bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Levels of soluble endothelial selectin in umbilical cord serum are influenced by gestational age and histological chorioamnionitis, but not by pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Mitani Minoru , Matsuda Yoshio , Shimada Etsuko , Kobayashi Aiko , Akizawa Yoshika , Kawamichi Yayoi , Makino Yasuo , Matsui Hideo 
Published: August 2011

AbstractAims:  The aim of this study was to examine the factors that influence soluble endothelial selectin (sE‐selectin) levels in umbilical cord serum.Materials and Methods:  sE‐selectin levels in umbilical cord serum were measured in 144 patients using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. We examined the association of sE‐selectin levels with gestational age, pre‐eclampsia (PE), histological chorioamnionitis (HCAM), preterm premature rupture of membranes, magnesium sulfate use, birthweight, and placental weight.Results:  A significant positive correlation was observed between sE‐selectin levels and gestational age in the patients who had neither PE nor HCAM (r = 0.559, P < 0.0001). This statistically positive correlation persisted in patients with PE without HCAM (n = 25, r = 0.644, P < 0.001), but not in patients with HCAM without PE (n = 58, r = 0.102, P = 0.448). In matched gestational age analysis, sE‐selectin levels were increased in the presence of HCAM (P = 0.0006), but were not influenced by the presence of PE (P = 0.127), preterm premature rupture of membranes (P = 0.352) or magnesium sulfate use (P = 0.337).Conclusion:  sE‐selectin levels in umbilical cord serum were positively correlated with gestational weeks. sE‐selectin levels in umbilical cord serum were higher in mothers with HCAM but not with PE, when compared with gestational‐age‐matched controls.
Continuity in the kitchen: how younger and older women compare in their food practices and use of cooking skills
Authors: Lyon Phil , Mattsson Sydner Ylva , Fjellström Christina , Janhonen‐Abruquah Hille , Schröder Monika , Colquhoun Anne 
Published: August 2011

AbstractComparisons between younger and older women in the kitchen usually focus on the historical argument that younger women do not have the domestic cooking skills of their mothers or grandmothers. At one level, this is convincing because there is now demonstrably greater reliance on ready meals and processed foods, and less on the home production of meals from raw ingredients. Compared with the immediate post‐Second World War years, not so much time is routinely spent in the kitchen, and food preparation is no longer a task central to the lives of many women. The availability of meals or meal components requiring less domestic labour and improved kitchen technology are both factors in this transformation of women's lives. However, they are not just available to the young. So, this research questions the impact of these factors across the age spectrum. Older women may have had very different domestic experiences earlier in their lives but have they now converged with the practices of younger women? How do younger and older women compare in terms of their food practices and the cooking skills they currently use in the kitchen? Using Scottish questionnaire data from a cross‐national study, this paper reports on the differences and similarities for 37 younger women (25–45 years; mean 32 years) and 43 older women (60–75 years; mean 68 years) in their actual use of specific food preparation and cooking techniques, the kind of meals they made, and the extent to which they ate out or ordered in meals for home consumption. Results indicated that while there were some differences in food preparation, the use of fresh ingredients and the style of cooking undertaken in the home, these were mostly marginal. There were similar response patterns for the adequacy of their domestic facilities and equipment. There was, however, a notable divergence in their patterns of eating meals out, or phoning out for meals. These data suggest that while younger and older women – different cooking generations – do differ, the way they differ is related more to current lifestyle factors than to any highly differentiated domestic food preparation and cooking skills.
Adjunctive cognitive remediation for schizophrenia using yoga: an open, non-randomised trial
Authors: Bhatia Triptish , Agarwal Akhilesh , Shah Gyandeepak , Wood Joel , Richard Jan , Gur Raquel E. , Gur Ruben C. , Nimgaonkar Vishwajit L. , Mazumdar Sati , Deshpande Smita N. 
Published: August 2011

Background:Yoga therapy (YT) improves cognitive function in healthy individuals, but its impact on cognitive function among persons with schizophrenia (SZ) has not been investigated.Objective:To evaluate the adjunctive YT for cognitive domains impaired in SZ.Methods:Patients with SZ received YT or treatment as usual (TAU;n= 65,n= 23, respectively). Accuracy and speed for seven cognitive domains were assessed using a computerised neurocognitive battery (CNB), thus minimising observer bias. Separately, YT was evaluated among patients with bipolar I disorder (n= 40), major depressive disorder (n= 37) and cardiology outpatients (n= 68). All patients also received routine pharmacotherapy. Patients were not randomised to YT or TAU.Results:In comparison with the SZ/TAU group, the SZ/YT group showed significantly greater improvement with regard to measures of attention following corrections for multiple comparisons; the changes were more prominent among the men. In the other diagnostic groups, differing patterns of improvements were noted with small-to-medium effect sizes.Conclusions:Our initial analyses suggest nominally significant improvement in cognitive function in SZ with adjunctive therapies such as YT. The magnitude of the change varies by cognitive domain and may also vary by diagnostic group.
Why did an effective Dutch complex psycho-social intervention for people with dementia not work in the German healthcare context? Lessons learnt from a process evaluation alongside a multicentre RCT
Authors: Voigt-Radloff Sebastian , Graff Maud , Leonhart Rainer , Hüll Michael , Rikkert Marcel Olde , Vernooij-Dassen Myrra 
Published: August 2011

BackgroundThe positive effects of the Dutch Community Occupational Therapy in Dementia programme on patients' daily functioning were not found in a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) in Germany.ObjectivesTo evaluate possible effect modification on the primary outcome within the German RCT with regard to (1) participant characteristics, (2) treatment performance and (3) healthcare service utilisation; and (4) to compare the design and primary outcome between the German and the original Dutch study.Methods(1) The impact of participant baseline data on the primary outcome was analysed in exploratory ANCOVA and regression analyses. (2) Therapists completed questionnaires on context and performance problems. The main problems were identified by a qualitative content analysis and focus-group discussion. Associations of the primary outcome with scores of participant adherence and treatment performance were evaluated by regression analysis. (3) Utilisation rates of healthcare services were controlled for significant group differences. (4) Differences in the Dutch and German study design were identified, and the primary outcome was contrasted at the item level.Results(1) Participant characteristics could not explain more than 5% of outcome variance. (2) The treatment performance of some active intervention components was poor but not significantly associated with the primary outcome. (3) There were no significant group differences in the utilisation of healthcare resources. (4) In contrast to the Dutch waiting-control group, the active intervention in the German control group may have reduced group differences in the current RCT. The German patients demonstrated a higher independence at baseline and less improvement in instrumental activities of daily living.ConclusionThe differences in outcome may be explained by a more active control treatment, partially poor experimental treatment and less room for improvement in the German sample. Future cross-national transfers should be prepared by pilot studies assessing the applicability of the intervention and patient needs specific to the target country.Trial registrationInternational Clinical Trials Registry Platform, DRKS00000053.
Trends in adult cardiovascular disease risk factors and their socio-economic patterning in the Scottish population 1995–2008: cross-sectional surveys
Authors: Hotchkiss Joel W , Davies Carolyn , Gray Linsay , Bromley Catherine , Capewell Simon , Leyland Alastair H 
Published: August 2011

ObjectivesTo examine secular and socio-economic changes in cardiovascular disease risk factor prevalences in the Scottish population. This could contribute to a better understanding of why the decline in coronary heart disease mortality in Scotland has recently stalled along with a widening of socio-economic inequalities.DesignFour Scottish Health Surveys 1995, 1998, 2003 and 2008 (6190, 6656, 5497 and 4202 respondents, respectively, aged 25–64 years) were used to examine gender-stratified, age-standardised prevalences of smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, discretionary salt use and self-reported diabetes or hypertension. Prevalences were determined according to education and social class. Inequalities were assessed using the slope index of inequality, and time trends were determined using linear regression.ResultsThere were moderate secular declines in the prevalence of smoking, excess alcohol consumption and physical inactivity. Smoking prevalence declined between 1995 and 2008 from 33.4% (95% CI 31.8% to 35.0%) to 29.9% (27.9% to 31.8%) for men and from 36.1% (34.5% to 37.8%) to 27.4% (25.5% to 29.3%) for women. Adverse trends in prevalence were noted for self-reported diabetes and hypertension. Over the four surveys, the diabetes prevalence increased from 1.9% (1.4% to 2.4%) to 3.6% (2.8% to 4.4%) for men and from 1.7% (1.2% to 2.1%) to 3.0% (2.3% to 3.7%) for women. Socio-economic inequalities were evident for almost all risk factors, irrespective of the measure used. These social gradients appeared to be maintained over the four surveys. An exception was self-reported diabetes where, although inequalities were small, the gradient increased over time. Alcohol consumption was unique in consistently showing an inverse gradient, especially for women.ConclusionsThere has been only a moderate decline in behavioural cardiovascular risk factor prevalences since 1995, with increases in self-reported diabetes and hypertension. Adverse socio-economic gradients have remained unchanged. These findings could help explain the recent stagnation in coronary heart disease mortalities and persistence of related inequalities.
Tobacco expenditure and its implications for household resource allocation in Cambodia
Authors: John Rijo M , Ross Hana , Blecher Evan 
Published: August 2011

ObjectivesTo assess the determinants of smoking behaviour and to estimate the impact of tobacco consumption on the consumption of other commodities by Cambodian households.MethodsTo assess the determinants of smoking in Cambodia, the authors used a logistic regression model that estimated the probability of an individual smoking, given a set of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. A Seemingly Unrelated Regression method was used to assess the impact of tobacco consumption on the consumption of other commodities. The nationally representative 2004 Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey, collected by the National Institute of Statistics of the Ministry of Planning in Cambodia, was used for the analysis.ResultsSmoking in Cambodia is influenced by a variety of factors such as gender, marital status, age, ethnicity, literacy, health status and perceptions about the health consequences of tobacco use. The authors found that spending on tobacco crowds out expenditures on education and clothing at the national level and expenditures on food for low- and middle-income households.ConclusionsThe first analysis of the study showed that increased education is associated with lower daily smoking, and the second analysis revealed that expenditures on tobacco crowds out expenditures on education. Combining these two results points to a vicious circle where low education means higher likelihood of smoking, which in turn results in lower spending on education. Such budget allocation clearly has negative intergenerational consequences.
Cocultures of Adult and Juvenile Chondrocytes Compared With Adult and Juvenile Chondral Fragments
Authors: Bonasia Davide Edoardo , Martin James A. , Marmotti Antongiulio , Amendola Richard L. , Buckwalter Joseph A. , Rossi Roberto , Blonna Davide , Adkisson Huston Davis , Amendola Annunziato 
Published: August 2011

Background: The use of allogenic juvenile chondrocytes or autologous chondral fragments has shown promising laboratory results for the repair of chondral lesions. Hypothesis: Juvenile chondrocytes would not affect matrix production when mixed with adult chondrocytes or cartilage fragments. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Cartilage sources consisted of 3 adult and 3 juvenile (human) donors. In part 1, per each donor, juvenile chondrocytes were mixed with adult chondrocytes in 5 different proportions: 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5%, and 0%. Three-dimensional cultures in low-melt agarose were performed. At 6 weeks, biochemical and histologic analyses were performed. In part 2, isolated adult, isolated juvenile, and mixed 3-dimensional cultures (1:1) were performed with chondral fragments (<1 mm), both with low-melt agarose and a hyaluronic acid scaffold. At 2 and 6 weeks, cultures were evaluated with biochemical and histologic analyses. Results: Part 1: Biochemical and histologic analyses showed that isolated juvenile cultures performed significantly better than mixed and isolated adult cultures. No significant differences were noted between mixed cultures (1:1) and isolated adult cultures. Part 2: Biochemical and histologic results at 6 weeks showed that mixed cartilage fragment cultures performed better than isolated adult cultures in terms of proteoglycans/DNA ratio ( P = .014), percentage of safranin O–positive cells ( P = .012), Bern score ( P = .001), and collagen type II. No statistically significant difference was noted between juvenile and mixed cultures. Conclusion: Extracellular matrix production of juvenile chondrocytes is inhibited by adult chondrocytes. The addition of juvenile cartilage fragments to adult fragments improves matrix production, with a positive interaction between the 2 sources. Clinical Relevance: Even if the underlying mechanisms are still unknown, this study describes the behavior of juvenile/adult cocultures using both chondrocytes and cartilage fragments, with potential for new research and clinical applications.
Factor structure of Guy’s Neurological Disability Scale in a sample of Dutch patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Mokkink LB , Knol DL , Uitdehaag BMJ 
Published: August 2011

Background: Guy’s Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS) is designed to assess disability (i.e. activity limitations) in patients with multiple sclerosis. It contains 12 functional domains, each indicating a level of disability. Four domain scores and a total score can be calculated. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the structural validity of the GNDS in a Dutch population who were definitely diagnosed as having multiple sclerosis. Methods: Data of 974 patients were available. The structural validity of the GNDS was evaluated by confirmatory item factor analysis (CIFA). Two first-order models and two bifactor models were investigated. Results: The best fitted model was a bifactor model with a general factor underlying all items, and 10 items loading on 3 group factors. Cronbach’s alpha on the general factor (0.78) and on the group factor spinal-plus (0.74) were satisfying. Cronbach’s alpha on the group factors mental (0.56) and bulbar (0.48) were low. Reliability based on CIFA was 0.85. Conclusion: Results showed a clear factor structure of the GNDS. It justifies the use of the total score of the GNDS. In addition, three sub-scale scores could be used.
How I treat hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Jordan Michael B. , Allen Carl E. , Weitzman Sheila , Filipovich Alexandra H. , McClain Kenneth L. 
Published: August 2011

AbstractHemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of pathologic immune activation, occurring as either a familial disorder or a sporadic condition, in association with a variety of triggers. This immune dysregulatory disorder is prominently associated with cytopenias and a unique combination of clinical signs and symptoms of extreme inflammation. Prompt initiation of immunochemotherapy is essential for survival, but timely diagnosis may be challenging because of the rarity of HLH, its variable presentation, and the time required to perform diagnostic testing. Therapy is complicated by dynamic clinical course, high risk of treatment-related morbidity, and disease recurrence. Here, we review the clinical manifestations and patterns of HLH and describe our approach to the diagnosis and therapy for this elusive and potentially lethal condition.
RNase H-dependent PCR (rhPCR): improved specificity and single nucleotide polymorphism detection using blocked cleavable primers
Authors: Dobosy Joseph R , Rose Scott D , Beltz Kristin R , Rupp Susan M , Powers Kristy M , Behlke Mark A , Walder Joseph A 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is commonly used to detect the presence of nucleic acid sequences both in research and diagnostic settings. While high specificity is often achieved, biological requirements sometimes necessitate that primers are placed in suboptimal locations which lead to problems with the formation of primer dimers and/or misamplification of homologous sequences.

Results

Pyrococcus abyssi (P.a.) RNase H2 was used to enable PCR to be performed using blocked primers containing a single ribonucleotide residue which are activated via cleavage by the enzyme (rhPCR). Cleavage occurs 5'-to the RNA base following primer hybridization to the target DNA. The requirement of the primer to first hybridize with the target sequence to gain activity eliminates the formation of primer-dimers and greatly reduces misamplification of closely related sequences. Mismatches near the scissile linkage decrease the efficiency of cleavage by RNase H2, further increasing the specificity of the assay. When applied to the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rhPCR was found to be far more sensitive than standard allele-specific PCR. In general, the best discrimination occurs when the mismatch is placed at the RNA:DNA base pair.

Conclusion
rhPCR eliminates the formation of primer dimers and markedly improves the specificity of PCR with respect to off-target amplification. These advantages of the assay should find utility in challenging qPCR applications such as genotyping, high level multiplex assays and rare allele detection.
Lobular neoplasia: frequency and association with other breast lesions
Authors: Gomes Douglas S , Balabram Débora , Porto Simone S , Gobbi Helenice 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Using new molecular biology techniques, recent studies have implicated a common evolutionary pathway between lobular neoplasia, lobular carcinomas, and columnar cell lesions. Our aims were to assess the frequency of lobular neoplasia in a series of breast biopsies that were performed and examined in the same institution and to analyze the association between subtypes of lobular neoplasia and benign and malignant breast lesions.

Methods
Cases were selected after reviewing archived pathological reports in the Breast Pathology Laboratory, School of Medicine of Federal University of Minas Gerais (1999-2008). Cases of lobular neoplasia were reviewed and classified as atypical lobular hyperplasia, ductal involvement by cells of atypical lobular hyperplasia, lobular carcinoma in situ, and pleomorphic lobular carcinoma in situ. Coexistence of lobular neoplasia with other breast lesions, including columnar cell lesions, invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma, was evaluated. The association between lobular neoplasia and breast lesions was analyzed by Fisher's exact test and chi-square test for linear trend.

Results
We analyzed 5650 breast specimens, selecting 135 breast specimens (2.4%) that had a diagnosis of lobular neoplasia, corresponding to 106 patients. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were available for 84 cases, 5 of which were excluded because they contained only "indeterminate" in situ lesions. Of the 79 remaining cases, columnar cell lesions were present in 78.5%, primarily with columnar cell changes without atypia (67.7%). Invasive carcinoma was present in 45.6% of cases of lobular neoplasia--a similar frequency (47.2%) as invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma. We noted a significant linear trend (p < 0.03) of a higher frequency of invasive carcinomas that were concomitant with lobular carcinoma in situ compared with atypical lobular hyperplasia. Invasive lobular carcinomas were associated with lobular carcinoma in situ in 33% of cases, compared with 2.8% of atypical lobular hyperplasia cases.

Conclusions
Our findings confirm a frequent association between lobular neoplasia and columnar cell lesions, the majority of which lacked atypia. We also observed a greater frequency of invasive carcinoma, more commonly invasive lobular carcinoma, associated with more developed forms of lobular neoplasia (lobular carcinoma in situ).

Virtual Slides
The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1354154297558319.
Waist circumference and insulin resistance: a community based cross sectional study on reproductive aged Iranian women
Authors: Zadeh-Vakili Azita , Tehrani Fahimeh Ramezani , Hosseinpanah Farhad 
Published: August 2011

Abstract

Background
Although the positive relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and central obesity is well known, the direct relationship between waist circumference and IR is not clear yet and there is no consensus regarding the cut off value for waist circumference as a surrogate index for central obesity. The present study was aimed to determine the optimal cut-off value of waist circumference (WC) for predicting IR in reproductive aged Iranian women.

Methods
Using the stratified, multistage probability cluster sampling method 1036 women were randomly selected from among reproductive aged women of different geographic regions of Iran. Following implementation of exclusion criteria, complete data for 907 women remained for analysis. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) and its cut off value was defined as the 95th percentile of HOMA-IR value for 129 subjects, without any metabolic abnormality. The optimal cut-off of WC in relation to HOMA-IR was calculated based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis using the Youden index and the area under curve (AUC).

Results
The mean age of the total sample of 907 subjects was 34.4 ± 7.6 years (range, 18 - 45 years). After adjustment for age the odds ratios (OR) of elevated HOMA-IR were progressively higher with increasing levels of waist circumference; the age adjusted OR of IR for women with WC > 95 cm in comparison to those subjects with WC < 80 cm, was 9.5 (95% CI 5.6-16.1). The optimal cutoff value for WC predicting IR was 88.5 cm; with a sensitivity and specificity of 71% and 64%, respectively.

Conclusions
Waist circumference is directly related to insulin resistance and the optimal cut-off value for waist circumference reflecting insulin resistance is considered to be 88.5 cm for reproductive aged Iranian women.