bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does accumulating exposure to illicit drugs bring forward the age at onset in schizophrenia?
Authors: Power Brian D , Dragovic Milan , Jablensky Assen , Stefanis Nikos C 
Published: October 2012

Objective: Whilst cannabis has been associated with an earlier age at onset in schizophrenia, the impact of amphetamine and/or cocaine plus cannabis consumption on age at onset remains unclear. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that consumption of amphetamine and/or cocaine in addition to cannabis would lead to an earlier age at onset of schizophrenia than that seen for cannabis consumption alone. A secondary objective was to determine what kind of effect additional substance use exerted (e.g. additive, multiplicative). Method: Patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were recruited from consecutive admissions to the inpatient and outpatient services of a large psychiatric hospital in Perth, Australia and 167 participants were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview for Psychosis, which included detailed inquiry into illicit drug use in the 12 months prior to the onset of psychiatric symptoms. Participants were categorized into four groups: no illicit substance use ( n = 65), cannabis use ( n = 68), cannabis plus amphetamine use ( n = 25), and cocaine plus cannabis/cocaine plus cannabis plus amphetamine use ( n = 9). Analysis of variance was performed to detect trends, and linear regression used to analyze the consumption of each additional substance as a predictor of age at onset. Results: We observed a linear trend for mean age at onset: 23.34 (SD = 6.91) years for no illicit substance use, 22.51 (SD = 5.27) years for cannabis use, 20.84 (SD = 3.48) years for cannabis plus amphetamine use, and 19.56 (SD = 3.54) years for cocaine plus cannabis/cocaine plus cannabis plus amphetamine use; the variation in the means between groups was statistically significant: F(1,163) = 5.66, p = 0.008, Cohen’s d = 0.38. For the consumption of each additional substance, age at onset was earlier by 1.2 years: R2 = 0.034, F(1,165) = 5.72, p = 0.018. Conclusions: Whilst preliminary, these findings suggest that additional consumption of each substance predicted an earlier age at onset by approximately 1 additional year.
Effect of Postoperative Aspirin on Outcomes in Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer Surgery
Authors: Lighthall Jessyka G. , Cain Rachel , Ghanem Tamer A. , Wax Mark K. 
Published: October 2012

ObjectiveExamine if outcomes and complication rates for free flaps vary when postoperative aspirin is used as pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis compared with no anticoagulation.Study DesignCase series with chart review.SettingOregon Health and Science University, an academic medical center.Subjects and MethodsA case series with chart review was performed using a prospectively maintained microvascular reconstructive database to identify cases of free tissue transfer between February 2006 and April 2010. Outcome variables included complications, flap failure, reexploration, and salvage. Chi‐square analysis was performed to identify differences based on type of postoperative antithrombotic therapy.ResultsA total of 390 consecutive free tissue transfer procedures were performed; 184 received no postoperative thromboprophylaxis, 142 received aspirin, 48 received low molecular weight heparin or a combination of agents, and 16 received a heparin drip. The overall complication rate was 38%, with significantly more complications in the aspirin group compared with no prophylaxis (P =. 002). There was no significant difference in bleeding complications (P =. 192) or flap failure (P =. 839) between aspirin and no anticoagulation. There were more postoperative revisions in the aspirin group (P =. 039).ConclusionPostoperative thromboprophylaxis with aspirin after microvascular free tissue transfer does not provide an improvement in free flap survival and may be associated with a higher complication rate. Prospective, randomized studies are required to elucidate the role of postoperative pharmacotherapy for prophylaxis against microvascular thrombosis.
Current Concepts for Injury Prevention in Athletes After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Hewett Timothy E. , Di Stasi Stephanie L. , Myer Gregory D. 
Published: October 2012

Ligament reconstruction is the current standard of care for active patients with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. Although the majority of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgeries successfully restore the mechanical stability of the injured knee, postsurgical outcomes remain widely varied. Less than half of athletes who undergo ACLR return to sport within the first year after surgery, and it is estimated that approximately 1 in 4 to 1 in 5 young, active athletes who undergo ACLR will go on to a second knee injury. The outcomes after a second knee injury and surgery are significantly less favorable than outcomes after primary injuries. As advances in graft reconstruction and fixation techniques have improved to consistently restore passive joint stability to the preinjury level, successful return to sport after ACLR appears to be predicated on numerous postsurgical factors. Importantly, a secondary ACL injury is most strongly related to modifiable postsurgical risk factors. Biomechanical abnormalities and movement asymmetries, which are more prevalent in this cohort than previously hypothesized, can persist despite high levels of functional performance, and also represent biomechanical and neuromuscular control deficits and imbalances that are strongly associated with secondary injury incidence. Decreased neuromuscular control and high-risk movement biomechanics, which appear to be heavily influenced by abnormal trunk and lower extremity movement patterns, not only predict first knee injury risk but also reinjury risk. These seminal findings indicate that abnormal movement biomechanics and neuromuscular control profiles are likely both residual to, and exacerbated by, the initial injury. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) strategies should be used to develop effective, efficacious interventions targeted to these impairments to optimize the safe return to high-risk activity. In this Current Concepts article, the authors present the latest evidence related to risk factors associated with ligament failure or a secondary (contralateral) injury in athletes who return to sport after ACLR. From these data, they propose an EBM paradigm shift in postoperative rehabilitation and return-to-sport training after ACLR that is focused on the resolution of neuromuscular deficits that commonly persist after surgical reconstruction and standard rehabilitation of athletes.
Prevention of HIV Among Older Adults
Authors: Davis Tracy , Zanjani Faika 
Published: October 2012

Objective: This study reviews the existing literature on the prevention of HIV among older adults, including universal and indicated prevention programs and prevention strategies. Method: A literature search was conducted between September and October of 2011 to identify studies for this review. Several different electronic databases and a combination of keywords were used to conduct the search. In addition, the reference section of each article was reviewed for additional articles. Results: A total of 18 articles were identified and reviewed. Three of the articles examined universal prevention, five of the articles examined indicated prevention, and the remainder of the articles provided strategies and recommendations for the prevention of HIV among older adults. Discussion: The existing studies document evidence for preventing future cases of HIV/AIDS among older adults. Additional studies and universal and selected interventions are needed in an effort to reduce the number of older adults being diagnosed with HIV.
The Constitutive Nature of Vital Signs
Authors: Phillips Catherine 
Published: October 2012

This article is about two interconnected subjects: the politics of acute illness and the representation of such politics in writing. I present three narratives that were provoked by the witnessing of family member’s hospitalization. The narratives focus on the experience of technology and fall within autoethnographic traditions (Denzin, 2003; Ellis & Bochner, 2000; Richardson, 2000), as well as the burgeoning realm of publications that narrate authors’ experiences of the illness of a loved one (Dideon, 2005; Oates, 2011; Want, 2010). In taking seriously the “emergent nature of critical inquiry” (Denzin, 2010), I intentionally move in and out of the narratives inorder to demonstrate how negotiations with “everyday technology” are taken-for-granted. I concern myself with how technology is the primary mode of care and argue that its prolific use calls for a politicization of medicine such that we can see how patients and medical staff alike are configured as mechanistic.
More Than 20 Years of Research into the Quality of Life of People with HIV and AIDS—A Descriptive Review of Study Characteristics and Methodological Approaches of Published Empirical Studies
Authors: Drewes Jochen , Gusy Burkhard , Rüden Ursula von 
Published: October 2012

Background: The quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) is becoming increasingly important--a fact that is also reflected in extensive research efforts. Owing to the almost complete lack of systematic integration of research findings, it is hardly possible to provide an overview of the current status of research, or to derive valid statements about research results. Methods: A literature search regarding the quality of life of PLWHA was performed in two international research databases. After checking their relevance, 852 publications appearing in scientific journals and explicitly measuring the quality of life of PLWHA were categorized on the basis of various study characteristics. Results: The number of publications per year in our study pool has been rising steadily since 1989. Well over 40 established instruments were used to determine the quality of life, most frequently the MOS-HIV, followed by the SF-36. The great majority of the studies are correlation studies. CD4 cells, gender, and age are the most common variables for which correlations with quality of life are reported. Conclusions: Our descriptive review stresses both the increasing significance and the challenges of research into quality of life of PLWHA such as the great variety of instruments used. The limits of this review are discussed and we conclude with the formulation of research desiderata concerning comparative review studies on instruments and systematic reviews of frequent research questions.
Efficiency of using community organisations as catalysts for recruitment to continence promotion trials
Authors: Agnew Rona , van den Heuvel Eleanor , Tannenbaum Cara 
Published: October 2012

Background A major challenge for determining the effectiveness of community-based continence promotion campaigns is recruitment of a representative sample of incontinent participants who have not previously sought care. Purpose To evaluate the efficiency of engaging community organisations as catalysts for recruitment of community-dwelling older women with incontinence to the ‘Continence across Continents’ randomised controlled trial. Methods Seniors’ and women’s community-based organisations throughout the United Kingdom were solicited by telephone or email to assist recruitment for an open-label cluster randomised controlled trial testing three experimental continence promotion interventions and a control intervention for incontinent older women. Women aged 60 years and older who experienced at least weekly urinary incontinence and who had never sought treatment were eligible to participate. The response rate of the organisations and enrolment rate of eligible participants attending the continence promotion workshops were recorded. Differences in recruitment efficiency by intervention group were ascertained using analysis of variance statistics. Results We contacted 408 community organisations over a 1-year period. Seventy organisations (17%) agreed to host a workshop, 249 (61%) did not provide a response, and 89 (22%) refused. Workshops were administered in a group format to 61 organisations (15%); 667 women attended, 583 (87%) submitted the screening questionnaire, and 437 (66%) met eligibility criteria for inclusion. A total of 192 women consented to participate in the trial, yielding a 44% recruitment efficiency among workshop attendees known to be eligible, with no significant difference in enrolment rates between groups. However, the mean participant recruitment rate per number of attendees at each workshop was only 29%, varying substantially between groups from 19% to 37%, with the lowest rate observed for the control group. The mean annual recruitment rate expressed as the number of enrolled participants per community organisation contacted was 0.5. Limitations Reasons for women’s non-response were not collected. The findings may be country specific. Conclusions The recruitment rate for a continence promotion trial among older women known to be eligible and attending workshops hosted by local community organisations was high (44%). Strategies are needed to bolster community organisations’ involvement in health promotion trials in general and for continence issues in particular.
Early post-treatment with 9-cis retinoic acid reduces neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Yin Lian-Hu , Shen Hui , Diaz-Ruiz Oscar , Bäckman Cristina M , Bae Eunkyung , Yu Seong-Jin , Wang Yun 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Retinoic acid (RA) is a biologically active derivative of vitamin A. Previous studies have demonstrated that RA has protective effects against damage caused by H2O2 or oxygen-glucose deprivation in mesangial and PC12 cells. Pretreatment with 9-cis-retinoic acid (9cRA) reduced infarction and TUNEL labeling in cerebral cortex as well as attenuated neurological deficits after distal middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. The purpose of this study was to examine a protective role of 9cRA in dopaminergic (DA) neurons in a typical rodent model of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Results
The protective role of 9cRA was first examined in rat primary ventromesencephalic culture. Treatment with 9cRA significantly reduced 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-mediated cell death and TUNEL labeling in cultured dopaminergic neurons. The protective effect was also examined in adult male rats. Animals received unilateral 6-OHDA lesioning at the left medial forebrain bundle on day 0. Methamphetamine -induced rotational behavior was examined on days 6, 20 and 30 after lesioning. Animals were separated into 2 groups to balance rotational behavior and lesion extent on day 6 and were treated with either 9cRA or vehicle (i.c.v. on day 7 + intra-nasal from day 8 to day 14). Post-treatment with 9cRA significantly reduced methamphetamine –mediated ipislateral rotation at 20 and 30 days after lesioning. In vivo voltammetry was used to examine DA overflow in striatum. Treatment with 9cRA significantly increased KCl -evoked DA release in the lesioned striatum. 9cRA also increased tyrosine hydroxylase (+) cell number in the lesioned nigra as determined by unbiased stereology.

Conclusion
Our data suggests that early post-treatment with 9cRA has a protective effect against neurodegeneration in nigrostriatal DA neurons in an animal model of PD.
Human α-defensin (DEFA) gene expression helps to characterise benign and malignant salivary gland tumours
Authors: Winter Jochen , Pantelis Annette , Kraus Dominik , Reckenbeil Jan , Reich Rudolf , Jepsen Soeren , Fischer Hans-Peter , Allam Jean-Pierre , Novak Natalija , Wenghoefer Matthias 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Because of the infrequence of salivary gland tumours and their complex histopathological diagnosis it is still difficult to exactly predict their clinical course by means of recurrence, malignant progression and metastasis. In order to define new proliferation associated genes, purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of human α-defensins (DEFA) 1/3 and 4 in different tumour entities of the salivary glands with respect to malignancy.

Methods
Tissue of salivary glands (n=10), pleomorphic adenomas (n=10), cystadenolymphomas (n=10), adenocarcinomas (n=10), adenoidcystic carcinomas (n=10), and mucoepidermoid carcinomas (n=10) was obtained during routine surgical procedures. RNA was extracted according to standard protocols. Transcript levels of DEFA 1/3 and 4 were analyzed by quantitative realtime PCR and compared with healthy salivary gland tissue. Additionally, the proteins encoded by DEFA 1/3 and DEFA 4 were visualized in paraffin-embedded tissue sections by immunohistochemical staining.

Results
Human α-defensins are traceable in healthy as well as in pathological altered salivary gland tissue. In comparison with healthy tissue, the gene expression of DEFA 1/3 and 4 was significantly (p<0.05) increased in all tumours – except for a significant decrease of DEFA 4 gene expression in pleomorphic adenomas and a similar transcript level for DEFA 1/3 compared to healthy salivary glands.

Conclusions
A decreased gene expression of DEFA 1/3 and 4 might protect pleomorphic adenomas from malignant transformation into adenocarcinomas. A similar expression pattern of DEFA-1/3 and -4 in cystadenolymphomas and inflamed salivary glands underlines a potential importance of immunological reactions during the formation of Warthin’s tumour.
Coronary Artery bypass grafting and/or valvular surgery in patients with previous pneumonectomy
Authors: Fragkidis Alexander , Dimitriou Alexander , Dougenis Dimitrios 
Published: October 2012

Abstract
There is a lack of data regarding heart surgery on patients who have been previously pneumectomized. These patients pose unique challenges and surgical management may necessitate deviations from standard methods in the perioperative course. To summarize the available knowledge and to assess the optimal methods, we reviewed all reported patients with prior pneumonectomy who were subjected to coronary artery bypass grafting and/or valve surgery.
In a Medline search from 1966 to May 2011 carefully undertaken, we identified 22 articles, including 29 patients who underwent 30 operations: CABG 70%, valvular surgery 23%, and combination 7%. Severe morbidity was 37% and 30-day mortality 13%.
Although postoperative morbidity and mortality remain higher in previously pneumectomized patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting and valvular surgery, the gathered experience up to date suggests that a carefully planned surgical strategy, along with the use of advanced modern techniques may reduce morbidity and improve final outcome.
Diabetic foot disease in the United Kingdom: about time to put feet first
Authors: McInnes Alistair D 
Published: October 2012

AbstractDiabetes is now the biggest cause of amputation, stroke, blindness and end stage renal failure. It causes many deaths from cardiovascular disease. Foot ulcers and amputations reduce the quality of life, increase mortality and involve lengthy stay in hospital. Many people who have an ulcer eventually require surgery. The economic cost to the nation is spiralling out of control with estimates of 10% of the entire NHS budget spent on diabetes. This paper aims to explore the burden of diabetic complications and how policy, guidelines and audit highlight the discrepancies in the quality of diabetes care with particular reference to diabetes foot services. The findings suggest that the NICE guidelines for diabetes foot care are not being adhered to and that the variation in preventative amputations across England is unacceptable. Diabetes UK, the national charity for diabetes is leading a campaign to improve diabetic foot care in light of the available published health information.
Glabrous Rice 1, encoding a homeodomain protein, regulates trichome development in rice
Authors: Li Jinjun , Yuan Yundong , Lu Zefu , Yang Liusha , Gao Rongcun , Lu Jingen , Li Jiayang , Xiong Guosheng 
Published: October 2012

Abstract

Background
Glabrous rice, which lacks trichomes on the rice epidermis, is regarded as an important germplasm resource in rice breeding. Trichomes are derived from aerial epidermal cells and used as a model to study the cell fate determination in plant. In Arabidopsis, the molecular mechanisms of trichome development have been well studied. However, little is known about the molecular basis of trichome development in rice.

Results
In this study, near isogenic lines harboring the glabrous rice 1 locus were developed. By a map-based approach, we narrowed down the locus to a 21-kb DNA region harboring two genes. One of the genes named Glabrous Rice 1 (GLR1), which is most likely the candidate, encodes a homeodomain protein containing the WOX motif. Constitutive Expression of GLR1 could partially complement the glabrous phenotype of NIL
glr1
. The knock down of GLR1 by RNA interference led to a significant decrease in trichome number on the leaves and glumes of the RNAi transgenic plants.

Conclusion

GLR1 plays an important role in rice trichome development and will contribute to breeding of glabrous elite rice varieties.
Dose‐dependent Effect of Statin Therapy on Circulating CXCL12 Levels in Patients with Hyperlipidemia
Authors: Camnitz Will , Burdick Marie D , Strieter Robert M , Mehrad Borna , Keeley Ellen C 
Published: October 2012

AbstractBackgroundHMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have pleiotropic effects that are independent of cholesterol‐lowering, including a dose‐dependent effect on angiogenesis. Angiogenesis plays a critical role both in vascularization of the chronically ischemic myocardium and in stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. Chemokines, a family of structurally‐related cytokine molecules, exert diverse biological functions including control of angiogenesis. The effect of statin therapy on angiogenic and angiostatic chemokines has not been evaluated extensively. We sought to test the hypothesis that, in subjects with hyperlipidemia, statin therapy influences plasma levels of angiogenic and angiostatic chemokines in a dose‐dependent manner.MethodsWe prospectively collected demographic, angiographic and laboratory data from subjects with a history of hyperlipidemia who were either untreated or on statin therapy. A peripheral blood sample was obtained for measurement of plasma angiogenic and angiostatic chemokines. Multivariable analysis using logistic regression was performed adjusting for the following variables: age, gender, prior myocardial infarction, and chronic administration of aspirin, clopidogrel, insulin, oral hypoglycemic agents, beta‐blockers and calcium channel blockers.Results168 patients on statin therapy (48 on low‐dose, defined as <10mg atorvastatin‐equivalent, and 120 on high‐dose, defined as ≥10mg atorvastatin‐equivalent dose) and 11 subjects from the same database who had a history of hyperlipidemia but who were not on statins were enrolled. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics, co‐morbidities, lipid panels, other medications, or angiographic data between the groups. The angiogenic chemokines CXCL1 and CXCL12 levels were significantly different across the groups. Median levels of CXCL1 were highest in subjects not on statin therapy. Compared to subjects either not on statin therapy or on low‐dose statins, those taking high‐dose statins had lower median values of CXCL12 (2316 [2255–11071], vs 2362 [2016–10622], vs 2189 [1968–2705] pg/mL, p=0.042). On multivariate analysis, CXCL12 remained the only factor that was strongly and inversely associated with statin dose at the 95% level (p=0.011).ConclusionsCompared to no therapy or low‐dose statin therapy, treatment with high‐doses of HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors is associated with decreased circulating CXCL12 levels in subjects with hyperlipidemia, and CXCL12 is strongly and inversely associated with statin dose. Additional studies are needed to confirm this finding in other cohorts and to determine if high‐dose statins affect angiogenesis in patients.