bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Micro‐Optics for Photolithography
Authors: Voelkel Reinhard
Published: April 2016

Photolithography is the engine that empowered semiconductor industry to reduce the minimum feature size of the components of a microchip from some 50 microns in the 1960s to below 14 nanometers today. Diffractive and refractive micro‐optical components play a decisive role in modern photolithography systems, e.g. for laser line width narrowing, laser beam shaping (customized illumination), as phaseshift masks, for optical proximity correction, and for diffraction‐based overlay. Wafer‐based manufacturing of high‐quality micro‐optics and their importance for photolithography will be explained.
Case‐only designs for studying the association of antidepressants and hip or femur fracture
Authors: de Groot Mark C. H. , Candore Gianmario , Uddin Md. Jamal , Souverein Patrick C. , Ali M. Sanni , Belitser Svetlana V. , Huerta Consuelo , Groenwold Rolf H. H. , Alvarez Yolanda , Slattery Jim , Korevaar Joke , Hoes Arno W. , Roes Kit C. B. , de Boer Anthonius , Douglas Ian J. , Schlienger Raymond G. , Reynolds Robert , Klungel Olaf H. , Gardarsdottir Helga
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance and validity of the case‐crossover (CCO) and self‐controlled case‐series (SCCS) designs when studying the association between hip/femur fracture (HF) and antidepressant (AD) use in general practitioner databases. In addition, comparability with cohort and case–control designs is discussed.

Methods

Adult patients with HF and who received an AD prescription during 2001–2009 were identified from UK's The Health Improvement Network (THIN) and the Dutch Mondriaan databases. AD exposure was classified into current, recent and past/non‐use (reference). In the CCO, for each patient, a case moment (date of HF) and four prior control moments at −91, −182, −273 and −365 days were defined. In SCCS, incidence of HF was compared between exposure states. Conditional logistic regression was used in the CCO and Poisson regression in the SCCS to compute odds ratios and incidence rate ratios, respectively. In CCO, we adjusted for time‐varying co‐medication and in SCCS for age.

Results

Adjusted estimates for the effect of current AD exposure on HF were higher in the CCO (co‐medication‐adjusted odds ratio, THIN: 2.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.04–2.47; Mondriaan: 2.57, 95%CI [1.50, 4.43]) than in the SCCS (age‐adjusted incidence rate ratio, THIN: 1.41, 95%CI [1.32, 1.49]; Mondriaan: 2.14, 95%CI [1.51, 3.03]). The latter were comparable with the traditional designs.

Conclusion

Case‐only designs confirmed the association between AD and HF. The CCO design violated assumptions in this study with regard to exchangeability and length of exposure, and transient effects on outcome. The SCCS seems to be an appropriate design for assessing AD–HF association. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding inconsistency in the results from observational pharmacoepidemiological studies: the case of antidepressant use and risk of hip/femur fractures
Authors: Souverein Patrick C. , Abbing‐Karahagopian Victoria , Martin Elisa , Huerta Consuelo , de Abajo Francisco , Leufkens Hubert G. M. , Candore Gianmario , Alvarez Yolanda , Slattery Jim , Miret Montserrat , Requena Gema , Gil Miguel J. , Groenwold Rolf H. H. , Reynolds Robert , Schlienger Raymond G. , Logie John W. , de Groot Mark C. H. , Klungel Olaf H. , van Staa Tjeerd P. , Egberts Toine C. G. , De Bruin Marie L. , Gardarsdottir Helga
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Results from observational studies on the same exposure–outcome association may be inconsistent because of variations in methodological factors, clinical factors or health care systems. We evaluated the consistency of results assessing the association between antidepressant use and the risk of hip/femur fractures in three European primary care databases using two different study designs.

Methods

Cohort and nested case control studies were conducted in three European primary care databases (Spanish BIFAP, Dutch Mondriaan and UK THIN) to assess the association between use of antidepressants and hip/femur fracture. A common protocol and statistical analysis plan was applied to harmonize study design and conduct between data sources.

Results

Current use of antidepressants was consistently associated with a 1.5 to 2.5‐fold increased risk of hip/femur fractures in all data sources with both designs, with estimates for SSRIs generally higher than those for TCAs. In general, risk estimates in Mondriaan, the smallest data source, were higher compared to the other data sources. This difference may be partially explained by an interaction between SSRI and age in Mondriaan. Adjustment for GP‐recorded lifestyle factors and matching on general practice had negligible impact on adjusted relative risk estimates.

Conclusion

We found a consistent increased risk of hip/femur fracture with current use of antidepressants across different databases and different designs. Applying similar pharmacoepidemiological study methods resulted in similar risks for TCA use and some variation for SSRI use. Some of these differences may express real (or natural) variance in the exposure‐outcome co‐occurrences. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Instrumental variables analysis using multiple databases: an example of antidepressant use and risk of hip fracture
Authors: Uddin Md Jamal , Groenwold Rolf H. H. , de Boer Anthonius , Gardarsdottir Helga , Martin Elisa , Candore Gianmario , Belitser Svetlana V. , Hoes Arno W. , Roes Kit C. B. , Klungel Olaf H.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Instrumental variable (IV) analysis can control for unmeasured confounding, yet it has not been widely used in pharmacoepidemiology. We aimed to assess the performance of IV analysis using different IVs in multiple databases in a study of antidepressant use and hip fracture.

Methods

Information on adults with at least one prescription of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) during 2001–2009 was extracted from the THIN (UK), BIFAP (Spain), and Mondriaan (Netherlands) databases. IVs were created using the proportion of SSRI prescriptions per practice or using the one, five, or ten previous prescriptions by a physician. Data were analysed using conventional Cox regression and two‐stage IV models.

Results

In the conventional analysis, SSRI (vs. TCA) was associated with an increased risk of hip fracture, which was consistently found across databases: the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was approximately 1.35 for time‐fixed and 1.50 to 2.49 for time‐varying SSRI use, while the IV analysis based on the IVs that appeared to satisfy the IV assumptions showed conflicting results, e.g. the adjusted HRs ranged from 0.55 to 2.75 for time‐fixed exposure. IVs for time‐varying exposure violated at least one IV assumption and were therefore invalid.

Conclusions

This multiple database study shows that the performance of IV analysis varied across the databases for time‐fixed and time‐varying exposures and strongly depends on the definition of IVs. It remains challenging to obtain valid IVs in pharmacoepidemiological studies, particularly for time‐varying exposure, and IV analysis should therefore be interpreted cautiously. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Traditional Japanese formulas tokishakuyakusan and ogikenchuto suppress dermal sclerosis in bleomycin‐induced murine scleroderma
Authors: Jeong Seonjung , Kimura Mari , Fujimoto Makoto , Nogami Tatsuya , Watari Hidetoshi , Hikiami Hiroaki , Shimada Yutaka
Published: April 2016

Aim

Systemic scleroderma is a connective tissue disease of unknown etiology characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. There are few effective treatments for this disease. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of the traditional Japanese medicines keishibukuryogan (KBG), tokishakuyakusan (TSS), and ogikenchuto (OKT) in treating systemic scleroderma.

Methods

Dermal sclerosis was induced in mice by daily injection of bleomycin. The mice were randomly divided into five groups based on treatment: KBG, TSS, and OKT groups (250 mg/kg/day), and two groups given water only (the sham and control groups). The sham group received local phosphate‐buffered saline injections (without bleomycin), and the control group received local bleomycin injections (without treatment). Kampo treatment groups also received local bleomycin injections. A daily dose of 0.01 mL of either kampo solution or water/g·bodyweight was given orally (through a stomach tube) for 4 weeks.

Results

On histology at week 4, significantly fewer mast cells had infiltrated into the dermis in the TSS and OKT groups than in the control group; dermal sclerosis was also less severe in these groups. Furthermore, at week 1, the KBG, TSS, and OKT groups had significantly reduced serum transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‐β1). OKT and TSS had significantly reduced the level of malondialdehyde in the skin tissue.

Conclusion

OKT and TSS suppressed the progression of dermal sclerosis by inhibiting mast cell infiltration, as well as by decreasing TGF‐β1 and oxidative stress.
Examining the characteristics and managerial challenges of professional services: An empirical study of management consultancy in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sector
Authors: Brandon‐Jones Alistair , Lewis Michael , Verma Rohit , Walsman Matthew C.
Published: April 2016

This paper finds that OM's ‘one‐size‐fits‐all’ characterization of professional services, namely high levels of customer engagement, extensive customization, knowledge intensity, and low levels of capital intensity, does not hold when carrying out a ‘deep dive’ (to the best of our knowledge, a first in this area of OM) into consultancy in the US travel, tourism, and hospitality sector. We analyse mixed‐method data (semi‐structured interviews, focus groups, and a best–worst choice experimental survey) and observe that consultancy can actually be quite remote and passive and that any periods of face‐to‐face ‘engagement’ will typically be time limited and focused on specific project phases. Moreover, and further confirming the value of a study that allowed us to investigate professional service operations in a specific market context, our data suggest this may often be at the behest of the client. The significant variation observed in levels of customization we interpret as confirming Maister's (1993) notion of a portfolio of brains, grey hair, and procedural work. We also observed relatively high levels of capital intensity; reflecting perhaps the vintage of most OM characterizations and the dramatic ICT‐related changes that have occurred in all business operations in the last 20 years. The work also demonstrates the necessity of a more contingent perspective on PSOM. We assess the impact of both firm (scale, specialization) and individual level (leverage) characteristics to demonstrate significant variation within what might be expected to be a relatively homogenous group of professional service operations. For example, investigating the effects of specialization (via a typology of consulting operations: super‐specialists, generalists, deep knowledge traders, deep market knowledge traders) revealed that relative degree of interaction may be dependent upon degree of expertise, such that it was the super‐specialists in our sample that spent less time with clients and the more generalist firms who were complementing their limited expert status with high levels of interaction (networking, etc.).
Consultation, negotiation and compromise: the relationship between SENCos, parents and pupils with SEN
Authors: Maher Anthony
Published: April 2016

One outcome of the UK Government's commitment to inclusive educational policies was an increase in the number of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) being taught in mainstream schools. From the perspective of SENCos, this article analyses whether parents and pupils are able and willing to influence the development of SEN provision and distribution of SEN resources, both of which aim to ensure that pupils have more meaningful experiences of mainstream education. The findings of the study cast light on the power and influence of parents when it comes to SEN provision and resources, the importance of consulting parents and the ways in which parents empower SENCos to make decisions on behalf of themselves and their children. The importance of negotiating and attempting to seek a compromise with pupils was another key issue identified in the article. Ultimately, however, the power to decide where resources go and what is done with them appears to reside with SENCos.
Change management and the SENCo role: developing key performance indicators of inclusivity
Authors: Done Elizabeth , Murphy Mike , Bedford Clare
Published: April 2016

This article highlights the changing role of special educational needs co‐ordinators (SENCos) in England. SENCos are now required to manage change strategically and deliver inclusive school cultures. A school‐based evaluative study undertaken by a teacher who is studying for the postgraduate National Award for SEN Co‐ordination (NASENCO) for SENCos is featured within the article to illustrate the principles and techniques associated with strategic change management. The study is framed by a commentary that also includes references to more critical treatments of the shift towards quantified performance assessment, monitoring and management (of pupils, teachers and schools) which has been read as a displacement of professional judgement‐based teaching practice.
Promoting social inclusion: a structured intervention for enhancing interpersonal problem‐solving skills in children with mild intellectual disabilities
Authors: Vlachou Anastasia , Stavroussi Panayiota
Published: April 2016

There has been increasing interest in providing students with disabilities, who are at risk of social isolation, with opportunities to develop social competence and self‐determination. Specifically, the provision of opportunities for teaching these students to promote social problem‐solving skills is potentially useful for facilitating their social participation in inclusive settings. Although the importance of teaching problem‐solving skills has been emphasised, there are still open questions regarding how teachers could put knowledge about problem‐solving skills learning into practice, especially with regard to students with intellectual disabilities. This article presents a four‐phase educational intervention programme designed to teach students with mild intellectual disabilities social problem‐solving skills. A detailed description of the programme, including materials and methods, is provided.
Is ADHD a ‘real’ disorder?
Authors: Quinn Michael , Lynch Andrea
Published: April 2016

In many western countries, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has achieved celebrity status, such that it probably no longer requires introduction. The disorder is a global phenomenon, spreading rapidly as result of the increasing dominance internationally of US psychiatric models, the need for new markets for major pharmaceutical companies, increasing use of the internet by parents and professionals and changing approaches to schooling. There is a broad consensus among international experts and organisations that ADHD is a genuine neurodevelopmental disorder based on empirical research. However, many critics have questioned the legitimacy of ADHD. This paper reviews the arguments for and against the ADHD construct. First, the review examines the literature and research endorsing ADHD as a ‘real’ disorder. Second, the criticisms levelled against the ADHD construct are examined.
Functionality of Sugars in Foods and Health
Authors: Clemens Roger A. , Jones Julie M. , Kern Mark , Lee Soo‐Yeun , Mayhew Emily J. , Slavin Joanne L. , Zivanovic Svetlana
Published: April 2016

Overweight and obesity are global health problems that affect more than 1.9 billion adults who are overweight, and of these 600 million are obese. In the United States, these problems affect 60% of the population. Critical to these statistics is the association with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome among other noncommunicable diseases. Many factors, including sugars, have been charged as potential causes. However, obesity and overweight and their attendant health problems continue to increase despite the fact that there is a decline in the consumption of sugars. Sugars vary in their types and structure. From a food science perspective, sugars present an array of attributes that extend beyond taste, flavor, color, and texture to aspects such as structure and shelf‐life of foods. From a public health perspective, there is considerable controversy about the effect of sugar relative to satiety, digestion, and noncommunicable diseases. This comprehensive overview from experts in food science, nutrition and health, sensory science, and biochemistry describes the technical and functional roles of sugar in food production, provides a balanced evidence‐based assessment of the literature and addresses many prevalent health issues commonly ascribed to sugar by the media, consumer groups, international scientific organizations, and policy makers. The preponderance of the evidence indicates that sugar as such does not contribute to adverse health outcomes when consumed under isocaloric conditions. The evidence generally indicates, as noted by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, that sugar, like any other caloric macronutrient, such as protein and fat, when consumed in excess leads to conditions such as obesity and related comorbidities. More recently, the 2015‐2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended limiting dietary sugar to 10% of total energy in an effort to reduced the risk of these noncommunicable diseases.
Adolescent Choline Supplementation Attenuates Working Memory Deficits in Rats Exposed to Alcohol During the Third Trimester Equivalent
Authors: Schneider Ronald D. , Thomas Jennifer D.
Published: April 2016

Background

Children exposed to alcohol prenatally may suffer from behavioral and cognitive alterations that adversely affect their quality of life. Animal studies have shown that perinatal supplementation with the nutrient choline can attenuate ethanol's adverse effects on development; however, it is not clear how late in development choline can be administered and still effectively reduce the consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure. Using a rodent model, this study examined whether choline supplementation is effective in mitigating alcohol's teratogenic effects when administered during adolescence/young adulthood.

Methods

Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to alcohol (5.25 g/kg/d) during the third trimester equivalent brain growth spurt, which occurs from postnatal day (PD) 4 to 9, via oral intubation. Sham‐intubated and nontreated controls were included. Subjects were treated with 100 mg/kg/d choline chloride or vehicle from PD 40 to 60, a period equivalent to young adulthood in the rat. After the choline treatment had ceased, subjects were tested on a series of behavioral tasks: open field activity (PD 61 to 64), Morris water maze spatial learning (PD 65 to 73), and spatial working memory (PD 87 to 91).

Results

Ethanol‐exposed subjects were overactive in the activity chambers and impaired on both the spatial and the working memory versions of the Morris water maze. Choline treatment failed to attenuate alcohol‐related overactivity in the open field and deficits in Morris water maze performance. In contrast, choline supplementation significantly mitigated alcohol‐related deficits in working memory, which may suggest that choline administration at this later developmental time affects functioning of the prefrontal cortex.

Conclusions

The results indicate that adolescent choline supplementation can attenuate some, but not all, of the behavioral deficits associated with early developmental alcohol exposure. The results of this study indicate that dietary intervention may reduce some fetal alcohol effects, even when administered later in life, findings with important implications for adolescents and young adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Alcohol, Methamphetamine, and Marijuana Exposure Have Distinct Effects on the Human Placenta
Authors: Carter R. Colin , Wainwright Helen , Molteno Christopher D. , Georgieff Michael K. , Dodge Neil C. , Warton Fleur , Meintjes Ernesta M. , Jacobson Joseph L. , Jacobson Sandra W.
Published: April 2016

Background

Animal studies have demonstrated adverse effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on placental development, but few studies have examined these effects in humans. Little is known about effects of prenatal exposure to methamphetamine, marijuana, and cigarette smoking on placental development.

Methods

Placentas were collected from 103 Cape Coloured (mixed ancestry) pregnant women recruited at their first antenatal clinic visit in Cape Town, South Africa. Sixty‐six heavy drinkers and 37 nondrinkers were interviewed about their alcohol, cigarette smoking, and drug use at 3 antenatal visits. A senior pathologist, blinded to exposure status, performed comprehensive pathology examinations on each placenta using a standardized protocol. In multivariable regression models, effects of prenatal exposure were examined on placental size, structure, and presence of infections and meconium.

Results

Drinkers reported a binge pattern of heavy drinking, averaging 8.0 drinks/occasion across pregnancy on 1.4 d/wk. 79.6% smoked cigarettes; 22.3% used marijuana; and 17.5% used methamphetamine. Alcohol exposure was related to decreased placental weight and a smaller placenta‐to‐birthweight ratio. By contrast, methamphetamine was associated with larger placental weight and a larger placenta‐to‐birthweight ratio. Marijuana was also associated with larger placental weight. Alcohol exposure was associated with increased risk of placental hemorrhage. Prenatal alcohol, drug, and cigarette use were not associated with chorioamnionitis, villitis, deciduitis, or maternal vascular underperfusion. Alcohol and cigarette smoking were associated with a decreased risk of intrauterine passing of meconium, a sign of acute fetal stress and/or hypoxia; methamphetamine, with an increased risk.

Conclusions

This is the first human study to show that alcohol, methamphetamine, and marijuana were associated with distinct patterns of pathology, suggesting different mechanisms mediating their effects on placental development. Given the growing body of evidence linking placental abnormalities to neurodevelopmental deficits, these findings may be important in the long‐term teratogenic effects of prenatal alcohol and drug exposure.
Alcohol Use During Pregnancy is Associated with Specific Alterations in MicroRNALevels in Maternal Serum
Authors: Gardiner Amy S. , Gutierrez Hilda L. , Luo Li , Davies Suzy , Savage Daniel D. , Bakhireva Ludmila N. , Perrone‐Bizzozero Nora I.
Published: April 2016

Background

Given the challenges of confirming prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) during pregnancy using currently established biomarkers of alcohol consumption, we examined whether serum microRNAs (miRNAs) may serve as stable biomarkers forPAE. Alterations in the levels of specific circulating miRNAs have been associated with various disease states and in animal models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Methods

Pregnant women in this prospective study were recruited from substance abuse and general maternity clinics affiliated with theUniversity ofNewMexico. Serum was collected at the time of admission for delivery from 14 subjects who reported ≥1 binge‐drinking episode or ≥3 drinks/wk during pregnancy and 16 subjects who reported abstinence during pregnancy and tested negative for 5 ethanol biomarkers. TotalRNAwas isolated from serum and used for microarray analysis.

Results

False discovery rate‐corrected analyses of covariance revealed that 55 miRNAs were significantly altered between the 2 groups. Hierarchical clustering using only the significantly altered miRNAs grouped samples into alcohol‐consuming and non‐alcohol‐consuming individuals. Discriminant analysis then identified miRs‐122*, ‐126, ‐216b, ‐221*, ‐3119, ‐3942‐5p, ‐4704‐3p, ‐4743, ‐514‐5p, and ‐602 as the top 10 discriminators between the 2 groups. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of putative miRNAtargets illustrated that miRNAs identified in this study are involved in biological pathways that mediate the effects of alcohol, such as brain‐derived neurotrophic factor,ERK1/2, andPI3K/AKTsignaling.

Conclusions

This is the first report of alterations in serum miRNAexpression that are associated with alcohol use during human pregnancy. These results suggest that serum miRNAs could be useful as biomarkers of alcohol exposure.
I. GENDER IN LOW‐ AND MIDDLE‐INCOME COUNTRIES: INTRODUCTION
Authors: Bornstein Marc H. , Putnick Diane L. , Bradley Robert H. , Deater‐Deckard Kirby , Lansford Jennifer E.
Published: April 2016

How do girls and boys in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMIC) in the majority world vary with respect to central indicators of child growth and mortality, parental caregiving, discipline and violence, and child labor? How do key indicators of national gender equity and economic development relate to gender similarities and differences in each of these substantive areas of child development? This monograph of the SRCD is concerned with central topics of child gender, gendered parenting, gendered environments, and gendered behaviors and socializing practices in the underresearched and underserved world of LMIC.

To examine protective and risk factors related to child gender in LMIC around the world, we used data from more than 2 million individuals in 400,000 families in 41 LMIC collected in the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, a household survey that includes nationally representative samples of participating countries. In the first chapter of this monograph, we describe the conceptual “gender similarities” and “bioecological” frameworks that helped guide the monograph. In the second chapter, we detail the general methodology adhered to in the substantive chapters. Then, in topical chapters, we describe the situations of girls and boys with successive foci on child growth and mortality, parental caregiving, family discipline and violence, and child labor. We conclude with a general discussion of findings from the substantive chapters in the context of gender and bioecological theories.

Across 41 LMIC and four substantive areas of child development, few major gender differences emerged. Our data support a gender similarities view and suggest that general emphases on early child gender differences may be overstated at least for the developing world of LMIC.
Relapsing Hepatitis A Infection with Immunological Sequelae
Authors: Cook Deborah J. , Riddell Robert H. , Chernesky Max A. , Salena Bruno J. , Slapsys Renata
Published: April 2016

The clinical course of hepatitis A infection is usually benign. A patient with persistent anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) lgM following icteric hepatitis A, vasculitis, arthritis and peripheral neuropathy is reported. The clinical, biochemical and serological features of re lapsing hepatitis A arc described.
Exocrine Pancreatic Function Tests: A Review
Authors: Li Yuyuan , Chiverton Stephen G. , Hunt Richard H.
Published: April 2016

Exocrine pancreatic function tests (PFTs) remain of value in the diagnosis and assessment of chronic pancreatic disease. Direct intubation PFTs, using secretin/cholecystokinin or secretin/caerulein as the stimulants, continue to the the 'gold standard', although they are invasive, expensive and time consuming. Tubeless indirect tests, ie, the N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-para-aminobe-zoic acid and pancreolauryl tests, have gained increasing acceptance particularly as screening tests. The fecal measurement of chymotrypsin remains a useful screening test for pancreatic insufficiency and fecal fat testing standard for steatorrhea. Radioisotope tests are now outdated. Estimation of pancreatic markers in serum, urine and body fluids are useful when abnormal hut miss mild disease. Combining PFTs with imaging techniques provides a rational approach to early diagnosis and gives a better assessment of the patient with chronic pancreatic disease.
Omeprazole: Inhibiting the Final Common Pathway to Acid Secretion ‐ The Acid Pump
Authors: Thomson A.B.R.
Published: April 2016

Omeprazole is the first agent in a new therapeutic advance class
the proton or acid pump inhibitors which represents a significant therapeutic
advance in the treatment of acid related diseases. Omeprazole reduces gastric
acid secretion at its source – the acid pump of the parietal cell, thereby offering
precise and consistent clinical effects. Omeprazole once daily has been shown to
heal over 80% of duodenal ulcers within two weeks and over 95% within four weeks
In gastric ulcer, the healing rates are up to 80% within four weeks and 96% within
eight weeks. More patients are free from symptoms earlier on omeprazole therapy
than with the H2 receptor antagonists. Omeprazole is also effective in healing and
symptom relief even where prolonged H2 receptor antagonist therapy has been
unsuccessful. Omeprnzole has been shown in clinical trials to be the first consistently
effective treatment of erosive/ulcerative reflux esophagitis. Complete healing
is achieved in the majority of patients and symptom relief is rapid. In clinical
trials with 20 mg once daily, over 70% of patients healed within four weeks and up
to 85% healed within eight weeks. Also. patients with erosive/ulcerative reflux
esophagitis resistant to three months or more of treatment with full therapeutic
doses of H2 receptor antagonists have shown significant benefit, with healing
rates of 49% within four weeks and 73% within eight weeks of therapy with
omcprazole. The rare Zollinger‐Ellison syndrome has been difficult to treat in the
past due to the massive hypersecretion of gastric acid Omeprazole has proved
highly effective in this syndrome, being well tolerated by patients who have received
more than five years of continuous treatment with daily oral doses up to 160 mg. In
summary, in extensive clinical trials omeprazole has been shown to be highly
effective in the treatment of duodenal and gastric ulcers, erosive/ulcerative reflux
esophagitis and Zollinger‐Ellison syndrome. Omeprazole is well tolerated and is
without any established side effects when used for short periods. It remains to be
established whether H2 blockers still represent the best available therapy for acute
treatment of peptic disorders, and whether maintenance therapy is best achieved
with H2 blockers or with proton pump blockers.
Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach in Celiac Disease
Authors: Westlake Patricia J. , Price Lorne M. , Kelly James K.
Published: April 2016

A case of adenocarcinoma of the gastric antrum in a woman with celiac disease of 21 years duration is presented. There was widespread intestinal metaplasia of the gastric antrum but the patient did not have typc A gastritis or dermatitis herpetiformis. Previous studies have shown that some patients with celiac disease have fundal gastritis but the natural history or premalignant potential of this lesion is not well described. The gastric mucosa deserves more attention in celiac disease.
Absence of Effect of Somatostatin Analogue (SMS 201‐995) in Diarrhea Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Fedorak Richard N. , Sherbaniuk Richard W.
Published: April 2016

The octapeptide long acting somatostatin analogue, SMS 201‐995
promotes intestinal fluid and electrolyte absorption and inhibits anion secretion.
It is more potent than native somatostatin and does not exhibit tachyphylaxsis.
SMS 201‐995 was used to treat two patients with severe diarrhea associated with
Crohn’s disease after other treatments had failed. The volume and frequency of
ileostomy output in one patient and stool output in the other did not respond to
therapy with SMS 201‐995. ln fact, diarrhea appeared to increase in both patients
while on treatment.
Collagenous Gastritis
Authors: Freeman Hugh J. , Piercy James R.A. , Raine Robert J.
Published: April 2016

A 54-year-old woman presented with nausea, vomiting and weight loss associated with impaired gastric emptying necessitating institution of parenteral nutrition. Subsequent studies revealed an unusual gastric mucosa! inflammatory process characterized by unique subepithelial collagenous deposits. Collagenous gastritis appears to be a distinct, possibly immune-mediated, chronic disorder, pathologically reminiscent of collagenous sprue and collagenous colitis.
Endoscopic Methods for the Treatment of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
Authors: Li Z.W. , Urrutia F. , Wensel R. , Thomson A.B.R.
Published: April 2016

In the l970s, diagnostic fibreoptic endoscopy became part of the
standard practice for evaluation of gastrointestinal disease. In the 1980s, therapeutic
fibreoptic endoscopy is emerging as standard therapy for many gastrointestinal
diseases. As the already sophisticated technology continues to blossom, it
promises to become even more a part of the management of an increasing number
of gastroenterological problems. Endoscopy can provide both a specific diagnosis
as well as an identification of the high risk subgroup of patients with either active
bleeding, or a non bleeding visible vessel that might benefit from endoscopic treatment.
At endoscopy, patients with active ulcer bleeding have either arterial spurting,
oozing or oozing beneath an overlying clot. These have poor outcomes: for
example, when a non bleeding visible vessel is identified, the chances for rebleeding
are approximately 50% during the period of that hospitalization . With an overlying
clot without oozing, where dark spots are noted, there is less than a 10%
chance of rebleeding. There are certain limitations for endoscopic hemostatic
therapy and there are a few bleeding ulcers with an artery too large to expect
endoscopic success. The kind of treatment chosen will be dictated by the availability
of the therapeutic modalities and the skill of the surgeon.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Presenting as Fulminant Hepatic Failure: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Trimble Malcolm S. , Ghent Cameron N. , Grant David R. , McLean Caroline A.
Published: April 2016

A case of metastatic breast carcinoma presenting as fatal fulminant hepatic failure is presented. The patient did not have previously diagnosed breast cancer and presented with ascites, Jaundice, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and hepatic encephalopathy. She died within four weeks of the onset. Seven similar cases previously reported are reviewed. Metastatic carcinoma should he considered in the differential diagnosis of fulminant hepatic failure.
Hybrid Intrusion Detection System for DDoS Attacks
Authors: Cepheli Özge , Büyükçorak Saliha , Karabulut Kurt Güneş
Published: April 2016

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are one of the major threats and possibly the hardest security problem for today’s Internet. In this paper we propose a hybrid detection system, referred to as hybrid intrusion detection system (H-IDS), for detection of DDoS attacks. Our proposed detection system makes use of both anomaly-based and signature-based detection methods separately but in an integrated fashion and combines the outcomes of both detectors to enhance the overall detection accuracy. We apply two distinct datasets to our proposed system in order to test the detection performance of H-IDS and conclude that the proposed hybrid system gives better results than the systems based on nonhybrid detection.
Cumulative Effect of Precipitation Deficit Preceding Severe Droughts in Southwestern and Southern China
Authors: Wang Su-ping , Wang Jin-song , Zhang Qiang , Li Yi-ping , Wang Zhi-lan , Wang Jing
Published: April 2016

Timely and accurate monitoring of droughts is important for implementing an effective response and for minimizing economic losses. In this paper, the duration and amount of deficit in precipitation before every severe drought were analyzed for 124 meteorological stations based on the weather data from 1961 to 2012. The results showed that deficit in precipitation over a period as short as three months or even shorter could lead to severe drought and the cumulative timescales of precipitation deficit in southwestern China were longer than those in southern China. The distribution of the critical amount of precipitation deficit showed a clear regional difference. Deficits in the western parts of southwestern China and parts of southern China are above 60%, or even above 80%, higher than the other area ranging between 40% and 60%. On the whole, the critical amount of the deficit preceding severe droughts for the humid southwestern and southern China was lower than that for the semiarid and semihumid areas. The results offer a sound basis for monitoring and forecasting droughts in southern and southwestern China and for issuing early warnings.
Harnessing the Angiogenic Potential of Stem Cell‐Derived Exosomes for Vascular Regeneration
Authors: Alcayaga-Miranda F. , Varas-Godoy M. , Khoury M.
Published: April 2016

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are known to display important regenerative properties through the secretion of proangiogenic factors. Recent evidence pointed at the key role played by exosomes released from MSCs in this paracrine mechanism. Exosomes are key mediators of intercellular communication and contain a cargo that includes a modifiable content of microRNA (miRNA), mRNA, and proteins. Since the biogenesis of the MSCs‐derived exosomes is regulated by the cross talk between MSCs and their niche, the content of the exosomes and consequently their biological function are dependent on the cell of origin and the physiologic or pathologic status of their microenvironment. Recent preclinical studies revealed that MSCs‐derived exosomes have a critical implication in the angiogenic process since the use of exosomes‐depleted conditioned medium impaired the MSCs angiogenesis response. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge related to the angiogenic potential of MSCs‐exosomes and methods to enhance their biological activities for improved vascular regeneration. The current gain of insight in exosomes studies highlights the power of combining cell based therapies and their secreted products in therapeutic angiogenesis.
Magnetic Nanoparticles for Targeting and Imaging of Stem Cells in Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Santoso Michelle R. , Yang Phillip C.
Published: April 2016

Stem cell therapy has broad applications in regenerative medicine and increasingly within cardiovascular disease. Stem cells have emerged as a leading therapeutic option for many diseases and have broad applications in regenerative medicine. Injuries to the heart are often permanent due to the limited proliferation and self‐healing capability of cardiomyocytes; as such, stem cell therapy has become increasingly important in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Despite extensive efforts to optimize cardiac stem cell therapy, challenges remain in the delivery and monitoring of cells injected into the myocardium. Other fields have successively used nanoscience and nanotechnology for a multitude of biomedical applications, including drug delivery, targeted imaging, hyperthermia, and tissue repair. In particular, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have been widely employed for molecular and cellular imaging. In this mini‐review, we focus on the application of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in targeting and monitoring of stem cells for the treatment of myocardial infarctions.
Synthesis, Biological, and Quantum Chemical Studies of Zn(II) and Ni(II) Mixed-Ligand Complexes Derived from N,N-Disubstituted Dithiocarbamate and Benzoic Acid
Authors: Ekennia Anthony C. , Onwudiwe Damian C. , Osowole Aderoju A. , Olasunkanmi Lukman O. , Ebenso Eno E.
Published: April 2016

Some mixed-ligand complexes of Zn(II) and Ni(II) derived from the sodium salt ofN-alkyl-N-phenyl dithiocarbamate and benzoic acid have been prepared. The complexes are represented as ZnMDBz, ZnEDBz, NiMDBz, and NiEDBz (MD:N-methyl-N-phenyl dithiocarbamate, ED:N-ethyl-N-phenyl dithiocarbamate, and Bz: benzoate); and their coordination behavior was characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, electronic spectra, magnetic and conductivity measurements, and quantum chemical calculations. The magnetic moment measurement and electronic spectra were in agreement with the four proposed coordinate geometries for nickel and zinc complexes and were corroborated by the theoretical quantum chemical calculations. The quantum chemically derived thermodynamics parameters revealed that the formation ofN-methyl-N-phenyl dithiocarbamate complexes is more thermodynamically favourable than that of theN-ethyl-N-phenyl dithiocarbamate complexes. The bioefficacy of the mixed-ligand complexes examined against different microbes showed moderate to high activity against the test microbes. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant studies of the metal complexes showed that the ethyl substituted dithiocarbamate complexes exhibited better anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties than the methyl substituted dithiocarbamate complexes.
Intelligent Flow Friction Estimation
Authors: Brkić Dejan , Ćojbašić Žarko
Published: April 2016

Nowadays, the Colebrook equation is used as a mostly accepted relation for the calculation of fluid flow friction factor. However, the Colebrook equation is implicit with respect to the friction factor (λ). In the present study, a noniterative approach using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was developed to calculate the friction factor. To configure the ANN model, the input parameters of the Reynolds Number (Re) and the relative roughness of pipe (ε/D) were transformed to logarithmic scales. The 90,000 sets of data were fed to the ANN model involving three layers: input, hidden, and output layers with, 2, 50, and 1 neurons, respectively. This configuration was capable of predicting the values of friction factor in the Colebrook equation for any given values of the Reynolds number (Re) and the relative roughness (ε/D) ranging between 5000 and 108and between 10−7and 0.1, respectively. The proposed ANN demonstrates the relative error up to 0.07% which had the high accuracy compared with the vast majority of the precise explicit approximations of the Colebrook equation.
Business Impact and Policy on the Major Players in the Market of the Development of Distributed Energy in China
Authors: He Y. X. , Xu Y. , Xia T. , Zhang J. X.
Published: April 2016

As an effective measure for the promotion of the adjustment of China’s energy structure, distributed energy and its reasonable planning and development will have a significant impact on the major players in China’s power market. With the increasing access to distributed energy, its beneficial impact on the major players in the power market will become increasingly obvious. This paper examines the influence of access to distributed energy on the development of the major players in the power market, especially power supply enterprises. On this basis, a model for the calculation of the profits and losses of distributed energy users and power supply enterprises has been established, and the specific impact on the profits of power supply enterprises after access to distributed energy becomes available can be measured. In addition, this paper puts forward related policy suggestions to be implemented after access to distributed energy becomes available based on the results of the aforementioned measurement, in order to guarantee a reasonable profit for the major players in the power market during the process of the development of distributed energy and to promote the healthy and orderly development of distributed energy.
Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicine as an Adjunctive Therapy on in‐Hospital Mortality in Patients with Acute Kidney Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Chen Tuo , Zhan Libin , Fan Zhiwei , Bai Lizhi , Song Yi , Lu Xiaoguang
Published: April 2016

Objective. We aimed to systematically assess the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) as an adjunctive therapy on in‐hospital mortality in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods. We did a systematic review of articles published in any language up until Jun 23, 2015, by searching PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CBM, and CNKI. We included all RCTs that compared outcomes of patients with AKI taking CHM plus Western treatment (WT) with those taking WT alone. We applied Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool to assess the methodological quality of the included trials. Results. Of 832 citations, 15 studies involving 966 patients met inclusion criteria. The methodological quality was assessed with unclear risk of bias. In the primary outcome of meta‐analysis, pooled outcome of in‐hospital mortality showed that patients randomly assigned to CHM treatment group were associated with low risk of in‐hospital mortality compared with those randomly assigned to WT alone (RR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.24 to 0.71; P = 0.001). Conclusions. CHM as an adjunctive therapy is associated with a decreased risk of in‐hospital mortality compared with WT in patients with AKI. Further studies with high quality and large sample size are needed to verify our conclusions.
Predicting Outcome in Comatose Patients: The Role of EEG Reactivity to Quantifiable Electrical Stimuli
Authors: Liu Gang , Su Yingying , Liu Yifei , Jiang Mengdi , Zhang Yan , Zhang Yunzhou , Gao Daiquan
Published: April 2016

Objective. To test the value of quantifiable electrical stimuli as a reliable method to assess electroencephalogram reactivity (EEG‐R) for the early prognostication of outcome in comatose patients. Methods. EEG was recorded in consecutive adults in coma after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or stroke. EEG‐R to standard electrical stimuli was tested. Each patient received a 3‐month follow‐up by the Glasgow‐Pittsburgh cerebral performance categories (CPC) or modified Rankin scale (mRS) score. Results. Twenty‐two patients met the inclusion criteria. In the CPR group, 6 of 7 patients with EEG‐R had good outcomes (positive predictive value (PPV), 85.7%) and 4 of 5 patients without EEG‐R had poor outcomes (negative predictive value (NPV), 80%). The sensitivity and specificity were 85.7% and 80%, respectively. In the stroke group, 6 of 7 patients with EEG‐R had good outcomes (PPV, 85.7%); all of the 3 patients without EEG‐R had poor outcomes (NPV, 100%). The sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 75%, respectively. Of all patients, the presence of EEG‐R showed 92.3% sensitivity, 77.7% specificity, 85.7% PPV, and 87.5% NPV. Conclusion. EEG‐R to quantifiable electrical stimuli might be a good positive predictive factor for the prognosis of outcome in comatose patients after CPR or stroke.
Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infection among Food Handlers in Northwest Iran
Authors: Balarak Davoud , Modrek Mohammad Jafari , Bazrafshan Edris , Ansari Hossein , Kord Mostafapour Ferdos
Published: April 2016

Parasitic diseases are among the most important infectious diseases and pose health problems in many countries, most especially in developing countries. Workers at food centers could transmit parasitic infections in the absence of sanitation. This is a descriptive study conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in food clerks in the city of Tabriz in 2014. Data was recorded in the offices of the health center for all food handlers who were referred to the laboratory for demographic and stool tests to receive the health card. Parasitic infection was observed in 172 cases (3.73%) of 4612 samples. A total of 156 positive samples (90.69%) were related to protozoa and 16 (9.3%) were related to helminthes. Most of the parasitic infections were related toGiardiaandEntamoeba coliand the lowest infection was related toH. nana. Also, there was a significant relationship between level of education and parasitic infection rate (P=0.0044). But there was no significant difference between the type of infection and amount of intestinal parasites. The results show that the prevalence of intestinal parasites, especially pathogenic protozoa, is common in some food handlers. Therefore, more sanitary controls are required and increasing of education will play a crucial role in improving the health of these people.