bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Caracterização da esteatose hepática não alcoólica induzida por dieta hipoprotéica em ratos
Authors: Castro Gabriela Salim Ferreira , Mialich Mirele S. , Anjos Eloisa M. , Almeida Lillian P. , Arroyo Paula F. , Portari Guilherme V. , Jordao Jr Alceu A. 
Published: June 2014

Modelo de estudo: Estudo experimental. Objetivos: este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e caracterizar a dieta hipoprotéica como um modelo experimental para estudo de EHNA. Métodos: foram utilizados ratos da linhagem Wistar divididos em dois grupos com dietas isocalóricas: controle (GC) no qual a dieta utilizada seguiu o preconizado pela AIN-93 e hipoprotéico (GH) com quantidade de proteína reduzida de 20% para 10%. As dietas e água foram ofertadas ad libitum por quatro semanas. Após esse período, os animais foram sacrificados e analisados: glicemia; nitrogênio urinário; proteína sérica; gordura hepática; colesterol; variação de peso e quantidade de ração consumida. Resultados: glicemia e nitrogênio urinário não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre GC e GH (p>0,05), a variação de peso no último dia do experimento foi significativa (p<0,02). A porcentagem de gordura hepática foi estatisticamente maior no GH, quando comparado ao GC (p<0,04). Foram menores o nível de colesterol (p<0,01) e proteína sérica (p<0,005) no GH. A quantidade de dieta consumida não foi diferente entre os grupos, considerando-se as médias de ingestão semanal. Conclusões: neste trabalho a dieta hipoprotéica constitui um modelo de indução de EHNA que pode ser caracterizada pela diminuição da proteína sérica e do colesterol plasmático e aumento da gordura hepática, entretanto não ocorreram alterações na glicemia sugerindo que não existiu mudança na sensibilidade à insulina, constituindo assim um modelo falho para estudar um dos principais fatores de risco para o estabelecimento da EHNA, a resistência à insulina.
Distorção da imagem corporal em adolescentes: um estudo de comparação entre dois instrumentos
Authors: Laus Maria Fernanda , Costa Telma M. Braga , Almeida Sebastião S. 
Published: June 2014

Objetivo : comparar dois instrumentos classicamente utilizados pela literatura especializada, indicados para avaliar possíveis distorções da imagem corporal em adolescentes e adultos de ambos os sexos. Metodologia: aplicou-se o Questionário de Imagem Corporal (BSQ) e a Escala de Figuras de Silhuetas (EFS) em 118 estudantes, com idade média de 16,5 anos (± 1,2), sendo 62 meninos e 56 meninas, de 4 escolas públicas estaduais. O primeiro instrumento mede as preocupações com a forma do corpo, a auto-depreciação devido à aparência física e a sensação de estar “gordo”; enquanto o segundo avalia a percepção do estado atual e do estado desejado, através de 15 silhuetas de cada gênero, apresentadas em cartões individuais, com variações progressivas na escala de medidas, da figura mais magra (IMC = 12,5 Kg/m 2) para a mais larga (IMC = 47,5 Kg/m2). Além disso, aferiu-se peso e altura para cálculo do Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e posterior comparação com a EFS. A análise dos resultados foi realizada através da escala de avaliação do BSQ e o tratamento estatístico consistiu na análise descritiva dos resultados, além da aplicação de um teste de correlação de Pearson entre os instrumentos e do Teste t de Student para comparação entre os sexos. Resultados: através do BSQ observou-se que 14,5% dos meninos e 60,7% das meninas apresentaram algum grau de distorção da imagem corporal. Já a EFS demonstrou que no grupo feminino, o IMC médio escolhido como “atual” foi de 26,9 Kg/m 2 enquanto o IMC médio real foi de 21,5 Kg/m2 e no grupo masculino, o IMC médio “atual” escolhido foi 23,7 Kg/m 2, enquanto a média do IMC real foi de 21,0 Kg/m2 , indicando uma prevalência de distorção da imagem corporal em ambos os sexos. A análise estatística mostrou uma correlação positiva significativa (r=0,38) entre os dois instrumentos, entretanto, a EFS não apresentou diferença devido ao sexo (p=0,93), enquanto o BSQ detectou um maior grau de distorção no sexo feminino [F(1,110)=13,80; p<0,001)]. Conclusão: ambos os instrumentos detectaram distorções da imagem corporal, porém, o BSQ conseguiu detectar diferenças devido ao sexo enquanto a EFS parece não ser suficientemente sensível para diferenciar os dois sexos.
Empathy in Brazilian nursing professionals
Authors: Trevizan Maria Auxiliadora , Almeida Rodrigo Guimarães dos Santos , Souza Mirella Castelhano , Mazzo Alessandra , Mendes Isabel Amélia Costa , Martins Jose Carlos Amado 
Published: June 2014

Background: Essential for the help relation, empathy is the ability to understand, share, and perceive the subjective experience of other human beings. Objective: The objective in this non-experimental, exploratory, and descriptive research was to verify, observe, and document empathy in nursing professionals. Research design: Non-experimental, exploratory, and descriptive research. Participants and research context: the study was conducted at two large hospitals, one public and the other private, across all shifts. The sample included 159 individuals. A questionnaire was used to identify sociodemographic characteristics and the empathy inventory was applied. Ethical considerations: This study received approval from the Research Ethics Committee at the University of São Paulo at Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, opinion 1348/2011, and authorization from the health institutions involved. Findings: The association tests demonstrated that professionals working in the night shift and in a work scale rotation scheme, older professionals, and professionals with longer professional experience are less empathetic. On the other hand, professionals working in the day shift and in a single shift are more empathetic. Other influential factors are the time on the job, education, and work shift. Conclusion: There is a lack of empathy studies in professional practice contexts, in human resource development programs, and throughout the professional education process.
Does Tramadol Have a Role in Pain Control in Palliative Care?
Authors: Gonçalves José António Ferraz , Silva Paula , Araújo Patrícia 
Published: June 2014

Background: The effectiveness of the step II of the World Health Organization analgesic ladder including tramadol has been questioned recently. Methods: Retrospective study of patients treated with tramadol admitted as inpatients to one palliative care unit between November 1, 2009, and October 30, 2012. Results: In the study period, 730 patients were admitted and 66 (9%) of them met the criteria for inclusion; 45 (68%) continued medication with tramadol until discharge from the unit, while 21 (32%) had to switch to an opioid for moderate to severe pain. The reason for switching was uncontrolled pain in 16 (76%) patients, and for 5 (24%) patients, the switch was made for other reasons. Conclusion: The data suggest that tramadol may have a role to play in the treatment of pain in palliative care.
LSGO: Link State aware Geographic Opportunistic routing protocol for VANETs
Authors: Cai Xuelian , He Ying , Zhao Chunchun , Zhu Lina , Li Changle 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Robust and efficient data delivery in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) with high mobility is a challenging issue due to dynamic topology changes and unstable wireless links. The opportunistic routing protocols can improve the reliability of routing by making full use of the broadcast characteristics and assist in data transmission through additional backup links. In this paper, we propose a Link State aware Geographic Opportunistic routing protocol (LSGO) which exploits a combination of geographic location and the link state information as the routing metric. The LSGO aims to improve the reliability of data transmission in a highly dynamic environment, which selects the forwarders and prioritizes them based on the vehicle’s geographic location and the link’s quality. We compare the performance of LSGO with GpsrJ + which removes the unnecessary stop at a junction and greedy traffic aware routing protocol (GyTAR) using network simulator ns-2. The simulation results show that it opens more nodes to participate in the opportunistic data forwarding and increases a connection’s throughput while using no more network capacity than traditional routing. In the simulation, compared with other two protocols, when the number of vehicles and the average vehicle velocity increase, LSGO’s packet dropping rate is reduced and the network throughput is improved.
An essential role of interleukin-17 receptor signaling in the development of autoimmune glomerulonephritis
Authors: Ramani Kritika , Pawaria Sudesh , Maers Kelly , Huppler Anna R , Gaffen Sarah L , Biswas Partha S 
Published: June 2014

AbstractIn recent years, proinflammatory cytokines in the nephritic kidney appear to contribute to the pathogenesis of AGN. The complex inflammatory cytokine network that drives renal pathology is poorly understood. IL-17, the signature cytokine of Th17 cells, which promotes autoimmune pathology in a variety of settings, is beginning to be identified in acute and chronic kidney diseases as well. However, the role of IL-17-mediated renal damage in the nephritic kidney has not been elucidated. Here, with the use of a murine model of experimental AGN, we showed that IL-17RA signaling is critical for the development of renal pathology. Despite normal systemic autoantibody response and glomerular immune-complex deposition, IL-17RA−/− mice exhibit a diminished influx of inflammatory cells and kidney-specific expression of IL-17 target genes correlating with disease resistance in AGN. IL-17 enhanced the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines from tECs. Finally, we were able to show that neutralization of IL-17A ameliorated renal pathology in WT mice following AGN. These results clearly demonstrated that IL-17RA signaling significantly contributes to renal tissue injury in experimental AGN and suggest that blocking IL-17RA may be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of proliferative and crescentic glomerulonephritis.
Frailty and Adherence to Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy in Older Women With Breast Cancer: CALGB Protocol 369901
Authors: Sheppard Vanessa B. , Faul Leigh Anne , Luta George , Clapp Jonathan D. , Yung Rachel L. , Wang Judy Huei-yu , Kimmick Gretchen , Isaacs Claudine , Tallarico Michelle , Barry William T. , Pitcher Brandelyn N. , Hudis Clifford , Winer Eric P. , Cohen Harvey J. , Muss Hyman B. , Hurria Arti , Mandelblatt Jeanne S. 
Published: June 2014

Purpose Most patients with breast cancer age ≥ 65 years (ie, older patients) are eligible for adjuvant hormonal therapy, but use is not universal. We examined the influence of frailty on hormonal therapy noninitiation and discontinuation. Patients and Methods A prospective cohort of 1,288 older women diagnosed with invasive, nonmetastatic breast cancer recruited from 78 sites from 2004 to 2011 were included (1,062 had estrogen receptor–positive tumors). Interviews were conducted at baseline, 6 months, and annually for up to 7 years to collect sociodemographic, health care, and psychosocial data. Hormonal initiation was defined from records and discontinuation from self-report. Baseline frailty was measured using a previously validated 35-item scale and grouped as prefrail or frail versus robust. Logistic regression and proportional hazards models were used to assess factors associated with noninitiation and discontinuation, respectively. Results Most women (76.4%) were robust. Noninitiation of hormonal therapy was low (14%), but in prefrail or frail (v robust) women the odds of noninitiation were 1.63 times as high (95% CI, 1.11 to 2.40; P = .013) after covariate adjustment. Nonwhites (v whites) had higher odds of noninitiation (odds ratio, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.04 to 2.80; P = .033) after covariate adjustment. Among initiators, the 5-year continuation probability was 48.5%. After adjustment, the risk of discontinuation was higher with increasing age (P = .005) and lower for stage ≥ IIB (v stage I) disease (P = .003). Conclusion Frailty is associated with noninitiation of hormonal therapy, but it does not seem to be a major predictor of early discontinuation in older patients.
Randomized Trial of a Telephone-Based Weight Loss Intervention in Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer Receiving Letrozole: The LISA Trial
Authors: Goodwin Pamela J. , Segal Roanne J. , Vallis Michael , Ligibel Jennifer A. , Pond Gregory R. , Robidoux André , Blackburn George L. , Findlay Brian , Gralow Julie R. , Mukherjee Som , Levine Mark , Pritchard Kathleen I. 
Published: June 2014

Purpose Obesity is associated with poor outcomes in women with operable breast cancer. Lifestyle interventions (LIs) that help women reduce their weight may improve outcomes. Patients and Methods We conducted a multicenter randomized trial comparing mail-based delivery of general health information alone or combined with a 24-month standardized, telephone-based LI that included diet (500 to 1,000 kcal per day deficit) and physical activity (150 to 200 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week) goals to achieve weight loss (up to 10%). Women receiving adjuvant letrozole for T1-3N0-3M0 breast cancer with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 24 kg/m2 were eligible. Weight was measured in the clinic, and self-report physical activity, quality-of-life (QOL), and diet questionnaires were completed. The primary outcome was disease-free survival. Accrual was terminated at 338 of 2,150 planned patients because of loss of funding. Results Mean weight loss was significantly (P < .001) greater in the LI arm versus the comparison arm (4.3 v 0.6 kg or 5.3% v 0.7% at 6 months and 3.1 v 0.3 kg or 3.6% v 0.4% at 24 months) and occurred consistently across strata (BMI 24 to < 30 v ≥ 30 kg/m2; prior v no prior adjuvant chemotherapy). Weight loss was greatest in those with higher baseline levels of moderate-intensity physical activity or improvement in QOL. Hospitalization rates and medical events were similar. Conclusion A telephone-based LI led to significant weight loss that was still evident at 24 months, without adverse effects on QOL, hospitalizations, or medical events. Adequately powered randomized trials with cancer end points are needed.
Comparison of Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide Versus Single-Agent Paclitaxel As Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer in Women With 0 to 3 Positive Axillary Nodes: CALGB 40101 (Alliance)
Authors: Shulman Lawrence N. , Berry Donald A. , Cirrincione Constance T. , Becker Heather P. , Perez Edith A. , O'Regan Ruth , Martino Silvana , Shapiro Charles L. , Schneider Charles J. , Kimmick Gretchen , Burstein Harold J. , Norton Larry , Muss Hyman , Hudis Clifford A. , Winer Eric P. 
Published: June 2014

PurposeOptimal adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer balances efficacy and toxicity. We sought to determine whether single-agent paclitaxel (T) was inferior to doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC), when each was administered for four or six cycles of therapy, and whether it offered less toxicity.Patients and MethodsPatients with operable breast cancer with 0 to 3 positive nodes were enrolled onto the study to address the noninferiority of single-agent T to AC, defined as the one-sided 95% upper-bound CI (UCB) of hazard ratio (HR) of T versus AC less than 1.30 for the primary end point of relapse-free survival (RFS). As a 2 × 2 factorial design, duration of therapy was also addressed and was previously reported.ResultsWith 3,871 patients enrolled onto the trial, a median follow-up period of 6.1 years, and 437 RFS events, we achieved an HR of 1.26 (one sided 95% UCB, 1.48; favoring AC does not allow a conclusion of noninferiority of T with AC; UCB > 1.3). With 266 patient deaths, the HR for overall survival (OS) was 1.27 favoring AC (UCB, 1.56). The estimated absolute advantage of AC at 5 years is 3% for RFS (91 v 88%) and 1% for OS (95 v 94%). All nine treatment-related deaths were patients receiving AC and are included in the analyses of both RFS and OS. Hematologic toxicity was more common in patients treated with AC, and neuropathy was more common in patients treated with T.ConclusionThis trial did not show noninferiority of T to AC, a conclusion that is unlikely to change with additional events and follow-up. T was less toxic than AC.
Calcium content, in vitro digestibility, and bioaccessibility in leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), and drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera)
Authors: Allen Jonathan C. , Issa Joseph Y. , Cai Weiting 
Published: June 2014

Low calcium intake, poor calcium absorption, excessive calcium losses, or some combination of these factors contribute to calcium deficiency diseases. Calcium insufficiency is associated with osteoporosis, hypertension and colon cancer among other diseases. For individuals who do not have access to milk and dairy products, do not tolerate them, or prefer not to consume them, plants may be alternative sources of calcium. However, calcium bioavailability may be low in plant foods because calcium forms complexes with oxalates, phytate and other competing minerals. The objective of this study was to compare the calcium content, digestibility and bioaccessibility in the leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), and drumstick tree (Moringa oleifera). Calcium content was analyzed in dry leaf powder by atomic absorption, followed by a two-stage in vitro digestion and dialysis against a mock serum solution to determine calcium digestibility and bioaccessibility. Moringa oleifera had higher calcium content than spinach and sweet potato leaves: 1.54±0.11% of dry matter for three Moringa samples (two African and one from India), and 0.99±0.001 and 1.06±0.001, respectively, in spinach and sweet potato leaves. The mean in vitro calcium digestibility was 1.62±0.08% in spinach, 3.4±0.68% in sweet potato leaves and 33.7±9.6% for Moringa. A dialysis system was designed to model bioaccessibility of calcium, revealing that bioaccessible calcium in sweet potato leaves was a non-significant 1.4 times higher and in Moringa was 9.2 to 19.4 times higher than in spinach. Therefore, the calcium contained in Moringa leaves does not appear to be associated with poorly bioavailable complexes such as oxalate. We confirmed previous reports that bioaccessibility of the calcium is low in spinach. These findings imply that increased utilization of Ipomea batatas and Moringa oleifera leaves might increase calcium intake in people in tropical and warm temperate regions where these plants grow, or these plants might become a valuable export crop.
Abnormal hemostatic function one year after orthotopic liver transplantation can be fully attributed to endothelial cell activation
Authors: Arshad Freeha , Adelmeijer Jelle , Blokzijl Hans , van den Berg Aad , Porte Robert , Lisman Ton 
Published: June 2014

Background: The long-term risk of thrombotic and vascular complications is elevated in liver transplant recipients compared to the general population. Patients with cirrhosis are in a hypercoagulable status during and directly after orthotopic liver transplantation, but it is unclear whether this hypercoagulability persists over time.Aim: We aimed to investigate the hemostatic status of liver transplant recipients one year after transplantation.Methods: We prospectively collected blood samples of 15 patients with a functioning graft one year after orthotopic liver transplantation and compared the hemostatic status of these patients with that of 30 healthy individuals.Results: Patients one year after liver transplantation had significantly elevated plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF). Thrombin generation, as assessed by the endogenous thrombin potential, was decreased in patients, which was associated with increased plasma levels of the natural anticoagulants antithrombin and tissue factor pathway inhibitor. Plasma fibrinolytic potential was significantly decreased in patients and correlated inversely with levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.Conclusion: One year after liver transplantation, liver graft recipients have a dysregulated hemostatic system characterised by elevation of plasma levels of endothelial-derived proteins. Increased levels of von Willebrand factor and decreased fibrinolytic potential may (in part) be responsible for the increased risk for vascular disease seen in liver transplant recipients.
Exercise-induced arterial hypertension - an independent factor for hypertrophy and a ticking clock for cardiac fatigue or atrial fibrillation in athletes?
Authors: Leischik Roman , Spelsberg Norman , Niggemann Hiltrud , Dworrak Birgit , Tiroch Klaus 
Published: June 2014

Background:Exercise-induced arterial hypertension (EIAH) leads to myocardial hypertrophy and is associated with a poor prognosis. EIAH might be related to the “cardiac fatigue” caused by endurance training. The goal of this study was to examine whether there is any relationship between EIAH and left ventricular hypertrophy in Ironman-triathletes.Methods:We used echocardiography and spiroergometry to determine the left ventricular mass (LVM), the aerobic/anaerobic thresholds and the steady-state blood pressure of 51 healthy male triathletes. The main inclusion criterion was the participation in at least one middle or long distance triathlon.Results: When comparing triathletes with LVM <220g and athletes with LVM >220g there was a significant difference between blood pressure values (BP) at the anaerobic threshold (185.2± 21.5 mmHgvs.198.8 ±22.3 mmHg, p=0.037). The spiroergometric results were: maximum oxygen uptake (relative VO2max) 57.3 ±7.5ml/min/kgvs. 59.8±9.5ml/min/kg (p=ns). Cut-point analysis for the relationship of BP >170 mmHg at the aerobic threshold and the probability of LVM >220g showed a sensitivity of 95.8%, a specificity of 33.3%, with a positive predictive value of 56.8 %, a good negative predictive value of 90%. The probability of LVM >220g increased with higher BP during exercise (OR: 1.027, 95% CI 1.002-1.052, p= 0.034) or with higher training volume (OR: 1.23, 95% CI 1.04 -1.47, p = 0.019). Echocardiography showed predominantly concentric remodelling, followed by concentric hypertrophy.Conclusion: Significant left ventricular hypertrophy with LVM >220g is associated with higher arterial blood pressure at the aerobic or anaerobic threshold. The endurance athletes with EIAH may require a therapeutic intervention to at least prevent extensive stiffening of the heart muscle and exercise-induced cardiac fatigue.
Are All Independent Directors Equally Informed? Evidence Based on Their Trading Returns and Social Networks
Authors: Cao Ying , Dhaliwal Dan , Li Zengquan , Yang Yong George 
Published: June 2014

We study the impact of social networks on the ability of independent directors to obtain private information from their firms' executives. We find that independent directors socially connected to their firms' senior executives earn significantly higher returns than unconnected independent directors in stock sales transactions. The network effect on independent directors' trading profitability is stronger in firms with higher information asymmetry and with more powerful executives. In addition, the trading returns of independent directors previously unconnected with firm executives increase after the arrival of a connected executive and drop after the connected executive leaves the firm. Moreover, the net stock sales by connected directors predict future negative news for up to three quarters. As a comparison, the trading returns of connected and unconnected independent directors do not differ significantly in stock purchases. Taken together, our results suggest that social connections help independent directors gain access to private bad news information from firms' senior executives. This paper was accepted by Mary Barth, accounting.