bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A prospective observational study of stroke volume responsiveness to a passive leg raise manoeuvre in healthy non‐starved volunteers as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography
Authors: Godfrey G. E. P. , Dubrey S. W. , Handy J. M. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryCurrent guidelines for intra‐operative fluid management recommend the use of increments in stroke volume following intravenous fluid bolus administration as a guide to subsequent fluid therapy. To study the physiological premise of this paradigm, we tested the hypothesis that healthy, non‐starved volunteers would develop an increment in their stroke volume following a passive leg raise manoeuvre. Subjects were positioned supine and stroke volume was measured by transthoracic echocardiography at baseline, 30 s, 1 min, 3 min and 5 min after passive leg raise manoeuvre to 45°. Stroke volume was measured at end‐expiration during quiet breathing, as the mean of three sequential measurements. Seventeen healthy volunteers were recruited; one volunteer in whom it was not possible to obtain Doppler measurements and a further five for reasons of poor Doppler image quality were not included in the study. Mean (SD) percentage difference from baseline to the largest change in stroke volume was 5.7 (9.6)% (p = 0.16). Of the 11 volunteers evaluated, five (45%) had stroke volume increases of greater than 10%. Mean (SD) maximum percentage change in cardiac index was 14.8 (9.7)% (p = 0.004). A wide variation in baseline stroke volume and response to the passive leg raise manoeuvre was seen, suggesting greater heterogeneity in the normal population than current clinical guidelines recognise.
A randomised comparison of the i‐gel™ and the Laryngeal Mask Airway Classic™ in infants
Authors: Kim M.‐S. , Oh J.‐T. , Min J. Y. , Lee K.‐H. , Lee J.‐R. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryWe performed a randomised comparison of the i‐gel™ and the Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Classic™ in children aged less than a year who were undergoing general anaesthesia for elective surgery. Fifty‐four infants were randomly allocated to either the i‐gel or the LMA Classic. We measured performance characteristics, fibreoptic views through the device and complications. Success rate at first insertion attempt was 100% (27/27) in the i‐gel group compared with 88% (23/26) in the LMA Classic group. Insertion of the device was considered easy in 26/27 (96%) patients in the i‐gel group compared with 18/26 (69%) patients in the LMA Classic group (p = 0.009). There were no differences between the groups in insertion times, fibreoptic views through the device, airway leak pressures or complications. We conclude that the i‐gel was considered easier to insert than the LMA Classic in infants.
Sublingual ultrasound as an assessment method for predicting difficult intubation: a pilot study
Authors: Hui C. M. , Tsui B. C. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryCurrent methods to assess the airway before tracheal intubation are variable in their ability to predict a difficult airway accurately. We hypothesised that sublingual ultrasound could provide additional information to predict a difficult airway with greater success than current methods. We recruited 110 patients to perform sublingual ultrasound on themselves following brief instruction. Ability to view the hyoid bone on sublingual ultrasound, mouth opening distance, thyromental distance, neck mobility, size of mandible and modified Mallampati classification were recorded and assessed for ability to predict a difficult intubation based on the grade of laryngoscope. Visibility of the hyoid using ultrasound was associated with a laryngoscopic grade of 1–2 (p < 0.0001), and (p < 0.0001) had a positive likelihood ratio of 21.6 and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.28. Each of the other methods had considerably lower positive likelihood ratios and lower sensitivity. Our results suggest that sublingual ultrasound is a potential tool for predicting a difficult airway in addition to conventional methods.
Notifications for child safeguarding from an acute hospital in response to presentations to healthcare by parents
Authors: Gonzalez‐Izquierdo A. , Ward A. , Smith P. , Walford C. , Begent J. , Ioannou Y. , Gilbert R. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackground Consideration of child safeguarding is routine within maternity services but less common in other health services for adults. We audited notifications for child safeguarding from an acute general hospital where the policy includes questioning adults presenting with violence, mental health problems or drug or alcohol misuse to any department within the hospital about children at home and notifying to the local authority children's social care services if there are safeguarding concerns.Methods Cross‐sectional audit of notifications for child safeguarding, including abuse, neglect or victimization, from all departments in one hospital to the local authority children's social care department during 12 months (2010/11).Results Of 681 notifications (57 per month), 40% (270/681) were triggered by parents' presentation to acute hospital services. Of these, 37% (100/270; 12 teenage mothers) presented for maternity care and 60% (162/270; 8 teenage parents) presented to the emergency department (ED). Of the 60% (411/681) of notifications prompted by children presenting for healthcare, most originated from the ED (358/411; 87%): two‐thirds of these presented with injury (250/358; 70%).Conclusion Given a policy to ask adults about children at home, a substantial proportion of children notified for child safeguarding were recognized through presentations to acute healthcare by their parents. Further research and development of this policy needs to ensure that questioning results in effective interventions for the children and their parents.
Blunted expression of miR-199a-5p in regulatory T cells of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared to unaffected smokers
Authors: Chatila W M , Criner G J , Hancock W W , Akimova T , Moldover B , Chang J-K , Cornwell W , Santerre M , Rogers T J 
Published: March 2014

Summary
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by an abnormal regulatory T cell (Treg) response and increases in T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 cell responses. It is unclear if dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNA) within Treg cells contributes to the abnormal inflammatory response in COPD. In this study, we aimed to compare the miRNA profile of COPD Treg cells with that of healthy controls and to explore the function of differentially expressed miRNAs. We first obtained Treg and T effector cells (Teff) from peripheral blood of non-smokers, unaffected current smokers and COPD current smokers. Then, we assessed their miRNA expression by microarray analysis followed by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) validation of particular miRNAs. Six and 96 miRNAs were expressed differentially in COPD Treg cells versus Treg cells of healthy non-smokers and healthy smokers, whereas no differences were found in miRNA expression in Teff cells. We found that miR-199a-5p was repressed by approximately fourfold in Treg cells of COPD patients compared to healthy smokers (P &lt; 0·05). In addition, miR-199a-5p was over-expressed in Treg cells compared to Teff cells (P &lt; 0·001) and had significant over-representation of its target genes in the Treg transcriptome, being associated with the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β activation pathway (P &lt; 0·01). We also confirmed the function of miR-199a5p in an in-vitro loss-of-function cell model running TaqMan® arrays of the human TGF-β pathway. These findings suggest that the abnormal repression of miR-199a-5p in patients with COPD compared to unaffected smokers may be involved in modulating the adaptive immune balance in favour of a Th1 and Th17 response.
Immunoregulation therapy changes the frequency of interleukin (IL)-22+CD4+T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Zhao L , Ma H , Jiang Z , Jiang Y , Ma N 
Published: March 2014

Summary
T cell and T cell-related cytokine abnormalities are involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our previous study showed that the interleukin (IL)-22+CD4+T cells and IL-22 play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) and immunodepressant agents on IL-22 and IL-22-producing T cell subsets in SLE patients. The frequencies of peripheral blood T helper type 22 (Th22), IL-22+Th17, IL-22+Th1 and Th17 cells and the concentrations of serum IL-22, IL-17 and interferon (IFN)-γ in SLE patients receiving 4 weeks of treatment with cyclophosphamide (CYC), methylprednisolone and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) were characterized by flow cytometry analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The frequencies of Th22, IL-22+Th17 and Th17 cells and the concentrations of IL-22 and IL-17 were reduced in response to the drugs methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide and hydroxychloroquine for 4 weeks in the majority of SLE patients. However, the percentage of Th1 cells showed no change. No differences in the levels of IL-22 and IL-22+CD4+ T cells were found between non-responders and health controls either before or after therapy. IL-22 levels were correlated positively with Th22 cells in SLE patients after treatment. These results suggest that elevated IL-22 is correlated with IL-22+CD4+T cells, especially Th22 cells, and may have a co-operative or synergetic function in the immunopathogenesis of SLE. GC, CYC and HCQ treatment may regulate the production of IL-22, possibly by correcting the IL-22+CD4+T cells polarizations in SLE, thus providing new insights into the mechanism of GC, CYC and HCQ in the treatment of SLE.
Frequency and clonality of peripheral γδ T cells in psoriasis patients receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor-α therapy
Authors: Kelsen J , Dige A , Christensen M , D'Amore F , Iversen L 
Published: March 2014

Summary
Hepatosplenic γδ T cell lymphoma (HSTCL) has been observed in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) who received anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α agents and thiopurines, but only one case was reported in a psoriasis patient worldwide. This difference could be due to differences in either the nature of the inflammatory diseases or in the use of immunomodulators. We investigated the impact of anti-TNF-α agents on the level and repertoire of γδ T cells in peripheral blood from psoriasis patients. Forty-five men and 10 women who were treated with anti-TNF-α agents for psoriasis were monitored for a median 11 months for the level and clonality of γδ T cells via flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of T cell receptor gamma (TCR-γ) gene rearrangements. Seventeen men had a repeated analysis within 48 h of the infliximab infusion to reveal a possible expansion of γδ T cells, as observed previously in CD patients. Ten psoriasis patients who were never exposed to biologicals and 20 healthy individuals served as controls. In the majority of psoriasis patients, the level and clonal pattern of γδ T cells was remarkably stable during infliximab treatment. A single male patient repeatedly experienced a significant increase in the level of γδ T cells after infliximab infusions. A monoclonal γδ T cell repertoire in a polyclonal background tended to be more frequent in anti-TNF-α-treated patients than naive patients, suggesting that anti-TNF-α therapy may promote the clonal selection of γδ T cells in psoriasis patients.
Eye on the Taiga: Removing Global Policy Impediments to Safeguard the Boreal Forest
Authors: Moen Jon , Rist Lucy , Bishop Kevin , Chapin F. S. , Ellison David , Kuuluvainen Timo , Petersson Hans , Puettmann Klaus J. , Rayner Jeremy , Warkentin Ian G. , Bradshaw Corey J. A. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe absence of boreal forests from global policy agendas on sustainable development and climate change mitigation represents a massive missed opportunity for environmental protection. The boreal zone contains some of the world's largest pools of terrestrial carbon that, if not safeguarded from a conversion to a net source of greenhouse gases, could seriously exacerbate global climate change. At the same time, boreal countries have a strong tradition of forest management—expertise that could be effectively leveraged toward global and national carbon mitigation targets and sustainable development. Current obstacles against such contributions include weak incentives for carbon sequestration and a reluctance to embrace change by forest managers and policy makers. We discuss possible solutions to overcome these obstacles, including the improvement of ineffective incentives, the development of alternative forest management strategies, and the need to maintain ecosystem resilience through the pursuit of policy and management options.
Variation in Trill Characteristics in Tree Pipit Songs: Different Trills for Different Use?
Authors: Petrusková Tereza , Kinštová Anna , Pišvejcová Iveta , Mula Laguna Juan , Cortezón Adrián , Brinke Tomáš , Petrusek Adam 
Published: March 2014

AbstractTransmitting information about singer's quality is an important function of song in many bird species, and this information should be useful in territorial interactions. Fast trills, being physically demanding song structures, are particularly suitable candidates for signalling of quality or aggressive motivation. We have evaluated trill characteristics in songs within a population of the Tree Pipit, a common European songbird with no sexual dimorphism, in which song apparently plays a key role in territory defence as well as mate choice. Two types of relatively fast trills (each of them in multiple variants differing in complexity) were commonly observed in repertoires of Tree Pipit males. Trill rates significantly differed among individuals, suggesting that these song structures may carry information about male quality in this species. We tested by playback experiments whether both trill types are used in territorial encounters. Only one of the trill types was sung by males in response to playback, regardless on the trill type played to them. In an immediate response to playback, they increased the frequency of use of this trill, and also significantly increased the trill rate in comparison with spontaneous songs. This confirmed field observations, suggesting that this trill is important in male–male interactions. On the contrary, the use of the fastest, apparently more demanding, trill type actually decreased after the simulated territorial intrusion. We hypothesize that the latter one is more directed towards females, and that while performance of both trill types may reflect male quality, they are primarily used in different contexts.
Nuclear receptor gene alteration in human induced pluripotent stem cells with hepatic differentiation propensity
Authors: Itaba Noriko , Wairagu Peninah M. , Aramaki Natsumi , Yasui Toshihiro , Matsumi Yoshiaki , Kono Yohei , Phan Ai N.H. , Otsu Makoto , Kunisada Takahiro , Nakamura Yukio , Okano Hideyuki , Jeong Yangsik , Shiota Goshi 
Published: March 2014

AimHuman induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells are an alternative cell source of regenerative medicine for liver disease. Because variations in hepatic differentiation efficacy among hiPS cells exist, it is important to select a hiPS cell line with hepatic differentiation propensity. In addition, nuclear receptors (NR) regulate essential biological processes including differentiation and development. In this study, we identified the hiPS cell line with hepatic differentiation propensity and examined expression levels of 48 NR during this process.MethodsWe screened 28 hiPS cell lines, which are established from various tissues of healthy persons with various reprogramming methods, using a three‐step differentiation method, and examined expression levels of 48 NR by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction during the differentiation process in the selected cells.ResultshiPS‐RIKEN‐2B and hiPS‐RIKEN‐2F cells have hepatic differentiation propensity. Differentiation propensity towards endoderm was affected by donor origin but not by reprogramming methods or cell type of origins. Expression levels of NR were closely associated with those of hepatic differentiation markers. Furthermore, expression patterns of NR were categorized as five patterns. In particular, seven NR such as chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter transcription factor 1, retinoic acid receptor α, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ, progesterone receptor, photoreceptor cell‐specific nuclear receptor, tailless homolog orphan receptor and glucocorticoid receptor were identified as the genes of which expression gradually goes up with differentiation.ConclusionThese findings will be useful for not only elucidating mechanisms of hepatic differentiation of hiPS cells but also cell‐based therapy for liver diseases.
Validation and simplification of Fournier's gangrene severity index
Authors: Lin Tsung‐Yen , Ou Chien‐Hui , Tzai Tzong‐Shin , Tong Yat‐Ching , Chang Chien‐Chen , Cheng Hong‐Lin , Yang Wen‐Horng , Lin Yung‐Ming 
Published: March 2014

ObjectivesTo validate the predictive value of Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index in patients with Fournier gangrene and to facilitate patient mortality risk‐stratification by simplifying the Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index.MethodsFrom January 1989 to December 2011, 85 male patients with clinically‐documented Fournier's gangrene undergoing intensive treatment and with complete medical records were recruited. The demographic information and nine parameters of Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index were compared between survivors and non‐survivors. The parameters that showed a significant difference between the two groups were selected to generate a simplified scoring index.ResultsOf the 85 patients recruited, 16 patients died of the disease with mortality rate of 18.8%. The Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index score at initial diagnosis was significantly higher in non‐survivors than in survivors. Of the nine parameters of Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index, the scores of serum creatinine level, hematocrit level and serum potassium level were significantly different between the two groups. However, the mean body temperatures, heart rate, respiration rate, white blood cell count, serum sodium and bicarbonate levels were non‐significantly different. Of the 12 patients with chronic kidney disease or end‐stage renal disease, 10 died of severe sepsis. A simplified scoring index including parameters of creatinine, hematocrit and potassium was generated, which provided sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 77% in predicting patient mortality, respectively. The predictive values of this simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index were shown to be non‐inferior to Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index in our patients.ConclusionsThe simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index is easy to use at initial diagnosis, and offers a way to compare outcomes in different clinical populations.
Soft Questions, Hard Answers: Jacob Bernoulli's Probability in Historical Context
Authors: Stigler Stephen 
Published: March 2014

SummaryOn the 300th anniversary of the publication of Jacob Bernoulli's Ars Conjectandi, the book is revisited in historical context and seen in a new light. Bernoulli's announced goal of extending the application of probability from games to civil life was frustrated by the a priori difficulty of specifying equally likely cases. The great approximation theorem Bernoulli proved and suggested could lead to empirical applications was impractical for all but unrealistically large sample sizes, but it was immensely influential in the development of the mathematics of probability.
How much do OECD countries spend on social protection and how redistributive are their tax/benefit systems?
Authors: Adema Willem , Fron Pauline , Ladaique Maxime 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe global economic crisis has reignited interest in social policy and public spending on different types of social benefits. Public social spending‐to‐GDP ratios are often used to consider the magnitude of welfare systems in international perspective, but such comparisons alone give an incomplete picture of social effort across countries. This article looks at these different factors, before briefly considering the redistributive nature of tax/benefit systems in different member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD). The article also considers trends in social spending and compares spending in the late 2000s with the early 1990s when the previous economic crisis played out. The article ends by illustrating the profound effect the recent global economic crisis had on social spending trends across OECD countries.
From pension funds to piggy banks: (Perverse) consequences of the Stability and Growth Pact since the crisis
Authors: Casey Bernard H. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAs part of their strategy for economic and monetary union, European governments committed themselves to fiscal discipline – particularly by placing limits on annual deficits and on public debt. Subsequently, and as they sought to respond to the “current crisis”, they embraced the view that only if public finances were kept under control would sustainable recovery be possible. Rules of fiscal governance were strengthened. To help them meet these rules, the governments of many member States of the European Union made changes to their pension systems or to funds they had established specifically to pay the costs of population ageing. The intention was not to cut retirement benefits or to improve the efficiency of the relevant pension schemes and institutions. Rather, it was to free up resources immediately. Funded pension schemes and pension funds were treated like “piggy banks” that were raided when times became hard. Moreover, the policies pursued succeeded in meeting their objectives only because the system of national accounts according to which outcomes are judged does not recognize the way in which most of the fiscal gains are matched by future fiscal liabilities.
The Brazilian pension model: The pending agenda
Authors: Matijascic Milko , Kay Stephen J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractTo achieve national goals defined by the 1988 Brazilian Federal Constitution, cash benefits alone are insufficient in the absence of more robust social services to reduce inequalities and improve social cohesion. The Constitution, albeit of national importance and international significance, has not addressed many institutional and administrative weaknesses in the design of the national pension system. Although coverage has been increased and inequality reduced, these measures are not sufficient. Brazil's ambitions to further develop social policies (and, indeed, to live up to its accorded international status as a social policy leader) may be constrained by an over‐reliance on conditional cash transfers such as those provided under the Bolsa Família programme. Brazil faces a major political‐economy challenge in addressing all these issues because the policy reform process is difficult, and, more importantly, because of the embedded role of vested interests. Moreover, Brazil must tackle these issues in the face of growing fiscal pressures, which could weaken the current political legitimacy of social policy and undermine important recent successes.