageal fixation. Retrospective and prospective quality of life (QOL), PPI usage, and patient satisfaction data were obtained. Hernia recurrence was assessed by either barium swallow or gastroscopy.Results. 87 patients were identified in the database with a minimum of 3 months followup. There were significant improvements in QOL scores including GERD HRQL (29.13 to 4.38,P<0.01), Visick (3 to 1), and RSI (17.45 to 5,P<0.01). PPI usage decreased from a median of daily to none, and there was high patient satisfaction (94%). 57 patients were assessed for recurrence with either gastroscopy or barium swallow, and one patient had evidence of recurrence on barium swallow at 45 months postoperatively. There was an 8% complication rate and no mortality or oesophageal perforation.Conclusions. This study demonstrates that our technique is both safe and effective in symptom control, and our recurrence investigations demonstrate at least short term durability.
Effect of Metformin on Viability, Morphology, and Ultrastructure of Mouse Bone Marrow-Derived Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Balb/3T3 Embryonic Fibroblast Cell Line
Authors: Śmieszek Agnieszka , Czyrek Aleksandra , Basinska Katarzyna , Trynda Justyna , Skaradzińska Aneta , Siudzińska Anna , Marędziak Monika , Marycz Krzysztof
Published: April 2015

Metformin, a popular drug used to treat diabetes, has recently gained attention as a potentially useful therapeutic agent for treating cancer. In our research metformin was added toin vitrocultures of bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) and Balb/3T3 fibroblast at concentration of 1 mM, 5 mM, and 10 mM. Obtained results indicated that metformin negatively affected proliferation activity of investigated cells. The drug triggered the formation of autophagosomes and apoptotic bodies in all tested cultures. Additionally, we focused on determination of expression of genes involved in insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) signaling pathway. The most striking finding was that the mRNA level of IGF2 was constant in both BMSCs and Balb/3T3. Further, the analysis of IGF2 concentration in cell supernatants showed that it decreased in BMSC cultures after 5 and 10 mM metformin treatments. In case of Balb/3T3 the concentration of IGF2 in culture supernatants decreased after 1 and 5 mM and increased after 10 mM of metformin. Our results suggest that metformin influences the cytophysiology of somatic cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner causing inhibition of proliferation and abnormalities of their morphology and ultrastructure.
The Lyophilization Process Maintains the Chemical and Biological Characteristics of Royal Jelly
Authors: Nascimento Andresa Piacezzi , Moraes Larissa Ariana Roveroni , Ferreira Nathália Ursoli , Moreno Gabriela de Padua , Uahib Fernanda Grassi Mangolini , Barizon Edna Aparecida , Berretta Andresa Aparecida
Published: April 2015

The alternative use of natural products, like royal jelly (RJ), may be an important tool for the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. RJ presents a large number of bioactive substances, including antimicrobial compounds. In this study, we carried out the chemical characterization of fresh and lyophilized RJ and investigated their antibacterial effects with the purpose of evaluating if the lyophilization process maintains the chemical and antibacterial properties of RJ. Furthermore, we evaluated the antibacterial efficacy of the main fatty acid found in RJ, the 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10H2DA). Chromatographic profile of the RJ samples showed similar fingerprints and the presence of 10H2DA in both samples. Furthermore, fresh and lyophilized RJ were effective against all bacteria evaluated; that is, the lyophilization process maintains the antibacterial activity of RJ and the chemical field of 10H2DA. The fatty acid 10H2DA exhibited a good antibacterial activity againstStreptococcus pneumoniae. Therefore, it may be used as an alternative and complementary treatment for infections caused by antibiotic-resistantS. pneumoniae.
The Classical Pathways of Occipital Lobe Epileptic Propagation Revised in the Light of White Matter Dissection
Authors: Latini Francesco , Hjortberg Mats , Aldskogius Håkan , Ryttlefors Mats
Published: April 2015

The clinical evidences of variable epileptic propagation in occipital lobe epilepsy (OLE) have been demonstrated by several studies. However the exact localization of the epileptic focus sometimes represents a problem because of the rapid propagation to frontal, parietal, or temporal regions. Each white matter pathway close to the supposed initial focus can lead the propagation towards a specific direction, explaining the variable semiology of these rare epilepsy syndromes. Some new insights in occipital white matter anatomy are herein described by means of white matter dissection and compared to the classical epileptic patterns, mostly based on the central position of the primary visual cortex. The dissections showed a complex white matter architecture composed by vertical and longitudinal bundles, which are closely interconnected and segregated and are able to support specific high order functions with parallel bidirectional propagation of the electric signal. The same sublobar lesions may hyperactivate different white matter bundles reemphasizing the importance of the ictal semiology as a specific clinical demonstration of the subcortical networks recruited. Merging semiology, white matter anatomy, and electrophysiology may lead us to a better understanding of these complex syndromes and tailored therapeutic options based on individual white matter connectivity.
Influence of Genetic Variants in EGF and Other Genes on Hematological Traits in Korean Populations by a Genome-Wide Approach
Authors: Kim Yun Kyoung , Oh Ji Hee , Kim Young Jin , Hwang Mi Yeong , Moon Sanghoon , Low Siew-Kee , Takahashi Atsushi , Matsuda Koichi , Kubo Michiaki , Lee Juyoung , Kim Bong-Jo
Published: April 2015

Hematological traits are important health indicators and are used as diagnostic clinical parameters for human disorders. Recently, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified many genetic loci associated with hematological traits in diverse ethnic groups. However, additional GWAS are necessary to elucidate the breadth of genetic variation and the underlying genetic architecture represented by hematological metrics. To identify additional genetic loci influencing hematological traits (such as hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and platelet count), we conducted GWAS and meta-analyses on data from 12,509 Korean individuals grouped into population-based cohorts. Of interest is EGF, a factor plays a role in the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. We identified a novel EGF variant, which associated with platelet count in our study (Pcombined=2.44×10-15). Our study also replicated 16 genetic associations related to five hematological traits with genome-wide significance (P<5×10-8) that were previously established in other ethnic groups. Of these, variants influencing platelet count are distributed across several genes and have pleiotropic effects in coronary artery disease and dyslipidemia. Our findings may aid in elucidating molecular mechanisms underlying not only hematopoiesis but also inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases.
Lysosome and Cytoskeleton Pathways Are Robustly Enriched in the Blood of Septic Patients: A Meta‐Analysis of Transcriptomic Data
Authors: Ma Jie , Chen Chuanxi , Barth Andreas S. , Cheadle Chris , Guan Xiangdong , Gao Li
Published: April 2015

Background. Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units worldwide. A better understanding of the blood systems response to sepsis should expedite the identification of biomarkers for early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. Methods. We analyzed microarray studies whose data is available from the GEO repository and which were performed on the whole blood of septic patients and normal controls. Results. We identified 6 cohorts consisting of 450 individuals (sepsis = 323, control = 127) providing genome‐wide messenger RNA (mRNA) expression data. Through meta‐analysis we found the “Lysosome” and “Cytoskeleton” pathways were upregulated in human sepsis patients relative to controls, in addition to previously known signaling pathways (including MAPK, TLR). The key regulatory genes in the “Lysosome” pathway include lysosomal acid hydrolases (e.g., protease cathepsin A, D) as well as the major (LAMP1, 2) and minor (SORT1, LAPTM4B) membrane proteins. In contrast, pathways related to “Ribosome”, “Spliceosome” and “Cell adhesion molecules” were found to be downregulated, along with known pathways for immune dysfunction. Overall, our study revealed distinct mRNA activation profiles and protein‐protein interaction networks in blood of human sepsis. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that aberrant mRNA expression in the lysosome and cytoskeleton pathways may play a pivotal role in the molecular pathobiology of human sepsis.
Association between Serum Phospholipid Fatty Acids and Intraprostatic Inflammation in the Placebo Arm of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial
Authors: Nash Sarah H. , Schenk Jeannette M. , Kristal Alan R. , Goodman Phillis J. , Lucia M. Scott , Parnes Howard L. , Thompson Ian M. , Lippman Scott M. , Song Xiaoling , Gurel Bora , De Marzo Angelo , Platz Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2015

Inflammation may play an etiologic role in prostate cancer. Several dietary factors influence inflammation; studies have shown that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are anti-inflammatory, whereas n-6 and trans fatty acids are proinflammatory. We evaluated whether serum phospholipid n-3, n-6, and trans fatty acids were associated with intraprostatic inflammation, separately in 191 prostate cancer cases and 247 controls from the placebo arm of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT). Men without a prostate cancer diagnosis underwent prostate biopsy at trial end, and benign prostate tissue inflammation was evaluated in approximately three biopsy cores per man; this was expressed as no, some, or all cores with inflammation. In controls, serum eicosapentaenoic acid [OR of all cores with inflammation versus none (95% CI), 0.35 (0.14–0.89)] and docosahexaenoic acid [OR (95% CI), 0.42 (0.17–1.02)] were inversely associated with, whereas linoleic acid [OR (95% CI), 3.85 (1.41–10.55)] was positively associated with intraprostatic inflammation. Serum trans fatty acids were not associated with intraprostatic inflammation. No significant associations were observed in cases; however, we could not rule out a positive association with linoleic acid and an inverse association with arachidonic acid. Thus, in the PCPT, we found that serum n-3 fatty acids were inversely, n-6 fatty acids were positively, and trans fatty acids were not associated with intraprostatic inflammation in controls. Although, in theory, inflammation could mediate associations of serum fatty acids with prostate cancer risk, our findings cannot explain the epidemiologic associations observed with n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. Cancer Prev Res; 8(7); 590–6. ©2015 AACR.
HMGB1 Enhances the AGE-Induced Expression of CTGF and TGF-β via RAGE-Dependent Signaling in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells
Authors: Cheng Meichu , Liu Hong , Zhang Dongshan , Liu Yinghong , Wang Chang , Liu Fuyou , Chen Junxiang
Published: April 2015

Background/Aims: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) induce epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) by promoting the two EMT regulators, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). However, the exact signaling mechanism remains largely unclear. Methods: We investigated the promotion to high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells by AGE-BSA with quantitative PCR and western blot assay, and then determined the regulatory role of HMGB1 in the AGE-BSA-induced CTGF and TGF-β. In addition, the dependence of the receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE) was also examined in the CTGF and TGF-β promotion by AGEs and HMGB1 in HK-2 cells using the RNAi method. Results: It was demonstrated that AGEs induced translocation and release of HMGB1 from tubular epithelial HK-2 cells, and the released HMGB1 enhanced the promotion to CTGF and TGF-β by AGEs in HK-2 cells. On the other side, the HMGB1 knockdown by siRNA attenuated the AGE-BSA-induced expression of TGF-β. Moreover, the CTGF and TGF-β promotion in HK-2 cells by AGEs and HMGB1 was RAGE-dependent. Conclusion: Our results indicated that AGEs induced HMGB-1 and promoted the CTGF and TGF-β in renal epithelial HK-2 cells RAGE-dependently. And there was a synergism between AGEs and HMGB1 in the RAGE signaling activation. The in vitro data suggested that the AGE-RAGE and HMGB-1-RAGE signaling might play an important role in the promotion of CTGF and TGF-β in the renal fibrosis process of diabetic nephropathy.
Maternal Anxiety and the Second-Trimester Prenatal Screening: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mousavi Sanaz , Hantoushzadeh Sedigheh , Sheikh Mahdi , Shariat Mamak
Published: April 2015

Objective: Assessing the effects of maternal anxiety on the markers and results of quadruple screening and on maternal anxiety after receiving positive results. Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated 1,595 pregnant women referred for prenatal visits. Maternal state/trait anxiety levels were measured, then quadruple screening was performed by measuring serum α-fetoprotein (AFP), β-human chorionic gonadotropin, inhibin A, and unconjugated estriol (UE3). After receiving the results, the state/trait anxiety was remeasured. Amniocentesis was performed for screening-positive mothers. Results: High prescreening maternal anxiety was associated with lower rates of elevated AFP (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.1-0.74) and elevated inhibin A (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.15-0.98). High maternal anxiety was associated with higher rates of decreased UE3 (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.06-3.08). There were no significant associations between prescreening maternal anxiety and the final screening or amniocentesis results. Among the screening-positive mothers, those who had high state/trait anxiety before screening had higher anxiety scores after receiving positive results compared to those with low prescreening anxiety levels (52.9 ± 10.8 vs. 43.7 ± 10.3). Conclusion: High prescreening maternal anxiety is associated with lower rates of elevated AFP and inhibin A and higher rates of decreased UE3. However, maternal anxiety does not affect the final screening or amniocentesis result. High maternal state/trait anxiety before screening is associated with significantly higher maternal anxiety after the receipt of positive results.
An Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Patients with Ovarian Malignant Germ Cell Tumors Who Are Treated with Fertility-Preserving Surgery
Authors: Yang Zhi-juan , Liu Zhen-chan , Wei Ren-ji , Li Li
Published: April 2015

Background/Aims: To analyze the clinicopathological factors that affect the prognosis and fertility of patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs). Methods: The medical records and follow-up data of 106 patients with MOGCTs who were treated at The Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University between January 1986 and December 2010 were enrolled in this study. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to analyze the survival curves. The different prognoses among the various clinicopathological factors were evaluated using a univariate analysis and a log-rank test. The multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard regression method. A logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of different factors on the prognoses and fertility. Results: The median age at primary treatment was 22 years (range: 9-61years). A total of 59 patients received fertility-preserving surgery, 45 received radical surgery and 94 received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. The median follow-up time was 56.5 months (range: 2-309 months). A total of 11 patients experienced a recurrence, and 23 patients died from their cancer. Of the 47 patients who are alive without tumor, 45 have normal menstruation. Of the 39 patients who wished to become pregnant, 31 patients had 33 successful pregnancies that resulted in 33 live births. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed with respect to the progression-free survival (PFS; 67.6 vs. 63.3%), the overall survival (OS; 70 vs. 64.1%) and the mortality rate (15.3 vs. 31.3%) between patients who received fertility-preserving surgery and those who received radical surgery. The univariate analysis showed that the pathological types, postoperative residual tumor size, lymph node resection, and omental resection were associated with OS (p < 0.1), whereas postoperative residual tumor size, number of chemotherapy cycles, lymph node resection, and omental resection were associated with PFS (p < 0.1). The multivariate analysis showed that only the postoperative residual tumor size was an independent prognostic factor of OS, whereas the postoperative residual tumor size, number of chemotherapy cycles and lymph node resection were independent prognostic factors of PFS. No statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed with respect to the OS, PFS and fertility between patients who received fertility-preserving surgery and those who were treated with or without comprehensive surgical staging. Conclusion: MOGCTs can achieve a good prognosis after surgery and chemotherapy. Postoperative residual tumor size was an independent prognostic factor of PFS and OS. Moreover, comprehensive surgical staging cannot improve the prognosis. Fertility-preserving surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy appeared to have little or no effect on prognosis and fertility.
Visões da fauna e flora da Amazônia em dois raros folhetos portugueses do século XVIII incentivando a emigração
Authors: Teixeira Dante Martins , Papavero Nelson
Published: April 2015

Published in Portugal in 1754, the leaflet entitled "Relação e notícia da gente que nesta segunda monção chegou ao sítio do Grão-Pará e às terras do Mato Grosso" [Relation and notice of the people that in this second voyage arrived at the site of Grão-Pará and the lands of Mato Grosso] shows the advantages that possible immigrants would enjoy by establishing themselves in the Grão-Pará and Mato Grosso. A second leaflet, anonymous and undated, called "Relação curiosa do sitio do Grão Pará e das terras de Mato Grosso" [A curious relation of the site of Grão-Pará and of the lands of Mato Grosso] seems to have been published in Portugal some time after that first one, with the same purpose. Both pamphlets are exceedingly rare and went unnoticed by most specialists on Colonial Brazil subjects, although representing a valuable witness not only of the propaganda efforts dedicated to the peopling of the Amazon, but also of the vision of Brazilian nature current among certain circles of Portuguese society during the 18th century.
O negro na Revolução Paulista de 32 – Entrevista com Raul Joviano do Amaral
Authors: Pereira João Baptista Borges , Valente Ana Lúcia Eduarda Farah
Published: April 2015

O negro na Revolução Paulista de 32 – Entrevista com Raul Joviano do Amaral
Entre o regional e o metropolitano: pensamento urbanístico e metrópole no Brasil na década de 1950
Authors: Feldman Sarah
Published: April 2015

É na década de 1950 que as metrópoles entram na pauta do pensamento urbanístico no Brasil. Duas abordagens formuladas num momento de crença no planejamento e nas possibilidades do planejamento como atribuição do Estado são analisadas. A primeira interpreta a metrópole concentrada como produto e motor das desigualdades regionais, como questão a ser enfrentada na escala regional. A segunda propõe a escala de planejamento metropolitano e estratégias de intervenção a partir das condições de subdesenvolvimento dos grandes centros latino- -americanos. A análise é desenvolvida a partir das instituições onde são formuladas e do processo de construção de ideias e práticas que se inicia na década de 1930 para se adequar ao acelerado processo de urbanização e industrialização.
Um modernismo apaziguado: anotações sobre um discurso crítico curatorial
Authors: Oliveira Alecsandra Matias de
Published: April 2015

UM MODERNISMO QUE VEIO DEPOIS, DE TADEU CHIARELLI,SÃO PAULO, ALAMEDA, 2012, 296 P.
Mobilidade da produção na metrópole
Authors: Zioni Silvana
Published: April 2015

As transformações na organização produtiva, acentuadas nas últimas décadas, implicaram o crescimento dos fluxos de bens e mercadorias, que, ao afetar a circulação geral, repercutem na mobilidade das pessoas e na organização espacial. Tais transformações, também decorrentes de inovações na organização dos próprios serviços de transporte de carga, fizeram surgir novos serviços, atividades e equipamentos, que podem ser relacionados a processos socioespaciais característicos da formação metropolitana contemporânea e a diferentes formas de distribuição espacial das atividades econômicas. É pressuposto que arranjos, redes e estruturas de produção e de circulação configurem novas formas de polarização da metrópole, e que tais mudanças se vinculem a dinâmicas de transformação do espaço metropolitano, confirmando ainda mais a força de polarização e articulação concentrada nessas formações que abrangem regiões e cidades e cidades-regiões.
Gênero continua a ser o campo de batalhas: juventude, produção cultural e a reinvenção do espaço público em São Paulo
Authors: Caldeira Teresa Pires do Rio , Adriano Saulo
Published: April 2015

Grupos de jovens e suas intervenções artísticas estão mudando o caráter do espaço público em São Paulo. Uma proporção significativa dos novos produtores culturais vem das periferias. Por meio de suas atividades, eles não só afirmam sua existência na cidade e fazem valer seu direito de usar seus espaços, como também começam a dominar a produção de representações. Não mais representados por outros que dominavam a produção de signos, os jovens das periferias agora impõem suas representações à cidade. Desse modo, eles desestabilizam o sistema de produção cultural, relações sociais e regras para o uso do espaço público dominado pelas classes altas. Essas transformações são substanciais, mas não sem contradições profundas. Dentre elas, uma das mais proeminentes é a reprodução de desigualdades de gênero.
Regular Wine Consumption in Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Cosmi Franco , Di Giulio Paola , Masson Serge , Finzi Andrea , Marfisi Rosa Maria , Cosmi Deborah , Scarano Marco , Tognoni Gianni , Maggioni Aldo P. , Porcu Maurizio , Boni Silvana , Cutrupi Giovanni , Tavazzi Luigi , Latini Roberto
Published: April 2015

Background—

Moderate, regular alcohol consumption is generally associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events but data in patients with chronic heart failure are scarce. We evaluated the relations between wine consumption, health status, circulating biomarkers, and clinical outcomes in a large Italian population of patients with chronic heart failure enrolled in a multicenter clinical trial.

Methods and Results—

A brief questionnaire on dietary habits was administered at baseline to 6973 patients enrolled in the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell’Insufficienza Cardiaca-Heart Failure (GISSI-HF) trial. The relations between wine consumption, fatal and nonfatal clinical end points, quality of life, symptoms of depression, and circulating biomarkers of cardiac function and inflammation (in subsets of patients) were evaluated with simple and multivariable-adjusted statistical models. Almost 56% of the patients reported drinking at least 1 glass of wine per day. After adjustment, clinical outcomes were not significantly different in the predefined 4 groups of wine consumption. However, patients with more frequent wine consumption had a significantly better perception of health status (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire score, adjusted
P
<0.0001), less frequent symptoms of depression (Geriatric Depression Scale, adjusted
P
=0.01), and lower plasma levels of biomarkers of vascular inflammation (osteoprotegerin and C-terminal proendothelin-1, adjusted
P
<0.0001, and pentraxin-3,
P
=0.01) after adjusting for possible confounders.

Conclusions—

We show for the first time in a large cohort of patients with chronic heart failure that moderate wine consumption is associated with a better perceived and objective health status, lower prevalence of depression, and less vascular inflammation, but does not translate into more favorable clinical 4-year outcomes.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT0033633.
Pulse Oximetry
Authors: Safar Heba , El-dash Hanaa
Published: April 2015

Objective. To compare the accuracy of pulse oximetry oxygen saturation (SpO2) measured on the right wrist and right ankle in relation to the ipsilateral palm and sole, respectively. Study Design. A prospective observational study carried out on neonates and infants admitted to intensive care units. SpO2 was measured at the right palm and wrist and the right sole and ankle. Sensitivity and specificity tests were performed. Results. Ninety-four patients, mean postnatal age of 29.9 days, were included in our study. Sensitivity and specificity tests for right wrist SpO2 in comparison to right palm SpO2 revealed sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 80.4%. Sensitivity and specificity tests for right ankle SpO2 in comparison to right sole SpO2 revealed sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 77.4%. Conclusion. The results of the current study revealed that the wrist and ankle can be alternative placement sites for the measurement of SpO2 in newborn and infants instead of the routinely used palm or sole.
Health Education Counseling During Pediatric Well-Child Visits in Physicians’ Office Settings
Authors: Hammig Bart , Jozkowski Kristen
Published: April 2015

Objective. The current study assessed factors associated with health education counseling during well-child visits. Methods. Data from the 2007-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) were used to examine well-child visits made to physicians’ offices in the United States. Logistic regression models examined the relationship between the provision of health education counseling and selected covariates. Health education provisions measured included injury prevention, nutrition, exercise, tobacco use, and weight reduction. Results. A total of 4837 well-child visits were identified during the study period, which is equivalent to a weighted estimate of 43.4 million well-child visits annually. Multivariate analyses indicated that the length of the well-child visit was the predominant factor associated with delivery of health education counseling. Conclusions. Provider education and counseling of patients concerning health behaviors were implemented at a low level. Time spent with the patient was associated with the majority of health education counseling. Implications for pediatric practice are discussed.
Long-Term Fluoride Release from Dental Resins Affects STRO-1+ Cell Behavior
Authors: Calarco A. , Di Salle A. , Tammaro L. , De Luca I. , Mucerino S. , Petillo O. , Riccitiello F. , Vittoria V. , Peluso G.
Published: April 2015

Fluoride-releasing restorative dental materials can be beneficial to remineralize dentin and help prevent secondary caries. However, the effects of fluoride release from dental materials on the activity of dental pulp stem cells are not known. Here we investigate whether different fluoride release kinetics from dental resins supplemented with modified hydrotalcite (RK-F10) or fluoride-glass filler (RK-FG10) could influence the behavior of a human dental pulp stem cell subpopulation (STRO-1+ cells) known for its ability to differentiate toward an odontoblast-like phenotype. The 2 resins, characterized by similar physicochemical properties and fluoride content, exhibited different long-term fluoride release kinetics. Our data demonstrate that long-term exposure of STRO-1+ cells to a continuous release of a low amount of fluoride by RK-F10 increases their migratory response to transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and stromal cell–derived factor 1 (SDF-1), both important promoters of pulp stem cell recruitment. Moreover, the expression patterns of dentin sialoprotein ( dspp), dentin matrix protein 1 ( dmp1), osteocalcin ( ocn), and matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein ( mepe) indicate a complete odontoblast-like cell differentiation only when STRO-1+ cells were cultured on RK-F10. On the contrary, RK-FG10, characterized by an initial fluoride release burst and reduced lifetime of the delivery, did not elicit any significant effect on both STRO-1+ cell migration and differentiation. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of taking into account fluoride release kinetics in addition to fluoride concentration when designing new fluoride-restorative materials.
Postmortem Presence of Drugs and Method of Violent Suicide
Authors: Sheehan Connor M. , Rogers Richard G. , Boardman Jason D.
Published: April 2015

The link between substance use and suicide is well established. However, little research analyzes how substance use is related to the method of suicide. This article analyzes how specific drugs are associated with method of suicide, a critical topic because drug use bears on the etiology of suicide and may lead to policies aimed at deterring suicide. We use the Colorado Violent Death Reporting System and logistic regression to examine postmortem presence of drugs among 3,389 hanging and firearm suicides in Colorado from 2004 to 2009. Net of demographic controls, we find that opiates are positively associated with firearms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.27, 2.86]) while antidepressants are positively associated with hanging (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = [1.04, 2.03]). For cocaine and opiates, the association between drug use and violent method vary by educational attainment. Importantly, knowledge of the presence and type of specific drug is strongly associated with the method of suicide.
Mobile transitions: Exploring synergies for urban sustainability research
Authors: Affolderbach Julia , Schulz Christian
Published: April 2015

Urban sustainability approaches focusing on a wide range of topics such as infrastructure and mobility, green construction and neighbourhood planning, or urban nature and green amenities have attracted scholarly interest for over three decades. Recent debates on the role of cities in climate change mitigation have triggered new attempts to conceptually and methodologically grasp the cross-sectorial and cross-level interplay of enrolled actors. Within these debates, urban and economic geographers have increasingly adopted co-evolutionary approaches such as the social studies of technology (SST or ‘transition studies’). Their plea for more spatial sensitivity of the transition approach has led to promising proposals to adapt geographic perspectives to case studies on urban sustainability. This paper advocates engagement with recent work in urban studies, specifically policy mobility, to explore conceptual and methodological synergies. It emphasises four strengths of an integrated approach: (1) a broadened understanding of innovations that emphasises not only processes of knowledge generation but also of knowledge transfer through (2) processes of learning, adaptation and mutation, (3) a relational understanding of the origin and dissemination of innovations focused on the complex nature of cities and (4) the importance of individual actors as agents of change and analytical scale that highlights social processes of innovation. The notion of urban assemblages further allows the operationalisation of both the relational embeddedness of local policies as well as their cross-sectoral actor constellations.
Walking around the pyramids: Managers’ shop-floor activities in Lean-inspired organizations
Authors: Vänje Annika , Brännmark Mikael
Published: April 2015

The approach in this article is to study leadership activities from the shop-floor workers’ perspectives during the implementation of a Lean-inspired production concept – an angle of approach that corresponds to a need for a deeper knowledge of the interactions between organizational structures and the physical work environment. The empirical findings are from a national R&D program called the Production Leap and collected through different methods: semi-structured interviews carried out at eight manufacturing companies, the open-ended part of a longitudinal survey, and participative observations. Lean leadership practices at these companies do not enable the possibilities of developing the technical systems or work relationships between the managers and the shop-floor workers. Instead, they provide the means and activities to circumvent coordination problems and create a feeling of participation. The results here indicate that leadership activities and coordination of work do not, as it is sometimes argued by the proponents of Lean, ‘turn the pyramid’ of power upside down. One reason for this is the lack of social structures in the organization.
Resilience 2.0: social media use and (self-)care during the 2011 Norway attacks
Authors: Kaufmann Mareile
Published: April 2015

Departing from the understanding that resilience is a technique of self-organization during emergencies, this article provides a study on the way in which the use of social media influenced and engendered societal resilience practices during the 2011 Norway attacks. It builds on the concepts of governmentality and mediality to discuss how the interplay between social media and its users created new forms of self-initiated and mediated emergency governance. Empirically, it draws on material from 20 in-depth interviews with Norwegians who explained and reflected upon their social media use during the attacks. The article presents an overview of the different functions that social media assumed in the process of dealing with the attacks and discusses these vis-à-vis their related challenges. It draws conclusions about the way in which resilience practices and the resilient subject are influenced by the networked character of 2.0 technologies.
Evaluating Cost-effectiveness of Interventions That Affect Fertility and Childbearing
Authors: Goldhaber-Fiebert Jeremy D. , Brandeau Margaret L.
Published: April 2015

Background. Current guidelines for economic evaluations of health interventions define relevant outcomes as those accruing to individuals receiving interventions. Little consensus exists on counting health impacts on current and future fertility and childbearing. Our objective was to characterize current practices for counting such health outcomes. Methods. We developed a framework characterizing health interventions with direct and/or indirect effects on fertility and childbearing and how such outcomes are reported. We identified interventions spanning the framework and performed a targeted literature review for economic evaluations of these interventions. For each article, we characterized how the potential health outcomes from each intervention were considered, focusing on quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) associated with fertility and childbearing. Results. We reviewed 108 studies, identifying 7 themes: 1) Studies were heterogeneous in reporting outcomes. 2) Studies often selected outcomes for inclusion that tend to bias toward finding the intervention to be cost-effective. 3) Studies often avoided the challenges of assigning QALYs for pregnancy and fertility by instead considering cost per intermediate outcome. 4) Even for the same intervention, studies took heterogeneous approaches to outcome evaluation. 5) Studies used multiple, competing rationales for whether and how to include fertility-related QALYs and whose QALYs to include. 6) Studies examining interventions with indirect effects on fertility typically ignored such QALYs. 7) Even recent studies had these shortcomings. Limitations include that the review was targeted rather than systematic. Conclusions. Economic evaluations inconsistently consider QALYs from current and future fertility and childbearing in ways that frequently appear biased toward the interventions considered. As the Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine updates its guidelines, making the practice of cost-effectiveness analysis more consistent is a priority. Our study contributes to harmonizing methods in this respect.
Expansion of the National Salt Reduction Initiative
Authors: Choi Sung Eun , Brandeau Margaret L. , Basu Sanjay
Published: April 2015

Background. The National Salt Reduction Initiative, in which food producers agree to lower sodium to levels deemed feasible for different foods, is expected to significantly reduce sodium intake if expanded to a large sector of food manufacturers. Objective. Given recent data on the relationship between sodium intake, hypertension, and associated cardiovascular disease at a population level, we sought to examine risks and benefits of the program. Design. To estimate the impact of further expanding the initiative on hypertension, myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke incidence, and related mortality, given food consumption patterns across the United States, we developed and validated a stochastic microsimulation model of hypertension, MI, and stroke morbidity and mortality, using data from food producers on sodium reduction among foods, linked to 24-hour dietary recalls, blood pressure, and cardiovascular histories from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results. Expansion of the initiative to ensure all restaurants and manufacturers reach agreed-upon sodium targets would be expected to avert from 0.9 to 3.0 MIs (a 1.6%–5.4% reduction) and 0.5 to 2.8 strokes (a 1.1%–6.2% reduction) per 10,000 Americans per year over the next decade, after incorporating consumption patterns and variations in the effect of sodium reduction on blood pressure among different demographic groups. Even high levels of consumer addition of table salt or substitution among food categories would be unlikely to neutralize this benefit. However, if recent epidemiological associations between very low sodium and increased mortality are causal, then older women may be at risk of increased mortality from excessively low sodium intake. Conclusions: An expanded National Salt Reduction Initiative is likely to significantly reduce hypertension and hypertension-related cardiovascular morbidity but may be accompanied by potential risks to older women.
Do Family Proxies Get It Right? Concordance in Reports of Nursing Home Residents’ Everyday Preferences
Authors: Heid Allison R. , Bangerter Lauren R. , Abbott Katherine M. , Van Haitsma Kimberly
Published: April 2015

Limited work has examined how well family proxies understand nursing home residents’ preferences. With 85 dyads of a nursing home resident and relative, we utilize descriptive statistics and multi-level modeling to examine the concordance in reports of importance ratings of 72 everyday preferences for residents. Results reveal significant mean differences at the p < .001 level between proxies and residents on 12 of 72 preferences; yet, perfect agreement in responses is poor and only increases when dichotomizing responses into an important versus not important outcome. Multi-level modeling further indicates that dyads are discrepant on reports of the importance of growth activities for residents, with residents reporting higher levels of importance than proxies. This discrepancy is associated with residents’ hearing impairment and proxies’ perception of resident openness. The findings highlight not only how proxies may be able to inform care for residents in nursing homes but also where further discussions are warranted.
Clocks within the Master Gland
Authors: Lin Xue-Wei , Blum Ian David , Storch Kai-Florian
Published: April 2015

Various aspects of mammalian endocrine physiology show a time-of-day variation with a period of 24 h, which represents an adaptation to the daily environmental fluctuations resulting from the rotation of the earth. These 24-h rhythms in hormone abundance and consequently hormone function may rely on rhythmic signals produced by the master circadian clock, which resides in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and is thought to chiefly dictate the pattern of rest and activity in mammals in conjunction with the light/dark (LD) cycle. However, it is likely that clocks intrinsic to elements of the endocrine axes also contribute to the 24-h rhythms in hormone function. Here we review the evidence for rhythm generation in the endocrine master gland, the pituitary, and its physiological significance in the context of endocrine axes regulation and function.
Internet Use by First-Time Mothers for Infant Feeding Support
Authors: Newby Ruth , Brodribb Wendy , Ware Robert S. , Davies Peter S.W.
Published: April 2015

Background:

Optimal nutrition during infancy has benefits to individuals and to society. Australian women actively seek health and nutrition information from a wide variety of sources and have extensive access to the Internet, but its efficacy in supporting recommendation-consistent infant feeding is unknown.

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were to evaluate sources of infant feeding information used by first-time mothers and to describe breast and formula feeding patterns 6 months post birth associated with successful use of the Internet for breastfeeding support.

Methods:

Healthy women between 18 and 40 years of age in their first pregnancy were recruited to the Feeding Queensland Babies Study by convenience sampling in Brisbane, Australia, between June 2010 and March 2011. Participants completed a questionnaire online when their infants were 6 months of age and a demographic questionnaire.

Results:

Health care providers, books, general Internet searches, family, and friends were common sources of breastfeeding information for women during infants’ first 6 months. Information sources for infant formula were less often accessed. Of mothers who sought breastfeeding assistance on the Internet, those who found it unhelpful had lower odds of giving breast milk at 6 months (odds ratio [OR] = 0.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1-0.5) and higher odds of giving formula (OR = 3.3; 95% CI, 1.7-6.5) compared with those who found the help they needed, adjusted for age and socioeconomic status.

Conclusion:

Professional, print, and interpersonal information resources for infant feeding are widely accessed by mothers. Online breastfeeding information and support may help women to meet their breastfeeding intentions and to minimize formula use.
Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus in Singapore: clinical phenotypes, disease activity, damage, and autoantibody profiles
Authors: Tan J H T , Hoh S F , Win M T M , Chan Y H , Das L , Arkachaisri T
Published: April 2015

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by immune dysregulation affecting patients less than 18 years old. One-fifth of SLE cases are diagnosed during childhood. cSLE presents differently from adults and has a more severe and aggressive course. We describe the clinical and antibody profiles in our cSLE Singapore cohort. All cSLE patients who satisfied the 1997 American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria were captured in our lupus registry from January 2009 to January 2014. Data including demographic, cumulative clinical, serologic data, and damage indices were collected. Adjusted mean SLEDAI-2K (AMS) was used to summarize disease activity over multiple visits. Cluster analysis using non-hierarchical K-means procedure was performed on eight selected antibodies. The 64 patients (female:male ratio 5:1; Chinese 45.3%, Malay 28.1%, Indian 9.4%, and other races 17.2%) had a mean onset age of 11.5 years (range 2.1–16.7) and mean age at diagnosis was 11.9 years (range 2.6–18.0). Our study demonstrated differences in clinical manifestations for which hematologic involvement was the most common manifestation with less renal disease and uncommon neurologic manifestation as compared to other cSLE cohorts reported in our region. Antibody clusters were identified in our cohort but their clinical association/discrimination and outcome prediction required further validation study. Outcomes of our cohort in regard to disease activity after therapy and organ damages were comparable if not better to other cSLE cohorts elsewhere. Steroid-related damage, including symptomatic multifocal avascular necrosis and cataract, were not uncommon locally. Infection remains the major cause of death for the continent. Nevertheless, the five year survival rate of our cohort (98.4%) was high.
Assessing Quality of Working Life Among Malaysian Workers
Authors: Sulaiman Nur Suffia , Choo Wan Yuen , Mat Yassim Abdul Rahim , Van Laar Darren , Chinna Karuthan , Majid Hazreen Abdul
Published: April 2015

The Work-Related Quality of Life Scale–2 (WRQLS-2) has been used to measure quality of working life (QOWL) in the United Kingdom. In this study, the scale was translated and normalized into Malay. The scale was translated using the back-translation method, pretesting, and pilot testing. It was conducted among health care and office workers. It was tested in 3 stages; confirmatory factor analysis at stages 1 and 3 and exploratory factor analysis at stage 2. The Malaysian WRQLS-2 had 5 factors: “General Well-Being,” “Job and Career Satisfaction,” “Employee Engagement,” “Home-Work Interface,” and “Stress at Work.” The scale showed good convergent and construct validity and also reliability. Perception of good QOWL may differ because of cultural influences and varying work environments. The validated Malaysian WRQLS-2 can be used to determine the QOWL of Malaysian office and health care workers.
European collective action in times of crisis
Authors: Stan Sabina , Helle Idar , Erne Roland
Published: April 2015

This introductory article to the special issue proposes a more encompassing view of transnational collective action in Europe, which goes beyond the classical, country-by-country oriented, comparative industrial relations approach. Instead, we propose an extension of focus to capture also other actors, action repertoires, places and levels. Specifically, we introduce and integrate the contributions to this issue, by extending our analytical perspectives from traditional forms of employment to precarious and posted workers; from national and European trade union structures to informal groups of workers and social movements; from unions’ traditional strongholds in manufacturing multinationals to workers in the meat industry, health care or occupied factories; from national unions seen as coherent units to a perspective that emphasizes their internal contradictions; from the analysis of discrete actions to historically more encompassing perspectives; and from utilitarian views on collective action to a larger perspective that assesses the analysis of the importance of collective struggles for the making and unmaking of a new European working class.