bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic large balloon sphincteroplasty is a useful, safe adjunct for difficult to treat choledocholithiasis
Authors: Turner Greg A. , Ing Andrew J. , Connor Saxon J. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of large balloon sphincteroplasty when used in conjunction with endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for therapy of choledocholithiasis.MethodsA retrospective audit of all ERCP's performed for choledocholithiasis between January 2012 and October 2013 at one institution was performed. Procedures that utilized large balloon sphincteroplasty were compared with those underwent standard endoscopic stone extraction. Outcomes including stone clearance rate for the individual procedure type, post‐ERCP complications and need for surgical exploration of the bile duct were documented.ResultsA total of 346 procedures on 306 patients that met the inclusion criteria were identified. Fifty‐four (15.6%) procedures included large balloon sphincteroplasty and were compared with 292 (84.4%) procedures that used standard balloon extraction techniques. Despite those patients in the large balloon sphincteroplasty group having a higher rate of previous ERCP (33.3% versus 19.5%, P = 0.031) and a larger proportion of patients with stones greater than 10 mm (40.3% versus 11.3%, P < 0.001), the overall initial clearance rate was similar at 83%. Ultimately, only 14 out of 306 (4.6%) of all patients required surgical intervention. There was no significant difference in the rate of post‐ERCP pancreatitis between the two groups (5.6% versus 3.8%, P = 0.466).ConclusionLarge balloon sphincteroplasty of the sphincter of Oddi is a safe and effective adjunct to endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy in difficult to treat choledocholithiasis. The current study demonstrated large balloon sphincteroplasty did not result in more complications despite a tendency to being used for larger stones.
Bile deficiency induces changes in intestinal Cl− and HCO3− secretions in mice
Authors: Song P. , Du Y. , Song W. , Liu X. , Hong L. , Li H. , Xie H. , Zhou L. , Tuo B. , Zheng S. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAimsBiliary tract obstruction is a common clinical lesion. However, the effect of biliary tract obstruction on intestinal secretion is poorly understood. In this study, we made an investigation on intestinal HCO3− and Cl− secretions in an experimental model of murine biliary duct ligation.MethodsMurine intestinal mucosal HCO3− and Cl− secretions were examined in vitro in Ussing chambers by pH‐stat and short‐circuit current (Isc) techniques. The mRNA and protein expressions of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the Na+–K+–2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC1) were analysed by real‐time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry.ResultsBasal Cl− secretion and forskolin‐stimulated duodenal and jejunal mucosal HCO3− and Cl− secretions in mice with common biliary duct ligation were markedly elevated, compared with controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Further experiments showed that basal Cl− secretion and forskolin‐stimulated duodenal and jejunal mucosal HCO3− and Cl− secretions in mice with external bile drainage were also markedly elevated. CFTRinh‐172 inhibited forskolin‐stimulated HCO3− and Cl− secretions. The mRNA and protein expression levels of CFTR and NKCC1 in the intestinal mucosa with both biliary duct ligation and external bile drainage were markedly higher than those in controls (P < 0.001). Bile acid administration restored the changes in function and expression of CFTR and NKCC1 in the intestinal mucosa.ConclusionBile deficiency in the intestine up‐regulates the expressions of intestinal mucosal CFTR and NKCC1 and enhances intestinal mucosal HCO3− and Cl− secretion capacity, which contributes to the understanding of intestinal physiological function for patients with biliary duct obstruction.
Estimating the precision of disc diffusion antibiotic susceptibility data published by the European committee on antimicrobial susceptibility testing
Authors: Smith Peter , Kronvall Göran 
Published: April 2014

Analysis of 163 disc diffusion data sets, 115 for bacterial species groups and 48 for types strains, published by EUCAST, was used to optimize the setting of the parameters of a standardized protocol for normalized resistance interpretation of these data. The standard deviations of the normalized distributions of these data sets, calculated using this standardized protocol, were shown to be independent of the means of their respective distributions. These standard deviations could, therefore, be used as a metric to quantify the precision of disc diffusion data sets. The median value of the standard deviations for 115 EUCAST data sets produced in multiple laboratory studies of bacterial species groups was 2.3 mm and that for the 48 EUCAST data sets produced in multiple laboratory studies of type strains was 1.5 mm. It is argued that this standardized method for estimating the precision of disc diffusion data provides a tool by which individual laboratories can assess the quality of the disc diffusion data they produce.
Managing animal wellbeing: a preliminary survey of pig farmers
Authors: Wilson RL , Holyoake PK , Cronin GM , Doyle RE 
Published: April 2014

ObjectivesTo gather information on producers' perceptions and management strategies towards the detection, alleviation of pain and management of sick, injured and heat‐stressed pigs.MethodsA total of 16 Victorian pig farmers completed a face‐to‐face questionnaire consisting of 9 open and 26 closed questions regarding their detection and management of sick, injured and heat‐stressed pigs and their perceptions of pigs' tolerance to pain.ResultsWe identified 15 behavioural and physiological indicators of pain and heat stress. Treatment records were kept more often for weaned progeny and lactating sows than for piglets and mated sows. Most producers felt that pigs suffered little pain from routine husbandry procedures and that pain relief was not warranted in those situations. Castration at 10 days of age was the only procedure considered by producers to be very painful. There were inconsistencies in approaches to treating pigs in three case studies of animals with sickness or injury of varying severity. Meloxicam was stated as the most common anti‐inflammatory drug used on‐farm. A small proportion of farmers incorrectly identified antibiotics as anti‐inflammatory drugs. All producers had at least one cooling system in place for preventing heat stress in pigs.ConclusionsThe farmers in this survey group generally relied on behavioural changes in pigs to signal pain and heat stress. Although producers kept treatment records and used hospital pens for compromised pigs, our results suggest that the monitoring of pigs' recovery could be improved. Producers generally have a good understanding of the use of anti‐inflammatory drugs to aid recovery of pigs.
Trust and the Duty of Organ Donation
Authors: Almassi Ben 
Published: April 2014

AbstractSeveral recent publications in biomedical ethics argue that organ donation is generally morally obligatory and failure to do so is morally indefensible. Arguments for this moral conclusion tend to be of two kinds: arguments from fairness and arguments from easy rescue. While I agree that many of us have a duty to donate, in this article I criticize these arguments for a general duty of organ donation and their application to organ procurement policy. My concern is that these arguments neglect the role that trust plays in contemporary organ transplant policies and in differential rational attitudes toward donation. Recognizing donation as an achievement of trust, and acknowledging the warrant of many people's rational distrust or withheld trust in medicine, I argue, should have significant implications for the ethics of organ procurement.
Diagnostic performance and safety of a three‐dimensional 14‐core systematic biopsy method
Authors: Takeshita Hideki , Kawakami Satoru , Numao Noboru , Sakura Mizuaki , Tatokoro Manabu , Yamamoto Shinya , Kijima Toshiki , Komai Yoshinobu , Saito Kazutaka , Koga Fumitaka , Fujii Yasuhisa , Fukui Iwao , Kihara Kazunori 
Published: April 2014

ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnostic performance and safety of a three‐dimensional 14‐core biopsy (3D14PBx) method, which is a combination of the transrectal six‐core and transperineal eight‐core biopsy methods.Patients and MethodsBetween December 2005 and August 2010, 1103 men underwent 3D14PBx at our institutions and were analysed prospectively. Biopsy criteria included a PSA level of 2.5–20 ng/mL or abnormal digital rectal examination (DRE) findings, or both. The primary endpoint of the study was diagnostic performance and the secondary endpoint was safety. We applied recursive partitioning to the entire study cohort to delineate the unique contribution of each sampling site to overall and clinically significant cancer detection.ResultsProstate cancer was detected in 503 of the 1103 patients (45.6%). Age, family history of prostate cancer, DRE, PSA, percentage of free PSA and prostate volume were associated with the positive biopsy results significantly and independently. Of the 503 cancers detected, 39 (7.8%) were clinically locally advanced (≥cT3a), 348 (69%) had a biopsy Gleason score (GS) of ≥7, and 463 (92%) met the definition of biopsy‐based significant cancer. Recursive partitioning analysis showed that each sampling site contributed uniquely to both the overall and the biopsy‐based significant cancer detection rate of the 3D14PBx method. The overall cancer‐positive rate of each sampling site ranged from 14.5% in the transrectal far lateral base to 22.8% in the transrectal far lateral apex. As of August 2010, 210 patients (42%) had undergone radical prostatectomy, of whom 55 (26%) were found to have pathologically non‐organ‐confined disease, 174 (83%) had prostatectomy GS ≥7 and 185 (88%) met the definition of prostatectomy‐based significant cancer.ConclusionsThis is the first prospective analysis of the diagnostic performance of an extended biopsy method, which is a simplified version of the somewhat redundant super‐extended three‐dimensional 26‐core biopsy. As expected, each sampling site uniquely contributed not only to overall cancer detection, but also to significant cancer detection. 3D14PBx is a feasible systematic biopsy method in men with PSA <20 ng/mL.
High Conservation Value of Forest Fragments for Plant and Frugivore Communities in a Fragmented Forest Landscape in South Africa
Authors: Berens Dana G. , Chama Lackson , Albrecht Jörg , Farwig Nina 
Published: April 2014

AbstractFragmentation is a major threat factor for plant–frugivore communities in tropical and subtropical forests. Resulting changes in the distribution of traits within these communities, e.g., a loss in large‐bodied frugivores, may lead to strong changes in plant–frugivore interactions in fragmented forests. Yet, we still lack a thorough understanding of the interplay between forest fragmentation, the trait‐composition of communities and resulting plant–frugivore interactions on a community‐scale. In a fragmented South African landscape comprising different forest categories—i.e., continuous natural forest, forest fragments surrounded by natural grassland, and forest fragments surrounded by sugarcane—we investigated the relationship between communities of fruiting plants and their frugivore visitors in response to forest fragmentation, as well as the interactive effects of forest fragmentation and fruit size of the plants on the number of frugivore visitors and their body size. Neither the fruit size of plant nor the body mass of frugivore communities differed between natural forest sites and forest fragments. Moreover, in‐depth analyses of frugivore assemblages visiting plant species revealed no effect of forest category on the number of frugivore visits or their mean body mass. The number of visits and body mass of frugivores were merely determined by the crop and fruit size of the focal plant species. Overall, our results suggest that frugivory of plant species with differently sized fruits was not reduced in forest fragments. Thus, fragments with high fruit availability may be key elements maintaining the functional connectivity of a heterogeneous forest landscape.
Vitamin D binding protein and vitamin D in human allergen-induced endobronchial inflammation
Authors: Bratke K , Wendt A , Garbe K , Kuepper M , Julius P , Lommatzsch M , Virchow J C 
Published: April 2014

Summary
Allergic asthma is a chronic disease of the airways associated with airway hyperresponsiveness, a variable degree of airflow obstruction, airway remodelling and a characteristic airway inflammation. Factors of the vitamin D axis, which include vitamin D metabolites and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP), have been linked to asthma, but only few data exist about their regulation in the lung during acute allergen-induced airway inflammation. Therefore, we analysed the regulation of factors of the vitamin D axis during the early- and late-phase reaction of allergic asthma. Fifteen patients with mild allergic asthma underwent segmental allergen challenge. VDBP was analysed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] were analysed by a commercial laboratory using the liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technique. VDBP (median 2·3, range 0·2–7·1 μg/ml), 25(OH)D3 (median 0·060, range &lt; 0·002–3·210 ng/ml) and 1,25(OH)2D3 (median &lt; 0·1, range &lt; 0·1–2·8 pg/ml) were significantly elevated in BALF 24 h but not 10 min after allergen challenge. After correction for plasma leakage using the plasma marker protein albumin, VDBP and 25(OH)D3 were still increased significantly while 1,25(OH)2D3 was not. VDBP and 25(OH)D3 were correlated with each other and with the inflammatory response 24 h after allergen challenge. Serum concentrations of all three factors were not influenced by allergen challenge. In conclusion, we report a significant increase in VDBP and 25(OH)D3 in human BALF 24 h after allergen challenge, suggesting a role for these factors in the asthmatic late-phase reaction.
Reaction profile in patch testing with allergens formed during vulcanization of rubber
Authors: Hansson Christer , Pontén Ann , Svedman Cecilia , Bergendorff Ola 
Published: April 2014

SummaryBackgroundVulcanization of rubber changes its allergen pattern.ObjectivesTo estimate the contact allergic reactivity profile of users of finished rubber products.MethodsTwenty‐four patients with known contact allergy to rubber accelerators were patch tested with 21 compounds found in chemical analyses of vulcanized rubber products. No diphenylguanidine, p‐phenylenediamine antioxidants or thioureas were included in the study.ResultsThiuram monosulfides formed during vulcanization showed generally stronger test reactions than the corresponding thiuram disulfides. We also obtained more positive thiuram reactions to the monosulfides than to the disulfides. A positive reaction to a dithiocarbamate was accompanied by a positive reaction to the corresponding thiuram, except for 1 patient. The nitrogen substituents showed only minor differences between the methyl, ethyl and pentamethylene groups, but the butyl derivatives gave, in most cases, a negative response. Dialkylthiocarbamyl benzothiazole sulfides, formed between thiurams and mercaptobenzothiazoles during vulcanization, showed strong test reactions in almost all patients who were sensitive to dithiocarbamates, thiurams, or mercaptobenzothiazoles.ConclusionsWe found thiuram monosulfides to be better markers of thiuram sensitivity than the corresponding disulfides or dithiocarbamates. Surprisingly, the dialkylthiocarbamyl benzothiazole sulfides were good markers of both thiuram and mercaptobenzothiazole sensitivity. This is an unexpected finding that needs to be confirmed in a larger study.
Concentrations and stability of methyl methacrylate, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde and nickel sulfate in commercial patch test allergen preparations
Authors: Siegel Paul D. , Fowler Joseph F. , Law Brandon F. , Warshaw Erin M. , Taylor James S. 
Published: April 2014

SummaryBackgroundEpicutaneous patch tests are used to reproduce allergy and diagnose allergic contact dermatitis. Reliable allergen test preparations are required.ObjectivesThe purpose of the present study was to measure the actual concentrations of nickel(II) sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO4), methyl methacrylate, formaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde, and to compare them with the labelled concentrations, in commercial patch test allergen preparations found in dermatology clinics where patch testing is routinely performed.Materials and methodsThe commercial in‐date and out‐of‐date patch test allergen preparations concentrations of NiSO4, methyl methacrylate, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde from one to three participating clinics were analysed with chromatographic or wet chemical techniques.ResultsNiSO4 and formaldehyde concentrations were at or above the labelled concentrations; however, formaldehyde loss occurred with storage. NiSO4 particulate was uniformly distributed throughout the petrolatum. ‘In‐use’ methyl methacrylate reagent syringes all contained ≤ 56% of the 2% label concentration, with no observable relationship with expiration date. Lower methyl methacrylate cocentrations were consistently measured at the syringe tip end, suggesting loss resulting from methyl methacrylate's volatility. The concentrations of glutaraldehyde patch test allergen preparations ranged from 27% to 45% of the labelled (1% in pet.) concentration, independently of expiration date.ConclusionsSome false‐negative methyl methacrylate, formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde patch test results may be attributable to instability of the test preparations.
Designing the Future at One of the Nation's Oldest Schools
Authors: Glendinning Matt 
Published: April 2014

Our youngest students will graduate from college in the year 2030. The careers they'll aspire to and the challenges they'll face may not exist yet.How does a two‐centuries‐old school remain true to its time‐tested philosophy while also creating a culture of innovation, one that will prepare students for the changing world of the future?Design thinking and design management was used to frame an effective growth strategy for a 230‐year‐old K‐12 day school in the Quaker tradition.
Oviposition acceptance and larval development of Chilo partellus stemborers in drought‐stressed wild and cultivated grasses of East Africa
Authors: Chidawanyika Frank , Midega Charles A.O. , Bruce Toby J.A. , Duncan Frances , Pickett John A. , Khan Zeyaur R. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractMaternal host choices during oviposition by herbivorous insects determine the fitness of their offspring and may be influenced by environmental changes that can alter host‐plant quality. This is of particular relevance to ‘push‐pull’ cropping systems where host preferences are exploited to manage insect pest populations. We tested how drought stress in maize and companion plants that are used in these systems affect oviposition preference, larval feeding, and development of the spotted stemborer, Chilo partellus Swinhoe (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Five host species were tested (all Poaceae): maize (Zea mays L.), Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach), signal grass [Brachiaria brizantha (A. Rich) Stapf], Brachiaria cv. ‘Mulato’, and molasses grass [Melinis minutiflora (Beauv.)]. Under drought stress, maize experienced as much oviposition as control unstressed maize in choice and no‐choice experiments. Similarly, larval leaf damage was not significantly different in drought‐stressed vs. unstressed maize. In contrast, oviposition occurred less on drought‐stressed than on unstressed Napier and signal grass. Oviposition acceptance and leaf damage remained low in both drought‐stressed and unstressed molasses grass and Mulato. Larval survival and development remained high in drought‐stressed maize, but not in Napier, signal, and molasses grass and Mulato, where survival and development were low in both drought‐stressed and unstressed plants. Our results indicate that herbivore responses to drought‐stressed plants depend on the plant species and that drought stress can change host preference and acceptance rankings. In particular, trap‐crops such as Napier grass may not divert oviposition from the main maize crop under drought stress conditions.
A combination of morphological and molecular analyses to distinguish two fungal pathogens causing leaf spots on Cinnamomum burmannii
Authors: Yuelian L. , Fengqiu X. 
Published: April 2014

SummaryThe leaves of Cinnamomum burmannii in Guangdong Province were severely affected by two distinctly different types of spots. The dark spot was round, surrounded by a thin yellow zone at the interface between healthy and affected regions, and had a distinct dark ring. The yellow spot had an irregular shape and a broad yellow halo. The pathogens from the different diseased leaves were isolated and were shown to be of two different strains, both of which caused leaf spot disease in pathogenicity tests. Based on the morphological characteristics and ITS sequence, the strain causing the dark leaf spot was identified as Phyllosticta cirsii, and that causing the yellow leaf spot as Phomopsis cinnamomicola Z.D. Jiang et al. This paper is the first to report two pathogens causing leaf spots on Cinnamomum burmannii.
Becoming a Moral Child amidst China's Moral Crisis: Preschool Discourse and Practices of Sharing in Shanghai
Authors: Xu Jing 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThis article explores the moral development of Chinese children through the discrepancies between the ideologies and practices of adults and children. School educators and parents promote an egalitarian norm of sharing—“share with everyone”—in the hope of cultivating altruism and cooperation, values seen as a corrective to China's universally deplored “moral crisis.” By contrast, young children spontaneously engage in strategic sharing—“extend favors so others can help you”—in their everyday interactions. Such practices resonate with the adult norm ofguanxi(exchange of favors) that is the object of ambivalent attitudes in modern Chinese discourse. This study combined ethnographic and experimental methods to examine children's spontaneous choices and their implication in current discourse, showing how the anthropology of childhood may contribute to a finer‐grained understanding of contemporary Chinese cultural dynamics as well as the conversation between psychological anthropology and developmental psychology on the emergence of prosocial dispositions in cultural processes.