bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Ethics of End-of-Life Care for Patients with ESRD
Authors: Davison Sara N. 
Published: September 2012

Summary
Patients with ESRD have extensive and unique palliative care needs, often for years before death. The vast majority of patients, however, dies in acute care facilities without accessing palliative care services. High mortality rates along with a substantial burden of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual symptoms and an increasing prevalence of decisions to withhold and stop dialysis all highlight the importance of integrating palliative care into the comprehensive management of ESRD patients. The focus of renal care would then extend to controlling symptoms, communicating prognosis, establishing goals of care, and determining end-of-life care preferences. Regretfully, training in palliative care for nephrology trainees is inadequate. This article will provide a conceptual framework for renal palliative care and describe opportunities for enhancing palliative care for ESRD patients, including improved chronic pain management and advance care planning and a new model for delivering high-quality palliative care that includes appropriate consultation with specialist palliative care.
Predictors of diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Gaballa Mahmoud , Farag Youssef 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients representing a huge health and economic burden. Alarming recent data described diabetes as an unprecedented worldwide epidemic, with a prevalence of ∼6.4% of the world population in 2010, while the prevalence of CKD among diabetics was approximately 40%. With a clinical field hungry for novel markers predicting DN, several clinical and laboratory markers were identified lately with the promise of reliable DN prediction. Among those are age, gender, hypertension, smoking, sex hormones and anemia. In addition, eccentric left ventricular geometric patterns, detected by echocardiography, and renal hypertrophy, revealed by ultrasonography, are promising new markers predicting DN development. Serum and urinary markers are still invaluable elements, including serum uric acid, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria, urinary liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (u-LFABP), and urinary nephrin. Moreover, studies have illustrated a tight relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and the development of DN. The purpose of this review is to present the latest advances in identifying promising predictors to DN, which will help guide the future research questions in this field. Aiming at limiting this paramount threat, further efforts are necessary to identify and control independent modifiable risk factors, while developing an integrative algorithm for utilization in DN future screening programs.
Impact of liver cysts in progression of polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Idrizi Alma , Barbullushi Myftar , Beqiri Arben , Hoxha Liri , Koroshi Alketa , Spahia Nereida , Gjata Margarita , Xhaferri Xhoana , Bajrami Valbona , Thereska Nestor 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Coexistent systemic mastocytosis and essential thrombocythemia complicated with monoclonal gammopathy and hypocomplementaemia
Authors: Varkonyi Judit , Rausz Eszter , Pánczél Pál , Sperlagh Melinda , Varga Lilian , Farkas Henriette , Csomor Judit , Füle Tibor , Karádi István 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Hematological neoplasms associated with systemic mast cell disease are most frequently of myeloid origin. There are a few reports, however, of systemic mastocytosis (SM) cases associated with lymphoid or plasma cell neoplasms as well. In this report, the authors present a case of SM (with D816V mutation in the c-KIT gene) associated with JAK2 V617F mutation negative essential thrombocythemia. The leading symptom of the 78-year-old female was recurring hydrothorax that responded only to interferon alpha therapy. During the first year of therapy, the patient developed insulin-dependent diabetes and hypothyroidism. The hematological workup also revealed IgG kappa monoclonal gammopathy that was non-progressive in the following next three years. Low levels of complements without known clinical significance accompanied the entire picture.
Rapidly growing lipoma as the syndrome of lipodystrophy in HIV-infected child
Authors: Mazur-Melewska Katarzyna , Macedulski Tomasz , Moryciński Sebastian , Mania Anna , Trejster Ewa , Figlerowicz Magdalena , Pohland Justyna , Mańkowski Przemysław , Służewski Wojciech 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Suprapatellar fat pad inflammation in step aerobics athletes: MR imaging evaluation of two cases
Authors: Bintoudi Antonia , Goumenakis Michalis , Karantanas Apostolos 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Step aerobics is one of the most popular exercises with established benefits to cardiovascular status. This activity is associated with injuries which include patellar or talar chondral lesions, quadriceps tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy or tear, shin splints and muscle soreness. The purpose of this case report is to present two step aerobics athletes, suffering from anterior knee pain. We observed that their knee MR examination disclosed only suprapatellar fat pad edema. No other findings were noticed. In addition, we discuss the possible pathogenetic mechanism of this entity which has not been previously reported in the literature.
Use of the omental free flap for reconstruction of degloving hand and foot injuries: two case reports
Authors: Tutkus Vytautas , Vitkus Kestutis , Proskute Dovile 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Different techniques are used for reconstruction of degloving hand or foot injuries, however the best option has not been found yet. In this paper we present two clinical cases when degloving hand and foot injuries were successfully covered with the omental free flap.
Spontaneous contralateral pneumothorax in a patient with low Body Mass Index
Authors: Nakazawa Kensuke , Ohara Gen , Kagohashi Katsunori , Kurishima Koichi , Ishibashi Atsushi , Satoh Hiroaki 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Spontaneous pneumothorax is most common in adolescents and young adults. Some of them develop contralateral pneumothorax. In this paper, we report the case of a patient with spontaneous contralateral pneumothorax, whose body mass index (BMI) was 18.8 kg/m2. For either chest physicians or thoracic surgeons, follow up with recognition of increased risk of the contralateral pneumothorax is important especially in patients with contralateral bullous lesions and low BMI.
Interpretation of data in patients with enteral and parenteral nutrition
Authors: Tomova Radka , Tzaneva Penka , Nikolov Marian , Simeonov Vasil 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Multivariate statistical analysis is performed using clinical data characterizing the state of patients subject to early enteral (EEN) and pareneteral (PN) nutrition after major gastrointestinal surgery. Several patterns of linkage, between the clinical parameters for both groups of observed patients (with mixed (EEN+PN) and with parenteral nutrition only (TPN)), were found and interpreted. Discriminating indices for the internal grouping of patients were found related to the type of nutrition and the clinical status of the patients. It was found that the mixed (enteral and parenteral) nutrition offers better options for the overcoming of the metabolic stress after the surgery.
Massive right-sided colon diverticular bleeding complicated by the transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI)
Authors: Urošević Ivana , Perčić Ivanka , Knežević Aleksandar , Savić Aleksandar , Savić Ivanka 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Colonic diverticulosis is a condition which causes extensive bleeding of the lower gastrointestine in 40–50% of cases. In particular, right-sided diverticulosis, although uncommon requires lifesaving colectomy. Transfusion related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a transfusion reaction, which can occur after administration of various blood products. Although life threatening, it can be completely reversed usually within 72 to 96 hours. Here, we report a case of a young Caucasian male hospitalized due to severe anemia, hematochezia and extensive blood loss, all due to lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage from right-sided diverticulosis. These conditions were overlooked endoscopically and diagnosed then treated surgically with the right-sided hemicolectomy. During postoperative course, four hours after the last transfusion, patient developed fever, hypoxia and noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema, but made complete recovery through aggressive oxygen support within 96 hours. The aim of this case was to review current literature, to draw attention to a serious and under-diagnosed transfusion reaction, as well as discuss possible explanations for the diagnostic difficulties that occurred in this case.
Puma, a critical mediator of cell death — one decade on from its discovery
Authors: Hikisz Paweł , Kiliańska Zofia 
Published: September 2012

AbstractPUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) is a pro-apoptotic member of the BH3-only subgroup of the Bcl-2 family. It is a key mediator of p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis and was identified 10 years ago. The PUMA gene is mapped to the long arm of chromosome 19, a region that is frequently deleted in a large number of human cancers. PUMA mediates apoptosis thanks to its ability to directly bind known anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family. It mainly localizes to the mitochondria. The binding of PUMA to the inhibitory members of the Bcl-2 family (Bcl-2-like proteins) via its BH3 domain seems to be a critical regulatory step in the induction of apoptosis. It results in the displacement of the proteins Bax and/or Bak. This is followed by their activation and the formation of pore-like structures on the mitochondrial membrane, which permeabilizes the outer mitochondrial membrane, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase activation. PUMA is involved in a large number of physiological and pathological processes, including the immune response, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and bacterial and viral infections.
Editorial for
Authors: Dumičić Ksenija , Stirn Lidija , Žerovnik Janez 
Published: September 2012

Editorial for
The 11th International Symposium on Operational Research (SOR'11) was organized by Slovenian Society INFORMATIKA - Section for Operational Research (SDI-SOR) in Dolenjske Toplice, Slovenia, during the week of 28 - 30 September 2011. At SOR'11 it was decided to publish a Special Issue of Business Systems Research Journal (SI of BSRJ) on innovative approaches to OR methodology and its applications in business, micro and macro-economics, management, finance, social sciences, energy, environment, transport and other areas. The call for papers for SI of BSRJ was open, and it was directed to the participants of SOR'11 as well as to other researchers and practitioners from the field of OR. We have received 9 submissions for this special issue, some of them being extended journal versions of short conference papers from proceedings (Zadnik Stirn et al., 2011). Each submission was first reviewed by the Guest Editors, and the papers were then blind reviewed by two experts.
Understanding Process Performance Measurement Systems
Authors: Glavan Ljubica 
Published: September 2012

Understanding Process Performance Measurement Systems
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current state of Process Performance Measurement Systems (PPMS) by means of a systematic review of literature. The PPMS literature is reviewed using a systematic approach. Based on an extensive literature review only twelve articles that contain the term PPMS in the title were found. The literature analysis showed that PPMS is a relatively new topic in the area of performance measurement. In order to understand PPMS, it was crucial to explain the concepts of business process management, business performance measurement and Performance Measurement System (PMS) which are well known and used in the literature and practice. PPMS is a special type of PMS that should be used in process-oriented organizations. Limitations of this research lie in the fact that all the conclusions were derived only from the literature, not empirical research. The results presented in the paper continue towards providing an updated overview of the current state of performance measurement, especially PPMS in order to identify the existing research gaps on which ongoing and future research efforts regarding this topic can be focused.
The Country-specific Organizational and Information Architecture of ERP Systems at Globalised Enterprises
Authors: Molnár Bálint 
Published: September 2012

The Country-specific Organizational and Information Architecture of ERP Systems at Globalised Enterprises
The competition on the market forces companies to adapt to the changing environment. Most recently, the economic and financial crisis has been accelerating the alteration of both business and IT models of enterprises. The forces of globalization and internationalization motivate the restructuring of business processes and consequently IT processes. To depict the changes in a unified framework, we need the concept of Enterprise Architecture as a theoretical approach that deals with various tiers, aspects and views of business processes and different layers of application, software and hardware systems. The paper outlines a wide-range theoretical background for analyzing the re-engineering and re-organization of ERP systems at international or transnational companies in the middle-sized EU member states. The research carried out up to now has unravelled the typical structural changes, the models for internal business networks and their modification that reflect the centralization, decentralization and hybrid approaches. Based on the results obtained recently, a future research program has been drawn up to deepen our understanding of the trends within the world of ERP systems.
On Concurrent Solutions in Differential Games
Authors: Correa Romar 
Published: September 2012

On Concurrent Solutions in Differential Games
We examine solutions in which neither player is worse off from the leadership of one in a policy maker-public game. The loop model of dynamic games is used. Outcome space is dotted with equivalence classes of solutions. The Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) results and their New Keynesian variants might represent one category. The economy is the neighborhood of a market-clearing equilibrium with Pareto-optimal properties modulo frictions. Our interest lies in the ‘old’ Keynesian genus where the representative state is one of involuntary unemployment. Two information sets are relevant. In the first case, agents look to the past and the present. In the second, they are bound by the information provided in the present. The standard analysis pertains to DSGE models under full information. We show, in contrast, that in a situation of structural disequilibrium and feedback information, all parties are better off reneging on the social compact to achieve a superior class of solutions.
Adoption of Business Process Orientation Practices: Slovenian and Croatian Survey
Authors: Škrinjar Rok , Vukšić Vesna , Štemberger Mojca 
Published: September 2012

Adoption of Business Process Orientation Practices: Slovenian and Croatian Survey
Process orientation has been empirically linked to corporate performance. Several studies have shown that more process oriented companies perform better than less process oriented companies. Consequently, many researchers attempted to define what makes a company process oriented, which resulted in numerous frameworks and conceptualizations of process orientation. Based on concepts of business process orientation (BPO) the authors have developed and operationalised a concept of extended BPO to study its adoption in two countries, one EU member and one a candidate for EU membership (Slovenia and Croatia, respectively). Extensive field study has been carried out in these countries. The results of the analysis show that there are many statistically significant differences, namely companies in Slovenia have implemented process oriented practices to a higher degree than their counterparts in Croatia. The paper shows the main differences in BPO areas and practices.
The Use of Reference Models in Business Process Renovation
Authors: Pajk Dejan , Štemberger Mojca , Kovačič Andrej 
Published: September 2012

The Use of Reference Models in Business Process Renovation
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems are often used by companies to automate and enhance their business processes. The capabilities of ERP systems can be described by best-practice reference models. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the business process renovation approach with the use of reference models. Although the use of reference models brings many positive effects for business, they are still rarely used in Slovenian small and medium-sized companies. The reasons for this may be found in the reference models themselves as well as in project implementation methodologies. In the article a reference model based on Microsoft Dynamics NAV is suggested. The reference model is designed using upgraded BPMN notation with additional business objects, which help to describe the models in more detail.
Evidence-Based Indications for Distraction Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Smith Nicholas C. , Beaman Douglas , Rozbruch S. Robert , Glazebrook Mark A. 
Published: September 2012

Background: The purpose of this study was to review the literature to provide a comprehensive description of the Level of Evidence (LOE) available to support the operative technique of distraction ankle arthroplasty for the current generally accepted indications and make a grade of recommendation for each. Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed (November 2010 to January 2011) using the PubMed database. The abstracts from these searches were reviewed to isolate literature that described therapeutic studies investigating the results of distraction ankle arthroplasty. All articles were reviewed and assigned a classification (I-V) of Level of Evidence. An analysis of the literature reviewed was used to assign a Grade of Recommendation for each current generally accepted indication for distraction ankle arthroplasty. Results: There is insufficient evidence based literature (Grade I) to support or refute the procedure for either: post-traumatic ankle arthritis, arthritis associated with ligamentous instability, primary degenerative joint disease, chondrolysis, deformity associated with arthritis, osteochondral defects and congenital ankle abnormalities. Conclusion: Inadequate evidence based literature exists to support or refute all currently accepted indications for distraction ankle arthroplasty and further high quality, scientific studies are needed upgrade to these recommendations. Level of Evidence: Systematic Review of Level III Studies
Outcomes of Proximal Chevron Osteotomy for Moderate versus Severe Hallux Valgus Deformities
Authors: Moon Jae-Young , Lee Keun-Bae , Seon Jong Keun , Moon Eun-Sun , Jung Sung-Taek 
Published: September 2012

Background: Proximal chevron osteotomy with a distal soft tissue procedure has been widely used to treat moderate to severe hallux valgus deformities. However, there have been no studies comparing the results of proximal chevron osteotomy between patients with moderate and severe hallux valgus. We compared the results of this procedure among these groups. Methods: A retrospective review of 95 patients (108 feet) that underwent proximal chevron osteotomy and distal soft tissue procedure for moderate and severe hallux valgus was conducted. The 108 feet were divided into two groups: moderate hallux valgus (Group A) and severe hallux valgus (Group B). Group A was composed of 57 feet (52 patients) and Group B of 51 feet (43 patients). Average followup was 45 months. Results: Mean American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal scores were 54.1 points in Group A and 53.0 points in Group B preoperatively, and these improved to 90.8 and 92.6, respectively, at the last followup. Mean hallux valgus angles in Groups A and B reduced from 32.3 and 40.8 degrees, preoperatively to 10.7 and 13.2 degrees, postoperatively. Similarly, mean first intermetatarsal angles in Groups A and B reduced from 15.0 and 19.2 degrees, preoperatively to 9.0 and 9.2 degrees, postoperatively. Conclusion: The clinical and radiographic outcomes of proximal chevron osteotomy with a distal soft tissue procedure were found to be comparable for moderate and severe hallux valgus. Accordingly, our results suggest that this procedure provides an effective and reliable means of correcting hallux valgus regardless of severity of deformity. Level of Evidence: III, Retrospective Comparative Series
The Development of a Neuropathic Ankle following Successful Correction of Non-Plantigrade Charcot Foot Deformity
Authors: Pinzur Michael S. 
Published: September 2012

Background: The treatment of Charcot foot arthropathy has traditionally involved immobilization during the acute phase followed by longitudinal management with accommodative bracing. In response to the perceived poor outcomes associated with nonoperative accommodative treatment, many experts now advise surgical correction of the deformity, especially when the affected foot is not clinically plantigrade. The significant rate of surgical and medical-associated morbidity accompanying this form of treatment has led surgeons to look for improved methods of surgical stabilization, including the use of the circular ring external fixation. Methods: Over a 7-year period, a single surgeon performed surgical correction of non-plantigrade Charcot foot deformity on 171 feet in 164 patients with a statically applied circular external fixator. Following successful correction, five patients developed a neuropathic deformity of the ipsilateral ankle after removal of the external fixator and subsequent weight bearing total contact cast. Results: Three of the five patients progressed to successful healing of the neuropathic (Charcot) ankle arthropathy following treatment with a series of weightbearing total contact casts. Two underwent successful ankle fusion with retrograde locked intramedullary nailing. Discussion: This unusual clinical scenario likely represents either a progression of the disease process in the foot or a complication associated with surgical correction of the original neuropathic foot deformity. A better understanding of this observation will likely become apparent as we acquire more experience with this disorder. Level of Evidence: IV, Retrospective Case Series