bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of concordant and discordant comorbidities on patient‐assessed quality of diabetes care
Authors: Aung Eindra , Donald Maria , Coll Joseph , Dower Jo , M. Williams Gail , Doi Suhail A. R. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the impact of concordant and discordant comorbidities on patients' assessments of providers' adherence to diabetes‐specific care guidelines and quality of chronic illness care.Research design and methodsA population‐based survey of 3761 adults with type 2 diabetes, living in Queensland, Australia was conducted in 2008. Based on self‐reports, participants were grouped into four mutually exclusive comorbid categories: none, concordant only, discordant only and both concordant and discordant. Outcome measures included patient‐reported providers' adherence to guideline‐recommended care and the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC), which measures care according to the Chronic Care Model. Analyses using the former measure included logistic regressions, and the latter measure included univariate analysis of variance, both unadjusted and adjusted for sampling region, gender, age, educational attainment, diabetes duration and treatment status.ResultsHaving concordant comorbidities increased the odds of patient‐reported providers' adherence for 7 of the 11 guideline‐recommended care activities in unadjusted analyses. However, the effect remained significant for only two provider activities (reviews of medication and/or complications and blood pressure examinations) when adjusted. A similar pattern was found for the both concordant and discordant comorbidity category. The presence of discordant comorbidities influenced only one provider activity (blood pressure examinations). No association between comorbidity type and the overall PACIC score was found.ConclusionsComorbidity type is associated with diabetes‐specific care, but does not seem to influence broader aspects of chronic illness care directly. Providers need to place more emphasis on care activities which are not comorbidity‐specific and thus transferable across different chronic conditions.
Skin viscoelasticity during hormone replacement therapy for climacteric ageing
Authors: Piérard G. E. , Hermanns‐Lê T. , Paquet P. , Piérard‐Franchimont C. 
Published: October 2013

SynopsisBackgroundClimacteric ageing refers to the period of women's life centred by the perimenopause. This step of life is responsible for initiating skin atrophic withering and slackness responsible for changes in the viscoelasticity of the dermal connective tissue. Some women benefit from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for controlling some unpleasant internal climacteric changes (osteoporosis, vasomotor instability, …).ObjectiveTo investigate some corrective effects of HRT on the functional damages in the dermal tensile strength.Patients and MethodsThis study was performed on 200 healthy Caucasian women. In vivo skin viscoelasticity was assessed using the suction method.ResultsSkin distensibility and hysteresis appeared increased at menopause with or without HRT. By contrast, the biological elasticity significantly decreased out of HRT.ConclusionSome drugs and cosmetics might attempt at improving such viscoelastic attributes of the skin at menopause.
Immediate and extended effects of sodium lauryl sulphate exposure on stratum corneum natural moisturizing factor
Authors: Hoffman D. R. , Kroll L. M. , Basehoar A. , Reece B. , Cunningham C. T. , Koenig D. W. 
Published: October 2013

SynopsisObjectivesNatural moisturizing factor (NMF) serves as the primary humectant of the stratum corneum (SC), principally comprised of hygroscopic amino acids and derivatives that absorb moisture. Barrier disruption has been shown to differentially affect the levels of specific NMF components, though the kinetics of NMF component restoration following disruption have not been examined. Here, we investigated the impact of barrier disruption caused by surfactant exposure on a subset of NMF components immediately following exposure and out to 10 days post‐exposure.MethodsVolunteers wore patches containing either 1% w/v sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) or distilled water on their forearms for 24 h. Measurements of transepidermal water loss, erythema, SC water content and a subset of SC NMF and lipid components were obtained at both sites before treatment, the day of patch removal, and 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 days following treatment.ResultsMost measured NMF components decreased in response to SLS exposure. Exceptions were increases in lactate, ornithine and urea, and no difference in proline levels. In the days following exposure, reduced levels of several NMF components continued at the SLS site; however, all measured NMF components demonstrated equivalence to the vehicle control within 10 days. Histidine pH 7, lactate, ornithine and urea were the first to achieve levels equivalent to the vehicle control site, normalizing within 1 day after patch removal.ConclusionResults imply that NMF components derived from sweat and urea cycling are least impacted by SLS exposure whereas NMF components derived from degradation of filaggrin and/or other S‐100 proteins are most impacted. This implies the restoration of the processes responsible for S‐100 protein processing into free amino acids takes several days to return to normal. Further examination of the enzymes involved in S‐100 protein processing following barrier disruption would provide insight into the pathway(s) for NMF restoration during SC recovery.
Proportional Odds Models with High‐Dimensional Data Structure
Authors: Zahid Faisal Maqbool , Tutz Gerhard 
Published: October 2013

SummaryThe proportional odds model is the most widely used model when the response has ordered categories. In the case of high‐dimensional predictor structure, the common maximum likelihood approach typically fails when all predictors are included. A boosting techniquepomBoostis proposed to fit the model by implicitly selecting the influential predictors. The approach distinguishes between metric and categorical predictors. In the case of categorical predictors, where each predictor relates to a set of parameters, the objective is to select simultaneously all the associated parameters. In addition, the approach distinguishes between nominal and ordinal predictors. In the case of ordinal predictors, the proposed technique uses the ordering of the ordinal predictors by penalizing the difference between the parameters of adjacent categories. The technique has also a provision to consider some mandatory predictors (if any) that must be part of the final sparse model. The performance of the proposed boosting algorithm is evaluated in a simulation study and applications with respect to mean squared error and prediction error. Hit rates and false alarm rates are used to judge the performance ofpomBoostfor selection of the relevant predictors.
Overcoming ‘Economic Backwardness’ in the European Union
Authors: Epstein Rachel A. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractLong before the cold war and the Iron Curtain's construction, the European continent was marked by a developmental divide in which the east suffered relative economic deprivation compared to the west. This article revisits the sources of ‘economic backwardness’ in eastern Europe and asks whether post‐communist states' membership in the European Union (EU) upends the earlier structural conditions that had traditionally prevented east–west economic convergence. The article finds that while there is more economic opportunity for post‐communist states in the EU than outside it, EU membership does not subvert the major drivers of the developmental divide. EU membership does, however, limit economic volatility for the New Member States (NMS), which, in historical perspective, is a boon for eastern populations and stabilizing for democratic politics.
Spawning and Larval Development of the Four‐Sided Sea Cucumber, Isostichopus badionotus (Selenka 1867), under Controlled Conditions
Authors: Zacarías‐Soto Magali , Olvera‐Novoa Miguel A. , Pensamiento‐Villarauz Saúl , Sánchez‐Tapia Itzel 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe objective of this study was to generate information for the development of Isostichopus badionotus culture protocols by determining optimal spawning methods, egg production, length and duration of larval stages, and larval habitat settlement preferences. Studies performed during the spawning seasons of 2010 and 2011 showed that this organism spawns between July and November without mechanical or chemical induction. The larval development has five well‐defined stages: early, mid and late auricularia, doliolaria, and pentactula. Juveniles (654.3 µm length) were obtained on average 25 days after fertilization (DAF), when larvae were incubated at 25 ± 1 C. No preference was observed for any of the materials used for settlement of the larvae. The easy adaptation of I. badionotus to the culture conditions and the competence of the larvae to complete metamorphosis while feeding solely on microalgae concentrates make this species an excellent candidate for farming. However, it is necessary to continue designing techniques for larval culture and to establish appropriate captivity conditions that allow multiannual reproduction.
Technical Efficiency of Shrimp Farming in Bangladesh: An Application of the Stochastic Production Frontier Approach
Authors: Begum MST. Esmat A. , Hossain Mohammad I. , Papanagiotou Evangelos 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThis study estimates the levels and determinants of farm‐level technical efficiency of shrimp farmers, using the stochastic production frontier function involving a model for technical inefficiency effects. A sample of 90 brackish water shrimp farms were surveyed in the region of Shyamnagar Upazila of the Satkhira District, Bangladesh, to study their economic efficiencies. Data were collected, using a questionnaire survey from September to October 2011. The mean technical efficiency level of the shrimp farmers was estimated at 82%, and thus, farmers operate 18% below the production frontier. The results suggest that the inefficiency effect is significant, and that education, age, non‐farm income and distance of the farm are significant determinants of technical inefficiency. By operating at full technical efficiency levels, shrimp production can increase from the current yield of 225.56 to 265.28 kg/ha. Besides improving technical efficiency, technological progress and extension services (such as dissemination of proper information of the technological practices and further adoption of technological practices) can also contribute to increased shrimp production levels. Finally, quality feed and fingerling at affordable prices need to be ensured to further promote shrimp production.
Effect of Temperature on Growth and Survival in Juvenile Opossum Pipefish, Microphis brachyurus: First Observations on the Species in Culture Conditions
Authors: Martinez‐Cardenas Leonardo , Sumaya‐Martínez Maria T. , Valdez‐Hernández Edna F. , González‐Díaz Alfonso A. , Soria‐Barreto Miriam , Castañeda‐Chavez María R. , Ruiz‐Velazco Javier M. , Peña‐Messina Emilio 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIn Mexico, natural populations of the opossum pipefish, Microphys brachyurus, are under pressure by anthropogenic alteration of their habitat and unregulated fishing as this species is traded as an aquarium fish, where its survival is low due to inadequate culture practices. The development of culturing techniques has been a successful strategy to protect many exploited species through providing an alternative source to wild exploitation. The aim of this study was to examine the effect on growth, condition, and survival of pipefish cultured for 6 wk at temperatures of 26, 28, and 30 C. Pipefish were fed enriched Artemia nauplii maintaining a ration rate of 14% body weight per day (dry weight Artemia : wet weight fish). The pipefish cultured at 26 and 28 C were longer, heavier, grew faster, and presented better condition than those at 30 C. The survival of pipefish cultured at 26 C was greater (83%) than at 30 C (30%) but not different than at 28 C (50%). This study is the first to report the acceptance of Artemia nauplii by juveniles of the species and that a temperature of 30 C is not suitable for juvenile M. brachyurus culture.
Cage‐cultured Largemouth Bronze Gudgeon, Coreius guichenoti: Biochemical Profile of Plasma and Physiological Response to Acute Handling Stress
Authors: Zhao Jianhua , Zhu Yongjiu , Yang Deguo , Chen Jianwu , He Yongfeng , Li Xi , Feng Xianbin , Xiong Bangxi 
Published: October 2013

AbstractWe examined the blood biochemical profile and the physiological response to acute handling stress of a historically important economic but currently a rare endangered fish, Largemouth bronze gudgeon, Coreius guichenoti, in the upper Yangtze River. The results showed that the glucose (GLU) and triglyceride (TG) levels in the cage‐cultured C. guichenoti were significantly higher than those of the wild type, and the basal cortisol (COR) level was higher than that of most other fish species. In the stress experiment, the fish were subjected to a low‐ and high‐intensity handling stress, respectively, and sampling was performed before the stress and at 0, 1, 4, 12, 24, 72, 120, and 168 h after the stress. The levels of COR, GLU, lactate (LA), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of stressed fish exhibited an increase first and then a recovery to the pre‐stress levels with a typical acute stress response in the first 24 h. Fish in both stressed groups were spontaneously infected with Ichthyophthirius multifiliis from the 24th to the 168th h, and exhibited a chronic stress response. These data would facilitate the studies of blood physiology of C. guichenoti and related fish in health evaluation, species propagation and conservation, as well as the stress response in aquaculture.
Heat Shock Protein Regulation in Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is Altered by Dietary Soybean Meal Inclusion and Anti‐Phopholipase A2 Antibody
Authors: Sealey Wendy M. , Barrows Frederic T. , Smith Charles E. , Wacyk Jurij M. , Powell Madison S. , Hardy Ronald W. , Shelden Eric A. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractHeat shock proteins (Hsps) can promote integrity of damaged intestinal epithelial tissues. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a commercially available anti‐phospholipase A2 antibody on growth, feed efficiency, Hsp expression, and intestinal health of rainbow trout fed diets containing high levels of soybean meal (SBM). Six practical‐type diets (45% protein; 15% fat) were formulated to contain 0, 17.5, or 35% SBM with and without antibody. Each diet was fed to three replicate tanks of fish (20 fish/tank; initial weight 21 g) for 9 wk. RNA was isolated from liver and intestinal tissues (n = 3/tank) to detect alterations in Hsp 27, Hsp 70, and Hsp 90 expression. Fish fed a diet containing 35% SBM had decreased growth and intestinal damage. Hsp 27 and Hsp 90 mRNA was elevated in fish fed 35% SBM. Fish fed 35% SBM with antibody had lower Hsp 90 mRNA expression than fish without antibody. These data indicate that feeding rainbow trout high levels of SBM alters the expression of some Hsps and anti‐phospholipase A2 antibody supplementation does not normalize growth or prevent distal enteritis in fish fed 35% SBM.
Duloxetine Compared with Pregabalin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain Management in Patients with Suboptimal Pain Response to Gabapentin and Treated with or without Antidepressants: A Post Hoc Analysis
Authors: Tanenberg Robert J. , Clemow David B. , Giaconia Joseph M. , Risser Richard C. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the efficacy of duloxetine vs. pregabalin in the treatment for diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP), comparing patient subgroups with and without concomitant antidepressant use.MethodsThis post hoc analysis assessed data from a randomized 12‐week study that confirmed the noninferiority of duloxetine to pregabalin. In the previously published study, patients with DPNP with inadequate response to gabapentin were switched to duloxetine monotherapy, combination therapy of duloxetine plus gabapentin, or pregabalin monotherapy. Current, stable antidepressant use was allowed; 79 patients were concomitantly treated with antidepressants and 328 without antidepressants. In this post hoc analysis, improvement in the weekly mean of diary‐based average daily pain ratings (numerical rating scale: 0–10) in antidepressant users and nonusers was analyzed using a longitudinal mixed‐models repeated‐measures (MMRM) analysis, including a test of the 3‐way interaction (antidepressant subgroup by treatment by week) to assess whether the differences among treatment groups over 12 weeks differ between the antidepressant‐use subgroups.ResultsThe 3‐way interaction was significant (P = 0.035), demonstrating that treatment‐group differences in pain reduction over time differ between the subgroups. Among patients without antidepressant use, patients treated with duloxetine had significantly greater pain reduction than pregabalin at Week 4 and at each successive week up to the 12‐week endpoint (−2.8 for duloxetine and −2.1 for pregabalin; P = 0.031); patients treated with duloxetine plus gabapentin had greater pain reduction than pregabalin at Weeks 2, 3, 5, and 7 to 9 (P ≤ 0.05) but not at endpoint (−2.4; P = 0.222). Among concomitant antidepressant users, no treatment‐group differences were found.ConclusionsIn patients with DPNP inadequately treated with gabapentin without the concomitant use of antidepressants, switching to duloxetine instead of pregabalin may provide better pain reduction. Conversely, in nonresponders to gabapentin who are concomitantly using an antidepressant, switching to duloxetine or pregabalin may provide similar pain reductions.
Relationship between Sensory Stimulation and Side Effects in Percutaneous Radiofrequency Treatment of the Trigeminal Ganglion
Authors: Koning Mark V. , Koning Nick J. , Koning Henk M. , van Kleef Maarten 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIntroductionThe objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) treatment of the trigeminal ganglion for treating patients with trigeminal neuralgia, to determine which patients have a long‐term benefit, and to evaluate the effect of RF parameters.MethodsA retrospective study in 28 consecutive patients in combination with a follow‐up questionnaire (n = 26, 93% response).ResultsAn initial treatment effect of 89% was observed, 60% sustained at 12‐month follow‐up. Major side effects were hypesthesia (56%), dry eye (20%), and masseter muscle weakness (12%). A lower sensory stimulation threshold during treatment was associated with better patient satisfaction (P = 0.016), improved pain relief (P = 0.039), and trended toward more hypesthesia (P = 0.077).DiscussionThis low‐volume study reported treatment effects in an older population that were similar to previous studies. Only a higher incidence of hypesthesia was detected by long‐term follow‐up. This study supported the high efficiency of RF treatment, but there was a high level of side effects. Most notable, low sensory stimulation was associated with increased hypesthesia, whereas higher stimulation levels yielded less effectiveness. Further investigation of an optimal sensory stimulation range for percutaneous RF treatment of the trigeminal ganglion was found to be warranted.
Long‐Term Response of Neuropathic Pain to Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Relapsing Diabetic Lumbosacral Radiculoplexus Neuropathy. A Case Report
Authors: Tamburin Stefano , Magrinelli Francesca , Favaro Flaviano , Briani Chiara , Zanette Giampietro 
Published: October 2013

AbstractDiabetic lumbosacral radiculoplexus neuropathy (DLRPN) is a rare painful peripheral neuropathic complication of diabetes mellitus. The clinical features of DLRPN include severe neuropathic pain, weakness, atrophy, and sensory loss in the lower limbs with asymmetrical distribution. Nerve ischemia due to inflammation and microvasculitis has been suggested as the pathophysiological mechanism for DLRPN. Analgesics and drugs for neuropathic pain often cannot achieve adequate pain control in DLRPN. Some reports suggest that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) may reduce pain in DLRPN, but the mechanisms of this effect are unclear.We report a patient with relapsing DLRPN who was followed up for 8 years and whose pain improved after IVIg on nine occasions. We measured serum cytokines before and after IVIg; serum tumor necrosis factor α was increased when the patient reported pain and normalized after IVIg in parallel with pain improvement.Our data extend the notion that some types of pain, including peripheral neuropathic pain, may respond to IVIg and give some clue on the mechanism of this therapeutic effect. They are also consistent with the suggested role of the immune system in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain and offer support to the hypothesis that cytokines may contribute to the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain.
Use of a large multiparent wheat mapping population in genomic dissection of coleoptile and seedling growth
Authors: Rebetzke Greg J. , Verbyla Arunas P. , Verbyla Klara L. , Morell Matthew K. , Cavanagh Colin R. 
Published: October 2013

SummaryIdentification of alleles towards the selection for improved seedling vigour is a key objective of many wheat breeding programmes. A multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population developed from four commercial spring wheat cultivars (cvv. Baxter, Chara, Westonia and Yitpi) and containing ca. 1000 F2‐derived, F6:7 RILs was assessed at two contrasting soil temperatures (12 and 20 °C) for shoot length and coleoptile characteristics length and thickness. Narrow‐sense heritabilities were high for coleoptile and shoot length (h2 = 0.68–0.70), indicating a strong genetic basis for the differences among progeny. Genotypic variation was large, and distributions of genotype means were approximately Gaussian with evidence for transgressive segregation for all traits. A number of significant QTL were identified for all early growth traits, and these were commonly repeatable across the different soil temperatures. The largest negative effects on coleoptile lengths were associated with Rht‐B1b (−8.2%) and Rht‐D1b (−10.9%) dwarfing genes varying in the population. Reduction in coleoptile length with either gene was particularly large at the warmer soil temperature. Other large QTL for coleoptile length were identified on chromosomes 1A, 2B, 4A, 5A and 6B, but these were relatively smaller than allelic effects at the Rht‐B1 and Rht‐D1 loci. A large coleoptile length effect allele (a = 5.3 mm at 12 °C) was identified on chromosome 1AS despite the relatively shorter coleoptile length of the donor Yitpi. Strong, positive genetic correlations for coleoptile and shoot lengths (rg = 0.85–0.90) support the co‐location of QTL for these traits and suggest a common physiological basis for both. The multiparent population has enabled the identification of promising shoot and coleoptile QTL despite the potential for the confounding of large effect dwarfing gene alleles present in the commercial parents. The incidence of these alleles in commercial wheat breeding programmes should facilitate their ready implementation in selection of varieties with improved establishment and early growth.