bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prospective clinical trial of the feasibility and safety of modified retroperitoneal lymph node dissection at time of nephroureterectomy for upper tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Rao Sandhya R. , Correa Jose J. , Sexton Wade J. , Pow‐Sang Julio M. , Dickinson Shohreh I. , Lin Hui‐Yi , Spiess Philippe E. 
Published: May 2012

Study Type – Therapy (cohort)Level of Evidence 2bWhat's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Very little is known about the safety and potential oncological benefit of performing a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection at time of nephroureterectomy for upper tract tumours.This study is the first clinical trial to prospectively validate the safety and feasibility of a retroperitoneal lymph node dissection at time of nephroureterectomy for upper tract tumours. The onus is now on the scientific community at large to conduct adequately powered multicentre clinical trials to evaluate the potential oncological benefit it may impart to patients with upper tract tumours.OBJECTIVE
To determine the safety and feasibility of modified retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) at the time of radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Between 2009 and 2011, 20 patients with suspected upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UUT‐UC) underwent open (n= 10), laparoscopic (n= 4), or robot‐assisted (n= 6) RNU with modified RPLND.
Demographic, clinical and pathological data, histological nodal status, peri‐operative complications and recurrence data were collected.
RESULTS
On histopathological review, one patient had a benign angioma and was excluded from the final data analysis. Of the remaining 19 patients, 10 had pTa, five had pT1, one had pT2, and three pT3 disease.
The mean (range) lymph node count was 7 (2–17), with one patient having pathologically proven lymph node metastasis. The mean (range) operating time was 279 (146–500) min. The mean EBL was 396 (100–1100) mL, with the mean (range) hospital stay 7.1 (4–18) days. The mean (range) duration of follow‐up after surgery was 12 (2–24) months.
Overall, nine patients developed postoperative complications, which included eight minor (Clavien Grade I‐II) and one major complication (Clavien grade IIIb). The major complication was a postoperative chylous lymphatic leak requiring surgical exploration.
CONCLUSION
The present results indicate that modified RPLND during RNU for UUT‐UC is a feasible procedure with acceptable morbidity. A larger prospective clinical trial is needed to adequately assess its potential therapeutic benefit.
EXCHANGEABLE PAIRS OF BERNOULLI RANDOM VARIABLES, KRAWTCHOUCK POLYNOMIALS, AND EHRENFEST URNS
Authors: Diaconis Persi , Griffiths Robert 
Published: May 2012

SummaryThis paper derives characterizations of bivariate binomial distributions of the Lancaster form with Krawtchouk polynomial eigenfunctions. These have been characterized by Eagleson, and we give two further characterizations with a more probabilistic flavour: the first as sums of correlated Bernoulli variables; and the second as the joint distribution of the number of balls of one colour at consecutive time points in a generalized Ehrenfest urn. We give a self‐contained development of Krawtchouck polynomials and Eagleson’s theorem.
Belief, Re‐identification and Fineness of Grain
Authors: Veillet Bénédicte 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe so‐called ‘re‐identification condition’ (Kelly 2011) has played an important role in the most prominent argument for nonconceptualism, the argument from fineness of grain. A number of authors have recently argued that the condition should be modified or discarded altogether, with devastating implications for the nonconceptualist (see, e.g., Brewer 2005, Chuard 2006). The aim of this paper is to show that the situation is even more dire for nonconceptualists, for even if the re‐identification condition remains in its original form, the argument from fineness of grain still fails to make the case for nonconceptualism. The paper's central case rests on two claims: according to the first, if the re‐identification condition holds, then some beliefs will represent some properties nonconceptually; and according to the second, if some beliefs represent some properties nonconceptually, the argument from fineness of grain fails to make the case for nonconceptualism in any relevant sense. It follows that if the re‐identification condition holds, the argument from fineness of grain fails to make the case for nonconceptualism.
Norms and Habits: Brandom on the Sociality of Action
Authors: Levine Steven 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIn this paper I argue against Brandom's two‐ply theory of action. For Brandom, action is the result of an agent acknowledging a practical commitment and then causally responding to that commitment by acting. Action is social because the content of the commitment upon which one acts is socially conferred in the game of giving and asking for reasons. On my proposal, instead of seeing action as the coupling of a rational capacity to acknowledge commitments and a non‐rational capacity to reliably respond to these commitments, we should see action as the coupling, or potential coupling, of a capacity to reason practically and a capacity to act on habits and bodily skills. In putting forward this alternative model of action, I aim to replace Brandom's rationalist brand of Pragmatism with a more classical kind, one that will let us see action as social not only at the level of reasons but also at the level of bodily habits and skills.
Reflective Rationality and the Claim of Dialectic of Enlightenment
Authors: Noppen Pierre‐François 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThat something is profoundly wrong with the way in which enlightenment has unfolded has widely been taken to be the main thrust of Dialectic of Enlightenment. In this paper, I propose to defend that to understand the book and shed light on some of its most puzzling features, one should rather take Horkheimer and Adorno's critical claim at face value: through their criticism they contend to have prepared a positive concept of enlightenment. How this can be so is the question I want to answer. I defend that what we need is an account that works out the conceptual grounds on which their critique can operate. The focus of my attempt will consist in understanding (1) what they mean when they assert that rationality is intrinsically social and (2) how they conceive of rationality as being reflective at its core.
Temporary antiretroviral treatment during primary HIV‐1 infection has a positive impact on health‐related quality of life: data from the Primo‐SHM cohort study
Authors: Grijsen ML , Koster GT , van Vonderen MGA , van Kasteren M , Kootstra GJ , Steingrover R , de Wolf F , Prins JM , Nieuwkerk PT ,   the Primo‐SHM study group
Published: May 2012

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to compare health‐related quality of life (HRQL) over 96 weeks in patients receiving no treatment or 24 or 60 weeks of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) during primary HIV‐1 infection (PHI).MethodsA multicentre prospective cohort study of PHI patients, with an embedded randomized trial, was carried out. HRQL was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey for HIV (MOS‐HIV) and a symptom checklist administered at weeks 0, 8, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96. Mixed linear models were used for the analysis of differences in HRQL among the three groups.ResultsA total of 112 patients were included in the study: 28 received no treatment, 45 received 24 weeks of cART and 39 received 60 weeks of cART. Over 96 weeks of follow‐up, the groups receiving 24 and 60 weeks of cART had better cognitive functioning than the no‐treatment group (P = 0.005). Patients receiving 60 weeks of cART had less pain (P = 0.004), better role functioning (P = 0.001), better physical functioning (P = 0.02) and a better physical health summary score (P = 0.006) than the groups receiving no treatment or 24 weeks of cART. Mental health was better in patients receiving 24 weeks of cART than in patients in the no‐treatment group or the group receiving 60 weeks of cART (P = 0.02). At week 8, patients in the groups receiving 24 and 60 weeks of cART reported more nausea (P = 0.002), diarrhoea (P < 0.001), abdominal pain (P = 0.02), stomach pain (P = 0.049) and dizziness (P = 0.01) than those in the no‐treatment group. These differences had disappeared by week 24.ConclusionsTemporary cART during PHI had a significant positive impact on patients’ HRQL as compared with no treatment, despite the initial, short‐term occurrence of more physical symptoms, probably related to drug toxicity.
Common biases and heuristics in nutritional quality judgments: a qualitative exploration
Authors: Gomez Pierrick 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe ways in which consumers make judgments about the nutritional quality of food products are a major concern for public policymakers. Given the focus on nutrition information in public health policies, the information processing paradigm has been widely used in past research. However, there is evidence that nutrition information processing is a difficult task for consumers. We examined 14 interviews from consumers of diverse social background in order to inventory the different kinds of heuristics used for making nutritional quality judgments. Narratives in which consumers elaborate about their strategies to assess nutritional quality of food products were analysed. Our findings show that: (1) consumers tend to use shortcuts to simplify nutrition information processing; (2) heuristics unrelated to nutrition information are commonly utilized; and (3) these heuristics rely on semantic, sensory and visual cues. The implications of our findings are discussed from a public policy standpoint.
Characterization of ovolin, an orally active tryptic peptide released from ovalbumin with anxiolytic‐like activity
Authors: Oda Ayako , Kaneko Kentaro , Mizushige Takafumi , Lazarus Michael , Urade Yoshihiro , Ohinata Kousaku 
Published: May 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 356–362.AbstractWe found that tryptic digest of ovalbumin after oral (p.o.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration exhibited anxiolytic‐like activity in mice, and then searched for orally active low‐molecular‐weight peptides with anxiolytic‐like activity in the tryptic digest. Val‐Tyr‐Leu‐Pro‐Arg, named ovolin, corresponding to ovalbumin (280‐284), mimicked the anxiolytic‐like activity after p.o. and i.p. administration. The anxiolytic‐like activity of ovolin was inhibited by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, or BWA868C, an antagonist of the DP1 receptor for prostaglandin (PG) D2. Ovolin‐induced anxiolytic‐like activity was also blocked by SCH58261 or bicuculline, antagonists of the adenosine A2A and GABAA receptors, respectively. Ovolin has no affinity for the DP1, A2A and GABAA receptors. Taken together, ovolin may exhibit anxiolytic‐like activity in a manner dependent on the PGD2‐DP1 system coupled to the A2A and GABAA receptors.
The augmented weighted Tchebychev norm for optimizing a linear function over an integer efficient set of a multicriteria linear program
Authors: Chaabane D. , Brahmi B. , Ramdani Z. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a new exact algorithm, using an augmented weighted Tchebychev norm, for optimizing a linear function on the efficient set of a multiple objective integer linear programming problem. This norm is optimized progressively by improving the value of the linear criteria and going through some efficient solutions. The method produced not only the best efficient solution of the linear objective function but also a subset of nondominated solutions that can help decision makers to select the best decision among a large set of Pareto solutions.
Hyaluronic acid derivatives and their healing effect on burns, epithelial surgical wounds, and chronic wounds: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Voigt Jeffrey , Driver Vickie R. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractHyaluronic acid (HA) is a polysaccharide common to most species and is found in many sites in the human body, including the skin and soft tissue. A systematic review of the literature and meta‐analysis was performed to identify randomized controlled trials, evaluating the use of HA derivatives in healing burns, epithelial surgical, and chronic wounds. Nine studies were identified, which met the search criteria and clinical endpoints of complete healing and percent wound size reduction when using HA vs. either an active or passive comparator. It was found in the vast majority of randomized controlled trials (eight of nine) that HA derivatives significantly improved the healing of wounds vs. traditional therapies or placebo (either via complete healing or a significant reduction in wound size) occurring from burns, venous insufficiency, diabetes, neuropathic insufficiency, and surgical removal of the epithelial layer (for tattoo removal). In the other remaining trial, one formulation of HA was compared with another, with the higher concentration showing improved application characteristics. Further, it was found in a meta‐analysis in subsets of patients with diabetic foot ulcers (neuropathic) that HA derivatives healed these types of wounds significantly faster than standard of care. These studies in aggregate show that HA derivatives accelerate the healing process in burns, epithelial surgical wounds, and chronic wounds.
Analysis of attitudes toward the source of progenitor cells in tissue‐engineered products for use in burns compared with other disease states
Authors: Clover Anthony J. P. , Lane O'Neill Billy , Kumar Arun H. S. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe first trials using progenitor cells to improve burn wound healing are beginning. However, there remains a paucity of data on patients' opinions of the source of stem cells. In this study, 279 patients attending plastic surgery/burns outpatient and medical outpatient clinics were questioned to assess willingness to accept a tissue‐engineered skin product derived from a variety of sources. Levels of acceptance for the use of progenitor cells derived from these sources for treatment across a range of disease states (burns, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, and for cosmetic use) were also assessed. Overall, 80% of those questioned would accept a tissue‐engineered product. Autologous cells were the preferred choice of cells (acute burns 94%, diabetes 95%, Parkinson's 93.9%). Allogeneic cells were still widely accepted (acute burns 67%, diabetes 66.7%, Parkinson's 69.2%). There was no difference observed between plastic surgical patients and medical patients in acceptance of cell therapy for burns, Parkinson's disease, or diabetes. There is good potential acceptance for the use of both autologous and allogeneic cells for the treatment of acute burns and burns' scarring as well as in diabetes and Parkinson's disease. Disease state does not appear to influence overall acceptability and choice of cells.
Deletion of a tumor necrosis superfamily gene in mice leads to impaired healing that mimics chronic wounds in humans
Authors: Petreaca Melissa L. , Do Danh , Dhall Sandeep , McLelland Darcie , Serafino Avo , Lyubovitsky Julia , Schiller Neal , Martins‐Green Manuela M. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractProper healing of cutaneous wounds progresses through a series of overlapping phases. Nonhealing wounds are defective in one or more of these processes and represent a major clinical problem. A critical issue in developing treatments for chronic wounds is the paucity of animal models to study the mechanisms underlying the defects in healing. Here we show that deletion of tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 14 (TNFSF14/LIGHT) leads to impaired wounds in mice that have the characteristics of nonchronic and chronic ulcers. These wounds show: (1) excessive production of cytokines, in particular three chemokines (KC/CXCL8, MCP‐1/CCL2, IP‐10/CXCL10), that may be key to the abnormal initiation and resolution of inflammation; (2) defective basement membranes, explaining blood vessel leakage and disruption of dermal/epidermal interactions; and (3) granulation tissue that contains high levels of Coll III, whereas Coll I is virtually absent and does not form fibrils. We also see major differences between nonchronic and chronic wounds, with the latter populated by bacterial films and producing eotaxin, a chemokine that attracts leukocytes that combat multicellular organisms (which biofilms can be considered to be). This new mouse model captures many defects observed in impaired and chronic human wounds and provides a vehicle to address their underlying cell and molecular mechanisms.
Nonviral human beta defensin‐3 expression in a bioengineered human skin tissue: A therapeutic alternative for infected wounds
Authors: Gibson Angela L. , Thomas‐Virnig Christina L. , Centanni John M. , Schlosser Sandy J. , Johnston Colette E. , Van Winkle Kelly F. , Szilagyi Andrea , He Li‐Ke , Shankar Ravi , Allen‐Hoffmann B. Lynn 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe innate immune system differentially regulates the expression of host defense peptides to combat infection during wound healing. We enhanced the expression of a host defense peptide, human beta defensin‐3 (hBD‐3), in keratinocytes to generate a three‐dimensional biologic dressing to improve healing of infected wounds. The NIKS human keratinocyte cell line was stably transfected ex vivo with a construct containing an epidermis‐specific promoter driving hBD‐3 (NIKShBD‐3) using nonviral methods. Levels of hBD‐3 mRNA and protein in three‐dimensional skin tissue produced from NIKShBD‐3 were determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Tissue architecture was characterized by hematoxylin and eosin staining and by indirect immunofluorescence using proliferation and keratinocyte differentiation markers. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using an in vitro bacterial growth assay and in vivo using a murine burn infection model. Three‐dimensional full thickness skin tissues containing epidermal NIKShBD‐3 or control NIKS possessed histologic features of interfollicular epidermis and exhibited normal tissue growth and differentiation. NIKShBD‐3 tissue contained approximately fivefold more hBD‐3 protein than tissue containing unmodified control NIKS. In vitro studies showed that NIKShBD‐3 tissue produced a significant reduction in the growth of Staphylococcus aureus multiple peptide resistance factor (mprF) compared with control tissue. In an in vivo infected murine burn model, NIKShBD‐3 tissue resulted in a 90% reduction in bacterial growth. These results demonstrate that sustained delivery of hBD‐3 by a bioengineered skin tissue results in a therapeutically relevant reduction in growth of a S. aureus strain in an animal model of infected third‐degree burn wounds.
Simple wound exudate collection method identifies bioactive cytokines and chemokines in (arterio) venous ulcers
Authors: Kroeze Kim L. , Vink Liselot , de Boer Edith M. , Scheper Rik J. , van Montfrans Catherine , Gibbs Susan 
Published: May 2012

AbstractA major challenge for clinicians treating (arterio) venous leg ulcers is to decide between standard therapy and advanced interventions. Here, we developed a simple method to collect human material representative of the ulcer wound bed, which can be used to identify biomarkers for prognostic test development. Superficial surgical debridement was performed using a small vidal curette during the weekly visit to the outpatient clinic. Moist, easily removable debridement material essentially blood free (including necrotic and nonviable slough) was collected from the surface of the ulcer. The amount ranged from 5.5 mg to 78 mg material per ulcer. Seventeen cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors were extracted and analyzed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (concentration range: 0.0005–78 ng/mg total protein). Notably, CXCL8 was by far the most abundant protein present. Inflammatory mediators were more abundant than anti‐inflammatory mediators (e.g., interleukin (IL)‐10 and transforming growth factor‐β1). Bioactivity assays showed chronic wound extracts to be capable of stimulating fibroblast migration in a chemokine‐dependent manner and also capable of stimulating healthy cells within skin substitutes to secrete wound healing mediators (CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL8, IL‐6) in an IL‐1α dependent manner. Collection of debridement tissue enables investigation of the ulcer environment in an easy noninvasive manner that may be suitable for prognostic test development.
Clinical outcomes after peripheral blood stem cell donation by related donors: a Dutch single‐center cohort study
Authors: Wiersum‐Osselton Johanna C. , van Walraven Suzanna M. , Bank Ivan , Lenselink A. Mariëtte , Fibbe Willem E. , van der Bom Johanna G. , Brand Anneke 
Published: May 2012

BACKGROUND: Relatives donating peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) may be accepted for donation on less strict criteria than unrelated donors. We evaluated the occurrence of adverse events during procedure and follow‐up, with a special focus on donors who would have been deferred as unrelated donors.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: All 268 related PBSC donors at our center (1996‐2006) were included. Data were retrospectively collected from medical reports and standard follow‐up. Health questionnaires were sent from 2007. Medical outcomes of donors, deferrable or eligible according to international criteria for unrelated donation, were compared.RESULTS: Forty donors (15%) would have been deferred for unrelated donation. Short‐term adverse events occurred in 2% of procedures. Questionnaires were returned by 162 (60%) donors on average 7.5 years after donation, bringing total person‐years of follow‐up to 1278 (177 in deferrable donors). Nine malignancies and 14 cardiovascular events were reported. The incidence rate of cardiovascular events in eligible donors was 6.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5‐12.3) per 1000 person‐years compared to 44.9 (95% CI, 17.4‐85.2) in deferrable donors; incidence rates of malignancies were 4.6 (1.4‐9.6) and 24.0 (6.0‐53.9) per 1000 person‐years, respectively, in eligible and deferrable donors. All incidence rates were within the range of age‐ and sex‐matched general population. No autoimmune disorders were reported.CONCLUSION: In both the eligible and the deferrable related donors treated with granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor there are few short‐term and long‐term problems. The occurrence of post‐PBSC cardiovascular events and malignant disease in related donors appears to be within the range of the general population.