bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intravenous thrombolysis in patients aged more than 80 years in the three rural hospitals in southeast Poland: An observational study
Authors: Sobolewski Piotr , Brola Waldemar , Stoiński Jan , Szczuchniak Wiktor , Fudala Malgorzata , Hatalska‐Żerebiec Renata , Śledzińska‐Dźwigał Monika 
Published: August 2013

AimsApproximately 30% of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) occurs in people aged over 80 years. Older patients are increasingly receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IV‐thrombolysis) for AIS; however, the majority of treatments are carried out in urban hospitals. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of IV‐thrombolysis in patients aged older than 80 years.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the clinical and epidemiological data of 409 patients with AIS who were consecutively treated with IV‐thrombolysis from September 2006 to June 2012 in the three rural hospitals.ResultsIn the analyzed group, there were 22.3% of patients who were aged over 80 years (2.4% patients aged ≥90 years). Among these patients we found: longer onset to door time (P = 0.04), onset to treatment time (P = 0.0003) and door to treatment time (P < 0.0001). The functional independence (modified Rankin Scale 0–2) at 90 days was lower (P = 0.0004), whereas the risk of hemorrhagic transformation (HT; P = 0.001), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) according to National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) definition (P = 0.003) and mortality rate within 3 months were higher (P < 0.0001) than in younger patients. A multivariate analysis showed no impact of older age on long‐term outcome, and the presence of HT and SICH. Age over 80 years was associated with higher mortality rate.ConclusionsOlder age affected the increased times for pre‐ and in‐hospital procedures in rural patients with AIS. Older patients should not be denied the chance to benefit from IV‐thrombolysis, but because of the higher mortality, the application of this therapy should be carefully decided on. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2014; 14: 689–694.
Orthopaedic surgery in patients with von Willebrand disease
Authors: Siboni S. M. , Biguzzi E. , Solimeno L. P. , Pasta G. , Mistretta C. , Mannucci P. M. , Peyvandi F. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryPatients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) may need orthopaedic surgery because of disabling chronic arthropathy due to recurrent joint bleeding. They may also require this surgery independently of their haemostasis disorder. Knowledge regarding the management of orthopaedic surgery in VWD is limited. Description of management of orthopaedic surgery in patients with VWD, based upon retrospective data collection and analysis of 32 orthopaedic procedures carried out over a period of 33 years in 23 patients was the aim of this study. Of 32 procedures, six were minor (three hand surgery, one foot surgery, two others) and 26 were major (seven joint replacements, nine arthroscopic procedures, two foot surgery, eight others). Twenty‐two procedures were performed using replacement therapy with plasma‐derived concentrates containing both factor VIII (FVIII) and von Willebrand factor (VWF). Two procedures in patients with acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AWVS) were performed using FVIII‐VWF concentrates associated with intravenous immunoglobulins, or desmopressin plus tranexamic acid. Seven procedures were performed using desmopressin alone and one using intravenous immunoglobulins in AVWS. Bleeding complications occurred in seven procedures (22%). In one patient, an anti‐VWF antibody was diagnosed after surgery. Anticoagulant prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism was implemented in four cases only and in two instances there was excessive bleeding. In conclusion, control of surgical haemostasis was achieved in most patients with VWD undergoing orthopaedic surgery. The control of haemostasis combined with an adequate surgical technique and early post‐operative rehabilitation are warranted for the successful performance of orthopaedic surgery in VWD, which requires the involvement of specialized haemophilia centres.
Splenic lymph follicles generate immunoglobulin M‐producing B cells in primary biliary cirrhosis
Authors: Kikuchi Kentaro , Tsuneyama Koichi , Yamada Hanae , Kajiyama Yusuke , Matsumoto Kotaro , Tsunashima Hiromichi , Yamashita Risa , Takai Atsuko , Negishi Masatsugu , Hara Masumi , Moritoki Yuki , Miyakawa Hiroshi 
Published: August 2013

AimTo reveal the site of immunoglobulin (Ig)M production in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) we performed immunohistochemical analysis on spleens collected from patients with PBC.MethodsSplenic tissue samples were collected at the time of the autopsy from patients with hepatic failure. Immunostaining for IgM, CD21 and CXCL13 were performed using the splenic tissue samples.ResultsThe samples from five out of eight cases with PBC but not in eight cases of chronic hepatitis C virus infection showed accumulation of IgM positive cells in CD21 positive lymph follicles. The CXCL13 positive cells also accumulated in the center of the lymph follicles where the IgM positive cells accumulated.ConclusionThe present results suggest that excess IgM is produced from the spleen of PBC. Furthermore, it was suggested that CXCL13 positive follicular dendritic cells possibly contribute to this process.
Topical delivery of ocular therapeutics: carrier systems and physical methods
Authors: Souza Joel G , Dias Karina , Pereira Tatiana Aparecida , Bernardi Daniela Spuri , Lopez Renata F V 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Objective
The basic concepts, major mechanisms, technological developments and advantages of the topical application of lipid-based systems (microemulsions, nanoemulsions, liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles), polymeric systems (hydrogels, contact lenses, polymeric nanoparticles and dendrimers) and physical methods (iontophoresis and sonophoresis) will be reviewed.

Key findings
Although very convenient for patients, topical administration of conventional drug formulations for the treatment of eye diseases requires high drug doses, frequent administration and rarely provides high drug bioavailability. Thus, strategies to improve the efficacy of topical treatments have been extensively investigated. In general, the majority of the successful delivery systems are present on the ocular surface over an extended period of time, and these systems typically improve drug bioavailability in the anterior chamber whereas the physical methods facilitate drug penetration over a very short period of time through ocular barriers, such as the cornea and sclera.

Summary
Although in the early stages, the combination of these delivery systems with physical methods would appear to be a promising tool to decrease the dose and frequency of administration; thereby, patient compliance and treatment efficacy will be improved.
Emergence of response‐response relations
Authors: Kuwahara Masanobu , Matsumoto Akio , Okouchi Hiroto , Ono Koichi 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe present study examined whether bidirectional response‐response relations could be established without direct reinforcement. In AB training for 12 undergraduates, higher rates of touches to a white circle on the monitor screen (A1) produced two stimuli (B1 and B2) on half of the trials, whereas lower rates (A2) produced the same effect on the other half. Choosing one of the two stimuli was reinforced according to the preceding responding (A1B1 and A2B2). In BC training, touching a stimulus (B1 or B2) produced three white circles lined up horizontally on the screen, after which one of two different response sequences to the circles (left‐center‐right, C1 or C2, and right‐center‐left, C2 or C1) were reinforced, depending on the stimulus presented (B1C1 and B2C2). After AB and BC relations were established, 11 of 12 participants showed the emergence of untrained relations (BA, CB, AC, and CA) throughout five test sessions, and the remaining participant showed it in the first four test sessions. These response‐response relations were replicated with five other undergraduates and different trained relations.
Resemblance to familiar faces is exaggerated in memory
Authors: Tomita Akitoshi , Yamamoto Sayumi , Matsushita Soyogu , Morikawa Kazunori 
Published: August 2013

AbstractRecognition memory performance for familiar faces is better than that for unfamiliar faces. However, it is unclear whether this “familiarity effect” also occurs for unfamiliar faces which resemble familiar faces. In Experiment 1, we tested recognition memory for unfamiliar faces, and showed that unfamiliar faces that resemble familiar faces are recognized more accurately than are unfamiliar faces that do not. In Experiment 2, we attempted to measure how accurately the degree of resemblance is remembered. We had participants remember unfamiliar faces that resembled either familiar faces or unfamiliar faces. Then the participants were asked to choose the face that they thought they had seen from an array of faces whose degree of resemblance was systematically varied. The results demonstrated that resemblance to familiar faces enhances encoding of facial information, and that the degree of resemblance to familiar faces is exaggerated in memory. Experiment 3 indicated that people perceive mild anti‐caricatures to be most like the real faces that are familiar to them. This finding suggests that exaggerated resemblance in memory is not due to exaggerated representations of familiar faces.
Clinical outcomes of periodontal therapy are not influenced by the ATC/TTC haplotype in the IL8 gene
Authors: Corbi S. C. T. , Finoti L. S. , Anovazzi G. , Tanaka M. H. , Kim Y. J. , Secolin R. , Marcaccini A. M. , Gerlach R. F. , Orrico S. R. P. , Cirelli J. A. , Scarel‐Caminaga R. M. 
Published: August 2013

Background and ObjectiveAlthough chronic periodontitis (CP) is a multifactorial condition, few studies have investigated the potential association of gene variants with the outcome of periodontal therapy. In a previous study, we reported that variants in the interleukin‐8 (IL8) gene were associated with CP in a Brazilian population. The aim of this nonrandomized study was to investigate whether genetic susceptibility to CP, conferred by the presence of the IL8 ATC/TTC haplotype, influences the clinical outcomes of nonsurgical periodontal therapy and the IL‐8 protein levels in the gingival crevicular fluid.Material and MethodsForty‐one individuals were grouped according to the presence (susceptible to CP; n = 21) or absence (not susceptible to CP; n = 20) of the IL8 ATC/TTC haplotype. These individuals received nonsurgical periodontal therapy from one periodontist, who was blinded to the genetic status of each patient, and follow up continued for 45 d. The clinical parameters and gingival crevicular fluid samples were collected at baseline and on day 45. The IL‐8 levels were determined by an ELISA. The data were subjected to the Mann‐Whitney U‐test, Wilcoxon and Spearman tests and to multiple logistic‐regression analysis.ResultsNo significant differences between patients with or without the IL8 ATC/TTC haplotype were found for the outcome of nonsurgical periodontal therapy and IL‐8 levels. The multiple logistic‐regression analysis did not show a statistically significant association between the IL8 haplotype and the variables studied.ConclusionIn this longitudinal clinical study, we observed that neither the outcome of nonsurgical periodontal therapy nor the IL‐8 levels were influenced by the IL8 ATC/TTC CP‐susceptibility haplotype. Additional studies of CP patients from other ethnic populations are necessary to confirm these results.
Endothelial function and sleep: associations of flow‐mediated dilation with perceived sleep quality and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
Authors: Cooper Denise C. , Ziegler Michael G. , Milic Milos S. , Ancoli‐Israel Sonia , Mills Paul J. , Loredo José S. , Von Känel Roland , Dimsdale Joel E. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryEndothelial function typically precedes clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease and provides a potential mechanism for the associations observed between cardiovascular disease and sleep quality. This study examined how subjective and objective indicators of sleep quality relate to endothelial function, as measured by brachial artery flow‐mediated dilation (FMD). In a clinical research centre, 100 non‐shift working adults (mean age: 36 years) completed FMD testing and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, along with a polysomnography assessment to obtain the following measures: slow wave sleep, percentage rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, REM sleep latency, total arousal index, total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency and apnea–hypopnea index. Bivariate correlations and follow‐up multiple regressions examined how FMD related to subjective (i.e. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores) and objective (i.e. polysomnography‐derived) indicators of sleep quality. After FMD showed bivariate correlations with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores, percentage REM sleep and REM latency, further examination with separate regression models indicated that these associations remained significant after adjustments for sex, age, race, hypertension, body mass index, apnea–hypopnea index, smoking and income (Ps < 0.05). Specifically, as FMD decreased, scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index increased (indicating decreased subjective sleep quality) and percentage REM sleep decreased, while REM sleep latency increased (Ps < 0.05). Poorer subjective sleep quality and adverse changes in REM sleep were associated with diminished vasodilation, which could link sleep disturbances to cardiovascular disease.
Global Positioning System‐located kills and faecal samples: a comparison of leopard dietary estimates
Authors: Pitman R. T. , Mulvaney J. , Ramsay P. M. , Jooste E. , Swanepoel L. H. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractForaging data for terrestrial carnivorans are most often obtained by the analysis of faecal samples – an established technique. However, advances in satellite tracking technology are allowing researchers to locate kill sites by investigating global positioning system (GPS) clusters in both space and time. Here we compare leopard Panthera pardus dietary estimates (composition and biomass) of small, medium and large prey using three techniques: faecal analysis, GPS cluster analysis and GPS cluster analysis supplemented with faecal samples located at cluster sites. We demonstrate that estimates of leopard prey composition and biomass intake from each technique produce comparatively similar results. Nevertheless, the detection of feeding events did increase by 20–23% when supplementing GPS‐located kills with faecal samples. The investigation of GPS clusters offers an equivalent method of leopard dietary estimation to that of faecal analysis. When carried out intensively, the GPS cluster method is capable of detecting leopard predation on prey species within small, medium and large weight categories. Although requiring additional resources, supplementing GPS‐located kills with GPS‐located faecal samples results in the most detailed dietary estimates by detecting kills missed during GPS cluster investigations.
Optimizing the trade‐off between spatial and genetic sampling efforts in patchy populations: towards a better assessment of functional connectivity using an individual‐based sampling scheme
Authors: Prunier J. G. , Kaufmann B. , Fenet S. , Picard D. , Pompanon F. , Joly P. , Lena J. P. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractGenetic data are increasingly used in landscape ecology for the indirect assessment of functional connectivity, that is, the permeability of landscape to movements of organisms. Among available tools, matrix correlation analyses (e.g. Mantel tests or mixed models) are commonly used to test for the relationship between pairwise genetic distances and movement costs incurred by dispersing individuals. When organisms are spatially clustered, a population‐based sampling scheme (PSS) is usually performed, so that a large number of genotypes can be used to compute pairwise genetic distances on the basis of allelic frequencies. Because of financial constraints, this kind of sampling scheme implies a drastic reduction in the number of sampled aggregates, thereby reducing sampling coverage at the landscape level. We used matrix correlation analyses on simulated and empirical genetic data sets to investigate the efficiency of an individual‐based sampling scheme (ISS) in detecting isolation‐by‐distance and isolation‐by‐barrier patterns. Provided that pseudo‐replication issues are taken into account (e.g. through restricted permutations in Mantel tests), we showed that the use of interindividual measures of genotypic dissimilarity may efficiently replace interpopulation measures of genetic differentiation: the sampling of only three or four individuals per aggregate may be sufficient to efficiently detect specific genetic patterns in most situations. TheISSproved to be a promising methodological alternative to the more conventionalPSS, offering much flexibility in the spatial design of sampling schemes and ensuring an optimal representativeness of landscape heterogeneity in data, with few aggregates left unsampled. Each strategy offering specific advantages, a combined use of both sampling schemes is discussed.
Mapping of active replication origins in vivo in thaum‐ and euryarchaeal replicons
Authors: Pelve Erik A. , Martens‐Habbena Willm , Stahl David A. , Bernander Rolf 
Published: August 2013

SummaryWe report mapping of active replication origins in thaum‐ and euryarchaeal replicons using high‐throughput sequencing‐based marker frequency analysis. The chromosome of the thaumarchaeon Nitrosopumilus maritimus is shown to contain a single origin of replication, whereas the main chromosome in the halophilic euryarchaea Haloferax mediterranei and Haloferax volcanii each contains two origins. All replication origins specified bidirectional replication, and the two origins in the halophiles were initiated in synchrony. The pHM500 plasmid of H. mediterranei is shown to contain a single origin, and the copy numbers of five plasmid replicons in the two halophiles were inferred to be close to that of the main chromosome. Origin recognition boxes (ORBs) that provide binding sites for Orc1/Cdc6 replication initiator proteins are identified at all chromosomal origins, as well as in a range of additional thaumarchaeal species. An annotation update is provided for all three species.
Development and validation of a new instrument for testing functional health literacy in Japanese adults
Authors: Nakagami Katsuyuki , Yamauchi Toyoaki , Noguchi Hiroyuki , Maeda Tohru , Nakagami Tomoko 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThis study aimed to develop a reliable and valid measure of functional health literacy in a Japanese clinical setting. Test development consisted of three phases: generation of an item pool, consultation with experts to assess content validity, and comparison with external criteria (the Japanese Health Knowledge Test) to assess criterion validity. A trial version of the test was administered to 535 Japanese outpatients. Internal consistency reliability, calculated by Cronbach's alpha, was 0.81, and concurrent validity was moderate. Receiver Operating Characteristics and Item Response Theory were used to classify patients as having adequate, marginal, or inadequate functional health literacy. Both inadequate and marginal functional health literacy were associated with older age, lower income, lower educational attainment, and poor health knowledge. The time required to complete the test was 10–15 min. This test should enable health workers to better identify patients with inadequate health literacy.
Sustained energy dissipation in winter evergreens
Authors: Verhoeven Amy 
Published: August 2013

SummaryEvergreens are faced with the challenge, during winter, of low temperatures in combination with light exposure, resulting in an imbalance between light absorption and its utilization via photosynthetic carbon reduction. To cope with excess light, evergreens increase their use of thermal energy dissipation, which occurs in a sustained form during winter. There are two forms of sustained thermal dissipation that occur in winter‐stressed evergreens, characterized by their rate of reversal upon warming. A rapid form reverses within minutes to hours upon warming, while a slower form reverses over the course of days. The light environment and the severity of winter conditions both play a role in determining the relative amount of each type of sustained energy dissipation throughout the winter. It is suggested that the two forms of sustained dissipation observed in winter‐stressed evergreens correspond to sustained forms of the two mechanisms of thermal energy dissipation proposed by Holzwarth and colleagues, with the rapidly reversible component corresponding to a sustained form of the energy‐dependent form of thermal energy dissipation (qE) and the slowly reversible component corresponding to a sustained form of the zeaxanthin‐dependent mechanism (qZ). Additional outstanding questions and future directions are discussed.
Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity of Mg‐Impregnated ZnO–SnO2 Coupled Nanoparticles
Authors: Behnajady Mohammad A. , Tohidi Yasamin 
Published: August 2013

AbstractZnO–SnO2 nanoparticles were prepared by coprecipitation method; then Mg, with different molar ratios and calcination temperatures, was loaded on the coupled nanoparticles by impregnation method. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. Based on XRD results, the ZnO–SnO2 and Mg/ZnO–SnO2 nanoparticles were made of ZnO and SnO2 nanocrystallites. According to DRS spectra, the band gap energy value of 3.13 and 3.18 eV were obtained for ZnO–SnO2 and Mg/ZnO–SnO2 nanoparticles, respectively. BET analysis revealed a Type III isotherm with a microporous structure and surface area of 32.051 and 49.065 m2 g−1 for ZnO–SnO2 and Mg/ZnO–SnO2, respectively. Also, the spherical shape of nanocrystallites was deduced from TEM and FESEM images. The photocatalytic performance of pure ZnO–SnO2 and Mg/ZnO–SnO2 was analyzed in the photocatalytic removal of methyl orange (MO). The results indicated that Mg/ZnO–SnO2 exhibited superior photocatalytic activity to bare ZnO–SnO2 photocatalyst due to high surface area, increased MO adsorption and larger band gap energy. Maximum photocatalytic activity of Mg/ZnO–SnO2 nanoparticles was obtained with 0.8 mol% Mg and calcination temperature of 350°C.