bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of land based exercise compared to decompressive surgery in the management of lumbar spinal-canal stenosis: a systematic review
Authors: Jarrett Mark S , Orlando Joseph F , Grimmer-Somers Karen
Published: February 2012

Background

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is prevalent in those over the age of 65 years and the leading cause of spinal surgery in this population. Recent systematic reviews have examined the effectiveness of conservative management for LSS, but not relative to surgical interventions. The aim of this review was to systematically examine the effectiveness of land based exercise compared with decompressive surgery in the management of patients with LSS.

Methods

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials and clinical trials was undertaken. The databases MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PEDro and Cochrane Library Register of Controlled Trials were searched from January 2000 to June 2011. Only studies that included subjects with lumbar spinal canal stenosis were considered in this review. Studies also had to use a patient reported functional outcome measure for a land based exercise intervention or lumbar decompressive surgery.

Results

Only one study compared the effectiveness of exercise and decompressive surgery for LSS. Surgery demonstrated statistically significant improvements in patient reported functional outcome scores at 6, 12 and 24-months post-intervention (p < 0.01). To facilitate further analysis, the results from 12 exercise and 10 surgical intervention arms were compared using percentage change in patient reported functional outcome measure scores. Exercise interventions showed initial improvements, ranging from 16 to 29% above baseline. All decompressive surgical interventions demonstrated greater and sustained improvements over 2-years (range 38-67% improvement) with moderate to large effect sizes. The most commonly reported complications associated with surgery were dural tears, while details of adverse effects were lacking in exercise interventions.

Conclusions

This systematic review of the recent literature demonstrates that decompressive surgery is more effective than land based exercise in the management of LSS. However, given the condition's slowly progressive nature and the potential for known surgical complications, it is recommended that a trial of conservative management with land based exercise be considered prior to consideration of surgical intervention.
Relation of LAT1/4F2hc expression with pathological grade, proliferation and angiogenesis in human gliomas
Authors: Haining Zhen , Kawai Nobuyuki , Miyake Keisuke , Okada Masaki , Okubo Shuichi , Zhang Xiang , Fei Zhou , Tamiya Takashi
Published: February 2012

Background

LAT1/4F2hc heterodimeric complex is a major route for the transport of large neutral essential amino acids through the plasma membrane. Although it has been shown that LAT1/4F2hc is highly expressed in a variety of human tumors including gliomas, and LAT1 over-expression is associated with glioma grade and poor prognosis of glioma patients, the precise tissue location of LAT1/4F2hc in gliomas and the precise role of LAT1/4F2hc in glioma biological features remain unclear.

Methods

In the current study, the expressions of LAT1, 4F2hc, CD34 and Ki-67 were investigated by immunohistochemistry in 62 cases of human brain glioma; LAT1/4F2hc expression level, Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67 LI) and microvessel density (MVD) were measured semi-quantitatively; and the correlation of LAT1/4F2hc expression with histopathological features, Ki-67 LI and MVD in gliomas was further analyzed.

Results

The results showed that both LAT1 and 4F2hc were expressed in all examined specimens. LAT1 but 4F2hc expression levels significantly correlated with the pathological grade and both expression levels significantly correlated with Ki-67 LI of gliomas. We also demonstrated that both LAT1 and 4F2hc immunoreactivity were observed in tumor cells as well as vascular endothelia; furthermore, the LAT1 expression level was markedly associated with glioma MVD as well.

Conclusion

LAT1/4F2hc over-expression is closely correlates with the malignant phenotype and proliferation of gliomas, and LAT1 was associates with glioma angiogenesis. LAT1/4F2hc, especially LAT1, may become a novel potential molecular target for glioma biological therapy.
Thermoelectric effect in an Aharonov-Bohm ring with an embedded quantum dot
Authors: Zheng Jun , Chi Feng , Lu Xiao-Dong , Zhang Kai-Cheng
Published: February 2012

Thermoelectric effect is studied in an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer with an embedded quantum dot (QD) in the Coulomb blockade regime. The electrical conductance, electron thermal conductance, thermopower, and thermoelectric figure-of-merit are calculated by using the Keldysh Green's function method. It is found that the figure-of-merit ZT of the QD ring may be quite high due to the Fano effect originated from the quantum interference effect. Moreover, the thermoelectric efficiency is sensitive to the magnitude of the dot-lead and inter-lead coupling strengthes. The effect of intradot Coulomb repulsion on ZT is significant in the weak-coupling regime, and then large ZT values can be obtained at rather high temperature.
Se-doping dependence of the transport properties in CBE-grown InAs nanowire field effect transistors
Authors: Viti Leonardo , Vitiello Miriam S , Ercolani Daniele , Sorba Lucia , Tredicucci Alessandro
Published: February 2012

We investigated the transport properties of lateral gate field effect transistors (FET) that have been realized by employing, as active elements, (111) B-oriented InAs nanowires grown by chemical beam epitaxy with different Se-doping concentrations. On the basis of electrical measurements, it was found that the carrier mobility increases from 103 to 104 cm2/(V × sec) by varying the ditertiarybutyl selenide (DtBSe) precursor line pressure from 0 to 0.4 Torr, leading to an increase of the carrier density in the transistor channel of more than two orders of magnitude. By keeping the DtBSe line pressure at 0.1 Torr, the carrier density in the nanowire channel measures ≈ 5 × 1017 cm-3 ensuring the best peak transconductances (> 100 mS/m) together with very low resistivity values (70 Ω × μm) and capacitances in the attofarad range. These results are particularly relevant for further optimization of the nanowire-FET terahertz detectors recently demonstrated.

PACS: 73.63.-b, 81.07.Gf, 85.35.-p
Delayed mGluR5 activation limits neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Byrnes Kimberly R , Loane David J , Stoica Bogdan A , Zhang Jiangyang , Faden Alan I
Published: February 2012

Background

Traumatic brain injury initiates biochemical processes that lead to secondary neurodegeneration. Imaging studies suggest that tissue loss may continue for months or years after traumatic brain injury in association with chronic microglial activation. Recently we found that metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) activation by (RS)-2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG) decreases microglial activation and release of associated pro-inflammatory factors in vitro, which is mediated in part through inhibition of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. Here we examined whether delayed CHPG administration reduces chronic neuroinflammation and associated neurodegeneration after experimental traumatic brain injury in mice.

Methods

One month after controlled cortical impact traumatic brain injury, C57Bl/6 mice were randomly assigned to treatment with single dose intracerebroventricular CHPG, vehicle or CHPG plus a selective mGluR5 antagonist, 3-((2-Methyl-4-thiazolyl)ethynyl)pyridine. Lesion volume, white matter tract integrity and neurological recovery were assessed over the following three months.

Results

Traumatic brain injury resulted in mGluR5 expression in reactive microglia of the cortex and hippocampus at one month post-injury. Delayed CHPG treatment reduced expression of reactive microglia expressing NADPH oxidase subunits; decreased hippocampal neuronal loss; limited lesion progression, as measured by repeated T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (at one, two and three months) and white matter loss, as measured by high field ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging at four months; and significantly improved motor and cognitive recovery in comparison to the other treatment groups.

Conclusion

Markedly delayed, single dose treatment with CHPG significantly improves functional recovery and limits lesion progression after experimental traumatic brain injury, likely in part through actions at mGluR5 receptors that modulate neuroinflammation.
Measuring the costs of biosecurity on poultry farms: a case study in broiler production in Finland
Authors: Siekkinen Kirsi-Maarit , Heikkilä Jaakko , Tammiranta Niina , Rosengren Heidi
Published: February 2012

Background

Farm-level biosecurity provides the foundation for biosecurity along the entire production chain. Many risk management practices are constantly in place, regardless of whether there is a disease outbreak or not. Nonetheless, the farm-level costs of preventive biosecurity have rarely been assessed. We examined the costs incurred by preventive biosecurity for Finnish poultry farms.

Methods

We used a semi-structured phone interview and obtained results from 17 broiler producers and from 5 hatching egg producers, corresponding to about 10% of all producers in Finland.

Results

Our results indicate that the average cost of biosecurity is some 3.55 eurocent per bird for broiler producers (0.10 eurocent per bird per rearing day) and 75.7 eurocent per bird for hatching egg producers (0.27 eurocent per bird per rearing day). For a batch of 75,000 broilers, the total cost would be €2,700. The total costs per bird are dependent on the annual number of birds: the higher the number of birds, the lower the cost per bird. This impact is primarily due to decreasing labour costs rather than direct monetary costs. Larger farms seem to utilise less labour per bird for biosecurity actions. There are also differences relating to the processor with which the producer is associated, as well as to the gender of the producer, with female producers investing more in biosecurity. Bird density was found to be positively related to the labour costs of biosecurity. This suggests that when the bird density is higher, greater labour resources need to be invested in their health and welfare and hence disease prevention. The use of coccidiostats as a preventive measure to control coccidiosis was found to have the largest cost variance between the producers, contributing to the direct costs.

Conclusions

The redesign of cost-sharing in animal diseases is currently ongoing in the European Union. Before we can assert how the risk should be shared or resort to the 'polluter pays' principle, we need to understand how the costs are currently distributed. The ongoing study contributes towards understanding these issues. The next challenge is to link the costs of preventive biosecurity to the benefits thus acquired.
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Patients With Advanced Cancer
Authors: Breitbart William , Poppito Shannon , Rosenfeld Barry , Vickers Andrew J. , Li Yuelin , Abbey Jennifer , Olden Megan , Pessin Hayley , Lichtenthal Wendy , Sjoberg Daniel , Cassileth Barrie R.
Published: February 2012

Purpose

Spiritual well-being and sense of meaning are important concerns for clinicians who care for patients with cancer. We developed Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy (IMCP) to address the need for brief interventions targeting spiritual well-being and meaning for patients with advanced cancer.

Patients and Methods

Patients with stage III or IV cancer (N = 120) were randomly assigned to seven sessions of either IMCP or therapeutic massage (TM). Patients were assessed before and after completing the intervention and 2 months postintervention. Primary outcome measures assessed spiritual well-being and quality of life; secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression, hopelessness, symptom burden, and symptom-related distress.

Results

Of the 120 participants randomly assigned, 78 (65%) completed the post-treatment assessment and 67 (56%) completed the 2-month follow-up. At the post-treatment assessment, IMCP participants demonstrated significantly greater improvement than the control condition for the primary outcomes of spiritual well-being (b = 0.39; P <.001, including both components of spiritual well-being (sense of meaning: b = 0.34; P = .003 and faith: b = 0.42; P = .03), and quality of life (b = 0.76; P = .013). Significantly greater improvements for IMCP patients were also observed for the secondary outcomes of symptom burden (b = −6.56; P < .001) and symptom-related distress (b = −0.47; P < .001) but not for anxiety, depression, or hopelessness. At the 2-month follow-up assessment, the improvements observed for the IMCP group were no longer significantly greater than those observed for the TM group.

Conclusion

IMCP has clear short-term benefits for spiritual suffering and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer. Clinicians working with patients who have advanced cancer should consider IMCP as an approach to enhance quality of life and spiritual well-being.
Carboplatin-Associated Ototoxicity in Children With Retinoblastoma
Authors: Qaddoumi Ibrahim , Bass Johnnie K. , Wu Jianrong , Billups Catherine A. , Wozniak Amy W. , Merchant Thomas E. , Haik Barrett G. , Wilson Matthew W. , Rodriguez-Galindo Carlos
Published: February 2012

Purpose

Carboplatin-induced ototoxicity remains poorly defined but is of potential great consequence in children with retinoblastoma. We retrospectively assessed the incidence of ototoxicity and its risk factors in children with retinoblastoma who were treated with carboplatin.

Patients and Methods

We reviewed the audiologic test results of 60 patients with retinoblastoma who received front-line treatment with systemic carboplatin and vincristine according to the St Jude RET-3 protocol (n = 23) or best clinical management (n = 37). Ototoxicity was evaluated by three different grading systems.

Results

Twelve patients (20%) developed ototoxicity at some time after treatment initiation; however, ototoxicity resolved in two patients, and thus,10 patients (17%) had sustained hearing loss as documented at their most recent audiologic evaluation. Nine of these 10 patients had grade 3 or 4 ototoxicity, and nine patients were less than 6 months of age at the start of chemotherapy. Age at the start of chemotherapy was the only risk factor identified as a significant predictor of sustained hearing loss. Younger age was associated with an increased incidence of hearing loss. The different ototoxicity grading systems showed good overall agreement in the identification of patients with ototoxicity. Agreement was greatest between the Brock and Children's Cancer Group systems.

Conclusion

We found that young patients with retinoblastoma who were treated with systemic carboplatin had a higher incidence of ototoxicity than previously reported. Younger patients (< 6 months of age at the start of treatment) were more likely to have ototoxicity than were older patients. Children treated with carboplatin should routinely undergo thorough, long-term audiologic monitoring.
Opioid Prescription After Pain Assessment: A Population-Based Cohort of Elderly Patients With Cancer
Authors: Barbera Lisa , Seow Hsien , Husain Amna , Howell Doris , Atzema Clare , Sutradhar Rinku , Earle Craig , Sussman Jonathan , Liu Ying , Dudgeon Deborah
Published: February 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to measure opioid prescription (OP) rates in elderly cancer outpatients around the time of assessment for pain and to evaluate factors associated with receiving OPs for those with severe pain.

Patients and Methods

The cross-sectional cohort includes all patients with cancer in Ontario older than age 65 years who completed a pain assessment as part of a provincial initiative of systematic symptom screening. Patients were assigned to mutually exclusive categories by pain score severity: 0, 1 to 3 (mild), 4 to 6 (moderate), and 7 to 10 (severe). We linked multiple provincial health databases to examine the proportion of patients with an OP within 7 days after or 30 days before the assessment date. We examined factors associated with OPs for patients with pain scores of 7 to 10.

Results

The proportion of patients with an OP increased as pain score severity increased: 10% of those with no pain, 24% of those with mild pain, 45% of those with moderate pain, and 67% of those with severe pain. More specifically, for those with severe pain, 41% filled an OP within 7 days of assessment for pain, and 26% had an OP from the 30 days before assessment for pain, leaving 33% without an OP. In multivariable analysis, factors associated with OPs are younger age, male sex, comorbid illness, cancer type, and assessment at home.

Conclusion

Despite a generous time window for capturing OPs, the proportion of patients without an OP seems high. Further knowledge translation is required to maximize the impact of the symptom screening initiative in Ontario and to optimize management of cancer-related pain.
Use of Tanning Beds and Incidence of Skin Cancer
Authors: Zhang Mingfeng , Qureshi Abrar A. , Geller Alan C. , Frazier Lindsay , Hunter David J. , Han Jiali
Published: February 2012

Purpose

We sought to evaluate the risk effect of tanning bed use on skin cancers among teenage and young adults. We also expected to determine whether a dose-response relationship was evident.

Patients and Methods

We observed 73,494 female nurses for 20 years (from 1989 to 2009) in a large and well-characterized cohort in the United States and investigated whether frequency of tanning bed use during high school/college and at ages 25 to 35 years were associated with a risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. We used Cox proportional hazards models and carefully adjusted for host risk factors, ultraviolet index of residence, and sun exposure behaviors at a young age.

Results

During follow-up, 5,506 nurses were diagnosed with BCC, 403 with SCC, and 349 with melanoma. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of skin cancer for an incremental increase in use of tanning beds of four times per year during both periods was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.11 to 1.19; P < .001) for BCC, 1.15 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.31; P = .03) for SCC, and 1.11 (95% CI, 0.97 to 1.27; P = .13) for melanoma. Compared with tanning bed use at ages 25 to 35 years, we found a significantly higher risk of BCC for use during high school/college (multivariable-adjusted HR for use more than six times per year compared with no use was 1.73 during high school/college v 1.28 at ages 25 to 35 years; P for heterogeneity < .001).

Conclusion

Our data provide evidence for a dose-response relationship between tanning bed use and the risk of skin cancers, especially BCC, and the association is stronger for patients with a younger age at exposure.
Turning randomness into meaning at the molecular level using Muller's morphs
Authors: Henson Kathleen , Cooper Melanie M. , Klymkowsky Michael W.
Published: February 2012

While evolutionary theory follows from observable facts and logical inferences (Mayr, 1985), historically, the origin of novel inheritable variations was a major obstacle to acceptance of natural selection (Bowler, 1992; Bowler, 2005). While molecular mechanisms address this issue (Jablonka and Lamb, 2005), analysis of responses to the Biological Concept Inventory (BCI) (Klymkowsky et al., 2010), revealed that molecular biology majors rarely use molecular level ideas in their discourse, implying that they do not have an accessible framework within which to place evolutionary variation. We developed a “Socratic tutorial” focused on Muller's categorization of mutations' phenotypic effects (Muller, 1932). Using a novel vector-based method to analyzed students' essay responses, we found that a single interaction with this tutorial led to significant changes in thinking toward a clearer articulation of the effects of mutational change. We suggest that Muller's morphs provides an effective framework for facilitating student learning about mutational effects and evolutionary mechanisms.
Overtime reliability of medial temporal lobe atrophy rating in a clinical setting
Authors: Cavallin Lena , Løken Kirsti , Engedal Knut , Øksengård Anne-Rita , Wahlund Lars-Olof , Bronge Lena , Axelsson Rimma
Published: February 2012

Background

Medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) is one of the first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and used as a measure of disease progression. Visual assessment of MTA is easy to perform but the reliability of MTA rating over time has not been studied.

Purpose

To investigate what happens to the MTA rating scores if two radiologists rate the same MRI scans six times over a period of 1 year.

Material and Methods

One hundred outpatients were included in this study. All patients underwent MRI with a protocol and sequences used for geriatric patients, according to local clinical standards. One neuroradiologist and one general radiologist independently of each other performed retrospective visual assessments of MTA six times, using the same scans, over a period of 1 year.

Results

Intra-rater kappa varied between κ 0.65 and 0.84 for the neuroradiologist and κ 0.38 and 0.74 for the general radiologist. Intra-rater weighted kappa (wκ) values showed almost perfect agreement for both investigators (wκ 0.83–0.94). Inter-rater reliability showed fair to moderate agreement, with the kappa value varying from κ 0.29 to 0.48 and weighted kappa values ranging from wκ 0.72 to 0.84. There was a statistically significant difference in rating between the two investigators.

Conclusion

Visual assessment of MTA repeated over time has a high grade of reproducibility when performed by an experienced investigator. The reproducibility drops when assessment is rarely performed. Inter-rater reliability is low when two investigators not working together are compared.
Changing Epidemiology of Bacteremia in Infants Aged 1 Week to 3 Months
Authors: Greenhow Tara L. , Hung Yun-Yi , Herz Arnd M.
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND

Bacteremia in young infants has remained an important ongoing concern for decades. Despite changes in prenatal screening and infant immunizations, the current epidemiology of this problem has received little attention.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective analysis of all blood cultures collected at Kaiser Permanente Northern California on full-term, previously healthy infants presenting for care between 1 week to 3 months of age for whom a blood culture was drawn from January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2009.

RESULTS:

During the study period, 4255 blood cultures were collected from 160 818 full-term infants. Only 2% of all blood cultures were positive for pathogens (93/4255), whereas 247 positive cultures were due to contaminants. The incidence rate of true bacteremia was 0.57 in 1000 full-term births. The most common pathogen was Escherichia coli (56%). Ninety-eight percent of infants with E coli bacteremia had a urinary tract infection. Group B Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus were the second and third most common pathogens, respectively. There were no cases of Listeria monocytogenes bacteremia or meningococcemia and only 1 case of enterococcal bacteremia. Ampicillin resistant pathogens accounted for 36% of organisms.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study indicates bacteremia in young infants occurs infrequently and in only 2.2% of those who had a blood culture drawn. On the basis of the epidemiology of pathogens found in this large cohort, these data suggest a change in currently recommended presumptive antibiotic coverage in 1-week to 3-month-old infants with suspected bacteremia.
Impact of an Active Video Game on Healthy Children’s Physical Activity
Authors: Baranowski Tom , Abdelsamad Dina , Baranowski Janice , O’Connor Teresia Margareta , Thompson Debbe , Barnett Anthony , Cerin Ester , Chen Tzu-An
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE:

This naturalistic study tests whether children receiving a new (to them) active video game spontaneously engage in more physical activity than those receiving an inactive video game, and whether the effect would be greater among children in unsafe neighborhoods, who might not be allowed to play outside.

METHODS:

Participants were children 9 to 12 years of age, with a BMI >50th percentile, but <99th percentile; none of these children a medical condition that would preclude physical activity or playing video games. A randomized clinical trial assigned children to receiving 2 active or 2 inactive video games, the peripherals necessary to run the games, and a Wii console. Physical activity was monitored by using accelerometers for 5 weeks over the course of a 13-week experiment. Neighborhood safety was assessed with a 12 item validated questionnaire.

RESULTS:

There was no evidence that children receiving the active video games were more active in general, or at anytime, than children receiving the inactive video games. The outcomes were not moderated by parent perceived neighborhood safety, child BMI z score, or other demographic characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results provide no reason to believe that simply acquiring an active video game under naturalistic circumstances provides a public health benefit to children.
Enrollment of Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants in a Clinical Research Study May Not Be Representative
Authors: Rich Wade , Finer Neil N. , Gantz Marie G. , Newman Nancy S. , Hensman Angelita M. , Hale Ellen C. , Auten Kathy J. , Schibler Kurt , Faix Roger G. , Laptook Abbot R. , Yoder Bradley A. , Das Abhik , Shankaran Seetha ,   for the SUPPORT and Generic Database Subcommittees of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

The Surfactant Positive Airway Pressure and Pulse Oximetry Randomized Trial (SUPPORT) antenatal consent study demonstrated that mothers of infants enrolled in the SUPPORT trial had significantly different demographics and exposure to antenatal steroids compared with mothers of eligible, but not enrolled infants. The objective of this analysis was to compare the outcomes of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, severe retinopathy of prematurity, severe intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia (IVH/PVL), death, and death/severe IVH/PVL for infants enrolled in SUPPORT in comparison with eligible, but not enrolled infants.

METHODS:

Perinatal characteristics and neonatal outcomes were compared for enrolled and eligible but not enrolled infants in bivariate analyses. Models were created to test the effect of enrollment in SUPPORT on outcomes, controlling for perinatal characteristics.

RESULTS:

There were 1316 infants enrolled in SUPPORT; 3053 infants were eligible, but not enrolled. In unadjusted analyses, enrolled infants had significantly lower rates of death before discharge, severe IVH/PVL, death/severe IVH/PVL (all < 0.001), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P = .003) in comparison with eligible, but not enrolled infants. The rate of severe retinopathy of prematurity was not significantly different. After adjustment for perinatal factors, enrollment in the trial was not a significant predictor of any of the tested clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this analysis demonstrate significant outcome differences between enrolled and eligible but not enrolled infants in a trial using antenatal consent, which were likely due to enrollment bias resulting from the antenatal consent process. Additional research and regulatory review need to be conducted to ensure that large moderate-risk trials that require antenatal consent can be conducted in such a way as to ensure the generalizability of results.
Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk
Authors:   SECTION ON BREASTFEEDING, Eidelman Arthur I. , Schanler Richard J. , Johnston Margreete , Landers Susan , Noble Larry , Szucs Kinga , Viehmann Laura
Published: February 2012

This Policy Statement was revised. See https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-057988.

Breastfeeding and human milk are the normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. Given the documented short- and long-term medical and neurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding, infant nutrition should be considered a public health issue and not only a lifestyle choice. The American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirms its recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, followed by continued breastfeeding as complementary foods are introduced, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer as mutually desired by mother and infant. Medical contraindications to breastfeeding are rare. Infant growth should be monitored with the World Health Organization (WHO) Growth Curve Standards to avoid mislabeling infants as underweight or failing to thrive. Hospital routines to encourage and support the initiation and sustaining of exclusive breastfeeding should be based on the American Academy of Pediatrics-endorsed WHO/UNICEF “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.” National strategies supported by the US Surgeon General’s Call to Action, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and The Joint Commission are involved to facilitate breastfeeding practices in US hospitals and communities. Pediatricians play a critical role in their practices and communities as advocates of breastfeeding and thus should be knowledgeable about the health risks of not breastfeeding, the economic benefits to society of breastfeeding, and the techniques for managing and supporting the breastfeeding dyad. The “Business Case for Breastfeeding” details how mothers can maintain lactation in the workplace and the benefits to employers who facilitate this practice.
Genomic and genetic aspects of heart failure in dogs — A review
Authors: Łój Magdalena , Garncarz Magdalena , Jank Michał
Published: February 2012

The most common causes of heart failure in dogs are valvular disease, predominantly endocardiosis, and myocardial disease, predominantly dilated cardiomyopathy. They are related to changes in the expression of several genes in the heart muscle and in peripheral blood nuclear cells which could be considered as prognostic or diagnostic markers of heart disease in dogs. Since many human genetic markers of heart failure have turned out to be useless in dogs, the screening for genomic markers of canine heart failure could give more insight into the molecular pathology of these diseases and aid the development of new treatment strategies.
Effects of short-term sodium chlorate exposure on pigs
Authors: Cha Chun-Nam , Jung Won-Chul , Choi Hyunju , Lee Yeo , Yoo Chang-Yeul , Kim Suk , Lee Hu-Jang
Published: February 2012

The present study evaluated the effects of exposure to different doses of sodium chlorate in 10-week-old pigs. Twenty pigs were divided into four equal groups and treated with different doses of sodium chlorate: 0, 125, 250 and 500 mg kg−1body weight per day via the drinking water for 7 consecutive days. The results showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in red blood cell and white blood cell counts, packed cell volume, haemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen (P < 0.001) and creatinine levels, and an increase in aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.05) activities in swine administered sodium chlorate at a dose of 500 mg kg−1body weight per day. The histopathological study revealed increased numbers of vacuoles in the convoluted tubules, tubular necrosis and degeneration of the renal tubular epithelial cells, depletion of nuclei and lobular necrosis of the liver in all pigs treated with sodium chlorate at 500 mg kg−1body weight per day. Thus, 7-day administration of sodium chlorate at 500 mg kg−1body weight per day to pigs affects the liver and kidney tissues as well as the haematologic and serum biochemical parameters.
Effect of lignin on oxidative stress in chickens fed a diet contaminated with zearalenone
Authors: Grešáková Ľubomíra , Bořutová Radka , Faix Štefan , Plachá Iveta , Čobanová Klaudia , Košíková Božena , Leng Ľubomír
Published: February 2012

The effect of lignin supplementation to a diet contaminated with zearalenone (ZEA) on antioxidant status was studied in female chickens of the ISA BROWN laying strain. From the day of hatching to 2 weeks of age, four groups of chickens were fed the same uncontaminated control diet. After 14 days, Group 1 (control) continued to receive the uncontaminated diet, while Group 2 was fed an identical diet enriched with 0.5% chemically modified lignin. Simultaneously, chickens of Group 3 were switched to a diet contaminated with 7.9 mg/kg ZEA and those of Group 4 to an identical contaminated diet supplemented with 0.5% lignin. At 6 weeks of age blood and tissue samples were collected. Feeding of a diet contaminated with a high level of ZEA resulted in elevated glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the duodenal mucosa and kidney tissues, and an increased γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity in the plasma, indicative of oxidative stress. In the liver tissue, no mycotoxin-induced response in GPx and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activities occurred, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) level was even reduced. Neither the plasma levels of retinol and α-tocopherol nor the activities of superoxide dismutase in erythrocytes and GPx in blood were affected in birds fed the contaminated diet. The only effect of lignin supplemented to the contaminated feed was that it prevented the increase of GPx activity in the duodenal mucosa as an indicator of oxidative stress.
Detection of very virulent infectious bursal disease virus from a field outbreak in Central India
Authors: Singh Azad , Bedekar Megha , Sharma Rakesh , Sarkhel Bikash , Singh Sanjeev , Jain Sudhir
Published: February 2012

In order to detect infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), bursal tissue was collected from 10 IBD-suspected birds from a 30-day-old, IBDV-vaccinated commercial broiler chicken flock of 2000 birds exhibiting clinical signs suggestive of infectious bursal disease (IBD). The presence of IBDV was confirmed by partial amplification of the VP2 gene by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. Isolates were identified as very virulent strains of IBDV (vvIBDV) by nucleotide sequence analysis. The comparison of the VP2 nucleotide sequences among the isolates revealed the presence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the VP2 gene of IBDV in the same flock. The comparative analysis indicated that these viruses were genetically close to the vvIBDVs previously detected in India. Our analysis provided information about the existence of vvIBDV in Central India.
Molecular characterisation of the ORF68 region of equine herpesvirus-1 strains isolated from aborted fetuses in Hungary between 1977 and 2008
Authors: Malik Péter , Bálint Ádám , Dán Ádám , Pálfi Vilmos
Published: February 2012

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) can be classified into distinct groups by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in their genomes. Only a few of these can be associated with a special attribute of the virus. Differences in the ORF30 region can determine the neuropathogenic potential, while by substitutions in the ORF68 region several strain groups can be made. In previous studies no connection was found between the neuropathogenic potential and the SNPs in ORF68, but the occurrence of members of distinct groups in different outbreaks can facilitate epidemiological investigations because the geographical distribution of a particular group is very often specific. The present study aimed at the molecular examination and grouping of 35 EHV-1 strains isolated from aborted equine fetuses in Hungary between 1977 and 2008. Genotyping was based on the comparison of nucleotide sequences of a polymorphic segment located in the ORF68 region, which had previously been found to be a useful tool for classification. After sequencing this region, the Hungarian EHV-1 isolates could be classified into seven groups. Only 23 of the 35 isolates belonged to the formerly described groups, while the SNPs of 12 isolates diverged, and four new groups could be set up. In addition, phylogenetic analysis was performed to compare the ORF68 sequences of the Hungarian strains with the sequences of isolates from Europe, America and Australia. The number of newly formed groups suggests that the further analysis of unknown EHV-1 isolates would involve the emergence of extended numbers of new groups, which can impair the usability of this grouping method.
Numerical Processing of Cooling Curves to Obtain Growth Parameters During Eutectic Solidification
Authors: Morua M. , Peña E. , Aparicio R. , Ramirez-Argaez M. , Gonzalez-Rivera C.
Published: February 2012

In this work a methodology to measure kinetic parameters to describe grain growth during equiaxed eutectic solidification is proposed. This methodology includes the numerical processing of two cooling curves and requires input data concerning the number of grains per unit volume. In addition, free grain growth before impingement and an exponential dependence of the grain growth rate on undercooling are assumed. The evolution of solid fraction of the sample as a function of time is obtained by applying the Fourier thermal analysis (FTA) method. Information collected is processed numerically in order to find numerical values for the pre-exponential and exponential parameters that characterize the grain growth kinetics as a function of undercooling. To validate this methodology a mechanistic model that simulates the cooling and solidification of eutectic Al-Si alloy in a sand mold is used. The results suggest that this methodology can be used to measure the kinetic parameters of equiaxed growth from the numerical processing of cooling curves and grain density data.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Corrosion Rate Parameters in Refining Process Using Particle Swarm Optimization.
Authors: González B. , Torres L. , Reyes F. A. , Escamilla I. , Vera C. , Colas R.
Published: February 2012

In this paper, a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is presented to find the optimal combination of corrosion rate parameters for a refining process in the oil industry. The experimental data in this paper are constituted by results obtained from field tests. Maintenance control is a very important aspect in order to prevent substantial damage to facilities, equipment and people. Other important factor to consider is the cost of maintenance which tends to reduce the required actions. The main parameters in corrosion control are flow, concentration of sulfur species, total acid number (TAN), temperature, and chromium content. However it is not easy to know the combined effect of different variables due to synergistic effects. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a population based stochastic optimization technique, inspired by social behavior of bird flocking or fish schooling. The system is initialized with a population of random solutions and searches for optima by updating generations. In PSO, the potential solutions, called particles, fly through the problem space by following the current optimum particles.
MICROSTRUCTURAL EFFECTS IN THE STEEL HWS 1.2379 APPLYING THE PROCESS OF PLASMA TRANSFERRED ARC PTA.
Authors: Aguirre A. , García F. , Acevedo J. , Andrade J.
Published: February 2012

At present, the industrial sector requires the recovery of tool steel components subjected to severe wear which are built with steel HWS these have the same properties in all tribology directions and have great success in building tooling. In this paper, we recover the previously HWS steel machining with a fillet of 2mm caused by the metallurgical recovery of the component, applying the process of plasma transferred arc PTA which has very good fats dilution properties in comparison to other conventional processes currently applied for the recovery of tooling, such as GTAW, SMAW, SAW. The experiment was conducted with input D2 and M2 with one and two welding seams, making the assessment metallography, hardness and wear tests pin-on-disk. Finding a decrease in the hardness of the interface line, according to the evaluation of wear pin-on-disk, had a higher wear rate of the filler metal in the M2 D2.
Room Temperature Ionic Liquids as Novel Media for Zn Ions Extraction from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Hernández Cruz Leticia E. , García Felipe Legorreta , Herrera González Ana M.
Published: February 2012

Wastewaters often contain offensive cations. Because of their high affinity for water, it is difficult to remove those using conventional solvents for liquid- liquid extraction [1]. Hydrophobic ionic liquids may provide a useful extraction process. Because the properties of ionic liquids are turnable, it may be possible to identify some ionic liquids that have low viscosity, very low solubility in water, and high affinity for select metal ions [2]. In this sense in this work liquid- liquid extraction of dilute Zn ions from water was performed near room temperature with two ionic liquids (IL). Distribution coefficients are reported for Zn ions extracted with bromide 1-hexyl-pyridinium and bromide 1-octyl-pyridinium diluted in decanol. The extraction has been studied, and these confirmed that the metal extraction proceeds via a cation – exchange mechanism. Furthermore, stripping of Zn (II) from ILs into an aqueous phase by sulfuric acid (1 M) and recycling of the extracting ILs phase was successfully accomplished.
Um método para o retratamento da recidiva do desalinhamento dentário
Authors: Normando David , Capelozza Filho Leopoldino
Published: February 2012

INTRODUÇÃO: o ortodontista clínico deve esperar alguma perda do alinhamento dentário obtido durante o tratamento ortodôntico nos casos em que a contenção ortodôntica foi suspensa pelo profissional ou perdida pelo paciente. Nessa situação, os pacientes são, frequentemente, relutantes em novamente usar braquetes para retratar o alinhamento dentário perdido após o tratamento. OBJETIVO: esse artigo descreve o uso de uma técnica simples e eficiente para corrigir pequenas alterações do alinhamento dentário. Esse procedimento, inovador e de baixo custo, produz a resolução da recidiva em poucas semanas. A força usada para realinhar os dentes é obtida através de um fio elastomérico transparente amarrado a uma contenção fixa, de vários filamentos, colada às arcadas superior e inferior.
Novel Role of Ras-GTPase Activating Protein SH3 Domain-Binding Protein
G3BP in Adhesion and Migration of 32D Myeloid Progenitor Cells
Authors: Schwarz Kerstin , Aschenbrenner Frank , Ruster Brigitte , Kampfmann Manuela , Komor Martina , Hofmann Wolf-Karsten , Ruthardt Martin , Henschler Reinhard , Bug Gesine
Published: February 2012

Rho GTPases are involved in homing and mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells due to their
impact on cytoskeleton remodeling. We have previously shown that inhibition of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 clearly impairs adhesion
of normal and leukemic hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) to fibronectin and migration in a three-dimensional
stromal cell model. Here, we identified the Ras GTPase-Activating Protein SH3 Domain-Binding Protein (G3BP) as a target
gene of Rho GTPases and analysed its role in regulating HPC motility. Overexpression of G3BP significantly enhanced
adhesion of murine 32D HPC to fibronectin and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, increased the proportion of adherent
cells in a flow chamber assay and promoted cell migration in a transwell assay and a three-dimensional stromal cell model
suggesting a strong impact on the cytoskeleton. Immunofluorescent staining of G3BP-overexpressing fibroblasts revealed a
Rho-like phenotype characterized by formation of actin stress fibers in contrast to the Rac-like phenotype of control fibroblasts.
This is the first report implicating a role for G3BP in Rho GTPase-mediated signalling towards adhesion and migration of
HPC. Our results may be of clinical importance, since G3BP was found overexpressed in human cancers.
Extubation of the Difficult Airway: An Algorithmic Approach
Authors: Voscopoulos C. , Jalota L. , L. Kirk F. , Saxena A. , Lema M. , Apfel C. , Antoine J.
Published: February 2012

The difficult airway has been defined as a “clinical situation in which a conventionally trained anesthesiologist
experiences difficulty with mask ventilation of the upper airway, tracheal intubation, or both.” Given the potentially lifethreatening
consequences, the American Society of Anesthesiology has developed an airway algorithm that focuses on
establishing an airway, generally for the induction of anesthesia. However, there is no algorithm on how to safely
transition from an established airway back to the normal, natural airway. Up to 0.19 percent of patients can require
reintubation in the post anesthesia recovery unit, with the known difficult airway at greater risk in these settings for failed
reintubation. Because of this, there has been recognition of the need for guidelines in the form of an algorithm to deal with
extubation in these patients. To fill this current need, we propose the following difficult to intubate patient extubation
algorithm for use in the operating room setting.
The Re-Emergence of Percutaneous Fasciotomy in the Management of Dupuytren’s Disease
Authors: Donaldson James , Goddard Nicholas
Published: February 2012

Dupuytren’s disease is a common condition. Its management has gradually evolved but still remains a source of much controversy. Recently there has been a resurgence in the popularity of percutaneous needle fasciotomy. It is a simple method that uses a hypodermic needle as a scalpel blade. It is usually performed in the out-patient setting under local anaesthesia without a tourniquet. It has few complications and allows almost immediate return to work with few restrictions.

It can provide complete deformity correction and may offer a long-term solution in selected patients. It is also useful in converting advanced contractures into milder deformities, allowing a second stage digito-palmar fasciectomy to be more successful. Recurrence is earlier than with more formal and invasive techniques but the procedure can be repeated and does not preclude the patient from further surgery.

This article reviews the technique and assesses the efficacy and outcomes of published data.
The Future of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Hand Surgery - Combining Evolutionary Pharmacology and Surgical Technique
Authors: M Malahias , H Gardner , S Hindocha , A Juma , Khan W
Published: February 2012

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease of uncertain aetiology, which is characterized primarily by synovial inflammation with secondary skeletal destructions.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is diagnosed by the presence of four of the seven diagnostic criteria, defined by The American College of Rheumatology.

Approximately half a million adults in the United Kingdom suffer from rheumatoid arthritis with an age prevalence between the second and fourth decades of life; annually approximately 20,000 new cases are diagnosed.

The management of Rheumatoid Arthritis is complex; in the initial phase of the disease it primarily depends on pharmacological management. With disease progression, surgical input to correct deformity comes to play an increasingly important role. The treatment of this condition is also intimately coupled with input from both the occupational therapists and physiotherapy.
On manifolds with nonhomogeneous factors
Authors: Cárdenas Manuel , Lasheras Francisco , Quintero Antonio , Repovš Dušan
Published: February 2012

We present simple examples of finite-dimensional connected homogeneous spaces (they are actually topological manifolds) with nonhomogeneous and nonrigid factors. In particular, we give an elementary solution of an old problem in general topology concerning homogeneous spaces.
Banaschewski’s theorem for GMV-algebras
Authors: Jakubík Ján
Published: February 2012

Banaschewski’s theorem concerns subdirect product decompositions of lattice ordered groups. In the present paper we deal with the analogous investigation for the case of generalized MV -algebras (GMV -algebras, in short); we apply this notion in the sense studied by Galatos and Tsinakis.