bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Associations of Insulin Resistance With Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Inflammatory Cytokines in Normal-Weight Hispanic Women
Authors: Vella Chantal A. , Burgos Ximena , Ellis Carla J. , Zubia Raul Y. , Ontiveros Diana , Reyes Hector , Lozano Claudia 
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the associations of markers of insulin resistance with cardiovascular disease risk factors and inflammation in young, normal-weight, Hispanic women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Seventy-one normal-weight (BMI &lt;25 kg/m2) Hispanic women (age, 20–39 years) participated in a fasting blood draw for glucose, insulin, lipids, and inflammatory markers; a glucose tolerance test; anthropometric and blood pressure measurements; body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; and measurements of cardiorespiratory fitness via Vo2max and daily physical activity by accelerometer.

RESULTS
Six percent of participants had impaired fasting glucose, 14% had impaired glucose tolerance, and 48% had at least one cardiovascular disease risk factor. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and fasting insulin were positively correlated with glucose, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure, and were negatively correlated with adiponectin (P &lt; 0.05). The 2-h insulin was positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. HOMA-IR and fasting insulin remained significantly and positively related to glucose, triglycerides, and blood pressure after adjustment for body composition. The relationships between markers of insulin resistance and adiponectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were attenuated after adjustment for body composition.

CONCLUSIONS
Surrogate markers of insulin resistance were associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors and inflammation in young, normal-weight, Hispanic women. Our findings suggest that HOMA-IR, fasting, and 2-h insulin may be important clinical markers for identifying young, normal-weight, Hispanic women who may be at risk for development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Our findings show the importance of early screening for prevention of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this population.
Cholesterol Metabolism After Bariatric Surgery in Grade 3 Obesity
Authors: Benetti Alberto , Del Puppo Marina , Crosignani Andrea , Veronelli Annamaria , Masci Enzo , Frigè Francesca , Micheletto Giancarlo , Panizzo Valerio , Pontiroli Antonio E. 
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE
Malabsorptive bariatric surgery (biliopancreatic diversion and biliointestinal bypass [BIBP]) reduces serum cholesterol levels more than restrictive surgery (adjustable gastric banding [AGB]), and this is thought to be due to greater weight loss. Our aim was to evaluate the changes of cholesterol metabolism induced by malabsorptive and restrictive surgery independent of weight loss.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
In a nonrandomized, self-selected, unblinded, active-comparator, bicenter, 6-month study, glucose metabolism (blood glucose and serum insulin levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance [HOMA-IR] index) and cholesterol metabolism (absorption: serum campesterol and sitosterol levels; synthesis: serum lathosterol levels; catabolism: rate of appearance and serum concentrations of serum 7-α- and serum 27-OH-cholesterol after infusions of deuterated 7-α- and 27-OH-cholesterol in sequence) were assessed in grade 3 obesity subjects undergoing BIBP (n = 10) and AGB (n = 10). Evaluations were performed before and 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS
Subjects had similar values at baseline. Weight loss was similar in the two groups of subjects, and blood glucose, insulin levels, HOMA-IR, and triglycerides decreased in a similar way. In contrast, serum cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, serum sitosterol, and campesterol levels decreased and lathosterol levels increased only in BIBP subjects, not in AGB subjects. A significant increase in 7-α-OH-cholesterol occurred only with BIBP; serum 27-OH-cholesterol decreased in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS
Malabsorptive surgery specifically affects cholesterol levels, independent of weight loss and independent of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. Decreased sterol absorption leads to decreased cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, accompanied by enhanced cholesterol synthesis and enhanced cholesterol catabolism. Compared with AGB, BIBP provides greater cholesterol lowering.
The Association Between Hepatic Fat Content and Liver Injury in Obese Children and Adolescents
Authors: Santoro Nicola , Feldstein Ariel E. , Enoksson Erik , Pierpont Bridget , Kursawe Romy , Kim Grace , Caprio Sonia 
Published: December 2012

OBJECTIVE
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are highly prevalent in obese youth. Herein, we aimed to study the association between hepatic fat accumulation as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging and circulating levels of cytokeratin-18 (CK-18) fragments, a robust NASH biomarker, and to explore the impact on this association of ethnicity, insulin resistance, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with steatosis (rs738409 in the PNPLA3, rs1260326 in the GCKR) or NASH severity (rs2645424 in the FDFT1).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Two-hundred twenty-nine obese youths (87 Caucasians, 61 African Americans, and 81 Hispanics; mean age, 12.8 ± 2.9 years; mean BMI, 31.4 ± 7.4) underwent magnetic resonance imaging, oral glucose tolerance test, and CK-18 levels measurement; 12 subjects underwent liver biopsy.

RESULTS
African Americans showed lower CK-18 levels than Hispanics (P &lt; 0.001) and Caucasians (P = 0.004). Hepatic fat content (HFF%) and whole body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) modulated CK-18 levels in Caucasians and Hispanics (P = 0.02 and P = 0.011), but not in African Americans; in fact, CK-18 was associated with HFF% and WBISI in Caucasians (P = 0.0018 and P &lt; 0.0001) and Hispanics (P &lt; 0.0001 and P = 0.02), but not in African Americans (both P = 0.5). The PNPLA3 SNP showed association in Caucasians (P = 0.02) and Hispanics (P = 0.05), and FDFT1 SNP showed an association in Caucasians (P = 0.05) and Hispanics (P = 0.02), with the same trend in African Americans (P = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS
African Americans have lower levels of CK-18 than Caucasians and Hispanics irrespective of HFF% and insulin resistance. Moreover, SNPs in the PNPLA3 and FDFT1 may drive the individual predisposition to development of hepatic injury.
Improvements in robot navigation through operator speech preferences
Authors: Cassenti Daniel N. , Kelley Troy D. , Yagoda Rosemarie E. , Avery Eric 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe capability to use voice commands to control robots offer an intriguing possibility to increase the efficiency with which robotic operators may give commands. This study consists of two experiments that investigate how robot operators prefer to speak to robots in a search-and-find task and to evaluate which mode of speaking generates the greatest performance. Experiment 1 revealed that operators used selective exocentric references when available to direct a confederate acting as a robot. Experiment 2 revealed that with the same exocentric references operators showed improved performance while directing an actual robot as compared with egocentric-only commands. Experiment 2 also revealed that performing a dual task was less detrimental to performance when using exocentric commands as compared to egocentric commands. Suggestions for improvements to a robot control system that follow from these results include developing recognition of structural properties of an indoor environment and improving map incorporation.
Development and Validation of a Self-Report Lower-Extremity Lymphedema Screening Questionnaire in Women
Authors: Yost Kathleen J. , Cheville Andrea L. , Weaver Amy L. , Al Hilli Mariam , Dowdy Sean C. 
Published: January 2013

Background
Patient-reported signs and symptoms are often the first indication of clinically relevant lymphedema.

Objective
The purpose of this study was to develop and assess the diagnostic accuracy of a screening questionnaire to detect lower-extremity lymphedema (LEL) among normal-weight women and women with obesity.

Design
This was a cross-sectional survey study.

Methods
The authors reviewed existing questionnaires assessing upper-extremity lymphedema (UEL) for potential questions and worked with content experts to generate new items. A draft questionnaire with 59 items was reviewed by 5 physicians and 5 physical therapists who specialized in lymphedema management and 5 female patients with clinically confirmed secondary LEL. A revised questionnaire with 45 items was administered by mail to 186 women with clinically confirmed LEL (n=116) or UEL (n=70). A total of 99 women (53.2% of 186) completed the mailed survey, and 28 women with lymphedema who were recruited directly in a lymphedema clinic waiting area also completed the survey. A parsimonious subset of items that best discriminated patients with and without LEL was identified using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting LEL and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+, LR−) were estimated for the entire sample and for subsamples defined by obesity (body mass index ≥30 versus &lt;30 kg/m2), which may confound the accurate diagnosis of LEL.

Results
Questionnaires were completed by 127 women (LEL group, n=88; UEL group, n=39). A sum of 13 items (score range=0–52) was the most discriminating. Using a cutoff score of ≥5 points, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting LEL among all participants were 95.5% and 86.5%, respectively (LR+=7.1, LR−=0.05), and 94.8% and 76.5%, respectively (LR+=4.0, LR−=0.07), for participants who were obese.

Limitations
By enumerating a sample with a high prevalence of LEL, a spectrum bias may have been introduced, which may have affected the accuracy of the screening questionnaire.

Conclusions
The brief, 13-item self-report questionnaire is a sensitive and specific tool for detecting clinically relevant LEL among women, including those with a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2.
Endoscopic endonasal surgery for giant pituitary adenomas: advantages and limitations
Authors: Koutourousiou Maria , Gardner Paul A. , Fernandez-Miranda Juan C. , Paluzzi Alessandro , Wang Eric W. , Snyderman Carl H. 
Published: January 2013

Object
Giant pituitary adenomas (> 4 cm in maximum diameter) represent a significant surgical challenge. Endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) has recently been introduced as a treatment option for these tumors. The authors present the results of EES for giant adenomas and analyze the advantages and limitations of this technique.

Methods
The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical files and imaging studies of 54 patients with giant pituitary adenomas who underwent EES and studied the factors affecting surgical outcome.

Results
Preoperative visual impairment was present in 45 patients (83%) and partial or complete pituitary deficiency in 28 cases (52%), and 7 patients (13%) presented with apoplexy. Near-total resection (> 90%) was achieved in 36 patients (66.7%). Vision was improved or normalized in 36 cases (80%) and worsened in 2 cases due to apoplexy of residual tumor. Significant factors that limited the degree of resection were a multilobular configuration of the adenoma (p = 0.002) and extension to the middle fossa (p = 0.045). Cavernous sinus invasion, tumor size, and intraventricular or posterior fossa extension did not influence the surgical outcome. Complications included apoplexy of residual adenoma (3.7%), permanent diabetes insipidus (9.6%), new pituitary insufficiency (16.7%), and CSF leak (16.7%, which was reduced to 7.4% in recent years). Fourteen patients underwent radiation therapy after EES for residual mass or, in a later stage, for recurrence, and 10 with functional pituitary adenomas received medical treatment. During a mean follow-up of 37.9 months (range 1–114 months), 7 patients were reoperated on for tumor recurrence. Three patients were lost to follow-up.

Conclusions
Endoscopic endonasal surgery provides effective initial management of giant pituitary adenomas with favorable results compared with traditional microscopic transsphenoidal and transcranial approaches.
Aneurysm-related subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute subdural hematoma: single-center series and systematic review
Authors: Schuss Patrick , Konczalla Jürgen , Platz Johannes , Vatter Hartmut , Seifert Volker , Güresir Erdem 
Published: January 2013

Object
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with simultaneous acute subdural hematoma (SDH) is a severe disease. The authors' objective was to analyze the incidence, prognosis, and clinical outcome of patients suffering from aneurysm-related SAH and space-occupying acute SDH.

Methods
Between June 1999 and June 2011, data from 989 patients with aneurysm-related SAH were prospectively entered into a database. Eighteen patients (1.8%) presented with aneurysm-related SAH and space-occupying acute SDH. The treatment decision (clip or coil) was based on an interdisciplinary approach. Outcome was assessed according to the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 6 months and was dichotomized into favorable outcome (mRS Score 0–2) versus unfavorable outcome (mRS Score 3–6). PubMed was searched for published studies of aneurysm-related SAH and acute SDH to gain a larger population. A multivariate regression analysis was performed on the pooled data.

Results
Literature data, including the current series, revealed a total of 111 patients. Overall, 38 (34%) of 111 patients with aneurysm-related SAH and acute SDH achieved favorable outcome. Favorable outcome was achieved in 68% of patients with good-grade clinical presentation on admission (Hunt and Hess Grades I–III) versus 23% of the patients with poor-grade presentation (Hunt and Hess Grades IV and V, p < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, poor clinical condition at admission was the only predictor for unfavorable outcome (p = 0.02).

Conclusions
The present data confirm that patients with aneurysm-related SAH and acute SDH, even when presenting in poor clinical condition, might achieve favorable outcome. Therefore, treatment of patients with SAH and acute SDH should not be discontinued, but careful individual decision making is necessary for each patient.
Management and outcome of focal low-grade brainstem tumors in pediatric patients: the St. Jude experience
Authors: Klimo Paul , Pai Panandiker Atmaram S. , Thompson Clinton J. , Boop Frederick A. , Qaddoumi Ibrahim , Gajjar Amar , Armstrong Gregory T. , Ellison David W. , Kun Larry E. , Ogg Robert J. , Sanford Robert A. 
Published: January 2013

Object
Whereas diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas generally have a short symptom duration and more cranial nerve involvement, focal brainstem gliomas are commonly low grade, with fewer cranial neuropathies. Although these phenotypic distinctions are not absolute predictors of outcome, they do demonstrate correlation in most cases. Because there is a limited literature on focal brainstem gliomas in pediatric patients, the objective of this paper was to report the management and outcome of these tumors.

Methods
The authors reviewed the records of all children diagnosed with radiographically confirmed low-grade focal brainstem gliomas from 1986 to 2010. Each patient underwent biopsy or resection for tissue diagnosis. Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival were evaluated. Univariate analysis was conducted to identify demographic and treatment variables that may affect EFS.

Results
Fifty-two patients (20 girls, 32 boys) with follow-up data were identified. Median follow-up was 10.0 years, and the median age at diagnosis was 6.5 years (range 1–17 years). The tumor locations were midbrain (n = 22, 42%), pons (n = 15, 29%), and medulla (n = 15, 29%). Surgical extirpation was the primary treatment in 25 patients (48%). The 5- and 10-year EFS and overall survival were 59%/98% and 52%/90%, respectively. An event or treatment failure occurred in 24 patients (46%), including 5 deaths. Median time to treatment failure was 3.4 years. Disease progression in the other 19 patients transpired within 25.1 months of diagnosis. Thirteen of these patients received radiation, including 11 within 2 months of primary treatment failure. Although children with intrinsic tumors had slightly better EFS at 5 years compared with those with exophytic tumors (p = 0.054), this difference was not significant at 10 years (p = 0.147). No other variables were predictive of EFS.

Conclusions
Surgery suffices in many children with low-grade focal brainstem gliomas. Radiation treatment is often reserved for disease progression but offers comparable disease control following biopsy. In the authors' experience, combining an assessment of clinical course, imaging, and tumor biopsy yields a reasonable model for managing children with focal brainstem tumors.
Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Amplifies the Differentiation of Alternatively Activated Macrophages
Authors: Han Hongwei , Headley Mark B. , Xu Whitney , Comeau Michael R. , Zhou Baohua , Ziegler Steven F. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
The epithelial-derived cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) has been associated with the promotion of type 2 inflammation and the induction of allergic disease. In humans TSLP is elevated in the lungs of asthma patients and in the lesional skin of individuals with atopic dermatitis, whereas mice lacking TSLP responses are refractory to models of Th2-driven allergic disease. Although several cell types, including dendritic cells, basophils, and CD4 T cells, have been shown to respond to TSLP, its role in macrophage differentiation has not been studied. Type 2 cytokines (i.e., IL-4 and IL-13) can drive the differentiation of macrophages into alternatively activated macrophages (aaMϕs, also referred to as M2 macrophages). This population of macrophages is associated with allergic inflammation. We therefore reasoned that TSLP/TSLPR signaling may be involved in the differentiation and activation of aaMϕs during allergic airway inflammation. In this study, we report that TSLP changes the quiescent phenotype of pulmonary macrophages toward an aaMϕ phenotype during TSLP-induced airway inflammation. This differentiation of airway macrophages was IL-13–, but not IL-4–, dependent. Taken together, we demonstrate in this study that TSLP/TSLPR plays a significant role in the amplification of aaMΦ polarization and chemokine production, thereby contributing to allergic inflammation.
Antigen-Specific Regulation of IgE Antibodies by Non-Antigen–Specific γδ T Cells
Authors: Huang Yafei , Aydintug M. Kemal , Loomis Joshua , MacLeod Megan K. , McKee Amy S. , Kirchenbaum Greg , Jakubzick Claudia V. , Kedl Ross M. , Sun Deming , Jacobelli Jordan , O'Brien Rebecca L. , Born Willi K. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract
We re-examined the observation that γδ T cells, when transferred from mice tolerized to an inhaled conventional Ag, suppress the allergic IgE response to this Ag specifically. Using OVA and hen egg lysozyme in crisscross fashion, we confirmed the Ag-specific IgE-regulatory effect of the γδ T cells. Although only Vγ4+ γδ T cells are regulators, the Ag specificity does not stem from specificity of their γδ TCRs. Instead, the Vγ4+ γδ T cells failed to respond to either Ag, but rapidly acquired Ag-specific regulatory function in vivo following i.v. injection of non-T cells derived from the spleen of Ag-tolerized mice. This correlated with their in vivo Ag acquisition from i.v. injected Ag-loaded splenic non-T cells, and in vivo transfer of membrane label provided evidence for direct contact between the injected splenic non-T cells and the Vγ4+ γδ T cells. Together, our data suggest that Ag itself, when acquired by γδ T cells, directs the specificity of their IgE suppression.
Leaf micromorphology of Aesculus hippocastanum L. and damage caused by leaf-mining larvae of Cameraria ohridella Deschka and Dimić
Authors: Weryszko-Chmielewska Elżbieta , Haratym Weronika 
Published: January 2013

The present study is a continuation of our research on the structure of healthy leaves of <em>Aesculus hippocastanum </em>and leaves damaged by larvae of <em>Cameraria ohridella. </em>In this study, the epidermal micromorphology of both leaf surfaces in <em>A. hippocastanum </em>was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Light microscopy was used to examine on which side of the leaf blades eggs of <em>Camerari</em><em>a ohridella </em>were laid. The characteristic features of the adaxial and abaxial epidermis were shown. In the hypostomatic leaves of the studied species, the stomata occurred at a density of 173 × mm<sup>-2</sup> and they represented the cyclocytic type. A striated layer of the cuticle was observed only in the adaxial epidermis in which glandular hairs were also present along the midribs. Non-glandular trichomes grew only on the surface of the midribs or in their axils in the abaxial epidermis. We found eggs of <em>C. ohridella </em>only on the adaxial surface of the epidermis. Using SEM, we also observed in the mines leaf tissues damaged by <em>C. ohridella</em>. We found palisade parenchyma to be absent, whereas in the spongy parenchyma there could be seen large intercellular spaces and at places a dense mass of organic matter, formed from damaged cells and larval excrement. The vascular bundles and calcium oxalate crystals remained in the feeding places. We found numerous bacteria, fungal spores and hyphae as well as cleistothecia of Erysiphales in the mines on the surface of the damaged mesophyll.<br /> The glandular trichomes occurring only locally on the leaves, the relatively thin cell walls of the epidermis and a not well-developed cuticle layer on their surface do not protect sufficiently these leaves against the invasion of <em>C. ohridella. </em>On the other hand, damaged tissue areas are a convenient place for the growth of bacteria and fungi.