bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel method of assessing quality of postgraduate psychiatry training: experiences from a large training programme
Authors: Bizrah Mukhtar , Iacoponi Eduardo , Parker Elizabeth , Rymer Janice , Iversen Amy , Wessely Simon 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Most assessments of the quality of postgraduate training are based on anonymised questionnaires of trainees. We report a comprehensive assessment of the quality of training at a large postgraduate psychiatry training institute using non-anonymised face-to-face interviews with trainees and their trainers.

Methods
Two consultant psychiatrists interviewed 99 trainees and 109 trainers. Scoring of interview responses was determined by using a pre-defined criteria. Additional comments were recorded as free text. Interviews covered 13 domains, including: Clinical, teaching, research and management opportunities, clinical environment, clinical supervision, adequacy of job description, absence of bullying and job satisfaction. Multiple interview domain scores were combined, generating a ‘Combined’ score for each post.

Results
The interview response rate was 97% for trainers 88% for trainees. There was a significant correlation between trainee and trainer scores for the same interview domains (Pearson’s r = 0.968, p< 0.001). Overall scores were significantly higher for specialist psychiatry posts as compared to general adult psychiatry posts (Two tailed t-test, p < 0.001, 95% CI: -0.398 to −0.132), and significantly higher for liaison psychiatry as compared to other specialist psychiatry posts (t-test: p = 0.038, 95% CI: -0.3901, -0.0118). Job satisfaction scores of year 1 to year 3 core trainees showed a significant increase with increasing seniority (Linear regression coefficient = 0.273, 95% CI: 0.033 to 0.513, ANOVA p= 0.026).

Conclusions
This in-depth examination of the quality of training on a large psychiatry training programme successfully elicited strengths and weakness of our programme. Such an interview scheme could be easily implemented in smaller schemes and may well provide important information to allow for targeted improvement of training. Additionally, trends in quality of training and job satisfaction amongst various psychiatric specialities were identified; specifically speciality posts and liaison posts in psychiatry were revealed to be the most popular with trainees.
Expression of ALDH1 in breast invasive ductal carcinoma: an independent predictor of early tumor relapse
Authors: Zhong Ying , Lin Yan , Shen Songjie , Zhou Yidong , Mao Feng , Guan Jinghong , Sun Qiang 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
The specific mechanism underlying the contribution of the Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) phenotype to metastatic behavior and early tumor relapse in breast cancer is currently unclear.

Methods
147 randomly selected invasive ductal carcinoma samples were assayed for expression of ALDH1A1, NOTCH1, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2), and association of the ALDH1A1 phenotype with clinic pathological features was further evaluated.

Results
ALDH1A1-positive cells were detected in 63.3% (93 of 147) of tumors. 80.0% (32 of 40) of tumors with strong ALDH1A1 staining displayed early recurrence, compared with 20.0% (8 of 40) of tumors negative for ALDH1A1 expression (P = 0.027). ALDH1A1 status was significantly correlated with strong malignant proliferative marker Ki67 staining (P = 0.001), and no significantly different expression of ALDH1A1 across the subtypes of ER, PR, and HER2 expression and triple negative features of tumor tissue. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that elevated ALDH1A1 expression is an independent predictor of recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival. Notably, breast cancer tissue strong for ALDH1A1 expression displayed weak NOTCH1 staining compared to ALDH1A1 weak tumor tissue (P = 0.002), and the relationship between ALDH1A1 and NOTCH1 mRNA positivity was significant (Pearson correlation - 0.337, P = 0.014; Spearman’s rho - 0.376, P = 0.006). Elevated NOTCH1 mRNA level (using a cut-off value based on the median ALDH1A1 2-△△C T value) was associated with reduction of ALDH1A1 mRNA level (P = 0.001).

Conclusions
The ALDH1A1 phenotype is an independent predictor of early tumor relapse characteristic (specifically, incidence of early local recurrence and distant metastasis) of invasive ductal carcinoma. The NOTCH1 signaling pathway is possibly involved in the negative association of the ALDH1A1 phenotype with early malignant relapse in invasive ductal carcinoma.
Worldwide socioeconomic status and stroke mortality: an ecological study
Authors: Wu Sheng Hui , Woo Jean , Zhang Xin-Hua 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Introduction
The effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on stroke mortality at population level has been controversial. This study explores the association of SES in childhood and adulthood with stroke mortality, as well as variations in this association among countries/regions.

Methods
Sex-specific stroke mortality at country level with death registry covering ≥ 70% population was obtained from the World Health Organization. Human Development Index (HDI) developed by the United Nations was chosen as the SES indicator. The associations between the latest available stroke mortality with HDI in 1999 (adulthood SES) and with HDI in 1960 (childhood SES) for the group aged 45–54 years among countries were examined with regression analysis. Age-standardized stroke mortality and HDI during 1974–2001 were used to estimate the association by time point.

Results
The population data were available mostly for low-middle to high income countries. HDI in 1960 and 1999 were both inversely associated with stroke mortality in the group aged 45–54 years in 39 countries/regions. HDI in 1960 accounted for 37% of variance of stroke mortality among countries/regions; HDI in 1999 for 35% in men and 53% in women (P < 0.001). There was a quadratic relationship between age-standardized stroke mortality and HDI for the countries from 1974 to 2001: the association was positive when HDI < 0.77 but it became negative when HDI > 0.80.

Conclusions
SES is a strong predictor of stroke mortality at country level. Stroke mortality increased with improvement of SES in less developed countries/region, while it decreased with advancing SES in more developed areas.
Femoral anteversion and tibial torsion only explain 25% of variance in regression analysis of foot progression angle in children with diplegic cerebral palsy
Authors: Lee Kyoung Min , Chung Chin Youb , Sung Ki Hyuk , Kim Tae Won , Lee Seung Yeol , Park Moon Seok 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
The relationship between torsional bony deformities and rotational gait parameters has not been sufficiently investigated. This study was to investigate the degree of contribution of torsional bony deformities to rotational gait parameters in patients with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods
Thirty three legs from 33 consecutive ambulatory patients (average age 9.5 years, SD 6.9 years; 20 males and 13 females) with diplegic CP who underwent preoperative three dimensional gait analysis, foot radiographs, and computed tomography (CT) were included. Adjusted foot progression angle (FPA) was retrieved from gait analysis by correcting pelvic rotation from conventional FPA, which represented the rotational gait deviation of the lower extremity from the tip of the femoral head to the foot. Correlations between rotational gait parameters (FPA, adjusted FPA, average pelvic rotation, average hip rotation, and average knee rotation) and radiologic measurements (acetabular version, femoral anteversion, knee torsion, tibial torsion, and anteroposteriortalo-first metatarsal angle) were analyzed. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify significant contributing radiographic measurements to adjusted FPA.

Results
Adjusted FPA was significantly correlated with FPA (r=0.837, p<0.001), contralateral FPA (r=0.492, p=0.004), pelvic rotation during gait (r=−0.489, p=0.004), knee rotation during gait (r=0.376, p=0.031), and femoral anteversion (r=0.350, p=0.046). In multiple regression analysis, femoral anteversion (p=0.026) and tibial torsion (p=0.034) were found to be the significant contributing structural deformities to the adjusted FPA (R2=0.247).

Conclusions
Femoral anteversion and tibial torsion were found to be the significant structural deformities that could affect adjusted FPA in patients with diplegic CP. Femoral anteversion and tibial torsion could explain only 24.7% of adjusted FPA.
An in-silico comparison of proton beam and IMRT for postoperative radiotherapy in completely resected stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Berman Abigail T , Teo Boon-Keng Kevin , Dolney Derek , Swisher-McClure Samuel , Shahnazi Kambiz , Both Stefan , Rengan Ramesh 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Introduction
Post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) for stage IIIA completely-resected non-small cell lung cancer (CR-NSCLC) has been shown to improve local control; however, it is unclear that this translates into a survival benefit. One explanation is that the detrimental effect of PORT on critical organs at risk (OARs) negates its benefit. This study reports an in-silico comparative analysis of passive scattering proton therapy (PSPT)- and intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) with intensity modulated photon beam radiotherapy (IMRT) PORT.

Methods
The computed tomography treatment planning scans of ten patients with pathologic stage IIIA CR-NSCLC treated with IMRT were used. IMRT, PSPT, and IMPT plans were generated and analyzed for dosimetric endpoints. The proton plans were constructed with two or three beams. All plans were optimized to deliver 50.4 Gy(RBE) in 1.8 Gy(RBE) fractions to the target volume.

Results
IMPT leads to statistically significant reductions in maximum spinal cord, mean lung dose, lung volumes treated to 5, 10, 20, and 30 Gy (V5, V10, V20, V30), mean heart dose, and heart volume treated to 40 Gy (V40), when compared with IMRT or PSPT. PSPT reduced lung V5 but increased lung V20, V30, and heart and esophagus V40.

Conclusions
IMPT demonstrates a large decrease in dose to all OARs. PSPT, while reducing the low-dose lung bath, increases the volume of lung receiving high dose. Reductions are seen in dosimetric parameters predictive of radiation pneumonitis and cardiac morbidity and mortality. This reduction may correlate with a decrease in dose-limiting toxicity and improve the therapeutic ratio.
High prevalence of HIV/AIDS risky sexual behaviors among street youth in gondar town: a community based cross sectional study
Authors: Tadesse Negash , Awoke Ayele Tadesse , Birhanu Mengesha Zelalem , Addis Alene Kefyalew 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
Street youth are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and all kinds of health risks. This study assessed HIV/AIDS risky sexual behaviors and its predictors among street youth in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods
A community based cross sectional study was conducted on 467 street youth living in Gondar town. A pre tested and structured questionnaire via interview was used to collect data. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors. Odds ratio with 95% CI was computed to assess the strength of associations.

Results
A total of 288 (61.7%) respondents had sexual intercourse in their life time. Among these 264 (91.7%) had more than one lifetime sexual partners. In addition, 80.5% of them used condom inconsistently in the last 12 months. Khat chewing was found to be predictor of having multiple sexual partners. Rural former residence and longer duration of stay on the street are also identified as predictors of inconsistent condom use.

Conclusion
High prevalence of HIV/AIDS risky sexual behaviors were observed among street youth in Gondar town. Interventions aimed at reducing sexual risky behaviors among street youth should focus on reducing the duration of stay on the street and chat chewing.
Polymorphisms in the SOCS7 gene and glucose homeostasis traits
Authors: Capuano Melissa M , Sorkin John D , Chang Yen-Pei C , Ling Hua , O’Connell Jeffrey R , Rothman Paul B , Mitchell Braxton D , Silver Kristi D 
Published: June 2013

Abstract

Background
SOCS7 is a member of the suppressor of cytokine signaling family of proteins and is expressed in skeletal muscle and islets. SOCS7 deficient mice develop islet hyperplasia in the setting of increased insulin sensitivity and normal glucose tolerance. The objective of this study was to determine if variants in SOCS7 play a role in variation of glucose and insulin levels and the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Results
Five SOCS7 tagging SNPs were genotyped in diabetic and nondiabetic Old Order Amish. A case–control study was performed in T2DM (n = 145) and normal glucose tolerant (n = 358) subjects. Nominal associations were observed with T2DM and the minor alleles for rs8068600 (P = 0.01) and rs8074124 (P = 0.04); however, only rs8068600 remained significant after Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons (P = 0.01). Among nondiabetic Amish (n = 765), no significant associations with glucose or insulin traits including fasting or 2 hour glucose and insulin from the oral glucose tolerance test, insulin or glucose area under the curve, Matsuda Index or HOMA-IR were found for any of the SNPs.

Conclusion
In conclusion, genetic variants in the SOCS7 gene do not impact variation in glucose homeostasis traits and only minimally impact risk of T2DM in the Old Order Amish. Our study was not able to address whether rare variants that potentially impact gene function might influence T2DM risk.
Susceptibility of Anopheles sinensis to Plasmodium vivax in malarial outbreak areas of central China
Authors: Zhu Guoding , Xia Hui , Zhou Huayun , Li Julin , Lu Feng , Liu Yaobao , Cao Jun , Gao Qi , Sattabongkot Jetsumon 
Published: June 2013

AbstractBackgroundAnopheles sinensis,Anopheles anthropophagus,Anopheles minimusandAnopheles dirusare the major vectors of malaria transmission in China.Anopheles sinensisis considered a secondary vector due to its relatively low malaria-transmission ability. However, in 2005, an outbreak of over 40,000Plasmodium vivaxmalaria cases was reported in areas whereAnopheles sinensiswas the only major vector. Therefore, it is necessary to reassess the malaria transmission ability of this vector species in China.MethodsLaboratory colonies ofAn. sinensisandAn. anthropophagus, and first-generation progeny (F1) ofAn. sinensisthat had been collected in central China, were infected by direct membrane feeding assay with mono-vivaxgametocyte-containing blood collected fromvivax-infected patients. The mosquitoes were kept for 7 to 14 days post-blood feeding to allow parasites to develop into oocysts and sporozoites. Infectivity was measured by dissecting midguts and salivary glands. The presence of oocysts and sporozoites was determined by microscopy at 7 and 14 days post-blood feeding, and the numbers of gametocytes and asexual parasites, as well as mosquito parasite infections, were determined.ResultsThe positive oocyst and sporozoite feed rates of the 142 pairs of lab-colonyAn. sinensisandAn. anthropophaguswere not significantly different, and the same results were found with the 10 pairs of laboratory and F1An. sinensis.An. sinensishad more oocysts/midgut at 7 days post-feeding thanAn. anthropophagus, but the gametocytemia, asexual parasitemia, and ratio of macrogametocytes to microgametocytes, did not correlate with either oocyst or sporozoite infection. However, in the oocyst-positive mosquitoes, there was a correlation between gametocytemia and the average oocyst number/midgut.ConclusionsThe susceptibility ofAn. sinensis(both laboratory and F1) toP. vivax-infected blood is similar toAnopheles anthropophagus, when evaluated by membrane feeding assay under laboratory conditions. In recent years, in central China, thevivaxmalaria transmission ability ofAn. sinensishas probably been underestimated. Further studies of this species in other regions are needed.An. sinensiscould also be a good candidate vector for evaluating candidate malaria transmission-blocking vaccines (TBV).
Carcinogenesis of PIK3CA
Authors: German Sidra , Aslam Hafiz Muhammad , Saleem Shafaq , Raees Aisha , Anum Tooba , Alvi Arsalan Ahmad , Haseeb Abdul 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
PIK3CA is the most frequently mutated oncogene in human cancers. PIK3CA is phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha. It controls cell growth, proliferation, motility, survival, differentiation and intracellular trafficking. In most of human cancer alteration occurred frequently in the alpha isoform of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase. PIK3CA mutations were most frequent in endometrial, ovarian, colorectal, breast, cervical, squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, chondroma, thyroid carcinoma and in cancer family syndrome. Inhibition of PI3K signaling can diminish cell proliferation, and in some circumstances, promote cell death. Consequently, components of this pathway present attractive targets for cancer therapeutics. A number of PI3K pathway inhibitors have been developed and used. PI3K inhibitors (both pan-PI3K and isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors), dual PI3K-mTOR inhibitors that are catalytic site inhibitors of the p110 isoforms and mTOR (the kinase component of both mTORC1 and mTORC2), mTOR catalytic site inhibitors, and AKT inhibitors are the most advanced in the clinic. They are approved for the treatment of several carcinomas.
Assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury - true GFR versus urinary creatinine clearance and estimating equations
Authors: Bragadottir Gudrun , Redfors Bengt , Ricksten Sven-Erik 
Published: June 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Estimation of kidney function in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), is important for appropriate dosing of drugs and adjustment of therapeutic strategies, but challenging due to fluctuations in kidney function, creatinine metabolism and fluid balance. Data on the agreement between estimating and gold standard methods to assess glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in early AKI are lacking. We evaluated the agreement of urinary creatinine clearance (CrCl) and three commonly used estimating equations, the Cockcroft Gault (CG), the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equations, in comparison to GFR measured by the infusion clearance of chromium-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (51Cr-EDTA), in critically ill patients with early AKI after complicated cardiac surgery.

Methods
Thirty patients with early AKI were studied in the intensive care unit, 2 to 12 days after complicated cardiac surgery. The infusion clearance for 51Cr-EDTA obtained as a measure of GFR (GFR51Cr-EDTA) was calculated from the formula: GFR (mL/min/1.73m2) = (51Cr-EDTA infusion rate × 1.73)/(arterial 51Cr-EDTA × body surface area) and compared with the urinary CrCl and the estimated GFR (eGFR) from the three estimating equations. Urine was collected in two 30-minute periods to measure urine flow and urine creatinine. Urinary CrCl was calculated from the formula: CrCl (mL/min/1.73m2) = (urine volume × urine creatinine × 1.73)/(serum creatinine × 30 min × body surface area).

Results
The within-group error was lower for GFR51Cr-EDTA than the urinary CrCl method, 7.2% versus 55.0%. The between-method bias was 2.6, 11.6, 11.1 and 7.39 ml/min for eGFRCrCl, eGFRMDRD, eGFRCKD-EPI and eGFRCG, respectively, when compared to GFR51Cr-EDTA. The error was 103%, 68.7%, 67.7% and 68.0% for eGFRCrCl, eGFRMDRD, eGFRCKD-EPI and eGFRCG, respectively, when compared to GFR51Cr-EDTA.

Conclusions
The study demonstrated poor precision of the commonly utilized urinary CrCl method for assessment of GFR in critically ill patients with early AKI, suggesting that this should not be used as a reference method when validating new methods for assessing kidney function in this patient population. The commonly used estimating equations perform poorly when estimating GFR, with high biases and unacceptably high errors.
IL-4 induces a suppressive IL-10-producing CD8+ T cell population via a Cdkn2a-dependent mechanism
Authors: Zhao Yapu , Zhao Huiyuan , Sun Yuehong , Hao Jianlei , Qi Xiaofei , Zhou Xinglong , Wu Zhenzhou , Wang Puyue , Kaech Susan M , Weaver Casey T , Flavell Richard A , Zhao Liqing , Yao Zhi , Yin Zhinan 
Published: June 2013

ABSTRACTCD8+ T cells play an important role in immune regulation and effective immune responses against tumor cells, viral infection, and intracellular pathogens. In this report, using tiger or 10BiT mice, we defined a population of IL-10-producing CD8+ T cells that were induced by IL-4. These IL-10+CD8+ T cells possessed a strong inhibitory effect on the CD4+ T cell proliferation in an IL-10-dependent and cell contact-dependent fashion. In comparison with IL-10−CD8+ T cells, IL-10+CD8+ T cells expressed an array of Th2-like cytokines (IL-4, IL-5), perforin, and granzymes, as well as the cell cycle regulatory protein Cdkn2a. Interestingly, knockdown of cdkn2a using siRNA reduced IL-4-induced IL-10 production significantly. Furthermore, CD8+ T cells from Cdkn2a−/− mice produced a significantly lower amount of IL-10, and the effect was limited to CD8+ T cells but not observed in CD4+ T cells and APCs. Finally, IL-10+CD8+ T cells played a protective role in the TNBS-induced murine colitis model, indicating a critical role of this population of CD8+ T cells in regulatory immune responses. Taken together, we have defined a population of IL-10-producing CD8+ Tregs induced by IL-4 and mediated by Cdkn2a.
Cyclic AMP and c-KIT Signaling in Familial Testicular Germ Cell Tumor Predisposition
Authors: Azevedo Monalisa F. , Horvath Anelia , Bornstein Ethan R. , Almeida Madson Q. , Xekouki Paraskevi , Faucz Fabio R. , Gourgari Evgenia , Nadella Kiran , Remmers Elaine F. , Quezado Martha , de Alexandre Rodrigo Bertollo , Kratz Christian P. , Nesterova Maria , Greene Mark H. , Stratakis Constantine A. 
Published: June 2013

Background:
Familial testicular germ cell tumors (FTGCTs) are hypothesized to result from the combined interaction of multiple low-penetrance genes. We reported inactivating germline mutations of the cAMP-binding phosphodiesterase 11A (PDE11A) as modifiers of FTGCT risk. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the KITLG gene, the ligand for the cKIT tyrosine kinase receptor, as strong modifiers of susceptibility to both familial and sporadic testicular germ cell tumors.

Design:
We studied 94 patients with FTGCTs and 50 at-risk male relatives from 63 unrelated kindreds, in whom the PDE11A gene had been sequenced by investigating the association between KITLG genome-wide association study single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs3782179 and rs4474514 and FTGCT risk in these patients and in 692 controls. We also examined cAMP and c-KIT signaling in testicular tissues and cell lines and extended the studies to 2 sporadic cases, one with a PDE11A defect and one without, as a comparison.

Results:
We found a higher frequency of the KITLG risk alleles in FTGCT patients who also had a PDE11A sequence variant, compared with those with a wild-type PDE11A sequence. In NTERA-2 and Tcam-2 cells transfected with the mutated forms of PDE11A (R52T, F258Y, Y727C, R804H, V820M, R867G, and M878V), cAMP levels were significantly higher, and the relative phosphodiesterase activity was lower than in the wild-type cells. KITLG expression was consistently increased in the presence of PDE11A-inactivating defects, both at the RNA and protein levels, in familial testicular germ cell tumors. The 2 sporadic cases that were studied, one with a PDE11A defect and another without, agreed with the data in FTGTCT and in the cell lines.

Conclusions:
Patients with FTGCT and PDE11A defects also carry KITLG risk alleles more frequently. There may be an interaction between cAMP and c-KIT signaling in predisposition to testicular germ cell tumors.