bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is low compression pressure able to improve venous pumping function in patients with venous insufficiency?
Authors: Mosti G , Partsch H
Published: May 2010

Background

A too high resting pressure of compression devices is poorly tolerated and may cause skin defects, especially in patients with concomitant arterial occlusive disease.

Aim

To investigate whether low compression pressure will improve venous pumping function in patients with venous incompetence.

Material and methods

Venous pumping function was assessed in 20 patients with severe reflux in the great saphenous vein by measuring ejection fraction (EF) using strain-gauge plethysmography. Measurements were repeated after application of knee-high medical compression stockings and of inelastic bandages applied with a pressure of 20, 40 and 60 mmHg in the supine position.

Results

EF was significantly reduced compared with healthy controls. Compression stockings exerting a median pressure of 27 mmHg (interquartile range [IQR] 25–29) in the supine and 30.5 mmHg (IQR 28.25–34.25) in the standing position produced a moderate, non-significant improvement of EF of 17%. Inelastic bandages with a resting pressure of 20.5 mmHg (IQR 20–22) in the supine position resulting in a standing pressure of 36 mmHg (IQR 33–40.75) led to a significant increase of EF of 61.5% ( P < 0.01). A further increase of the resting pressure to 40 and 60 mmHg achieved an increase of the EF of 91% and 98%, respectively ( P < 0.001).

Conclusions

In patients with venous pumping failure, inelastic bandages produce a significant pressure-dependent increase of EF. A significant improvement in venous pumping function was achieved with inelastic bandages even at a resting pressure of 20 mmHg.
Sclerotherapy of telangiectases and reticular veins: a double-blind, randomized, comparative clinical trial of polidocanol, sodium tetradecyl sulphate and isotonic saline (EASI study)
Authors: Rabe E , Schliephake D , Otto J , Breu F X , Pannier F
Published: May 2010

Objectives

To assess the efficacy and safety of polidocanol (POL) in comparison to sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS) and isotonic saline (placebo) for sclerotherapy of telangiectases or reticular veins by means of standardized digital imaging system, independent medical observers and detailed monitoring.

Methods

Of 316 randomized patients, 160 with telangiectases were randomly assigned to 0.5% POL, 1% STS or placebo, and 156 with reticular veins received 1% POL, 1% STS or placebo. Veins selected for injection were clearly visible telangiectases or reticular veins in a predefined treatment area (10×10 cm). Exact retrieval of the location was guaranteed by a newly established digital imaging system. Images were taken before first injection and 12 and 26 weeks after the last of three possible injection visits, and evaluated by the investigator and two blinded independent observers. The detailed safety monitoring included ultrasound screening for 'silent' deep vein thrombosis, electrocardiograms and clinical laboratory tests.

Results

POL demonstrated a statistically significant superiority versus placebo ( P < 0.0001) for the primary criterion 'improvement of veins'. Significantly more patients were satisfied with POL at 12 or 26 weeks (84%, 88%) compared to STS (64%, 63%; P < 0.0001) and placebo (14%, 11%; P < 0.0001). POL was safe and well tolerated apart from expected local symptoms at the injection site.

Conclusion

Sclerotherapy of telangiectases and reticular veins with detergent-like sclerosants such as polidocanol (POL) or sodium tetradecyl sulphate (STS) is a well-established technique. However, evidence from clinical trials comparing these substances with a non-active solution is sparse and does not live up to expectations of modern clinical trial concepts necessary for authorisation purposes. The presented multicentre EASI study fulfils these requirements and clearly demonstrates that Sclerotherapy of C1 veins with POL is highly effective and deserves the adjunct 'gold standard'.
Multidrug resistant typhoid fever outbreak in Ercek Village–Van, Eastern Anatolia, Turkey: clinical profile, sensitivity patterns and response to antimicrobials
Authors: Aypak Adalet , Çelik Ali Kutta , Aypak Cenk , Çikman Öztekin
Published: May 2010

The present study discusses the clinical features and treatment outcomes during an outbreak caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella typhi isolates from Van, Turkey. Of the 867 typhoid fever patients from the same village, 154 (17.8%) were hospitalised. A total of 42 (27.3%) cultures were positive. All S. typhi isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and co-trimoxazole. Ceftriaxone was the most commonly used antibiotic (89%). It was found that the time-to-fever defervescence and the length of the hospital stay were greater for patients who were treated by ciprofloxacin than ceftriaxone ( P <0.001). Inappropriate antibiotic treatment should be discouraged in order to prevent the development of resistant strains of S. typhi.
Pulmonary melioidosis in febrile neutropenia: the rare and deadly duet
Authors: Mukhopadhyay C , Chawla K , Vandana K E , Krishna S , Saravu K
Published: May 2010

We present the first two fulminant cases of pulmonary melioidosis in febrile neutropenic patients with acute and varied presentations seen in our institution and their fatal outcome. A high index of suspicion coupled with microbiological confirmation can facilitate the administration of the appropriate therapy in cases of melioidosis that differ from other bacterial infections in terms of presentation and the response to antimicrobials.
Prevalence of tuberculosis in patients with cirrhosis of liver in western India
Authors: Baijal R , Praveenkumar H R , Amarapurkar D N , Nagaraj K , Jain M
Published: May 2010

Tuberculosis is a common disease in India. Its prevalence is higher in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis in patients with liver cirrhosis in Western India. The prevalence was fifteen times higher than in the general population. It was significantly higher in alcoholics. The response to treatment and outcome were found to be favourable.
Why Are Bad Products So Hard to Kill?
Authors: Simester Duncan , Zhang Juanjuan
Published: May 2010

It is puzzling that firms often continue to invest in product development projects when they should know that demand will be low. We argue that bad products are hard to kill because firms face an inherent conflict when designing managers' incentives. Rewarding success encourages managers to forge ahead even when demand is low. To avoid investing in low-demand products, the firm must also reward decisions to kill products. However, rewarding managers for killing products effectively undermines the rewards for success. The inability to resolve this tension forces the firm to choose between paying an even larger bonus for success and accepting continued investment in low-demand products. We explore the boundaries of this argument by analyzing how the timing of demand information affects product investment decisions.
Detecting Management Fraud in Public Companies
Authors: Cecchini Mark , Aytug Haldun , Koehler Gary J. , Pathak Praveen
Published: May 2010

This paper provides a methodology for detecting management fraud using basic financial data. The methodology is based on support vector machines. An important aspect therein is a kernel that increases the power of the learning machine by allowing an implicit and generally nonlinear mapping of points, usually into a higher dimensional feature space. A kernel specific to the domain of finance is developed. This financial kernel constructs features shown in prior research to be helpful in detecting management fraud. A large empirical data set was collected, which included quantitative financial attributes for fraudulent and nonfraudulent public companies. Support vector machines using the financial kernel correctly labeled 80% of the fraudulent cases and 90.6% of the nonfraudulent cases on a holdout set. Furthermore, we replicate other leading fraud research studies using our data and find that our method has the highest accuracy on fraudulent cases and competitive accuracy on nonfraudulent cases. The results validate the financial kernel together with support vector machines as a useful method for discriminating between fraudulent and nonfraudulent companies using only publicly available quantitative financial attributes. The results also show that the methodology has predictive value because, using only historical data, it was able to distinguish fraudulent from nonfraudulent companies in subsequent years.
Vertically Differentiated Simultaneous Vickrey Auctions: Theory and Experimental Evidence
Authors: Bapna Ravi , Dellarocas Chrysanthos , Rice Sarah
Published: May 2010

We study settings where a number of sellers simultaneously offer vertically differentiated Vickrey auctions for imperfect substitute goods to unit-demand buyers. Vertical differentiation can arise from differences in item quality, item value certainty, seller reliability, or a combination of these factors. We characterize the form of the bidding equilibria and derive expressions for the corresponding allocative efficiency and expected seller revenue. When bidders are restricted to submit at most one bid, our theory predicts the existence of a unique Bayes-Nash equilibrium that resembles a form of probabilistic “mating-of-likes.” Allowing unit-demand bidders to place an arbitrary number of bids induces complex strategy profiles where bidders place positive bids in all available auctions. Higher bidder types tend to follow more targeted strategies, focusing their “serious” bids on fewer and, generally, higher quality auctions. The nature of the bidding equilibria introduces allocative inefficiencies that arise from the lack of coordination in auction selection among bidders. We test our theoretical propositions in a controlled laboratory experiment while also utilizing a domain specific risk score to help assess how the bidders' risk type affects their bidding behavior. In support of our theory we find evidence of a probabilistic assortative matching between bidder and auction types. We also find that low risk type bidders tend to crowd on the highest auction and will pay a premium for the certainty it offers, whereas high risk type bidders fail to appropriately adjust for risk associated with the lowest auction, leading to overbidding. These lead to an interesting focal anomaly whereby bids are concentrated on the highest and lowest auctions, bypassing intermediate auctions.
Mechanostereochemistry
Authors: Olson Mark A. , Botros Youssry Y. , Stoddart J. Fraser
Published: May 2010

Stereochemistry—in both its static and dynamic variants—has progressed apace now for more than a century to incorporate all aspects of covalent, coordinative, and noncovalent bonding at levels of structure which encompass constitution, configuration, and conformation. The advent of the mechanical bond in more recent times is now providing opportunities for the emergence of new stereochemical tenets and concepts, some of which bear close analogies with those of days gone by in chemistry. Since terminology helps to define and disseminate a discipline, we advocate that the term “mechanostereochemistry” be used to describe the chemistry of molecules with mechanical bonds.
Validity of the Zygosity Questionnaire and Characteristics of Zygosity-Misdiagnosed Twin Pairs in the Healthy Twin Study of Korea
Authors: Song Yun-Mi , Lee Dong-Hun , Lee Mi Kyoung , Lee Kayoung , Lee Hee Jung , Hong Eun Jung , Han Bokghee , Sung Joohon
Published: May 2010

Determining valid zygosity is a basic and important requirement in a twin study, because misdiagnosing zygosity leads to biased results. The Healthy Twin Study has collected data from adult like-sex twins and their families since 2005. In the study, a questionnaire to determine zygosity was developed comprising four questions; one concerning the degree of resemblance, and three concerning the degree of confusion by the resemblance. Among 2,761 individuals (624 twin pairs) of twin and their families, 406 pairs of twins (mean age 38.3, 63.5% women) with both questionnaire and genotype information were selected to examine the validity of the zygosity questionnaire using 16 short tandem repeat markers. We first determined individual zygosity including undetermined category, and then decided the zygosity of a twin pair using a decision tree. Sensitivity of questionnaire diagnosis was 98.8% for monozygotic (MZ) and 88.9% for dizygotic (DZ) twins, and positive predictive value was 97.2% for MZ and 95.0% for DZ. When we compared correctly and wrongly diagnosed twin pairs, misdiagnosed DZ twins (nine pairs) showed striking similarity in stature or obesity even exceeding that of true MZ twins. Our finding suggests that a parsimonious questionnaire method of diagnosing the zygosity will be useful, and adding physical or physiological measurements to a questionnaire of zygosity diagnosis will either confound the correct diagnosis or reduce the efficiency of the study compared with using questionnaire alone or with introducing genotyping.
Potential Brazilian wood species for bows of string instruments
Authors: Longui Eduardo Luiz , Lombardi Daniel Romeu , Alves Edenise Segala
Published: May 2010

Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (pau-brasil) is a Brazilian tree with symbolic character for Brazilian forestry, which is at risk of extinction because of illegal logging activities and exportation as raw material for bows of string instruments. Additional studies are required to select substitutes for pau-brasil, i.e., other wood species are being sought with potentially suitable characteristics for bow manufacture. The present paper is dedicated to the evaluation of six native Brazilian woods by comparing their anatomical features, specific gravity, speed of sound propagation, and dynamic modulus of elasticity in relation to the corresponding properties of C. echinata that are considered as standard for bow manufacture. The results showed that length, diameter, lumen diameter, and wall thickness of fibers are the most important variables contributing to specific gravity. Additionally, ray dimensions influenced sonic velocity. The values of dynamic modulus of elasticity are directly related to dimensions of rays and fibers. Among the six woods included in this study, Dipteryx spp., Handroanthus spp., and Hymenaea spp. were considered as the best alternatives to C. echinata wood as sources of bow construction. The bows from the first two woods were already tested by professional musicians and their suitability was certified. The Diplotropis spp. wood also showed promising characteristics. Mezilaurus itauba and Astronium lecointei do not have the necessary properties for bows.
Determination of native (wood derived) formaldehyde by the desiccator method in particleboards generated during panel production
Authors: Birkeland Michael J. , Lorenz Linda , Wescott James M. , Frihart Charles R.
Published: May 2010

Hot-pressing wood, particularly in the production of wood composites, generates significant “native” (wood-based) formaldehyde (FA), even in the absence of adhesive. The level of native FA relates directly to the time and temperature of hot-pressing. This native FA dissipates in a relatively short time and is not part of the long-term FA emission issue commonly associated with hydrolyzing urea-formaldehyde bonds. This paper demonstrates that the common desiccator/chromotropic acid method is very specific for FA and is not influenced by other volatile compounds set free from wood during hot-pressing. Furthermore, it is shown that particleboard produces native FA at high levels even in the absence of adhesives or in the presence of one type of no-added formaldehyde (NAF) adhesive. Soy-based adhesives suppress native FA emission and provide low FA emission levels in both the short and long term. This study highlights an often overlooked aspect that should be considered for emission testing: standardizing the time and conditions employed immediately after pressing and prior to the onset of emissions testing. Addressing this issue in more detail would improve the reliability of correlation between data obtained by rapid process monitoring methods and emission measurements in large chambers.
Quantitative determination and tissue distribution of human 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate transporter, glucocorticoid receptor and mineralocorticoid receptor mRNAs
Authors: Ohno Shuji , Ohta Masanori , Nakajin Shizuo
Published: May 2010

Background: Glucocorticoid (GC) concentrations in peripheral tissues are precisely regulated by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) isozymes. When considering the physiological effects of GC in various tissues, quantitative determination of these isozymes and other components involved in corticosteroid signaling is important and informative. We thus performed comprehensive determination of the expression of these mRNAs in a wide range of human tissues.

Methods: An absolute comparison of mRNA expression of human 11β-HSD isozymes, hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH), glucose-6-phosphate transporter (G6PT), glucocorticoid receptors (GRs), and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) was performed by real-time RT-PCR.

Results: Human 11β-HSD type 1 mRNA was strongly expressed in the liver and placenta at comparatively high levels. H6PDH was expressed at low copy number, and comparatively high expression was observed in the kidney, testis, and ovary. G6PT expression was ubiquitous, but marked expression was observed in the liver, kidney, small intestine, and colon. GRα was also ubiquitously expressed at relatively high levels, which were approximately 10-fold higher than those of MR, whereas GRβ levels were below the detection limit in all tissues. 11β-HSD type 2 was predominantly expressed in the kidney, small intestine and colon; however, copy numbers of these transcripts showed a nearly identical pattern to type 1. MR was observed in various tissues examined, but was not fully correlated to the distribution of 11β-HSD type 2.

Conclusions: The present quantitative results were partially consistent with previous studies. This quantification method can thus provide valuable information for understanding the physiological effects and physiological roles of glucocorticoid in humans.
The androgen receptor drives the sex-specific expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in endothelial cells but not lipid metabolism genes in monocyte-derived macrophages
Authors: McGrath Kristine C.-Y. , Hill Michelle D. , McRobb Lucinda S. , Heather Alison K.
Published: May 2010

Background: Anecdotal evidence suggests that male sex hormones are proatherogenic. We hypothesized that the male sex hormone receptor, the androgen receptor (AR), acts as a molecular switch in sex-specific inflammatory signaling in vascular cells.

Materials and methods: AR expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) or HeLa cells was modulated by transfection with AR siRNA or human AR cDNA expression vector. Activity and expression levels were measured by luciferase reporter assays, Western blotting or real-time PCR analysis.

Results: AR knockdown reduced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in genetically male HUVECs. Conversely, AR upregulation in genetically female HUVECs induced VCAM-1 expression and increased dihydrotestosterone-stimulated monocyte adhesion. Co-transfection of an AR expression vector with VCAM-1 or NF-κB-reporter vectors into phenotypically female, AR-negative HeLa cells confirmed AR regulation of VCAM-1 expression as well as AR activation of NF-κB. AR upregulation was not sufficient to increase ICAM-1 levels in female HUVECs or lipoprotein metabolism gene expression in female MDMs, despite AR knockdown limiting expression in their male counterparts.

Conclusions: AR acts as a molecular switch to induce VCAM-1 expression. Low AR levels in female HUVECs limit NF-κB/VCAM-1 induction and monocyte adhesion and could contribute to the gender bias in cardiovascular disease. Unidentified factors in female cells limit induction of other proatherogenic genes not primarily regulated by NF-κB.
Preoperative low serum testosterone levels are associated with tumor aggressiveness in radical prostatectomy treated cancer patients
Authors: Botto Henry , Neuzillet Yann , Lebret Thierry , Camparo Philippe , Molinie Vincent , Raynaud Jean-Pierre
Published: May 2010

Background: The aim of this study was to characterize the aggressiveness of prostate cancer as assessed by the Gleason score (GS), the predominant Gleason pattern (pGP), and testosterone (T) serum concentration.

Methods: A total of 247 patients, referred to our Department (from January 2007 to December 2009) for a radical prostatectomy, underwent preoperative T and bioavailable testosterone (samplings between 07:00 and 10:00 h). Serum determinations (radioimmunoassayed in a central laboratory). GS and pGP were determined in prostate biopsies and prostate tissue specimens.

Results: In biopsy specimens, a GS7 was observed in 105 (43%) patients; 25 (10%) had pGP4. In prostate specimens, 163 (66%) had a GS7; 60 (24%) had pGP4. For prostate specimens, comparing the 75 patients with pGP4 (GS 4+3, 4+4 and 4+5) to the 172 with pGP3 (GS 3+3 and 3+4), T was lower (4.03 vs. 4.75 ng/mL, p=0.003) and prostrate-specific antigen (PSA) higher (11.1 vs. 7.3 ng/mL, p<0.00001). Extra prostatic extension and positive margins were observed more frequently (52% vs. 18%, p<0.000001 and 29% vs. 15%, p=0.009, respectively). The 40 patients with T <3.0 ng/mL were larger (+5 kg, body mass index: +1.7 kg/m2), PSA was higher (9.9 vs. 8.2 ng/mL, p=0.07). They had a higher percent of GS with pGP4: 53% vs. 25% (p=0.0008).

Conclusions: Aggressiveness of the tumor cannot be properly estimated by the GS and pGP found in biopsies. The pGP in prostate specimens is of paramount importance, particularly in the case of a Gleason 7, to appreciate the outcomes and to choose the treatment. Preoperative testosterone should be added to PSA determination to improve prediction of treatment outcomes.
Recent advances on the action of estrogens and progestogens in normal and pathological human endometrium
Authors: Pasqualini Jorge R. , Chetrite Gérard S.
Published: May 2010

Hormonal control in the development of the normal endometrium is of the utmost importance. It is well established that the two main hormones involved in this process are estradiol and progesterone, which are also implicated in the pathological conditions concerning endometriosis and endometrial carcinoma. There are two types of endometrial carcinoma: type I which represents 80%–90% is hormone-dependent, whereas the remainder is type II and is hormone-independent. The endometrial tissue contains all the enzymatic systems in the formation and transformation of the various hormones, including aromatases, sulfatases, sulfotransferases, hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, hydroxylases, and glucuronidases. It is interesting to note that increased sulfatase activity is correlated with severity of endometriosis. An increased sulfatase/sulfotransferase ratio represents a poor prognosis in patients with endometrial carcinoma. Treatment with hormone replacement therapy (estrogens+progestogens), as well as with tibolone, is most effective in protecting this tissue by climacteric alterations, owing to the significant decrease of ovarian hormones. In conclusion, enzymatic control can open appealing perspectives to protect this organ from possible pathological alterations.
Testosterone, androgen receptor gene CAG repeat length, mood and behaviour in adolescent males
Authors: Vermeersch Hans , T'Sjoen Guy , Kaufman Jean Marc , Vincke John , Van Houtte Mieke
Published: May 2010

Objectives

Androgen activity has been implicated in a range of traits and behaviours that have well-documented sex differences. However, the results of the studies on the relationship between testosterone and these traits and behaviours are inconsistent. This study has analyzed i) whether CAG repeat length, a presumed modulator of androgen receptor sensitivity, is associated with sex-dimorphic traits and behaviours (aggressive and non-aggressive risk-taking (ART and NART), dominance, depressive symptoms and self-esteem), and ii) whether CAG repeat length interacts with free testosterone (FT) with respect to these traits and behaviours.

Design and methods

Data obtained from a group of adolescent boys (n=301; mean age: 14.4 years) were analyzed using multivariate general linear modelling (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA 15.0).

Results

We found no direct correlation between CAG repeat length and dependent variables. We found significant interactions between CAG repeat length and testosterone, indicating that FT was more positively related to ART and NART with a shorter repeat length, and that an inverse association of FT with depressive symptoms and a positive association with self-esteem were stronger in boys with a longer CAG repeat length.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate the importance of studying FT and CAG repeat length simultaneously with respect to sex-dimorphic traits, taking into account the possible interactions between the two.
Effect of smoking on the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D depends on the assay employed
Authors: Grimnes Guri , Almaas Bjørg , Eggen Anne Elise , Emaus Nina , Figenschau Yngve , Hopstock Laila Arnesdatter , Hutchinson Moira Strand , Methlie Paal , Mihailova Albena , Sneve Monica , Torjesen Peter , Wilsgaard Tom , Jorde Rolf
Published: May 2010

Objective

Because we found higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels among smokers than among non-smokers with analyses using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) from Roche, the purpose of the present study was to examine whether this difference between smokers and non-smokers was maintained using other serum 25(OH)D assays.

Design

A cross-sectional population-based study on 6932 participants from the Tromsø study, 1994–1995, and one validation study comparing six different serum 25(OH)D assays in 53 non-smokers and 54 smokers were performed.

Methods

The association between smoking, season and serum 25(OH)D as measured by ECLIA (Roche) was assessed in the population-based study using general linear models with multivariate adjustments. In the validation study, serum levels of 25(OH)D were analysed with liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry assay from two different laboratories, RIA (DiaSorin), HPLC, RIA (IDS) and ECLIA (Roche). T-tests and linear mixed model analyses were performed to compare the serum 25(OH)D levels in smokers and non-smokers within and between the methods.

Results

In the population-based study, the serum levels of 25(OH)D using the ECLIA method were 51.9, 53.2 and 72.0 nmol/l in never, former and current smokers (P<0.01). In the validation study, the serum concentration of 25(OH)D was 10.3 nmol/l higher in smokers than in non-smokers (P<0.01) using the ECLIA (Roche), while non-significantly lower serum levels of 25(OH)D were found in smokers using the other five methods.

Conclusions

These two studies indicate that the ECLIA (Roche) overestimates serum 25(OH)D levels in smokers by unknown mechanisms. If confirmed, this might have clinical consequences, and the issue needs further exploration.
The Use of Family Relationships and Linkage Disequilibrium to Impute Phase and Missing Genotypes in Up to Whole-Genome Sequence Density Genotypic Data
Authors: Meuwissen Theo , Goddard Mike
Published: May 2010

A novel method, called linkage disequilibrium multilocus iterative peeling (LDMIP), for the imputation of phase and missing genotypes is developed. LDMIP performs an iterative peeling step for every locus, which accounts for the family data, and uses a forward–backward algorithm to accumulate information across loci. Marker similarity between haplotype pairs is used to impute possible missing genotypes and phases, which relies on the linkage disequilibrium between closely linked markers. After this imputation step, the combined iterative peeling/forward–backward algorithm is applied again, until convergence. The calculations per iteration scale linearly with number of markers and number of individuals in the pedigree, which makes LDMIP well suited to large numbers of markers and/or large numbers of individuals. Per iteration calculations scale quadratically with the number of alleles, which implies biallelic markers are preferred. In a situation with up to 15% randomly missing genotypes, the error rate of the imputed genotypes was <1% and ∼99% of the missing genotypes were imputed. In another example, LDMIP was used to impute whole-genome sequence data consisting of 17,321 SNPs on a chromosome. Imputation of the sequence was based on the information of 20 (re)sequenced founder individuals and genotyping their descendants for a panel of 3000 SNPs. The error rate of the imputed SNP genotypes was 10%. However, if the parents of these 20 founders are also sequenced, >99% of missing genotypes are imputed correctly.
Postconcussive Symptoms and Neurocognitive Function After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Children
Authors: Sroufe Nicole S. , Fuller Douglas S. , West Brady T. , Singal Bonita M. , Warschausky Seth A. , Maio Ronald F.
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVES:

We describe children's postconcussive symptoms (PCSs), neurocognitive function, and recovery during 4 to 5 weeks after mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) and compare performance and recovery with those of injured control group participants without MTBIs.

METHODS:

A prospective, longitudinal, observational study was performed with a convenience sample from a tertiary care, pediatric emergency department. Participants were children 10 to 17 years of age who were treated in the emergency department and discharged. The MTBI group included patients with blunt head trauma, Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 13 to 15, loss of consciousness for ≤30 minutes, posttraumatic amnesia of ≤24 hours, altered mental status, or focal neurologic deficits, and no intracranial abnormalities. The control group included patients with injuries excluding the head. The Post-Concussion Symptom Questionnaire and domain-specific neurocognitive tests were completed at baseline and at 1 and 4 to 5 weeks after injury.

RESULTS:

Twenty-eight MTBI group participants and 45 control group participants were compared. There were no significant differences in demographic features. Control group participants reported some PCSs; however, MTBI group participants reported significantly more PCSs at all times. Among MTBI group participants, PCSs persisted for 5 weeks after injury, decreasing significantly between 1 and 4 to 5 weeks. Patterns of recovery on the Trail-Making Test Part B differed significantly between groups; performance on other neurocognitive measures did not differ.

CONCLUSIONS:

In children 10 to 17 years of age, self-reported PCSs were not exclusive to patients with MTBIs. However, PCSs and recovery patterns for the Trail-Making Test Part B differed significantly between the groups.
Infant Race Affects Application of Clinical Guidelines When Screening for Drugs of Abuse in Newborns
Authors: Ellsworth Marc A. , Stevens Timothy P. , D'Angio Carl T.
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND:

Screening for illicit drugs in newborns has privacy, social, and legal risks for families of the infants. Established drug-screening criteria may be applied in a manner that considers nonproven risk factors such as race in addition to evidence-based factors.

OBJECTIVE:

The goal of this study was to determine if race was used as a criterion for screening infants for intrauterine cocaine exposure. We hypothesized that infants of black mothers would be more likely to be screened regardless of whether they met the standard criteria for screening of our institution's NICU.

METHODS:

We used the electronic medical records of newborn infants and their mothers to determine which mother-infant pairs had documented evidence of meeting the criteria for screening infants for prenatal exposure to illicit drugs set forth in the guidelines of our NICU. We then assessed the rates of drug screening to determine the strongest predictors of whether an infant would be screened.

RESULTS:

We assessed 2121 mother-infant pairs. Infants born to black mothers were more likely than those born to white mothers to have screening performed whether they met screening criteria (35.1% vs 12.9%; P < .001) or did not (5.3% vs 1.2%; P < .001). In a logistic regression analysis, black race remained independently associated (odds ratio: 2.17 [95% confidence interval: 1.25–3.79]) with drug screening even when we controlled for our standard screening criteria and income, insurance status, and maternal education.

CONCLUSION:

Providers seemed to have used race, in addition to recognized risk criteria, as a factor in deciding whether to screen an infant for maternal illicit drug use.
Hospital Readmissions and Survival After Nonneonatal Pediatric ECMO
Authors: Jen Howard C. , Shew Stephen B.
Published: May 2010

PURPOSE:

The late effects of treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in nonneonatal pediatric patients remain unclear. The aims of our study were to better characterize the long-term survival and hospital readmission rates for pediatric patients after ECMO treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

From 1999 to 2006, data on children aged 1 month to 18 years who underwent ECMO were extracted from the California Patient Discharge Database. Data from patients with diagnoses of congenital cardiac disease were excluded. We analyzed patient data on initial hospital course, subsequent readmissions, development of long-term morbidities, and long-term survival.

RESULTS:

The study cohort consisted of 188 children from 13 California hospitals. The median age was 3 years, and 46% of the patients survived to hospital discharge. ECMO indications included acquired heart disease in 81 patients, pneumonia in 56, other respiratory failure in 22, sepsis in 8, trauma in 8, and other indications in 12. Of the 87 survivors, 56 were tracked for a median period of 3.7 years. The readmission rate was 62%, and the mean time to first readmission was 1.2 years. Readmissions for respiratory infections were observed in 34% of the patients and for reactive airway disease in 7%. Neurologically debilitating conditions (epilepsy [7%] and developmental delay [9%]) occurred in 16%. Late deaths occurred in 5% of the children. Readmitted survivors had a cumulative length of readmission hospitalization of 8 days and hospital charge of $43 000. Cox proportional hazard regression demonstrated a positive relationship between treatment-center case volume and long-term survival outcomes (hazard ratio: 0.98 per case; P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

Pediatric ECMO survivors suffered from significant long-term morbidities after initial hospital discharge. More than 60% of these children required subsequent readmissions, and late deaths were observed in 5%. Furthermore, hospitals with high case volumes were associated with improved long-term survival.
Breastfeeding and Risk for Fever After Immunization
Authors: Pisacane Alfredo , Continisio Paola , Palma Orsola , Cataldo Stefania , De Michele Fabiola , Vairo Ugo
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of breastfeeding on the risk for fever after routine immunizations.

METHODS:

A prospective cohort study was conducted at a pediatric vaccination center in Naples, Italy. The mothers of the infants scheduled to receive routine immunizations were instructed on how to measure and record infant temperature on the evening of the vaccination and for the subsequent 3 days. The information about the incidence of fever was obtained by telephone on the third day after vaccination. The relative risk for fever in relation to the type of breastfeeding was estimated in multivariate analyses that adjusted for vaccine dose, maternal education and smoking, and number of other children in the household.

RESULTS:

A total of 460 infants were recruited, and information on the outcome was obtained for 450 (98%). Fever was reported for 30 (25%), 48 (31%), and 94 (53%) of the infants who were being exclusively breastfed, partially breastfed, or not breastfed at all, respectively (P < .01). The relative risk for fever among infants who were exclusively and partially breastfed was 0.46 (95% confidence interval: 0.33–0.66) and 0.58 (95% confidence interval: 0.44–0.77), respectively. The protection conferred by breastfeeding persisted even when considering the role of several potential confounders.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this study, breastfeeding was associated with a decreased incidence of fever after immunizations.
Cesarean Delivery Is Associated With Celiac Disease but Not Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children
Authors: Decker Evalotte , Engelmann Guido , Findeisen Annette , Gerner Patrick , Laaβ Martin , Ney Dietrich , Posovszky Carsten , Hoy Ludwig , Hornef Mathias W.
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study was to analyze a possible association between cesarean delivery and enteric inflammatory diseases in children.

METHODS:

A retrospective, multicenter, case-control study that included 1950 children was performed in cooperation with 26 university and 16 nonacademic children's hospitals. Information on intestinal disease manifestation, together with mode of delivery and gestational age at birth, postnatal complications, and breastfeeding, was collected by the attending physician from children and their parents who were visiting a gastrointestinal outpatient clinic for Crohn disease (CD; 516 cases), ulcerative colitis (250 cases), celiac disease (157 cases), and other gastrointestinal diseases (165 cases) and control subjects who were visiting ophthalmologic, orthodontic, and dental outpatient clinics (862 cases).

RESULTS:

Whereas the rate of cesarean delivery of children with Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis was similar to that of control subjects, a significantly enhanced likelihood of being born by cesarean delivery was found in children with celiac disease compared with control subjects (odds ratio: 1.8 [95% confidence interval: 1.13–2.88]; P = .014).

CONCLUSIONS:

The mode of delivery and associated alterations in the development of the enteric homeostasis during the neonatal period might influence the incidence of celiac disease.
Physical and Functional Impact of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in Childhood
Authors: Kennedy Gwen , Underwood Christine , Belch Jill Janette Freda
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to compare self-reported and parent-reported quality of life for a group of pediatric patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and age- and gender-matched healthy control children, to determine the extent of functional and physical impairment.

METHODS:

The Child Health Questionnaire was completed by 25 children with CFS/ME, who were recruited throughout the United Kingdom, and by 23 age-, gender-, and Tanner scale-matched control children. In addition, patients were asked questions about the background to their illness (ie, precipitating factors), the status of their illness, and school attendance.

RESULTS:

The median illness duration for patients was 3 years. Sixty-eight percent of the children said that their illness developed quickly, and the illness had an infectious onset for 88%. Only 1 child (4%) attended school full-time, whereas 12 (48%) attended school part-time and 8 (32%) received home tuition only. Children with CFS/ME scored significantly lower for 10 of 14 Child Health Questionnaire concepts; the lowest scores were observed for global health (scores of 21.4 and 84.1 for patients and control subjects, respectively; P < .0001) and role/social limitations attributable to physical health problems (scores of 24.9 and 100, respectively; P < .0001). Quality of life for the children with CFS/ME compared unfavorably with previously published results for pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus or asthma.

CONCLUSION:

The quality of life of children with CFS/ME was profoundly reduced, compared with that of their healthy counterparts.
Infant Weight Gain and School-age Blood Pressure and Cognition in Former Preterm Infants
Authors: Belfort Mandy B. , Martin Camilia R. , Smith Vincent C. , Gillman Matthew W. , McCormick Marie C.
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVES:

More rapid infant weight gain may be associated with better neurodevelopment but also with higher blood pressure (BP). The objective of this study was to determine the extent to which infant weight gain is associated with systolic BP (SBP) and IQ at school age in former preterm, low birth weight infants.

METHODS:

We studied 911 participants in the Infant Health and Development Program, an 8-center longitudinal study of children born at ≤37 weeks' gestation and ≤2500 g. Study staff weighed participants at term and at 4 and 12 months' corrected ages; measured BP 3 times at 6.5 years; and administered the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition (WISC-III), an IQ test, at 8 years. In linear regression, we modeled our exposure “infant weight gain” as the 12-month weight z score adjusted for the term weight z score.

RESULTS:

Median (interquartile range) weight z score was −0.7 (−1.5 to −0.0) at 12 months. Mean ± SD SBP at 6.5 years was 104.2 ± 8.4 mmHg, and mean ± SD WISC-III total score at 8 years was 91 ± 18. Adjusting for child gender, age, and race and maternal education, income, age, IQ, and smoking, for each z score additional weight gain from term to 12 months, SBP was 0.7 mmHg higher and WISC-III total score was 1.9 points higher.

CONCLUSIONS:

In preterm infants, there seem to be modest neurodevelopmental advantages of more rapid weight gain in the first year of life and only small BP-related effects.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Urinary Metabolites of Organophosphate Pesticides
Authors: Bouchard Maryse F. , Bellinger David C. , Wright Robert O. , Weisskopf Marc G.
Published: May 2010

OBJECTIVE:

The goal was to examine the association between urinary concentrations of dialkyl phosphate metabolites of organophosphates and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children 8 to 15 years of age.

METHODS:

Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2000–2004) were available for 1139 children, who were representative of the general US population. A structured interview with a parent was used to ascertain ADHD diagnostic status, on the basis of slightly modified criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.

RESULTS:

One hundred nineteen children met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD. Children with higher urinary dialkyl phosphate concentrations, especially dimethyl alkylphosphate (DMAP) concentrations, were more likely to be diagnosed as having ADHD. A 10-fold increase in DMAP concentration was associated with an odds ratio of 1.55 (95% confidence interval: 1.14–2.10), with adjustment for gender, age, race/ethnicity, poverty/income ratio, fasting duration, and urinary creatinine concentration. For the most-commonly detected DMAP metabolite, dimethyl thiophosphate, children with levels higher than the median of detectable concentrations had twice the odds of ADHD (adjusted odds ratio: 1.93 [95% confidence interval: 1.23–3.02]), compared with children with undetectable levels.

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings support the hypothesis that organophosphate exposure, at levels common among US children, may contribute to ADHD prevalence. Prospective studies are needed to establish whether this association is causal.
Mechanisms and Regulation of the Gene-Expression Response to Sepsis
Authors: Cornell Timothy T. , Wynn James , Shanley Thomas P. , Wheeler Derek S. , Wong Hector R.
Published: May 2010

Sepsis is defined as the systemic inflammatory response of the human host that is triggered by an invading pathogen. Despite tremendous advances in both our knowledge of and treatment strategies for this syndrome, sepsis remains among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Thus, we hypothesize that an improved mechanistic understanding obtained via basic and translational science will continue to identify novel therapeutic targets and approaches. As a result, given the central importance of the alterations in gene expression in regulating the human host's physiologic response to a pathogen, we review the complex factors—genetics, transcriptional expression, and epigenetics—that regulate unique gene-expression patterns in pediatric sepsis and septic shock. We anticipate that emerging data from genetic, genomic, and other translation studies in pediatric sepsis will advance our biological understanding of this response and undoubtedly identify targets for newer therapies.
On composite interrelationship in literary translation
Authors: Tian Chuanmao
Published: May 2010

Complex relations, such as those between and within intertextuality, intersubjectivity and interculturality, are inherent in all kinds of translation, especially in literary translation. These relations themselves interact with each other to form higher-level relations which may be labelled “composite interrelationship” (CI). Research on composite interrelationship can help traditional Translation Studies break away from the research paradigms of mono-centrism and dualism, thus allowing translation phenomena to be seen as a multi-dimensional and multi-directional network of interrelationships. More importantly, it can help us better understand fidelity as copying of inherent relations in the source text and creation as conscious or unconscious establishment of new relations in the target text in literary translation from a new angle. Research on composite interrelationship may possibly open up a new area of “inter-” studies for translation research.
Legal transplant and cultural transfer: The legal translation in Hong Kong
Authors: Wang Ling
Published: May 2010

This paper examines the relationship between legal transplant and legal translation and their roles in cultural transfer. It classifies legal transplants into two kinds: legal imposition at the socio-political level and legal translation at the socio-linguistic level. Legal translation is usually the major conduit of legal transplant in the case of legal reform in the receiving country. Since transplantation involves the transfer of the conceptual thinking of the imported law, legal transplant often brings about a transfer of legal culture. Legal translation as a form of legal transplant always involves the transfer of the legal culture of the translated law at the socio-linguistic level. Legal translation in the context of Hong Kong serves as a case of foreignization, requiring both linguistic and conceptual adjustment of the translating language to accommodate the imported culture.
Perceived benefits of translator certification to stakeholders in the translation profession: A survey of vendor managers
Authors: Chan Andy
Published: May 2010

Despite a “social turn” in the field of Translation Studies, there have been few systematic and descriptive studies of the translation profession. In this paper, the theoretical framework of information economics is utilized to examine the perceived benefits of translator certification to stakeholders in the translation profession. The vendor managers (i.e. the persons who are responsible for hiring translators in translation companies) were surveyed using an online questionnaire. The translation companies surveyed are a fairly diversified sample of the population of translation companies in the world representing small, medium-sized and large players. The respondents see translator certification as something that can enhance the overall image of the translation profession. In their view, certification does bring some benefits to translators who hold it (e.g. increase in number of job offers, higher self-esteem and respect from co-workers). However, increased monetary benefits brought by translator certification might be minimal. Translation companies generally welcome a system of translator certification, as it provides a relatively reliable signal of applicants’ linguistic ability, and this has made the recruitment process easier and more time-efficient.