bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acute subdural hematoma after aortic surgery: A retrospective comparative study
Authors: Osada Hiroaki , Marui Akira , Tanaka Shiro , Meshii Katsuaki , Ohnaka Motoaki , Nakajima Hiroyuki 
Published: April 2014

Background Acute subdural hematoma is uncommon following open-heart surgery, but may result in increased mortality and morbidity. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed involving all patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery from January 2009 to February 2013. There were 53 patients who had thoracic aortic repair with open distal anastomosis and required selective cerebral perfusion with or without retrograde cerebral perfusion. We evaluated the incidence of postoperative acute subdural hematoma. The patients were divided into two groups: a subdural hematoma group who had symptomatic subdural hematoma postoperatively, and a non-subdural hematoma group who had no subdural hematoma. The variables were compared between the 2 groups. Results Eight (15.1%) patients had a transient symptomatic subdural hematoma; none required surgical evacuation of the hematoma. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms mean and maximum retrograde cerebral perfusion flow, and the volume of intraoperative platelet transfusion. Multivariate analysis revealed that a significant risk factor for acute subdural hematoma following thoracic aortic surgery was the amount of intraoperative platelet transfusion (odds ratio = 0.9, 95% confidence interval: 0.81–0.98, p = 0.015). Conclusions This retrospective study demonstrated that the subdural hematoma group received fewer units of platelets, thus it appears to be important to give platelets appropriately. Strict flow regulation or avoidance of retrograde cerebral perfusion is suggested.
Measuring serum levels of high-mobility group box 1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay does not identify bacterial infections in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Tang Kuo-Tung , Hsieh Tsu-Yi , Chen Yi-Ming , Hsieh Chia-Wei , Chen Yi-Hsing , Chen Der-Yuan 
Published: April 2014

Introduction studies have shown that high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) may play a role in the propagation of inflammatory response in infectious and autoimmune diseases. However, its utility in the differentiation between infections and disease flares in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has not been investigated. Methods we prospectively recruited 38 hospitalized patients from Taiwan with SLE. Among them, 13 patients suffered from superimposed bacterial infections while the other 25 patients experienced disease flares. SLE disease activity was assessed by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Serum levels of HMGB1 were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were determined among 34 of the SLE patients. Results there was no significant difference between the serum HMGB1 levels in SLE patients with disease flares and patients with bacterial infections. Among SLE patients with disease flares, serum HMGB1 levels were significantly higher in patients with mild to moderate flares (3.53 ng/ml) compared to those with severe flares (1.72 ng/ml, p < 0.05). For identifying bacterial infections in patients with SLE, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.705 (95% CI: 0.524–0.848) for hsCRP and 0.497 (95% CI: 0.331–0.663) for HMGB1. The best cutoff value for hsCRP was 1.07 mg/dl for detection of bacterial infections in SLE patients, with a sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 68%. Conclusion the determination of serum HMGB1 level is not useful in the differentiation between disease flares and bacterial infections in SLE patients.
A conditional knockout mouse model reveals endothelial cells as the principal and possibly exclusive source of plasma factor VIII
Authors: Fahs Scot A. , Hille Matthew T. , Shi Qizhen , Weiler Hartmut , Montgomery Robert R. 
Published: April 2014

Key Points
Endothelial cells are the predominant (and possibly exclusive) source of coagulation factor VIII. Hepatocytes do not contribute to plasma FVIII production.
On the topology and wt-distance on metric type spaces
Authors: Hussain Nawab , Saadati Reza , Agrawal Ravi P 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Recently, Khamsi and Hussain (Nonlinear Anal. 73:3123-3129, 2010) discussed a natural topology defined on any metric type space and noted that this topology enjoys most of the metric topology like properties. In this paper, we define topologically complete type metrizable space and prove that being of metrizability type is preserved under a countable Cartesian product and establish the fact that any

G
δ

set in a complete metric type space is a topologically metrizable type space. Next, we introduce the concept of wt-distance on a metric type space and prove some fixed point theorems in a partially ordered metric type space with some weak contractions induced by the wt-distance.

MSC:47H09, 47H10.
Canadian physicians’ responses to cross border health care
Authors: Runnels Vivien , Labonté Ronald , Packer Corinne , Chaudhry Sabrina , Adams Owen , Blackmer Jeff 
Published: April 2014

Abstract

Background
The idea for this survey emanated from desk research and two meetings for researchers that discussed medical tourism and out-of-country health care, which were convened by some of the authors of this article (VR, CP and RL).

Methods
A Cross Border Health Care Survey was drafted by a number of the authors and administered to Canadian physicians via the Canadian Medical Association’s e-panel. The purpose of the survey was to gain an understanding of physicians’ experiences with and views of their patients acquiring health care out of country, either as medical tourists (paying out-of-pocket for their care) or out-of-country care patients funded by provincial/territorial public health insurance plans. Quantitative and qualitative results of the survey were analyzed.

Results
631 physicians responded to the survey. Diagnostic procedures were the top-ranked procedure for patients either as out-of-country care recipients or medical tourists. Respondents reported that the main reason why patients sought care abroad was because waiting times in Canada were too long. Some respondents were frustrated with a lack of information about out-of-country procedures upon their patients’ return to Canada. The majority of physician respondents agreed that it was their responsibility to provide follow-up care to medical travellers on return to Canada, although a substantial minority disagreed that they had such a responsibility.

Conclusions
Cross-border health care, whether government-sanctioned (out-of-country-care) or patient-initiated (medical tourism), is increasing in Canada. Such flows are thought likely to increase with aging populations. Government-sanctioned outbound flows are less problematic than patient-initiated flows but are constrained by low approval rates, which may increase patient initiation. Lack of information and post-return complications pose the greatest concern to Canadian physicians. Further research on both types of flows (government-sanctioned and patient-initiated), and how they affect the Canadian health system, can contribute to a more informed debate about the role of cross-border health care in the future, and how it might be organized and regulated.
HMG-CoA reductase expression in primary colorectal cancer correlates with favourable clinicopathological characteristics and an improved clinical outcome
Authors: Bengtsson Erik , Nerjovaj Pashtrik , Wangefjord Sakarias , Nodin Björn , Eberhard Jakob , Uhlén Mathias , Borgquist Signe , Jirström Karin 
Published: April 2014

Abstract

Background
An association between tumor-specific HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) expression and good prognosis has previously been demonstrated in breast and ovarian cancer. In this study, the expression, clinicopathological correlates and prognostic value of HMGCR expression in colorectal cancer was examined.

Findings
Immunohistochemical expression of HMGCR was assessed in tissue microarrays with primary tumours from 557 incident cases of colorectal cancer in the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study. Pearson’s Chi Square test was applied to explore the associations between HMGCR expression and clinicopathological factors and other investigative biomarkers. Kaplan Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards modeling were used to assess the relationship between HMGCR expression and cancer-specific survival (CSS) according to negative vs positive HMGCR expression.
A total number of 535 (96.0%) tumours were suitable for analysis, of which 61 (11.4%) were HMGCR negative. Positive cytoplasmic HMGCR expression was associated with distant metastasis-free disease at diagnosis (p = 0.002), lack of vascular invasion (p = 0.043), microsatellite-instability (p = 0.033), expression of cyclin D1 (p = <0.001) and p21 (p = <0.001). Positive HMGCR expression was significantly associated with a prolonged CSS in unadjusted Cox regression analysis in the entire cohort (HR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.20-2.66) and in Stage III-IV disease (HR = 1.71; 95% CI 1.09-2.68), but not after adjustment for established clinicopathological parameters.

Conclusions
Findings from this prospective cohort study demonstrate that HMGCR is differentially expressed in colorectal cancer and that positive expression is associated with favourable tumour characteristics and a prolonged survival in unadjusted analysis. The utility of HMGCR as a predictor of response to neoadjuvant or adjuvant statin treatment in colorectal cancer merits further study.

Virtual slides
The virtual slides for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/2115647072103464.
Foot orthoses for adults with flexible pes planus: a systematic review
Authors: Banwell Helen A , Mackintosh Shylie , Thewlis Dominic 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundFoot orthoses are widely used in the management of flexible pes planus, yet the evidence to support this intervention has not been clearly defined. This systematic review aimed to critically appraise the evidence for the use of foot orthoses for flexible pes planus in adults.MethodsElectronic databases (Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of science, SportDiscus, Embase) were systematically searched in June 2013 for randomised controlled, controlled clinical and repeated measure trials where participants had identified flexible pes planus using a validated and reliable measure of pes planus and the intervention was a rigid or semi‐rigid orthoses with the comparison being a no‐orthoses (shoes alone or flat non‐posted insert) condition. Outcomes of interest were foot pain, rearfoot kinematics, foot kinetics and physical function.ResultsOf the 2,211 articles identified by the searches, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria; two were randomised controlled trials, one was a controlled trial and 10 were repeated measure studies. Across the included studies, 59 relevant outcome measures were reported with 17 calculated as statistically significant large or medium effects observed with use of foot orthoses compared to the no orthoses condition (SMD range 1.13 to ‐4.11).ConclusionsNo high level evidence supported the use of foot orthoses for flexible pes planus. There is good to moderate level evidence that foot orthoses improve physical function (medial‐lateral sway in standing (level II) and energy cost during walking (level III)). There is low level evidence (level IV) that foot orthoses improve pain, reduce rearfoot eversion, alter loading and impact forces; and reduce rearfoot inversion and eversion moments in flexible pes planus. Well‐designed randomised controlled trials that include appropriate sample sizes, clinical cohorts and involve a measure of symptom change are required to determine the efficacy of foot orthoses to manage adult flexible pes planus.
Identifying and prioritizing industry-level competitiveness factors: evidence from pharmaceutical market
Authors: Shabaninejad Hosein , Mehralian Gholamhossein , Rashidian Arash , Baratimarnani Ahmad , Rasekh Hamid Reza 
Published: April 2014

Abstract

Background
Pharmaceutical industry is knowledge-intensive and highly globalized, in both developed and developing countries. On the other hand, if companies want to survive, they should be able to compete well in both domestic and international markets. The main purpose of this paper is therefore to develop and prioritize key factors affecting companies’ competitiveness in pharmaceutical industry. Based on an extensive literature review, a valid and reliable questionnaire was designed, which was later filled up by participants from the industry. To prioritize the key factors, we used the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS).

Results
The results revealed that human capital and macro-level policies were two key factors placed at the highest rank in respect of their effects on the competitiveness considering the industry-level in pharmaceutical area.

Conclusion
This study provides fundamental evidence for policymakers and managers in pharma context to enable them formulating better polices to be proactively competitive and responsive to the markets’ needs.
Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia with extramedullary and meningeal relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation that was successfully treated with dasatinib
Authors: Kondo Toshinori , Tasaka Taizo , Matsumoto Kana , Matsumoto Rui , Koresawa Lisa , Sano Fuminori , Tokunaga Hirotoshi , Matsuhashi Yoshiko , Nakanishi Hidekazu , Morita Kunihiko , Wada Hideho , Sugihara Takashi 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) relapse is a critical issue while treating Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-positive ALL). A 58-year-old woman with Ph-positive ALL who relapsed after bone marrow transplantation for meningeal leukemia was treated with high-dose methotrexate, which resulted in remission. She underwent allogeneic cord blood transplantation followed by reduced intensity conditioning chemotherapy with imatinib; however, she experienced CNS relapse and developed an extramedullary mass on the right side of the temporal region. We treated 40 mg of dasatinib once daily, which had to be temporarily discontinued because she developed grade 2 pleural effusion and grade 2 hematemesis. After reinitiation of dasatinib, the extramedullary mass disappeared and meningeal leukemia ameliorated almost immediately. With 40 mg dasatinib administered once daily, its trough level and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentration were 32 ng/mL and below the sensitivity threshold of 1 ng/mL, respectively. Treatment was continued, and the patient remained in complete remission until she died of pneumonia 7 years after the initial diagnosis of ALL. Dasatinib can be an effective treatment for Ph-positive ALL with CNS relapse. Although the concentration in the CSF seems low, it may be sufficient to exert anti-leukemic effects in the human CNS.
Promoter hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes correlates with tumor grade and invasiveness in patients with urothelial bladder cancer
Authors: Bilgrami Shumaila M , Qureshi Sohail A , Pervez Shahid , Abbas Farhat 
Published: April 2014

Abstract

Purpose
To investigate the promoter methylation status at selected loci which encode for key proteins involved in apoptosis, DNA repair, cell cycle control and progression in urothelial cell carcinoma of bladder and compare the findings from tissue samples with that of plasma.

Methods
Total genomic DNA was isolated from 43 non-muscle invasive (low grade) and 33 muscle invasive (high grade) urothelial bladder cancer samples along with 10 control cases of normal bladder mucosa. Promoter methylation status was investigated for RASSF1A, APC, MGMT, CDKN2A and CDKN2B genes using real-time methylation-specific PCR with SYBR® green. Plasma samples from 16 patients with muscle invasive high grade bladder cancer were also subjected to similar analyses.

Results
Promoter hypermethylation was frequently observed in RASSF1A, APC and MGMT gene promoters (p-value < 0.001). The methylation was more prominent in the muscle invasive high grade bladder cancer when compared to non-muscle invasive low grade group (p-value < 0.001) and normal bladder mucosa (p-value < 0.05). The RNA expression of RASSF1A, APC and MGMT was also found to be decreased in the muscle-invasive high grade bladder cancer when compared to the non muscle invasive low grade group (p-value < 0.05). RASSF1A, MGMT and CDKN2A showed comparable results when data from 16 plasma samples was compared to the corresponding tissue samples.

Conclusion
Our results suggest that epigenetic silencing of RASSF1A, APC and MGMT genes is strongly associated with invasive high grade urothelial bladder cancer. Thus, status of promoter methylation has the potential to serve as valuable tool for assessing aggressiveness of urothelial cell carcinoma of bladder.
In situ experimental techniques to study the mechanical behavior of materials using X-ray synchrotron tomography
Authors: Singh Sudhanshu S , Williams Jason J , Hruby Peter , Xiao Xianghui , De Carlo Francesco , Chawla Nikhilesh 
Published: April 2014

AbstractIn situ X-ray synchrotron tomography is an excellent technique for understanding deformation behavior of materials in 4D (the fourth dimension here is time). However, performing in situ experiments in synchrotron is challenging, particularly in regard to the design of the mechanical testing stage. Here, we report on several in situ testing methods developed by our group in collaboration with Advanced Photon source at Argonne National Laboratory used to study the mechanical behavior of materials. The issues associated with alignment during mechanical testing along with the improvements made to the in situ mechanical testing devices, over time, are described. In situ experiments involving corrosion-fatigue and stress corrosion cracking in various environments are presented and discussed. These include fatigue loading of metal matrix composites (MMCs), corrosion-fatigue, and stress corrosion cracking of Al 7075 alloys.
Framing Incremental Expansions to Public Health Insurance Systems: The Case of Canadian Pharmacare
Authors: Daw Jamie R. , Morgan Steven G. , Collins Patricia A. , Abelson Julia 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Canada is the only country in the world to offer universal comprehensive public health insurance that excludes outpatient prescription medicines. Few scholars have attempted to explain this policy puzzle. We study media coverage of prescription drug financing from 1990 to 2010 to elucidate how the policy problem and potential solutions have been framed in media discourse and identify the actors that have dominated media texts. We confirm previous analyses that have revealed the significant role played by policy elites in media coverage of health reform debates. We also find that proposed expansions to public coverage are presented as a financial liability that could “crowd out” the existing (and popular) public insurance program. Within the context of a predominantly public funded system, framing of incremental expansion reorients away from values and toward discourse related to costs — both of the current system and of potential reforms. This may reflect a strategic narrative used by actors to maintain “silos of values” for coverage for prescription medicines versus those for other services. This has significant implications for the motivation for reform among the electorate and politicians alike, and for the extent to which policy developments, if they occurred, would legitimately reflect societal values for health financing.
Genetic studies in Drosophila and humans support a model for the concerted function of CISD2, PPT1 and CLN3 in disease
Authors: Jones Melanie A. , Amr Sami , Ferebee Aerial , Huynh Phung , Rosenfeld Jill A. , Miles Michael F. , Davies Andrew G. , Korey Christopher A. , Warrick John M. , Shiang Rita , Elsea Sarah H. , Girirajan Santhosh , Grotewiel Mike 
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT
Wolfram syndrome (WFS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness. WFS1 and WFS2 are caused by recessive mutations in the genes Wolfram Syndrome 1 (WFS1) and CDGSH iron sulfur domain 2 (CISD2), respectively. To explore the function of CISD2, we performed genetic studies in flies with altered expression of its Drosophila orthologue, cisd2. Surprisingly, flies with strong ubiquitous RNAi-mediated knockdown of cisd2 had no obvious signs of altered life span, stress resistance, locomotor behavior or several other phenotypes. We subsequently found in a targeted genetic screen, however, that altered function of cisd2 modified the effects of overexpressing the fly orthologues of two lysosomal storage disease genes, palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1 in humans, Ppt1 in flies) and ceroid-lipofuscinosis, neuronal 3 (CLN3 in humans, cln3 in flies), on eye morphology in flies. We also found that cln3 modified the effects of overexpressing Ppt1 in the eye and that overexpression of cln3 interacted with a loss of function mutation in cisd2 to disrupt locomotor ability in flies. Follow-up multi-species bioinformatic analyses suggested that a gene network centered on CISD2, PPT1 and CLN3 might impact disease through altered carbohydrate metabolism, protein folding and endopeptidase activity. Human genetic studies indicated that copy number variants (duplications and deletions) including CLN3, and possibly another gene in the CISD2/PPT1/CLN3 network, are over-represented in individuals with developmental delay. Our studies indicate that cisd2, Ppt1 and cln3 function in concert in flies, suggesting that CISD2, PPT1 and CLN3 might also function coordinately in humans. Further, our studies raise the possibility that WFS2 and some lysosomal storage disorders might be influenced by common mechanisms and that the underlying genes might have previously unappreciated effects on developmental delay.
Coordination Lamellar Nanofibers Consisting of N-(2-Hydroxydodecyl)-substituted Amino Acid and Divalent Copper Cation
Authors: Yamada Teppei , Minami Yusuke , Kimizuka Nobuo 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Lamellar nanoribbons consisting of 1:2 complexes of divalent copper and N-(2-hydroxydodecyl)-l-alanine (l-AlaC12OH) and related N-(2-hydroxydodecyl)-substituted amino acid were newly developed. When racemic ligand was used, the lamellar size showed shrinkage and the stability of the fibrous nanostructures were enhanced, reflecting the spontaneous effective mixing of l and d complexes to form supramolecular racemic compounds.