bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term follow up of renal anastomosing hemangioma mimicking renal angiosarcoma
Authors: Heidegger Isabel , Pichler Renate , Schäfer Georg , Zelger Bernhard , Zelger Bettina , Aigner Friedrich , Bektic Jasmin , Horninger Wolfgang 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAnastomosing hemangioma of the kidney is a very rare neoplasm, currently 19 cases have been reported in the literature. First described in 2009, histopathologically anastomosing hemangioma is similar to aggressive angiosarcoma. No long‐term follow‐up data of anastomosing hemangioma have been described yet. Here, we present the case of a healthy 56‐year‐old man diagnosed in 2002 with a 7 × 5‐cm anastomosing hemangioma mimicking an aggressive renal angiosarcoma. The patient underwent nephrectomy and has been followed up disease free for 13 years.
Are nurse‐conducted brief interventions (NCBIs) efficacious for hazardous or harmful alcohol use? A systematic review
Authors: Joseph J. , Basu D. , Dandapani M. , Krishnan N. 
Published: March 2014

AimThe aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of nurse‐conducted brief interventions in reducing alcohol consumption, by looking at with treatment as usual compared with other treatments and general physician‐delivered brief interventions within the literature.BackgroundGlobally, the consumption of alcohol is at a worrying level and has significant effects on health when consumed to excess. Numerous studies have reported that brief intervention is effective in reducing excessive drinking. However, evidence on the efficacy of such interventions by nurses is still inconclusive.MethodsWe included randomized controlled trials of brief interventions in which nurses were primarily involved as therapists, and were designed to achieve a reduction in alcohol consumption and related problems. We used online searches to locate randomized controlled trials in this area published from 1995 till 2012.FindingsEleven trials were found meeting inclusion criteria, comparing nurse‐conducted brief interventions with a control group or with other treatments. Five trials reported a statistically significant reduction in alcohol consumption in the intervention group with 6–12‐month follow‐up period and two trials concluded that brief interventions delivered by nurses was as efficacious as by physicians.Implications for Nursing PolicyThe findings of the review have important policy implications for the preparation of nurses as therapists for brief interventions to reduce excessive drinking in a broad range of settings such as primary healthcare and hospital settings. The adoption of this intervention into contemporary nursing practice should be considered by the International Council of Nurses and nurses around the world as, according to the literature, it provides an evidence base for the independent functioning of nurses within the realms of nursing profession and addiction medicine.ConclusionThe results of the review suggest that nurse‐conducted brief interventions are an effective strategy for reducing alcohol consumption. We advocate more rigorous randomized controlled trials to underpin its efficacy in both research and real life scenario.
Gr‐1+CD11b+ myeloid cells efficiently home to site of injury after intravenous administration and enhance diabetic wound healing by neoangiogenesis
Authors: Tong Xiaozhe , Lv Gang , Huang Jianhua , Min Yongfen , Yang Li , Lin Pengnian Charles 
Published: March 2014

AbstractVascularization is an important factor that affects diabetic wound healing. There is increasing evidence that myeloid cell lineages play a role in neovascularization. In this study, the efficiency of Gr‐1+CD11b+ myeloid cells to home to the site of injury and enhance diabetic wound healing by neoangiogenesis after intravenous administration was investigated. Gr‐1+CD11b+ myeloid cells were injected into tail vein after establishment of dorsal window chamber, hindlimb ischaemia and ear‐punch injury in diabetic or non‐diabetic mice. The Gr‐1+CD11b+ myeloid cells efficiently homed to the site of injury after intravenous administration and increased neoangiogenesis. The chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is robustly expressed by Gr‐1+CD11b+ myeloid cells. Inhibition of CXCR4 decreases the homing ability of Gr‐1+CD11b+ myeloid cells to the site of injury, which indicates that the CXCR4/SDF‐1 axis plays an important role in the homing of Gr‐1+CD11b+ myeloid cells to the site of injury. In addition, Gr‐1+CD11b+ myeloid cells were found to improve blood flow recovery of ischaemic limb and enhance wound healing in diabetic mice by neoangiogenesis after intravenous administration. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that Gr‐1+CD11b+ myeloid cells may serve as a potential cell therapy for diabetic wound healing.
Eosinophil cationic protein levels parallel coagulation activation in the blister fluid of patients with bullous pemphigoid
Authors: Tedeschi A. , Marzano A.V. , Lorini M. , Balice Y. , Cugno M. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundBullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disease due to autoantibodies against two hemidesmosomal antigens, namely BP180 and BP230, and characterized by coagulation activation both at cutaneous and systemic levels. Skin‐infiltrating eosinophils contribute to bulla formation and, upon activation, are supposed to initiate the coagulation cascade.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate whether the activation of eosinophils and coagulation are linked in BP.MethodsWe evaluated the correlation between eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels and concentrations of the prothrombotic markers F1 + 2 and D‐dimer in blister fluid and blood samples of 30 BP patients. Thirty healthy subjects were used as normal controls.ResultsECP, F1 + 2 and D‐dimer plasma levels were significantly higher in BP patients than in normal subjects. A significant correlation was found between ECP plasma levels and blood eosinophil count (r = 0.54, P = 0.002). F1 + 2 plasma levels positively correlated with disease severity, expressed as the percentage of body surface area involved (r = 0.36, P = 0.048). A striking increase in ECP (288.8 ± 45.2 ng/mL), F1 + 2 (31 409.9 ± 2929.4 pmol/L) and D‐dimer levels (342 798.3 ± 44 206 ng/mL) was found in blister fluid from BP patients. In blister fluid, ECP levels were significantly higher than in peripheral blood (P < 0.0001) and were positively correlated with the levels of both F1 + 2 (r = 0.4, P = 0.02) and D‐dimer (r = 0.5, P = 0.0045).ConclusionsECP levels are strikingly elevated in blister fluids from BP patients and correlate with markers of coagulation activation, supporting the view that eosinophils initiate the coagulation cascade at skin level.
Production of High‐Aroma Instant Tea Powder Using Various Novel Technologies
Authors: Ye Danrong , Zhang Ling , Sun Shenlu , Chen Jinquan , Fang Ting 
Published: March 2014

AbstractVarious nonthermal processing technologies were applied, including pulsed electric field (PEF) technology, freeze concentration and vacuum freeze‐drying. The black tea was extracted with hot water extraction, cold extraction and PEF extraction. Results indicated that PEF‐assisted extraction had the best extraction efficiency for the main chemical components from tea at lower temperatures. Optimal PEF extraction conditions were achieved (tea leaves/water ratio of 1:16, electric field strengths of 20 kV/cm and pulse frequency of 125 Hz). The effects of PEF‐assisted extraction on the chemical component contents and sensory qualities of the tea infusion were investigated. Results showed that extraction yield (22.7%) of black tea powder could be enhanced over PEF‐assisted extraction, whereas its original flavor could be retained by freeze concentration and vacuum freeze‐drying. It also turned out that a total of 61 major aromatic compounds were identified in the tea powder. Floral and sweet flavor components were high and pure.Practical ApplicationsInstant black tea is presently manufactured through hot water extraction or cold‐water extraction from the tea infusion and by spray/freeze‐drying of the concentrated brew of extracted tea leaves; the drawback of this method is inferior quality. The product obtained from the new method had an excellent quality and good aromatic characteristics to the other ordinary instant black tea powder manufacturing methods. The process developed in this study could be suitable for black tea manufacturers to produce high‐aroma instant black tea powder.
Backscattered electron SEM imaging of cells and determination of the information depth
Authors: SEITER J. , MÜLLER E. , BLANK H. , GEHRKE H. , MARKO D. , GERTHSEN D. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryBackscattered electron imaging of HT29 colon carcinoma cells in a scanning electron microscope was studied. Thin cell sections were placed on indium‐tin‐oxide‐coated glass slides, which is a promising substrate material for correlative light and electron microscopy. The ultrastructure of HT29 colon carcinoma cells was imaged without poststaining by exploiting the high chemical sensitivity of backscattered electrons. Optimum primary electron energies for backscattered electron imaging were determined which depend on the section thickness. Charging effects in the vicinity of the SiO2 nanoparticles contained in cell sections could be clarified by placing cell sections on different substrates. Moreover, a method is presented for information depth determination of backscattered electrons which is based on the imaging of subsurface nanoparticles embedded by the cells.
The effect of aromatherapy on haemodialysis patients' pruritus
Authors: Cürcani Mehtap , Tan Mehtap 
Published: March 2014

Aims and objectivesTo determine the effect of aromatherapy on pruritus observed in haemodialysis patients.BackgroundAlthough the prevalence of pruritus in kidney failure has decreased in the recent years, pruritus is a difficult and serious problem which concerns the majority of haemodialysis patents and is hard to cure.DesignA prospective, pretest–post‐test quasi‐experimental design was used.MethodsThe research is quasi‐experimental clinical trial conducted as pretest and post‐test with control groups between January 2011–April 2012, in haemodialysis units of hospitals in Erzurum. The collection of the data is achieved using a questionnaire to detect the patients' individual and pruritus score scale and to clarify certain laboratory parameters regarding the pruritus. Chi‐square analysis and t‐test are used for the analysis of data.ResultsThe experimental group's mean post‐test pruritus scores (7·20 ± 3·14) were found to be lower than that of control group patients (10·00 ± 2·47), and a highly significant difference was found between the groups (p < 0·001). In the between‐groups comparisons of experimental and control group's laboratory parameters, the experimental group's post‐test blood urea nitrogen levels (118·26 ± 36·76) were found to be lower than that of control group patients (138·80 ± 48·69), and the between‐groups difference was found to be statistically significant (p < 0·05).ConclusionsThe results demonstrate that aromatherapy was found to decrease the pruritus problem of haemodialyses patients and led to positive changes in some laboratory parameters related to pruritus.Relevance to clinical practiceOne of the roles of health professionals is to advise individuals, who are living on this problem, using the nonpharmacological methods in checking the itching. By preventing or reducing uraemic pruritus, aromatherapy may also improve quality of life in this patient group.
“VY Mudimbe: from the ‘Nation’ to the ‘Global’ – ‘Who is the Master?' ”
Authors: Fraiture Pierre‐Philippe 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis article examines Valentin Yves Mudimbe's work form the early 1970s, in the neo‐colonial era, to the present day, a period marked by the advent of “Empire”, as conceived by Michael Hardt and Toni Negri. The investigation appraises the way in which Mudimbe's epistemological excavation of African discourses and discourses about Africa serves wider ethical and political objectives resonating with critiques of anthropology as formulated by Benoît Verhaegen and Johannes Fabian in the 1960s and 1970s. Part I focuses on Zairian nationalism (“Zairianization”) and the ambition, on the part of the Mobutu regime, to develop an authentic national culture. This examination of the birth of a Zairian “community” is developed through a comparison between Mudimbe's little‐studied Autour de la “nation” (1972) and Kangafu Kutumbagana's Discours sur l'authenticité (1973) and is argued on the basis of a number of propositions formulated by Jean‐Luc Nancy in The Inoperative Community (1991). The second part of the article focuses on Mudimbe's On African Fault Lines (2013); it examines Mudimbe's attempts, in his analyses of contemporary works by Deepa Rajkumar and Geert Hofstede, to reflect on globalization and to assess the political and ethical relevance of critical tools developed in the neo‐colonial period to denounce the unequal basis of anthropology.
Do the Better Insured Cause More Damage? Testing for Asymmetric Information in Car Insurance
Authors: Zavadil Tibor 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis article tests for the presence of asymmetric information in Dutch car insurance among senior drivers using several nonparametric tests based on conditional‐correlation approach. Since asymmetric information implies that more comprehensive coverage is associated with higher risk, we examine whether the better insured have a higher frequency of claims or cause more severe accidents. Using data on claim occurrences, incurred losses and written premiums, and controlling for the insureds’ experience rating, we do not find any evidence of asymmetric information in this market.
Calcium‐signaling components in rat insulinoma β‐cells (INS‐1) and pancreatic islets are differentially influenced by melatonin
Authors: Bazwinsky‐Wutschke Ivonne , Mühlbauer Eckhard , Albrecht Elke , Peschke Elmar 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe pineal secretory product melatonin exerts its influence on the insulin secretion of pancreatic islets by different signaling pathways. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of melatonin on calcium‐signaling components under different conditions. In a transfected INS‐1 cell line overexpressing the human MT2 receptor (hMT2‐INS‐1), melatonin treatment induced even stronger depressive effects on calcium/calmodulin‐dependent kinase 2d and IV (Camk2d, CamkIV) transcripts during 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine (IBMX) treatment than in normal INS‐1 cells, indicating a crucial influence of melatonin receptor density on transcript‐level regulation. In addition, melatonin induced a significant downregulation of calmodulin (Calm1) in IBMX‐treated hMT2‐INS‐1 cells. Long‐term administration of melatonin alone reduced CamkIV transcript levels in INS‐1 cells; however, transcript levels of Camk2d remained unchanged. The release of insulin was diminished under long‐term melatonin treatment. The impact of melatonin also involved reductions in CAMK2D protein during IBMX or forskolin treatments in INS‐1 cells, as measured by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, indicating a functional significance of transcriptional changes in pancreatic islets. Furthermore, analysis of melatonin receptor knockout mice showed that the transcript levels of Camk2d, CamkIV, and Calm1 were differentially influenced according to the melatonin receptor subtype deleted. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that melatonin has different impacts on the regulation of Calm1 and Camk. These calcium‐signaling components are known as participants in the calcium/calmodulin pathway, which plays an important functional role in the modulation of the β‐cell signaling pathways leading to insulin secretion.
Hepatic toll‐like receptor 4 expression is associated with portal inflammation and fibrosis in patients with NAFLD
Authors: Vespasiani‐Gentilucci Umberto , Carotti Simone , Perrone Giuseppe , Mazzarelli Chiara , Galati Giovanni , Onetti‐Muda Andrea , Picardi Antonio , Morini Sergio 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsNotwithstanding evidences implicating the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)/toll‐like receptor‐4 (TLR4) axis in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, there are no studies aimed to characterize hepatic TLR4 expression in NAFLD patients. We aimed to analyse hepatic TLR4 expression and to verify its relationship with disease activity/evolution in NAFLD patients.MethodsLiver tissue from 74 patients with NAFLD and 12 controls was analysed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for TLR4, α–smooth muscle actin (α–SMA) and cytokeratin‐7. IHC for α–SMA was used to evaluate activation of fibrogenic cells (hepatic stellate cells and portal/septal myofibroblasts), that for cytokeratin‐7 to count hepatic progenitor cells and bile ducts/ductules, and that for CD68, in a subgroup of 27 patients, for detecting macrophages. Serum LPS‐binding protein (LBP), a sensitive marker of LPS activity, was determined in 36 patients and 32 controls.ResultsAs confirmed by double‐labelling experiments, the highest level of TLR4 expression was observed in hepatic progenitor cells, biliary cells and portal/septal macrophages. TLR4‐positive hepatic progenitor cells and bile ducts/ductules correlated with portal/interface inflammation, activity of fibrogenic cells and fibrosis (P < 0.001). Also the score of TLR4 positivity of porto‐septal inflammatory infiltrate correlated with number of hepatic progenitor cells and bile ducts/ductules, activity of fibrogenic cells and fibrosis (P < 0.01). Serum LBP was increased in patients compared to controls (P < 0.001), and correlated with portal/interface inflammation, activity of portal/septal myofibroblasts and fibrosis (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsTLR4 expression by regenerating and inflammatory cells at the porto‐septal and interface level, favoured by increased LPS activity, is associated with activation of fibrogenic cells and the degree of fibrosis.
Both bone marrow‐derived and non‐bone marrow‐derived cells contribute to AIM2 and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in a MyD88‐dependent manner in dietary steatohepatitis
Authors: Csak Timea , Pillai Arun , Ganz Michal , Lippai Dora , Petrasek Jan , Park Jin‐Kyu , Kodys Karen , Dolganiuc Angela , Kurt‐Jones Evelyn A. , Szabo Gyongyi 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsInflammation promotes the progression of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR9 activation through myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) and production of mature interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) via inflammasome activation contribute to steatohepatitis. Here, we investigated the inter‐relationship between TLR signalling and inflammasome activation in dietary steatohepatitis.MethodsWild type (WT), TLR4‐ and MyD88‐deficient (KO) mice received methionine‐choline‐deficient (MCD) or ‐supplemented (MCS) diets for 5 weeks and a subset was challenged with TLR9 ligand CpG‐DNA.ResultsTLR4, TLR9, AIM2 (absent in melanoma 2) and NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome mRNA, and mature IL‐1β protein levels were increased in MCD diet‐induced steatohepatitis compared to MCS controls. TLR9 stimulation resulted in greater up‐regulation of the DNA‐sensing AIM2 expression and IL‐1β production in livers of MCD compared to MCS diet‐fed mice. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a TLR9‐activating danger molecule and phospho‐HMGB1 protein levels were also increased in livers of MCD diet‐fed mice. MyD88‐ but not TLR4‐deficiency prevented up‐regulation of AIM2, NLRP3 mRNA and IL‐1β protein production in dietary steatohepatitis. Selective MyD88 deficiency either in bone marrow (BM)‐derived or non‐BM‐derived cells attenuated hepatic up‐regulation of inflammasome mRNA, caspase‐1 activation and IL‐1β protein production, but only BM‐derived cell‐specific MyD88‐deficiency attenuated liver injury.ConclusionsOur data demonstrate that both bone marrow‐derived and non‐BM‐derived cells contribute to inflammasome activation in a MyD88‐dependent manner in dietary steatohepatitis. We show that AIM2 inflammasome expression and activation are further augmented by TLR9 ligands in dietary steatohepatitis.
Nurses' lived experiences of intensive care unit bed spaces as a place of care: a phenomenological study
Authors: Olausson Sepideh , Ekebergh Margaretha , Österberg Sofia Almerud 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe environment of an intensive care unit (ICU) is, in general, stressful and has an impact on quality of care in terms of patient outcomes and safety. Little is known about nurses' experiences, however, from a phenomenological perspective with regard to the critical care settings as a place for the provision of care for the most critically ill patients and their families.AimThe aim of this study was to explore nurses' lived experiences of ICU bed spaces as a place of care for the critically ill.Design and methodsA combination of qualitative lifeworld interviews and photos – photovoice methodology – was used when collecting data. Fourteen nurses from three different ICUs participated. Data were analysed using a phenomenological reflective lifeworld approach.FindingsAn outer spatial dimension and an inner existential dimension constitute ICU bed spaces. Caring here means being uncompromisingly on call and a commitment to promoting recovery and well‐being. The meanings of ICU bed spaces as a place of care comprise observing and being observed, a broken promise, cherishing life, ethical predicament and creating a caring atmosphere.Conclusions and relevance to clinical practiceThe architectural design of the ICU has a great impact on nurses' well‐being, work satisfaction and the provision of humanistic care. Nurses need to be involved in the process of planning and building new ICU settings. There is a need for further research to highlight the quality of physical environment and its impact on caring practice.
Equilibrium Unemployment Dynamics in a Panel of OECD Countries
Authors: Nymoen Ragnar , Sparrman Victoria 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe focus on the equilibrium unemployment rate as a parameter implied by a dynamic aggregate model of wage and price setting. The equilibrium unemployment rate depends on institutional labour market institutions through mark‐up coefficients. Compared with existing studies, the resulting final equation for unemployment has a richer dynamic structure. The empirical investigation is conducted in a panel data framework and uses OECD data up to 2012. We propose to extend the standard estimation method with time dummies to control and capture the effects of common and national shocks by using impulse indicator saturation (WG‐IIS), which has not been previously used on panel data. WG‐IIS robustifies the estimators of the regression coefficients in the dynamic model, and it affects the estimated equilibrium unemployment rates. We find that wage co‐ordination stands out as the most important institutional variable in our data set, but there is also evidence pointing to the tax wedge and the degree of compensation in the unemployment insurance system as drivers of equilibrium unemployment.