bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postoperative administration of dienogest plus estradiol valerate versus levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine device for prevention of pain relapse and disease recurrence in endometriosis patients
Authors: Morelli Michele , Sacchinelli Angela , Venturella Roberta , Mocciaro Rita , Zullo Fulvio 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAimIn recent years, both dienogest, a fourth‐generation progestin, and levonorgestrel‐releasing intrauterine device have been found to be effective in terms of endometriosis‐related pelvic pain improvement. No data, however, are available about their efficacy in terms of postoperative recurrence prevention in women recently submitted to surgery for endometriosis at every stage. Our objective was to compare two postoperative medical approaches for pain control and reduction of recurrences in patients undergoing surgery for endometriosis.Material and MethodsNinety‐two patients undergoing surgery for endometriosis and subsequent treatment by estradiol valerate + dienogest (EP) (group A) or levonorgestrel‐releasing uterine device (LNG‐IUD) (Group B) between January 2009 and June 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. The primary endpoints were pain relapse and disease recurrence rate at 12 and 24 months. The secondary endpoint was patient satisfaction with the therapy at 24 months.ResultsForty‐eight patients in Group A and 44 in Group B were examined. At 12 and 24 months a statistically greater reduction both in Ca125 levels and VAS score was seen in women treated with EP compared to LNG‐IUD. The recurrence rate at 12 and 24 months follow‐up was slightly lower, but not at a significant level, in Group A than in Group B. Finally, satisfaction with treatment at 24 months was significantly higher in Group B.ConclusionEP administration is significantly more effective than LNG‐IUD in reducing pelvic pain and more effective in reducing recurrence rate but not at a significant level. LNG‐IUD, however, has significantly higher patient satisfaction.
Labor induction by transcervical balloon catheter and cerebral palsy associated with umbilical cord prolapse
Authors: Yamada Takahiro , Cho Kazutoshi , Yamada Takashi , Morikawa Mamoru , Minakami Hisanori 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to determine whether the use of transcervical balloon catheter (TCBC) for induction of labor (IOL) is a risk factor for cerebral palsy (CP) associated with umbilical cord prolapse (UCP‐CP) in singleton pregnancies with cephalic presentation.Material and MethodsAmong all 102 infants with CP who were preliminarily determined as caused by antenatal and/or intrapartum hypoxemia by the Japan Council for Quality Health Care until April 2012, all 56 infants who met all of the following criteria were studied: cephalic singleton pregnancy, reassuring fetal status on electronic cardiotocogram at time of admission to obstetric facilities for labor pains, ruptured fetal membranes, and/or IOL, and hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy at birth. Clinical backgrounds were compared between six infants with UCP‐CP and the remaining 50 infants with CP not associated with UCP (non‐UCP‐CP).ResultsFrequencies of IOL (83% [5/6] vs 32% [16/50], P = 0.0236), use of TCBC (67% [4/6] vs 10% [5/50], P = 0.0044), and amniotomy (67% [4/6] vs 24% [12/50], P = 0.0494) were significantly higher in the UCP‐CP than the non‐UCP‐CP group. Only TCBC was a risk factor significantly associated with UCP‐CP after logistic regression analysis, yielding an odds ratio of 18.0 (95% confidence interval, 2.6–124; P = 0.003). Saline volumes of 80–150 mL were used for TCBC inflation in the four UCP‐CP patients.ConclusionUse of TCBC with a saline volume ≥ 80 mL was a significant risk factor for UCP‐CP; however, the absolute risk of UCP‐CP was estimated to be very low, approximately one in 7875 TCBC users.
Decreasing full‐term neonatal birthweight over the past 2 decades in a single institute in Japan
Authors: Orita Yuji , Tajima Masaki , Hiwatashi Sayuri , Terao Sayori , Iwamoto Ichiro , Oki Toshimichi , Douchi Tsutomu 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAimThe aim of this study was to investigate whether full‐term neonatal birthweight is decreasing or not.Material and MethodsSubjects were selected from the registration database of full‐term singletons from a single local practitioner at two time‐points, 1991 (n = 750) and 2011 (n = 442). Maternal age, parity, and smoking habits were recorded. Baseline characteristics included pre‐pregnancy bodyweight (BW), body mass index (BMI), bodyweight before parturition, and weight gain during pregnancy. Neonatal birthweight and height were recorded. Variables correlated with neonatal size were investigated.ResultsMale birthweight decreased from 3248 ± 409 (n = 373) to 3149 ± 430 g (n = 230) (P < 0.001). Female birthweight also decreased from 3148 ± 378 (n = 377) to 3063 ± 343 g (n = 212) (P < 0.01). Gestational age was shorter (40.1 ± 1.1 to 39.6 ± 1.1 weeks, P < 0.001). Pre‐pregnancy maternal BMI did not change (20.7 ± 2.6, n = 750 to 20.5 ± 2.7, n = 442). Weight gain during pregnancy decreased (11.3 ± 3.8 to 10.8 ± 3.4 kg, P < 0.05) and was positively correlated with birthweight (P < 0.001). On multiple regression analysis, time was inversely correlated with birthweight, while it was positively correlated with pre‐pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, and gestational age.ConclusionsIn addition to maternal slenderness, increasing lower weight gain during pregnancy and medical intervention by physicians may in part contribute to the decrease in full‐term birthweight over the past 2 decades.
Philosophy Unbound: The Idea of Global Philosophy
Authors: Brooks Thom 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe future of philosophy is moving towards “global philosophy.” The idea of global philosophy is the view that different philosophical approaches may engage more substantially with each other to solve philosophical problems. Most solutions attempt to use only those available resources located within one philosophical tradition. A more promising approach might be to expand the range of available resources to better assist our ability to offer more compelling solutions. This search for new horizons in order to improve our clarity about philosophical issues is at the heart of global philosophy. The idea of global philosophy encourages us to look beyond our traditions to improve our philosophical problem‐solving by our own lights. Global philosophy is a new approach whose time is coming. This essay offers the first account of this approach and an assessment of its future promise.
Models, Models, and Models
Authors: Wheeler Gregory 
Published: April 2013

AbstractMichael Dummett famously maintained that analytic philosophy was simply philosophy that followed Frege in treating the philosophy of language as the basis for all other philosophy (1978, 441). But one important insight to emerge from computer science is how difficult it is to animate the linguistic artifacts that the analysis of thought produces. Yet, modeling the effects of thought requires a new skill that goes beyond analysis: procedural literacy. Some of the most promising research in philosophy makes use of a variety of modeling techniques that go beyond basic logic and elementary probability theory. What unifies this approach is a focus on what Alan Perlis called procedural literacy. This essay argues that the future spoils in philosophical research will disproportionally go to those who are procedurally literate.
Relationship between fatigue and social support in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Karadag Ezgi , Kilic Serap Parlar , Metin Ozgur 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between fatigue and social support in hemodialysis patients in Turkey. This study was conducted on 73 patients receiving hemodialysis treatment in a hemodialysis unit in the province of Malatya between July and November 2011. A questionnaire consisting of 16 questions for sociodemographic and disease data was used together with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). In statistical evaluation, the Mann–Whitney U‐test, independent t‐test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Pearson's correlation analysis were used. Correlation analysis between severity of fatigue in hemodialysis patients and social support revealed a significant relationship in the negative direction between fatigue severity and support from family (r = −0.404, P < 0.05), support from friends (r = −0.635, P < 0.05), support from a special person (r = −0.638, P < 0.05) and overall support (r = −0.643, P < 0.05). Patients with severe fatigue had low mean scores for support from family, friends, a special person and overall, whereas a high level of social support decreased the level of fatigue. When giving care to patients on hemodialysis, nurses should consider the effect of social support on fatigue and approach their patients from this perspective.
A confirmatory factor analysis of the Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scale
Authors: Williams Brett , Brown Ted 
Published: April 2013

AbstractThe Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scale measures readiness for self‐directed learning among undergraduate healthcare students. While several exploratory factor analyses and one confirmatory factor analysis have examined the psychometric properties of the Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scale, questions have been raised regarding the underlying latent constructs being measured. The objective of this study was to determine the best‐fitting Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scale factorial structure among three models published in the literature. Data from the three‐factor 40‐item Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scale completed by 233 undergraduate paramedic students from four Australian universities (response rate of 26%) were analyzed using maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis. Comparison of model fit from the 40‐item version was undertaken with the previously documented four‐factor 36‐item and three‐factor 29‐item Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scales. The model fit indices of the three one‐factor congeneric models with maximum likelihood analysis demonstrate that the 40‐item Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scale does not fit the data well. The best fitting model was the four‐factor 36‐item Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scale followed by the three‐factor 29‐item models. The confirmatory factor analysis results did not support the overall construct validity of the original 40‐item Self‐Directed Learning Readiness Scale.
Pleistocene climate change and the origin of two desert plant species, Pugionium cornutum and Pugionium dolabratum (Brassicaceae), in northwest China
Authors: Wang Qian , Abbott Richard J. , Yu Qiu‐Shi , Lin Kao , Liu Jian‐Quan 
Published: April 2013

Summary

Pleistocene climate change has had an important effect in shaping intraspecific genetic variation in many species; however, its role in driving speciation is less clear. We examined the possibility of a Pleistocene origin of the only two representatives of the genus Pugionium (Brassicaceae), Pugionium cornutum and Pugionium dolabratum, which occupy different desert habitats in northwest China.

We surveyed sequence variation for internal transcribed spacer (ITS), three chloroplast (cp) DNA fragments, and eight low‐copy nuclear genes among individuals sampled from 11 populations of each species across their geographic ranges.

One ITS mutation distinguished the two species, whereas mutations in cpDNA and the eight low‐copy nuclear gene sequences were not species‐specific. Although interspecific divergence varied greatly among nuclear gene sequences, in each case divergence was estimated to have occurred within the Pleistocene when deserts expanded in northwest China.

Our findings point to the importance of Pleistocene climate change, in this case an increase in aridity, as a cause of speciation in Pugionium as a result of divergence in different habitats that formed in association with the expansion of deserts in China.
Unusual Clinical Manifestations in a Case ofAlagille Syndrome
Authors: Gadkari Reshma , Doshi Bhavana , Nayak Chitra , Ghildiyal Radha , Madke Bhushan , Ghia Deepti 
Published: April 2013

AbstractAlagille syndrome, also known as arteriohepatic dysplasia, is a multisystem autosomal dominant disorder characterized by chronic cholestasis due to a paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts, peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis with associated vertebral, ocular, and renal anomalies, and characteristic facies. We report a case ofAlagille syndrome in a 3‐year‐old boy with associated pruritus, follicular keratoses, palmar pits, and keratoderma‐like changes over the dorsum of the hands. There have been single isolated case reports of phrynoderma and keratoderma. Palmar pits have not been reported in the literature.
Whole‐exome targeted sequencing of the uncharacterized pine genome
Authors: Neves Leandro G. , Davis John M. , Barbazuk William B. , Kirst Matias 
Published: April 2013

SummaryThe large genome size of many species hinders the development and application of genomic tools to study them. For instance, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), an ecologically and economically important conifer, has a large and yet uncharacterized genome of 21.7 Gbp. To characterize the pine genome, we performed exome capture and sequencing of 14 729 genes derived from an assembly of expressed sequence tags. Efficiency of sequence capture was evaluated and shown to be similar across samples with increasing levels of complexity, including haploid cDNA, haploid genomic DNA and diploid genomic DNA. However, this efficiency was severely reduced for probes that overlapped multiple exons, presumably because intron sequences hindered probe:exon hybridizations. Such regions could not be entirely avoided during probe design, because of the lack of a reference sequence. To improve the throughput and reduce the cost of sequence capture, a method to multiplex the analysis of up to eight samples was developed. Sequence data showed that multiplexed capture was reproducible among 24 haploid samples, and can be applied for high‐throughput analysis of targeted genes in large populations. Captured sequences were de novo assembled, resulting in 11 396 expanded and annotated gene models, significantly improving the knowledge about the pine gene space. Interspecific capture was also evaluated with over 98% of all probes designed from P. taeda that were efficient in sequence capture, were also suitable for analysis of the related species Pinus elliottii Engelm.
Striatal neurones have a specific ability to respond to phasic dopamine release
Authors: Castro Liliana R. V. , Brito Marina , Guiot Elvire , Polito Marina , Korn Christoph W. , Hervé Denis , Girault Jean‐Antoine , Paupardin‐Tritsch Danièle , Vincent Pierre 
Published: April 2013

Key points
Dopamine D1 receptors activate the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway in both cortex and striatum, with different types of signalling enzymes being involved in cAMP/PKA signal integration. We investigated the functional implications of such differences.
Biosensor imaging in mouse brain slice preparations revealed that the cAMP/PKA signal increases faster, reaches higher levels and lasts longer in striatal neurones than in cortical neurones.
These differences result from faster cAMP production and lower degradation by type 4 phosphodiesterase activities in the striatum than in the cortex. In addition, DARPP‐32 in the striatum prolongs the PKA response by inhibiting phosphatases.
These molecular features confers on striatal neurones a particular ability to temporally decode sub‐second dopamine signals associated with reward and learning.
Abstract  The cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signalling cascade is ubiquitous, and each step in this cascade involves enzymes that are expressed in multiple isoforms. We investigated the effects of this diversity on the integration of the pathway in the target cell by comparing prefrontal cortical neurones with striatal neurones which express a very specific set of signalling proteins. The prefrontal cortex and striatum both receive dopaminergic inputs and we analysed the dynamics of the cAMP/PKA signal triggered by dopamine D1 receptors in these two brain structures. Biosensor imaging in mouse brain slice preparations showed profound differences in the D1 response between pyramidal cortical neurones and striatal medium spiny neurones: the cAMP/PKA response was much stronger, faster and longer lasting in striatal neurones than in pyramidal cortical neurones. We identified three molecular determinants underlying these differences: different activities of phosphodiesterases, particularly those of type 4, which strongly damp the cAMP signal in the cortex but not in the striatum; stronger adenylyl cyclase activity in the striatum, generating responses with a faster onset than in the cortex; and DARPP‐32, a phosphatase inhibitor which prolongs PKA action in the striatum. Striatal neurones were also highly responsive in terms of gene expression since a single sub‐second dopamine stimulation is sufficient to trigger c‐Fos expression in the striatum, but not in the cortex. Our data show how specific molecular elements of the cAMP/PKA signalling cascade selectively enable the principal striatal neurones to respond to brief dopamine stimuli, a critical process in incentive learning.
Retrospective Assessment of Transcription-Mediated Amplification-Based Screening for Trichomonas vaginalis in Male Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic Patients
Authors: Munson Erik , Wenten David , Phipps Paula , Gremminger Roger , Schuknecht Mary Kay , Napierala Maureen , Hamer Deb , Olson Robin , Schell Ronald F. , Hryciuk Jeanne E. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACT

Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) enhances detection of
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
and
Chlamydia trachomatis
from rectal and pharyngeal sources. The utility of TMA for detection of
Trichomonas vaginalis
has recently been described. We report on the performance of TMA for detection of sexually transmitted infection (STI) agents from extraurogenital sources, with a focus on
T. vaginalis
. Within a 21-month interval, 1,314 consecutive male patient encounters at an STI clinic resulted in collection of 2,408 specimens for
C. trachomatis
,
N. gonorrhoeae
, and
T. vaginalis
TMA screening. A total of 471 encounters were managed with a single specimen collection (94.9% urine), with 12.7% positive for at least one STI agent. This detection percentage increased to 14.4% with collection of specimens from two sources and to 20.3% with collection from three sources (
P
= 0.03 versus single-source sampling). A total of 44.4% of encounters were managed by collection of urine and pharyngeal specimens and 19.1% by the addition of a third (rectal) collection. While procurement of urine and rectal specimens resulted in greater detection of
C. trachomatis
(6.1% and 11.3% rates, respectively) than of other STI agents, 858 pharyngeal specimens yielded a 2.9%
T. vaginalis
detection rate compared with 2.1% for
N. gonorrhoeae
and 1.6% for
C. trachomatis
. All
T. vaginalis
pharyngeal detections were confirmed by TMA-based alternative target testing. A total of 38.1% of
T. vaginalis
-positive pharyngeal specimens were derived from symptomatic patient encounters. A total of 85.7% of males with
T. vaginalis
-positive pharyngeal collections indicated strictly heterosexual preference. Additional specimen source sampling is necessary to make STI screening comprehensive. Incorporation of extraurogenital sources into assessment for
T. vaginalis
detection may identify additional symptomatic and asymptomatic male STI carriers.
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Variants Selectively Infect and Kill Human Melanomas but Not Normal Melanocytes
Authors: Wollmann Guido , Davis John N. , Bosenberg Marcus W. , van den Pol Anthony N. 
Published: April 2013

ABSTRACT

Metastatic malignant melanoma remains one of the most therapeutically challenging forms of cancer. Here we test replication-competent vesicular stomatitis viruses (VSV) on 19 primary human melanoma samples and compare these infections with those of normal human melanocyte control cells. Even at a low viral concentration, we found a strong susceptibility to viral oncolysis in over 70% of melanomas. In contrast, melanocytes displayed strong resistance to virus infection and showed complete protection by interferon. Several recombinant VSVs were compared, and all infected and killed most melanomas with differences in the time course with increasing rates of melanoma infection, as follows: VSV-CT9-M51 < VSV-M51 < VSV-G/GFP < VSV-rp30. VSV-rp30 sequencing revealed 2 nonsynonymous mutations at codon positions P126 and L223, both of which appear to be required for the enhanced phenotype. VSV-rp30 showed effective targeting and infection of multiple subcutaneous and intracranial melanoma xenografts in SCID mice after tail vein virus application. Sequence analysis of mutations in the melanomas used revealed that BRAF but not NRAS gene mutation status was predictive for enhanced susceptibility to infection. In mouse melanoma models with specific induced gene mutations including mutations of the
Braf
,
Pten
, and
Cdkn2a
genes, viral infection correlated with the extent of malignant transformation. Similar to human melanocytes, mouse melanocytes resisted VSV-rp30 infection. This study confirms the general susceptibility of the majority of human melanoma types for VSV-mediated oncolysis.
Gastric Cancer Prevention by Demethylation
Authors: Schneider Barbara G. , Peek Richard M. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
Niwa and colleagues report in this issue that treatment with the DNA demethylation agent 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine decreases the incidence of gastric cancers in an animal model of Helicobacter pylori–promoted gastric cancer. This provocative study underscores the importance of changes in DNA methylation that contribute to the origin of inflammation-related cancers. The findings also raise the exciting possibility of cancer prevention by altering DNA methylation events early during tumorigenesis. Cancer Prev Res; 6(4); 253–6. ©2013 AACR.
Endothelial cell phagocytosis of senescent neutrophils decreases procoagulant activity
Authors: Liu Shuchuan , Cao Fenglin , Liu Yue , Ma Ruishuang , Si Yu , Liu Yan , Bi Yayan , Gilbert Gary E. , Gao Chunyan , Xie Rui , Li Wen , Zhou Jin , Shi Jialan 
Published: April 2013

SummaryAbundant senescent neutrophils traverse the vascular compartment and may contribute to pathologic conditions. For example, they become procoagulant when undergoing apoptosis and may contribute to thrombosis or inflammation. Our previous studies demonstrated a dominant clearance pathway in which the neutrophils can be phagocytosed by liver macrophages. The aim of this study was to explore an alternate pathway of neutrophil clearance by endothelial cells. Phagocytosis of the neutrophils by endothelial cells was performed using various experimental approaches including flow cytometry, confocal microscopy and electron microscopy assays in vitro and in vivo. Procoagulant activity of cultured neutrophils was evaluated by coagulation time, factor Xase and prothrombinase assays. Lactadherin functioned as a novel probe for the detection of phosphatidylserine on apoptotic cells, an opsonin (bridge) between apoptotic cell and phagocyte for promoting phagocytosis, and an efficient anticoagulant for inhibition of factor Xase and thrombin formation. When cultured, purified human neutrophils spontaneously entered apoptosis and developed procoagulant activity that was directly related to the degree of phosphatidylserine exposure. Co-culture of aged neutrophils and endothelial cells resulted in phagocytosis of the neutrophils and prolonged coagulation time. Lactadherin diminished the procoagulant activity and increased the rate of neutrophil clearance. In vivo, neutrophils were sequestered by endothelial cells after blockade of Kupffer cells, a process that was dependent upon both phosphatidylserine exposure and P-selectin expression. Thus, the ability of endothelial cells to clear senescent neutrophils may limit the procoagulant and/or inflammatory impact of these cells.