bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel quality indicators for metastatic colorectal cancer management identify significant variations in these measures across treatment centers in Australia
Authors: Turner Natalie Heather , Wong Hui‐li , Field Kathryn , Wong Rachel , Shapiro Jeremy , Yip Desmond , Nott Louise , Tie Jeanne , Kosmider Suzanne , Tran Ben , Desai Jayesh , McKendrick Joseph , Zimet Allan , Richardson Gary , Iddawela Mahesh , Gibbs Peter 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAimsDefining multidisciplinary quality of care indicators (QCIs) for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) could improve understanding of variations in routine practice care. This may identify areas of below‐average performance, which could then be addressed by clinicians to improve the quality of care delivered. This study aimed to define a panel of QCIs in mCRC and, based on these QCIs, to evaluate quality of care across multiple Australian sites.MethodsA panel of clinicians with expertise in colorectal cancer defined evidence‐based or best practice‐based QCIs relevant to the routine multidisciplinary management of mCRC patients through structured consensus discussion. Related data were extracted from the Treatment of Recurrent and Advanced Colorectal Cancer (TRACC) registry, a prospectively maintained database recording comprehensive details on consecutive mCRC patients across multiple Australian hospitals. Variations in QCIs across sites were explored.ResultsOf 13 QCIs defined, data related to 10 were reliably extracted from TRACC. Analysis of data on 1276 patients across 10 sites demonstrated low rates of screening for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer in young patients and significant variation in surveillance‐detected recurrences, lung resection rates and palliative chemotherapy use. Exploratory analyses suggested correlation between liver resection rates and survival.ConclusionsWe have defined a novel set of mCRC QCIs and have demonstrated wide variation in the quality of care of mCRC across multiple Australian sites. With further validation to confirm a direct correlation between QCI and patient outcomes, these QCIs could be applied to improve the quality of care received by all mCRC patients.
Management of interstitial ectopic pregnancy with intravenous methotrexate: An extended study of a standardised regimen
Authors: Tanaka Keisuke , Baartz David , Khoo Soot Keat 
Published: April 2015

BackgroundInterstitial ectopic pregnancy is a rare but potentially life threatening condition. Of the three management options for this condition (expectant, medical and surgical treatment) methotrexate therapy in several regimens has been reported to be effective and beneficial.AimTo assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous bolus and infusion of methotrexate with folinic acid rescue for the treatment of interstitial ectopic pregnancy.Materials and MethodsA retrospective cohort study of women with interstitial ectopic pregnancy treated with methotrexate at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital from April 2000 to December 2012. The treatment regimen comprised of a bolus dose of methotrexate 100 mg followed by 200 mg of methotrexate infusion over 12 h. Four doses of 15 mg oral folinic acid rescue were given post‐treatment. Success of methotrexate therapy was confirmed by either a negative serum beta‐human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG) level or subsequent uneventful pregnancy.ResultsOf 33 women with interstitial ectopic pregnancy who were treated with this regimen, 31 (93.9%) were treated successfully, including women with a high β‐hCG level up to 106 634 IU/L and the presence of fetal cardiac activity. Minor side effects were documented in three cases.ConclusionsIntravenous methotrexate therapy with folinic acid rescue is well tolerated and highly effective.
Correlation of the KISA% index and Scheimpflug tomography in ‘normal’, ‘subclinical’, ‘keratoconus‐suspect’ and ‘clinically manifest’ keratoconus eyes
Authors: Steinberg Johannes , Aubke‐Schultz Silke , Frings Andreas , Hülle Jan , Druchkiv Vasyl , Richard Gisbert , Katz Toam , Linke Stephan J. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPurposeTo analyse tomographic changes in eyes classified as ‘normal’, ‘keratoconus‐suspect’ and ‘clinically manifest keratoconus’ based on the established KISA% definition of Rabinowitz and Rasheed and to develop the category of ‘subclinical keratoconus eyes’ to expand the classification into a ‘subtopographic’ range.MethodsTomographic and topographic analyses of 670 eyes performed with a rotating Scheimpflug imaging system (Pentacam®, Oculus Inc., Wetzlar, Germany) were retrospectively analysed. Based on the KISA% keratoconus classification system, eyes were assigned to a ‘normal’, ‘keratoconus‐suspect’ or ‘manifest keratoconus’ group. In addition, a new group of ‘subclinical keratoconus eyes’ was analysed, comprising unsuspicious fellow eyes of patients with keratoconus. T‐tests, Wilcoxon rank‐sum test, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and robust regression analyses were performed to correlate tomographic parameters with the increasing KISA% index.ResultsKISA%‐grouped keratoconus eyes showed robust tomographic changes. By adding the subclinical group, although the concurrent topography was unchanged, we were able to demonstrate statistically significant changes for almost all tomographic parameters (parameters with highest sensitivity/specificity: ART_max, [0.69/0.69], BAD_D [0.66/0.66]). The highest coefficient of determination (R2) with the KISA% index was demonstrated for Ele_f_max (R2 = 0.70), Ele_f_TP (R2 = 0.69), Ele_b_TP (R2 = 0.69) and BAD_D (R2 = 0.68).ConclusionWe recommend the use of the expanded KISA% index (eKISA% index) as the basis for the definition of keratoconus and normal groups in future keratoconus research projects.
The impact of pharmaceutical care interventions for medication underuse in older people: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Meid Andreas D. , Lampert Anette , Burnett Alina , Seidling Hanna M. , Haefeli Walter E. 
Published: April 2015

AimsThe aim of the present study was to conduct a meta‐analysis of controlled trials assessing the impact of pharmaceutical care interventions (e.g. medication reviews) on medication underuse in older patients (≥65 years).MethodsThe databases MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for controlled studies, and data on interventions, patient characteristics and exposure, and outcome assessment were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's ‘risk of bias’ table. Results from reported outcomes were synthesized in multivariate random effects meta‐analysis, subgroup meta‐analysis and meta‐regression.ResultsFrom 954 identified articles, nine controlled studies, mainly comprising a medication review, were included (2542 patients). These interventions were associated with significant reductions in the mean number of omitted drugs per patient (estimate from six studies with 1469 patients: – 0.44; 95% confidence interval –0.61, –0.26) and the proportion of patients with ≥1 omitted drugs (odds ratio from eight studies with 1833 patients: 0.29; 95% confidence interval 0.13, 0.63). The only significant influential factor for improving success was the utilization of explicit screening instruments when conducting a medication review (P = 0.033).ConclusionPharmaceutical care interventions, including medication reviews, can significantly reduce medication underuse in older people. The use of explicit screening instruments alone or in combination with implicit reasoning is strongly recommendable for clinical practice.
Infant Temperament: Stability by Age, Gender, Birth Order, Term Status, and Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Bornstein Marc H. , Putnick Diane L. , Gartstein Maria A. , Hahn Chun‐Shin , Auestad Nancy , O'Connor Deborah L. 
Published: April 2015

Two complementary studies focused on stability of infant temperament across the 1st year and considered infant age, gender, birth order, term status, and socioeconomic status (SES) as moderators. Study 1 consisted of 73 mothers of firstborn term girls and boys queried at 2, 5, and 13 months of age. Study 2 consisted of 335 mothers of infants of different gender, birth order, term status, and SES queried at 6 and 12 months. Consistent positive and negative affectivity factors emerged at all time points across both studies. Infant temperament proved stable and robust across gender, birth order, term status, and SES. Stability coefficients for temperament factors and scales were medium to large for shorter (< 9 months) interassessment intervals and small to medium for longer (> 10 months) intervals.
Reassessment of the Use of Fire as a Management Tool in Deciduous Forests of Eastern North America
Authors: MATLACK GLENN R. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractPrescribed burning is increasingly being used in the deciduous forests of eastern North America. Recent work suggests that historical fire frequency has been overestimated east of the prairie–woodland transition zone, and its introduction could potentially reduce forest herb and shrub diversity. Fire‐history recreations derived from sedimentary charcoal, tree fire scars, and estimates of Native American burning suggest point‐return times ranging from 5–10 years to centuries and millennia. Actual return times were probably longer because such records suffer from selective sampling, small sample sizes, and a probable publication bias toward frequent fire. Archeological evidence shows the environmental effect of fire could be severe in the immediate neighborhood of a Native American village. Population density appears to have been low through most of the Holocene, however, and villages were strongly clustered at a regional scale. Thus, it appears that the majority of forests of the eastern United States were little affected by burning before European settlement. Use of prescribed burning assumes that most forest species are tolerant of fire and that burning will have only a minimal effect on diversity. However, common adaptations such as serotiny, epicormic sprouting, resprouting from rhizomes, and smoke‐cued germination are unknown across most of the deciduous region. Experimental studies of burning show vegetation responses similar to other forms of disturbance that remove stems and litter and do not necessarily imply adaptation to fire. The general lack of adaptation could potentially cause a reduction in diversity if burning were introduced. These observations suggest a need for a fine‐grained examination of fire history with systematic sampling in which all subregions, landscape positions, and community types are represented. Responses to burning need to be examined in noncommercial and nonwoody species in rigorous manipulative experiments. Until such information is available, it seems prudent to limit the use of prescribed burning east of the prairie–woodland transition zone.Reevaluación del Uso de Fuego como Herramienta de Manejo en Bosques Deciduos de América del Norte
Legal Dispossession: State Strategies and Selectivities in the Expansion of Indonesian Palm Oil and Agrofuel Production
Authors: Pichler Melanie 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTThis article examines the role of the state in the appropriation and control of land in Indonesian palm oil and agrofuel production. Drawing on political ecology and critical state and hegemony theory, it focuses particularly on the legal state strategies that support the hegemonic project of agro‐industrial and export‐oriented palm oil and agrofuel production. The article analyses the structural, strategic and spatial selectivities — the mechanisms of marginalization and privilege — that accompany the strategies the state employs. Three important strategies are discussed, namely the codification of land ownership, the concentration of land possession and the valorization of natural resources in the context of de‐ and recentralization. The article concludes that these legal state strategies represent an important means to organize and protect a large‐scale palm oil project as they succeed in universalizing dominant interests whilst at the same time (partially) integrating subaltern interests.
Pretreated baseline neutrophil count and chemotherapy‐induced neutropenia may be conveniently available as prognostic biomarkers in advanced gastric cancer
Authors: Chen Z. , Chen W. , Wang J. , Zhu M. , Zhuang Z. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundIncreasing evidence suggests that neutrophils play a critical role in tumorigenesis, tumour cell proliferation and metastasis. The prognostic significance of such inflammation‐associated markers has been explored in different cancers.AimTo evaluate the prognostic effect of baseline neutrophil counts and nadir neutrophils on advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients who were treated with two different chemotherapy regimens in our institution.MethodsData were collected retrospectively for 260 AGC patients treated between 1 February 2009 and 31 December 2011. The prognostic effect of baseline neutrophil counts and nadir neutrophils on AGC patients was evaluated.ResultsApproximately 79% of the patients experienced neutropenia during chemotherapy. The median survival was 369 days for patients with neutrophil counts ≤7.5 × 109/L and 326 days for patients with neutrophil counts >7.5 × 109/L (P < 0.001).The median survival was 340 days for patients with no neutropenia (grade 0), 422 days for patients with mild neutropenia (grade 1–2) and 339 days for patients with severe neutropenia (grade 3–4) (P < 0.001).The adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for mild and severe neutropenia compared with absent neutropenia were 0.572 (P = 0.002) and 1.246 (P = 0.219) respectively. Furthermore, it was suggested that pretreatment baseline neutrophil counts ≤7.5 × 109/L may be an independent predictor (HR = 0.683; P = 0.005). We also observed that other factors were independently associated with worse survival, such as higher performance status, stage IV and the presence of ascites.ConclusionOur findings suggest that baseline neutrophil count and chemotherapy‐induced neutropenia can be conveniently available as clinical biomarkers in AGC. Mild myelosuppression in patients with AGC most likely leads to better overall survival, whereas a high baseline neutrophil count may be associated with a worse prognosis.
Screening whole spine magnetic resonance imaging in multiple myeloma
Authors: Wight J. , Stillwell A. , Morris E. , Grant B. , Lai H. C. , Irving I. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive method for detecting focal spinal disease (FSD) in multiple myeloma (MM). It is unclear whether whole spine MRI (WS‐MRI) should be employed as a screening test at diagnosis of MM.AimTo determine the utility of screening WS‐MRI at diagnosis of MM.MethodsA retrospective analysis of data from January 2008 to January 2013 at the Townsville Hospital was performed. At this centre, WS‐MRI is used routinely in all newly diagnosed MM. The findings of WS‐MRI in patients with and without an agreed guideline indication for WS‐MRI were compared. Clinical predictors of FSD were determined.ResultsSeventy‐one patients were included in the analysis. Forty‐four (62%) had an agreed indication for MRI; 33 (75%) of these had FSD. Within this group, 17 required urgent intervention and 13 had spinal plasmacytomas. Within a second group without a guideline indication, 4 of 27 (15%) were found to have FSD on MRI – none required urgent intervention and or had plasmacytomas. Three of eight smouldering myeloma patients were reclassified as symptomatic myeloma by documenting lytic lesions not identified on plain film. The strongest predictors of FSD were back pain (P < 0.001) and vertebral compression fracture (P = 0.003).ConclusionWS‐MRI in patients without a guideline indication did not detect any lesions that threatened the spinal cord. WS‐MRI is essential in those with guideline indications. WS‐MRI is of benefit to patients with smouldering myeloma where documentation of lesions not seen on plain film will result in treatment rather than observation.
Seasonal recurrence of food bolus obstruction in eosinophilic esophagitis
Authors: Philpott H. L. , Nandurkar S. , Thien F. , Bloom S. , Lin E. , Goldberg R. , Boyapati R. , Finch A. , Royce S. G. , Gibson P. R. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundEosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a newly recognised condition that is apparently increasing in prevalence, and the aetiology is poorly understood. The role of aeroallergens in EoE is controversial, given the success of dietary therapy. Massive aeroallergen exposure leading to food bolus obstruction events (FBOE) has been described, and the diagnosis of EoE by esophageal biopsy noted to be more common in the pollen season according to previous case series.AimTo determine if a seasonal variation and a geographical variation occurred in EoE presenting as FBOE in adults, and to track the prevalence of FBOE and EoE over time.MethodA retrospective case–control study analysis was performed from January 2002 to January 2012 to identify all FBOE in adults presenting to five tertiary hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Endoscopy, histopathological reports, case notes and blood tests were examined, and postcodes recorded. Records of pollen counts were obtained. Cases were defined according to esophageal biopsy and grouped based on month of diagnosis. All other causes of FBOE served as controls.ResultsOne thousand, one hundred and thirty‐two FBOE were identified. Biopsies were only performed in 278 of these cases, and 85 patients were found to have EoE after biopsy. Patients with EoE were younger (mean age 38 years, range 18–72) compared with those with alternative diagnosis (mean age 64.4 range 22–92), more likely to be male (M : F = 4:1 compared with 1.68:1 ) and had a higher eosinophil count in venous blood. Overall no seasonality was demonstrated in FBOE secondary to any diagnosis, although the six cases of recurrent FBOE secondary to EoE mainly occurred in the grass pollen season in subsequent years. FBOE cases were evenly distributed throughout metropolitan Melbourne irrespective of population density. EoE as a percentage of FBOE increased over time.ConclusionSeasonal aeroallergens may be important for a subgroup of patients with EoE presenting as recurrent FBOE. Esophageal biopsies are performed in a minority of patients, representing a significant departure from ideal management and contributing to recurrent unnecessary FBOE. EoE is an increasingly important cause of FBOE.
Documents of War: Understanding the Syrian Conflict
Authors: Price Megan , Gohdes Anita , Ball Patrick 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Researchers in Syria are doing their best to monitor the number of people killed in the ongoing conflict. A full and complete count is impossible amid the violence – but the extent to which killings can and cannot be documented reveals much about the nature of the fighting. By Megan Price, Anita Gohdes and Patrick Ball
Megan Price, Anita Gohdes and Patrick Ball explain how documentation dynamics help shed light on the Syrian conflict
Left Out?
Authors: Peacock Jack , Maxey Jeshua , Tymms Vijay 
Published: April 2015

Abstract
Only 4% of darts players on the 2014 PDC Pro Tour threw with their left hand. Is the game – and specifically the dartboard – biased against them? Jack Peacock, Jeshua Maxey and Vijay Tymms investigate
Is the game of darts biased against left-handers? Jack Peacock, Jeshua Maxey and Vijay Tymms investigate
Belinostat, a potent HDACi, exerts antileukaemic effect in human acute promyelocytic leukaemia cells via chromatin remodelling
Authors: Valiuliene Giedre , Stirblyte Ieva , Cicenaite Dovile , Kaupinis Algirdas , Valius Mindaugas , Navakauskiene Ruta 
Published: April 2015

AbstractEpigenetic changes play a significant role in leukaemia pathogenesis, therefore histone deacetylases (HDACis) are widely accepted as an attractive strategy for acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) treatment. Belinostat (Bel, PXD101), a hydroxamate‐type HDACi, has proved to be a promising cure in clinical trials for solid tumours and haematological malignancies. However, insight into molecular effects of Bel on APL, is still lacking. In this study, we investigated the effect of Bel alone and in combination with differentiation inducer retinoic acid (RA) on human promyelocytic leukaemia NB4 and HL‐60 cells. We found that treatment with Bel, depending on the dosage used, inhibits cell proliferation, whereas in combination with RA enhances and accelerates granulocytic leukaemia cell differentiation. We also evaluated the effect of used treatments with Bel and RA on certain epigenetic modifiers (HDAC1, HDAC2, PCAF) as well as cell cycle regulators (p27) gene expression and protein level modulation. We showed that Bel in combination with RA up‐regulates basal histone H4 hyperacetylation level more strongly compared to Bel or RA alone. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay indicated that Bel induces the accumulation of hyperacetylated histone H4 at the p27 promoter region. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that in control NB4 cells, hyperacetylated histone H4 is mainly found in association with proteins involved in DNA replication and transcription, whereas after Bel treatment it is found with proteins implicated in pro‐apoptotic processes, in defence against oxidative stress and tumour suppression. Summarizing, our study provides some novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of HDACi Bel action on APL cells.
Commission Entrepreneurship and the Debasing of Social Europe Before and After the Eurocrisis
Authors: Crespy Amandine , Menz Georg 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe bulk of the literature on ‘social Europe’ has suggested that social policy at the level of the EU remains to be characterized by the interplay of courts and markets. While we do not disagree with this argument, our objective is to shed light on the European Commission's entrepreneurship, an element which appears to be somewhat bereft of scholarly attention. We show how, by displaying social acuity, defining problems and building teams, the Commission has actively promoted a policy agenda focused on liberal market building at the expense of socially minded regulation. This was however only made possible by a new constellation among the Member States after 2004. We substantiate this claim by documenting the activity of the Commission in two crucial policy domains of the post‐Lisbon era: the liberalization of service provision, and the impact of the new macro‐economic governance on social policy after the financial and debt crisis.
‘As I Drifted on a River I Could Not Control’: The Unintended Ordoliberal Consequences of the Eurozone Crisis
Authors: Nedergaard Peter , Snaith Holly 
Published: April 2015

AbstractGermany has a long history of institutionalized ordoliberalism. While these ideas may be implemented almost unreflexively within Germany, its status of ‘reluctant hegemon’ within the European Union has led to purposive uploading of many of these ideas to other Member States. In this article, we first define what these ordoliberal actions consist of, before tracing their evolution within Germany and the EU. Our intention is to detail how acting within ordoliberal tenets has led to some rather messy and unpredictable results for Germany and other EU Member States alike – a state particularly emphasized by the crisis. In so doing, we (re)invoke Robert Merton's treatment of unintended consequences. In particular, we are concerned with Germany's increased role in enforcing fiscal order in the EU, counter to our interviewees’ (drawn from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) express intentions to retain Germany's political distance.