bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of 0.6% sodium alginate as a submucosal injection material in endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer
Authors: Kusano Toru , Etoh Tsuyoshi , Akagi Tomonori , Ueda Yoshitake , Shiroshita Hidefumi , Yasuda Kazuhiro , Satoh Masahiro , Inomata Masafumi , Shiraishi Norio , Kitano Seigo 
Published: March 2014

Background and AimWe have focused on sodium alginate (SA) solution as a potential submucosal injection material for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). A previous SA solution had high viscosity and problems such as difficult handling. After its properties were adjusted, SA solution was examined in vitro and its clinical safety was evaluated.MethodsWith 0.4% sodium hyaluronate (SH) solution as a control, catheter injectability and mucosa‐elevating capacity of 0.3–0.8% SA solutions were evaluated. Next, 0.6% SA solution was used for ESD in 10 patients with early gastric cancer in a prospective clinical study.ResultsCompared with 0.4% SH solution, 0.6% SA solution exhibited no significant difference in catheter injectability but significant superiority in mucosa‐elevating capacity. In the clinical study, no adverse events were observed in any patient.ConclusionThe safety of 0.6% SA solution as a submucosal injection material was confirmed and it is suggested that its efficacy should be investigated in a larger number of cases.
The role of glutamate in the morphological and physiological development of dendritic spines
Authors: Mattison Hayley A. , Popovkina Dina , Kao Joseph P. Y. , Thompson Scott M. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractDendritic spines form the postsynaptic half of the synapse but how they form during CNS development remains uncertain, as are the factors that promote their morphological and physiological maturation. One hypothesis posits that filopodia, long motile dendritic processes that are present prior to spine formation, are the precursors to spines. Another hypothesis posits that they form directly from the dendritic shaft. We used microphotolysis of caged glutamate to stimulate individual dendritic processes in young hippocampal slice cultures while recording their morphological and physiological responses. We observed that brief trains of stimuli delivered to immature processes triggered morphological changes within minutes that resulted, in about half of experiments, in a more mature, spine‐like appearance such as decreased spine neck length and increased spine head width. We also observed that glutamate‐induced inward currents elicited from immature processes were mostly or entirely mediated by NMDARs, whereas responses in those processes with a more mature morphology, regardless of actual developmental age, were mediated by both AMPARs and NMDARs. Consistent with this observation, glutamate‐induced morphological changes were largely, but not entirely, prevented by blocking NMDARs. Our observations thus favor a model in which filopodia in the developing nervous system sense and respond to release of glutamate from developing axons, resulting in physiological and morphological maturation.
Decoding the individual finger movements from single‐trial functional magnetic resonance imaging recordings of human brain activity
Authors: Shen Guohua , Zhang Jing , Wang Mengxing , Lei Du , Yang Guang , Zhang Shanmin , Du Xiaoxia 
Published: March 2014

AbstractMultivariate pattern classification analysis (MVPA) has been applied to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to decode brain states from spatially distributed activation patterns. Decoding upper limb movements from non‐invasively recorded human brain activation is crucial for implementing a brain–machine interface that directly harnesses an individual's thoughts to control external devices or computers. The aim of this study was to decode the individual finger movements from fMRI single‐trial data. Thirteen healthy human subjects participated in a visually cued delayed finger movement task, and only one slight button press was performed in each trial. Using MVPA, the decoding accuracy (DA) was computed separately for the different motor‐related regions of interest. For the construction of feature vectors, the feature vectors from two successive volumes in the image series for a trial were concatenated. With these spatial–temporal feature vectors, we obtained a 63.1% average DA (84.7% for the best subject) for the contralateral primary somatosensory cortex and a 46.0% average DA (71.0% for the best subject) for the contralateral primary motor cortex; both of these values were significantly above the chance level (20%). In addition, we implemented searchlight MVPA to search for informative regions in an unbiased manner across the whole brain. Furthermore, by applying searchlight MVPA to each volume of a trial, we visually demonstrated the information for decoding, both spatially and temporally. The results suggest that the non‐invasive fMRI technique may provide informative features for decoding individual finger movements and the potential of developing an fMRI‐based brain–machine interface for finger movement.
B‐type natriuretic peptide predicts stroke of presumable cardioembolic origin in addition to coronary artery calcification
Authors: Kara K. , Gronewold J. , Neumann T. , Mahabadi A. A. , Weimar C. , Lehmann N. , Berger K. , Kälsch H. I. M. , Bauer M. , Broecker‐Preuss M. , Möhlenkamp S. , Moebus S. , Jöckel K.‐H. , Erbel R. , Hermann D. M. 
Published: March 2014

Background and purpose
B‐type natriuretric peptide (BNP) is a marker of cardiac dysfunction that is released from myocytes in response to ventricular wall stress. Previous studies suggested that BNP predicts stroke events in addition to classical risk factors. It was suggested that the BNP‐associated risk results from coronary atherosclerosis or atrial fibrillation.MethodsThree thousand six hundred and seventy five subjects from the population‐based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study (45–75 years; 47.6% men) without previous stroke, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarcts, open cardiac valve surgery, pacemakers and defibrillators were followed up over 110.1 ± 23.1 months. Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to examine BNP as a stroke predictor in addition to vascular risk factors (age, gender, systolic blood pressure, low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein, diabetes, smoking), renal insufficiency, atrial fibrillation/known heart failure and coronary artery calcification.ResultsEighty‐nine incident strokes occurred (80 ischaemic, 9 hemorrhagic). Subjects suffering stroke had significantly higher BNP values at baseline than the remaining subjects [26.3 (Q1; Q3 = 12.9; 51.0) vs. 17.4 (9.4; 31.4); P < 0.001]. In a multivariable regression, log10BNP was an independent stroke predictor [hazard ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–3.41; P = 0.017] in addition to age (1.24 per 5 years, CI 1.04–1.49; P = 0.016), systolic blood pressure (1.25 per 10 mmHg, CI 1.14–1.38; P < 0.001), smoking (2.05, CI 1.24–3.39; P = 0.005), atrial fibrillation/heart failure (2.25, CI 1.05–4.83; P = 0.037) and computed‐tomography‐based log10(coronary artery calcification + 1) (1.47, CI 1.15–1.88; P = 0.002). Log10BNP predicted stroke in men but not women, both in subjects ≤65 and >65 years. In subsequent analyses, BNP discriminated the incidence of cardioembolic stroke (P for trend = 0.001), but not stroke of macroangiopathic (P = 0.555), microangiopathic (P = 0.809) or unknown (P = 0.367) origin.ConclusionsBNP predicts presumable cardioembolic stroke independent of coronary calcification.
Federalism with Bicameralism
Authors: Grazzini Lisa , Petretto Alessandro 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
We analyse how bicameralism can affect national fiscal policies in a federal country when vertical and horizontal externalities interact. Conditions are provided to show when, at equilibrium, the two chambers agree or disagree on the choice of a national capital tax rate, depending on whether or not the pivotal voter in the two chambers is the same.
Prevalence of human papillomavirus in men who have sex with men in the era of an effective vaccine; a call to act
Authors: Sadlier C , Rowley D , Morley D , Surah S , O'Dea S , Delamere S , O'Leary J , Smyth P , Clarke S , Sheils O , Bergin C 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesThe incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)‐associated anal cancer is increasing. Men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly those coinfected with HIV, are disproportionately affected. Documenting the molecular epidemiology of HPV infection is important in guiding policy makers in formulating universal and/or targeted vaccine guidelines.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted. HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative MSM > 18 years old were invited to participate. Provider‐performed anal swabs were collected and anal HPV infection was detected using consensus primer solution phase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by type‐specific PCR for high‐risk (HR)‐HPV types 16, 18 and 31. Between‐group differences were analysed using χ2 tests and Wilcoxon rank tests.ResultsOne hundred and ninety‐four MSM [mean (standard deviation (SD)) age 36 (10) years; 51% HIV‐positive) were recruited. The median number of sexual contacts in the preceding 12 months was 4 (interquartile range 2‐10). HIV‐positive subjects had a mean (SD) CD4 count of 557 (217) cells/μL, and 84% were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Thirty‐one samples were B‐globin negative and thus excluded from further analysis. A total of 113 subjects (69%) had detectable HPV DNA. Sixty‐eight subjects (42%) had an HR‐HPV type detected. HR HPV type 16 was detected in 44 samples (27%), HR‐HPV type 18 in 26 samples (16%) and HR‐HPV type 31 in 14 samples (23%). Twenty‐eight subjects (17%) had more than one type of HR‐HPV type detected. When HPV and HR‐HPV were stratified by age, those > 35 years had a higher prevalence (P = 0.001 and P = 0.028, respectively). HIV‐positive subjects were more likely than HIV‐negative subjects to have any detectable HPV (77% vs. 61%, respectively; P = 0.04), to have HR‐HPV type 18 or 31 (P = 0.05 and P = 0.006, respectively) and to be infected with more than one HR‐HPV type (31% vs. 3%, respectively; P < 0.001). Within the HIV‐positive group, the prevalence of HPV was higher in those not on HAART (P = 0.041), although it did not differ when stratified by CD4 count.ConclusionsThe identified prevalence of anal HPV infection was high. Emerging patterns of HPV‐related disease strengthen the call for universal vaccination of boys and girls with consideration of catch‐up and targeted vaccination of high‐risk groups such as MSM and those with HIV infection.
Assessing the quality and effectiveness of an updated preventive home visit programme for ambulatory frail older Japanese people: research protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kono Ayumi , Izumi Kyoko , Kanaya Yukiko , Tsumura Chieko , Rubenstein Laurence Z. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimTo describe the programme and research protocol of our updated preventive home visit programme for ambulatory frail older adults in the Japanese Long‐Term Care Insurance system.BackgroundOur previous trials have shown that the nature of recommendations during preventive home visits is a key issue. The present programme has updated our previous one by including a unique structured assessment with treatment recommendations tied to an ongoing programme for quality assurance.DesignA randomized, controlled trial.MethodsEligible participants (n = 360) will be randomly assigned to home visit (n = 179) and control (n = 181) groups in three suburban municipalities. Nurses provide recommendations based on structured assessments to participants in visit group every 3 months from September 2011–October 2013. The primary outcomes are parameters related to quality of life, including activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, depression, cognitive capacity, daily‐life satisfaction and self‐efficacy for health promotion; these are collected by mail at baseline, 12 and 24 months. The secondary outcome is long‐term care use over the study period. To evaluate the visit process, we are qualitatively analysing documentation data from the assessment sheet and chart.ConclusionThis study is collecting and analysing evidence regarding the process and outcomes of preventive home visits based on structured care‐need assessments.Trial registration: The study protocol was registered for the UMIN clinical registry approved by ICMJE (No. UMIN000006463, October 04, 2011).
Dermatosis in children with oedematous malnutrition (Kwashiorkor): a review of the literature
Authors: Heilskov S. , Rytter M.J.H. , Vestergaard C. , Briend A. , Babirekere E. , Deleuran M.S. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractChildren with oedematous malnutrition, known as kwashiorkor, may develop a characteristic skin lesion, named ‘Dermatosis of Kwashiorkor’ (DoK). Only a few studies have been concerned with this condition, and the reason for the development of DoK remains unexplained. This study review the existing studies concerning DoK, including its clinical manifestations, histopathology, suggested pathophysiology, current treatment and prognosis for children of the age of 6 months to 5 years. Standardized clinical studies are needed to further understand the implications of DoK. Such studies would suffer from the lack of consistency concerning the terminology and scoring of the lesions in DoK. We therefore stress the need for a standardized scoring of the degree of DoK. This would facilitate valid and comparable studies and the development of better treatment for this vulnerable group of patients.
Characterization of γδT cells in naïve and HIV‐infected chimpanzees and their responses to T‐cell activators in vitro
Authors: Hodara Vida L. , Parodi Laura M. , Chavez Deborah , Smith Lisa M. , Lanford Robert , Giavedoni Luis D. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundγδT cells are effector cells that eliminate cancer and virus‐infected cells. Chimpanzees are an endangered species that can naturally and experimentally be infected with SIV and HIV, respectively, but no information about the functionality of γδT cells during chronic lentiviral infection is currently available.MethodsHealthy and HIV‐infected chimpanzee γδT cells were characterized by flow cytometry. γδT subsets were studied after stimulation with T‐cell activators, and the release of cytokines was analyzed by Luminex assay.ResultsγδT‐cell subsets, Vδ1 and Vδ2Vγ9, showed different patterns in the expression of CD4, CD195, CD159a, and CD159c. Stimulation of γδT cells resulted in increased levels of CD4 and HLA‐DR, which is more pronounced in Vδ1 T cells. Distinct cytokine patterns were found between healthy and HIV‐infected chimpanzees.ConclusionsAnalyses of major chimpanzee γδT subsets show similarities to human γδT cells and suggest different functionality and roles in their immune response against HIV infection.
Effects of grain source and marginal change in lucerne hay particle size on feed sorting, eating behaviour, chewing activity, and milk production in mid‐lactation Holstein dairy cows
Authors: Nasrollahi S. M. , Ghorbani G. R. , Khorvash M. , Yang W. Z. 
Published: March 2014

SummeryThis study investigated the effects of grain source and lucerne hay (LH) particle length on eating behaviour, chewing activity, and milk production of lactating dairy cows. Eight Holstein dairy cows (175 ± 21 days in milk) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with four 21‐days periods. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with barley grain alone or equal blend of barley and maize grains combined with short (15 mm) and long (30 mm) LH. Diets were fed ad libitum as total mixed ration with a concentrate to forage ratio of 60:40. Interactions between grain source and LH particle length on feed particle distributions, sorting index, chewing activity, and milk production were minimal. Partially replacing barley grain with maize in the diet overall did not change diurnal distributions of particles retained on the sieves of Penn State Particle Separator but reduced the proportion of particles on 1.18‐sieve and increased that of particles on pan (p < 0.05). Grain source did not affect sorting index and chewing activity. However, feeding long LH increased (p < 0.01) intakes of long particles retained on 19‐ and 8‐mm of sieve, prolonged (p < 0.05) eating time, and lowered eating rate (p < 0.05). Interestingly, cows fed with long LH ate more coarse particle during critical‐early time post feeding (i. e. 1.5 h), where eating time increased and eating rate decreased (p < 0.05). Increasing particle length of dietary LH tended to increase milk fat‐to‐protein ratio (p = 0.08). The results suggested that the increased eating time and decreased eating rate as a result of marginally increasing LH particle length would be beneficial to alleviate reduction of ruminal pH and milk fat percentage following the ingestion of highly fermentable diets.
Phylogeography of an alpine aquatic herb Ranunculus bungei (Ranunculaceae) on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Authors: CHEN Jin‐Ming , DU Zhi‐Yuan , YUAN Yang‐Yang , WANG Qing‐Feng 
Published: March 2014

AbstractMany phylogeographic studies of terrestrial plant species on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) have been carried out to elucidate the range shifts in response to climatic oscillations in the Quaternary. However, patterns of range shifts for aquatic plants following the climate change on the QTP are poorly understood. Here, we studied the historical range shifts of the aquatic herb Ranunculus bungei Steud. on the QTP using four chloroplast (cpDNA) non‐coding spacers. We revealed low within‐population genetic diversity (HS = 0.052) and high interpopulation genetic differentiation (GST = 0.914; NST = 0.954). But the high population differentiation was not coupled with a distinct phylogeographic structure (NST > GST, P > 0.05). Phylogenetic analyses revealed two main cpDNA haplotype lineages and the split between these two lineages can be dated back to the late Tertiary (3.84–11.90 Ma). Two independent range expansions within the two intraspecific lineages at approximately 0.15–0.46 and 0.17–0.50 Ma were revealed. Our results suggested that R. bungei survived the Last Glacial Maximum and/or previous glacial periods on the QTP. Colonization or recolonization during the repeated range expansions may have replaced the early haplotypes and the pre‐existing genetic structure and could explain the non‐significant phylogeographical structure.
Peritoneal‐dialysis related peritonitis caused by Gordonia species: Report of four cases and literature review
Authors: Ma Terry King‐Wing , Chow Kai‐Ming , Kwan Bonnie Ching‐Ha , Lee Kin‐Ping , Leung Chi‐Bon , Li Philip Kam‐Tao , Szeto Cheuk‐Chun 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAimTo investigate the clinical course and outcome of peritoneal dialysis‐associated peritonitis secondary to Gordonia species.MethodWe reviewed all Gordonia peritonitis episodes occurring in a single dialysis unit from 1994 to 2013.ResultsDuring the study period, four episodes of Gordonia peritonitis were recorded. All were male patients. One patient responded to vancomycin therapy. One patient had refractory peritonitis despite vancomycin, but responded to imipenem and amikacin combination therapy. One patient had relapsing peritonitis and required catheter removal. The fourth patient had an elective Tenckhoff catheter exchange. No patient died of peritonitis. Causative organism was not fully identified until 7 to 18 days of peritonitis.ConclusionGordonia species is increasingly recognized to cause serious infections. In patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis, Gordonia peritonitis should be considered in case of refractory Gram‐positive bacilli peritonitis, especially when the exact organism could not be identified one week after the onset of peritonitis. A close liaison with a microbiologist is needed for a timely diagnosis.
The Self‐Evidencing Brain
Authors: Hohwy Jakob 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAn exciting theory in neuroscience is that the brain is an organ for prediction error minimization (PEM). This theory is rapidly gaining influence and is set to dominate the science of mind and brain in the years to come. PEM has extreme explanatory ambition, and profound philosophical implications. Here, I assume the theory, briefly explain it, and then I argue that PEM implies that the brain is essentially self‐evidencing. This means it is imperative to identify an evidentiary boundary between the brain and its environment. This boundary defines the mind‐world relation, opens the door to skepticism, and makes the mind transpire as more inferentially secluded and neurocentrically skull‐bound than many would nowadays think. Therefore, PEM somewhat deflates contemporary hypotheses that cognition is extended, embodied and enactive; however, it can nevertheless accommodate the kinds of cases that fuel these hypotheses.
Metabolically healthy obesity and risk of incident type 2 diabetes: a meta‐analysis of prospective cohort studies
Authors: Bell J. A. , Kivimaki M. , Hamer M. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThe risk of type 2 diabetes among obese adults who are metabolically healthy has not been established. We systematically searched Medline (1946–August 2013) and Embase (1947–August 2013) for prospective studies of type 2 diabetes incidence (defined by blood glucose levels or self‐report) among metabolically healthy obese adults (defined by body mass index [BMI] and normal cardiometabolic clustering, insulin profile or risk score) aged ≥18 years at baseline. We supplemented the analysis with an original effect estimate from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), with metabolically healthy obesity defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg m−2 and <2 of hypertension, impaired glycaemic control, systemic inflammation, adverse high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and adverse triglycerides. Estimates from seven published studies and ELSA were pooled using random effects meta‐analyses (1,770 healthy obese participants; 98 type 2 diabetes cases). The pooled adjusted relative risk (RR) for incident type 2 diabetes was 4.03 (95% confidence interval = 2.66–6.09) in healthy obese adults and 8.93 (6.86–11.62) in unhealthy obese compared with healthy normal‐weight adults. Although there was between‐study heterogeneity in the size of effects (I2 = 49.8%; P = 0.03), RR for healthy obesity exceeded one in every study, indicating a consistently increased risk across study populations. Metabolically healthy obese adults show a substantially increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with metabolically healthy normal‐weight adults. Prospective evidence does not indicate that healthy obesity is a harmless condition.
Acute Pain Services and Postsurgical Pain Management in the Netherlands: A Survey
Authors: van Boekel Regina L. M. , Steegers Monique A. H. , Verbeek‐van Noord Inge , van der Sande Rob , Vissers Kris C. P. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundAcute postoperative pain is still inadequately managed, despite the presence of acute pain services (APSs). This study aimed to investigate the existence, structure, and responsibilities of Dutch APSs and to review the implementation of the Dutch Hospital Patient Safety Program (DHPSP).MethodsInformation was gathered by a digital questionnaire, sent to all 96 Dutch hospitals performing surgical procedures.ResultsCompleted questionnaires were received from 80 hospitals (83%), of which 90% have an APS. Important duties of the APS are regular patient rounds, checking complex pain techniques (100%), supporting quality improvement of pain management (87%), pain education (100%), and pain research (21%).Implementation of the DHPSPRegular in‐hospital pain training is not provided in 46% of the hospitals. Thirteen percent of the hospitals offer no patient information about pain management.ConclusionsAlmost all hospitals have an APS. They differ in both the way they are locally organized, along with the activities they employ. Future research needs to compare the effect of patient and nonpatient‐related activities of APSs on outcomes related to pain management.