bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Presentation of a Quality Management Program in Off-Pump Coronary Bypass Surgery
Authors: Bougioukakis Petros , Kluegl Stefan J. , Babin-Ebell Joerg , Tagarakis Giorgios I. , Mandewirth Martin , Zacher Michael , Diegeler Anno 
Published: August 2014

Objective To increase the number of off-pump coronary procedures at our institution, a new surgical team was formed. The first 3 years of “learning period” were accompanied by a quality management program aimed to control and adjust the surgical process and to ensure the safety and quality of the procedure. Methods All patients were operated on by the same surgeon between January 2004 and December 2006; all procedures were performed under the following quality management protocol. First, a flow chart regulated surgical and anesthetic details. Second, an online file, named “disturbance file,” was used to report work flow interruption, disturbance, and intraoperative events, that is, myocardial ischemia, hypotension, conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass, and any violation of the protocol. Each event was coded with 1 point and added to a score (the higher the score is, the greater the disturbance). Outcome parameters known as major events—major cardiac and cerebral events: mortality within 30 days/myocardial infarction confirmed by electrocardiogram or significantly high levels of total creatine kinase-myocardial muscle creatine kinase/reintervention within 30 days/stroke—and new-onset dialysis were also measured. Success was defined as freedom from any of those events and depicted in a cumulative sum control (CUSUM) chart. Outcome data and CUSUM were correlated with the intraoperative Disturbance Index. Results In total, 490 off-pump coronary bypass operations were performed by the named surgeon during the study period. The 30-day mortality was reduced from 4.0% to 1.9%. Disturbance Index score of greater than 1 declined from 41.6% to 23.3%. All major cardiac and cerebral events declined. The CUSUM chart showed two critical periods during the learning period, which made an adjustment of the protocol necessary. Conclusions Quality management control is efficient in improving the postoperative results of a surgical procedure. A learning period is of cardinal importance for any new team wishing to engage in a novel surgical technique.
Nonintubated Thoracoscopic Pulmonary Nodule Resection under Spontaneous Breathing Anesthesia with Laryngeal Mask
Authors: Ambrogi Marcello C. , Fanucchi Olivia , Korasidis Stylianos , Davini Federico , Gemignani Raffaello , Guarracino Fabio , Melfi Franca , Mussi Alfredo 
Published: August 2014

Objective During the past 20 years, the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has increased as an important minimally invasive tool. To further reduce its invasiveness, after a preliminary experience, we decided to use a nonintubated spontaneous breathing general anesthesia, for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resection of lung nodule, using a laryngeal mask (LMA). This study aimed to verify the safety and the feasibility of this technique. Methods Twenty consecutive patients who underwent thoracoscopic wedge of lung nodule under spontaneous breathing general anesthesia with LMA are the subjects of this study. Clinical data, American Society of Anesthesiologists status, Adult Comorbidity Evaluation-27 score, and Revised Cardiac Risk Index score were recorded for each patient. General inhalatory anesthesia (sevoflurane) was given in all cases through an LMA, without muscle relaxants, thus allowing spontaneous breathing. All procedures were performed in the lateral decubitus position. The maximum and minimum values of end-tidal carbon dioxide tension and oxygen saturation were recorded during the procedure. The level of technical feasibility was stratified by the operating surgeon according to four levels: excellent, good, satisfactory, and unsatisfactory. Results There were 13 men and 7 women (mean age, 57 years). The mean induction anesthesia time was 6 minutes, whereas the mean operative time was 38 minutes. The values of oxygen saturation as well as minimum and maximum end-tidal carbon dioxide tension were 99.1%, 33.6 mm Hg, and 39.1 mm Hg, respectively. No mask displacement occurred. The mean operative time was 38 minutes (range, 25–90 minutes). The level of technical feasibility was defined as excellent in 19 cases and good in 1 case. No mortality occurred. Morbidity consisted of pleural effusion (one case), which was medically resolved. The mean postoperative stay was 3.5 days. Histopathologic results were one squamous cell lung cancer (lung primary), one adenocarcinoma (lung primary), five metastasis from colon cancer, four metastasis from breast cancer, three metastasis from renal cancer, three sarcoidosis, two amartocondroma, and one tuberculosis. Conclusions Our experience suggests that thoracoscopic wedge resection of lung nodule is safe and feasible under spontaneous breathing anesthesia with LMA. This technique permits a confident manipulation of lung parenchyma and a safe stapler positioning, without cough, pain, or panic attack described for awake epidural anesthesia, avoiding the risks related to tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.
Robotic Mitral Valve Replacement for Severe Rheumatic Mitral Disease: Perioperative Technique, Outcomes, and Early Results
Authors: Senay Sahin , Gullu Ahmet Umit , Kocyigit Muharrem , Degirmencioglu Aleks , Kilic Leyla , Karabulut Hasan , Alhan Cem 
Published: August 2014

Objective We report a case series of robotic mitral valve replacement in patients with severe rheumatic mitral disease. Methods From March 2010 to June 2013, a total of 63 patients underwent robotic cardiac procedures. Robotic procedures were performed using the da Vinci Si surgical systems (Intuitive Surgical, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA USA). Eighteen of the patients (28.5%) underwent robotic mitral valve replacement. Rheumatic disease was the underlying pathology in all patients. The mean (SD) follow-up period was 18 (10) months. Results The mean (SD) age and EuroSCORE of the patients were 51.2 (11) years and 4.1% (4%), respectively. Seven patients (38.8%) had an additional cardiac procedure. No operative and hospital mortality were observed. The mean (SD) cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were 116 (30) and 178 (54) minutes, the mean (SD) drainage was 430 (350) mL, the mean intubation time was 9.4 (7) hours, the rate of patients extubated within 6 hours or less was 94.4%, and the mean (SD) intensive care unit stay time was 30 (12) hours. Sixteen of the patients (88.8%) were discharged from the intensive care unit within the first 24 hours postoperatively. During the intensive care unit stay, one patient (5.5%) needed inotropic support. There was one early reoperation for bleeding (5.5%), one (5.5%) intensive care unit readmission, and one (5.5%) hospital readmission observed. During the midterm follow-up, there was no mortality and no need for reoperation or reintervention. Conclusions Robotic mitral valve replacement for severe rheumatic mitral disease is technically feasible. Early results are encouraging. Patient selection criteria for robotic mitral valve surgery may be expanded to include valve replacements.
HAUSP compartmentalization in chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Morotti Alessandro , Panuzzo Cristina , Crivellaro Sabrina , Carrà Giovanna , Guerrasio Angelo , Saglio Giuseppe 
Published: August 2014

AbstractIntroductionPTEN plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia. Recently, we have shown that BCR‐ABL promotes PTEN nuclear exclusion, through the modulation of HAUSP activity.ObjectivesHere, we investigate HAUSP cellular compartmentalization in primary CML samples.ResultsWhile in normal CD34 positive cells HAUSP is expressed mostly in the nucleus, in CML CD34 cells HAUSP is expressed both in the nuclear bodies and in the cytoplasm.ConclusionsThis observation suggests that HAUSP behaves as a shuttling protein in CML. It can bind to BCR‐ABL in the cytosol, where it is phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, and it maintains the proper compartmentalization in the nuclear bodies, where it acts as part of a PML network to regulate PTEN de‐ubiquitination.
Dasatinib induces fast and deep responses in newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukaemia patients in chronic phase: clinical results from a randomised phase‐2 study (NordCML006)
Authors: Hjorth‐Hansen Henrik , Stenke Leif , Söderlund Stina , Dreimane Arta , Ehrencrona Hans , Gedde‐Dahl Tobias , Gjertsen Bjørn Tore , Höglund Martin , Koskenvesa Perttu , Lotfi Kourosh , Majeed Waleed , Markevärn Berit , Ohm Lotta , Olsson‐Strömberg Ulla , Remes Kari , Suominen Merja , Simonsson Bengt , Porkka Kimmo , Mustjoki Satu , Richter Johan ,   the Nordic CML Study Group (NCMLSG)
Published: August 2014

AbstractWe randomised 46 newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (median age 56) to receive dasatinib 100 mg QD or imatinib 400 mg QD and report outcome as an intention‐to‐treat analysis with 36 months follow‐up. Early cytogenetic and molecular responses were superior in the dasatinib group, with a tendency that imatinib patients caught up with time. For instance, MR3.0 was reached at 3 months in 36% vs. 8% (P = 0.02), at 12 months in 81% vs. 46% (P = 0.02) and at 18 months in 73% vs. 65% (n.s.) of the patients in the two groups. In contrast, MR4.5 was consistently superior in the dasatinib group at all time points from 6 months onwards, reaching 61% vs. 21% (P < 0.05) at 36 months. Sixty‐four vs. 71% of the patients in the dasatinib and imatinib arms, respectively, remained on assigned drug. Dasatinib dose was frequently reduced, but with maintained excellent effect. One imatinib patient progressed to blastic phase, but no CML‐related deaths occurred. In conclusion, our data compare favourably with those of the dasatinib registration study, DASISION. The fast and deep molecular responses induced by dasatinib compared with imatinib may be exploited to increase the proportion of patients who can achieve a treatment‐free remission after treatment discontinuation.
Comparative growth and metabolism of gelatinous colonies of three cyanobacteria, Nostoc commune, Nostoc pruniforme and Nostoc zetterstedtii, at different temperatures
Authors: Møller Claus Lindskov , Vangsøe Marie Therese , Sand‐Jensen Kaj 
Published: August 2014

Summary

The cyanobacterial genus Nostoc includes several species forming large spherical or sheet‐like gelatinous colonies of ecological importance in freshwater and semi‐terrestrial habitats. We tested differences in morphology, growth and metabolism across a range of temperatures (6–43 °C) of three colonial species of Nostoc collected and grown in ambient water from typical localities from Denmark and Sweden: the plume‐shaped Nostoc pruniforme, the rare blackberry‐shaped Nostoc zetterstedtii and the semi‐terrestrial, sheet‐like Nostoc commune.

All three species grew and photosynthesised in water between 6 and 33 °C in our experiments but died at 43 °C. The optimum temperature of around 25 °C and the critical temperature of around 33 °C are markedly higher than mean and maximum temperatures in the majority of habitats of N. pruniforme and N. zetterstedtii, suggesting that their distribution does not reflect temperature preference directly. Although N. commune survives deep‐freezing and heating to 70 °C, sustained growth was restricted to 0–33 °C.

Maximum growth rates were relatively high for N. pruniforme and N. commune (doubling time of 13–15 days) and extremely low for N. zetterstedtii (doubling time of 2.4 years). Rates of photosynthesis, respiration and growth were markedly higher in alkaline water than in softwater, but N. pruniforme still grew much faster than N. zetterstedtii in the same water. Declines of growth and photosynthetic rates with increasing ratio of dry weight to surface area between the species and with increasing colony size reflect higher respiratory costs relative to resource uptake.

We conclude that the three Nostoc species have similar temperature tolerance from 6 to 43 °C, despite large interspecific differences in rates of growth and photosynthesis, colony persistence and distribution.
Diagnoses of 964 oral biopsies from people aged over 50 years in Karnataka State, India
Authors: Mohan Bhavna C. , Angadi Punnya V. , Hallikerimath Seema , Kale Alka D. 
Published: August 2014

IntroductionThe drastic epidemiological transition has created a huge void in evidence with regard to the health statistics of elderly population. Data are sparse on the oral mucosal conditions prevalent among the elderly Indian population. This study aimed to review the oral biopsies reported in the institute over the last 21 years and to examine the trends in geriatric oral pathologies.MethodologyA total of 964 histologically confirmed geriatric (age ranging 50–97 years) oral lesions among 4000 cases reported were retrieved from the files of Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology of KLE VK institute, Belgaum, Karnataka commencing since 1992 till 2012. These cases were retrospectively evaluated for various parameters such as age, gender, duration, location and type of lesions.ResultsThe geriatric oral lesions were seen to occur predominantly in men (65%), especially the sixth decade of life (47%). The most common location was the buccal mucosa (29%). The malignant neoplastic lesions accounted for the majority of the geriatric lesions (36%) followed by non‐neoplastic lesions (27%), potentially malignant disorders (26%) and benign neoplasms, which formed a minor proportion of (11%). The oral squamous cell carcinoma was the single most common geriatric lesion accounted. Gender and age‐wise correlation analyses among the various lesion categories showed statistical significance.ConclusionThe study provides valuable information about major oral pathologies in our scenario that contribute to significant morbidity and mortality among the geriatric population. It also sheds light about the diseases that need to be targeted in future Indian public health policies and initiatives for geriatric care.
Sugar replacement in sweetened bakery goods
Authors: Struck Susanne , Jaros Doris , Brennan Charles S. , Rohm Harald 
Published: August 2014

SummaryThis review presents the state‐of‐the‐art concerning the application of natural and artificial high‐intensity sweeteners, fructans and bulking agents such as polyols as sugar replacers in sweet‐baked goods and their effects on product characteristics. The recent much publicised attention given to weight gain of the population and its consequences on the occurrence of diet‐related diseases in developed countries has influenced the food manufacturers attempts to provide the consumer with reduced energy products. The replacement of sucrose in sweet bakery products by alternative natural or artificial sweeteners can be a challenging issue. Sucrose as a main ingredient in sweet bakery products contributes, aside from providing sweetness, to numerous processing and product characteristics. Intense sweeteners have a high sweetness compared with sucrose but lack in their contribution to the body of the product, whereas the replacement of sucrose with bulking sweeteners may result in products with a similar body but a lack in taste and flavour.
The changing place of liver biopsy in clinical practice: an audit of an Australian tertiary hospital
Authors: Varma P. , Jayasekera C. , Gibson R. N. , Stella D. L. , Nicoll A. J. 
Published: August 2014

AbstractLiver biopsy is an important tool in hepatology, with a role now generally limited to cases of diagnostic uncertainty. A retrospective audit performed at the Royal Melbourne Hospital aimed to identify the indications for liver biopsy and its impact on management. Ten per cent (20/195) of biopsies lacked a strong clinical indication, with hepatology involvement in only 8/20. We recommend prior hepatologist assessment to minimise unnecessary biopsies.
Travail à temps partiel, ségrégation professionnelle et égalité entre hommes et femmes en Europe
Authors: SPARREBOOM Theo 
Published: August 2014

RésuméL'auteur montre comment la ségrégation sexuelle et la ségrégation en fonction de la durée du travail modèlent l'espace professionnel des travailleurs à temps partiel. La première varie selon les parts du plein temps et du temps partiel dans l'emploi total. Le compromis entre volume de l'emploi féminin et ségrégation sexuelle est plus prégnant pour le plein temps. La ségrégation sexuelle est moins marquée dans l'emploi à temps partiel que dans l'emploi à plein temps, et l'écart entre le volume de l'emploi à temps partiel masculin et celui de l'emploi à temps partiel féminin détermine les effets du travail à temps partiel sur la ségrégation dans l'emploi total.
Effective population size and inbreeding depression on litter size in rabbits. A case study
Authors: Ragab M. , Sánchez J.P. , Baselga M. 
Published: August 2014

SummaryThe purpose of this study is to use demographic and litter size data on four Spanish maternal lines of rabbits (A, V, H and LP), as a case study, in order to: (i) estimate the effective population size of the lines, as a measure of the rate of increase of inbreeding, and (ii) study whether the inbreeding effect on litter size traits depends on the pattern of its accumulation over time. The lines are being selected for litter size at weaning and are kept closed at the same selection nucleus under the same selection and management programme. The study considered 47 794 l and a pedigree of 14 622 animals. Some practices in mating and selection management allow an increase of the inbreeding coefficient lower than 0.01 per generation in these lines of around 25 males and 125 females. Their effective population size (Ne) was around 57.3, showing that the effect of selection, increasing the inbreeding, was counterbalanced by the management practices, intended to reduce the rate of inbreeding increase. The inbreeding of each individual was broken down into three components: old, intermediate and new inbreeding. The coefficients of regression of the old, intermediate and new inbreeding on total born (TB), number born alive (NBA) and number weaned (NW) per litter showed a decreasing trend from positive to negative values. Regression coefficients significantly different from zero were those for the old inbreeding on TB (6.79 ± 2.37) and NBA (5.92 ± 2.37). The contrast between the coefficients of regression between the old and new inbreeding were significant for the three litter size traits: 7.57 ± 1.72 for TB; 6.66 ± 1.73 for NBA and 5.13 ± 1.67 for NW. These results have been interpreted as the combined action of purging unfavourable genes and artificial selection favoured by the inbreeding throughout the generations of selection.
Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity Reflects the Extent of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Hofmann Britt , Riemer Marcus , Erbs Christian , Plehn Alexander , Navarrete Santos Alexander , Wienke Andreas , Silber Rolf‐Edgar , Simm Andreas 
Published: August 2014

Arterial stiffness is a well‐established risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) as a measure of arterial stiffness was obtained in 155 (47 women; 67.2±9.1 years, range 44–87 years) patients with detected coronary artery disease (CAD) scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery. The authors set out to analyze how cfPWV in CAD patients correlates with reference values for healthy, normotensive volunteers and whether cfPWV values reflect the extent of CAD. cfPWV was measured with an oscillometric device. Mean cfPWV value of CAD patients was 9.3±1.9 m/s vs 7.7±1.1 m/s in healthy volunteers (P<.0001). In a multiple regression model, age (P<.0001), sex (P=.006), systolic arterial pressure (P=.04), mean arterial pressure (P=.04), and severity of CAD (P<.001) emerged as independent predictive markers for cfPWV in CAD patients. This study established reference values for cfPWV in CAD patients measured with an oscillometric device and confirmed the strong association between arterial stiffness and severity of CAD.
Fluoroscopic and Electrical Assessment of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Leads: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: McKEAG NICHOLAS A. , HODKINSON EMILY C. , NOAD REBECCA L. , KODOTH VIVEK N. , ASHFIELD KYLE , WILSON CAROL M. , McENEANEY DAVID J. , ROBERTS MICHAEL J.D. 
Published: August 2014

BackgroundInsulation defects resulting in conductor externalization (CE) have been reported in the Riata family of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads (St. Jude Medical, Sylmar, CA, USA). The aim of this study was to identify, prospectively, the rate of CE and outcomes following this, within a group of patients with a Riata ICD lead.MethodsPatients with a Riata ICD lead attended for fluoroscopic screening and electrical assessment of the lead at yearly intervals between 2010 and 2012.ResultsOne hundred and forty patients had no or borderline evidence of CE on initial assessment in 2010. These patients were prospectively followed for 3 years (304.6 patient‐years). During this time, 11 patients developed definite CE, equating to an event rate of 3.6 (95% confidence intervals: 1.8–6.5) per 100 patient‐years of follow‐up. Of those patients developing definite CE, one patient had the ICD lead explanted (for reasons unrelated to CE) and no patients died. CE was not associated with any electrical abnormalities of the ICD lead.ConclusionsCE was observed at a rate of 3.6 per 100 patient‐years of follow‐up, in 140 individuals with a Riata ICD lead and no definite evidence of CE at baseline.
Issue Ownership and the Vote: The Effects of Associative and Competence Ownership on Issue Voting
Authors: Lachat Romain 
Published: August 2014

AbstractParties often are associated with specific issues. They can “own” an issue when they develop a reputation of competence and attention in that domain. This paper develops an individual‐level model of the effects of issue ownership, distinguishing between two aspects of this concept: which party is considered to care most about a given issue (associative ownership), and which one is perceived to have the best solutions (competence ownership). When a party is the associative owner of a given issue, voters' preferences on the corresponding issue should have a larger impact on the evaluation of the issue owner. But when a party is considered to be most competent in that domain, the effect of spatial distances should decrease. These hypotheses are tested with a statistical model that allows the impact of voter‐party issue distances on party utilities to vary across both parties and issues. This model is tested with data from the 2011 Swiss election study.