bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Incremental Value of Objective Cardiac Testing in Addition to Physician Impression and Serial Contemporary Troponin Measurements in Women
Authors: Diercks Deborah B. , Mumma Bryn E. , Frank Peacock W. , Hollander Judd E. , Safdar Basmah , Mahler Simon A. , Miller Chadwick D. , Counselman Francis L. , Birkhahn Robert , Schrock Jon , Singer Adam J. , Nagurney John T. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractObjectivesGuidelines recommend that patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain who are at low risk for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receive an objective cardiac evaluation with a stress test or coronary imaging. It is uncertain whether all women derive benefit from this process. The study aim was to determine the incremental value of objective cardiac testing after serial cardiac markers and physician risk assessment.MethodsWomen enrolled in the 18‐site Myeloperoxidase in the Diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndrome (MIDAS) study had serial troponin I measured at time 0 and 90 minutes and physician risk assessment for the presence of ACS. Risk estimates obtained at the time of ED evaluation were dichotomized as high or non–high risk. The primary outcome was the composite of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or revascularization at 30 days. Logistic regression with receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves and net reclassification index were used to determine the diagnostic accuracy for the composite outcome of 30‐day MI or revascularization for two models: 1) troponin I results and physician risk assessment alone and 2) troponin I results, physician risk assessment, and objective cardiac testing.ResultsA total of 460 women with a median age 58 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 48.5 to 68 years) were included, and 32 (6.9%) experienced AMI or revascularization by 30 days. Comparison of the area under the ROC curves (AUC) showed that the addition of objective cardiac testing to the combination of troponin I results and physician risk assessment did not significantly improve prediction of 30‐day AMI or revascularization (AUC = 0.85 vs. 0.89; p = 0.053). Using a threshold of 1%, net reclassification index showed that the addition of objective cardiac testing to troponin I results and physician risk assessment worsened the prediction for 30‐day AMI and revascularization. All of the reclassified patients were false positives, with nine (2.1%) patients incorrectly reclassified from <1% risk to ≥1% risk of 30‐day AMI or revascularization.ConclusionsIn the era of contemporary troponin assays, objective cardiac testing after an ED clinician risk assessment of non–high risk and negative troponin I results at 0 and 90 minutes does not improve the prediction of 30‐day AMI or revascularization in women presenting with chest pain or other symptoms of cardiac ischemia.
Imaging cytometry for counting circulating tumor cells: comparative analysis of the CellSearch vs ImageStream systems
Authors: López‐Riquelme Natividad , Minguela Alfredo , Villar‐Permuy Flori , Ciprian Daniel , Castillejo Adela , Álvarez‐López María‐Rocio , Soto José‐Luis 
Published: March 2013

Circulating tumor cell (CTC) enumeration is important clinically for identifying prognostic and predictive factors in patients with solid cancers. The CellSearch device (Veridex) is an immunomagnetic CTC selection and enumeration system used in clinical practice. The ImageStream (Amnis) combines the strengths of flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy in a single platform and has potential application for CTC counting. The performance in CTC enumeration was compared between the ImageStream and CellSearch systems.Various numbers of PANC‐1 tumor cells were spiked into 7.5 mL of peripheral blood from a healthy donor. Before cell analysis by the ImageStream, tumor cell enrichment was performed by immunomagnetic selection with anti‐EpPCAM. Anti‐CD45 and anti‐CK markers were used to discriminate between tumor cells and leukocytes. The ratios of tumor cells recovered from each dilution were calculated for both methods. The Wilcoxon rank test was applied to compare the results of the two methods and the reference value.The results of the two tested methods differed significantly from the reference value, but did not differ between them. Nevertheless, lower level of trueness and precision was observed in ImageStream when fewer numbers of CTCs were analyzed.Our results suggest that ImageStream platform for CTC enumeration has a potential value for the early diagnosis of disseminated disease, but needs an improvement of precision for the enumeration of low number of CTC.
Novel anti‐biofilm mechanism for wireless capsule endoscopy in the urinary tract: preliminary study in a sheep model
Authors: Neheman Amos , Schulman Claude , Yossepowitch Ofer 
Published: March 2013

Objective
To develop and test the safety and feasibility of a novel anti‐biofilm mechanism configured for wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) in a sheep bladder model.
Materials and Methods
A WCE mechanism, designed for long‐term bladder monitoring, was developed and introduced into a sheep bladder for 5 months.
The transparency of the surface was assessed by evaluating a resolution target placed inside the capsule at serial intervals using cystoscopy under general anaesthesia.
Animal behaviour, voiding patterns and urine cultures were monitored throughout the study.
At study termination, the capsule was extracted and assessed using scanning electron microscopy.
Results
The resolution target was visualized clearly at all investigation points. No notable adverse effects were noted during the entire follow‐up period and no urinary tract infection occurred.
Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the efficacy of the technology to prevent biofilm formation and surface encrustation.
Conclusions
We report a novel technology that effectively prevents biofilm formation on the outer surface of foreign objects in the urinary tract.
Further studies are under way to test the applicability of this technology in bladder WCE to enable high‐quality wireless image transmission.
Potential enhancing effects of histamine H1 agonism/H3 antagonism on working memory assessed by performance and bold response in healthy volunteers
Authors: van Ruitenbeek P , Mehta M A 
Published: March 2013

Background and PurposeSchizophrenia is a highly debilitating disorder characterized by hallucinations and delusions, but also impaired cognition such as memory. While hallucinations and delusions are the main target for pharmacological treatment, cognitive impairments are rarely treated. Evidence exists that histamine has a role in the cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, which could be the basis of the development of a histamine‐type treatment. Histamine H3 antagonists have been shown to improve memory performance in experimental animals, but these effects have been little investigated in humans within the context of impaired cognition in schizophrenia and using sensitive measures of brain activity. In the present study, the effects of betahistine (H3 antagonist/H1 agonist) on learning and memory, and associated brain activity were assessed.Experimental ApproachSixteen healthy volunteers (eight female) aged between 18 and 50 years received two p.o. doses of betahistine (48 mg) or placebo separated by 30 min, on separate days according to a two‐way, double‐blind, crossover design. Volunteers performed an N‐back working memory task and a spatial paired associates learning task while being scanned using a MRI scanner.Key ResultsTask‐related activity changes in well‐defined networks and performance were observed. No betahistine‐induced changes in brain activity were found in these networks. Alternatively, liberal whole‐brain analyses showed activity changes in areas outside task networks, like the lateral geniculate nucleus.Conclusions and ImplicationsClear effects of betahistine on working memory could not be established. Future studies should use higher doses and explore the role of histamine in visual information processing.Linked ArticlesThis article is part of a themed issue on Histamine Pharmacology Update. To view the other articles in this issue visit http://dx.doi.org/
10.1111/bph.2013.170.issue‐1
NC‐6300, an epirubicin‐incorporating micelle, extends the antitumor effect and reduces the cardiotoxicity of epirubicin
Authors: Takahashi Amane , Yamamoto Yoshiyuki , Yasunaga Masahiro , Koga Yoshikatsu , Kuroda Jun‐ichiro , Takigahira Misato , Harada Mitsunori , Saito Hiroyuki , Hayashi Tatsuyuki , Kato Yasuki , Kinoshita Taira , Ohkohchi Nobuhiro , Hyodo Ichinosuke , Matsumura Yasuhiro 
Published: March 2013

Epirubicin is widely used to treat various human tumors. However, it is difficult to achieve a sufficient antitumor effect because of dosage limitation to prevent cardiotoxicity. We hypothesized that epirubicin‐incorporating micelle would reduce cardiotoxicity and improve the antitumor effect. NC‐6300 comprises epirubicin covalently bound to PEG polyaspartate block copolymer through an acid–labile hydrazone bond. The conjugate forms a micellar structure of 40–80 nm in diameter in an aqueous milieu. NC‐6300 (10, 15 mg/kg) and epirubicin (10 mg/kg) were given i.v. three times to mice bearing s.c. or liver xenograft of human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells. Cardiotoxicity was evaluated by echocardiography in C57BL/6 mice that were given NC‐6300 (10 mg/kg) or epirubicin (10 mg/kg) in nine doses over 12 weeks. NC‐6300 showed a significantly potent antitumor effect against Hep3B s.c. tumors compared with epirubicin. Moreover, NC‐6300 also produced a significantly longer survival rate than epirubicin against the liver orthotopic tumor of Hep3B. With respect to cardiotoxicity, epirubicin‐treated mice showed significant deteriorations in fractional shortening and ejection fraction. In contrast, cardiac functions of NC‐6300 treated mice were no less well maintained than in control mice. This study warrants a clinical evaluation of NC‐6300 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma or other cancers.
Improved spatial estimates of climate predict patchier species distributions
Authors: Storlie C. J. , Phillips B. L. , VanDerWal J. J. , Williams S. E. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractAimCorrelative species distribution models (SDMs) combined with spatial layers of climate and species' localities represent a frequently utilized and rapid method for generating spatial estimates of species distributions. However, an SDM is only as accurate as the inputs upon which it is based. Current best‐practice climate layers commonly utilized in SDM (e.g. ANUCLIM) are frequently inaccurate and biased spatially. Here, we statistically downscale 30 years of existing spatial weather estimates against empirical weather data and spatial layers of topography and vegetation to produce highly accurate spatial layers of weather. We proceed to demonstrate the effect of inaccurately quantified spatial data on SDM outcomes.LocationThe Australian Wet Tropics.MethodsWe use Boosted Regression Trees (BRTs) to generate 30 years of spatial estimates of daily maximum and minimum temperature for the study region and aggregate the resultant weather layers into ‘accuCLIM’ climate summaries, comparable with those generated by current best‐practice climate layers. We proceed to generate for seven species of rainforest skink comparable SDMs within species; one model based on ANUCLIM climate estimates and another based on accuCLIM climate estimates.ResultsBoosted Regression Trees weather layers are more accurate with respect to empirically measured temperature, particularly for maximum temperature, when compared to current best‐practice weather layers. ANUCLIM climate layers are least accurate in heavily forested upland regions, frequently over‐predicting empirical mean maximum temperature by as much as 7°. Distributions of the focal species as predicted by accuCLIM were more fragmented and contained less core distributional area.ConclusionCombined these results reveal a source of bias in climate‐based SDMs and indicate a solution in the form of statistical downscaling. This technique will allow researchers to produce fine‐grained, ground‐truthed spatial estimates of weather based on existing estimates, which can be aggregated in novel ways, and applied to correlative or process‐based modelling techniques.
Influence of glucocorticoids and growth hormone on insulin sensitivity in humans
Authors: Yuen K. C. J. , Chong L. E. , Riddle M. C. 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe seminal concept proposed by Sir Harold Himsworth more than 75 years ago that a large number of patients with diabetes were ‘insulin insensitive’, now termed insulin resistance, has now expanded to include several endocrine syndromes, namely those of glucocorticoid excess, and growth hormone excess and deficiency. Synthetic glucocorticoids are increasingly used to treat a wide variety of chronic diseases, whereas the beneficial effects of recombinant growth hormone replacement therapy in children and adults with growth hormone deficiency have now been well‐recognized for over 25 years. However, clinical and experimental studies have established that increased circulating levels of glucocorticoids and growth hormone can also lead to worsening of insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, overt diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Improved understanding of the physiological 24‐h rhythmicity of glucocorticoid and growth hormone secretion and its influence on the dawn phenomenon and the Staub‐Trauggot effect has therefore led to renewed interest in studies on the mechanisms of insulin resistance induced by exogenous administration of glucocorticoids and growth hormone in humans. In this review, we describe the physiological events that result from the presence of resistance to insulin action at the level of skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and liver, describe the known mechanisms of glucocorticoid‐ and growth hormone‐mediated insulin resistance, and provide an update of the contributions of glucocorticoids and growth hormone to understanding the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and its effects on several endocrine syndromes.
Hospital admission due to infections in multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Montgomery S. , Hillert J. , Bahmanyar S. 
Published: March 2013

Background and purposeMultiple sclerosis (MS) patients are at increased infection risk. Here the influences of susceptibility, severity and surveillance bias on infection‐related hospital admission are assessed.MethodsSwedish registers identified 20 276 patients with MS, matched with 203 951 people from the general population without MS. Risk of first hospital admission for infection and mortality over 36 years was estimated by Poisson regression.ResultsMultiple sclerosis was associated with an increased hospital admission risk for all infections, with an adjusted relative risk (and 95% confidence interval) of 4.26 (4.13–4.40). A proportion of this raised risk was probably due to surveillance and referral bias, although a raised risk remained when MS was compared with other immune‐mediated diseases. The 1‐month mortality rate following hospital admission for infection was higher in MS patients than in the comparison cohort, with a relative risk of 4.69 (4.21–5.22). There was no clear temporal trend in the results, and risks were higher in males and varied by MS phenotype.ConclusionsHigher hospital admission rates among MS patients for infection are likely to be due to a combination of surveillance bias, cautious medical management and greater susceptibility to severe infections. MS‐related functional limitations may increase infection risk and this should be considered in MS management.
Cap1p attenuates the apoptosis of Candida albicans
Authors: Dai Bao‐Di , Wang Yan , Zhao Lan‐Xue , Li De‐Dong , Li Ming‐Bang , Cao Yong‐Bing , Jiang Yuan‐Ying 
Published: March 2013

Candida albicans is the most common opportunistic fungal pathogen and its apoptosis is inducible by environmental stress. Based on our previous finding that transcription factor Cap1p was involved in baicalein‐induced apoptosis, the present study aimed to further clarify the role of Cap1p in apoptosis by observing the impact of CAP1 deletion on cell fate. It was found that apoptotic stimulation with amphotericin B, acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide increased the number of apoptotic and necrotic cells, caspase activity and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, whereas it decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular ATP level in the cap1Δ/Δ mutant. The cell fate was, at least partly, caused by glutathione depletion and attenuation of the expression of the glutathione reductase gene in the cap1Δ/Δ mutant. Collectively, our data suggest that Cap1p participated in the apoptosis of C. albicans by regulating the expression of the glutathione reductase gene and glutathione content.
Rapid long‐distance migration in Norwegian Lesser Black‐backed Gulls Larus fuscus fuscus along their eastern flyway
Authors: Bustnes Jan O. , Moe Børge , Helberg Morten , Phillips Richard A. 
Published: March 2013

We studied the long‐distance migration of Lesser Black‐backed Gulls Larus fuscus fuscus breeding in northern Norway along their eastern flyway using geolocators in 2009 and 2010. The majority of birds wintered in lakes in East Africa and the southeast Mediterranean was the most important stopover area. Larus f. fuscus along the eastern flyway travelled at a net travel speed of 399 and 177 km/day during the autumn and spring migration, respectively, higher than published travel speeds for Dutch Larus fuscus migrating along the western flyway. The results suggest that the long‐distance migratory Norwegian L. f. fuscus seek to minimize time spent in transit, whereas lower travel speed during northerly spring migration may reflect differences in wind patterns or food conditions between spring and autumn.
Nest predators of southeast Asian evergreen forest birds identified through continuous video recording
Authors: Pierce Andrew J. , Pobprasert Korakoch 
Published: March 2013

Using continuous video recording, we identified predation as the main cause of nest failure of understorey‐nesting birds in an intact evergreen forest in northeastern Thailand. Our dataset of 87 predation events is the largest recorded in the tropics. The main predators were macaques (n = 38; 43.7%), nocturnal snakes (n = 19; 21.8%), non‐raptorial birds (n = 12; 13.8%), raptors (n = 6; 6.9%), squirrels (n = 5; 5.7%) and tree shrews (n = 4; 4.6%). The two most important predators, Pig‐tailed Macaque Macaca nemistrina and Green Cat Snake Boiga cinerea, showed no preference for nest type, nest stage or nest height and we found no difference in their relative predation rates among years. Predation was predominantly diurnal (73.6%), suggesting that visual cues may be important for predators at this site.
The relative roles of habitat heterogeneity and disturbance in drosophilid assemblages (Diptera,Drosophilidae) in theCerrado
Authors: Alves Da Mata Renata , Tidon Rosana 
Published: March 2013

AbstractThe Brazilian Cerrado, a vegetation mosaic considered to be a unique savannah hotspot, contains a great diversity of insects. It is uncertain how communities of insects in the Cerrado respond, at local scale, to the strong heterogeneity of the biome or to the increasing levels of anthropogenic disturbance.This study examines the relative importance of habitat heterogeneity and human disturbance for the structure of drosophilid assemblages in this biome.Our results are based on standardised monthly sampling at 25 sites (3 conserved forests, 4 disturbed forests, 8 conserved savannahs, and 10 disturbed savannahs) throughout 1 year.The assemblage compositions differed across habitats. The conserved forests had a singular drosophilid assemblage characterised by typical narrow‐ranging neotropical species. Assemblages from savannahs and disturbed forests contained more exotic species than those from conserved forests. The assemblages of disturbed forests were more similar to those of the savannahs than to those of the conserved forests. Savannah assemblages did not differ from each other; these assemblages shared a great number of both exotic and neotropical species widespread in neotropical regions.At the reserve scale, the strong natural heterogeneity of the Cerrado is the primary factor impacting the structure of drosophilid assemblages. Nevertheless, disturbance explained the differences in assemblage structure between the conserved and disturbed forests. Even low disturbance levels in forests could cause a decrease in heterogeneity and begin to impoverish these environments, leading to the biotic homogenisation of this currently rich biome.
Relations in Families with a Mentally Retarded Child from the Perspective of the Siblings
Authors: Andersson Egil A. D. 
Published: March 2013

Nowadays most handicapped children in Sweden live with their families. In this study some of the consequences of the normalisation of their lives are analysed, focusing on young siblings of mentally retarded children. Sixteen siblings, aged 5–11, were tested with the Family Relations Test and Kvebaek Family Sculpture Technique, as were siblings in a control group in which each child was chosen to match a sibling in the target group with respect to age and family constellation. The results show few differences between the two groups. According to the Family Relations Test, however, the emotional involvement in the eldest non‐retarded sibling differs statistically significant from that of the corresponding child in the control group and especially so with respect to negative incoming feelings. Young siblings also show a tendency to unconsciously place the mentally retarded child at larger distances from themselves than they place the other siblings with respect to the Kvebaek Family Sculpture Technique.The results indicate that siblings of mentally retarded children have another frame of reference when judging family relations compared with that of the children in the control group. Thus siblings of mentally retarded children seem to adapt to changes in the family because of the mentally retarded child and qualitatively alter their thinking in relation to the family members.
DIVIDEND POLICY: BALANCING SHAREHOLDERS' AND CREDITORS' INTERESTS
Authors: Shao Liang , Kwok Chuck C.Y. , Guedhami Omrane 
Published: March 2013

AbstractDividend policies provide an opportune setting to examine how firms simultaneously manage the diverging interests of shareholders and creditors. Dividends ease shareholders' concerns about expropriation by insiders while exacerbating creditors' concerns about expropriation by shareholders. Firm insiders should set dividend policies to minimize the agency costs of equity and debt. Using a sample of 39 countries for 1991–2010, we find strong evidence that dividends are more positively sensitive to creditor (shareholder) rights when shareholders (creditors) are adequately protected. Our research emphasizes the importance of accounting for the interactions between both agency relationships when studying corporate policies.
Limit Order Book and Commonality in Liquidity
Authors: Kang Wenjin , Zhang Huiping 
Published: March 2013

AbstractWe show that the liquidity provided by an individual stock's limit order book comoves significantly with the market aggregate limit order book liquidity. A closer look at the inside and outside liquidity provided by different parts of limit order book suggests that inside liquidity is mainly influenced by market volatility, while idiosyncratic volatility has a larger impact on outside liquidity. Hence, limit order book inside liquidity exhibits higher commonality than outside liquidity. We also show that the comovement between the stock‐level and market‐aggregate limit order book liquidity measures is related to the commonality in the overall stock market liquidity.