bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood transfusion, embolisation and nephrectomy after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL)
Authors: Keoghane Stephen R. , Cetti Richard J. , Rogers Ann E. , Walmsley Byron H.
Published: September 2012

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

Percutaneous treatment for renal stone disease is associated with a risk of significant morbidity.

Our large UK series provides contemporary data on the risk of vascular complications and admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after PCNL. When compared with recent international databases, these data support the current evidence that better outcomes can be achieved in centres performing large numbers of procedures. These data add to the debate for the centralisation of specialist stone surgery.

Objective

To audit the outcome of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) at a UK stone centre over a 10‐year period, and provide patients with understandable contemporary data on blood loss and vascular risk.

Patients and Methods

A single centre retrospective analysis of all PCNLs undertaken between April 2000 and December 2010.

The association between transfusion and patient age, operative duration and positive preoperative mid‐stream urine (MSU) sample was subject to statistical analysis.

Results

Data on 568 patients was analysed. 21 were paediatric cases with a mean (range) age of 8 (2–16) years; 547 were adult cases with a mean (range) age of 55 (17–84) years.

3.8% of adult patients (21/547) received a blood transfusion; mean age 60 years (55 years in those not transfused) with a mean operative duration of 119 min (103 min in those not transfused).

23.8% of patients transfused had a confirmed preoperative urinary tract infection compared with 16.1% of those not transfused.

Seven patients underwent angiography, with five having selective arterial embolisation (0.9%).

There were no deaths in this series although one patient (0.2%) required an urgent nephrectomy due to cardiovascular instability from bleeding.

Conclusions

Large UK series that provides contemporary data for consent on vascular risk at PCNL.

The risk of transfusion is associated with increased patient age, operative duration and the presence of a positive preoperative MSU sample.

Data compares favourably with other large published series, and supports the argument for centralisation of percutaneous stone management.
Enuresis in South African children: prevalence, associated factors and parental perception of treatment
Authors: Fockema Margaret W. , Candy Geoffrey P. , Kruger Deirdré , Haffejee Mohamed
Published: September 2012

Study Type – Symptom Prevalence (prospective cohort)

Level of Evidence 2a

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

Nocturnal enuresis is a common childhood problem. Although its prevalence is known in many countries, no data are available from South Africa and it is difficult to extrapolate data from developed countries to a population with such diverse conditions and resource‐poor settings.

This study is the first to report on the 16% prevalence rate and the low level of parental knowledge of enuresis in South African children aged between 5 and 10 years.

OBJECTIVES

To establish the prevalence of NE in 5–10 year old South African children in a cross‐sectional study using a parent‐completed questionnaire.

To establish the parental perception and associated factors of mono‐symptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE) treatment and treatment success rates in 5–10 year old children from South Africa.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 4700 questionnaires were distributed to children at 37 selected schools willing to participate from South Africa. Parents anonymously filled out the questionnaire.

Data were reported as frequencies and percentages of NE in tables according to different gender and age groups.

The Chi‐square test compared proportions between groups and Fisher's Exact test corrected for small numbers of observations (n ≤ 5). Age differences were determined using Student's t‐test. A P‐value ≤0.5 was considered to be statistically significant.

RESULTS

The questionnaire's response rate was 72.1%, with 3389 children included in the study.

The overall prevalence of NE was 16.0%–14.4% of children suffered from mono‐symptomatic NE (MNE). The prevalence of NE in boys was double that in that in girls.

Only 28.3% had received some form of treatment, whereas 13.5% had been medically treated by a doctor. Parents’ awareness of treatment modalities available is outdated and most of the management of MNE was done by parents themselves, albeit with low success rates.

A positive family history was found in 50.5% of children suffering from MNE.

Constipation was a problem in 15.8% of children with enuresis.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to estimate the prevalence of NE and report on the parental perception and possible associated factors of enuresis in children from South Africa. The study showed that South African children have a similar prevalence rate of NE (16%) when compared with other countries.

The possible associated factors with MNE in South Africa include constipation and a family history of enuresis.

Finally, there are low levels of parental knowledge of treatment modalities of MNE, leaving many children untreated.
Angiogenesis in prostate cancer: onset, progression and imaging
Authors: Russo Giovanna , Mischi Massimo , Scheepens Wout , De la Rosette Jean J. , Wijkstra Hessel
Published: September 2012

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

Today, angiogenesis is known to play a key role in cancer growth and development. Emerging cancer treatments are based on the suppression of angiogenesis, and modern imaging techniques investigate changes in the microvasculature that are caused by angiogenesis. As for other forms of cancers, angiogenesis is well recognised as a fundamental process in the development of prostate cancer.

The novelty of this extensive report on angiogenesis in cancer, with particular attention on prostate cancer and the imaging techniques able to detect it, is the new prospective to the subject. In contrast with the other available reviews, this report goes from ‘theory’ to ‘practice’, establishing a clear link between angiogenesis development and imaged angiogenesis features. Once the key role of angiogenesis in the development of cancer and in particular prostate cancer has been fully described, attention is turned to the current imaging methods with the potential to assess the angiogenesis process and, as a consequence, to detect and localise prostate cancer.

As confirmed by all available statistics, cancer represents a major clinical and societal problem in the developed world. The form of cancer with the highest incidence in men is prostate cancer. For prostate cancer, as well as for most forms of cancer, detection of the disease at an early stage is critical to reduce mortality and morbidity.

Today, it is well known that pathological angiogenesis represents a crucial step in cancer development and progression. Comparable with most forms of cancer, angiogenesis also plays a fundamental role for prostate cancer growth.

As a consequence, angiogenesis is an ideal target not only for novel anti‐angiogenic therapies, but also for modern imaging techniques that aim at cancer localisation by detection of angiogenic microvascular changes.

These techniques are mainly based on magnetic resonance, ultrasound, and nuclear imaging.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the available studies on angiogenesis in prostate cancer and its use by modern and emerging imaging techniques for prostate cancer localisation.
Regulation of ripening and opportunities for control in tomato and other fruits
Authors: Seymour Graham B. , Chapman Natalie H. , Chew Bee L. , Rose Jocelyn K. C.
Published: September 2012

Fruits are an important part of a healthy diet. They provide essential vitamins and minerals, and their consumption is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers. These important plant products can, however, be expensive to purchase, may be of disappointing quality and often have a short shelf life. A major challenge for crop improvement in fleshy fruit species is the enhancement of their health‐promoting attributes while improving quality and reducing postharvest waste. To achieve these aims, a sound mechanistic understanding of the processes involved in fruit development and ripening is needed. In recent years, substantial insights have been made into the mechanistic basis of ethylene biosynthesis, perception and signalling and the identity of master regulators of ripening that operate upstream of, or in concert with a regulatory pathway mediated by this plant hormone. The role of other plant hormones in the ripening process has, however, remained elusive, and the links between regulators and downstream processes are still poorly understood. In this review, we focus on tomato as a model for fleshy fruit and provide an overview of the molecular circuits known to be involved in ripening, especially those controlling pigment accumulation and texture changes. We then discuss how this information can be used to understand ripening in other fleshy fruit‐bearing species. Recent developments in comparative genomics and systems biology approaches are discussed. The potential role of epigenetic changes in generating useful variation is highlighted along with opportunities for enhancing the level of metabolites that have a beneficial effect on human health.
Nudging and Manipulation
Authors: Wilkinson T. M.
Published: September 2012

Behavioural economics and social psychology have shown that humans have all sorts of psychological quirks. Policy makers have become enthusiastic about taking advantage of these quirks through what Thaler and Sunstein call ‘nudges’. This article asks: when would nudging be manipulative? The article has six parts: (1) publicity and transparency, which claims that Thaler and Sunstein's own attempt to deal with evil nudges is inadequate; (2) manipulation and autonomy, where the nature and wrongness of manipulation is connected to a conception of autonomy; (3) the perversion of the decision-making process – a piecemeal approach, which sorts nudges into easy and hard cases and assesses attempts to pick out certain methods, such as temptation, as manipulative; (4) the perversion of the decision-making process – general accounts, which shows why we do not have a clear, complete and correct account of what such perversion is; (5) intentions and nudging's escape clause, where it is shown that governments that nudge as Thaler and Sunstein would wish do not manipulate because they do not have the intention to manipulate; and (6) consensual manipulation, where it is claimed that manipulation can, with the right consent, be consistent with autonomy.
Sliding Doors Cost Measurement: The Net Economic Cost of Lax Regulation of the Irish Banking Sector
Authors: Connor Gregory , O’Kelly Brian
Published: September 2012

This paper develops a restrictive procedure for evaluating economic policy decisions, by comparing actual economic history with a simulated history where a specific policy decision is replaced with a counterfactual, but credible, alternative. We apply the procedure to the mistaken decision to impose excessively lax banking sector risk regulation in Ireland during the period 2003–08. We measure the differences in banking sector stability and national income that would have occurred if the stricter regulatory approach enforced in Ireland in 2009 had been put in place six years earlier. We find that a few simple, reasonably prudent regulatory controls on the Irish banking sector would have greatly limited the vulnerability of the domestic sector to the 2008 global credit freeze and almost certainly prevented the 2008–09 collapse of the domestic banking sector and the consequent deep Irish recession of 2009–10. On the other hand, the risky and unsustainable inflow of foreign capital mediated by the domestic banks accounts for a substantial part of Irish economic growth during the 2003–07 period. Without this net foreign borrowing inflow, cumulative gross domestic product over the early period would have been substantially lower.
Inward Investment and Irish Exports over the Recession and Beyond
Authors: Barry Frank , Bergin Adele
Published: September 2012

With the collapse in domestic demand, the performance of Ireland’s export sectors will remain key to the stabilisation of the economy. The paper analyses the performance of Irish exports in internationally comparative terms and assesses the contributions of both foreign‐affiliate and indigenous firms across both manufacturing and services. Since almost 80 per cent of Irish exports are generated by foreign affiliates, medium‐term export prospects are highly dependent on trends and developments in global market conditions for foreign direct investment. The paper discusses the likely impact on the country’s medium‐term prospects of technological developments in key sectors and possible changes in the international regulatory and corporation tax landscapes.
Reforming Health Production in Ireland
Authors: O’Shea Eamon , Connolly Sheelah
Published: September 2012

The importance of socioeconomic conditions for health status has long since been recognised internationally, and there is general agreement that maximising health production requires action on all social, economic and environmental factors potentially influencing health status. In Ireland too, the multifaceted nature of health production has been acknowledged, but this has not led to real policy change in respect of prioritisation and consequent resource allocation. The emphasis in Ireland remains narrowly focused on access to acute health care services as the core strategy for equalising health opportunities across the population. While equal access for equal need is an essential component in ensuring better, and more equal, health outcomes, particularly in relation to accessing new technologies, it is insufficient in its own right to deal with many of the economic and social determinants associated with health production. This paper argues for a comprehensive health reform programme to encompass the many determinants of population health; such an approach would provide the opportunity for all citizens to maximise their health potential.
Overestimating the Shift from Government to Governance: Evidence from Swiss Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Koch Philippe
Published: September 2012

There is an oft‐stated claim in political science research that public sector reforms in Western democracies are consistent with a shift from government to governance. This article challenges that claim. Based on a comparative analysis of governance reforms in Swiss metropolitan areas, the article reveals that what seems to be a shift to governance may turn out to be a path to government, however, including a change either from the local to the metropolitan level or from general‐purpose authorities to task‐specific jurisdictions. Further, the article analyzes the political dynamics behind governance reforms. It shows that exogenous pressures put existing governance schemes under strain. Its impact, however, is mediated by the initial institutional setting and the narratives responding to case‐specific political dilemmas.
Why Anticorruption Reforms Fail—Systemic Corruption as a Collective Action Problem
Authors: Persson Anna , Rothstein Bo , Teorell Jan
Published: September 2012

With an increased awareness of the detrimental effects of corruption on development, strategies to fight it are now a top priority in policy circles. Yet, in countries ridden with systemic corruption, few successes have resulted from the investment. On the basis of an interview study conducted in Kenya and Uganda—two arguably typically thoroughly corrupt countries—we argue that part of an explanation to why anticorruption reforms in countries plagued by widespread corruption fail is that they are based on a theoretical mischaracterization of the problem of systemic corruption. More specifically, the analysis reveals that while contemporary anticorruption reforms are based on a conceptualization of corruption as a principal–agent problem, in thoroughly corrupt settings, corruption rather resembles a collective action problem. This, in turn, leads to a breakdown of any anticorruption reform that builds on the principal–agent framework, taking the existence of noncorruptible so‐called principals for granted.
Maximizing the success of assisted colonizations
Authors: Chauvenet A. L. M. , Ewen J. G. , Armstrong D. P. , Blackburn T. M. , Pettorelli N.
Published: September 2012

Climate change is causing spatio‐temporal shifts in environmental conditions, and species that are not able to track suitable environments may face increased risks of extinction. Assisted colonization, a form of translocation, has been proposed as a tool to help species survive the impacts of climate change. Unfortunately, translocations generally have a low success rate, a well‐documented fact that is not considered in most of the recent literature on assisted colonization. One of the main impediments to translocation success is inadequate planning. In this review, we argue that by using well‐known analytical tools such as species distribution models and population dynamics modelling we can maximize the success of assisted colonization. In particular, we present guidelines as to which questions should be investigated when planning assisted colonization and suggest methods for answering them. Finally, we also highlight further implementation and research issues that remain to be solved for assisted colonizations to be efficient climate change adaptation tools.
Pharmacokinetics and hematotoxicity of a novel copper‐based anticancer agent: Casiopeina III‐Ea, after a single intravenous dose in rats
Authors: Vértiz Guadalupe , García‐Ortuño Luis Enrique , Bernal Juan Pablo , Bravo‐Gómez María Elena , Lounejeva Elena , Huerta Amada , Ruiz‐Azuara Lena
Published: September 2012

Casiopeina III‐Ea is a mixed chelate copper (II) complex that has shown cytotoxic and antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics of total copper derived from casiopeina III‐Ea administered by intravenous bolus injection to Wistar rats. Other objective was to evaluate the hematotoxicity produced by this compound in those animals. Wistar rats received a single intravenous dose of 4 mg/kg of casiopeina III‐Ea. Blood samples were taken and pharmacokinetics evaluated. Furthermore, erythrocyte copper levels were determined to identify a potential target and Zn levels were analyzed to determine a possible change. For the evaluation of hematotoxicity, both blood and urine samples were collected for hematological and biochemical analyses; moreover, Fe determination was performed. Blood copper and zinc levels, red blood cell copper levels as well as copper, zinc, and iron amounts excreted into urine were analyzed by ICP‐MS. The blood concentration–time profile of copper derived from casiopeina III‐Ea was fitted to a two‐compartment model with a zero‐order input. Cumulative amounts of Cu, Zn, and Fe excreted into rat urine after administration of casiopeina III‐Ea were different with respect to control. Hematological and biochemical data indicated a hemolytic toxicity. Pharmacokinetic analysis of total copper derived from casiopeina III‐Ea provided a general knowledge about distribution and elimination process of this compound. Additionally, the systemic exposure of the copper derived from casiopeina III‐Ea accounts for the hematotoxicity of this complex at test dose.
VA LOVIT II: a protocol to compare low vision rehabilitation and basic low vision
Authors: Stelmack Joan A , Tang Xiaoyin C , Reda Domenic J , Stroupe Kevin T , Rinne Stephen , Massof Robert W ,   for the LOVIT II Study Group
Published: September 2012

Citation information: Stelmack JA, Tang XC, Reda DJ, Stroupe KT, Rinne S & Massof RW. VA LOVIT II: a protocol to compare low vision rehabilitation and basic low vision. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2012, 32, 461–471. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2012.00933.x

Purpose:  To compare the effectiveness of low vision rehabilitation (LVR) and basic low vision (LV) in a single masked multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT).

Methods:  Three hundred and thirty patients eligible for US. Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare services with primary eye diagnosis (better‐seeing eye) of macular disease and best‐corrected distance visual acuity of 0.40–1.00 logMAR (6/15 to 6/60 or 20/50 to 20/200 Snellen) are being enrolled at seven VA facilities. All participants receive an optometric LV examination; and they are eligible to receive the same LV devices that are provided without charge. In LVR, a LV therapist dispenses devices and provides 2 or 3 (1½ to 2½ h) therapy sessions with assigned homework to teach effective use of remaining vision and LV devices. Contact time with the therapist depends upon the devices prescribed and the patient’s progress in learning the skills that are taught. In basic LV, devices are dispensed by the optometrist without LV therapy. Contact time for dispensing is one hour or less depending on LV devices prescribed. The primary outcome measure is a comparison of the changes in visual reading ability (estimated from patients’ difficulty ratings of reading items on the VA LV VFQ‐48 questionnaire) between the treatment and control arms from pre‐intervention baseline to 4 months (2 months after completion of treatment). Secondary outcome measures are changes in overall visual ability, visual ability domain scores calculated from subsets of items (mobility, visual information processing and visual motor skills), Short Form‐36, and Minnesota Low Vision Reading Test scores. Cost‐effectiveness analysis will be conducted using VA LV VFQ‐48 scores and QALYS computed from EuroQol scores.

Results:  A total of 137 patients representing 41.5% of the study target of 330 patients were randomised from October 2010 to March 2012. Among those 137 patients, mean age was 80.2 (S.D. ± 9.9) years at enrollment; 97.1% of the patients were males; 94.2% were white. Mean best corrected VA was 0.65 (S.D. ± 0.3) logMAR (approximately Snellen 6/27 or 20/90) at baseline.

Conclusions:  LOVIT II is the first multicentre RCT comparing the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of LVR and basic LV for patients with macular diseases and near normal or moderate levels of visual impairment.
Characterisation of global precipitation frequency through the L‐moments approach
Authors: Maeda Eduardo Eiji , Arevalo Torres Juan , Carmona‐Moreno Cesar
Published: September 2012

Higher‐order statistics, such as skewness and kurtosis, are useful measures to describe the shape of a probability distribution. In hydrology, the assessment of these parameters is an important step for representing precipitation frequencies and understanding rainfall variability. Because of restrictions related to data acquisition and methods of analysis, the global patterns of higher‐order precipitation statistics are still poorly described. The objective of this study is to combine global precipitation datasets and state‐of‐the‐art statistical methods in order to build a spatio‐temporal assessment of global precipitation frequency. Gridded precipitation records were obtained fromNOAA'sPrecipitationReconstruction overLand (PREC/L) product. TheL‐moments approach was applied to describe the shape of the probability distribution and estimate the function parameters in each point of the global grid. Like conventional statistical moments, theL‐moments can be used to describe the shape of a probability distribution, but with the advantage of being less susceptible to the presence of outliers and performing better with small sample sizes. The results of this study provide a new perspective on the spatial and temporal patterns of the parameters defining the shape of the precipitation probability distribution at a global scale.
New regional geographies of the world as practised by leading advanced producer service firms in 2010
Authors: Taylor Peter J , Derudder Ben , Hoyler Michael , Ni Pengfei
Published: September 2012

This paper reports a new type of world regionalisation based upon the location strategies of leading advanced producer service firms. To generate these ‘global practice’ regions, a principal components analysis of the office networks of 175 service firms across 138 cities is used to identify 10 common location strategies. These are interpreted as fuzzy (overlapping) and porous regional formations each consisting of two parts: a home‐region and a global‐outreach. The results indicate five overlapping pairs of regions: (i) intensive and extensive globalisations based upon the USA plus London (USAL); (ii) Americas and Latin America regions; (iii) Pacific Asia and China regions; (iv) Europe and Scandinavia regions; and (v) Australasian and Canadian ‘Commonwealth’ regions. All regions have worldwide global‐outreaches but they differ significantly in their respective sizes and importance. Discussion of these findings elaborates upon two key points: first, globalisation is not a ‘blanket’ process creating a homogeneous world, and second, the resulting fuzzy and porous regionalisation counters the traditional ‘territorialist’ regional geographies that can provide a framework for global conflict with a more complex geography of multiple global integrations.
Recurrence of Cutaneous Necrosis in an Infant with Probable Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Camacho‐Lovillo Soledad , Bernabeu‐Wittel Jose , Iglesias‐Jimenez Estíbaliz , Falcón‐Neyra Doloresm , Neth Olaf
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  We present the case of a 3‐month‐old child with probable catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome who, after initial successful management with immunomodulary therapies including rituximab, experienced a cutaneous relapse. This rare event was successfully re‐treated with repeated administration of rituximab, supporting its role in the control of this disorder. Dermatologic manifestations may be the main clinical presentation of antiphospholipid syndrome, a possible underdiagnosed but potentially fatal pathology.
Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis Presenting with Palmoplantar Keratoderma
Authors: Sayyahfar Shirin , Chavoshzadeh Zahra , Khaledi Mojdeh , Madadi Firooz , Yeganeh Mehrnoosh Hassas , Sawamura Daisuke , Nakano Hajime , Rezaei Nima
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a rare autosomal‐recessive disease caused by mutations in the NTRK1 gene. The disease is characterized by insensitivity to pain and absence of thermal perception. Herein a 6‐year‐old boy is presented with a large ulcer on the sole of his right foot and a thick, hyperkeratotic appearance of his palms and soles; there was also a medical history of hyperthermia, anhidrosis, recurrent bone fractures, osteomyelitis, injuries, mental retardation, dry and exfoliative skin, insensitivity to pain, and lack of thermal sensation. Genetic studies revealed a homozygote mutation in the NTRK1 gene. Although the patient initially presented with palmoplantar keratoderma, genetic studies confirmed the diagnosis of CIPA.
Bullous Eosinophilic Cellulitis in a Child Treated with Dapsone
Authors: Moon Sung‐Hyuk , Shin Min‐Kyung
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  Eosinophilic cellulitis, or Wells syndrome, is a rare but well‐described condition in which bullous lesions are uncommon, especially in childhood. We report a case of bullous eosinophilic cellulitis recalcitrant to steroid therapy in a 9‐year‐old boy who was successfully treated with oral dapsone.
Treatment of Common and Plane Warts in Children with Topical Viable Bacillus Calmette‐Guerin
Authors: Salem Ahmed , Nofal Ahmad , Hosny Doaa
Published: September 2012

Abstract:  Treatment of verrucae in children is difficult and may be painful using traditional methods, especially if they are multiple or on the face. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical application of viable Bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) in a paste formula as a new immunotherapeutic modality in the treatment of common and plane warts in children. The present study included 80 children with common and plane warts at different sites on the body. They were divided into two groups. Group A (40 patients) received topical viable BCG and group B (40 patients) received topical saline as control. All patients and controls had received a previous vaccination of BCG. BCG was applied once weekly for six consecutive weeks. Patients who had partial or no response received another course of treatment for another 6 weeks. Follow‐up was at 6 months to detect any recurrences. A highly significant difference was found between the therapeutic response of common and plane warts to BCG and saline (placebo) (p < 0.001). Complete response was achieved in 65% of children with common warts and 45% of patients with plane warts. No response was detected in the control group. No recurrences or side effects were observed in the BCG group. Topical immunotherapeutic BCG is a new, effective, safe treatment option for children with common and plane warts.
Multireceptor analysis in human neocortex reveals complex alterations of receptor ligand binding in focal epilepsies
Authors: Palomero‐Gallagher Nicola , Schleicher Axel , Bidmon Hans‐J. , Pannek Heinz‐W. , Hans Volkmar , Gorji Ali , Speckmann Erwin‐J. , Zilles Karl
Published: September 2012

Purpose:  A disturbed balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission underlies epileptic activity, although reports concerning neurotransmitter systems involved remain controversial.

Methods:  We quantified densities of 15 receptors in neocortical biopsies from patients with pharmacoresistant focal temporal lobe epilepsy and autopsy controls, and searched for correlations between density alterations and clinical factors or the occurrence of spontaneous synaptic potentials in vitro.

Key Findings:  α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA), kainate, N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA), peripheral benzodiazepine, muscarinic (M)1, M2, nicotinic, α1, α2h, serotonin (5‐HT)1A, and adenosine (A)1 receptor densities were significantly altered in biopsies. The epileptic cohort was subdivided based on clinical (febrile seizures, hippocampal sclerosis, neocortical pathologies, surgery outcome) or electrophysiologic (spontaneous field potentials) criteria, resulting in different patterns of significantly altered receptor types when comparing a given epileptic group with controls. Only AMPA, kainate, M2, and 5‐HT1A receptors were always significantly altered. γ‐Aminobutyric acid (GABA)A, GABAB, and 5‐HT2 receptor alterations were never significant. Correlation patterns between receptor alterations and illness duration or seizure frequency varied depending on whether the epileptic cohort was considered as a whole or subdivided.

Significance:  Neocortical temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with a generalized receptor imbalance resulting in a net potentiation of excitatory neurotransmission. Peripheral benzodiazepine receptor alterations highlight that astrocytes are also impaired by seizure activity.
Aggressive behavior and epilepsy: A multicenter study
Authors: Piazzini Ada , Bravi Francesca , Edefonti Valeria , Turner Katherine , Vignoli Aglaia , Ferraroni Monica , Canevini Maria Paola
Published: September 2012

The aim of this study is to describe aggressiveness in the epilepsy population and to identify possible relationships between this type of behavior and clinical and sociodemographic variables. Aggressive responses were measured by the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ), a standardized and validated instrument, which was administered to 503 patients from nine Italian centers for the care of epilepsy. Aggressive behavior in patients with epilepsy was different from that in the normal Italian population. After adjustment for age and sex, when appropriate, the following variables significantly affected aggressiveness: presence of compromised intellectual functioning, psychiatric disturbances, disability status, number of medications, geographic distribution, education, chronologic age, and disease duration. Our study offers a starting point for further investigations aimed at better understanding the mechanisms connecting aggression and epilepsy.
Contact Mechanics and Three‐Dimensional Alignment of Normal Dog Elbows
Authors: Cuddy Laura C. , Lewis Daniel D. , Kim Stanley E. , Conrad Bryan P. , Banks Scott A. , Horodyski MaryBeth , Fitzpatrick Noel , Pozzi Antonio
Published: September 2012

Objective

To evaluate the effects of antebrachial rotation at 3 elbow flexion angles on contact mechanics and 3‐dimensional (3D) alignment of normal dog elbows.

Study Design

Ex vivobiomechanical study.

Animals

Unpaired thoracic limbs from 18 dogs (mean ± SD weight, 27 ± 4 kg).

Methods

With the limb under 200 N axial load, digital pressure sensors measured contact area (CA), mean contact pressure (MCP), peak contact pressure (PCP), and PCP location in the medial and lateral elbow compartments, and 3D static poses of the elbow were obtained. Each specimen was tested at 115°, 135°, and 155° elbow flexion, with the antebrachium in a neutral position, in 28° supination, and in 16° pronation. Repeated measure ANOVAs with post‐hoc Bonferroni (P≤ .0167) were performed.

Results

Both pronation and supination decreasedCAby 16% and 8% and increasedPCPby 5% and 10% in the medial and lateral compartments, respectively.PCPlocation moved 2.3 mm (1.8–3.2 mm) closer to the apex of the medial coronoid process in pronation and 2.0 mm (1.8–2.2 mm) farther away in supination. The radial head and medial coronoid process rotated 5.4° and 1.9° internally during pronation and 7.2° and 1.2° externally during supination.

Conclusions

Contact mechanics and 3D alignment of normal dog elbows varied significantly at different elbow poses.
In Vivo Effects of a Single Intra‐Articular Injection of 2% Lidocaine or 0.5% Bupivacaine on Articular Cartilage of Normal Horses
Authors: Piat Perrine , Richard Hélène , Beauchamp Guy , Laverty Sheila
Published: September 2012

Objective

To assess the effects of an intra‐articular (IA) lidocaine or bupivacaine injection on synovial fluid (SF) biomarkers of cartilage metabolism.

Study Design

Experimental.

Animals

Horses (n = 6).

Methods

The study had 2 components, each with an identical design: the first arm assessed the effects of bupivacaine (0.5%) IA in the intercarpal joints and, after a 2‐week washout period, the second was conducted to evaluate the effects of IA lidocaine (2%) in the tarsocrural joints. The mares were randomly assigned to receive the test local anesthetic in the target joint or the placebo (0.9% NaCl) in the contralateral joint. After a 2‐week washout period, treatments were reversed, yielding 6 joints for each treatment. SF samples were collected for measurement of biomarkers of cartilage metabolism.

Results

IA bupivacaine or lidocaine induced a significant increase in both markers of cartilage matrix synthesis (CS846–aggrecan and CPII–type II collagen) suggesting an anabolic effect. Bupivacaine also resulted in an unanticipated decrease in both collagen degradation markers (C2C and C1,2C).

Conclusions

These results reveal an anabolic effect of single IA injections of local anesthetics on cartilage metabolism. Although collagen degradation biomarker results were not increased, it is possible that the anabolic response is because of an undetected cartilage insult, and requires further investigation.
Racial Diversity and Judicial Influence on Appellate Courts
Authors: Kastellec Jonathan P.
Published: September 2012

This article evaluates the substantive consequences of judicial diversity on the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Due to the small percentage of racial minorities on the federal bench, the key question in evaluating these consequences is not whether minority judges vote differently from nonminority judges, but whether their presence on appellate courts influences their colleagues and affects case outcomes. Using matching methods, I show that black judges are significantly more likely than nonblack judges to support affirmative action programs. This individual‐level difference translates into a substantial causal effect of adding a black judge to an otherwise all‐nonblack panel. Randomly assigning a black counterjudge—a black judge sitting with two nonblack judges—to a three‐judge panel of the Courts of Appeals nearly ensures that the panel will vote in favor of an affirmative action program. These results have important implications for assessing the relationship between diversity and representation on federal courts.
Myxomas in All Cardiac Chambers
Authors: Toufan Mehrnoush , Jodati Ahmadreza , Safaei Naser , Kazemi Babak , Pourafkari Leili
Published: September 2012

Mini‐Abstract

A 24‐year‐old previously healthy man presented with aphasia and right‐sided hemiparesis during a workout session. Echocardiography for evaluation of the embolic source revealed multiple large masses in the right and left atria, right ventricle, left ventricular apex, and outflow tract and entrance of the superior vena cava. Surprisingly, the patient had been asymptomatic prior to his current presentation with cerebral embolism. He underwent urgent surgery and six cardiac tumors were resected. Pathologic examination of the lesions was compatible with myxoma. At a follow‐up 10 months later, the patient was noted to have some neurologic sequelae. No cardiac masses were reported on repeat echocardiography. The present case is unique for simultaneous occurrence of multiple myxomas in all cardiac chambers.
Atorvastatin Treatment Improves Myocardial and Peripheral Blood Flow in Familial Hypercholesterolemia Subjects without Evidence of Coronary Atherosclerosis
Authors: Lario Fabio C. , Miname Marcio H. , Tsutsui Jeane M. , Santos Raul D. , Kowatsch Ingrid , Sbano João C.N. , Ramires Jose A.F. , Filho Roberto Kalil , Mathias Wilson
Published: September 2012

Background: Hypercholesterolemia induces early microcirculatory functional and structural alterations that are reversible by cholesterol reduction. Real time myocardial contrast echocardiography (RTMCE) and vascular ultrasound evaluate the effects of hyperlipidemia on peripheral and central blood flow reserve. This study investigated the effects of lipid‐lowering therapy on coronary and peripheral artery circulation in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Methods: RTMCE and vascular ultrasound were performed in 10 healthy volunteers (validation group) at baseline and after 12‐week clinical observation, and in 16 age‐ and sex‐matched FH patients without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) by computed tomography angiography at baseline and after 12‐week atorvastatin treatment. Indexes of relative myocardial blood flow (MBF) were obtained at rest and during adenosine infusion. Results: In validation group, there was no significant difference between flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) at baseline and after 12 weeks (0.15 ± 0.02 vs. 0.14 ± 0.03; P = 0.39). Similarly, no differences were observed in MBF reserve at baseline and after 12 weeks (3.31 ± 0.63 vs. 3.48 ± 0.89; P = 0.89). FMD was blunted in FH patients, at baseline, as compared with validation group (0.08 ± 0.04 vs. 0.15 ± 0.02; P < 0.001) and became similar to that group (0.13 ± 0.05 vs. 0.14 ± 0.03; P = 0.07) after treatment. MBF reserve was blunted at baseline in FH patients in comparison with the validation group (2.78 ± 0.71 vs. 3.31 ± 0.63; P = 0.003). After treatment, MBF reserve values were no longer different (3.43 ± 0.66 and 3.48 ± 0.89; P = 0.84, respectively, for FH and validation groups). Conclusion: Patients with FH and no obstructive CAD have blunted MBF reserve and lower FMD values as compared with healthy volunteers. Both FMD and MBF reserve were normalized after atorvastatin treatment.
Eroded Valves, Recurrent Pleural Effusions, and Ultimately Heart–Liver Transplant
Authors: Ramamurthi Alamelu , Pandian Natesa G. , Kiernan Michael S. , Lee Hannah , DeNofrio David
Published: September 2012

A patient with eroded tricuspid and pulmonic valves, who eventually developed elevated right atrial and systemic venous pressure that led to hepatic cirrhosis and recurrent pleural effusion, is presented. The complex issues involved over a long period in this patient, who ultimately required combined heart and liver transplant, are discussed.
A Case of Aortic Stenosis and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Ramamurthi Alamelu , Aker Eric M. , Pandian Natesa G.
Published: September 2012

A patient with severe aortic valvular stenosis and coexisting obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in whom diagnostic difficulties and management dilemmas arose, is presented. The complex issues involved in such a combination are discussed.
Hydrophobic Group Functionalization of Polyethyleneimine for Controlling Dispersion Behavior of Silicon Carbide Nanoparticles in Aqueous Suspension
Authors: Nomura Yosuke , Iijima Motoyuki , Kamiya Hidehiro
Published: September 2012

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized with hydrophobic toluoyl groups (T‐PEI) was used to control the viscosity of silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticle aqueous suspensions. The effects of the toluoyl group ratio and molecular weight (MW) of the dispersant on the suspension viscosity were examined. For T‐PEIs (MW = 1800), the suspension viscosities decreased as the toluoyl group ratios increased, whereas for T‐PEIs (MW = 10000), the suspension viscosities were remarkably reduced when the toluoyl group ratios were 15% and 30%. To discuss these changes, the adsorption ratios of the dispersants on particles and the interaction forces between SiC nanoparticles were characterized using thermogravimetric‐differential thermal analysis and colloidal probe atomic force microscopy, respectively. The dispersant adsorption ratio increased dramatically with the introduction of toluoyl groups on PEI. For T‐PEIs (MW = 1800), a steric repulsive force between particles began to appear, and its strength increased as the toluoyl group ratio increased. However, for T‐PEIs (MW = 10 000), whereas a large repulsive force was generated when the toluoyl group ratios were 15% and 30%, a weak repulsive force was observed when the ratio was 40%. The adsorption structure of the dispersant was suggested based on these changes in particle interaction behaviors.
Personality Traits That Predict Academic Citizenship Behavior
Authors: Gore Jonathan S. , Kiefner Allison E. , Combs Kristen M.
Published: September 2012

The association between personality and organizational citizenship behaviors is rarely examined in student populations. The present research tested the hypothesis that conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism predict unique variance in academic citizenship attitudes. In the first study, 270 college students completed an online questionnaire assessing their personality and academic citizenship attitudes. The results confirmed the hypothesis. In Study 2, we also tested the hypothesis that academic citizenship attitudes mediate the association between personality and citizenship behavior. Participants (n = 50) completed the online questionnaire. At a later session, they were asked to engage in an extra‐role helping behavior after completing the assigned task. The results showed that general conscientiousness was associated with citizenship behavior, but academic conscientiousness attitudes mediated this association.
Coping with systemic risk in index‐based crop insurance
Authors: Shen Zhiwei , Odening Martin
Published: September 2012

The implementation of index‐based crop insurance is often impeded by the existence of systemic risk of insured losses. We assess the effectiveness of two strategies for coping with systemic risk: regional diversification and securitization with catastrophe (CAT) bonds. The analysis is conducted in an equilibrium pricing framework which allows the optimal price of the insurance and the number of traded contracts to be determined. We also explore the role of basis risk and risk aversion of market agents. The model is applied to a hypothetical area yield insurance for rice producers in northeast China. If yields in two regions are positively correlated, we find that enlarging the insured area leads to higher insurance premiums. Unless capital market investors are very risk averse, a CAT bond written on an area yield index outperforms regional diversification in terms of certainty equivalents of both farmers and insurers.
Differential strain‐related tissue immune response to sublethal systemic Aspergillus fumigatus infection in mice
Authors: Mirkov Ivana , Glamoclija Jasmina , Stosic‐Grujicic Stanislava , Zolotarevski Lidija , Kataranovski Dragan , Kataranovski Milena
Published: September 2012

Using a nonlethal systemic Aspergillus fumigatus infection, we have recently shown that similarly efficient elimination of fungus from spleens of prototypic Th1 (C57BL/6) and prototypic Th2 (BALB/c) mice is associated with differential immune responses. In light of these data and given the disseminated character of infection, the aim of the present study is to explore whether there are also strain‐dependent differences in antifungal responses in peripheral tissues of infected mice. Although similar efficiency of conidia removal was noted in liver and kidneys of both strains, BALB/c mice seemed more prone to tissue injury. Compared with other nonlymphoid organs, lungs proved immunologically the most responsive in systemic aspergillosis. Lower numbers of neutrophils and macrophages in the lungs of infected BALB/c mice, delayed and lower (compared with C57BL/6 mice) expression of their oxidative activity, along with late IFN‐γ and upregulated IL‐4 production by lung cells might be responsible for slower elimination of A. fumigatus from the lungs of this mouse strain. The data obtained imply that lungs should be viewed as mandatory organ in evaluation of immune‐mediated antifungal potential of drugs in models of systemic/disseminated infection and that strain differences noted in tissue responses should be taken into account in these settings.
Interspecific interactions affect species and community responses to climate shifts
Authors: Singer Alexander , Travis Justin M. J. , Johst Karin
Published: September 2012

The response of individual species to climate change may alter the composition and dynamics of communities. Here, we show that the impacts of environmental change on communities can depend on the nature of the interspecific interactions: mutualistic communities typically respond differently than commensalistic or parasitic communities. We model and analyse the geographic range shifting of metapopulations of two interacting species – a host and an obligate species. Different types of interspecific interactions are implemented by modifying local extinction rates according to the presence/absence of the other species. We distinguish and compare three fundamentally different community types: mutualism, commensalism and parasitism. We find that community dynamics during geographic range shifting critically depends on the type of interspecific interactions. Parasitic interactions exacerbate the negative effect of environmental change whereas mutualistic interactions only partly compensate it. Commensalistic interactions exhibit an intermediate response. Based on these model outcomes, we predict that parasitic species interactions may be more vulnerable to geographic range shifting than commensalistic or mutualistic ones. However, we observe that when climate stabilises following a period of change, the rate of community recovery is largely independent of the type of interspecific interactions. These results emphasize that communities respond delicately to environmental change, and that local interspecific interactions can affect range shifting communities at large spatial scales.