bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurofilament phosphorylation regulates axonal transport by an indirect mechanism: A merging of opposing hypotheses
Authors: Shea Thomas B. , Lee Sangmook
Published: October 2011

Neurofilaments (NFs) are among the most abundant constituents of the axonal cytoskeleton. NFs consist of four subunits, termed NF‐H, NF‐M and NF‐L, corresponding to heavy, medium and light in reference to their molecular mass and α‐internexin. Phosphorylation of the C‐terminal “sidearms” of NF‐H and NF‐M regulates the ability of NFs to form a cytoskeletal lattice that supports the mature axon. C‐terminal phosphorylation events have classically been considered to regulate NF axonal transport. By contrast, studies demonstrating that NF axonal transport was not accelerated following sidearm deletion provided evidence that phosphorylation does not regulate NF transport. Herein, we demonstrate how comparison of transport and distribution of differentially phosphorylated NFs along axons identify common ground between these hypotheses and may resolve this controversy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
B‐Ring‐Modified isoCombretastatin A‐4 Analogues Endowed with Interesting Anticancer Activities
Authors: Hamze Abdallah , Rasolofonjatovo Evelia , Provot Olivier , Mousset Céline , Veau Damien , Rodrigo Jordi , Bignon Jérôme , Liu Jian‐Miao , Wdzieczak‐Bakala Joanna , Thoret Sylviane , Dubois Joëlle , Brion Jean‐Daniel , Alami Mouad
Published: October 2011

A novel class of isocombretastatin A‐4 (isoCA‐4) analogues with modifications at the 3′‐position of the B‐ring by replacement with C‐linked substituents was studied. Exploration of the structure–activity relationships of theses analogues led to the identification of several compounds that exhibit excellent antiproliferative activities in the nanomolar concentration range against H1299, MDA‐MB231, HCT116, and K562 cancer cell lines; they also inhibit tubulin polymerization with potency similar to that of isoCA‐4. 1,1‐Diarylethylenes 8 and 17, respectively with (E)‐propen‐3‐ol and propyn‐3‐ol substituents at the 3′‐position of the B‐ring, proved to be the most active in this series. Both compounds led to the arrest of various cancer cell lines at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and strongly induced apoptosis. Docking of compounds 8 and 17 in the colchicine binding site indicated that their C3′ substituents guide the positioning of the B‐ring in a manner different from that observed for isoCA‐4.
The clinical implications and biologic relevance of neurofilament expression in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms
Authors: Schimmack Simon , Lawrence Ben , Svejda Bernhard , Alaimo Daniele , Schmitz‐Winnenthal Hubertus , Fischer Lars , Büchler Markus W. , Kidd Mark , Modlin Irvin
Published: October 2011

BACKGROUND:

Although gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP‐NENs) exhibit widely divergent behavior, limited biologic information (apart from Ki‐67) is available to characterize malignancy. Therefore, the identification of alternative biomarkers is a key unmet need. Given the role of internexin alpha (INA) in neuronal development, the authors assessed its function in neuroendocrine cell systems and the clinical implications of its expression as a GEP‐NEN biomarker.

METHODS:

Functional assays were undertaken to investigate the mechanistic role of INA in the pancreatic BON cell line. Expression levels of INA were investigated in 50 pancreatic NENs (43 primaries, 7 metastases), 43 small intestinal NENs (25 primaries, 18 metastases), normal pancreas (n = 10), small intestinal mucosa (n = 16), normal enterochromaffin (EC) cells (n = 9), mouse xenografts (n = 4) and NEN cell lines (n = 6) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunostaining analyses.

RESULTS:

In BON cells, decreased levels of INA messenger RNA and protein were associated with the inhibition of both proliferation and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. INA was not expressed in normal neuroendocrine cells but was overexpressed (from 2‐fold to 42‐fold) in NEN cell lines and murine xenografts. In pancreatic NENs, INA was overexpressed compared with pancreatic adenocarcinomas and normal pancreas (27‐fold [P = .0001], and 9‐fold [P = .02], respectively). INA transcripts were correlated positively with Ki‐67 (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.5; P < .0001) and chromogranin A (r = 0.59; P < .0001). INA distinguished between primary tumors and metastases (P = .02), and its expression was correlated with tumor size, infiltration, and grade (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS:

INA is a novel NEN biomarker, and its expression was associated with MAPK signaling and proliferation. In clinical samples, elevated INA was correlated with Ki‐67 and identified malignancy. INA may provide additional biologic information relevant to delineation of both pancreatic NEN tumor phenotypes and clinical behavior. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Is screening effective in detecting untreated psychiatric disorders among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients?
Authors: Palmer Steven C. , Taggi Alison , DeMichele Angela , Coyne James C.
Published: October 2011

BACKGROUND:

A key purpose of routine distress screening is to ensure that cancer patients receive appropriate mental health care. Most studies validating screening instruments overestimate the effectiveness of screening by not differentiating between patients with untreated disorders and patients who are already being treated. This study adopts the novel strategy of evaluating the effectiveness of screening after correcting for disorder for which treatment is already being provided.

METHODS:

A total of 437 recently diagnosed breast cancer patients received in‐clinic distress screening and telephone‐based psychiatric interviews. Analyses were conducted using receipt of psychotropic medication for mental health difficulties in the context of a psychiatric disorder as a proxy for identification and treatment.

RESULTS:

Rates of elevated distress (33%), major depressive disorder (8%), minor depression (6%), dysthymia (2%), or generalized anxiety disorder (3%) were similar to those in other samples. Thirty‐six percent of patients received psychotropic medication around the time of cancer diagnosis, including 64% of those with a current psychiatric diagnosis. Although 39% of patients with elevated distress had a psychiatric disorder, the positive predictive value of screening fell to 15% for an untreated psychiatric disorder and 6% had untreated depression.

CONCLUSION:

Given the high rates of existing treatment, screening may not be efficient for identifying untreated disorder. Almost two‐thirds of patients with treated disorders remain symptomatic. Use of symptom scales might reasonably be expanded to surveillance of treatment response or ruling out disorder. Substantial resources would likely be required to coordinate or manage psychiatric care among patients, as would a willingness to intervene in existing relationships with other providers. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Neural differentiation of rat aorta pericyte cells
Authors: Montiel‐Eulefi Enrique , Nery Arthur A. , Rodrigues Lara C. , Sánchez Raúl , Romero Fernando , Ulrich Henning
Published: October 2011

Pericyte perivascular cells, believed to originate mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), are characterized by their capability to differentiate into various phenotypes and participate in tissue reconstruction of different organs, including the brain. We show that these cells can be induced to differentiation into neural‐like phenotypes. For these studies, pericytes were obtained from aorta ex‐plants of Sprague–Dawley rats and differentiated into neural cells following induction with trans retinoic acid (RA) in serum‐free defined media or differentiation media containing nerve growth and brain‐derived neuronal factor, B27, N2, and IBMX. When induced to differentiation with RA, cells express the pluripotency marker protein stage‐specific embryonic antigen‐1, neural‐specific proteins β3‐tubulin, neurofilament‐200, and glial fibrillary acidic protein, suggesting that pericytes undergo differentiation, similar to that of neuroectodermal cells. Differentiated cells respond with intracellular calcium transients to membrane depolarization by KCl indicating the presence of voltage‐gated ion channels and express functional N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptors, characteristic for functional neurons. The study of neural differentiation of pericytes contributes to the understanding of induction of neuroectodermal differentiation as well as providing a new possible stem‐cell source for cell regeneration therapy in the brain. © 2011 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Transactivation in Drosophila of human enhancers by human transcription factors involved in congenital heart diseases
Authors: Amodio Vincenzo , Tevy Maria Florencia , Traina Concetta , Ghosh Tushar Kanti , Capovilla Maria
Published: October 2011

Background: The human transcription factors (TFs) GATA4, NKX2.5 and TBX5 form part of the core network necessary to build a human heart and are involved in Congenital Heart Diseases (CHDs). The human natriuretic peptide precursor A (NPPA) and α‐myosin heavy chain 6 (MYH6) genes are downstream effectors involved in cardiogenesis that have been demonstrated to be in vitro targets of such TFs. Results: To study the interactions between these human TFs and their target enhancers in vivo, we overexpressed them in the whole Drosophila cardiac tube using the UAS/GAL4 system. We observed that all three TFs up‐regulate their natural target enhancers in Drosophila and cause developmental defects when overexpressed in eyes and wings. Conclusions: A strong potential of the present model might be the development of combinatorial and mutational assays to study the interactions between human TFs and their natural target promoters, which are not easily undertaken in tissue culture cells because of the variability in transfection efficiency, especially when multiple constructs are used. Thus, this novel system could be used to determine in vivo the genetic nature of the human mutant forms of these TFs, setting up a powerful tool to unravel the molecular genetic mechanisms that lead to CHDs. Developmental Dynamics 241:190–199, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of membrane layer properties on the electrophoretic behavior of a soft particle
Authors: Liu Kuan‐Liang , Hsu Jyh‐Ping , Tseng Shiojenn
Published: October 2011

The influence of the physical properties of the membrane layer of a soft particle, which comprises a rigid core and a porous membrane layer, on its electrophoretic behavior, is investigated. Because that influence was almost always neglected in the previous studies, the corresponding results can be unrealistic. The applicability of the model proposed is verified by the available theoretical and experimental results. The electrophoretic mobility of the particle under various conditions is simulated through varying the dielectric constant, the thickness, and the drag coefficient of the membrane layer, and the bulk ionic concentration. We show that under typical conditions, the deviation in the electrophoretic mobility arising from assuming that the dielectric constant of the membrane layer is the same as that of the bulk liquid phase can be in the order of 50%. In addition, the thicker the membrane layer and/or the higher the bulk ionic concentration, the larger the deviation. If the surface of the core of the particle is charged, as in the case of inorganic particles covered by an artificial membrane layer, the deviation at constant core surface potential is larger than that under other types of charged conditions. However, if the surface of the core is uncharged, as in the case of biocolloids, then that deviation becomes negligible. These findings are of fundamental significance to theoreticians in their analysis on the electrokinetic behaviors of soft particles, and to experimentalists in the interpretation of their data.
An optimized protocol for the acute isolation of human microglia from autopsy brain samples
Authors: Olah Marta , Raj Divya , Brouwer Nieske , De Haas Alexander H. , Eggen Bart J.L. , Den Dunnen Wilfred F. A. , Biber Knut P. H. , Boddeke Hendrikus W. G. M.
Published: October 2011

Microglia are increasingly recognized to be crucially involved in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis of the brain and spinal cord. Not surprisingly is therefore the growing scientific interest in the microglia phenotypes associated with various physiological and pathological processes of the central nervous system. Until recently the investigation of these phenotypes was hindered by the lack of an isolation protocol that (without an extended culturing period) would offer a microglia population of high purity and yield. Thus, our objective was to establish a rapid and efficient method for the isolation of human microglia from postmortem brain samples. We tested multiple elements of already existing protocols (e.g., density separation, immunomagnetic bead separation) and combined them to minimize preparation time and maximize yield and purity. The procedure presented in this article enables acute isolation of human microglia from autopsy (and biopsy) samples with a purity and yield that is suitable for downstream applications, such as protein and gene expression analysis and functional assays. Moreover, the present protocol is appropriate for the isolation of microglia from autopsy samples irrespective of the neurological state of the brain or specific brain regions and (with minor modification) could be even used for the isolation of microglia from human glioma tissue. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In re Lehman Brothers International (Europe): Positivism or the Rigour of Pedantry?
Authors: Nana Constantine N.
Published: October 2011

This paper examines the decisions of the Companies Court and Court of Appeal in the case of Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (in administration). It shows how the judges' undue focus on the literal meaning of the language used in Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 had unfortunate consequences on the process of restructuring the company and contradicted the intention of the legislature. It therefore proposes that it may sometimes be important to revert to the erstwhile golden rule whereby judges may depart from the ‘plain meaning’ of the words used in a statute to avoid an absurd or unfair result. This may have prevented the judges from observing that a scheme under Part 26 can vary or extinguish a creditor's rights qua creditor, but cannot vary or extinguish property rights; although debt is a form of property. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decreased lung carcinoma cell functions on select polymer nanometer surface features
Authors: Zhang Lijuan , Webster Thomas J.
Published: October 2011

Biomaterial nanotopographies have been proposed as a means to significantly influence cell functions (including osteoblasts, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, chondrocytes, immune cells, and bacteria). In this study, lung epithelial carcinoma cell functions including adhesion (up to 4 h), proliferation (up to 3 days), apoptosis (up to 5 days), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) synthesis (up to 5 days) on poly‐lactic‐co‐glycolic (PLGA) films with various nanotopographies were systematically investigated. Importantly, this study created PLGA films with various nanotopographies (specifically, nano‐smooth, 23, 300, and 400 nm hemispherical surface features) but similar surface chemistry in order to focus only on the effect of PLGA topography on cancer cell functions. Simple and effective cast‐molding and solvent evaporation methods were used to accomplish this. Atomic force microscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and water contact angle measurements verified similar surface chemistry and energy but varied topographies for all of the PLGA films prepared in this study. Lung epithelial carcinoma cell adhesion, proliferation, and morphology results indicated less cell growth and spreading on nano‐smooth and 400 nm surface‐featured PLGA compared to any other samples. However, results also demonstrated decreased lung epithelial carcinoma cell VEGF (a key growth factor secreted for the vascularization of tumors) synthesis on the 23 nm surface‐featured PLGA compared to the nano‐smooth substrates for up to 5 days. In summary, these results provided the first insights into understanding the role that PLGA nanotography may play in mediating lung carcinoma cell functions for a wide range of applications in regenerative medicine. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A:, 2012.
IRAK‐M in macrophages around septically and aseptically loosened hip implants
Authors: Zhang Yangchun , Hou Changhe , Yu Shiming , Xiao Jianhong , Zhang Ziji , Zhai Qiyi , Chen Jianwei , Li Ziqing , Zhang Xibao , Lehto Matti , Konttinen Yrjö T. , Sheng Puyi
Published: October 2011

The most common long‐term complication of joint arthroplasty is loosening, which is mediated by chronic inflammatory cytokines produced by macrophages stimulated by implant‐derived debris and eventually bacterial components adherent to such debris. In this study, antiinflammatory interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase‐M (IRAK‐M) was studied in macrophages in interface membranesin vivousing immunohistochemical staining and in titanium particle‐stimulated macrophagesin vitrousing reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. Results show that the interface membranes of septically and aseptically loosened prosthesis express more IRAK‐M protein than control membranes from osteoarthritic patient and that IRAK‐M mRNA‐levels increase upon particle stimulation. These findings suggest that, the upregulation of IRAK‐M in macrophages is involved in the local immunosuppression around implants, and may contribute to septic and aseptic implant loosening. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2012.
Quinolone analogues 9. Synthesis of 7‐methylsulfanyl‐ and 7‐methanesulfonylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxalin‐4(1H)‐ones
Authors: Kurasawa Yoshihisa , Nakamura Masami , Ashida Hiroaki , Masuda Mitsunori , Kaji Eisuke , Okamoto Yoshihisa , Kim Ho Sik
Published: October 2011

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The reaction of 7‐chloro‐1‐methylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxalin‐4(1H)‐ones 3a‐5a with sodium methylthiolate gave 1‐methyl‐7‐methylsulfanylpyridazino[3,4‐b]quinoxalin‐4(1H)‐ones 8a‐c, whose reaction with m‐chloroperbenzoic acid afforded the 7‐methanesulfonyl‐1‐methylpyridazino[3,4‐b]‐quinoxalin‐4(1H)‐ones 9a‐c, respectively. The above substituent change at the 7‐position resulted in the activity alteration to microorganisms.
Microwaves in organic synthesis: Facile synthesis of biologically active pyridazinone and iminopyridazine derivatives
Authors: Mohamed Nadia Ragab , El‐Saidi Manal Mohamed Talaat , Ali Yasser Mahmoud , Elnagdi Mohamed Hilmy
Published: October 2011

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Condensation of Wittig reagents 1a,b with arylhydrazones 2a,b by conventional and by microwave heating techniques furnished the corresponding pyridazines 3a‐e. The arylhydrazones 7a,b were allowed to react with 1a,b under the same conditions to produce the pyridazinones 10a,b and iminopyridazines 11a,b respectively. On the other hand, the arylhydrazones 12a‐c reacted with 1a to afford the pyridazinones 13a‐c. Treatment of 3b with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (DMFDMA) produced the adduct 15. The utility of microwave heating technique led to the reduction of the reaction times to few minutes and to the improvement of the yields of the products. The in vitro biological activity of some newly prepared compounds against four types of fungi was studied.
Hospital performance trends on national quality measures and the association with joint commission accreditation
Authors: Schmaltz Stephen P. , Williams Scott C. , Chassin Mark R. , Loeb Jerod M. , Wachter Robert M.
Published: October 2011

BACKGROUND:

Evaluations of the impact of hospital accreditation have been previously hampered by the lack of nationally standardized data. One way to assess this impact is to compare accreditation status with other evidence‐based measures of quality, such as the process measures now publicly reported by The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

OBJECTIVES:

To examine the association between Joint Commission accreditation status and both absolute measures of, and trends in, hospital performance on publicly reported quality measures for common diseases.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS:

Performance data for 2004 and 2008 from U.S. acute care and critical access hospitals were obtained using publicly available CMS Hospital Compare data augmented with Joint Commission performance data.

MEASUREMENTS:

Changes in hospital performance between 2004 and 2008, and percent of hospitals with 2008 performance exceeding 90% for 16 measures of quality‐of‐care and 4 summary scores.

RESULTS:

Hospitals accredited by The Joint Commission tended to have better baseline performance in 2004 than non‐accredited hospitals. Accredited hospitals had larger gains over time, and were significantly more likely to have high performance in 2008 on 13 out of 16 standardized clinical performance measures and all summary scores.

CONCLUSIONS:

While Joint Commission‐accredited hospitals already outperformed non‐accredited hospitals on publicly reported quality measures in the early days of public reporting, these differences became significantly more pronounced over 5 years of observation. Future research should examine whether accreditation actually promotes improved performance or is a marker for other hospital characteristics associated with such performance. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;6:458–465. © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine
Rethinking resident supervision to improve safety: From hierarchical to interprofessional models
Authors: Tamuz Michal , Giardina Traber Davis , Thomas Eric J. , Menon Shailaja , Singh Hardeep
Published: October 2011

BACKGROUND:

Inadequate supervision is a significant contributing factor to medical errors involving trainees, but supervision in high‐risk settings such as the intensive care unit (ICU) is not well studied.

OBJECTIVE:

We explored how residents in the ICU experienced supervision related to medication safety, not only from supervising physicians but also from other professionals.

DESIGN, SETTING, MEASUREMENTS:

Using qualitative methods, we examined in‐depth interviews with 17 residents working in ICUs of three tertiary‐care hospitals. We analyzed residents' perspectives on receiving and initiating supervision from physicians within the traditional medical hierarchy, and from other professionals, including nurses, staff pharmacists, and clinical pharmacists (“interprofessional supervision”).

RESULTS:

While initiating their own supervision within the traditional hierarchy, residents believed in seeking assistance from fellows and attendings, and articulated rules of thumb for doing so; however, they also experienced difficulties. Some residents were concerned that their questions would reflect poorly on them; others were embarrassed by their mistaken decisions. Conversely, residents described receiving interprofessional supervision from nurses and pharmacists, who proactively monitored, intervened in, and guided residents' decisions. Residents relied on nurses and pharmacists for nonjudgmental answers to their queries, especially after‐hours. To enhance both types of supervision, residents emphasized the importance of improving interpersonal communication skills.

CONCLUSIONS:

Residents depended on interprofessional supervision when making decisions regarding medications in the ICU. Improving interprofessional supervision, which thus far has been underrecognized and underemphasized in graduate medical education, can potentially improve medication safety in high‐risk settings. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2011;6:448–456. © 2011 Society of Hospital Medicine
Accuracy of MRI to identify the coronary artery plaque: A comparative study with intravascular ultrasound
Authors: He Yi , Zhang Zhaoqi , Dai Qinyi , Zhou Yujie , Yang Ya , Yu Wei , An Jing , Jin Lixin , Jerecic Renate , Yuan Chun , Li Debiao
Published: October 2011

Purpose:

To evaluate the ability of black‐blood coronary arterial wall MRI to identify the coronary artery plaque, using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) as the golden standard.

Materials and Methods:

Nineteen consecutive patients underwent IVUS and coronary artery wall MRI. Cross‐sectional images were acquired on the lesion of coronary artery from the ostium to the middle segment continuously. The vessel cross‐sectional area (CSA), luminal CSA, plaque burden, contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) and signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) were measured in each slice which was then compared with the IVUS images.

Results:

Sixteen of 19 patients completed coronary artery MRA and wall imaging. 41 of 67 slices were found plaques on both IVUS and MRI; The maximal wall thickness, plaque burden, SNR, CNR in the coronary wall containing plaque were greater compared with the normal coronary wall (1.70 ± 0.51 versus 1.24 ± 0.24; 0.71 ± 0.13 versus 0.59 ± 0.12; 1.86 ± 0.41 versus 1.47 ± 0.23; 5.10 ± 2.21 versus 2.99 ± 1.17; respectively, P < 0.05). The matched MRI and IVUS showed good correlation for vessel CSA (16.77 ± 10.67 versus 16.97 ± 8.36; r = 0.79; P < 0.01), luminal CSA (5.18 ± 5.01 versus 7.13 ± 5.14; r = 0.88; P < 0.01), plaque burden (0.71 ± 0.13 versus 0.59 ± 0.15; r = 0.67; P < 0.01). in segments containing plaques, especially the luminal CSA were strongly correlated.

Conclusion:

MRI coronary artery wall imaging can identify coronary plaque in the proximal segments. It also has the potential to assess coronary artery size. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:72‐78. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neuroimaging of pediatric posterior fossa tumors including review of the literature
Authors: Poretti Andrea , Meoded Avner , Huisman Thierry A.G.M.
Published: October 2011

Conventional, anatomical MRI is an essential tool for diagnosis and evaluation of location, quality, and extent of posterior fossa tumors, but offers limited information regarding tumor grade and type. Advanced MRI techniques such as diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) may improve the specific diagnosis of brain tumors in the posterior fossa in children. In this review the conventional neuroimaging findings, as well as the DWI, and DTI characteristics of common pediatric posterior fossa tumors are discussed and summarized. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;35:32‐47. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Reduced risk of primary postoperative hemorrhage after tonsil surgery in Sweden: Results from the national tonsil surgery register in Sweden covering more than 10 years and 54,696 operations
Authors: Hessén Söderman Anne‐Charlotte , Ericsson Elisabeth , Hemlin Claes , Hultcrantz Elisabeth , Månsson Ingemar , Roos Kristian , Stalfors Joacim
Published: October 2011

Objectives/Hypothesis:

To analyze the incidence of primary bleeding following tonsil surgery and to evaluate risk factors.

Study Design:

Register study of the results from the National Tonsil Surgery Register in Sweden covering the period 1997 to 2008 and 54,696 operations.

Methods:

Data were collected by means of three questionnaires, two filled in by professionals and one 6 months postoperatively by the patient/parent.

Results:

A total of 719 patients experienced primary postoperative bleeding during the hospital stay (1.3%). A number of independent factors were correlated with decreased risk of post‐tonsillectomy hemorrhage: younger age (P < .0001), female sex (P < .0001), type of surgery (tonsillotomy) (P = .0006), and surgery performed on a day‐surgery basis (P < .0001). Indication for surgery and number of operations performed at the department did not correlate with postoperative bleeding risk. A significant decrease in primary postoperative hemorrhage rate from 2% to 0.96% was found during the study period.

Conclusions:

Primary hemorrhage following tonsil surgery is rare. During the study period, a significant decrease in primary bleeding rates occurred. The changes in practice with an increasing proportion of day‐surgery cases and tonsillotomy have contributed to the reduced risk, but cannot completely explain the reduction.
Endogenous Social Comparisons and the Internal Organization of Firms
Authors: Bartling Björn
Published: October 2011

Should workers of a firm be organizationally integrated to realize benefits from benchmarking? Or should they be separated to preclude horizontal social comparisons? This paper highlights a trade‐off that arises if social comparisons in firms are endogenous. We analyze a principal multi‐agent model in which the principal trades off the reduction of agents' risk exposures by use of relative performance evaluation and the thereby induced social comparisons for which agents must be compensated. Contrary to standard theoretical predictions, relative performance evaluation is optimal only if the performance measures are sufficiently correlated relative to the agents' regard for others. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical and brain imaging characteristics in leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2–associated PD and asymptomatic mutation carriers
Authors: Brockmann Kathrin , Gröger Adriane , Di Santo Adriana , Liepelt Inga , Schulte Claudia , Klose Uwe , Maetzler Walter , Hauser Ann‐Kathrin , Hilker Ruediger , Gomez‐Mancilla Baltazar , Berg Daniela , Gasser Thomas
Published: October 2011

The objective of this research was to evaluate a possible endophenotype in leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)‐associated Parkinson's disease (PD). Ten symptomatic LRRK2 patients, 24 sporadic Parkinson's disease patients as well as 10 asymptomatic LRRK2 mutation carriers and 29 matched healthy controls underwent comprehensive clinical assessments with respect to motor and non‐motor symptoms. Transcranial sonography and magnetic resonance imaging (voxel‐based morphometry [VBM]) were assessed to evaluate morphological imaging characteristics. LRRK2 patients had an earlier onset of motor symptoms and a more benign phenotype of motor and non‐motor characteristics compared to sporadic Parkinson's disease patients. However, depression scores were higher in LRRK2 patients. No clinical differences were found regarding motor and non‐motor symptoms in asymptomatic LRRK2 mutation carriers in comparison to controls. Transcranial sonography showed hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra in both patients' cohorts as well as in asymptomatic LRRK2 mutation carriers. Voxel‐based morphometry revealed increased gray matter volume of the cerebellum and precentral gyrus in LRRK2 patients and of the cuneus in asymptomatic LRRK2 mutation carriers. In contrast, we found decreased basal ganglia gray matter volume in LRRK2 patients compared to controls. Increased gray matter volume of different anatomical structures associated with motor loops in LRRK2 patients and asymptomatic LRRK2 mutation carriers compared to age‐matched sporadic Parkinson's disease patients and controls might indicate compensatory mechanism in LRRK2 mutation carriers due to motor network plasticity not only in the symptomatic stage of the disease but even in the premotor phase. Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity in yet unaffected LRRK2 mutation carriers indicates morphologic alterations in an asymptomatic stage of disease. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Margining option portfolios by network flows
Authors: Matsypura Dmytro , Timkovsky Vadim G.
Published: October 2011

As shown in [23], the problem of margining option portfolios where option spreads with two legs are used for offsetting can be solved in polynomial time by network flow algorithms. However, spreads with only two legs do not provide sufficient accuracy in measuring risk. Therefore, margining practice also uses spreads with three and four legs. A polynomial‐time solution to the extension of the problem where option spreads with three and four legs are also used for offsetting is not known. We propose a heuristic network‐flow algorithm for this extension and present a computational study that demonstrates high efficiency of the proposed algorithm in margining practice. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2012
Maternal smoking during pregnancy and risk for childhood leukemia: A nationwide case–control study in Greece and meta‐analysis
Authors: Klimentopoulou Alexandra , Antonopoulos Constantine N. , Papadopoulou Charalampia , Kanavidis Prodromos , Tourvas Aristomenis‐Dimitrios , Polychronopoulou Sofia , Baka Margarita , Athanasiadou‐Piperopoulou Fani , Kalmanti Maria , Sidi Vassiliki , Moschovi Maria , Petridou Eleni Th
Published: October 2011

Background

Maternal smoking during pregnancy has been often implicated in the development of childhood leukemia with ambiguous results. Hence, we conducted a meta‐analysis aiming to summarize current evidence and quantify any tentative impact.

Procedure

We retrieved one cohort (553 leukemias compared to 1,440,542 children), 20 case–control studies and also analyzed the updated Greek case–control dataset with unpublished data, yielding in total 11,092 cases and 25,221 controls.

Results

Odds ratios reported in the studies included ranged from 0.70 to 2.20 for acute lymphocytic (ALL) and from 0.60 to 2.17 for acute myelocytic leukemia (AML). The combined effect regarding the association of maternal smoking (any vs. no) and leukemia risk was 1.03 for ALL (95% CI = 0.95–1.12, random effects model) and 0.99 for AML (95% CI = 0.90–1.09, fixed effects model). The results remained unchanged when sensitivity analyses were undertaken of studies reporting same maternal smoking periods, those focusing only on childhood leukemia deaths or investigations which did not clearly define AML subtype.

Conclusions

The findings of the meta‐analysis challenge the limits of traditional epidemiology to provide sound inferences when point estimates of constituent studies range around the null. In particular, this study provides no support to a hypothesis linking maternal smoking during pregnancy with subsequent development of main childhood leukemia subtypes. Further investigations employing molecular and genetic epidemiology, however, might be needed in the hope to reveal even minimal risks pertaining individuals with specific susceptibility to tobacco compounds who sustain high environmental exposures prenatally or postnatally. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 344–351. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The preservation of lipids for scanning electron microscopy
Authors: Worret Wolf‐Lego F. , Cunningham Dale E.
Published: October 2011

Due to the solubility of lipids during dehydration of specimens for SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), the relation of lipids to special tissue structures remains obscure. The tricomplex flocculation as described by Elbers, Ververgaert and Demel (1965) is found to be an excellent method of fat and tissue preservation. The steps of the procedure are explained in the preparation of a tuberous xanthoma.
Flexible and Transparent Electrothermal Film Heaters Based on Graphene Materials
Authors: Sui Dong , Huang Yi , Huang Lu , Liang Jiajie , Ma Yanfeng , Chen Yongsheng
Published: October 2011

High‐performance and novel graphene‐based electrothermal films are fabricated through a simple yet versatile solution process. Their electrothermal performances are studied in terms of applied voltage, heating rate, and input power density. The electrothermal films annealed at high temperature show high transmittance and display good heating performance. For example, the graphene‐based film annealed at 800 °C, which shows transmittance of over 80% at 550 nm, can reach a saturated temperature of up to 42 °C when 60 V is applied for 2 min. Graphene‐based films annealed at 900 and 1000 °C can exhibit high steady‐state temperatures of 150 and 206 °C under an applied voltage of 60 V with a maximum heating rate of over 7 °C s−1. For flexible heating films patterned on polyimide, a steady‐state temperature of 72 °C could be reached in less than 10 s with a maximum heating rate exceeding 16 °C s−1 at 60 V. These excellent results, combined with the high chemical stability and mechanical flexibility of graphene, indicate that graphene‐based electrothermal elements hold great promise for many practical applications, such as defrosting and antifogging devices.
A flexible latent trait model for response times in tests
Authors: Ranger Jochen , Kuhn Jorg-Tobias
Published: October 2011

Latent trait models for response times in tests have become popular recently. One challenge for response time modeling is the fact that the distribution of response times can differ considerably even in similar tests. In order to reduce the need for tailor-made models, a model is proposed that unifies two popular approaches to response time modeling: Proportional hazard models and the accelerated failure time model with log–normally distributed response times. This is accomplished by resorting to discrete time. The categorization of response time allows the formulation of a response time model within the framework of generalized linear models by using a flexible link function. Item parameters of the proposed model can be estimated with marginal maximum likelihood estimation. Applicability of the proposed approach is demonstrated with a simulation study and an empirical application. Additionally, means for the evaluation of model fit are suggested.
Ranking in collaboration networks using a group based metric
Authors: Freire Vinícius P. , Figueiredo Daniel R.
Published: October 2011

Collaboration networks are social networks in which relationships represent some kind of professional collaboration. The study of collaboration networks can help identify individuals or groups that are important or influential within a given community. We start this work by characterizing the structural properties of the scientific collaboration network in the area of Computer Science. In particular, we consider the global network (all individuals) and the Brazilian network (individuals affiliated with Brazilian institutions) and establish a direct comparison between them. Our empirical results indicate that despite exhibiting features found in most social networks, these two networks also have some interesting differences. We then present a novel approach to rank individuals within a group in the network (as opposed to ranking all individuals) using solely their relationships. Intuitively, the importance assigned to an individual by our metric is proportional to the intensity of its relationship to the outside of the group. We use the proposed approach and other classical metrics to rank individuals of the Brazilian network and compare the results with the ranking of the Research Fellowship Program of CNPq (an agency of the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology). The direct comparison indicates the effectiveness of the proposed approach in identifying influential researchers, in particular when considering top ranked individuals. We then extend the proposed approach to rank small groups of individuals (as opposed to single individuals). We apply this and other classical metrics to rank graduate programs in Computer Science in Brazil and compare the results with the ranking of graduate programs provided by CAPES (an agency of the Brazilian Ministry of Education). Our results indicate that the proposed method can effectively identify influential groups such as well-established graduate programs in Brazil.
The joint production of confidence: lessons from nineteenth-century US commercial banks for twenty-first-century Euro area governments
Authors: Winkler Adalbert
Published: October 2011

This article argues that the crisis in euro area government bond markets reflects the same kind of stability challenges financial intermediaries face when confronted with a negative macroeconomic shock without having access to a lender of last resort. Nineteenth-century US banks operated under such a framework and used clearing houses in times of crisis as a co-insurance mechanism against contagious runs. Their experience provides valuable lessons for the ongoing reform efforts in the euro area. The analysis reveals that most of the instruments clearing houses used in the joint production of confidence are similar to the ones euro area governments have recently decided upon, such as the establishment of the European Financial Stability Facility. This suggests that the euro area crisis response has followed best private-sector practices of crisis management. However, inherent fragilities of co-insurance mechanisms as well as the long maturity and elusive quality of government debt present a challenge in designing a sustainable solution to the crisis without compromising on the original goal of euro area governance: ensuring sound fiscal policies as a prerequisite for maintaining price stability. To meet this challenge a substantially more comprehensive economic and political union might be needed.
Burden, attitudes and social support in the families of patients with long-term physical diseases
Authors: Magliano Lorenza , Fiorillo Andrea , De Rosa Corrado , Malangone Claudio , Maj Mario , Di Lavoro Gruppo
Published: October 2011

Aims – To describe in a sample of 646 relatives of patients with physical long-term illnesses: a) the relatives' burden of care; b) the relatives' attitudes towards the patients; c) the social and professional support received by the families. Methods – The study has been carried out in 30 Italian geographic areas randomly selected taking into account geographic location and population density. The sample has been consecutively recruited in 139 specialised units for the treatment of chronic heart, brain, diabetes, kidney, and lung diseases. Family burden was evaluated in relation to: a) family's socio-demographic variables and patients' clinical variables; b) relatives' attitudes toward the patient; c) social and professional support; d) geographic area and population density. Outcome measures – Family Problems Questionnaire, physical illness version (QPF-O) and Social Network Questionnaire (QRS). Results – The consequences of caregiving most frequently reported were constraints in social and recreational activities, and feelings of loss. Burden was more marked in relatives of patients with higher physical disabilities, with neurological illnesses, and in relatives with lower support by their social network. Conclusions – These data highlight the need to provide psychological and practical support to caregivers of patients with long-term physical diseases on the basis of the evaluation of their needs for care.

Declaration of Interest: none of the five authors has had any interest or received any form of support, including that from drug companies and honoraria for lectures and consultancies, potentially in conflict with this scientific work, in the last 2 years.
Growing recognition of the importance of service user involvement in mental health service planning and evaluation
Authors: Thornicroft Graham , Tansella Michele
Published: October 2011

Service user involvement in the planning and provision of mental health services has been growing over the last two decades, especially in countries and areas where institutional service provision has been changed to a community-orientated model of care. However, the material involvement of service users in mental health research is still in its infancy. The aim of this paper is to attempt to place these developments in a conceptual context, to summarise the ethics-based and evidence-based reasons why it has to be considered as necessary, and to illustrate some of the emerging evidence which shows the advantages to be gained from it. In particular the results of recent studies are briefly reported, showing that outcomes data rated by service users in some cases are more important than those rated by staff. The reduction in patient-rated unmet needs in the social domain was the strongest predictor of an increase in subjective quality of life. The importance of including service user preferences within the content of the research questions is exemplified by the results of a recent study that showed that joint crisis plans can significantly reduce the use of compulsory admission during crises and by a review that demonstrated that the use of an explicit service user perspective produced distinctive insights into the long-term effects of Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT).

Declaration of Interest: none.
Causes and psychosocial consequences of schizophrenia: the opinions of Italian population
Authors: Magliano Lorenza , Rosa Corrado De , Fiorillo Andrea , Malangone Claudio , Guarneri Manuela , Marasco Cecilia , Maj Mario , Lavoro Gruppo Di
Published: October 2011

Objective– Description of opinions on schizophrenia and its psychosocial consequences in a sample of general population.Methods– The study has been carried out in 29 GP units stratified by geographic area and population density of their catchment areas and randomly selected. Each respondent was asked to read a case-vignette describing a patient who met ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia, and then to fill the Questionnaire on the Opinions about Mental Illness General Population's version(QO-GP). Results– Data on 714 respondents were collected. 21% of the sample identified a case of schizophrenia, 66% of depression/anxiety disorder, and 13% of “nervous breakdown”. Factors most frequently mentioned as causes of detected disorder were stress (72%), heredity (62%), family difficulties and psychological traumas (45%). More pessimistic opinions about psychosocial consequences of schizophrenia were found among respondents with lower educational level and older age. Respondents who referred the case-vignette to schizophrenia reported more pessimistic opinions about psychosocial consequences of detected disorder.Conclusions– The results of this study outline the need to plan educational campaigns on mental illnesses, which take into account the socio-cultural characteristics of the target populations.

Declaration of interest: none of the seven authors has had any interest or received any form of support, including that from drug companies and honoraria for lectures and consultancies, potentially in conflict with this scientific work, in the last 2 years.
Mortality of long-term psychiatric inpatients. Retrospective study on a cohort of long-term patients in the psychiatric hospital of Bologna, Italy
Authors: Fioritti Angelo , Lipparini Daniela , Melega Vittorio
Published: October 2011

Riassunto

Scopo - Il presente studio è stato condotto per determinare il rischio di mortalità nei pazienti psichiatrici lungo-degenti. Setting - Ex ospedale psichiatrico provinciale «F. Roncati» di Bologna. Disegno - Studio di coorte retrospettivo con un follow-up di dieci anni in cui si è calcolato il tasso di mortalità complessivo e disaggregato per diagnosi psichiatrica, durata del ricovero e condizione «ricoverato al termine del follow-up/dimesso», dei 264 pazienti degenti presso l'istituto l'1.1.1981. Misure utilizzate - I tassi di mortalità sono stati calcolati e successivamente confrontati utilizzando il Rapporto Standardizzato di Mortalità (Standardized Mortality Ratio - SMR). La standardizzazione per sesso e classi di età è avvenuta prendendo come riferimento la mortalita della popolazione residente a Bologna nel decennio 1981-1991. La presenza nella coorte dei singoli soggetti è stata misurata in anni-persona. Risultati - La condizione di de- gente comporta un eccesso di mortalità di 2.89 per gli uomini (IC 95%: 2.12-3.86) e di 2.38 (IC: 1.66-3.31) per le donne. Si è registrato inoltre un forte eccesso di mortalità per la classe di eta dai 15 ai 44 anni sia per gli uomini (18.33; IC: 9.14-32.81) che per le donne (60; IC: 21.91-130.6) e nei soggetti con diagnosi di caratteropatia/alcolismo (uomini, 11.25; IC: 5.13-21.36; donne, 5; IC: 1.35-12.8). Si è registrata infine una diminuzione dell'eccesso di mortalita al crescere della durata del ricovero e della eta dei pazienti. Conclusioni - Lo studio conferma l'esistenza di un forte rischio di mortalita associato alia condizione di paziente psichiatrico istituzionalizzato, concentrato soprattutto nelle classi d'età piu giovani, nei primi anni di ricovero e nei soggetti con diagnosi di caratteropatia/alcolismo.