bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Haemophilia care in Europe – a survey of 35 countries
Authors: O'Mahony B. , Noone D. , Giangrande P. L. F. , Prihodova L. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryA questionnaire was circulated in 2012 to national haemophilia patient organizations in Europe affiliated to the European Haemophilia Consortium (EHC) and the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) to seek information about the organization of haemophilia care and treatment available at a national level. The 35 responses received highlighted major differences in the availability of treatment and care. There was a wide range in factor VIII consumption with usage ranging from 0.20 IU per capita in Armenia to 8.56 IU per capita in Sweden (median: IU per capita). The decrease in health budgets in many countries was not matched by decreases in use of FVIII per capita. In the 19 countries that responded to the previous survey, there was a significant improvement in access to prophylaxis and home treatment.
Successful percutaneous coronary intervention in a patient with combined deficiency of FV and FVIII due to novel compound heterozygous mutations in LMAN1
Authors: Patel A. J. , Liu H.‐H. , Lager R. A. , Malkovska V. , Zhang B. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryPercutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with congenital coagulation factor deficiencies presents a unique challenge. They are not only at increased risk of perioperative bleeding but can also suffer thrombosis of the stent as preventive anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy is difficult. Several cases of successful PCI have been described in patients with haemophilia A and B, but there are no reports in patients with combined coagulation factor deficiencies. We used PCI to treat the coronary artery disease in a patient with the combined deficiency of factor V and factor VIII (F5F8D) and analysed the molecular basis of the disorder for this patient. A 68‐year‐old patient was admitted for urgent PCI with bare metal stent placement after the diagnosis of the F5F8D. Peripheral blood DNA was extracted for the sequence analysis of LMAN1 and MCFD2 genes. Mutations in LMAN1 was confirmed by molecular cloning of the PCR product and resequencing of the resulting clones. The patient underwent successful PCI with good long‐term outcome. Our patient tolerated anticoagulation therapy well, with unfractionated heparin, and double antiplatelet therapy while he was initially supported with fresh frozen plasma and recombinant FVIII. Molecular analysis revealed that the patient carries unusual compound heterozygous frameshift mutations on the same microsatellite repeat region in exon 8 of LMAN1, one of which is a novel mutation (c.912delA). Our results suggest that patients with F5F8D can safely undergo PCI for coronary artery disease, with the treatment individualized to the specific patient.
Cutaneous metastasis: clinicopathological study of 72 patients from a tertiary care center in Lebanon
Authors: El Khoury Jinane , Khalifeh Ibrahim , Kibbi Abdul‐Ghani , Abbas Ossama 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackground  Cutaneous metastasis is the result of malignant cell spread from primary malignancy to the skin. This is not uncommon, and rates reported in the literature are as high as 10.4%. To the best of our knowledge, there are no studies assessing the epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathological features of cutaneous metastasis in our region.Objective  To assess the clinical and histopathological findings of all patients diagnosed with cutaneous metastasis at the American University of Beirut – Medical Center (AUB‐MC) and to compare our findings with those published in the literature.Methods  Retrospective clinical and histopathologic evaluation of all cases diagnosed as cutaneous metastasis at AUB‐MC between 1992 and 2010.Results  A total of 72 patients (50 females and 22 males) were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 55.2 years. The most common primary cancer was breast cancer in women and laryngeal cancer in men. The most common clinical presentation was a single nodule in 27% of cases followed by multiple nodules in 23%. Cutaneous metastasis lesions were asymptomatic in the majority. The chest was the most commonly affected site. On microscopy, the majority of metastatic cases were adenocarcinomas (74%).Conclusion  This is, to our knowledge, the first study characterizing the epidemiological, clinical, and histopathological features of cutaneous metastasis in the Lebanese population. The clinical and histopathological features observed were in concordance with the published literature, with minor differences.
Quality of health care of atopic eczema in Germany: results of the national health care study AtopicHealth
Authors: Langenbruch A. , Radtke M. , Franzke N. , Ring J. , Foelster‐Holst R. , Augustin M. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe successful treatment of atopic eczema (AE) should result in the improvement of both physical symptoms and patient′s quality of life (QoL). This study was conducted using a sample of dermatologists throughout Germany. This is due to dermatologists being the main health care providers of AE.ObjectivesObtaining reliable data on quality of care of AE from both the patient's and the physician's perspective.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study assessed: the individual clinical history; dermatology‐specific QoL (DLQI); state of health (EQ‐5d‐VAS); treatments; burden caused by disease and treatment; patient‐defined treatment benefit (PBI).ResultsData from 1678 adult patients (60.5% female, mean age: 38.4 ± 15.9) were analysed. The most frequently used treatments during the last five years were emollients (90.4%) and topical corticosteroids (85.5%). In this study, 75.8% of the patients felt only moderately or not at all impaired by their treatment. The mean DLQI (0 = minimum–30 = maximum QoL impairment) was 8.5 ± 6.5. The EQ‐5d‐VAS (100 = best possible) was 63.6 ± 22.0 on average. 26.6% reported suffering ‘often’ or ‘every night’ from sleeplessness due to severe itching. Mean PBI was 2.4 ± 1.1 (4 = maximum benefit).ConclusionsThis study provides first data on the health care of adults with AE in Germany at a national level and reveals the need for a more effective care. Whereas most patients consider their treatment‐related burden as low, the daily burden of the disease seems to be high: one third reports sleeplessness due to itching which indicates insufficient therapeutic regimes in these cases. A better implementation of the German national guideline for AE and a systematic analysis of the difficulties causing its limited effects is needed.
The prevalence and risk factors of adolescent acne among schoolchildren in Lithuania: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Karciauskiene J. , Valiukeviciene S. , Gollnick H. , Stang A. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackgroundAcne is one of the most common chronic inflammatory dermatological diseases among adolescents.ObjectivesWe sought to estimate the prevalence of acne among schoolchildren and its association with puberty, body mass index (BMI), acne history of parents, nutritional habits, smoking and alcohol consumption.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted on 1277 pupils aged 7–19 years. Children were interviewed with self‐administered questionnaires, and were subsequently examined by one specially trained dermatologist. To evaluate the onset of puberty, girls provided details about their menarche and boys – about their facial hair growth.ResultsThe overall response rate of the study was 51.4%. The prevalence of acne among respondents was 82.9%, and was strongly age‐dependent with highest rates in the age groups of 13–15 and 16–19 years. The prevalence of pre‐pubertal acne among participating girls and boys was 69.9% and 73.6% respectively. The main risk factors of acne were facial hair growth in boys (OR = 4.9), menarche in girls (OR = 3.1), overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 at 18 years of age) (OR = 2.6), acne history from both parents (OR = 2.6) and from mother alone (OR = 2.1). We did not find any associations between acne and nutritional habits, smoking or alcohol consumption. The self‐reported prevalence of acne among children who refused to take part in the study was lower than that among participants of the study.ConclusionsThe overall prevalence of acne among schoolchildren is high and age‐dependent. The onset of puberty, overweight/obesity and history of acne from both parents are the top risk factors for acne.
Premalignant conditions of gastric cancer
Authors: Sugano Kentaro 
Published: April 2013

AbstractPremalignant lesions of gastric cancer encompass a variety of conditions such as chronic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia, in which elevated risk of developing gastric cancer have been documented. Among them, intestinal metaplasia is frequently encountered in our daily endoscopic examination, yet its clinical significance is often underestimated despite of a number of reports demonstrating genetic and epigenetic alterations in the intestinal metaplastic mucosa. In this review, I will describe the molecular mechanisms of phenotypic changes from gastric mucosa to intestinal metaplasia based on our analysis of mouse model of intestinal metaplasia generated by ectopic expression of CDX2 in conjunction with the studies with human intestinal metaplasia.
Clinical utility of host genetic IL‐28B variants in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 Asian patients retreated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin
Authors: Huang Chung‐Feng , Yeh Ming‐Lun , Hsieh Meng‐Hsuan , Hsieh Ming‐Yen , Lin Zu‐Yau , Chen Shinn‐Cherng , Wang Liang‐Yen , Huang Jee‐Fu , Juo Suh‐Hang Hank , Lin Yi‐Ching , Dai Chia‐Yen , Chuang Wan‐Long , Yu Ming‐Lung 
Published: April 2013

AbstractBackground and AimHost interleukin‐28B (IL‐28B) genetic variants determine a sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV‐1) treatment‐naïve patients. Its impact on treatment‐experienced Asian patients with peginterferon/ribavirin in is to be elucidated.MethodsIL‐28B rs8099917 genotype was determined in 70 HCV‐1 treatment‐experienced patients retreated with 48‐week peginterferon/ribavirin.ResultsThe SVR rate was 60.0% and was significantly higher in previous relapsers than in nonresponders (72.7% and 13.3%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the most important factor predictive of an SVR was previous relapse (Odds ratio [OR]/95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.76/2.72–80.06, P = 0.002), followed by the carriage of rs8099917 TT genotype (OR/95% C.I.: 7.67/1.27–46.49, P = 0.03). Comparing to patients with TG/GG genotype, those with TT genotype had significantly higher rates of rapid virological response (29.3% vs 0%, P = 0.03), end‐of‐treatment virological response (86.2% vs 50.0%, P = 0.01), SVR (69.0% vs 16.7%, P = 0.002), and lower relapse rate (22.0 % vs 66.7%, P = 0.04). The SVR rate was similarly low between previous nonresponders with different rs8099917 genotypes (12.5% vs 14.3%, P = 1). On the contrary, previous relapsers with rs8099917 TT genotype had a significantly higher SVR rate than those who carried rs8099917 TG/GG genotype (78.0 % vs 20.0%, P = 0.02). Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that the only factor predictive of an SVR in previous relapsers was the carriage of rs809997 TT genotype (OR/95% CI:18.50/1.82–188.39, P = 0.014).ConclusionsHost IL‐28B genetic variants played a role in Asian relapsers but not nonresponders retreated with peginterferon/ribavirin. Direct antiviral agents might be possibly avoidable in Asian relapsers with favorable IL‐28B genotype.
Weak Moral Motivation Leads to the Decline of Voluntary Contributions
Authors: FIGUIÈRES CHARLES , MASCLET DAVID , WILLINGER MARC 
Published: April 2013

AbstractWe develop a model that accounts for the decay of the average contribution observed in experiments on voluntary contributions to a public good. The novel idea is that people's moral motivation is “weak.” Their judgment about the right contribution depends on observed contributions by group members and on an intrinsic “moral ideal.” We show that the assumption of weakly morally motivated agents leads to the decline of the average contribution over time. The model is compatible with persistence of overcontributions, variability of contributions (across and within individuals), the “restart effect” and the observation that the decay in contributions is slower in longer games. Furthermore, it offers a rationale for conditional cooperation.
Fiscal Decentralization and Political Budget Cycles
Authors: GONZÁLEZ PAULA , HINDRIKS JEAN , PORTEIRO NICOLÁS 
Published: April 2013

AbstractWe analyze a problem à la Rogoff where incumbents can distort fiscal policy to signal their competency, but where fiscal policy can be centralized or decentralized. Our main focus is on how the equilibrium probability that fiscal policy is distorted in any region (the political budget cycle, PBC) differs across fiscal regimes. With centralization, there are generally two effects that change the probability of a PBC. One is the possibility of selective distortion: the incumbent can be reelected with the support of just a majority of regions. The other is a cost diversification effect, which is present unless costs are perfectly correlated across regions. Both these effects work in the same direction, with the general result that the PBC probability is lower under centralization when decentralization also involves PBC. Welfare analysis shows that voters tend to be better off when the PBC probability is lower, so voters prefer centralization when decentralization involves PBC. Our results are robust to a number of changes in the specification of the model.
Data Games: Sharing Public Goods with Exclusion
Authors: DEHEZ PIERRE , TELLONE DANIELA 
Published: April 2013

AbstractA group of firms decides to cooperate on a project that requires a combination of inputs held by some of them. These inputs are non‐rival but excludable goods, i.e., public goods with exclusion such as knowledge, data or information, patents or copyrights. We address the question of how firms should be compensated for the inputs they contribute. We show that this problem can be framed within a cost sharing game for which the Shapley value comes out as a natural solution. The main result concerns the regular structure of the core that enables a simple characterization of the nucleolus. However, compared to the Shapley value, the nucleolus defines compensations that appear to be less appropriate in the context of data sharing. Our analysis is inspired by the problem faced by the European chemical firms within the regulation program REACH that requires submission by 2018 of a detailed analysis of all the substances they produce, import, or use.
The Optimal Tax Treatment of Housing Capital in the Neoclassical Growth Model
Authors: EEROLA ESSI , MÄÄTTÄNEN NIKU 
Published: April 2013

AbstractShould housing capital be taxed like other forms of capital? We analyze this question within a version of the neoclassical growth model. We derive the optimal tax treatment of housing capitalvis‐à‐visbusiness capital allowing for relatively general household preferences. In the first‐best, the tax treatment of business and housing capital should always be the same. In the second‐best, in contrast, the optimal tax treatment of housing capital depends on the elasticities of substitution between nonhousing consumption, housing, and leisure. This is because housing taxation may be used to alleviate the distorting effect of taxing labor. As a result, the optimal tax treatment of housing capital may be different from that of business capital. We complement these analytical results with a numerical analysis.
Potassium deficiency triggers the development of dormant cells (akinetes) in Aphanizomenon ovalisporum (Nostocales, Cyanoprokaryota)1
Authors: Sukenik Assaf , Kaplan‐Levy Ruth N. , Viner‐Mozzini Yehudit , Quesada Antonio , Hadas Ora 
Published: April 2013

Akinetes are spore‐like nonmotile cells that differentiate from vegetative cells of filamentous cyanobacteria from the order Nostocales. They play a key role in the survival and distribution of these species and contribute to their perennial blooms. Various environmental factors were reported to trigger the differentiation of akinetes including light intensity and quality, temperature, and nutrient deficiency. Here, we report that deprivation of potassium ion (K+) triggers akinete development in the cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon ovalisporum. Akinetes formation is initiated 3 d–7 d after an induction by K+ depletion, followed by 2–3 weeks of a maturation process. Akinete formation occurs within a restricted matrix of environmental conditions such as temperature, light intensity or photon flux. Phosphate is essential for akinete maturation and P‐limitation restricts the number of mature akinetes. DNA replication is essential for akinete maturation and akinete development is limited in the presence of Nalidixic acid. While our results unequivocally demonstrated the effect of K+ deficiency on akinete formation in laboratory cultures of A. ovalisporum, this trigger did not cause Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii to produce akinetes. Anabaena crassa however, produced akinetes upon potassium deficiency, but the highest akinete concentration was achieved at conditions that supported vegetative growth. It is speculated that an unknown internal signal is associated with the cellular response to K+ deficiency to induce the differentiation of a certain vegetative cell in a trichome into an akinete. A universal stress protein that functions as mediator in K+ deficiency signal transduction cascade, may communicate between the lack of K+ and akinete induction.
Breastfeeding beliefs and practices of African women living in Brisbane and Perth, Australia
Authors: Gallegos Danielle , Vicca Natalie , Streiner Samantha 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the experience of breastfeeding among refugee women from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo living in two major capital cities in Australia. Participants were recruited from their relevant community associations and via a snowballing technique. Thirty‐one women took part in either individual interviews or facilitated group discussions to explore their experiences of breastfeeding in their home country and in Australia. Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: cultural breastfeeding beliefs and practices; stigma and shame around breastfeeding in public; ambivalence towards breastfeeding and breastfeeding support. Women who originated from these four African countries highlighted a significant desire for breastfeeding and an understanding that it was the best method for feeding their infants. Their breastfeeding practices in Australia were a combination of practices maintained from their countries of origin and those adopted according to Australian cultural norms. They exemplified the complexity of breastfeeding behaviour and the relationship between infant feeding with economic status and the perceived social norms of the host country. The results illustrate the need for policy makers and health professionals to take into consideration the environmental, social and cultural contexts of the women who are purportedly targeted for the promotion of breastfeeding.
Fruit and vegetable exposure in children is linked to the selection of a wider variety of healthy foods at school
Authors: Korinek Elizabeth V. , Bartholomew John B. , Jowers Esbelle M. , Latimer Lara A. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractSchools often offer healthy fruits and vegetables (FV) and healthy entrées. However, children may resist these efforts due to a lack of familiarity with the offerings. While numerous exposures with a food increase its liking, it may be that an exposure to a variety of FV at home leads to greater willingness to select other foods – even those that are unrelated to those eaten at home. As an initial test of this possibility, this study was designed to examine how self‐reports of exposure and consumption of various FV were associated with the selection of FV and lunch entrées at school. Participants (n = 59) were a convenience sample of elementary children. A median split was used to place students into high‐ and low‐exposure groups for self‐reports of both exposure and consumption at home. The primary dependent variables were self‐reports of selecting FV at school; the children's absolute and relative ratings of eight ‘healthier’ lunch entrées; and self‐reports of selecting these entrées. These entrées were recently added to the school menu and, therefore, tended to be less familiar to children. Food ratings were collected through taste exposures conducted at school. Results indicate that children who reported more frequent exposure to FV at home consumed a wider variety of FV at school and were more likely to report selecting ‘healthier’ entrées at school lunch. These data suggest that exposure to, and the consumption of, a variety of FV may make children more willing to select a wider range of FV and other healthy entrées.
Use of micronutrient supplements among pregnant women in Alberta: results from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort
Authors: Gómez Mariel Fajer , Field Catherine J. , Olstad Dana Lee , Loehr Sarah , Ramage Stephanie , McCargar Linda J. ,   the APrON Study Team
Published: April 2013

AbstractMaternal nutrient intake in the prenatal period is an important determinant of fetal growth and development and supports maternal health. Many women, however, fail to meet their prenatal nutrient requirements through diet alone and are therefore advised to consume nutrient supplements. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of natural health products (NHP) by pregnant women in each trimester of pregnancy. Women (n = 599) participating in the first cohort of the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study completed an interviewer‐administered supplement intake questionnaire during each trimester of pregnancy. NHP use was high, with >90% taking multivitamin/mineral supplements, and nearly half taking at least one additional single‐nutrient supplement. Compliance with supplementation guidelines was high for folic acid (>90%), vitamin D (∼70%) and calcium (∼80%), but low for iron (<30%) and for all four nutrients together (≤11%). On average, women met or exceeded the recommended dietary allowance for folic acid, vitamin D and iron from NHPs alone, with median daily intakes of 1000 μg, 400 IU and 27 mg, respectively. The median calcium intake was 250 mg d−1. Up to 26% of women exceeded the tolerable upper intake level for folic acid and up to 19% did so for iron at some point of their pregnancy. Findings highlight the need to consider both dietary and supplemental sources of micronutrients when assessing the nutrient intakes of pregnant women.