bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reliability and validity of the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients (QLQ‐Asthma) in a sample of adult asthmatic patients in Turkey
Authors: Bektas Hicran Aydin , Keser İlkay Kayacan 
Published: November 2010

Aims and objectives.  The aims of this study were to translate the 20‐item Questionnaire for the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients (QLQ‐Asthma) into Turkish and to assess the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients among Turkish adult asthmatic patients in Turkey.Background.  Asthma can adversely affect the physical, psychological and social domains of health‐related quality of life. The Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients is a widely used instrument to measure quality of life in asthma patients. The Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients has not been validated in Turkey.Design.  Methodological research design.Methods.  This study describes the translation process of Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients into Turkish and tests its reliability and validity on quality of life in asthma patients. The study group was composed of 105 stable adult asthmatic patients. The questionnaire was translated using a back‐translation technique. The statistical analysis was carried out using Cronbach’s alpha to test the internal consistency of the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients scale while exploratory factor analysis was carried out using principal component analysis with varimax rotation and Kaiser Normalisation to test its construct validity.Results.  The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient reliability for the total scale was 0·84, and internal consistency reliability was in the acceptable range for this instrument. Results indicated that respondents did not have difficulty answering the questions in the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients. Factor analysis resulted in five‐factor structure: physical activities, role activities, emotions, social activities and health perceptions.Conclusions.  The Turkish version of the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients is a reliable and valid supplementary measure of the quality of life in asthma patients, and it is a useful outcome measurement tool for clinical trials conducted in Turkey.Relevance of clinical practice.  The Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients scale is simple to administer, and Turkish researchers and health care providers can use the Assessment of Quality of Life in Asthma Patients to assess the asthma patients quality of life.
Partial Synchronization of Carrot Cell Culture by Auxin Deprivation
Authors: NISHI ARASUKE , KATO KENJI , TAKAHASHI MASAO , YOSHIDA RYUJI 
Published: November 2010

AbstractA strain of carrot cells (Daucus carota cv. Kintoki) grew exponentially in the presence of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4‐D, 1 mg/1) with a doubling time of about 2 days. When those cells were transferred to a medium lacking 2,4‐D, they continued to grow at almost the same rate for about a week. When the cells were again transferred to the auxin‐free medium, the rate of cell division gradually decreased. After the cell division had ceased, cells were returned to the ordinary 2,4‐D medium. A burst of cell divisions occurred after about 2 days. Timing of DNA synthesis and of mitosis suggested that the cells had been arrested at G1 phase. In a medium containing indoleacetic acid instead of 2,4‐D, the auxin was rapidly degraded and the culture was similarly synchronized as in the auxin‐omitted medium.
Accuracy of the Kattan nomogram across prostate cancer risk‐groups
Authors: Korets Ruslan , Motamedinia Piruz , Yeshchina Olga , Desai Manisha , McKiernan James M. 
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort)  Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? The Kattan nomogram is one of the most commonly used preoperative prediction tools for estimating individualized risk of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. However, little is known about this nomogram’s accuracy for patients at the extremes of the risk spectra, as only a small fraction of such patients comprised the cohort used in its development. We examined the accuracy of the Kattan nomogram across various risk groups, and confirmed its ability to accurately estimate risk of recurrence, even for patients with high and low‐risk prostate cancer.OBJECTIVE• To investigate the predictive ability of nomograms at the extremes of preoperative clinical parameters by examining the predictive ability across all prostate cancer risk groups.PATIENTS AND METHODS• The Columbia University Urologic Oncology Database was reviewed: 3663 patients underwent radical prostatectomy from 1988 to 2008. Patients who had received neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy, or had insufficient clinical parameters for estimation of 5‐year progression‐free probability using the preoperative Kattan nomogram were excluded.• A total of 1877 patients were included and stratified by D’Amico risk criteria. Mean estimated nomogram progression rates were compared with actuarial Kaplan–Meier survival statistics.• A regression model to predict progression‐free survival was fitted with estimated nomogram score and concordance indices were calculated for the entire model and subsequently for each risk group.RESULTS• Of 1877 patients, 857 (45.6%) were low risk, 704 (37.5%) were intermediate risk, and 316 (16.8%) were high risk by D’Amico criteria.• Mean estimated nomogram survival and actuarial Kaplan–Meier survival at 5 years were 90.5% and 92.2% (95% CI 89.2–94.3) for low‐risk, 76.7% and 77.8% (73.3–81.7) for intermediate‐risk, and 65.8% and 60.4% (52.0–67.7) for high‐risk groups, respectively. Using nomogram score in the regression model, the c‐index for the full model was 0.61.• For low‐, intermediate‐ and high‐risk patients independently the c‐index was 0.60, 0.59 and 0.57, respectively. When low‐, intermediate‐ and high‐risk patients were independently removed from the model the c‐index was 0.64, 0.65 and 0.55, respectively.• The c‐index for the full model using the categorical nomogram risk scores was 0.67. Similar to the D’Amico model, the c‐index improved to 0.69 when intermediate‐risk patients were removed from the model.CONCLUSIONS• The study confirms the ability of preoperative nomograms to accurately predict actuarial survival across all risk groups.• The predictive ability of the nomogram varies by risk group, yet even at the extremes of high‐risk and low‐risk prostate cancer the nomogram accurately predicts outcome.
Pathological characterization of unifocal prostate cancers in whole‐mount radical prostatectomy specimens
Authors: Masterson Timothy A. , Cheng Liang , Koch Michael O. 
Published: November 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)  Level of Evidence 4What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Focality in prostate cancer has been characterized in the literature with regards to its incidence at the time of prostatectomy, but conflicting reports defining the biological significance of unifocal lesions limits its clinical utility. Through the detailed histopathological characterization of 176 unifocal prostate cancers, this study revealed these tumours to demonstrate intermediate or high grade disease in half of patients, with adverse pathological features such as extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, lymph node invasion, and large tumour volume in a third. This limits the ability of focality alone to identify patients who might be suitable candidates for lesion‐ablative therapies.OBJECTIVE
To characterize the anatomical distribution and pathological features of unifocal cancers, which have been reported to occur in 17–33% of men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP), in whole‐ mount prostatectomy specimens.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Between 1999 and 2008, a retrospective review of 1274 patients undergoing RP for clinically localized prostate cancer with pathological evaluation using whole‐mount sectioning techniques and tumour mapping was performed from our prospective database.
The study cohort comprised those patients who were found to have unifocal tumours.
RESULTS
A total of 176 (14%) patients fulfilled our criteria for having unifocal tumours. The median age at time of surgery was 61 years. The mean preoperative PSA level was 8.6 ng/mL.
In all, 28% of patients were identified as having extracapsular extension (ECE) and 11% had seminal vesicle invasion (SVI).
Of 98 patients undergoing pelvic lymph dissection, six (6%) had positive lymph nodes; 49% of tumours had Gleason score ≥7 and 60% had Gleason pattern 4 or 5 found within the tumour.
Mean tumour volume and maximum diameter were 3.3 mL and 1.7 cm, respectively. Overall, 89 (51%) tumours qualified as localized, organ‐confined and low‐grade cancers, possibly amenable to focal ablative approaches.
The limitations of the present study include its descriptive and retrospective nature.
CONCLUSIONS
While unifocal prostate cancers were most commonly localized to the prostate, half of these patients were associated with intermediate‐ or high‐grade disease.
High‐risk features including ECE, SVI, lymph node invasion (LNI), and large tumour volume were identified in a third of patients.
Further studies assessing predictors beyond focality will be needed to determine whether patients can be identified before surgery who might be suitable candidates for lesion‐ablative therapies.
Macroeconomic Conditions and the Puzzles of Credit Spreads and Capital Structure
Authors: CHEN HUI 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACTI build a dynamic capital structure model that demonstrates how business cycle variation in expected growth rates, economic uncertainty, and risk premia influences firms' financing policies. Countercyclical fluctuations in risk prices, default probabilities, and default losses arise endogenously through firms' responses to macroeconomic conditions. These comovements generate large credit risk premia for investment grade firms, which helps address the credit spread puzzle and the under‐leverage puzzle in a unified framework. The model generates interesting dynamics for financing and defaults, including market timing in debt issuance and credit contagion. It also provides a novel procedure to estimate state‐dependent default losses.
Market power and rents in global supply chains
Authors: Swinnen Johan F.M. , Vandeplas Anneleen 
Published: November 2010

AbstractMarket power and competition policy in food supply chains has emerged as an important economic issue in economics, and a highly sensitive item on the policy agenda. Consolidation is taking place in the food industry, both in high‐income countries and in emerging economies, but the impact of concentration in global food chains on efficiency and rent distribution is more nuanced and complex than often claimed. We review the literature and extend it by developing a model which explicitly takes into account market imperfections and contract enforcement problems in supply chains. Increased competition benefits farms by improving contract conditions, but contract enforcement becomes more complicated.
Antibacterial activity of polysaccharide gel extract from fruit rinds of Durio zibethinus Murr. against oral pathogenic bacteria
Authors: Thunyakipisal Pasutha , Saladyanant Thatsanee , Hongprasong Naulchavee , Pongsamart Sunanta , Apinhasmit Wandee 
Published: November 2010

AbstractAim:  The polysaccharide gel (PG) extract from durian fruit rinds (Durio zibethinus Murr. “Monthong”) is a pectic polysaccharide with antibacterial activity. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro antibacterial activity of PG against oral pathogens, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A. actinomycetemcomitans).Methods:  The inhibitory activity of PG at 50, 100, and 150 mg/mL against S. mutans (American Tissue Culture Collection 25175) and A. actinomycetemcomitans (American Tissue Culture Collection 43718) was determined after 1‐ and 5‐min exposure by broth macrodilution susceptibility test and scanning electron microscopy. Normal saline or culture broth medium and 0.1% chlorhexidine were used as negative and positive controls, respectively.Results:  For 1‐min exposure, 150 mg/mL PG or 0.1% chlorhexidine significantly possessed bactericidal activity against both tested bacteria (P = 0.037), while PG at 100 mg/mL possessed significant bactericidal activity against S. mutans (P = 0.037) and inhibitory activity against A. actinomycetemcomitans (P = 0.05). Blebs, irregular‐shaped cells, and disrupted cells were found in bacteria treated with either 0.1% chlorhexidine or 50–150 mg/mL PG under scanning electron microscopy.Conclusion:  The bactericidal activity of PG at 150 mg/mL against oral bacteria at 1‐min exposure suggests its possibility to be used as a natural antibacterial ingredient in oral hygiene products.
The tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer: stromal TLR-4 expression as a potential prognostic marker
Authors: Cammarota Rosaria , Bertolini Valentina , Pennesi Giuseppina , Bucci Eraldo O , Gottardi Ornella , Garlanda Cecilia , Laghi Luigi , Barberis Massimo C , Sessa Fausto , Noonan Douglas M , Albini Adriana 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Background
Colorectal cancer can be efficiently treated when found at early stages, thus the search for novel markers is of paramount importance. Since inflammation is associated with cancer progression and angiogenesis, we investigated expression of cytokines like IL-6 and other mediators that play a key role in the innate immune system, in particular toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), in the microenvironment of lesions from different stages of colon disease progression, from ulcerative colitis to adenoma and adenocarcinoma to find useful markers.

Methods
The presence of inflammatory cells and expression of key cytokines involved in the inflammation process were quantified by immunohistochemistry in specific tissue compartments (epithelial, stromal, endothelial) by immunohistochemistry. A murine azoxymethane/dextran sulfate model in which Tir8, a negative regulator of the inflammatory response, was ablated was used to confirm the clinical observations. 116 Archival tissue samples from patients with different stages of colorectal disease: 13 cases of ulcerative colitis (UC), 34 tubular or tubulo-villous adenomas (AD), and 53 infiltrating adenocarcinomas. 16 specimens of healthy mucosa surgically removed with the cancerous tissue were used as a control.

Results
The differences between healthy tissues and the diverse lesions was characterized by a marked inflammatory-angiogenic reaction, with significantly (P < 0.05) higher numbers of CD68, CD15, and CD31 expressing cells in all diseased tissues that correlated with increasing grade of malignancy. We noted down-regulation of a potential modulator molecule, Hepatocyte Growth Factor, in all diseased tissues (P < 0.05). TLR-4 and IL6 expression in the tumor microenvironment were associated with adenocarcinoma in human samples and in the murine model. We found that adenocarcinoma patients (pT1-4) with higher TLR-4 expression in stromal compartment had a significantly increased risk in disease progression. In those patients with a diagnosis of pT3 (33 cases) colon cancer, those with very high levels of TLR-4 in the tumor stroma relapsed significantly earlier than those with lower expression levels.

Conclusions
These data suggest that high TLR-4 expression in the tumor microenvironment represents a possible marker of disease progression in colon cancer.
Detection of vascularity in wrist tenosynovitis: power doppler ultrasound compared with contrast-enhanced grey-scale ultrasound
Authors: Klauser Andrea S , Franz Magdalena , Arora Rohit , Feuchtner Gudrun M , Gruber Johann , Schirmer Michael , Jaschke Werner R , Gabl Markus F 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Introduction
We sought to assess vascularity in wrist tenosynovitis by using power Doppler ultrasound (PDUS) and to compare detection of intra- and peritendinous vascularity with that of contrast-enhanced grey-scale ultrasound (CEUS).

Methods
Twenty-six tendons of 24 patients (nine men, 15 women; mean age ± SD, 54.4 ± 11.8 years) with a clinical diagnosis of tenosynovitis were examined with B-mode ultrasonography, PDUS, and CEUS by using a second-generation contrast agent, SonoVue (Bracco Diagnostics, Milan, Italy) and a low-mechanical-index ultrasound technique. Thickness of synovitis, extent of vascularized pannus, intensity of peritendinous vascularisation, and detection of intratendinous vessels was incorporated in a 3-score grading system (grade 0 to 2). Interobserver variability was calculated.

Results
With CEUS, a significantly greater extent of vascularity could be detected than by using PDUS (P < 0.001). In terms of peri- and intratendinous vessels, CEUS was significantly more sensitive in the detection of vascularization compared with PDUS (P < 0.001). No significant correlation between synovial thickening and extent of vascularity could be found (P = 0.089 to 0.097). Interobserver reliability was calculated to be excellent when evaluating the grading score (κ = 0.811 to 1.00).

Conclusions
CEUS is a promising tool to detect tendon vascularity with higher sensitivity than PDUS by improved detection of intra- and peritendinous vascularity.
Genomic Differentiation Between Temperate and Tropical Australian Populations ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Kolaczkowski Bryan , Kern Andrew D , Holloway Alisha K , Begun David J 
Published: November 2010

AbstractDetermining the genetic basis of environmental adaptation is a central problem of evolutionary biology. This issue has been fruitfully addressed by examining genetic differentiation between populations that are recently separated and/or experience high rates of gene flow. A good example of this approach is the decades-long investigation of selection acting along latitudinal clines in Drosophila melanogaster. Here we use next-generation genome sequencing to reexamine the well-studied Australian D. melanogaster cline. We find evidence for extensive differentiation between temperate and tropical populations, with regulatory regions and unannotated regions showing particularly high levels of differentiation. Although the physical genomic scale of geographic differentiation is small—on the order of gene sized—we observed several larger highly differentiated regions. The region spanned by the cosmopolitan inversion polymorphism In(3R)P shows higher levels of differentiation, consistent with the major difference in allele frequencies of Standard and In(3R)P karyotypes in temperate vs. tropical Australian populations. Our analysis reveals evidence for spatially varying selection on a number of key biological processes, suggesting fundamental biological differences between flies from these two geographic regions.
CD137-Mediated Pathogenesis from Chronic Hepatitis to Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Hepatitis B Virus-Transgenic Mice
Authors: Wang Jun , Zhao Wenxia , Cheng Liang , Guo Mingzhou , Li Dongling , Li Xiaozhu , Tan Yi , Ma Suping , Li Suyun , Yang Yunsheng , Chen Lieping , Wang Shengdian 
Published: November 2010

AbstractChronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is characterized by sustained liver inflammation with an influx of lymphocytes, which contributes to the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms underlying this immune-mediated hepatic pathogenesis remain ill defined. We report in this article that repetitive infusion of anti-CD137 agonist mAb in HBV-transgenic mice closely mimics this process by sequentially inducing hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and, ultimately, liver cancer. CD137 mAb initially triggers hepatic inflammatory infiltration due to activation of nonspecific CD8+ T cells with memory phenotype. CD8+ T cell-derived IFN-γ plays a central role in the progression of chronic liver diseases by actively recruiting hepatic macrophages to produce fibrosis-promoting cytokines and chemokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1. Importantly, the natural ligand of CD137 was upregulated significantly in circulating CD14+ monocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and closely correlated with development of liver cirrhosis. Thus, sustained CD137 stimulation may be a contributing factor for liver immunopathology in chronic HBV infection. Our studies reveal a common molecular pathway that is used to defend against viral infection but also causes chronic hepatic diseases.
Temperature Measurement Reliability and Validity With Thermocouple Extension Leads or Changing Lead Temperature
Authors: Jutte Lisa S. , Long Blaine C. , Knight Kenneth L. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract

Context:
Thermocouples' leads are often too short, necessitating the use of an extension lead.

Objective:
To determine if temperature measures were influenced by extension-lead use or lead temperature changes.

Design:
Descriptive laboratory study.

Setting:
Laboratory.

Other Participants:
Experiment 1: 10 IT-21 thermocouples and 5 extension leads. Experiment 2: 5 IT-21 and PT-6 thermocouples.

Methods:
In experiment 1, temperature data were collected on 10 IT-21 thermocouples in a stable water bath with and without extension leads. In experiment 2, temperature data were collected on 5 IT-21 and PT-6 thermocouples in a stable water bath before, during, and after ice-pack application to extension leads.

Results:
In experiment 1, extension leads did not influence IT-21 validity (P  =  .45) or reliability (P  =  .10). In experiment 2, postapplication IT-21 temperatures were greater than preapplication and application measures (P &lt; .05).

Conclusions:
Extension leads had no influence on temperature measures. Ice application to leads may increase measurement error.
Ceramics with Regularly Arranged Tubular Pores by Electrophoretic Deposition at Gauze Electrodes
Authors: Moritz Kirsten , Aneziris Christos G. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe fabrication of planar zirconia green bodies with unidirectionally aligned pore channels by electrophoretic deposition with simultaneous electrolytic gas bubble formation using different platinum gauzes and, for comparison, platinum foil as deposition electrodes is described. The electrode has a strong influence on the pore structure. At suitable mesh sizes, a very regular arrangement of the tubular pores corresponding to the gauze structure can be obtained.
Metal‐Polymer Nanocomposites for Functional Applications
Authors: Faupel Franz , Zaporojtchenko Vladimir , Strunskus Thomas , Elbahri Mady 
Published: November 2010

AbstractNanocomposites combine favorable features of the constituents on the nanoscale to obtain new functionalities. The present paper is concerned with the preparation of polymer‐based nanocomposites consisting of metal nanoparticles in a polymer matrix and the resulting functional properties. Emphasis is placed on vapor phase deposition which inter alia allows the incorporation of alloy clusters with well defined composition and tailored filling factor profiles. Examples discussed here include optical composites with tuned particle surface plasmon resonances for plasmonic applications, magnetic high frequency materials with cut‐off frequencies well above 1 GHz, sensors that are based on the dramatic change in the electronic properties near the percolation threshold, and antibacterial coatings which benefit from the large effective surface of nanoparticles and the increased chemical potential which both strongly enhance ion release.