bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic Variation in the Vitamin D Pathway in Relation to Risk of Prostate Cancer—Results from the Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium
Authors: Mondul Alison M. , Shui Irene M. , Yu Kai , Travis Ruth C. , Stevens Victoria L. , Campa Daniele , Schumacher Frederick R. , Ziegler Regina G. , Bueno-de-Mesquita H. Bas , Berndt Sonja , Crawford E.D. , Gapstur Susan M. , Gaziano J. Michael , Giovannucci Edward , Haiman Christopher A. , Henderson Brian E. , Hunter David J. , Johansson Mattias , Key Timothy J. , Marchand Loïc Le , Lindström Sara , McCullough Marjorie L. , Navarro Carmen , Overvad Kim , Palli Domenico , Purdue Mark , Stampfer Meir J. , Weinstein Stephanie J. , Willett Walter C. , Yeager Meredith , Chanock Stephen J. , Trichopoulos Dimitrios , Kolonel Laurence N. , Kraft Peter , Albanes Demetrius 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Background: Studies suggest that vitamin D status may be associated with prostate cancer risk although the direction and strength of this association differs between experimental and observational studies. Genome-wide association studies have identified genetic variants associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] status. We examined prostate cancer risk in relation to single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in four genes shown to predict circulating levels of 25(OH)D.
Methods: SNP markers localized to each of four genes (GC, CYP24A1, CYP2R1, and DHCR7) previously associated with 25(OH)D were genotyped in 10,018 cases and 11,052 controls from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium. Logistic regression was used to estimate the individual and cumulative association between genetic variants and risk of overall and aggressive prostate cancer.
Results: We observed a decreased risk of aggressive prostate cancer among men with the allele in rs6013897 near CYP24A1 associated with lower serum 25(OH)D [per A allele, OR, 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.80–0.93; Ptrend = 0.0002) but an increased risk for nonaggressive disease (per A allele: OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04–1.17; Ptrend = 0.002). Examination of a polygenic score of the four SNPs revealed statistically significantly lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer among men with a greater number of low vitamin D alleles (OR for 6–8 vs. 0–1 alleles, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.44–0.98; Ptrend = 0.003).
Conclusions: In this large, pooled analysis, genetic variants related to lower 25(OH)D levels were associated with a decreased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
Impact: Our genetic findings do not support a protective association between loci known to influence vitamin D levels and prostate cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(4); 688–96. ©2013 AACR.
Growth and Activation of Natural Killer CellsEx Vivofrom Children with Neuroblastoma for Adoptive Cell Therapy
Authors: Liu Yin , Wu Hong-Wei , Sheard Michael A. , Sposto Richard , Somanchi Srinivas S. , Cooper Laurence J.N. , Lee Dean A. , Seeger Robert C. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractPurpose: Adoptive transfer of natural killer (NK) cells combined with tumor-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAb) has therapeutic potential for malignancies. We determined if large numbers of activated NK (aNK) cells can be grown ex vivo from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of children with high-risk neuroblastoma using artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPC).Experimental Design: Irradiated K562-derived Clone 9.mbIL21 aAPC were cocultured with PBMC, and propagated NK cells were characterized with flow cytometry, cytotoxicity assays, Luminex multicytokine assays, and a nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mouse model of disseminated neuroblastoma.Results: Coculturing patient PBMC with aAPC for 14 days induced 2,363- ± 443-fold expansion of CD56+CD3−CD14− NK cells with 83% ± 3% purity (n = 10). Results were similar to PBMC from normal donors (n = 5). Expression of DNAM-1, NKG2D, FcγRIII/CD16, and CD56 increased 6- ± 3-, 10- ± 2-, 21- ± 20-, and 18- ± 3-fold, respectively, on day 14 compared with day 0, showing activation of NK cells. In vitro, aNK cells were highly cytotoxic against neuroblastoma cell lines and killing was enhanced with GD2-specific mAb ch14.18. When mediating cytotoxicity with ch14.18, release of TNF-α, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, IFN-γ, sCD40L, CCL2/MCP-1, CXCL9/MIG, and CXCL11/I-TAC by aNK cells increased 4-, 5-, 6-, 15-, 265-, 917-, and 363-fold (151–9,121 pg/mL), respectively, compared with aNK cells alone. Survival of NOD/SCID mice bearing disseminated neuroblastoma improved when treated with thawed and immediately intravenously infused cryopreserved aNK cells compared with untreated mice and was further improved when ch14.18 was added.Conclusion: Propagation of large numbers of aNK cells that maintain potent antineuroblastoma activities when cryopreserved supports clinical testing of adoptive cell therapy with ch14.18. Clin Cancer Res; 19(8); 2132–43. ©2013 AACR.
Real-Time Left Ventricular Pressure-Volume Loops During Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair With the MitraClip System
Authors: Gaemperli Oliver , Biaggi Patric , Gugelmann Remo , Osranek Martin , Schreuder Jan J. , Bühler Ines , Sürder Daniel , Lüscher Thomas F. , Felix Christian , Bettex Dominique , Grünenfelder Jürg , Corti Roberto 
Published: February 2013

Background—
Percutaneous mitral valve repair with the MitraClip device has emerged as an alternative to surgery for treating severe mitral regurgitation. However, its effects on left ventricular loading conditions and contractility have not been investigated yet.

Methods and Results—

Pressure-volume loops were recorded throughout the MitraClip procedure using conductance catheter in 33 patients (mean age, 78±10 years) with functional (45%), degenerative (48%), or mixed (6%) mitral regurgitation. Percutaneous mitral valve repair increased end-systolic wall stress (WS
ES
; from [median] 184 mm Hg [interquartile range (IQR), 140–200 mm Hg] to 209 mm Hg [IQR, 176–232 mm Hg];
P
=0.001) and decreased end-diastolic WS (WS
ED
; from 48 mm Hg [IQR, 28–58 mm Hg] to 34 mm Hg [IQR, 21–46 mm Hg];
P
=0.005), whereas the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship was not significantly affected. Conversely, cardiac index increased (from 2.6 L·min
−1
·m
−2
[IQR, 2.2–3.0 L·min
−1
·m
−2
] to 3.2 L·min
−1
·m
−2
[IQR, 2.6–3.8 L·min
−1
·m
−2
];
P
<0.001) and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased (from 15 mm Hg [IQR, 12–20 mm Hg] to 12 mm Hg [IQR, 10–13 mm Hg];
P
<0.001). Although changes in WS
ES
were not correlated with changes in cardiac index, changes in WS
ED
correlated significantly with changes in mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (
r
=0.63,
P
<0.001). Total mechanical energy assessed by the pressure-volume area remained unchanged, resulting in a more favorable index of forward output (cardiac index) to mechanical energy (pressure-volume area) after mitral valve repair. On follow-up (153±94 days), New York Heart Association functional class was reduced from 2.9±0.6 to 1.9±0.5 (
P
<0.001) at 3 months, and echocardiographic follow-up documented a stepwise reduction in end-diastolic volume (from 147 mL [IQR, 95–191 mL] to 127 mL [IQR, 82–202 mL];
P
=0.036).

Conclusions—
Percutaneous mitral valve repair improves hemodynamic profiles and induces reverse left ventricular remodeling by reducing left ventricular preload while preserving contractility. In nonsurgical candidates with compromised left ventricular function, MitraClip therapy could be considered an alternative to surgical mitral valve repair.
Restoring the Greek Tobit
Authors: Weeks Stuart 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
The modern consensus that the “Long” text of Tobit is earlier than the “Short” has brought about a paralysis in attempts to restore the Greek, with the very unsatisfactory text in Sinaiticus coming to serve as our de facto best effort. It is important to appreciate that the Long witnesses do not constitute a specific and coherent recension, capable of reconstruction in its own right, but are potentially miscellaneous texts, that happened individually to elude the two major revisions of the tradition. Original readings are preserved in both the revised and unrevised witnesses, and if we are to progress then we need to employ and evaluate all those witnesses. The paper ends with an attempt to reconstruct the original form of 4:7-19, which is lacking in Sinaiticus, as an illustration of the scope for such progress.
Research priorities in mental health
Authors: Christensen Helen , Batterham Philip J , Griffiths Kathleen M , Gosling John , Hehir Kanupriya Kalia 
Published: February 2013

Objective: Over the last decade, Australia has seen an increase in investment in mental health services, primarily through the funding of headspace and Better Access to Mental Health Outcomes programs. Concurrently there has been a policy focus on prevention and early intervention, suicide reduction and ‘hard-to-target’ groups such as Indigenous groups. It is not clear, however, whether research funding targeting health services or prevention or promotion has been prioritized, or whether funding priorities in general have shifted over the last decade. Methods: A total of 1008 Australian-authored research publications and 126 competitive research grants in 2008 were coded in terms of their target of research, research goal setting and target group. These characteristics were compared with the research priorities of 570 stakeholders, burden of disease estimates and similar data collected 10 years earlier. Results: The proportion of research funding for affective disorders, dementia and psychosis has increased, but not for anxiety disorders or suicide. Funding for childhood disorders has decreased. Funding for prevention and promotion is low and decreasing. With respect to research publications, substance abuse was associated with the most publications, followed by affective disorders, anxiety disorders and psychosis. When publications and funding are compared to stakeholder priorities and the burden of disease, the areas of suicide and self-harm, personality disorders, anxiety disorders, childhood conditions and dementia are all insufficiently funded. Conclusion: Despite mental health policy reforms through the last decade, there has been little change in the focus of research funding or publication output. There is modest evidence for a shift in support towards affective disorders as a major focus for research. However, the remaining gaps were very similar to those identified 10 years earlier showing that suicide, personality disorders and anxiety disorders are under-researched.
Family caregiver satisfaction with home-based nursing and physician care over the palliative care trajectory: Results from a longitudinal survey questionnaire
Authors: Guerriere Denise N , Zagorski Brandon , Coyte Peter C 
Published: February 2013

Background: A limited understanding of satisfaction with home-based palliative care currently exists. Aim: This study measured family caregivers’ satisfaction with home-based physician and nursing palliative care services, and explored predictors of satisfaction, across the palliative care trajectory. Design: A longitudinal, cohort design was used. Family caregivers were interviewed by telephone by-weekly from palliative care admission until death. Satisfaction was assessed using the Quality of End-of-Life care and Satisfaction with Treatment (QUEST) questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the extent to which demographic, quality of care, and service related variables predicted satisfaction. Setting/Participants: Family caregivers (N=104) of palliative care patients. Results: Each of the nine quality of care parameters were consistently found to be significant predictors of overall satisfaction with palliative care. Conclusions: The results may inform key health policy issues. Specifically, knowledge of how quality of care parameters predict family caregivers’ satisfaction over the course of the palliative care trajectory may aid managers responsible for resource allocation and the determination of home care standards
Disconnect between emergency contacts and surrogate decision-makers in the absence of advance directives
Authors: Song Mi-Kyung , Ward Sandra E 
Published: February 2013

Background: The role played by emergency contacts can be extensive particularly for chronically seriously ill patients. If the patient’s condition suddenly deteriorates, the emergency contact may be asked to make decisions that should instead fall to a designated surrogate decision-maker. Aims: To describe a process used to help chronically seriously ill patients identify a surrogate during study enrollment and to describe whether these surrogates were the same as the documented emergency contacts. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study using eligibility assessment and baseline data from an efficacy trial. The parent trial tests the effects of an end-of-life communication intervention on patient and surrogate decision-maker outcomes, and thus, it was important to identify the surrogate. The study recruiter used a short battery of investigator-developed questions to help patients identify a surrogate. Setting/participants: Patients were 94 self-identified African Americans or Caucasians recruited from 18 outpatient dialysis centers, receiving dialysis for ≥6 months, with Charlson Comorbidity Index of ≥6 or 5 and hospitalized in the last 6 months. Results: When first approached, only three patients had a designated and documented surrogate. The remaining 91 selected a surrogate during the surrogate identification process. Of the 94 surrogates who were named, only 60 (63.8%) were also listed in the medical record as the emergency contact. Conclusions: In roughly one-third of instances, the selected surrogate was not the same person listed in official medical records as the emergency contact, which may pose potential problems in medical decision-making in the absence of advance directives.
Nummular headache: Peripheral or central? One case with reappearance of nummular headache after focal scalp was removed, and literature review
Authors: Dai Wei , Yu Shengyuan , Liang Jingyao , Zhang Mingjie 
Published: February 2013

Background Nummular headache, or coin-shaped cephalagia, is defined as a mild to moderate, pressure-like pain that is felt exclusively in a circumscribed area. More than 200 cases of nummular headache have been reported since it was defined in 2002, but the pathogenesis remains unclear. Methods A patient with nummular headache who had the symptomatic area of his scalp removed but suffered headache reappearance was reported. All published cases of nummular headache in the English literature were reviewed and analyzed for demographic and clinical features, image and laboratory findings, and response to treatment. Results The patient with nummular headache had the symptomatic area of the scalp removed but suffered reappearance of headache in another area that overlapped with the former one. The literature review showed that nummular headache was a chronic, mild to severe, pressure-like pain with a circular or elliptical shape of 1–10 cm in diameter. The parietal region was the most affected region. Exacerbations and sensory disturbances in the affected area were reported in 43% and 56% of cases, respectively. Observational data suggested botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA) and gabapentin may be beneficial. Discussion Our case and evidence from the literature review support the peripheral mechanism of nummular headache. Nummular headache might be a local pain disorder stemming from terminal branches of a sensory nerve and could induce peripheral sensitization in one or several primary sensory neurons.
Injury Profile in Elite Female Basketball Athletes at the Women’s National Basketball Association Combine
Authors: McCarthy Moira M. , Voos James E. , Nguyen Joseph T. , Callahan Lisa , Hannafin Jo A. 
Published: February 2013

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injuries are common in female athletes participating in cutting and pivoting sports such as basketball. The epidemiological characteristics of injury in athletes seen at the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) combine and the effect of ACL reconstruction and meniscus surgery on longevity in the WNBA are unknown. Purpose: To evaluate the details and spectrum of injuries in athletes entering the WNBA combine and to assess the potential effect of specific injuries on the round drafted into the WNBA and career length. Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Demographic data and the documented collegiate injury profile were reviewed from the WNBA database for all players entering the WNBA combine in 2000-2008. The study included injury data on 506 athletes. Complete demographic data were available for 496 players. Results: Of the athletes taking part in the combine, 45.2% were guards, 33.7% were forwards, and 21.1% were centers. Ankle sprain (47.8% of players), hand injury (20.8%), patellar tendinitis (17.0%), ACL injury (15.0%), meniscus injury (10.5%), stress fracture (7.3%), and concussion (7.1%) were the most common injuries reported. Seventy-three athletes (14.4%) reported ACL reconstruction before entering the WNBA combine, and meniscus surgery was the next most common surgery (n = 50 players; 9.9%). There were no differences in ACL or meniscus surgery when analyzed by player position or round drafted. History of ACL or meniscus surgery did not affect career length in the WNBA. Excluding ACL and meniscus surgery, other reported surgical procedures were knee arthroscopic surgery (11.7%), ankle reconstruction (2.6%), and shoulder stabilization (2.0%). Conclusion: The ankle is the most common site of injury and ACL reconstruction is the most common surgery in elite female athletes participating in the WNBA combine. A history of injury or surgery did not affect the round drafted or career length.
The therapeutic applications of celery oil seed extract on the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate toxicity
Authors: El-Shinnawy Nashwa A 
Published: February 2013

The present study investigated the impact of two doses, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg, of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and studied the possible therapeutic dose of celery oil seed extract for 6 weeks on some atheroscelerogenic, obesogenic, antioxidant and liver functions in rats. Both doses of DEHP caused over-expression of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor alpha (PPARα) messenger RNA with significant increase in liver weights, relative liver weights, serum cholesterol (Chol), triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein Chol, liver total lipids, along with an increase in the activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, serum endothelin 1 and liver tissue thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Additionally, DEHP administration to rats resulted in significant decrease in final body weights, serum total protein, albumin, liver total protein and serum total nitric oxide. Our study confirmed the role of oral combination of Apium graveolens (celery) oil seed extract at small cumulative doses (50 µl/kg for 6 weeks) with DEHP in ameliorating the toxicological effects of DEHP, which was revealed in reducing the expression of PPARα, lipid profile, with restoring liver functions, vascular oxidative stress and inhibition of TBARS activity.
Water-swellable thermoplastic vulcanizates based on ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer/chlorinated polyethylene/cross-linked sodium polyacrylate/nitrile butadiene rubber blends
Authors: Li Shuai , Lang Fengzheng , Du Fanglin , Wang Zhaobo 
Published: February 2013

A novel water-swellable rubber (WSR) has been prepared by dynamically vulcanized ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)/chlorinated polyethylene (CPE)/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) blends where the cross-linked poly(sodium acrylate) (CPNaAA) was used as a super water-absorbent resin and dispersed in the NBR rubber. The mechanical properties, water-swelling behavior, weight loss and crystallization behavior of the prepared WSRs were investigated systemically. When the CPNaAA content was 20 phr above, the increase in CPNaAA dosage contributed to the decrease in mechanical properties. However, the WSRs showed strong water-swelling behaviors and the water-swelling ratio of WSRs with 50 phr CPNaAA was 669.3% at 120 h. The WSRs with 60 phr CPNaAA showed high water-swelling rate and achieved the equilibrium swelling at about 566.3% in 23 h. The secondary and third water-swelling behaviors of WSRs showed significantly rapid equilibrium swelling and remarkable decrease in weight loss. X-ray diffraction results revealed the increase in CPNaAA content would result in the reduction of crystalline structure content in EVA. Morphological study of etched surface showed that the CPNaAA particles were dispersed evenly in the WSRs and coated with cross-linked NBR rubber; moreover, field-emission scanning electron microscopic graphs showed the crystalline structure of EVA and clusters of flakes were dispersed on the etched surface of WSRs.
Tribological studies on effect of mixture of fillers in polystyrene matrix composites
Authors: Keshavanarayana Gopalakrishna , Divakar Canchi , Venkatesh Krishna , Mohan C Bhoganarasimhaiah , Bhatta KG Lakshminarayana , Murali Lakshminarayana 
Published: February 2013

Addition of measured amounts of fillers into a polymer matrix is expected to improve the desired properties of the composites. Also the ease of processability of the matrix and reinforcement is always desired. Use of powder fillers in the polymer matrix at ambient conditions would make the processing much easier. This will help in in situ applications. In the present work, polymer–matrix composites are prepared with polystyrene as the matrix using metal (copper/aluminum/steel) and ceramic (alumina) fillers at ambient conditions. The composites with metallic and ceramic fillers in the ratio of 50:25:25 wt% (polymer:filler 1:filler 2) designated as three-phase composites were investigated for tribological applications. Both copper and aluminum fillers were considered for comparison in terms of their contribution to tribological behavior because of their thermal conductivity, specific heat and density. Polystyrene is filled with metal powder (copper, aluminum or steel) and alumina in equal proportion and subjected to wear and friction tests. The polymer steel–ceramic composite has the least with the other two composites having almost the same values of friction coefficient. The polymer aluminum–ceramic composite has the least wear at all operating conditions. Polymer aluminum–ceramic composite was found to have better wear behavior among the three-phase composites. This may be attributed to the favorable value of density of aluminum, moderate thermal conductivity and excellent specific heat.