bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking Islam and Democracy
Authors: Hefner Robert W.
Published: May 2012

This chapter examines the question of Islam and democracy by way of four arguments. First, when empirical measures rather than imagined civilizational traits are referenced, it turns out that there is no democracy deficit in the broader Muslim world; a significant number of non-Arab Muslim countries have made impressive headway toward consolidating electoral democracy. Second, survey data also indicate that in most Muslim-majority countries, even those where the government is undemocratic, the Muslim public views democratic institutions favorably, indeed at rates comparable to those in Western countries. Third, notwithstanding their expressed support for democracy, a significant proportion of these Muslim publics has “un-liberal” ideas on women, non-Muslims, and matters of religious freedom. Fourth and last, the accumulated research suggests democratization is alive and well in the non-Arab portions of the Muslim world. However, the evidence also suggests that, as the process moves forward, its accompanying political culture may more closely resemble what some have referred to as a “civil Islamic” or “Muslim” democracy rather than the Atlantic-liberal variety familiar and favored in the U.S. and Western Europe.
Impact of Perioperative Bleeding on the Protective Effect of β-Blockers during Infrarenal Aortic Reconstruction
Authors: Le Manach Yannick , Collins Gary S. , Ibanez Cristina , Goarin Jean Pierre , Coriat Pierre , Gaudric Julien , Riou Bruno , Landais Paul
Published: May 2012

Background

The use of β-blockers during the perioperative period remains controversial. Although some studies have demonstrated their protective effects regarding postoperative cardiac complications, others have demonstrated increased mortality when β-blockers were introduced before surgery.

Methods

In this observational study involving 1,801 patients undergoing aortic reconstruction, we prospectively assessed β-blocker therapy compared with no β-blocker therapy, with regard to cardiac and noncardiac postoperative outcomes using a propensity score approach. The impact of β-blockers was analyzed according to the intraoperative bleeding estimated by transfusion requirements.

Results

In-hospital mortality was 2.5% (n=45), β-blocker use was associated with a reduced frequency of postoperative myocardial infarction (OR=0.46, 95% CI [0.26; 0.80]) and myocardial necrosis (OR=0.62, 95% CI [0.43; 0.88]) in all patients, but also with an increased frequency of multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (OR=2.78, 95% CI [1.71; 4.61]). In patients with severe bleeding (n=163; 9.1%), the frequency of in-hospital death (OR=6.65, 95% CI [1.09; 129]) and/or multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (OR=4.18, 95% CI [1.81; 10.38]) were markedly increased. Furthermore, no more than 28% of the patients who died presented with postoperative myocardial infarction, whereas 69% of the patient with a postoperative myocardial infarction also presented an excessive bleeding.

Conclusions

Perioperative β-blocker therapy was associated with an overall reduction in postoperative cardiac events. In the vast majority of patients with low perioperative bleeding, the global effect of β-blockers was protective; in contrast, patients given β-blockers who experienced severe bleeding had higher mortality and an increased frequency of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome.
Complete coding sequence and molecular epidemiological analysis of Sindbis virus isolates from mosquitoes and humans, Finland
Authors: Sane Jussi , Kurkela Satu , Putkuri Niina , Huhtamo Eili , Vaheri Antti , Vapalahti Olli
Published: May 2012

Sindbis virus (SINV) is an arthropod-borne alphavirus, which causes rash-arthritis, particularly in Finland. SINV is transmitted by mosquitoes in Finland but thus far no virus has been isolated from mosquitoes. In this study, we report the isolation of the first SINV strain from mosquitoes in Finland and its full-length protein-coding sequence. We furthermore describe the full-length coding sequence of six SINV strains previously isolated from humans in Finland and from a mosquito in Russia. The strain isolated from mosquitoes (Ilomantsi-2005M) was very closely related to all the other Northern European SINV strains. We found 9 aa positions, of which five in the nsP3 protein C terminus, to be distinctive signatures for the Northern European strains that may be associated with vector or host species adaptation. Phylogenetic analyses further indicate that SINV has a local circulation in endemic regions in Northern Europe and no novel strains are frequently being introduced.
Application of next-generation sequencing technologies in virology
Authors: Radford Alan D. , Chapman David , Dixon Linda , Chantrey Julian , Darby Alistair C. , Hall Neil
Published: May 2012

The progress of science is punctuated by the advent of revolutionary technologies that provide new ways and scales to formulate scientific questions and advance knowledge. Following on from electron microscopy, cell culture and PCR, next-generation sequencing is one of these methodologies that is now changing the way that we understand viruses, particularly in the areas of genome sequencing, evolution, ecology, discovery and transcriptomics. Possibilities for these methodologies are only limited by our scientific imagination and, to some extent, by their cost, which has restricted their use to relatively small numbers of samples. Challenges remain, including the storage and analysis of the large amounts of data generated. As the chemistries employed mature, costs will decrease. In addition, improved methods for analysis will become available, opening yet further applications in virology including routine diagnostic work on individuals, and new understanding of the interaction between viral and host transcriptomes. An exciting era of viral exploration has begun, and will set us new challenges to understand the role of newly discovered viral diversity in both disease and health.
OnGuard, a Computational Platform for Quantitative Kinetic Modeling of Guard Cell Physiology
Authors: Hills Adrian , Chen Zhong-Hua , Amtmann Anna , Blatt Michael R. , Lew Virgilio L.
Published: May 2012

Stomatal guard cells play a key role in gas exchange for photosynthesis while minimizing transpirational water loss from plants by opening and closing the stomatal pore. Foliar gas exchange has long been incorporated into mathematical models, several of which are robust enough to recapitulate transpirational characteristics at the whole-plant and community levels. Few models of stomata have been developed from the bottom up, however, and none are sufficiently generalized to be widely applicable in predicting stomatal behavior at a cellular level. We describe here the construction of computational models for the guard cell, building on the wealth of biophysical and kinetic knowledge available for guard cell transport, signaling, and homeostasis. The OnGuard software was constructed with the HoTSig library to incorporate explicitly all of the fundamental properties for transporters at the plasma membrane and tonoplast, the salient features of osmolite metabolism, and the major controls of cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentration and pH. The library engenders a structured approach to tier and interrelate computational elements, and the OnGuard software allows ready access to parameters and equations ‘on the fly’ while enabling the network of components within each model to interact computationally. We show that an OnGuard model readily achieves stability in a set of physiologically sensible baseline or Reference States; we also show the robustness of these Reference States in adjusting to changes in environmental parameters and the activities of major groups of transporters both at the tonoplast and plasma membrane. The following article addresses the predictive power of the OnGuard model to generate unexpected and counterintuitive outputs.
Systems Dynamic Modeling of the Stomatal Guard Cell Predicts Emergent Behaviors in Transport, Signaling, and Volume Control
Authors: Chen Zhong-Hua , Hills Adrian , Bätz Ulrike , Amtmann Anna , Lew Virgilio L. , Blatt Michael R.
Published: May 2012

The dynamics of stomatal movements and their consequences for photosynthesis and transpirational water loss have long been incorporated into mathematical models, but none have been developed from the bottom up that are widely applicable in predicting stomatal behavior at a cellular level. We previously established a systems dynamic model incorporating explicitly the wealth of biophysical and kinetic knowledge available for guard cell transport, signaling, and homeostasis. Here we describe the behavior of the model in response to experimentally documented changes in primary pump activities and malate (Mal) synthesis imposed over a diurnal cycle. We show that the model successfully recapitulates the cyclic variations in H+, K+, Cl−, and Mal concentrations in the cytosol and vacuole known for guard cells. It also yields a number of unexpected and counterintuitive outputs. Among these, we report a diurnal elevation in cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentration and an exchange of vacuolar Cl− with Mal, both of which find substantiation in the literature but had previously been suggested to require additional and complex levels of regulation. These findings highlight the true predictive power of the OnGuard model in providing a framework for systems analysis of stomatal guard cells, and they demonstrate the utility of the OnGuard software and HoTSig library in exploring fundamental problems in cellular physiology and homeostasis.
Pleiotropic Phenotypes of the sticky peel Mutant Provide New Insight into the Role of CUTIN DEFICIENT2 in Epidermal Cell Function in Tomato
Authors: Nadakuduti Satya Swathi , Pollard Mike , Kosma Dylan K. , Allen Charles , Ohlrogge John B. , Barry Cornelius S.
Published: May 2012

Plant epidermal cells have evolved specialist functions associated with adaptation to stress. These include the synthesis and deposition of specialized metabolites such as waxes and cutin together with flavonoids and anthocyanins, which have important roles in providing a barrier to water loss and protection against UV radiation, respectively. Characterization of the sticky peel (pe) mutant of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) revealed several phenotypes indicative of a defect in epidermal cell function, including reduced anthocyanin accumulation, a lower density of glandular trichomes, and an associated reduction in trichome-derived terpenes. In addition, pe mutant fruit are glossy and peels have increased elasticity due to a severe reduction in cutin biosynthesis and altered wax deposition. Leaves of the pe mutant are also cutin deficient and the epicuticular waxes contain a lower proportion of long-chain alkanes. Direct measurements of transpiration, together with chlorophyll-leaching assays, indicate increased cuticular permeability of pe leaves. Genetic mapping revealed that the pe locus represents a new allele of CUTIN DEFICIENT2 (CD2), a member of the class IV homeodomain-leucine zipper gene family, previously only associated with cutin deficiency in tomato fruit. CD2 is preferentially expressed in epidermal cells of tomato stems and is a homolog of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ANTHOCYANINLESS2 (ANL2). Analysis of cuticle composition in leaves of anl2 revealed that cutin accumulates to approximately 60% of the levels observed in wild-type Arabidopsis. Together, these data provide new insight into the role of CD2 and ANL2 in regulating diverse metabolic pathways and in particular, those associated with epidermal cells.
Searching for effective interventions for foster children under stress: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Van Andel Hans W. H. , Grietens Hans , Strijker Johan , Van der Gaag Rutger J. , Knorth Erik J.
Published: May 2012

Foster children experience a lot of stress because of their life histories and changes in their family circumstances, such as foster care placement. It is important that foster parents recognize the early signs of stress in foster children and learn how to act in a non‐threatening and understanding manner. Family‐based interventions may help in this. In this paper, we report on a meta‐analysis of studies (n= 19) of the effectiveness of such interventions. All studies used a pre‐test/post‐test design. Both problem behaviour in foster children and the parenting skills of foster parents improved by 30%; however, none of the interventions were specifically intended to help young children (<4 years) to cope with stress. The importance of interventions for young foster children is discussed, as well as the necessary elements these interventions should include.
Parentage‐based pedigree reconstruction reveals female matrilineal clusters and male‐biased dispersal in nongregarious Asian great apes, the Bornean orang‐utans (Pongo pygmaeus)
Authors: ARORA N. , Van NOORDWIJK M. A. , ACKERMANN C. , WILLEMS E. P. , NATER A. , GREMINGER M. , NIETLISBACH P. , DUNKEL L. P. , UTAMI ATMOKO S. S. , PAMUNGKAS JOKO , PERWITASARI‐FARAJALLAH DYAH , Van SCHAIK C. P. , KRÜTZEN M.
Published: May 2012

Philopatry and sex‐biased dispersal have a strong influence on population genetic structure, so the study of species dispersal patterns and evolutionary mechanisms shaping them are of great interest. Particularly nongregarious mammalian species present an underexplored field of study: despite their lower levels of sociality compared to group‐living species, interactions among individuals do occur, providing opportunities for cryptic kin selection. Among the least gregarious primates are orang‐utans (genus:Pongo), in which preferential associations among females have nevertheless been observed, but for which the presence of kin structures was so far unresolved because of the equivocal results of previous genetic studies. To clarify relatedness and dispersal patterns in orang‐utans, we examined the largest longitudinal set of individuals with combined genetic, spatial and behavioural data. We found that males had significantly higher mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation and more unique haplotypes, thus underscoring their different maternal ancestries compared to females. Moreover, pedigree reconstruction based on 24 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers and mtDNA haplotypes demonstrated the presence of three matrilineal clusters of generally highly related females with substantially overlapping ranges. In orang‐utans and possibly other nongregarious species, comparing average biparental relatedness (r) of males and females to infer sex‐biased dispersal is extremely problematic. This is because the opportunistic sampling regime frequently employed in nongregarious species, combined with overlapping space use of distinct matrilineal clusters, leads to a strong downward bias when mtDNA lineage membership is ignored. Thus, in nongregarious species, correct inferences of dispersal can only be achieved by combining several genetic approaches with detailed spatial information.
Mate choice and the genetic basis for colour variation in a polymorphic dart frog: inferences from a wild pedigree
Authors: RICHARDS‐ZAWACKI CORINNE L. , WANG IAN J. , SUMMERS KYLE
Published: May 2012

Understanding how reproductive barriers evolve during speciation remains an important question in evolution. Divergence in mating preferences may be a common first step in this process. The striking colour pattern diversity of strawberry dart frog (Dendrobates pumilio) populations has likely been shaped by sexual selection. Previous laboratory studies have shown that females attend to male coloration and prefer to court with males of their own colour, suggesting that divergent morphs may be reproductively isolated. To test this hypothesis, we used molecular data to estimate pedigree relationships from a polymorphic population. Whereas in the laboratory both red and yellow females preferred to court with males of their own phenotype, our pedigree shows a pattern of assortative mating only for red females. In the wild, yellow females appear to be less choosy about their mates, perhaps because they incur higher costs associated with searching than females of the more common red phenotype. We also used our pedigree to investigate the genetic basis for colour‐pattern variation. The phenotype frequencies we observed were consistent with those expected if dorsal background coloration is controlled by a single locus, with complete dominance of red over yellow. Our results not only help clarify the role of sexual selection in reducing gene flow, but also shed light on the mechanisms underlying colour‐pattern variation among sympatric colour morphs. The difference we observed between mating preferences measured under laboratory conditions and the pattern of mate choice observed in the wild highlight the importance of field studies for understanding behavioural reproductive isolation.
Survival and differentiation of subspecies of the land snail Charpentieria itala in mountain refuges in the Southern Alps
Authors: SCHEEL BETTINA M. , HAUSDORF BERNHARD
Published: May 2012

Two groups of subspecies of the door snail Charpentieria itala are distributed in a mosaic pattern in the Southern Alps. Some subspecies that morphologically resemble Charpentieria stenzii occur at exposed rocks at higher altitudes, whereas other subspecies live on more humid rocks at lower altitudes. This pattern can be explained by two alternative hypotheses. Either the stenzii‐like or ‘stenzioid’ subspecies have a common origin and represent relicts of an early colonization wave that survived the ice ages in isolated mountain refuges within the Alps, or the geographically isolated stenzioid subspecies evolved through parallel adaptation of C. itala populations to life on exposed rocks. In this study, the first hypothesis could be supported by several lines of evidence. Analyses of amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) data indicated a common origin of the stenzioid subspecies of the Bergamasque Prealps and of the stenzioid subspecies of the Brescia and Garda Prealps, whereas an outlier analysis detected only few AFLP markers that might be under selection. High 16S rDNA distances between subspecies suggest that the divergence of the subspecies predates at least most of the glacials. The occurrences of the stenzioid subspecies are concentrated in mountain areas that were not glaciated during the Last Glacial Maximum. The genetic differentiation and the isolated distribution areas of the stenzioid subspecies indicate that they survived in five separate mountain refuges in the Bergamasque, Brescia and Garda Prealps. In addition, the clustering of the Charpentieria itala latestriata populations from different valleys indicates a low‐altitude refuge.
The ‘porin–cytochrome’ model for microbe‐to‐mineral electron transfer
Authors: Richardson David J. , Butt Julea N. , Fredrickson Jim K. , Zachara John M. , Shi Liang , Edwards Marcus J. , White Gaye , Baiden Nanakow , Gates Andrew J. , Marritt Sophie J. , Clarke Thomas A.
Published: May 2012

Many species of bacteria can couple anaerobic growth to the respiratory reduction of insoluble minerals containing Fe(III) or Mn(III/IV). It has been suggested that in Shewanella species electrons cross the outer membrane to extracellular substrates via ‘porin–cytochrome’ electron transport modules. The molecular structure of an outer‐membrane extracellular‐facing deca‐haem terminus for such a module has recently been resolved. It is debated how, once outside the cells, electrons are transferred from outer‐membrane cytochromes to insoluble electron sinks. This may occur directly or by assemblies of cytochromes, perhaps functioning as ‘nanowires’, or via electron shuttles. Here we review recent work in this field and explore whether it allows for unification of the electron transport mechanisms supporting extracellular mineral respiration in Shewanella that may extend into other genera of Gram‐negative bacteria.
‘But is it a question worth asking?’ A reflective case study describing how public involvement can lead to researchers’ ideas being abandoned
Authors: Boote Jonathan D. , Dalgleish Mary , Freeman Janet , Jones Zena , Miles Marianne , Rodgers Helen
Published: May 2012

Background  It is good practice for the public to be involved in developing research ideas into grant applications. Some positive accounts of this process have been published, but little is known about when their reactions are negative and when researchers’ ideas are abandoned.

Objective  To present a case study account of when an academic‐led idea for funding was not supported by stroke survivors and carers who were asked to contribute to its development, together with a reflection on the implications of the case from all the stakeholders involved.

Design  A reflective case study of a research idea, developed by an academic researcher, on which stakeholders were consulted.

Participants  University researchers, clinicians, public involvement managers, and stroke survivors and carers from the NIHR’s Stroke Research Network.

Findings  Although the idea met with the approval of health professionals, who were keen to develop it into a funding bid, the stroke survivors and carers did not think the idea worth pursuing. This lack of patient and carer support led to the idea being abandoned. Reflecting on this, those involved in the consultation believed that the savings accrued from abandoning the idea, in terms of ensuring that public money is not wasted, should be seen as an important benefit of public involvement in the research process.

Conclusion  Little is known about the role of the public in the abandonment of research ideas. We recommend that further research is undertaken into this important contribution that patients and the public can make to health research.
Avoiding piecemeal research on participation in cervical cancer screening: the advantages of a social identity framework
Authors: Tribe Candice , Webb Janine
Published: May 2012

Background Cervical cancer screening research has predominantly focused on one type of participation, namely compliance with medical recommendations, and has largely ignored other types of participation. While there is some research that has taken a different approach, findings in this research area are not well integrated under a theoretical framework.

Objective The aim of this study is to show how consideration of a broader definition of participation and better integration of the theoretical conceptualization of participation in cervical cancer screening are both possible and desirable to enable a better understanding of women’s experiences of cervical cancer screening specifically and to improve women’s health generally.

Main Conclusion It is suggested that alternative types of participation in cervical cancer screening warrant further investigation and that a social identity theoretical approach offers one way of integrating such conceptualizations of participation. The paper also argues for more explicit consideration of the role of social processes and of the variables, such as power, social identity and relational justice, which are involved in participation in cervical cancer screening.
On defensive decision making: how doctors make decisions for their patients
Authors: Garcia‐Retamero Rocio , Galesic Mirta
Published: May 2012

Background  In the past decade, the number of lawsuits for medical malpractice has risen significantly. This could affect the way doctors make decisions for their patients.

Objective  To investigate whether and why doctors practice defensive medicine with their patients.

Design  A questionnaire study was conducted in general practice departments of eight metropolitan hospitals in Spain, between January and February 2010.

Setting and participants  Eighty general practitioners (48% men; mean age 52 years) with an average of 15.3 years of experience and their 80 adult patients (42% men; mean age 56 years) participated in the study.

Main outcome measurements  Participants completed a self‐administered questionnaire involving choices between a risky and a conservative treatment. One group of doctors made decisions for their patients. Another group of doctors predicted what their patients would decide for themselves. Finally, all doctors and patients made decisions for themselves and described the factors they thought influenced their decisions.

Results  Doctors selected much more conservative medical treatments for their patients than for themselves. Most notably, they did so even when they accurately predicted that the patients would select riskier treatments. When asked about the reasons for their decisions, most doctors (93%) reported fear of legal consequences.

Discussion and conclusions  Doctors’ decisions for their patients are strongly influenced by concerns of possible legal consequences. Patients therefore cannot blindly follow their doctor’s advice. Our study, however, suggests a plausible method that patients could use to get around this problem: They could simply ask their doctor what he or she would do in the patient’s situation.
Patient participation in the discussions of options in Spanish primary care consultations
Authors: Moral Roger Ruiz , Munguía Lucía Peralta , de Torres Luis Ángel Pérula , Carrión Maria Teresa , Mundet Jorge Olloqui , Martínez Mariana
Published: May 2012

Objectives

To determine patients' participation in the discussion of options in primary care consultations. Identify the patients' wish to participate and their perceptions of their participation and explore the potential factors that may influence these.

Design

Cross‐sectional study. Setting. Ninety‐seven general practices. Participants. six hundred and fifty‐eight patients who went to their doctors for unselected reasons. Measurements. All the encounters were videoed, patient participation in decision making (DM) was assessed with two tools. After the consultation,GPs completed a questionnaire about biomedical and relational information. Patients' preferences and perception of participation was explored with different type of questions.

Results

Encounters successfully videoed: 638. Of these, only 90 interviews clearly showed patient participation. In 161 other interviews, patient participation was considered possible. Questionnaires collected: 645. In 60% of the situations (390 encounters), patients wished they could have stated their views about the proposed option(s), but they perceived this did not happen. The degree of participation at the consultation did not relate significantly with the physician's ideas about the type of problem, evolution and treatment. Neither did any of the considered variables influence either the patients' wish to participate in the discussion of the suggested option or their perception of this.

Conclusions

GPs ask patients for their opinion and promote discussion about the suggested plan in few encounters. Patients perceive this, including many patients that previously had declared not to be interested in being involved in decisions. These results revealed an important mismatch between what patients wish and what they perceive.
Corticobasal and ataxia syndromes widen the spectrum of C9ORF72 hexanucleotide expansion disease
Authors: Lindquist SG , Duno M , Batbayli M , Puschmann A , Braendgaard H , Mardosiene S , Svenstrup K , Pinborg LH , Vestergaard K , Hjermind LE , Stokholm J , Andersen BB , Johannsen P , Nielsen JE
Published: May 2012

Recently, a hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) repeat expansion in the first intron of C9ORF72 was reported as the cause of chromosome 9p21‐linked frontotemporal dementia‐amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD‐ALS). We here report the prevalence of the expansion in a hospital‐based cohort and associated clinical features indicating a wider clinical spectrum of C9ORF72 disease than previously described. We studied 280 patients previously screened for mutations in genes involved in early onset autosomal dominant inherited dementia disorders. A repeat‐primed polymerase chain reaction amplification assay was used to identify pathogenic GGGGCC expansions. As a potential modifier, confirmed cases were further investigated for abnormal CAG expansions in ATXN2. A pathogenic GGGGCC expansion was identified in a total of 14 probands. Three of these presented with atypical clinical features and were previously diagnosed with clinical olivopontocerebellar degeneration (OPCD), atypical Parkinsonian syndrome (APS) and a corticobasal syndrome (CBS). Further, the pathogenic expansion was identified in six FTD patients, four patients with FTD‐ALS and one ALS patient. All confirmed cases had normal ATXN2 repeat sizes. Our study widens the clinical spectrum of C9ORF72related disease and confirms the hexanucleotide expansion as a prevalent cause of FTD‐ALS disorders. There was no indication of a modifying effect of the ATXN2 gene.
Evaluation of serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients
Authors: Tamura Takafumi , Inagawa Satoshi , Hisakura Katsuji , Enomoto Tsuyoshi , Ohkohchi Nobuhiro
Published: May 2012

Background and Aim:  Although there are some reports of an adverse effect of low serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels on gastrointestinal cancers, the specific correlation between serum HDL‐C levels and gastric cancer remains unknown.

Methods:  Preoperative serum HDL‐C levels were retrospectively examined in 184 patients who had undergone gastrectomy. The patients who had undergone gastrectomy were divided into two groups: the normal‐HDL‐C group and the low‐HDL‐C group. We examined the characteristics and outcomes of these two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between serum HDL‐C levels and gastric cancer.

Results:  There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the progression of gastric cancer. In the low‐HDL‐C group, lymphatic and vascular invasion was significantly increased. The prognosis of the patients in the normal‐HDL‐C group was significantly better than those in the low‐HDL‐C group.

Conclusions:  In this study, a positive correlation between low preoperative serum HDL‐C levels and prognosis for gastric cancer was demonstrated. Serum HDL‐C level may be a clinical prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients.
Comparison of patient acceptance of sodium phosphate versus polyethylene glycol plus sodium picosulfate for colon cleansing in Japanese
Authors: Hosoe Naoki , Nakashita Manabu , Imaeda Hiroyuki , Sujino Tomohisa , Bessho Rieko , Ichikawa Riko , Inoue Nagamu , Kanai Takanori , Hibi Toshifumi , Ogata Haruhiko
Published: May 2012

Background and Aim:  In Japan, patient acceptance of bowel preparation methods before colonoscopy remains unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the patient acceptance of sodium phosphate (NaP) tablets and polyethylene glycol solution (PEG) with sodium picosulfate.

Methods:  One hundred patients were randomized into one of the following two groups: the NaP tablet first‐use group or the PEG with sodium picosulfate first‐use group in a crossover design trial. Patient acceptance and incidence of adverse events were evaluated using a questionnaire. Colon‐cleansing effectiveness was also evaluated.

Results:  Patients' overall impressions of the preparations were significantly different between the NaP tablet (77.9%, 67/86) and PEG with sodium picosulfate (60.5%, 52/86; P = 0.001). Nausea incidence as an adverse event was significantly different between the two regimens (P = 0.03). Colon‐cleansing effectiveness was not significantly different between the two regimens.

Conclusions:  The results of this crossover study showed that patient acceptance was similar to those previously reported in a parallel‐group comparison. In Japanese patients, preference for and acceptance of NaP tablets was significantly higher than that for PEG with sodium picosulfate solution.
Psychological partner violence and women's vulnerability to depression, stress, and anxiety
Authors: Al‐Modallal Hanan
Published: May 2012

Psychological partner violence is a considerable problem, despite its invisible outcomes on victims' physical health. Focusing on mental health, the present study looked at differences in mental illness, such as depression, stress, and anxiety, among victims and non‐victims of psychological violence. A convenience sample of women (n = 267) visiting health‐care centres in refugee camps in Jordan provided data about their experiences of psychological violence and their mental health status. The results indicated that, compared to their non‐victimized counterparts, women reporting psychological violence had significantly higher mean scores of depression (t = −4.92), stress (t = −3.73), and anxiety (t = −4.22), with P < 0.0001 for all results. It was suggested that factors that have significant roles in determining poor mental health status included victims' low self‐esteem; poor socioeconomic profile, in terms of education level and income; and responsibilities associated with child and family requirements. The impacts of these factors on victims' mental health status are discussed.
Improved local control of rectal cancer reduces distant metastases
Authors: Bernstein T. E. , Endreseth B. H. , Romundstad P. , Wibe A. ,   on behalf of the Norwegian Colorectal Cancer Registry
Published: May 2012

Aim  The purpose of the present national study was to determine whether improved local control has been accompanied by a change in the incidence of metastases.

Method  The data were from a national population‐based rectal cancer registry and included all 6501 rectal cancer patients treated for cure. The study periods were 1993–1997, 1998–2000, 2001–2003 and 2004–2006.

Results  Major changes in the handling of rectal cancer from the first to the last study period included an increased use of MRI from zero to 81% and the use of preoperative radiotherapy from 5% to 20%. The proportion of patients with circumferential resection margin (CRM) ≤ 2 mm decreased from 23% to 13%. The 4‐year rate of local recurrence decreased from 13% to 8% (P < 0.001), the overall survival increased from 65% to 73% (P < 0.001) and the incidence of distant metastases decreased from 25% to 19% (P < 0.001) from the first to the last period. The risk of metastases decreased by 29% (hazard ratio 0.71, 95% CI 0.60–0.84).

Conclusion  Improved diagnostics and treatment of rectal cancer aiming at better local control and survival have resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of distant metastases.
Evaluation of body fat composition after linagliptin treatment in a rat model of diet‐induced obesity: a magnetic resonance spectroscopy study in comparison with sibutramine
Authors: Klein T. , Niessen H. G. , Ittrich C. , Mayoux E. , Mueller H.‐P. , Cheetham S. , Stiller D. , Kassubek J. , Mark M.
Published: May 2012

The effects of linagliptin on fat content in diet‐induced obese rats were compared with those of the appetite suppressant sibutramine. Female Wistar rats fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) for 3 months received vehicle, linagliptin (10 mg/kg) or sibutramine (5 mg/kg) treatment orally, once daily for 6 additional weeks, while continuing the HFD. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis of fat content was performed at baseline and at the end of the 6‐week treatment period. Linagliptin treatment profoundly reduced hepatic fat compared with vehicle, with an effect comparable to that of sibutramine. The vehicle‐corrected mean change (95% CI) from baseline in hepatic fat and intramyocellular lipid was −59.0% (−104.3%, −13.6%; p = 0.015) and −62.1% (−131.6%, 7.4%; p = 0.073), respectively, for linagliptin compared with −54.3% (−101.5%, −7.1%; p = 0.027) and −72.4% (−142.4%, −2.4%; p = 0.044), respectively, for sibutramine.
COSTLY INTERMEDIATION AND CONSUMPTION SMOOTHING
Authors: ANTUNES ANTÓNIO , CAVALCANTI TIAGO , VILLAMIL ANNE
Published: May 2012

This paper studies quantitatively how intermediation costs affect household consumption loans and welfare. Agents face uninsurable idiosyncratic shocks to labor productivity in a production economy with costly financial intermediation and a borrowing limit. Reducing intermediation costs has two effects: (1) For a given decrease in the interest rate on borrowing, agents' ability to smooth consumption over time improves. (2) The demand for loans increases, which increases the interest rate. The net welfare gain of reducing intermediation costs from 3.927% (U.S. level) to 1% is about 1.14% of equivalent consumption in the baseline economy for an endogenous interest rate and 1.90% for an exogenous interest rate. The gains are distributed unevenly: households at the bottom wealth decile improve welfare by 3.96% and 5.86% of equivalent consumption, while those at the top decile have welfare gains of 0.35% and 0.2%, respectively. Sufficiently high intermediation costs eliminate borrowing and hence the welfare gain of reducing costs is not substantial. The welfare analysis includes transitional dynamics between steady states. (JEL D91, E60, G38)
THE NATURE OF OUTSOURCING RELATIONSHIPS: EVIDENCE FROM OAP PRICES
Authors: SWENSON DEBORAH L.
Published: May 2012

This paper studies the extent and variation in production cost pass‐through for U.S. outsourcing imports. Data from 4,676 products imported through the U.S. overseas assembly program show that outsourcing imports were characterized by incomplete pass‐through of production and trade costs to import prices. Notably, pass‐through was higher for products assembled in high education countries while the response of outsourcing import prices to competing suppliers' prices was largest for products sold by firms in capital‐intense industries. The reasons for these cross‐country and cross‐industry differences, as they relate to theories of outsourcing and trade, are explored. (JEL F1, F2)
Nine‐months‐old infants do not need to know what the agent prefers in order to reason about its goals: on the role of preference and persistence in infants’ goal‐attribution
Authors: Hernik Mikolaj , Southgate Victoria
Published: May 2012

Human infants readily interpret others’ actions as goal‐directed and their understanding of previous goals shapes their expectations about an agent’s future goal‐directed behavior in a changed situation. According to a recent proposal (Luo & Baillargeon, 2005), infants’ goal‐attributions are not sufficient to support such expectations if the situational change involves broadening the set of choice‐options available to the agent, and the agent’s preferences among this broadened set are not known. The present study falsifies this claim by showing that 9‐month‐olds expect the agent to continue acting towards the previous goal even if additional choice‐options become available for which there is no preference‐related evidence. We conclude that infants do not need to know about the agent’s preferences in order to form expectations about its goal‐directed actions. Implications for the role of action persistency and action selectivity are discussed.
Functional dissociation between perception and action is evident early in life
Authors: Hadad Bat‐Sheva , Avidan Galia , Ganel Tzvi
Published: May 2012

The functional distinction between vision for perception and vision for action is well documented in the mature visual system. Ganel and colleagues recently provided direct evidence for this dissociation, showing that while visual processing for perception follows Weber’s fundamental law of psychophysics, action violates this law. We tracked the developmental trajectory of this functional dissociation, asking whether the qualitatively different pattern observed in adults of adherence of perception but not of action to Weber’s law would also be evident early in life. Children aged 5–8 and adults were asked to either estimate the size of discs (perception) or grasp discs (action) varying in diameter. Interestingly, variability of perceptual estimates increased as a function of object size in accord with Weber’s law, while variability of grasping did not scale with object size, at all ages tested. This provides the first clear evidence for an early emergence of the dissociation between perception and action.
Reducing Competitive Victimhood in Kosovo: The Role of Extended Contact and Common Ingroup Identity
Authors: Andrighetto Luca , Mari Silvia , Volpato Chiara , Behluli Burim
Published: May 2012

During intractable conflicts, “competitive victimhood” refers to the subjective belief that one's own ingroup has suffered more than the outgroup. Although competitive victimhood is considered an important inhibitor of reconciliation processes, no research has attempted to examine ways of reducing it. The present study aims to fill this gap. Kosovar Albanians students (N = 170) were asked to report their perception of ingroup and outgroup victimhood during the protracted violence between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo. Our findings revealed that frequent and high‐quality extended contact with outgroup members and identification with a common ingroup reduced competitive victimhood. The effects of extended contact and common ingroup identification were fully mediated by increased perspective taking and trust toward the outgroup, and by decreased outgroup infrahumanization. The implications of these results for restoring fractured intergroup relations are discussed.
Steroid‐sparing effects of angiotensin‐II inhibitors in glioblastoma patients
Authors: Carpentier A. F. , Ferrari D. , Bailon O. , Ursu R. , Banissi C. , Dubessy A.‐L. , Belin C. , Levy C.
Published: May 2012

Background

The standard of care in patients with glioblastoma (GBM) relies on surgical resection, radiation therapy (RT), and temozolomide. Steroids are required in almost all patients to reduce peritumoral edema, but are associated with numerous side effects. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key driver of peritumoral edema and angiogenesis in human GBM. Recently, angiotensin‐II inhibitors were reported to reduce VEGF secretion and tumor growth in some animal models.

Methods

To investigate whether angiotensin‐II inhibitors might have a similar effect in humans and before undertaking a prospective study, we retrospectively investigated a series of 87 consecutive, newly diagnosed GBM patients, treated in a single center. Amongst these patients, 29 (33%) were already treated before RT for high blood pressure (HBP), 18 of them (21%) with an angiotensin‐II inhibitor. In all patients, performance status, surgical procedures, and steroid dosages were documented.

Results

Patients treated with angiotensin‐II inhibitors, but not other antihypertensive drugs, required half of the steroids of the other patients during radiotherapy (P = 0.005 in multivariate analysis, considering other antihypertensive treatments, surgical resection, and performance status). This effect of angiotensin‐II inhibitors was also significant at the beginning of radiotherapy (P = 0.03 in multivariate analysis). Treatment with angiotensin‐II inhibitors had no effect on survival (16.2 vs. 17.9 months for the treated and the non‐treated group, respectively, P = 0.77).

Conclusion

Angiotensin‐II inhibitors might display significant steroid‐sparing effects in brain tumor patients. Given the morbidity associated with steroids, this finding might have important practical consequences in these patients and warrants a randomized study.
Clinical, dermoscopic and histopathologic features of genital and extragenital lichen sclerosus
Authors: Larre Borges A. , Tiodorovic‐Zivkovic D. , Lallas A. , Moscarella E. , Gurgitano S. , Capurro M. , Apalla Z. , Bruno J. , Popovic D. , Nicoletti S. , Pérez J. , Zalaudek I.
Published: May 2012

Background  Little is currently known about the dermoscopic patterns of genital and extragenital lichen sclerosus (LS). In order to evaluate and compare the dermoscopic and histopathologic patterns of genital and extragenital lichen sclerosus, a retrospective analysis of clinical, dermoscopic and histopathologic features of genital and extragenital LS, collected between March 2010 and December 2011 at four dermatology clinics in Greece, Italy, Serbia and Uruguay was performed.

Observations  A total of 29 lesions from 14 (mean age 62.8 years) and 12 (mean age 53.5 years) patients with genital and extragenital LS, respectively were analyzed. Mean duration of disease was 3.5 years for genital and 1.8 years for extragenital LS. White‐yellowish structureless areas were seen in all cases of genital and extragenital LS; however linear vessels occurred at higher frequency in genital than in extragenital lesions (85.7% vs. 33.3%, respectively). Extragenital LS revealed two different time‐related patterns: keratotic plugs were more prevalent in lesions with short duration (<2 years), whereas longer persisting lesions appeared atrophic and revealed fine chrysalis structures.

Conclusions  Our morphologic study provides novel insights into the morphologic diversity of LS at different body sites and different stages of progression.
Altered expression of dermokine in skin disorders
Authors: Hasegawa M. , Higashi K. , Yokoyama C. , Yamamoto F. , Tachibana T. , Matsushita T. , Hamaguchi Y. , Saito K. , Fujimoto M. , Takehara K.
Published: May 2012

Background  Although dermokine‐β, a glycoprotein expressed in epithelial cells, does not have significant homology to other proteins, its carboxyl‐terminal domain shares a high pI value with many cytokines, suggesting similar functions.

Objective  To better understand the biology of dermokine, we here determined its localization under pathological conditions and examined factors that regulate its expression.

Methods  We generated an anti‐human dermokine‐β/γ monoclonal antibody cross‐reacting with the mouse protein. Using this antibody, immunohistological staining and Western blotting of dermokine‐β/γ were performed with various tissue samples.

Results  Although human dermokine‐β/γ was expressed in almost all granular layers, upper spinous layers of the skin were also stained with anti‐dermokine‐β/γ antibody in inflammatory skin disorders. Dermokine‐β/γ was expressed in keratoacanthoma and a part of well‐differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, dermokine‐β/γ was not detected in poorly differentiated SCC or tumours derived from non‐keratinocytes. In mice, dermokine‐β/γ‐expressed keratinocytes were increased in models of contact hypersensitivity, ultraviolet‐irradiated skin injury and wound healing. Consistent with expanded distribution in inflammatory skin diseases, proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin‐1β, interleukin‐12, and tumour necrosis factor‐α augmented dermokine‐β/γ expression in cultured human keratinocytes. In contrast, growth factors including epidermal growth factor, insulin‐like growth factor‐I, keratinocyte growth factor and transforming growth factor‐α significantly reduced dermokine expression.

Conclusion  These results provide novel insights into the physiological and pathological significance of dermokine in the epidermis.