bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vertical Root Fracture: Preservation of the Alveolar Ridge Using Immediate Implants
Authors: Oya Edmar de Oliveira , Pallos Debora , Schwartz-Filho Humberto Osvaldo , Brandt William Cunha , Sendyk Wilson Roberto , Roman-Torres Caio Vinicius Gonçalves
Published: March 2014

Teeth with vertical root fracture (VRF) have complete or incomplete fractures that begin in the root and extend toward the occlusal surface. The most frequent causes of VRF originate from physical trauma, occlusal prematurity, inadequate endodontic treatment, and iatrogenic causes. Diagnose is difficult and delay can cause stomatognathic system problem. The purpose of this case report was to evaluate immediate implant placement after extraction of teeth with vertical root fracture. For the 1st case, the VRF in 1st left lower molar was confirmed during surgical flap and at the same time, the tooth was removed and immediate implant was placed. For the 2nd case, the VRF 1st left lower molar was confirmed during endodontic access and at the same appointment, the tooth was removed and the immediate implant is placed. Several studies have shown that immediate implants have similar success rates when compared with late implants. Consider that this approach is a safe procedure with favorable prognosis. In cases of VRF, the main factor to be considered is the presence of adequate bone support and immediate implants can preserve the vertical bone height, adding the fact that good patient compliance reduces the number of surgical interventions and promotes the functionality of stomatognathic system.
WDM Network and Multicasting Protocol Strategies
Authors: Kirci Pinar , Zaim Abdul Halim
Published: March 2014

Optical technology gains extensive attention and ever increasing improvement because of the huge amount of network traffic caused by the growing number of internet users and their rising demands. However, with wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), it is easier to take the advantage of optical networks and optical burst switching (OBS) and to construct WDM networks with low delay rates and better data transparency these technologies are the best choices. Furthermore, multicasting in WDM is an urgent solution for bandwidth-intensive applications. In the paper, a new multicasting protocol with OBS is proposed. The protocol depends on a leaf initiated structure. The network is composed of source, ingress switches, intermediate switches, edge switches, and client nodes. The performance of the protocol is examined with Just Enough Time (JET) and Just In Time (JIT) reservation protocols. Also, the paper involves most of the recent advances about WDM multicasting in optical networks. WDM multicasting in optical networks is given as three common subtitles: Broadcast and-select networks, wavelength-routed networks, and OBS networks. Also, in the paper, multicast routing protocols are briefly summarized and optical burst switched WDM networks are investigated with the proposed multicast schemes.
The Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α, Glucose Transporter-1, (GLUT-1) and Carbon Anhydrase IX in Endometrial Cancer Patients
Authors: Sadlecki Pawel , Bodnar Magdalena , Grabiec Marek , Marszalek Andrzej , Walentowicz Pawel , Sokup Alina , Zegarska Jolanta , Walentowicz-Sadlecka Małgorzata
Published: March 2014

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1), and carbon anhydrase IX (CAIX) are important molecules that allow adaptation to hypoxic environments. The aim of our study was to investigate the correlation between HIF-1α, GLUT-1, and CAIX protein level with the clinicopathological features of endometrial cancer patients.Materials and Methods. 92 endometrial cancer patients, aged 37–84, were enrolled to our study. In all patients clinical stage, histologic grade, myometrial invasion, lymph node, and distant metastases were determined. Moreover, the survival time was assessed. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on archive formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections.Results. High significant differences(P=0.0115)were reported between HIF-1αexpression and the histologic subtype of cancer. Higher HIF-1αexpression was associated with the higher risk of recurrence(P=0.0434). The results of GLUT-1 and CAIX expression did not reveal any significant differences between the proteins expression in the primary tumor and the clinicopathological features.Conclusion. The important role of HIF-1αin the group of patients with the high risk of recurrence and the negative histologic subtype of the tumor suggest that the expression of this factor might be useful in the panel of accessory pathomorphological tests and could be helpful in establishing more accurate prognosis in endometrial cancer patients.
Lysophosphatidic Acid (LPA) Signaling in Human and Ruminant Reproductive Tract
Authors: Wocławek-Potocka Izabela , Rawińska Paulina , Kowalczyk-Zieba Ilona , Boruszewska Dorota , Sinderewicz Emilia , Waśniewski Tomasz , Skarzynski Dariusz Jan
Published: March 2014

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) through activating its G protein-coupled receptors (LPAR 1–6) exerts diverse cellular effects that in turn influence several physiological processes including reproductive function of the female. Studies in various species of animals and also in humans have identified important roles for the receptor-mediated LPA signaling in multiple aspects of human and animal reproductive tract function. These aspects range from ovarian and uterine function, estrous cycle regulation, early embryo development, embryo implantation, decidualization to pregnancy maintenance and parturition. LPA signaling can also have pathological consequences, influencing aspects of endometriosis and reproductive tissue associated tumors. The review describes recent progress in LPA signaling research relevant to human and ruminant reproduction, pointing at the cow as a relevant model to study LPA influence on the human reproductive performance.
Design of a Traffic-Aware Governor for Green Routers
Authors: Lombardo Alfio , Riccobene Vincenzo , Schembra Giovanni
Published: March 2014

Today the reduction of energy consumption in telecommunications networks is one of the main goals to be pursued by manufacturers and researchers. In this context, the paper focuses on routers that achieve energy saving by applying the frequency scaling approach. The target is to propose an analytical model to support designers in choosing the main configuration parameters of the Router Governor in order to meet Quality of Service (QoS) requirements while maximizing energy saving gain. More specifically, the model is used to evaluate the input traffic impacts on the choice of the active router clock frequencies and on the overall green router performance. A case study based on the open NetFPGA reference router is considered to show how the proposed model can be easily applied to a real case scenario.
Ontology-Based, Process-Oriented, and Society-Independent Agent System for Cloud Computing
Authors: Fathalipour Mahmood , Selamat Ali , Jung Jason J.
Published: March 2014

IT systems are used to help organizations to manage and automate their processes. However, most of today's systems are not reusable because of mixing the society's knowledge with the process's knowledge. Since the societies’ knowledge is different to each other, the applications are not reusable. Hence, this paper address the dependency of the applications on the societies by separately defining process's ontology, the agent's knowledge, the society's ontology, and the society's knowledge. This research introduces an ontology-based, process-oriented, and society-independent agent system which allows all the organizations to utilize it by defining and importing their societies’ ontology and some process patterns, which can be instantiated from the process's ontology, into the system. The proposed system can be applied to cloud computing platform. The proposed system has been evaluated from two perspectives, the quality by using the cohesion and the coupling measures for measuring the degree to which the system focuses on solving a particular problem and the applicability by evaluating the manageability and the automatability of the seven processes from three different societies. We believe that our proposed system will improve when we apply some methods to find the best process patterns and perform parallel processes.
Stability and Bifurcation of Two Kinds of Three‐Dimensional Fractional Lotka‐Volterra Systems
Authors: Tian Jinglei , Yu Yongguang , Wang Hu
Published: March 2014

Two kinds of three‐dimensional fractional Lotka‐Volterra systems are discussed. For one system, the asymptotic stability of the equilibria is analyzed by providing some sufficient conditions. And bifurcation property is investigated by choosing the fractional order as the bifurcation parameter for the other system. In particular, the critical value of the fractional order is identified at which the Hopf bifurcation may occur. Furthermore, the numerical results are presented to verify the theoretical analysis.
Mapping Rare Erythrocyte Phenotypes in Morocco: A Tool to Overcome Transfusion Challenges
Authors: Benahadi A. , Boulahdid S. , Adouani B. , Laouina A. , Mokhtari A. , Soulaymani A. , Hajjout K. , Benajiba M. , Alami R.
Published: March 2014

The aim of this research is to search for the distribution of blood groups in all the regions of Morocco. This study, done for the first time, aimed to provide the frequency of the Rhesus system and Kell (K) in more than 55000 blood donors from nine different regions around the country. In addition, the frequency of the Cellano, Duffy, Kidd, and MNS blood antigens was searched for 500 blood donors from the Rabat’s region. Frequency of blood donors with rare blood groups was characterized for the first time in the country and compared to results found from other populations.
Potent Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Carbohydrate Polymer with Oxide of Zinc
Authors: Moreno-Eutimio Mario Adan , Nieto-Velázquez Nayeli Goreti , Espinosa-Monroy Lorena , Torres-Ramos Yessica , Montoya-Estrada Araceli , Cueto Jorge , Hicks Juan Jose , Acosta-Altamirano Gustavo
Published: March 2014

Pebisut is a biological adhesive composed of naturally occurring carbohydrates combined with zinc oxide (ZnO) initially used as a coadjutant for healing of anastomoses. Likewise some works demonstrated that carbohydrate complexes exerts anti-inflammatory activity and it is widely known that ZnO modulate inflammation. However, the direct effects of Pebisut on isolated cells and acute inflammatory responses remained to be investigated. The present study evaluated anti-inflammatory effect of Pebisut using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated human mononuclear cells, chemotaxis, and cell infiltrationin vivoin a murine model of peritonitis. Our data show that human cells treated with different dilutions of Pebisut release less IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-8 after LPS stimuli compared with the control treated cells. In addition, Pebisut lacked chemotactic activity in human mononuclear cells but was able to reduce chemotaxis towards CCL2, CCL5, and CXCL12 that are representative mononuclear cells chemoattractants. Finally, in a murine model of peritonitis, we found less number of macrophages (F4/80+) and T lymphocytes (CD3+) in peritoneal lavages from animals treated with Pebisut. Our results suggest that Pebisut has anti-inflammatory activity, which might have a beneficial effect during anastomoses healing or wounds associated with excessive inflammation.
Comparative Analysis of the Informative Value of Radioimmunoassay and Laser Correlation Spectroscopy in Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Alchinova Irina , Arkhipova Elena , Sidnev Dmitry , Sanadze Alexandr , Dedaev Sergey , Karganov Mikhail
Published: March 2014

The objective of this study was to compare informative value of traditional approach (anti-AChR antibody radioimmunoassay) and evaluation of metabolic shifts by laser correlation spectroscopy in myasthenia gravis. The method based on changes in spectral characteristics of laser radiation caused by scattering in a disperse system yields a histogram reflecting particle contribution into light scatter as a function of particle radius in nanometers. The spectrum of anti-AChR-positive serum is characterized by appreciably increased contribution of particles with a radius 4.6–6.2 nm. Binding of serum components with solubilized AChR confirms that this peak is determined by elevated concentration of antibodies to this receptor. The search for the relationship between the disease severity and the distribution pattern of subfraction serum components revealed three informative zones: 6–15, 27–67, and 127–223 nm. In patients without disturbances of vital functions, the contribution of the first zone particles into light scatter increases and that of the third zone particles decreases. Considerable differences attaining the level of statistical significance in zones 4–6 and 20 nm were revealed in the spectra of serum from patients with myasthenia gravis of the same severity with and without thymoma. This opens prospects for dynamic monitoring of the efficiency of therapy.
Three Ports Laparoscopic Resection for Colorectal Cancer: A Step on Refining of Reduced Port Surgery
Authors: Tawfik Amin Anwar , Elsaba Tarek M. , Amira Gamal
Published: March 2014

Background. Reduced port surgery (RPS) is becoming increasingly popular for some surgeries. However, the application of RPS to the field of colectomy is still underdeveloped. Patients and Methods. In this series, we evaluated the outcome of laparoscopic colorectal resection using 3 ports technique (10 mm umbilical port plus another two ports of either 5 or 10 mm) for twenty-four cases of colorectal cancer as a step for refining of RPS. Results. The mean estimated blood loss was 70 mL (40–90 mL). No major intraoperative complications have been encountered. The mean time for passing flatus after surgery was 36 hours (12–48 hrs). The mean time for oral fluid intake was 36 hours and for semisolid food was 48 hours. The mean hospital stay was 5 days (4–7 days). The perioperative period passed without events. All cases had free surgical margins. The mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 14 lymph nodes (5–23). Conclusion. Three ports laparoscopy assisted colorectal surgeries looks to be safe, effective and has cosmetic advantages. The procedure could maintain the oncologic principles of cancer surgery. It’s a step on the way of refining of reduced port surgery.
Extractive Spectrophotometric Determination of Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Using Acidic Triphenylmethane Dyes
Authors: Susmitha K. , Thirumalachary M. , Singh T. Charan , Venkateshwarlu G.
Published: March 2014

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor that has activity against the hepatitis B and HIV viruses. Three simple and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric methods have been described for the assay of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate either in pure form or in pharmaceutical formulations. The developed methods involve formation of colored chloroform extractable ion-pair complexes of the drugs with triphenylmethane dyes, namely, bromothymol blue (BTB), bromophenol blue (BPB), and bromocresol purple (BCP) in acidic medium. The extracted complexes showed absorbance maxima between 410 and 415 nm. Beer’s law is obeyed in the concentration ranges 1.5–25, 1.0–25, and 1.25–25 μg mL−1 with BTB, BPB, and BCP, respectively. The effectc of concentration of dye, pH, and interference of excipients have been studied and optimized. The limits of detection and quantification have been determined. All three methods are validated as per the guidelines of ICH. The methods have been applied to the determination of drug in commercial tablets and results of analysis were validated statistically through recovery studies.
Switched Quantization Level Control of Networked Control Systems with Packet Dropouts
Authors: Wang Shuo , Yu Mei , Wang Hangfei , Tan Wen
Published: March 2014

This paper investigates the relationship between the maximum allowable dropout bound and the quantization density. Networked Control System (NCS) is described as a time‐delay switched system with constrained switching signals. A switched dynamic output feedback controller with prescribed disturbance attenuation level is designed via a cone complement linearization approach. A novel stability criterion is obtained by switched system theory. Furthermore, finding an appropriate quantization density used when packet dropout occurs is converted to an optimization problem.
Biosynthesis and Characterization of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles Using Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) Seed Extract
Authors: Gopalakrishnan R. , Raghu K.
Published: March 2014

Biogenic synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles from aqueous solutions using milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seed extract as reducing and stabilizing agent has been reported. Formation and stabilization of nanoparticles were monitored using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands of UV-Vis spectroscopy. Morphology of gold and silver nanoparticles was investigated using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction analysis, and dynamic light scattering. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy was employed to identify the possible biomolecules responsible for the reduction and stabilization of nanoparticles.
Automatic Detection and Quantification of Acute Cerebral Infarct by Fuzzy Clustering and Histographic Characterization on Diffusion Weighted MR Imaging and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Map
Authors: Tsai Jang-Zern , Peng Syu-Jyun , Chen Yu-Wei , Wang Kuo-Wei , Wu Hsiao-Kuang , Lin Yun-Yu , Lee Ying-Ying , Chen Chi-Jen , Lin Huey-Juan , Smith Eric Edward , Yeh Poh-Shiow , Hsin Yue-Loong
Published: March 2014

Determination of the volumes of acute cerebral infarct in the magnetic resonance imaging harbors prognostic values. However, semiautomatic method of segmentation is time-consuming and with high interrater variability. Using diffusion weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient map from patients with acute infarction in 10 days, we aimed to develop a fully automatic algorithm to measure infarct volume. It includes an unsupervised classification with fuzzy C-means clustering determination of the histographic distribution, defining self-adjusted intensity thresholds. The proposed method attained high agreement with the semiautomatic method, with similarity index 89.9 ± 6.5%, in detecting cerebral infarct lesions from 22 acute stroke patients. We demonstrated the accuracy of the proposed computer-assisted prompt segmentation method, which appeared promising to replace the laborious, time-consuming, and operator-dependent semiautomatic segmentation.
Impact of Neighborhood and Individual Socioeconomic Status on Survival after Breast Cancer Varies by Race/Ethnicity: The Neighborhood and Breast Cancer Study
Authors: Shariff-Marco Salma , Yang Juan , John Esther M. , Sangaramoorthy Meera , Hertz Andrew , Koo Jocelyn , Nelson David O. , Schupp Clayton W. , Shema Sarah J. , Cockburn Myles , Satariano William A. , Yen Irene H. , Ponce Ninez A. , Winkleby Marilyn , Keegan Theresa H.M. , Gomez Scarlett L.
Published: March 2014

Background: Research is limited on the independent and joint effects of individual- and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) on breast cancer survival across different racial/ethnic groups.

Methods: We studied individual-level SES, measured by self-reported education, and a composite neighborhood SES (nSES) measure in females (1,068 non-Hispanic whites, 1,670 Hispanics, 993 African-Americans, and 674 Asian-Americans), ages 18 to 79 years and diagnosed 1995 to 2008, in the San Francisco Bay Area. We evaluated all-cause and breast cancer–specific survival using stage-stratified Cox proportional hazards models with cluster adjustment for census block groups.

Results: In models adjusting for education and nSES, lower nSES was associated with worse all-cause survival among African-Americans (Ptrend = 0.03), Hispanics (Ptrend = 0.01), and Asian-Americans (Ptrend = 0.01). Education was not associated with all-cause survival. For breast cancer–specific survival, lower nSES was associated with poorer survival only among Asian-Americans (Ptrend = 0.01). When nSES and education were jointly considered, women with low education and low nSES had 1.4 to 2.7 times worse all-cause survival than women with high education and high nSES across all races/ethnicities. Among African-Americans and Asian-Americans, women with high education and low nSES had 1.6 to 1.9 times worse survival, respectively. For breast cancer–specific survival, joint associations were found only among Asian-Americans with worse survival for those with low nSES regardless of education.

Conclusions: Both neighborhood and individual SES are associated with survival after breast cancer diagnosis, but these relationships vary by race/ethnicity.

Impact: A better understanding of the relative contributions and interactions of SES with other factors will inform targeted interventions toward reducing long-standing disparities in breast cancer survival. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(5); 793–811. ©2014 AACR.
Primary Tumor Size in Renal Cell Cancer in Relation to the Occurrence of Synchronous Metastatic Disease
Authors: Zastrow Stefan , Phuong Anh , von Bar Immanuel , Novotny Vladimir , Hakenberg Oliver W. , Wirth Manfred P.
Published: March 2014

Objectives: To investigate the controversially discussed relationship between tumor size and the occurrence of primary synchronous metastatic disease in renal cell cancer (RCC). Patients and Methods: A consecutive RCC cohort of 2,058 patients (150 primary metastatic) who underwent surgery between 1995 and 2010 was investigated. Rates of synchronous metastases were calculated for stratified groups of tumor size. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression models were calculated for the correlation of tumor size with primary metastatic disease. Results: The rate of metastatic disease increased with increasing tumor size. Tumor size was significantly correlated with synchronous metastatic disease (p < 0.001, c-index 0.772), but for RCCs ≤4 cm in size no significant correlation was found. Regarding tumors ≤5 cm in size, the correlation became significant (p = 0.028, c-index 0.621). A multivariate logistic regression model for the prediction of synchronous metastatic disease including tumor size, age and comorbidity yielded a significant c-index of 0.82 and was used to construct a nomogram. Conclusion: Our data confirm the correlation between tumor size and the rate of synchronous metastatic disease. Small renal tumors <4 cm in size have a low risk of synchronous metastatic disease. The risk becomes significantly associated with tumor size for tumors ≤5 cm.
Low Expression of Transforming Growth Factor Beta-1 in Cancer Tissue Predicts a Poor Prognosis for Patients with Stage III Rectal Cancers
Authors: Chun Ho-Kyung , Jung Kyung Uk , Choi Yoon-La , Hong Hye Kyung , Kim Seok-Hyung , Yun Seong Hyeon , Kim Hee Cheol , Lee Woo Yong , Cho Yong Beom
Published: March 2014

Objective: Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) plays an important role in tumorigenesis and metastasis. It works as a tumor suppressor in the normal colon, but acts as a cancer promoter during the late stages of colorectal carcinogenesis. High expression of TGF-β is known to be associated with advanced stages, tumor recurrence and decreased survival of patients. We investigated the expression of TGF-β and its signaling axis molecules and evaluated their prognostic significance in patients with stage III rectal cancers. Methods: Tissues from 201 cases of stage III rectal cancer were subjected to immunohistochemistry for TGF-β1, type II TGF-β receptor, Smad3, Smad4 and Smad7 proteins. The immunoactivities of these molecules were evaluated and the results were compared with clinicopathological variables including patient survival. Results: Low expression of TGF-β1 protein was correlated with a decreased disease-free survival in univariate Kaplan-Meier (p = 0.003) and multivariate Cox regression (HR 9.188 and 95% CI 1.256-67.198, p = 0.029) analyses. The loss of Smad4 protein expression was associated with a reduction in disease-free survival in the univariate analysis, but this finding was not significant after the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Low expression of TGF-β1 protein is associated with a poor prognosis for patients with stage III rectal cancers.
Inhibition of Interleukin-1 by Canakinumab as a Successful Mono-Drug Strategy for the Treatment of Refractory Behçet's Disease: A Case Series
Authors: Vitale Antonio , Rigante Donato , Caso Francesco , Brizi Maria Giuseppina , Galeazzi Mauro , Costa Luisa , Franceschini Rossella , Lucherini Orso Maria , Cantarini Luca
Published: March 2014

Recommendations related to ocular, mucosal and cutaneous involvement of Behçet's disease (BD) are mainly evidence-based, but in cases of vascular, neurological and gastrointestinal involvement there are no guidelines to define the best treatment strategy. We report three adult patients with BD, who received an interleukin-1β inhibitor by subcutaneous injections, canakinumab (at the dosage of 150 mg every 6 weeks), after failure shown by corticosteroids and different combinations of immunosuppressant agents. The prompt and sustained clinical efficacy demonstrated by canakinumab as a monotherapy supports the opportunity of using this specific anti-interleukin-1β agent as a valid therapeutic option for resistant or refractory BD. Open trials and observational studies should be performed to test canakinumab efficacy on a larger number of patients. The most appropriate dosage and intervals between administrations should be decided according to the individual patient, severity or recurrence of clinical manifestations and major organ involvement.
A Rare Familial Case of Endometriosis with Very Severe Gynecological and Obstetric Complications: Novel Genetic Variants at a Glance
Authors: Buggio Laura , Pagliardini Luca , Gentilini Davide , De Braud Lucrezia , Viganò Paola , Vercellini Paolo
Published: March 2014

Endometriosis is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors make up about half of the variation in endometriosis. Nevertheless, the genetics of endometriosis remains complex and in part unsolved, but recently, based on the results of few genome-wide association studies, some genetic susceptibility loci have been identified as associated robustly with the disease, providing new insights into potential pathways leading to endometriosis. Here, we present the case of a familial cluster composed by 3 sisters and their mother, all affected by endometriosis. Very severe gynecological and obstetric complications caused by the invasiveness of the disease have been observed in all members of the single family. The entire family has been genotyped for 3 single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified as associated with endometriosis. All the family members were homozygotes for the risk allele G for the rs1333049 variant in the CDKN2BAS locus. The genotype-phenotype association is just at the beginning of endometriosis research promising to face novel concepts for disease diagnosis and treatment.
Immunoglobulin M, C-Reactive Protein and Complement Activation in Rat Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Diepenhorst Gwendolyn M.P. , de Graaf Wilmar , Niessen Hans W. , van Vliet Arlène K. , Hack C. Erik , van Gulik Thomas M.
Published: March 2014

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) models have shown that C-reactive protein (CRP) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) are involved in complement activation. Binding of CRP and IgM to damaged cell membranes initiates complement activation and aggravates I/R injury in various organs. However, the time course of CRP- and IgM-mediated complement activation and the relation to hepatocellular injury and inflammation in liver I/R are unknown. Aim: To evaluate the time course of IgM- and CRP-related complement activation and the relation to hepatocellular injury and inflammation in a hepatic I/R rat model. Methods: Male Wistar rats were allocated to (1) five groups of animals exposed to 60 min of partial ischemia (70%) induced via clamping of the left segmental portal triad, followed by 0, 3, 6, 12 or 24 h of reperfusion (n = 6 in each group); (2) five groups of sham-operated animals with corresponding reperfusion times (n = 5), and (3) a control group sacrificed before ischemia (n = 5). Hepatocellular injury, inflammatory response, rat plasma CRP and IgM levels and immunohistochemical depositions of CRP, IgM and C3 were assessed for each group. Results: Histopathological injury scores of hematoxylin and eosin sections of ischemic liver lobes demonstrated increasing values throughout the reperfusion time with a peak at 12 h. Plasma aminotransferases (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) significantly increased after 3 h of reperfusion, peaking at 6 h (3,100 ± 800 U/l; p < 0.05). Hepatic neutrophil influx significantly increased from 3 to 6 h of reperfusion (p < 0.05) and demonstrated the highest value at 12 h (1.1 ± 0.2 U/mg of protein). Plasma IL-6 levels in the ischemia groups showed peak values after 6 h of reperfusion, decreasing significantly thereafter (p < 0.05). Plasma CRP values reached highest levels after 3 h of reperfusion (mean 91 ± 5% of control pool), decreasing significantly thereafter. Rat IgM concentrations in plasma did not significantly change throughout the reperfusion time. Immunohistochemical depositions of IgM, CRP and C3 in ischemic lobes demonstrated a similar pattern in time, reaching maximum values at 12 h of reperfusion. The percentages of depositions of CRP and IgM were significantly correlated [r(S) = 0.569; p < 0.001; Spearman test]. The time course of C3 and CRP depositions throughout reperfusion and C3 and IgM staining were significantly similar [r(S) = 0.797 and r(S) = 0.656, respectively; p < 0.0001; ANOVA]. Conclusions: CRP and IgM depositions demonstrate a parallel time course throughout the reperfusion to hepatocellular damage, inflammatory response and activated complement deposition in this rat hepatic I/R model. Furthermore, the time course of CRP and IgM depositions was significantly similar to that of activated complement depositions.
Evaluation of Factors Associated with Pain Experienced during Mammary Ductoscopy
Authors: Wang Ke-Ren , Ye Yu-Qin , Zhang Ying-Li , Zhao Li-Hua , Gu Yi-Qi , Ma Cui-Li , Hou Chang-Min , Huang Ke-Ke , Xu Zhe-Li
Published: March 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate patient characteristics and findings after mammary ductoscopy in an effort to reduce the pain experienced during the procedure. Patients and Methods: We evaluated outpatients in whom mammary ductoscopy was performed under local or intraductal anesthesia without preference, and their clinical characteristics and findings were recorded. Average and maximum pain scores were determined after the examination for statistical analysis. Results: The overall average pain score was 3.74 ± 1.353, and the maximum pain score was 6.40 ± 1.681. The type of anesthesia, total operation time, nipple retraction, and discharge status significantly correlated with the pain score. Intraductal anesthesia lowered the average pain score by 0.60, whereas a total procedure time greater than 12 min increased the average pain score by 0.956. The pain score decreased if patients had nipple retraction, and intraductal anesthesia proved suitable for patients with normal nipples. Conclusion: Intraductal anesthesia is suitable for most patients, and ductoscopy should not exceed 12 min to minimize the pain. Nipple retraction does not significantly increase pain, but local anesthesia should be used in patients with retracted nipples. Patient age, breastfeeding history, menstrual stage, and presence of intraductal tumors were not associated with the level of pain experienced.
Do the Benefits of Participation in a Hypertension Self-Management Trial Persist After Patients Resume Usual Care?
Authors: Maciejewski Matthew L. , Bosworth Hayden B. , Olsen Maren K. , Smith Valerie A. , Edelman David , Powers Benjamin J. , Kaufman Miriam A. , Oddone Eugene Z. , Jackson George L.
Published: March 2014

Background—

Hypertension self-management has been shown to improve systolic blood pressure (BP) control, but longer-term economic and clinical impacts are unknown. The purpose of this article is to examine clinical and economic outcomes 18 months after completion of a hypertension self-management trial.

Methods and Results—

This study is a follow-up analysis of an 18-month, 4-arm, hypertension self-management trial of 591 veterans with hypertension who were randomized to usual care or 1 of 3 interventions. Clinic-derived systolic blood pressure obtained before, during, and after the trial were estimated using linear mixed models. Inpatient admissions, outpatient expenditures, and total expenditures were estimated using generalized estimating equations. The 3 telephone-based interventions were nurse-administered health behavior promotion, provider-administered medication adjustments based on hypertension treatment guidelines, or a combination of both. Intervention calls were triggered by home BP values transmitted via telemonitoring devices. Clinical and economic outcomes were examined 12 months before, 18 months during, and 18 months after trial completion. Compared with usual care, patients randomized to the combined arm had greater improvement in proportion of BP control during and after the 18-month trial and estimated proportion of BP control improved 18 months after trial completion for patients in the behavioral and medication management arms. Among the patients with inadequate baseline BP control, estimated mean systolic BP was significantly lower in the combined arm as compared with usual care during and after the 18-month trial. Utilization and expenditure trends were similar for patients in all 4 arms.

Conclusions—

Behavioral and medication management can generate systolic BP improvements that are sustained 18 months after trial completion.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00237692.
Effect of Provider Volume on the Accuracy of Hospital Report Cards
Authors: Austin Peter C. , Reeves Mathew J.
Published: March 2014

Background—

Hospital report cards, in which outcomes after the provision of medical or surgical care are compared across healthcare providers, are being published with increasing frequency. However, the accuracy of such comparisons is controversial, especially when case volumes are small. The objective was to determine the relationship between hospital case volume and the accuracy of hospital report cards.

Methods and Results—

Monte Carlo simulations were used to examine the influence of hospital case volume on the accuracy of hospital report cards in a setting in which true hospital performance was known with certainty, and perfect risk-adjustment was feasible. The parameters used to generate the simulated data sets were obtained from empirical analyses of data on patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction in Ontario, Canada, in which the overall 30-day mortality rate was 11.1%. We found that provider volume had a strong effect on the accuracy of hospital report cards. However, provider volume had to be >300 before ≥70% of hospitals were correctly classified. Furthermore, hospital volume had to be >1000 before ≥80% of hospitals were correctly classified.

Conclusions—

Producers and users of hospital report cards need to be aware that, even when perfect risk adjustment is possible, the accuracy of hospital report cards is, at best, modest for small to medium-sized case loads (ie, 100–300). Hospital report cards displayed high degrees of accuracy only when provider volumes exceeded the typical annual hospital case load for many cardiovascular conditions and procedures.
Impact of Combat Deployment and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder on Newly Reported Coronary Heart Disease Among US Active Duty and Reserve Forces
Authors: Crum-Cianflone Nancy F. , Bagnell Melissa E. , Schaller Emma , Boyko Edward J. , Smith Besa , Maynard Charles , Ulmer Christi S. , Vernalis Marina , Smith Tyler C.
Published: March 2014

Background—

The recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have exposed thousands of service members to intense stress, and as a result, many have developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The role of military deployment experiences and PTSD in coronary heart disease (CHD) is not well defined, especially in young US service members with recent combat exposure.

Methods and Results—

We conducted a prospective cohort study to investigate the relationships between wartime experiences, PTSD, and CHD. Current and former US military personnel from all service branches participating in the Millennium Cohort Study during 2001 to 2008 (n=60 025) were evaluated for newly self-reported CHD. Electronic medical record review for
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification
codes for CHD was conducted among a subpopulation of active duty members (n=23 794). Logistic regression models examined the associations between combat experiences and PTSD with CHD with adjustment for established CHD risk factors. A total of 627 participants (1.0%) newly reported CHD over an average of 5.6 years of follow-up. Deployers with combat experiences had an increased odds of newly reporting CHD (odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.11–2.40) and having a diagnosis code for new-onset CHD (odds ratio, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.31–2.84) compared with noncombat deployers. Screening positive for PTSD symptoms was associated with self-reported CHD before but not after adjustment for depression and anxiety and was not associated with a new diagnosis code for CHD.

Conclusions—

Combat deployments are associated with new-onset CHD among young US service members and veterans. Experiences of intense stress may increase the risk for CHD over a relatively short period among young adults.
Microstructural Impact of Ischemia and Bone Marrow–Derived Cell Therapy Revealed With Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tractography of the Heart In Vivo
Authors: Sosnovik David E. , Mekkaoui Choukri , Huang Shuning , Chen Howard H. , Dai Guangping , Stoeck Christian T. , Ngoy Soeun , Guan Jian , Wang Ruopeng , Kostis William J. , Jackowski Marcel P. , Wedeen Van J. , Kozerke Sebastian , Liao Ronglih
Published: March 2014

Background—

The arrangement of myofibers in the heart is highly complex and must be replicated by injected cells to produce functional myocardium. A novel approach to characterize the microstructural response of the myocardium to ischemia and cell therapy, with the use of serial diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging tractography of the heart in vivo, is presented.

Methods and Results—

Validation of the approach was performed in normal (n=6) and infarcted mice (n=6) as well as healthy human volunteers. Mice (n=12) were then injected with bone marrow mononuclear cells 3 weeks after coronary ligation. In half of the mice the donor and recipient strains were identical, and in half the strains were different. A positive response to cell injection was defined by a decrease in mean diffusivity, an increase in fractional anisotropy, and the appearance of new myofiber tracts with the correct orientation. A positive response to bone marrow mononuclear cell injection was seen in 1 mouse. The response of the majority of mice to bone marrow mononuclear cell injection was neutral (9/12) or negative (2/12). The in vivo tractography findings were confirmed with histology.

Conclusions—

Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging tractography was able to directly resolve the ability of injected cells to generate new myofiber tracts and provided a fundamental readout of their regenerative capacity. A highly novel and translatable approach to assess the efficacy of cell therapy in the heart is thus presented.
Abidah El Khalieqy’s novels: Challenging patriarchal Islam
Authors: Hellwig Tineke
Published: March 2014

Since the 1990s Islam in Indonesia has shifted in orientation and gradually shed its depoliticized position. After the fall of the New Order in 1998 many female authors came to the fore and voiced their opinions about societal expectations, gender roles and norms that regulate female sexuality. Muslim women have addressed in their fiction issues regarding Islam, modernity and how to balance Islamic teachings with globalized forces that have changed Indonesian ways of living. This article analyzes three novels by Muslim author Abidah El Khalieqy in which the protagonists search for ways to shape new female identities and forms of selfhood that are in accordance with Islam and also suit the modernized world. The novels speak openly and in great detail about sexual relations. They critique polygyny and patriarchal attitudes that treat women as sexual objects and inferior beings, and disrupt taboos such as domestic violence and (marital) rape while endorsing women’s activism to advocate gender equity and social justice. They also demonstrate how women find pleasure in sexual intimacy. Abidah's fiction does not shy away from topics such as homosexuality and pre-marital sex but eventually hetero-normativity prevails. In significant ways Abidah's fiction contributes to debates on women's rights and gender expectations within Indonesia's Muslim community.
New town development in Indonesia: Renegotiating, shaping and replacing institutions
Authors: Dieleman Marleen
Published: March 2014

This article explores how private sector players in new town development in Indonesia have worked around, shaped and replaced urban governance and planning institutions, effectively re-negotiating the boundaries between public and private sector. While most literature views urban development from the perspective of the state, this article complements this with a study of a prominent private sector player, the Ciputra Group. The results of the study suggest that private sector players have appropriated a much larger role in areas such as urban planning, constructing public infrastructure and urban governance than previously acknowledged. This could happen because public institutions were weak and unable to provide basic infrastructure and services to an increasing middle class. While most literature points at the lack of alignment of private developers with national priorities, this article suggests that a more nuanced view of the respective roles of public and private players in urban development in Indonesia is necessary.
The genus Cerithidea Swainson, 1840 (Gastropoda: Potamididae) in the Indo-West Pacific region
Authors: REID DAVID G.
Published: March 2014

Members of the genus Cerithidea are common components of the fauna of mangrove forests, tidal swamps and salt marshes in the Indo-West Pacific province, in marine and brackish conditions. The snails typically rest on the trunks of trees and other vegetation and migrate to the substrate to feed at low tide. In many areas mangrove habitats are under threat and some Cerithidea species are therefore considered to be endangered. In current taxonomic literature, ten species are recognized on the basis of shell morphology. A recently published molecular phylogenetic analysis has increased this to fifteen. The present study is a systematic account of these fifteen recognized species. Of these, two are newly described: C. houbricki and C. andamanensis. The species accounts include full synonymies, detailed descriptions of shells based on 621 museum samples, descriptions of living animals, distribution records and maps, reviews of habitat and ecology, and notes on conservation status.
Tenuipalpidae (Acari: Trombidiformes) from Casuarinaceae (Fagales)
Authors: BEARD JENNIFER J. , SEEMAN OWEN D. , BAUCHAN GARY R.
Published: March 2014

The Tenuipalpidae associated with the Casuarinaceae are reviewed, including one new genus, Palpipalpus gen. nov., twelve new species, and seven redescriptions. Two new generic records for Australia are established, Pentamerismus and Philippipalpus. The new species are: Chaudhripalpus costacola Beard and Seeman sp. nov., Crossipalpus gersoni Beard and Seeman sp. nov., Crossipalpus raveni Beard and Seeman sp. nov., Magdalenapalpus caperatus Beard and Seeman sp. nov., Magdalenapalpus forsteri Seeman and Beard sp. nov., Pentamerismus sititoris Beard and Seeman sp. nov., Pentamerismus hicklingorum Seeman and Beard sp. nov., Pentamerismus wardo Seeman and Beard sp. nov., Palpipalpus hesperius Beard and Seeman sp. nov. gen. nov., Philippipalpus flumaquercus Beard and Seeman sp. nov., Philippipalpus belah Beard and Seeman sp. nov., and Philippipalpus nigraquercus Seeman and Beard sp. nov.  Meyeraepalpus delfinadae Smiley et al., is reinstated based on new material and an analysis of its phylogenetic relationships. Crossipalpus muellerianae Smiley et al., Crossipalpus verticillatae Smiley et al., and Tegopalpus conicus Womersley are redescribed and rediagnosed from the original type specimens and newly collected material; and Chaudhripalpus creelae (Smiley et al.), Magdalenapalpus strandtmanni (Smiley et al.) and Philippipalpus agohoi Corpuz-Raros are redescribed and rediagnosed from type material only. All flat mite species were host-specific. Up to three species of flat mite were collected from a single she-oak species. Leg setation and ontogeny are reviewed for the taxa studied. A key to Tenuipalpidae from Casuarinaceae is provided. A phylogeny of the subfamily Tegopalpinae found the following relationships: Meyeraepalpus (Australopalpus, Crossipalpus, Palpipalpus (Magdalenapalpus (Philippipalpus (Chaudhripalpus + Tegopalpus)))). Our preliminary analysis of the Tegopalpinae suggested the group is monophyletic and its sister group is Phytoptipalpus.
High-Resolution Polarimetric Radar Observations of Snow-Generating Cells
Authors: Kumjian Matthew R. , Rutledge Steven A. , Rasmussen Roy M. , Kennedy Patrick C. , Dixon Mike
Published: March 2014

High-resolution X-band polarimetric radar data were collected in 19 snowstorms over northern Colorado in early 2013 as part of the Front Range Orographic Storms (FROST) project. In each case, small, vertically erect convective turrets were observed near the echo top. These “generating cells” are similar to those reported in the literature and are characterized by ~1-km horizontal and vertical dimensions, vertical velocities of 1–2 m s−1, and lifetimes of at least 10 min. In some cases, these generating cells are enshrouded by enhanced differential reflectivity ZDR, indicating a “shroud” of pristine crystals enveloping the larger, more isotropic particles. The anticorrelation of radar reflectivity factor at horizontal polarization ZH and ZDR suggests ongoing aggregation or riming of particles in the core of generating cells. For cases in which radiosonde data were collected, potential instability was found within the layer in which generating cells were observed. The persistence of these layers suggests that radiative effects are important, perhaps by some combination of cloud-top cooling and release of latent enthalpy through depositional and riming growth of particles within the cloud. The implications for the ubiquity of generating cells and their role as a mechanism for ice crystal initiation and growth are discussed.