bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Species and hybrid identification of sturgeon caviar: a new molecular approach to detect illegal trade
Authors: Boscari E. , Barmintseva A. , Pujolar J. M. , Doukakis P. , Mugue N. , Congiu L. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractOverexploitation of wild populations due to the high economic value of caviar has driven sturgeons to near extinction. The high prices commanded by caviar on world markets have made it a magnet for illegal and fraudulent caviar trade, often involving low‐value farmed caviar being sold as top‐quality caviar. We present a new molecular approach for the identification of pure sturgeon species and hybrids that are among the most commercialized species in Europe and North America. Our test is based on the discovery of species‐specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ribosomal protein S7, supplemented with the Vimentin gene and the mitochondrial D‐loop. Test validations performed in 702 specimens of target and nontarget sturgeon species demonstrated a 100% identification success for Acipenser naccarii, A. fulvescens, A. stellatus, A. sinensis and A. transmontanus. In addition to species identification, our approach allows the identification of Bester and AL hybrids, two of the most economically important hybrids in the world, with 80% and 100% success, respectively. Moreover, the approach has the potential to identify many other existing sturgeon hybrids. The development of a standardized sturgeon identification tool will directly benefit trade law enforcement, providing the tools to monitor and regulate the legal trade of caviar and protect sturgeon stocks from illicit producers and traders, hence contributing to safeguarding this group of heavily threatened species.
Relationship between knee alignment and radiographic markers of osteoarthritis: a cross‐sectional study from a Korean population
Authors: Im Gun‐Il , Kim Min‐Kyu , Lee Sung‐Hyun 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAimThe purpose of this paper was to investigate the relationship between static varus knee alignment and the radiographic markers of knee osteoarthritis (OA), including joint space narrowing (JSN) and Kellgren–Lawrence (K‐L) grading scale.MethodKnee alignment was measured by mechanical axis from weight‐bearing anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of 251 symptomatic knees with radiological signs of OA (K‐L grade ≥ 1). Linear correlation between knee varus alignment and variables, including joint space width (JSW) and K‐L grades of tibiofemoral (TF) joint in extension or 45° flexion and patellofemoral (PF) joints were investigated. Multiple linear regression analyses were also performed to examine independent associations between varus knee alignment and JSW. Analysis of covariance (ancova) was performed to analyze the difference in knee alignment among K‐L grade category groups adjusted for physical variables.ResultsVarus knee alignment was negatively correlated with JSW of medial TF joint in extension AP (r = –0.460, P = 0.0001) and 45° flexion PA views (r = –0.476, P = 0.0001) and PF JSN (r = –0.168, P = 0.008). Multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for physical variables showed that the varus knee alignment was negatively associated with the JSW of medial TF joint in extension AP (P = 0.0001) and 45° flexion PA view (P = 0.0001). ancova adjusted for physical variables showed that knees in K‐L grade 4 had significantly greater varus alignment than those in K‐L grades 1–3 in AP (P = 0.0001), 45° flexion PA view (P = 0.0001), and PF joint (P = 0.0001~0.001).ConclusionVarus knee alignment is associated with the radiographic measures of knee OA severity.
Modest Long‐Term Ethanol Consumption Affects Expression of Neurotransmitter Receptor Genes in the Rat Nucleus Accumbens
Authors: Jonsson Susanne , Ericson Mia , Söderpalm Bo 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundOver 100 million people worldwide are affected by alcohol use disorders. These conditions usually take years to develop where an initial, voluntary consumption is gradually replaced by a compulsive intake of alcohol. The exact mechanisms behind this transition remain unknown. However, ethanol (EtOH) is known to interact with several neurotransmitters and receptors in the central nervous system, and chronic EtOH consumption causes alterations in these neurotransmitter systems, proposed to contribute to the development of dependence. This study aimed to repeat previous findings that animals after long‐term voluntary EtOH consumption spontaneously increase their intake. That the initial encounter with EtOH causes an elevation of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens (nAc), inducing feelings of well‐being and creating an incentive to continue the behavior, has been repeatedly reported in both animals and humans. The effects of chronic EtOH consumption on this region are not as well investigated.MethodsWe examined both long‐term EtOH consumption behavior and its consequences on expression of neurotransmitter‐related genes in the nAc of the Wistar rat using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.ResultsIn general, the EtOH consumption of the animals in this study was modest with an average intake of 0.9 g/kg/d, and only 1 of the 24 rats consuming EtOH for 10 months drastically increased its intake in line with the results of Wolffgramm and Heyne (1995). Expression of the genes for dopamine receptor 2, μ‐opioid receptor, and somatostatin receptor 4 were down‐regulated in animals after 2 and/or 4, but not 10, months of EtOH consumption.ConclusionsChronic consumption even of modest amounts of alcohol seems to affect regulation of expression of these genes, possibly leading to changes in neurotransmitter signaling. Studies are ongoing to investigate whether these alterations are specific for the nAc.
Is place of birth associated with mode of birth? The effect of hospital on caesarean section rates in a public metropolitan health service
Authors: Biro Mary A. , Knight Michelle , Wallace Euan , Papacostas Kerrie , East Christine 
Published: November 2013

BackgroundThe effects of place of birth on birth outcomes have been examined in several studies both locally and internationally. However, none has examined the impact on caesarean section rates of different level maternity hospitals operating within the one health service. This study aimed to examine the impact of place of (Hospital level 6; 4–5 or 4) on birth outcomes in a large metropolitan health service in Victoria.MethodsA cross‐sectional study utilising data on births to low‐risk first‐time mothers during 2010–2011. Data were obtained from the Birthing Outcome System (BOS) database of Monash Health. Unadjusted and adjusted analyses were undertaken using logistic regression to examine the association between place of birth and caesarean section.ResultsIn this group of low‐risk nulliparae, there was evidence of a significant association between place of birth and caesarean section. The lower the acuity of the hospital, the higher the odds for the caesarean section. Compared with the level 6 hospital, the AdjOR for caesarean section at the level 4 hospital was 1.81 (95% CI: 1.37–2.41) and at the level 4–5 hospital, 1.30 (95% CI: 1.0–1.7).ConclusionsLow‐risk nulliparae in spontaneous labour giving birth at the level 4 hospital in this health service are at significantly increased risk of caesarean section. This may have implications for the organisation and resource management of other level 4 public maternity units. Care in a tertiary (level 6) service may not necessarily equate to the higher rates of intervention reported by others.
Effect of high‐dose paracetamol on needle procedures in children with cancer – a RCT
Authors: Hedén L , von Essen L , Ljungman G 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAimThe aim was to investigate whether children experience less pain, fear and/or distress when they receive high‐dose paracetamol compared with placebo, using a needle insertion in a subcutaneously implanted intravenous port as a model.MethodsFifty‐one children ranging from 1 to 18 years of age being treated in a paediatric oncology setting were included consecutively when undergoing routine needle insertion into a subcutaneously implanted intravenous port. All children were subjected to one needle insertion following topical anaesthetic (EMLA) application in this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled RCT, comparing orally administered paracetamol (n = 24) 40 mg/kg body weight (max 2000 mg) with placebo (n = 27). The patients' pain, fear and distress were reported by parents, nurses and children (≥7 years of age) using 0‐ to 100‐mm visual analogue scales (VAS). In addition, pain observation, procedure time and cortisol reduction were assessed.ResultsNo differences between the paracetamol and the placebo group were found with respect to demographic characteristics. According to VAS reports, paracetamol did not reduce pain, fear and distress compared with placebo. Pain observation, cortisol reduction and procedure time did not differ between the study groups.ConclusionParacetamol provides no additive effect in reducing pain, fear and distress when combined with topical anaesthesia in children undergoing port needle insertion.
Bias and Sensitivity Analysis When Estimating Treatment Effects from the Cox Model with Omitted Covariates
Authors: Lin Nan Xuan , Logan Stuart , Henley William Edward 
Published: November 2013

Summary
Omission of relevant covariates can lead to bias when estimating treatment or exposure effects from survival data in both randomized controlled trials and observational studies. This paper presents a general approach to assessing bias when covariates are omitted from the Cox model. The proposed method is applicable to both randomized and non-randomized studies. We distinguish between the effects of three possible sources of bias: omission of a balanced covariate, data censoring and unmeasured confounding. Asymptotic formulae for determining the bias are derived from the large sample properties of the maximum likelihood estimator. A simulation study is used to demonstrate the validity of the bias formulae and to characterize the influence of the different sources of bias. It is shown that the bias converges to fixed limits as the effect of the omitted covariate increases, irrespective of the degree of confounding. The bias formulae are used as the basis for developing a new method of sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of omitted covariates on estimates of treatment or exposure effects. In simulation studies, the proposed method gave unbiased treatment estimates and confidence intervals with good coverage when the true sensitivity parameters were known. We describe application of the method to a randomized controlled trial and a non-randomized study.
Modeling the impact of hepatitis C viral clearance on end‐stage liver disease in an HIV co‐infected cohort with targeted maximum likelihood estimation
Authors: Schnitzer Mireille E. , Moodie Erica E.M. , van der Laan Mark J. , Platt Robert W. , Klein Marina B. 
Published: November 2013

SummaryDespite modern effective HIV treatment, hepatitis C virus (HCV) co‐infection is associated with a high risk of progression to end‐stage liver disease (ESLD) which has emerged as the primary cause of death in this population. Clinical interest lies in determining the impact of clearance of HCV on risk for ESLD. In this case study, we examine whether HCV clearance affects risk of ESLD using data from the multicenter Canadian Co‐infection Cohort Study. Complications in this survival analysis arise from the time‐dependent nature of the data, the presence of baseline confounders, loss to follow‐up, and confounders that change over time, all of which can obscure the causal effect of interest. Additional challenges included non‐censoring variable missingness and event sparsity.In order to efficiently estimate the ESLD‐free survival probabilities under a specific history of HCV clearance, we demonstrate the double‐robust and semiparametric efficient method of Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation (TMLE). Marginal structural models (MSM) can be used to model the effect of viral clearance (expressed as a hazard ratio) on ESLD‐free survival and we demonstrate a way to estimate the parameters of a logistic model for the hazard function with TMLE. We show the theoretical derivation of the efficient influence curves for the parameters of two different MSMs and how they can be used to produce variance approximations for parameter estimates. Finally, the data analysis evaluating the impact of HCV on ESLD was undertaken using multiple imputations to account for the non‐monotone missing data.
The current status of bridging anticoagulation
Authors: Patel Jignesh P. , Arya Roopen 
Published: November 2013

SummaryFor patients prescribed chronic vitamin K antagonist therapy requiring a surgical or invasive procedure, the question of whether or not to bridge and how to bridge is commonly encountered in clinical practice. Bridging anticoagulation has evolved over the years and the evidence base for current practice is deficient in many areas. Clinical trials currently being completed with conventional anticoagulants should help strengthen the evidence base for future practice. The availability of novel oral anticoagulants is a welcome addition, though their optimal management peri‐procedure is yet to be determined. Prospective multi‐centre controlled studies that can provide the evidence base for novel oral anticoagulant peri‐procedural management are required.
A multicentre matched‐pair analysis comparing robot‐assisted versus open partial nephrectomy
Authors: Ficarra Vincenzo , Minervini Andrea , Antonelli Alessandro , Bhayani Sam , Guazzoni Giorgio , Longo Nicola , Martorana Giuseppe , Morgia Giuseppe , Mottrie Alexander , Porter James , Simeone Claudio , Vittori Gianni , Zattoni Filiberto , Carini Marco 
Published: November 2013

ObjectiveTo compare the perioperative, pathological and functional outcomes in two contemporary, large series of patients in different institutions and who underwent open partial nephrectomy (OPN) or robot‐assisted PN (RAPN) for suspected renal tumours.Patients and MethodsThis was a retrospective, multicentre, international, matched‐pair analysis comparing patients who underwent RAPN or OPN for suspected renal cell carcinoma.Data on patients who underwent OPN were extracted by an Italian observational registry collecting data from 19 different centres.Data on patients who received RAPN were extracted from a multicentre, international database collecting cases treated in four high‐volume referral centres of robotic surgery.The matching was in a 1:1 ratio for the surgical approach and included 200 patients in each arm.ResultsThe mean warm ischaemia time was shorter in the OPN group than in the RAPN group, at a mean (sd) of 15.4 (5.9) vs 19.2 (7.3) min (P < 0.001).Conversely, the median (interquartile range) estimated blood loss was 150 (100–300) mL in the OPN group and 100 (50–150) mL in the RAPN group (P < 0.001).There were no differences in operating time (P = 0.18) and the intraoperative complication rate (P = 0.31) between the approaches.Postoperative complications were recorded in 43 (21.5%) patients who underwent OPN and in 28 (14%) who received RAPN (P = 0.02). Moreover, major complications (grade 3–4) were reported in nine (4.5%) patients after OPN and in nine (4.5%) after RAPN.Positive margins were detected in nine (5.5%) patients after OPN and in nine (5.7%) after RAPN (P = 0.98). The mean (sd) 3‐month estimated glomerular filtration rate declined by 16.6 (18.1) mL/min from the preoperative value in the OPN group and by 16.4 (22.9) mL/min in the RAPN group (P = 0.28).ConclusionRAPN can achieve equivalent perioperative, early oncological and functional outcomes as OPN. Moreover, RAPN is a less invasive approach, offering a lower risk of bleeding and postoperative complications than OPN.
Understanding the trauma of first‐episode psychosis
Authors: Dunkley Jane E. , Bates Glen W. , Findlay Bruce M. 
Published: November 2013

AbstractAimThis study examined the distress of first‐episode psychosis (FEP) beyond the acute episode. It focused on how people understand the experience of FEP and its negative impact and how this relates to the traumagenic phenomena.MethodsThis research was a longitudinal qualitative study including interpretative phenomenological analysis of interview data. Ten people who had experienced FEP were interviewed 3–6 months following their psychotic episode (time one) and again 3 months after their initial interview (time two). Clinicians and significant others were interviewed at time two.ResultsInterpretative phenomenological analysis of the interview data supported a conceptualization of recovery from FEP within a broad trauma framework. The traumatic nature of FEP was found to be extended beyond the acute episode and was not linked to symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but included impact on identity, relationships and worldview.ConclusionsThe diagnosis of PTSD does not appear to capture all aspects of the distress of FEP. Traumagenic distress appears explained by incorporating a range of negative emotions, viewing the impact of FEP as ongoing rather than contained to the acute episode, and recognizes disruption of the individual's views of the self, others and the world.
Do seizures and epileptic activity worsen epilepsy and deteriorate cognitive function?
Authors: Avanzini Giuliano , Depaulis Antoine , Tassinari Alberto , de Curtis Marco 
Published: November 2013

SummaryRelevant to the definition of epileptic encephalopathy (EE) is the concept that the epileptic activity itself may contribute to bad outcomes, both in terms of epilepsy and cognition, above and beyond what might be expected from the underlying pathology alone, and that these can worsen over time. The review of the clinical and experimental evidence that seizures or interictal electroencephalography (EEG) discharges themselves can induce a progression toward more severe epilepsy and a regression of brain function leads to the following conclusions:

The possibility of seizure‐dependent worsening is by no means a general one but is limited to some types of epilepsy, namely mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) and EEs.
Clinical and experimental data concur in indicating that prolonged seizures/status epilepticus (SE) are a risky initial event that can set in motion an epileptogenic process leading to persistent, possibly drug‐refractory epilepsies.
The mechanisms for SE‐related epileptogenic process are incompletely known; they seem to involve inflammation and/or glutamatergic transmission.
The evidence of the role of recurrent individual seizures in sustaining epilepsy progression is ambiguous. The correlation between high seizure frequency and bad outcome does not necessarily demonstrate a cause–effect relationship, rather high seizure frequency and bad outcome can both depend on a particularly aggressive epileptogenic process.
The results of EE studies challenge the idea of a common seizure‐dependent mechanism for epilepsy progression/intellectual deterioration.
Epileptic encephalopathy as models of system epilepsy
Authors: Capovilla Giuseppe , Moshé Solomon L. , Wolf Peter , Avanzini Giuliano 
Published: November 2013

SummaryThe pathophysiology of epileptic encephalopathies has long been debated. Recently, some authors proposed the new concept of so‐called system epilepsies. This hypothesis postulates that system epilepsies are produced by the enduring propensity to generate seizures in different cerebral areas that, alone, are unable to create a specific electroclinical phenotype. This goes beyond the classical dichotomy between focal and generalized epilepsy. Epileptic encephalopathies, in general, have the ideal profile to be considered as system epilepsies, andWest syndrome andLennox‐Gastaut syndrome are two of the best examples. Apart from the conventional neurophysiologic methods for studying brain activities and the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying epileptic syndromes, other new methods of neuroimaging support this hypothesis.
Therapeutic approach to epileptic encephalopathies
Authors: Vigevano Federico , Arzimanoglou Alexis , Plouin Perrine , Specchio Nicola 
Published: November 2013

SummaryEpileptic encephalopathies (EEs) are electroclinical entities with a peculiar course of disease; seizures and electroencephalographic (EEG) epileptiform abnormalities, ictal and interictal, contribute to progressive disturbance of cerebral functions. FrequentlyEEs are drug resistant, and consequences may be catastrophic. The main goal of treatment is to stop the peculiar course of epilepsy, operating on three parameters: seizure control, reduction ofEEGabnormalities, and developmental outcome. For a correct therapeutic approach it is mandatory to have an as accurate as possible syndromic and etiologic diagnosis. Given the poor efficacy of conventional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), the use of specific drugs forEEs, such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosteroids or stiripentol is suggested. In some cases the choice of treatment is strictly related to the etiology: vigabatrin in tuberous sclerosis, ketogenic diet in glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT‐1) deficiency, and pyridoxine in pyridoxine deficiency. Some AEDs combinations, such as sodium valproate with lamotrigine, have also provided interesting results, for example, in Lennox‐Gastaut syndrome, although controlled studies are lacking. Finally, early surgery can be an option in children with focal structural abnormalities responsible forEEspreferably before irreversible damage on developmental outcome. Multispecialist support is recommended inEE. Management should be global from the onset, integrating not only seizure control but also all issues related to comorbidities, particularly neuropsychological and psychiatric.
Tribute to Tinbergen: Questions and How to Answer Them
Authors: Dawkins Marian Stamp 
Published: November 2013

AbstractDespite the major advances that have occurred in the study of animal behaviour in the 50 years since the publication of Tinbergen's (ZeitschriftfürTierpsychologie, 20, 1963, 410) ‘Aims and Methods’ paper, the framework he outlined still remains the best way we have of guiding and organizing behavioural research. His distinction between four different types of question – adaptation, phylogeny, immediate causal mechanism and development – and his insistence on being clear on what would count as answers to each of them are still as good an introduction to the subject today as they ever were.