bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing postoperative adverse events after Hartmann’s reversal
Authors: Okolica D. , Bishawi M. , Karas J. R. , Reed J. F. , Hussain F. , Bergamaschi R.
Published: March 2011

Aim  The study was performed to evaluate factors influencing postoperative adverse events after Hartmann’s reversal (HR).

Method  This was a retrospective study of unselected patients who underwent HR after the Hartmann’s procedure (HP) for left colonic perforation with peritonitis at a single institution. Data were retrieved from an Institutional Review Board‐approved database. The study end‐point was postoperative adverse events, which included mortality, complications, reoperations and 30‐day readmission. Lag time was defined as the time from HP to HR. The results are expressed as mean ± SD.

Results  From 1997 to 2007, 204 (39.1%) of all patients who underwent the HP [60 ± 16 years of age; 58% men; body mass index (BMI) = 27.6 ± 5.7; 2% were American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) 1, 50.2% were ASA 2, 39.9% were ASA 3 and 7.9% were ASA 4) underwent HR at an interval of 158 ± 107 days. There were 24 laparoscopic and 180 open HRs, with no deaths. The operating time was 167 ± 64 min, estimated blood loss was 245 ± 283 ml and the 30‐day readmission rate was 4.9%. Eleven (5.4%) patients developed 14 (6.8%) complications and five (2.4%) of these patients required a new stoma at the time of HR or later. On multivariate analysis controlling for confounders, chronic renal failure requiring dialysis (OR = 21.0; 95% CI: 1.5–284; P = 0.02) was significantly associated with increased adverse events.

Conclusion  The study showed that chronic renal failure requiring dialysis was the only independent predictor of postoperative adverse event rates following HR.
The extent of pelvic lymph node dissection correlates with the biochemical recurrence rate in patients with intermediate‐ and high‐risk prostate cancer
Authors: Schiavina Riccardo , Manferrari Fabio , Garofalo Marco , Bertaccini Alessandro , Vagnoni Valerio , Guidi Mascia , Borghesi Marco , Baccos Alessandro , Morselli‐Labate Antonio Maria , Concetti Sergio , Martorana Giuseppe
Published: March 2011

Study Type – Therapy (case series)

Level of Evidence 4

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Pelvic lymph‐node dissection during radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer is certainly a fundamental staging procedure but its therapeutic role is yet under debate.

This retrospective study suggests that, in patients with intermediate‐ and high‐risk of prostate cancer, the greater the number of lymph‐nodes removed, the lower the risk of biochemical relapse, even in the presence of 1 or 2 lymph‐node metastasis. However, the Will Rogers phenomenon must be considered due to the retrospective nature of the present study.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) and of the number of lymph nodes (LNs) retrieved during radical prostatectomy (RP) on biochemical relapse (BCR) in pNX/0/1 patients with prostate cancer according to the clinical risk of lymph node invasion (LNI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated 872 pT2‐4 NX/0/1 consecutive patients submitted to RP between October 1995 and June 2009, with the following inclusion criteria: (i) a follow‐up period ≥12 months; (ii) the avoidance of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy or adjuvant hormonal and/or adjuvant radiotherapy; (iii) the availability of complete follow‐up data; (iv) no pathological T0 disease; (v) complete data regarding the clinical stage and Gleason score (Gs), the preoperative prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level and the pathological stage.

The patients were stratified as having low risk (cT1a‐T2a and cGs ≤6 and PSA level < 10 ng/mL), intermediate risk (cT2b‐T2c or cGs = 7 or PSA level = 10–19.9) or high risk of LNI (cT3 or cGs = 8–10 or PSA level ≥ 20).

The 872 patients were divided into two LN groups according to the number of LNs retrieved: group 1 had no LN or one to nine LNs removed; group 2 had 10 or more LNs.

The variables analysed were LN group, age, PSA level, clinical and pathological stage and Gs, surgical margin status, LN status and number of LN metastases; the primary endpoint was the BCR‐free survival.

RESULTS

The mean follow‐up was 55.8 months.

Of all the patients, 305 (35%) were pNx and 567 (65.0%) were pN0/1.

Of the 567 patients submitted to PLND, the mean number of LNs obtained was 10.9, and 49 (8.6%) were pN1.

In the 402 patients at low risk of LNI, LN group was not a significant predictor of BCR at univariate analysis, while in the 470 patients at intermediate and high risk of LNI, patients with ≥10 LNs removed had a significantly lower BCR‐free survival at univariate and multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

In our study population, a more extensive PLND positively affects the BCR‐free survival regardless of the nodal status in intermediate‐ and high‐risk prostate cancer.
Oddity, Schizotypy/Dissociation, and Personality
Authors: Ashton Michael C. , Lee Kibeom
Published: March 2011

The construct of Oddity was examined in relation to the dimensions of normal personality variation and a dimension of schizotypy and dissociation. In 2 studies involving samples of community adults (N = 409) and college students (N = 378), Oddity—as operationalized in terms of perceived strangeness or eccentricity—was found to be moderately related to a Schizotypy/Dissociation factor and also to factors of normal personality variation, particularly Openness to Experience. The modest loading of Oddity on the Schizotypy/Dissociation factor, along with the somewhat stronger projection of Oddity within the space of normal personality dimensions, indicates that the Schizotypy/Dissociation factor should not be interpreted as a dimension of Oddity. The interpretation of the Schizotypy/Dissociation factor is discussed, as are the implications of these results for proposed dimensional models of personality disorders.
hERG subunit composition determines differential drug sensitivity
Authors: Abi‐Gerges N , Holkham H , Jones EMC , Pollard CE , Valentin J‐P , Robertson GA
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The majority of human ether‐a‐go‐go‐related gene (hERG) screens aiming to minimize the risk of drug‐induced long QT syndrome have been conducted using heterologous systems expressing the hERG 1a subunit, although both hERG 1a and 1b subunits contribute to the K+ channels producing the repolarizing current IKr. We tested a range of compounds selected for their diversity to determine whether hERG 1a and 1a/1b channels exhibit different sensitivities that may influence safety margins or contribute to a stratified risk analysis.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We used the IonWorks™ plate‐based electrophysiology device to compare sensitivity of hERG 1a and 1a/1b channels stably expressed in HEK293 cells to 50 compounds previously shown to target hERG channels. Potency was determined as IC50 values (µM) obtained from non‐cumulative, eight‐point concentration–effect curves of normalized data, fitted to the Hill equation. To minimize possible sources of variability, compound potency was assessed using test plates arranged in alternating columns of cells expressing hERG 1a and 1a/1b.

KEY RESULTS Although the potency of most compounds was similar for the two targets, some surprising differences were observed. Fluoxetine (Prozac) was more potent at blocking hERG 1a/1b than 1a channels, yielding a corresponding reduction in the safety margin. In contrast, E‐4031 was a more potent blocker of hERG 1a compared with 1a/1b channels, as previously reported, as was dofetilide, another high‐affinity blocker.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The current assays may underestimate the risk of some drugs to cause torsades de pointes arrhythmia, and overestimate the risk of others.
Cannabidiol inhibits pathogenic T cells, decreases spinal microglial activation and ameliorates multiple sclerosis‐like disease in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Kozela Ewa , Lev Nirit , Kaushansky Nathali , Eilam Raya , Rimmerman Neta , Levy Rivka , Ben‐Nun Avraham , Juknat Ana , Vogel Zvi
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cannabis extracts and several cannabinoids have been shown to exert broad anti‐inflammatory activities in experimental models of inflammatory CNS degenerative diseases. Clinical use of many cannabinoids is limited by their psychotropic effects. However, phytocannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD), devoid of psychoactive activity, are, potentially, safe and effective alternatives for alleviating neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We used experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) in C57BL/6 mice, as a model of multiple sclerosis. Using immunocytochemistry and cell proliferation assays we evaluated the effects of CBD on microglial activation in MOG‐immunized animals and on MOG‐specific T‐cell proliferation.

KEY RESULTS Treatment with CBD during disease onset ameliorated the severity of the clinical signs of EAE. This effect of CBD was accompanied by diminished axonal damage and inflammation as well as microglial activation and T‐cell recruitment in the spinal cord of MOG‐injected mice. Moreover, CBD inhibited MOG‐induced T‐cell proliferation in vitro at both low and high concentrations of the myelin antigen. This effect was not mediated via the known cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS CBD, a non‐psychoactive cannabinoid, ameliorates clinical signs of EAE in mice, immunized against MOG. Suppression of microglial activity and T‐cell proliferation by CBD appeared to contribute to these beneficial effects.

LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed issue on Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine. To view the other articles in this issue visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.163.issue‐7
Compartmentalization of endocannabinoids into lipid rafts in a microglial cell line devoid of caveolin‐1
Authors: Rimmerman Neta , Bradshaw Heather B , Kozela Ewa , Levy Rivka , Juknat Ana , Vogel Zvi
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE N‐acyl ethanolamines (NAEs) and 2‐arachidonoyl glycerol (2‐AG) are endogenous cannabinoids and along with related lipids are synthesized on demand from membrane phospholipids. Here, we have studied the compartmentalization of NAEs and 2‐AG into lipid raft fractions isolated from the caveolin‐1‐lacking microglial cell line BV‐2, following vehicle or cannabidiol (CBD) treatment. Results were compared with those from the caveolin‐1‐positive F‐11 cell line.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH BV‐2 cells were incubated with CBD or vehicle. Cells were fractionated using a detergent‐free continuous OptiPrep density gradient. Lipids in fractions were quantified using HPLC/MS/MS. Proteins were measured using Western blot.

KEY RESULTS BV‐2 cells were devoid of caveolin‐1. Lipid rafts were isolated from BV‐2 cells as confirmed by co‐localization with flotillin‐1 and sphingomyelin. Small amounts of cannabinoid CB1 receptors were found in lipid raft fractions. After incubation with CBD, levels and distribution in lipid rafts of 2‐AG, N‐arachidonoyl ethanolamine (AEA), and N‐oleoyl ethanolamine (OEA) were not changed. Conversely, the levels of the saturated N‐stearoyl ethanolamine (SEA) and N‐palmitoyl ethanolamine (PEA) were elevated in lipid raft fractions. In whole cells with growth medium, CBD treatment increased AEA and OEA time‐dependently, while levels of 2‐AG, PEA and SEA did not change.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Whereas levels of 2‐AG were not affected by CBD treatment, the distribution and levels of NAEs showed significant changes. Among the NAEs, the degree of acyl chain saturation predicted the compartmentalization after CBD treatment suggesting a shift in cell signalling activity.

LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.165.issue‐8. To view Part I of Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.163.issue‐7
A new cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonist HU‐910 attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death associated with hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Horváth Bėla , Magid Lital , Mukhopadhyay Partha , Bátkai Sándor , Rajesh Mohanraj , Park Ogyi , Tanchian Galin , Gao Rachel Y , Goodfellow Catherine E , Glass Michelle , Mechoulam Raphael , Pacher Pál
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cannabinoid CB2 receptor activation has been reported to attenuate myocardial, cerebral and hepatic ischaemia‐reperfusion (I/R) injury.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We have investigated the effects of a novel CB2 receptor agonist ((1S,4R)‐2‐(2,6‐dimethoxy‐4‐(2‐methyloctan‐2‐yl)phenyl)‐7,7‐dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐2‐en‐1‐yl)methanol (HU‐910) on liver injury induced by 1 h of ischaemia followed by 2, 6 or 24 h of reperfusion, using a well‐established mouse model of segmental hepatic I/R.

KEY RESULTS Displacement of [3H]CP55940 by HU‐910 from specific binding sites in CHO cell membranes transfected with human CB2 or CB1 receptors (hCB1/2) yielded Ki values of 6 nM and 1.4 µM respectively. HU‐910 inhibited forskolin‐stimulated cyclic AMP production by hCB2 CHO cells (EC50= 162 nM) and yielded EC50 of 26.4 nM in [35S]GTPγS binding assays using hCB2 expressing CHO membranes. HU‐910 given before ischaemia significantly attenuated levels of I/R‐induced hepatic pro‐inflammatory chemokines (CCL3 and CXCL2), TNF‐α, inter‐cellular adhesion molecule‐1, neutrophil infiltration, oxidative stress and cell death. Some of the beneficial effect of HU‐910 also persisted when given at the beginning of the reperfusion or 1 h after the ischaemic episode. Furthermore, HU‐910 attenuated the bacterial endotoxin‐triggered TNF‐α production in isolated Kupffer cells and expression of adhesion molecules in primary human liver sinusoidal endothelial cells stimulated with TNF‐α. Pretreatment with a CB2 receptor antagonist attenuated the protective effects of HU‐910, while pretreatment with a CB1 antagonist tended to enhance them.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS HU‐910 is a potent CB2 receptor agonist which may exert protective effects in various diseases associated with inflammation and tissue injury.

LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.165.issue‐8. To view Part I of Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.163.issue‐7
Predictors of Change in Self‐Reported Social Networks Among Homeless Young People
Authors: Falci Christina D. , Whitbeck Les B. , Hoyt Dan R. , Rose Trina
Published: March 2011

This research investigates changes in social network size and composition of 351 homeless adolescents over 3 years. Findings show that network size decreases over time. Homeless youth with a conduct disorder begin street life with small networks that remain small over time. Caregiver abuse is associated with smaller emotional networks due to fewer home ties, especially to parents, and a more rapid loss of emotional home ties over time. Homeless youth with major depression start out with small networks, but are more likely to maintain network ties. Youth with substance abuse problems are more likely to maintain instrumental home ties. Finally, homeless adolescents tend to reconnect with their parents for instrumental aid and form romantic relationship that provide emotional support.
Shifting perspectives on shifting ice: documenting and representing Inuit use of the sea ice
Authors: Aporta Claudio
Published: March 2011

Although much has changed for Inuit since their social, economic, and political integration into Canada, sea ice still forms an essential part of what they call their homeland. The ways in which sea ice is understood by Inuit, however, are still little known to non‐Inuit. Alongside the currently renewed political and economic interest in the Arctic regions, and in part as a result of the mounting preoccupation with the vulnerability of Arctic ecosystems and peoples due to climate change, new research is shedding light on significant aspects of how Inuit use and understand sea ice. This article will focus on the Inuit Sea Ice Use and Occupancy Project (ISIUOP), an initiative to document and map Inuit sea ice use in several communities of Nunavut and Nunavik. ISIUOP is then analyzed in the context of earlier sea ice research and in connection with previous studies of Inuit land use. A comparison between a land use study conducted in the 1970s and ISIUOP is then undertaken in order to highlight differences and similarities in the ways research is conducted and in the changing contexts surrounding both Arctic researchers and Arctic inhabitants.
The Igliniit project: Inuit hunters document life on the trail to map and monitor arctic change
Authors: Gearheard Shari , Aporta Claudio , Aipellee Gary , O’Keefe Kyle
Published: March 2011

The Igliniit Project brought together Inuit hunters and geomatics engineering students during the International Polar Year (IPY) to collaborate on the development and testing of a new integrated GPS/PDA/mobile weather station technology for observing and monitoring the environment. Part of the larger Inuit Sea Ice Use and Occupancy Project (ISIUOP), the Igliniit Project culminated in a tangible product that is the direct result of combined scientific and Inuit knowledge, ingenuity, and engineering. This paper describes the Igliniit Project and examines the resulting technology as (i) an artifact of Inuit knowledge, science and engineering collaboration; (ii) a tool for meaningful engagement of Inuit in environmental science and community‐based monitoring; (iii) a new approach and tool in the field of indigenous mapping; and (iv) an example of one technology in the expanding ecology of technologies in everyday Inuit life. The technology requires improvements in hardware and further development of supporting systems such as data management and mapping capability, but there is potential for the Igliniit Project approach and system to have wide appeal across the North for a variety of applications including environmental monitoring, wildlife studies, land use mapping, hazards research, place names research, archaeological and cultural inventories, and search and rescue operations.
‘How many Eskimo words for ice?’ Collecting Inuit sea ice terminologies in the International Polar Year 2007–2008
Authors: Krupnik Igor
Published: March 2011

Inuit knowledge of the sea ice environment has been praised by generations of early explorers, arctic travellers, natural scientists, anthropologists, and popular writers. Surprisingly little has been done to systematically document and analyze the richness of the Inuit sea ice nomenclatures until quite recently. This article reviews the history of Inuit (Eskimo) sea ice terminology collection, including efforts undertaken in 2005–2009 for the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008. Altogether, a database of 35 indigenous ice nomenclatures from the Bering Sea to East Greenland has been created, displaying the richness of over 1,500 terms for sea ice in all Inuit/Eskimo languages and most regional dialects, as well as in other indigenous northern languages (Chukchi, Dena’ina Athabascan, and Sámi). Processing these vocabularies, analyzing the origins and historical geography of the Inuit sea ice nomenclatures, and returning the data to participating communities as educational, heritage, and language materials may become one of the lasting contributions of the IPY 2007–2008 program.
Cracks in the knowledge: sea ice terms in Kangiqsualujjuaq, Nunavik
Authors: Heyes Scott A.
Published: March 2011

In the Canadian Arctic, where sea ice is a feature of purposeful and spiritual significance to the Inuit inhabitants, evidence suggests that traditional knowledge of the terms for sea ice is diminishing. This article presents the findings from fieldwork regarding the terms, and their definitions, that a group of Inuit from Kangiqsualujjuaq in Nunavik, Northern Quebec, use to describe sea ice. This case study, which explores their knowledge of sea ice phenomena, offers insights into the present state of Inuit knowledge of sea ice terminology in that community. Instruments used to elicit knowledge of and about sea ice terms are described in this article. Participant inclusion was based on gender and age groups, and an illustration was produced to demonstrate the disparity in sea ice knowledge across three generations of male and female hunters. It is suggested that future nomenclature studies of Inuit knowledge be based on the canvassing of all age brackets, if a realistic picture of the ways in which such knowledge is transmitted within and across generations is to be ascertained.
The Relationship between Normal Cerebral Perfusion Patterns and White Matter Lesion Distribution in 1,249 Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Holland Christopher M. , Charil Arnaud , Csapo Istvan , Liptak Zsuzsanna , Ichise Masanori , Khoury Samia J. , Bakshi Rohit , Weiner Howard L. , Guttmann Charles R.G.
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The pathological differences underlying the clinical disease phases in multiple sclerosis (MS) are poorly characterized. We sought to explore the relationship between the distribution of white matter (WM) lesions in relapsing‐remitting (RR) and secondary progressive (SP) MS and the normal regional variability of cerebral perfusion.

METHODS

WM lesions were identified and quantified on a single magnetic resonance imaging scan from 1,249 patients with MS. The spatial distribution of lesions was compared between early RR, late RR, and SP MS in the context of normal cerebral perfusion patterns provided by a single‐photon emission‐computed tomography atlas of healthy individuals.

RESULTS

Patients with SP MS had more distinct and larger lesions than patients with RR MS. Across all subjects, lesions were present in regions of relatively lower normal perfusion than normal appearing WM. Further, lesions in SP MS were more common in areas of lower perfusion as compared to the lesion distribution in early and late RR MS.

CONCLUSION

Chronic plaques were more prevalent in WM regions with lower relative perfusion. Lesions in more highly perfused regions were more commonly observed in early RR MS and therefore, may be more likely to successfully remyelinate and resolve. J Neuroimaging 2012;22:129–136.
A Phase‐Contrast MRI Study of Acute and Chronic Hydrodynamic Alterations after Hydrocephalus Induced by Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Saliou Guillaume , Paradot Gaelle , Gondry Catherine , Bouzerar Roger , Lehmann Pierre , Meyers Marc Etienne , Gars Daniel Le , Deramond Hervé , Balédent Olivier
Published: March 2011

OBJECTIVE

To determine acute intracranial hydrodynamic changes after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) via phase‐contrast MRI (PC‐MRI) analysis of the CSF stroke volume in the aqueduct (SVaq) and the foramen magnum (SVfm).

METHODS

A prospective PC‐MRI study was performed on 34 SAH patients in the acute and late phase. Data on CSF flow and hemorrhage site were analyzed according to acute or chronic hydrocephalus (HC).

RESULTS

In the acute phase, CSF analysis was performed for 31 patients, 12 of whom presented HC. All 12 had an abnormal SVaq; those with communicating HC (n = 7) had an elevated SV and those with noncommunicating HC (n = 5) had a nil SV. None of the patients with a normal SVaq (n = 11) developed acute HC. Intraventricular bleeding led to more cases of acute HC (P = .005), which was communicating in 58% of cases. In the chronic phase, CSF analysis was performed for 27 patients, 7 of whom presented HC. None of these 7 patients displayed a depressed SVaq.

CONCLUSION

SAH led to changes in cerebrospinal fluid hydrodynamics in the majority of patients. Acute HC was communicating in most cases, even when there was intraventricular bleeding. In the late phase, all chronic HC were communicating and did not display aqueductal stenosis.
Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Angiography Scans on 1.5, 3, and 7 Tesla Units: A Quantitative Study of 3‐Dimensional Cerebrovasculature
Authors: Nowinski Wieslaw L. , Puspitasaari Fiftarina , Volkau Ihar , Marchenko Yevgen , Knopp Michael V.
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND

Although multiple studies demonstrate benefits of high field imaging of cerebrovasculature, a detailed quantitative analysis of complete cerebrovascular system is unavailable. To compare quality of MR angiography (MRA) acquisitions at various field strengths, we used 3‐dimensional (3D) geometric cerebrovascular models extracted from 1.5T/3T/7T scans.

METHODS

The 3D cerebrovascular models were compared in volume, length, and number of branches. A relationship between the vascular length and volume was statistically derived. Acquisition performance was benchmarked against the maximum volume at infinitive length.

RESULTS

The numbers of vessels discernible on 1.5T/3T/7T are 138/363/907. 3T shows 3.3(1.9) and 7T 1.2(9.1) times more arteries (veins) than 1.5T. The vascular lengths and volumes at 1.5T/3T/7T are 3.7/12.5/22.7 m and 15.8/26.6/28.0 cm3. For arteries: 3T‐1.5T gain is very high in length, high in volume; 7T‐3T gain is medium in length, small in volume. For veins: 3T‐1.5T gain is moderate in length, high in volume; 7T‐3T gain is very high in length, moderate in volume. 1.5T shows merely half of vascular volume. At 3T 6%, while at 7T only 1% of vascular volume is missing.

CONCLUSION

Our approach differs from standard approaches based on visual assessment and signal (contrast)‐to‐noise ratio. It also measures absolute acquisition performance, provides a unique length‐volume relationship, and predicts length/volume for intermediate teslages.
Decrease in Cerebral and Cerebellar Gray Matter in Essential Tremor: A Voxel‐Based Morphometric Analysis under 3T MRI
Authors: Bagepally Bhavani Shankara , Bhatt Maya Dattatraya , Chandran Vijay , Saini Jitender , Bharath Rose Dawn , Vasudev MK , Prasad Chandrajit , Yadav Ravi , Pal Pramod Kumar
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Though routine neuroimaging is usually normal in essential tremor (ET) there is clinical evidence of widespread involvement of central nervous system. This study aimed at determining morphological changes in brain of patients with ET using voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) analysis and also compare the subtypes of ET.

METHODS

Clinical and imaging data of 20 patients (5 women, 15 men; mean age 38.2 ± 16.5 years) of ET were collected prospectively. To determine areas of gray matter (GM) atrophy, T1W volumetric MRI data of patients were compared with 17 matched control subjects using VBM analysis with Statistical Parametric Mapping 5.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, patients showed scattered areas of cerebral and cerebellar atrophy. Voxel‐wise analysis of patients with and without head tremor showed widespread areas of GM atrophy in cerebral hemispheres of patients with head tremor. No difference was observed between the familial and nonfamilial subgroups of ET. Multiple regression analysis revealed relationship between GM atrophy and tremor severity score.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with ET showed widespread areas of atrophy in both cerebellum and cerebral GM, which supports the current concept of the progressive and diffuse nature of ET. Patients with additional head tremor may represent a distinct subgroup of ET.
Trabajadores del cuidado en la Argentina. En el cruce entre el orden laboral y los servicios de cuidado
Authors: ESQUIVEL Valeria
Published: March 2011

Una tercera parte de las mujeres ocupadas de la Argentina y sólo un 3 por ciento de los hombres ocupados son trabajadores del cuidado. Su remuneración relativa y sus condiciones de trabajo en general dependen de las normas laborales y de su cumplimiento efectivo. Pero también dependen, en gran medida, de cómo está organizada la prestación de los servicios de cuidado. Entre los factores que determinan esta prestación se encuentran la propia participación del Estado y de otros actores en la provisión de servicios, y el ámbito en que se prestan (sea institucional o de otro tipo, por ejemplo, el hogar). Tras comparar dos ocupaciones dedicadas al cuidado de niños (la educación inicial y el servicio doméstico), la autora sostiene que las diferencias que hay entre las mismas radican en el cruce del orden laboral con la organización de los servicios de cuidado.
Labor de cuidado en la India y dificultades de los trabajadores domésticos y de Anganwadi
Authors: PALRIWALA Rajni , NEETHA N.
Published: March 2011

Las autoras analizan la concepción que tienen del trabajo de cuidado los poderes públicos y la sociedad de la India. Estudian para ello dos categorías del sector de la asistencia: los empleados domésticos y las trabajadoras del sistema Anganwadi (que forman parte del Programa de Desarrollo Integral del Niño). A pesar de que son consideradas como «voluntarias»— no asalariadas —, estas últimas disfrutan de cierta posición social y de un grado de sindicación mayor que los empleados domésticos. Además, éstos han de hacer concesiones más difíciles para asegurar su subsistencia y, a la vez, satisfacer las necesidades cotidianas de sus familias. No obstante, la infravaloración económica del trabajo asistencial es común a ambas categorías de trabajadores.
Enfermería y cuidados a domicilio en Tanzanía. Una atención discontinua
Authors: MEENA Ruth
Published: March 2011

La atención sanitaria a domicilio (sobre todo la prestada por personas ajenas al hogar) es un alivio al fardo que impone a las familias de la República Unida de Tanzanía el cuidado de sus miembros afectados por el VIH/SIDA. También sirve para aligerar los problemas que sufre el sistema sanitario público, muy debilitado por la demanda de asistencia que genera la pandemia y por la falta acuciante de recursos. La labor de los cuidadores domiciliarios se sitúa entre el trabajo no retribuido y el trabajo pagado, en una cadena plagada de lagunas debido al mal funcionamiento, al exceso de trabajo de los profesionales y a una escasez grave de personal.
Pregnancy‐related pelvic pain is more frequent in women with increased body mass index
Authors: BIERING KARIN , NØHR ELLEN AAGAARD , OLSEN JØRN , ANDERSEN ANNE‐MARIE NYBO , HJØLLUND NIELS HENRIK , JUHL METTE
Published: March 2011

Objective. To investigate the association between pre‐pregnancy overweight/obesity and pregnancy‐related pelvic pain. Design: Nested case‐control study. Setting and population. The Danish National Birth Cohort, a cohort of pregnant women and their children recruited 1996–2002. Methods. The women were interviewed twice during pregnancy and twice after childbirth. The first pregnancy interview provided information on self‐reported pre‐pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and possible confounders, while data on pregnancy‐related pelvic pain came from an interview six months postpartum. Cases (n=2 271) were selected on the basis of self‐reported pelvic pain, and controls were randomly selected among women who did not report pelvic pain (n=2 649). We used logistic regression analysis to calculate pregnancy‐related pelvic pain odds ratios (OR (95% confidence intervals)) according to pre‐pregnant BMI. Main outcome measure. Self‐reported pregnancy‐related pelvic pain. Results. In the total cohort, 18.5% of all pregnant women reported pregnancy‐related pelvic pain. In the nested case‐control study, the adjusted ORs for overall pelvic pain were 0.9 (0.7–1.2) in underweight women, 1.2 (1.1–1.4) in overweight women, 1.5 (1.2–2.0) in obese women Class 1 (30≤BMI<35), and 1.9 (1.3–2.8) in obese women Class 2 + 3 (BMI≥35), all relative to normal weight women. The correspondent ORs for severe pelvic pain were 0.8 (0.6–1.2), 1.4 (1.2–1.7), 1.7 (1.3–2.2), and 2.3 (1.6–3.4). The associations were stronger among women who had not given birth before. Conclusion. The risk of pregnancy‐related pelvic pain increased with pre‐pregnancy BMI in an exposure–response relation and potentially adds another maternal complication to obesity.
Metapopulation shift and survival of woodland birds under climate change: will species be able to track?
Authors: Schippers Peter , Verboom Jana , Vos Claire C. , Jochem René
Published: March 2011

Climate change has been widely recognized as a key factor driving changes in species distributions. In this study we use a metapopulation model, with a window of suitable climate moving polewards, to explore population shifts and survival of woodland birds under different climate change scenarios and landscape configurations. Extinction vulnerability and expansion ability are predicted for the middle spotted woodpecker Dendrocopus medius and two alternative r‐K strategies under west European climate change scenarios of 1, 2 and 4°C temperature increase per century, corresponding to isotemperature velocities of ca 2, 4 and 8 km yr−1. The simulated northward expansion of the bird's distribution is typically in the range of only 0–3 km yr−1, in spite of 10–20 times larger maximum dispersal distances. This is too slow to track the climate change‐driven range contraction of 4 or 8 km yr−1 in the south resulting in metapopulation extinction. Especially K‐selected (large‐bodied) species are vulnerable in the simulations. With a temperature increase of 4°C per century bird species go extinct within 104–178 yr. We present a simple approximation formula to predict the mean time to metapopulation extinction using 1) the rate of climate change, which determines the speed of range contraction in the south, 2) the size of the distribution range, which serves as a buffer against extinction, and 3) the northward expansion velocity, determined by species traits and landscape properties. Finally, our results indicate that the northward expansion rate is not constant. It will be initially lagged suggesting that recently observed expansion rates might be underestimations of future northward expansion rates.
Automatic detection of basal cell carcinoma using telangiectasia analysis in dermoscopy skin lesion images
Authors: Cheng Beibei , Erdos David , Stanley Ronald J. , Stoecker William V. , Calcara David A. , Gómez David D.
Published: March 2011

Background: Telangiectasia, dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin of small, varying diameter, are critical dermoscopy structures used in the detection of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Distinguishing these vessels from other telangiectasia, that are commonly found in sun‐damaged skin, is challenging.

Methods: Image analysis techniques are investigated to find vessels structures in BCC automatically. The primary screen for vessels uses an optimized local color drop technique. A noise filter is developed to eliminate false‐positive structures, primarily bubbles, hair, and blotch and ulcer edges. From the telangiectasia mask containing candidate vessel‐like structures, shape, size and normalized count features are computed to facilitate the discrimination of benign skin lesions from BCCs with telangiectasia.

Results: Experimental results yielded a diagnostic accuracy as high as 96.7% using a neural network classifier for a data set of 59 BCCs and 152 benign lesions for skin lesion discrimination based on features computed from the telangiectasia masks.

Conclusion: In current clinical practice, it is possible to find smaller BCCs by dermoscopy than by clinical inspection. Although almost all of these small BCCs have telangiectasia, they can be short and thin. Normalization of lengths and areas helps to detect these smaller BCCs.
The influence of stratum corneum hydration on body fat determination by bioelectrical impedance analysis
Authors: Clarys Peter , Deriemaeker P. , Clijsen R. , Taeymans J. , Aerenhouts D. , Barel A. O.
Published: March 2011

Background/aims: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is used for the estimation of the amount of body fat. We evaluated the influence of the stratum corneum hydration at the contact areas used for BIA on the body fat estimation.

Methods: Stratum corneum hydration was measured at the sole of the right foot and the palm of the right hand before and after contact with the Tanita Body Composition Analyzer TBF 410® and the Omron Body Fat Analyzer®, (n=128 females and 126 males), respectively. Changes in stratum corneum hydration during the contact time were calculated (ΔHYD). As a gold standard for body fat estimation, the underwater weighing method (UWW) was used and the deviation of this standard was calculated for the Tanita (DT) and the Omron (DO) measurement.

Results: During contact with the Tanita, stratum corneum hydration increased significantly at the foot. Neither stratum corneum hydration measured at the respective contact sites before BIA nor ΔHYD at the respective skin sites was related to DT or with DO.

Conclusion: The BIA measuring procedure using the Tanita instrument leads to an occlusive effect at the contact site. BIA for the determination of body composition is not influenced by stratum corneum hydration.
Measuring the Hierarchy of Molecular Events During Clathrin‐Mediated Endocytosis
Authors: Loerke Dinah , Mettlen Marcel , Schmid Sandra L. , Danuser Gaudenz
Published: March 2011

A well‐orchestrated hierarchy of molecular events is required for successful initiation and maturation of clathrin‐coated pits (CCPs). Nevertheless, CCPs display a broad range of lifetimes. This dynamic heterogeneity could either reflect differences in the temporal hierarchy of molecular events, or similar CCP maturation processes with variable kinetics. To address this question, we have used multi‐channel image acquisition and automated analysis of CCP dynamics in combination with a new method to quantify the time courses of recruitment of endocytic factors to CCPs of different lifetimes. Using this approach we have extracted the kinetics of recruitment and disassembly of fluorescently labeled clathrin and/or AP‐2 throughout the entire lifetime of temporally defined CCP cohorts. On the basis of these analyses, we can (i) directly correlate recruitment profiles of these two proteins; (ii) define five distinct CCP maturation phases, i.e. initiation, growth, maturation, separation and departure; (iii) distinguish events with absolute versus fractional timing and (iv) provide information on the spatial distribution of fluorophores during CCP maturation. Emerging from these analyses is a more clearly defined role for AP‐2 in determining the temporal hierarchy for clathrin recruitment and CCP maturation. This method provides a new means to identify other such hierarchies during CCP maturation.
REACTION TO INTRAARTERIAL IONIC IODINATED CONTRAST MEDIUM ADMINISTRATION IN ANESTHETIZED HORSES
Authors: POLLARD RACHEL E. , PUCHALSKI SARAH M.
Published: March 2011

The purpose of this report was to evaluate the frequency and type of reactions to intraarterial iodinated contrast medium injection in horses. Ninety‐seven received an intraarterial injection of ionic, iodinated contrast medium for computed tomographic assessment of the distal limb. Nine (9.0%) horses developed a reaction attributable to the contrast medium administration. Of those, 4/97 (4.0%) developed a skin response (three with urticaria, one with facial edema) within 20 min. Five (5.0%) developed elevation of heart rate and/or blood pressure immediately upon administration of the contrast medium. No horse developed a severe reaction such as shock, cardiac, or respiratory arrest. No treatment was necessary in any horse.
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF DOGS WITH PRIMARY LARYNGEAL OR TRACHEAL AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION
Authors: STADLER KRYSTINA , HARTMAN SUSAN , MATHESON JODI , O'BRIEN ROBERT
Published: March 2011

Seventeen dogs with clinical signs attributable to nonneoplastic obstruction of the larynx, trachea, or large bronchi underwent computed tomography (CT) imaging. In 16 of the 17 dogs, CT was performed without general anesthesia using a positioning device. Fifteen of these 16 dogs were imaged without sedation or general anesthesia. Three‐dimensional (3D) internal rendering was performed on each image set based on lesion localization determined by routine image planes. Visual laryngeal examination, endoscopy, video fluoroscopy, and necropsy were used for achieving the cause of the upper airway obstruction. The CT and 3D internal rendering accurately indicated the presence and cause of upper airway obstruction in all dogs. CT findings indicative of laryngeal paralysis included failure to abduct the arytenoid cartilages, narrowed rima glottis, and air‐filled laryngeal ventricles. Laryngeal collapse findings depended on the grade of collapse and included everted laryngeal saccules, collapse of the cuneiform processes and corniculate processes, and narrowed rima glottis. Trachea abnormalities included hypoplasia, stenosis, or collapse syndrome. The CT findings in tracheal hypoplasia consisted of a severely narrowed lumen throughout the entire length. Tracheal stenosis was represented by a circumferential decrease in tracheal lumen size limited to one region. Tracheal collapse syndrome was diagnosed by severe asymmetric narrowing. Lobar bronchi collapse appeared in CT images as a narrowed asymmetric lumen diameter. CT imaging of unanesthetized dogs with upper airway obstruction compares favorably with traditional definitive diagnostic methods.
IMAGING DIAGNOSIS—PORTAL VEIN APLASIA AND INTERRUPTION OF THE CAUDAL VENA CAVA IN THREE DOGS
Authors: ZWINGENBERGER ALLISON L. , SPRIET MATHIEU , HUNT GERALDINE B.
Published: March 2011

Severe portal vascular anomalies have been reported previously accompanying azygos continuation of the caudal vena cava, polysplenia, and situs anomalies in dogs and people. Three dogs with portal vascular anomalies were identified by means of CT angiography as having portal vein aplasia with portal insertion into the caudal vena cava, azygos continuation of the caudal vena cava, and interruption of the pre‐hepatic caudal vena cava. This information confirms that complex embryological defects may occur in patients presenting for congenital portosystemic shunt, and that CT angiography is a non‐invasive method of completely evaluating these potentially non‐surgical portal vascular anomalies.
Teaching the Net Generation without Leaving the Rest of Us Behind: How Technology in the Classroom Influences Student Composition
Authors: MOODY RUTH H. , BOBIC MICHAEL P.
Published: March 2011

Today's entering college students have the advantage of a lifetime of computer use. Education scholars and professionals claim that such exposure makes these students the most prepared ever to enter college. It cannot be argued that the advent of the Web, and Web 2.0 has placed at students' fingertips great works of literature, art, and science. It also cannot be argued that despite all this opportunity, students enter college writing with less precision than at any time in the last century. The two facts are reconcilable because (1) students map the world of technology differently than we do; and (2) they live in a digital culture different from our own. Until we understand that our perception of computers and technology is vastly different from our students, we cannot understand why they do what they do, and they will never understand what we want of them. This article argues that unless we change our pedagogy of technology, students and faculty will continue to be frustrated at poor performance, plagiarism, and misunderstandings about what each expects of the other.

Los estudiantes que entran a la universidad en el siglo XXI tienen una ventaja sobre sus colegas de hace una década porque tienen toda una vida usando el computador. Académicos y profesionales afirman que dicha exposición convierte a estos estudiantes en los mejor preparados para entrar a la universidad. No puede ser negado que la llegada del internet y de la web 2.0 ha colocado al alcance de los estudiantes grandes obras de literatura, arte y ciencia. Tampoco puede ser negado que, a pesar de todas estas oportunidades, los estudiantes entran a la universidad escribiendo con menor precisión que cualquier otro momento en el último siglo. Ambos hechos son compatibles porque: (1) los estudiantes interpretan el mundo de la tecnología de forma diferente a nosotros, y (2) ellos viven en una cultura digital diferente a la nuestra. Hasta que comprendamos que nuestra percepción de las computadoras y la tecnología es diferente a la de nuestros estudiantes, no comprenderemos porque hacen lo que hacen, y ellos nunca comprenderán lo que queremos de ellos. Este artículo sugiere que, a menos que cambiemos nuestra pedagogía de la tecnología, estudiantes y profesores continuarán frustrados por el bajo rendimiento, plagio y malentendidos acerca de lo que cada uno espera del otro.
Selective Media Exposure and Partisan Differences about Sarah Palin's Candidacy
Authors: JONES DAVID A. , FERRAIOLO KATHLEEN , BYRNE JENNIFER
Published: March 2011

In today's fragmented media environment, citizens have an enhanced ability to select information outlets that match their preexisting political beliefs and avoid information sources that clash. This modern version of “selective exposure” means that citizens can more easily isolate themselves from perspectives unlike their own. In this article, we employed a quasi‐experimental design to test (1) the extent to which subjects selectively exposed themselves to opinion articles that were congenial to their presumed predispositions about Sarah Palin and (2) whether selective exposure reinforced these predispositions, thereby magnifying differences between Republicans and Democrats. We found that subjects did indeed tend to engage in selective exposure. And among those who did, there was evidence of reinforcement. Interestingly, there was evidence of persuasion among the relatively few subjects who exposed themselves to sources that ran counter to their predispositions.

En el ambiente fragmentado de los medios de comunicación actuales los ciudadanos tienen una mayor habilidad de seleccionar medios de comunicación que sean compatibles con sus creencias políticas preexistentes y evitar fuentes de información incompatibles. Esta versión moderna de la “exposición selectiva” permite que los ciudadanos puedan aislarse más fácilmente de perspectivas contrarias a la propia. En este artículo, empleamos un diseño cuasi‐experimental para examinar: (1) la medida en la que los sujetos selectivamente se exponen a artículos de opinión que congenien con sus predisposiciones acerca de Sarah Palin y (2) si la exposición selectiva refuerza esta opinión, por lo tanto magnificando las diferencias entre Republicanos y Demócratas. Encontramos que los sujetos efectivamente tienden a emplear una exposición selectiva. Y entre aquellos que lo hacen, hay evidencia del reforzamiento de dicha opinión. Curiosamente, hubo evidencia de persuasión entre los sujetos que se expusieron a fuentes contrarias a su ideología.