bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of mitral valve replacement on reduction of left atrial size
Authors: Pande Shantanu , Agarwal Surendra K , Mohanty Satyapriya , Bansal Anubhav 
Published: June 2013

Introduction: asymptomatic left atrial enlargement is not uncommon in rheumatic mitral valve disease. We studied the change in size of the left atrium after mitral valve replacement. Patients and methods: between January and December 2005, 116 patients underwent isolated mitral valve replacement. Two groups were identified based on left atrial size: group 1 < 60 mm ( n = 79) and group 2 > 60 mm ( n = 37). The patients were followed up for 40.4 ± 19.3 months Clinical assessment, preoperative and last postoperative echocardiograms were considered for analysis. Results: the left atrium decreased by 5.84 mm ± 10.5 in group 1 compared to 20.9 mm ± 10.64 in group 2 ( p = 0.0001). This correlated with preoperative mitral valve area ( p = 0.009), preoperative mitral regurgitation ( p = 0.000), and preoperative atrial fibrillation ( p = 0.022). Linear regression analysis revealed atrial fibrillation ( p = 0.001, b1 = 6.006), a high grade of mitral regurgitation ( p = 0.001, b1 = −3.812), and larger size of the left atrium ( p = 0.000, b1 = −0.701) predicted a greater reduction of left atrial size during follow-up. Left atrial size decreased by 28 mm in patients with a preoperative left atrium >60 mm (75% sensitivity and 100% specificity). Conclusion: the asymptomatic left atrium reduces in size considerably after mitral valve replacement, and the decrease is greater in patients with a left atrium >60 mm in size.
Crosslinked acellular saphenous vein for small-diameter vascular graft
Authors: Ramesh Balasundari , Mathapati Santosh , Galla Satish , Cherian Kotturathu Mammen , Guhathakurta Soma 
Published: June 2013

Objective: Patients with congenital and acquired heart diseases or arteriopathy require small-diameter vascular grafts for arterial reconstruction. Autologous veins are the most suitable graft, but when absent, an alternative is necessary. This work addresses the issue. Background: Tissue-engineering efforts to create such grafts by modifications of acellular natural scaffolds are considered a promising area. Methods: Homologous saphenous veins harvested from cadavers and organ donors were processed by decellularization with detergent and enzymatic digestion, followed by crosslinking by dye-mediated photooxidation. They were validated for acellularity, mechanical strength, and crosslink stability. In-vitro and in-vivo cytotoxicity and hemocompatibility studies were conducted. Collagen conformity was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and heat stability by differential scanning calorimetry. A limited large animal study was performed. Results: The processing method delivered biocompatible, hemocompatible, effectively crosslinked grafts, with high heat stability of 126 ℃, an enthalpy value of 183.5 J·g−1, and collagen conformity close to that of the native vein. The mechanical strength was 250% better than the native vein. The presence of extracellular matrix proteins allowed the acellular vein to become a triple-layered vascular structure in the sheep venous system. Conclusion: Crosslinking after decellularization by the dye-mediated photooxidation method could be reproduced in any human vein to obtain a small-diameter vascular grafts.
Sternal wrapping: developments and results
Authors: Aratari Carlo , Capestro Filippo , Massi Francesco , Magnano Diego , Manché Alexander , Lamarra Mauro 
Published: June 2013

Background: Postoperative sternal wound complications are infrequent events that negatively affect recovery and may have serious consequences. Sternal wrapping, a technique of sternal care, has hemostatic properties without bone wax, and offers mechanical and microbiologic protection. Methods: From February 1998 to December 2011, 258 patients in 2 Italian institutions underwent various cardiac surgery procedures with sternal wrapping in place, and were followed up for no less then 6 months. Results: Two (0.8%) extremely compromised patients with ischemic sternal osteonecrosis and deep sternal wound infection required a sternal stabilizing procedure. Four (2%) other patients developed sternal wound complications that were treated entirely medically; 3 of them were very trivial, and 1 was an atypical mediastinitis without sternal involvement. Overall, 46.1% of patients (45.3% of isolated coronary artery bypass, 49.3% of isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass, and 18.2% of off-pump coronary artery bypass patients) were transfused. None of the complications was related to sternal wrapping, bleeding from the sternal edge, or sternal wound problems. Conclusions: Sternal wrapping showed a very low incidence and severity of sternal wound complications, with good prevention of sternal osteomyelitis. Hemostatic properties were satisfactory, with transfusion rates within an acceptable range.
Preoperative pulmonary artery pressure and mortality after lung transplantation
Authors: Ohtsuka Takashi , Flaherty Kevin R , Lin Jules , Lama Vibha N , Reddy Rishindra M , Orringer Mark B , Chan Kevin M , Chang Andrew C 
Published: June 2013

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of changes in pulmonary artery pressure during the waiting period on survival after lung transplantation for pulmonary fibrosis. Methods: We identified 65 patients with pulmonary fibrosis who underwent lung transplantation from 2003 to 2010. Pulmonary artery pressure determined at listing was compared with intraoperative pressure. The primary outcome was overall survival. Co-variates included type of transplantation (single or bilateral), ischemic time, recipient and donor age and sex. Results: The median age of the 65 patients undergoing transplantation was 58 years, and 27 (43%) underwent bilateral sequential transplantation. Twenty-two (35%) patients presented at transplantation with a mean pulmonary artery pressure increased by at least 10% compared to the initial pressure at the time of listing. Rising pulmonary artery pressure at transplantation was associated with increased mortality ( p = 0.022). Other factors including type of operation, ischemic time, age, and sex, were not significantly associated with mortality. Post-transplantation survival was worse among recipients who had pulmonary artery pressure increased by at least 10% at transplantation ( p = 0.003, logrank). Conclusions: Increasing pulmonary artery pressure while awaiting lung transplantation is associated with worse long-term survival following transplantation, and is a sign of progressively worsening disease for which greater urgency of donor organ allocation should be considered.
Les stratégies de coping des adolescents confrontés à la critique de leurs pairs sur un choix de marque
Authors: Benmoyal-Bouzaglo Sarah , Guiot Denis 
Published: June 2013

Résumé Rares sont les travaux académiques qui portent sur la manière dont les adolescents réagissent aux critiques des pairs sur un choix de marque dans le contexte scolaire. Afin de mieux répondre aux enjeux de cette problématique sociétale et du marketing éducatif qui s’y rattache, ces réactions sont étudiées par le concept de coping mobilisé ici dans le cadre d’une approche mixte processus-style. Trois études quantitatives successives (n1 = 208 ; n2 = 200 ; n3 = 446) ont permis de mettre en évidence cinq stratégies de coping spécifiques : la justification des circonstances de l’achat, la vengeance, le déni du problème, la culpabilisation des critiqueurs et l’auto-attribution du problème. Parmi les déterminants potentiels, trois variables individuelles affectent particulièrement le déploiement de ces stratégies : le genre, la contrôlabilité perçue de la situation et la sensibilité aux marques.
Différences de comportement d’achat entre des magasins laboratoires réels et virtuels
Authors: Desmet Pierre , Bordenave Richard , Traynor John 
Published: June 2013

Résumé Pour tester des initiatives marketing en magasin (packaging, prix, etc.), un magasin laboratoire virtuel (3D) offre une alternative attractive au magasin laboratoire réel sur le plan opérationnel. Par une comparaison sur des échantillons contrôlés, cette recherche montre que les mesures attitudinales sont identiques, mais aussi qu’il existe des différences significatives sur les comportements en magasin et sur l’attention au prix et que celles-ci dépendent de l’achat habituel de la marque.
Metformin's performance in in vitro and in vivo genetic toxicology studies
Authors: Sant'Anna Juliane R , Yajima Joana Paula RS , Rosada Lúcia J , Franco Claudinéia CS , Prioli Alberto J , Della-Rosa Valter A , Mathias Paulo Cezar F , Castro-Prado Marialba AA 
Published: June 2013

Metformin is a hypoglycemiant drug prescribed for the treatment and control of the type 2 diabetes mellitus. Recently, the potential efficacy of this antidiabetic drug as an anticancer agent has been demonstrated in various mammalian cancer cells. This report evaluates the mutagenic as well as the recombinogenic potentials of the metformin drug in therapeutically relevant plasma concentrations (12.5 µM, 25.0 µM or 50.0 µM). Since the loss of heterozygosity is a process associated with carcinogenesis, the recombinogenic potential of such a drug was evaluated by the homozygotization assay using a heterozygous diploid strain of Aspergillus nidulans. The homozigotization indices (HI) for the genetic markers from the metformin-treated diploids were not statistically different from the negative control (non-treated diploids). For the first time, this indicated a lack of recombinogenic activity of the antidiabetic drug. The mutagenic potential of the metformin drug was evaluated by the chromosome aberrations and the micronuclei tests in human lymphocytes cultures. The metformin drug did not show any significant increase either in the numerical or in the structural chromosome aberrations and did not affect significantly the mitotic index when compared to the negative control. In the in vitro micronucleus test, the drug did not increase the number of micronuclei or nuclear buds when compared with the negative control. The data in this study suggest that the metformin drug is not a secondary cancer inducer, since it has neither showed recombinogenic nor mutagenic activities when used in pharmacological concentrations.
Protective effect of Erythropoietin on renal injury induced in rats by four weeks of exhaustive exercise
Authors: Lin Xixiu , Jiang Chonghe , Luo Ziqiang , Qu Shulin 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
The protective effect of Erythropoietin (EPO) analogue rHuEPO on acute renal injury induced by exhaustive exercise had been reported. The purpose of this study is to probe into the protective effect of EPO on chronic renal injury induced by repeated exhaustive exercise for four weeks.

Methods
Eighty adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were used in this experiment. The animals were randomly allocated to one of four groups: control (C), exhaustive exercise test (ET), ET plus EPO pre-treatement (ET+EPO) and ET+EPO plus LY294002 pretreatment (ET+EPO+LY).

Results
Compared with the rats in control group, there was considerable damage in kidney cells in rats of ET group as revealed by histological and ultrastructural examinations. However, treatment with EPO during the training, the exhaustive running distance was significant increased (P < 0.01), and the pathological changes of kidney cell were much less compared with those of rats without EPO intervention. When LY294002, a specific inhibitor of phospholipids phthalocyanine inositol 3-kinase, was added to the EPO treated rats, the injury changes of renal cell were becoming more pronounced.

Conclusions
The protective effect of EPO on chronic renal injury induced by repeated exhaustive exercise was demonstrated in the present study. We proposed that the effect could be due to inhibiting the cell apoptosis and blocking the formation of interstitial fibrosis via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, thus plays role in the endogenous protection of the kidney injury.
Correlates of preferences for home or hospital confinement in Pakistan: evidence from a national survey
Authors: Javed Sajid Amin , Anjum Muhammad Danish , Imran Waqas , Haider Azad , Shiraz Ayesha , Shaheen Farzana , Iftikhar ul Husnain Muhammad 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Despite the pregnancy complications related to home births, homes remain yet major place of delivery in Pakistan and 65 percent of totals births take place at home. This work analyses the determinants of place of delivery in Pakistan.

Methods
Multivariate Logistic regression is used for analysis. Data are extracted from Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (2006–07). Based on information on last birth preceding 5 years of survey, we construct dichotomous dependent variable i.e. whether women deliver at home (Coded=1) or at health facility (coded=2).

Results
Bivariate analysis shows that 72% (p≤0.000) women from rural area and 81% women residing in Baluchistan delivered babies at home. Furthermore 75% women with no formal education, 81% (p≤0.000) women working in agricultural sector, 75% (p≤0.000) of Women who have 5 and more children and almost 77% (p≤0.000) who do not discussed pregnancy related issues with their husbands are found delivering babies at home. Multivariate analysis documents that mothers having lower levels of education, economic status and empowerment, belonging to rural area, residing in provinces other than Punjab, working in agriculture sector and mothers who are young are more likely to give births at home.

Conclusion
A trend for home births, among Pakistani women, can be traced in lower levels of education, lower autonomy, poverty driven working in agriculture sector, higher costs of using health facilities and regional backwardness.
Hospital survey on patient safety culture in China
Authors: Nie Yanli , Mao Xuanyue , Cui Hao , He Shenghong , Li Jing , Zhang Mingming 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Patient safety culture is an important measure in assessing the quality of health care. There is a growing recognition of the need to establish a culture of hospital focused on patient safety. This study explores the attitudes and perceptions of patient safety culture for health care workers in China by using a Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSPSC) questionnaire and comparing it with the psychometric properties of an adapted translation of the HSPSC in Chinese hospitals with that of the US.

Method
We used the modified HSPSC questionnaire to measure 10 dimensions of patient safety culture from 32 hospitals in 15 cities all across China. The questionnaire included 1160 Chinese health-care workers who consisted of predominately internal physicians and nurses. We used SPSS 17.0 and Microsoft Excel 2007 to conduct the statistical analysis on survey data including descriptive statistics and validity and reliability of survey. All data was input and checked by two investigators independently.

Result
A total of 1500 questionnaires were distributed of which 1160 were responded validly (response rate 77%). The positive response rate for each item ranged from 36% to 89%. The positive response rate on 5 dimensions (Teamwork Within Units, Organization Learning-Continuous Improvement, Communication Openness, Non-punitive Response and Teamwork Across Units) was higher than that of AHRQ data (P < 0.05). There was a statistical difference on the perception of patient safety culture in groups of different work units, positions and qualification levels. The internal consistency of the total survey was comparatively satisfied (Cronbach’s α = 0.84).

Conclusion
The results show that amongst the health care workers surveyed in China there was a positive attitude towards the patient safety culture within their organizations. The differences between China and the US in patient safety culture suggests that cultural uniqueness should be taken into consideration whenever safety culture measurement tools are applied in different culture settings.
Effect of static seeding methods on the distribution of fibroblasts within human acellular dermis
Authors: Vitacolonna Mario , Belharazem Djeda , Hohenberger Peter , Roessner Eric D 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Introduction
When developing tissue engineered solutions for existing clinical problems, cell seeding strategies should be optimized for desired cell distribution within matrices. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the effects of different static cell seeding methods and subsequent static cell culture for up to 12 days with regard to seeding efficiency and resulting cellular distribution in acellular dermis.

Materials and methods
The seeding methods tested were surface seeding of both unmodified and mechanically incised dermis, syringe injection of cell suspension, application of low-pressure and use of an ultrasonic bath to remove trapped air. The effect of “platelet derived growth factor” (PDGF) on surface seeding and low pressure seeding was also investigated. Scaffolds were incubated for up to 12 days and were histologically examined at days 0, 4, 8 and 12 for cell distribution and infiltration depth. The metabolic activity of the cells was quantified with the MTT assay at the same time points.

Results
The 50 ml syringe degassing procedure produced the best results in terms of seeding efficiency, cell distribution, penetration depth and metabolic activity within the measured time frame. The injection and ultrasonic bath methods produced the lowest seeding efficiency. The incision method and the 20 ml syringe degassing procedure produced results that were not significantly different to those obtained with a standard static seeding method.

Conclusion
We postulate that air in the pores of the human acellular dermis (hAD) hinders cell seeding and subsequent infiltration. We achieved the highest seeding efficiency, homogeneity, infiltration depth and cell growth within the 12 day static culturing period by degassing the dermis using low- pressure created by a 50 ml syringe. We conclude that this method to eliminate trapped air provides the most effective method to seed cells and to allow cell proliferation in a natural scaffold.
Targeting cancer cell-specific RNA interference by siRNA delivery using a complex carrier of affibody-displaying bio-nanocapsules and liposomes
Authors: Nishimura Yuya , Mieda Hiroaki , Ishii Jun , Ogino Chiaki , Fujiwara Toshinobu , Kondo Akihiko 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has attracted attention in the field of nucleic acid medicine as a RNA interference (RNAi) application that leads to gene silencing due to specific messenger RNA (mRNA) destruction. However, since siRNA is unstable in blood and unable to cross the cell membrane, encapsulation of siRNA into a carrier is required.

Results
In this study, we used a carrier that combined ZHER2-displaying bio-nanocapsule (derived from hepatitis B virus surface antigen) and liposomes in a complex in order to investigate the feasibility of effective and target-cell-specific RNAi applications. As a result, by observing RNAi only in HER2-expressing breast cancer cells, using our proposed methodology, we successfully demonstrated target-cell-specific delivery and effective function expression of siRNA.

Conclusions
These findings show that, in the field of nucleic acid medicine, ZHER2-BNC/LP can be a useful carrier for siRNA delivery, and could also become a useful tool for gene silencing and to accomplish protein knock-down.
Facilitating the creation of IoT applications through conditional observations in CoAP
Authors: Teklemariam Girum Ketema , Hoebeke Jeroen , Moerman Ingrid , Demeester Piet 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
With the advent of IPv6, the world is getting ready to incorporate smart objects to the current Internet to realize the idea of Internet of Things. The biggest challenge faced is the resource constraint of the smart objects to directly utilize the existing standard protocols and applications. A number of initiatives are currently witnessed to resolve this situation. One of such initiatives is the introduction of Constrained Application Protocol. This protocol is developed to fit in the resource-constrained smart object with the ability to easily translate to the prominent representational state transfer implementation, hypertext transfer protocol (and vice versa). The protocol has several optional extensions, one of them being, resource observation. With resource observation, a client may ask a server to be notified every state change of the resource. However, in many applications, all state changes are not significant enough for the clients. Therefore, the client will have to decide whether to use a value sent by a server or not. This results in wastage of the already constrained resources (bandwidth, processing power,…). In this paper, we introduced an alternative to the normal resource observation function, named Conditional Observation, where clients tell the servers the criteria for notification. We evaluated the power consumption and number of packets transmitted between clients and servers by using different network sizes and number of servers. In all cases, we found out that the existing observe option results in excessive number of packets (most of them unimportant for the client) and higher power consumption. We also made an extensive theoretical evaluation of the two approaches which give consistent result with the results we got from experimentation.
Accuracy of the Masimo Pronto-7® system in patients with left ventricular assist device
Authors: Bruells Christian S , Menon Ares K , Rossaint Rolf , Goetzenich Andreas , Czaplik Michael , Zoremba Norbert , Autschbach Rüdiger , Schaelte Gereon 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
The Masimo Pronto-7® calculates hemoglobin (Hb) values using the pulsoximetry technique and a variety of mathematical algorithms analyzing the pulse waveform. Although this system has demonstrated a high level of accuracy in average patients, the performance might be altered in special patient populations. Regarding patients with left ventricular cardiac failure, a rotary blood pump generates a constant, continuous, non-pulsatile flow to improve effective cardiac output. Due to this alteration in both, blood flow and arterial blood pressure we hypothesized a reduced accuracy of the Masimo Pronto-7® to detect Hb in patients with left ventricular cardiac failure. To test our hypothesis, we evaluated the Pronto-7®SpHb system in outpatients after continuous-flow-left ventricular assist device (cf-LVAD) implantation (HeartMate II, Thoratec).

Methods
21 cf-LVAD outpatients from the Clinic for Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery were investigated during routine follow up examinations. After venous blood samples were drawn, the Pronto-7® sensor was attached to one randomly selected finger of one hand. The collected SpHb data were compared with Hb values measured by our central laboratory. The difference between the methods was determined using Bland – Altman analysis. The study was registered in the DRKS (DRKS00004415).

Results
In all cf-LVAD patients evaluated, the Pronto-7® successfully detected SpHb values. Using Bland – Altman analysis, a bias of 0.14 g/dl (95% upper and lower limits of agreement ± 2.76 g/dl) was calculated.

Conclusion
The Pronto-7® overestimated the actual Hb value in cf-LVAD outpatients with the HeartMate II. Due to this, we conclude that the system is suitable for screening in routine examinations and further analysis can be performed if needed. However, its use as an emergency tool is questionable because of the increased inaccuracy when Hb values are critically low.