bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Topical vitamin D analogues alone or in association with topical steroids for psoriasis: a systematic review
Authors: Devaux S , Castela A. , Archier E , Gallini A , Joly P. , Misery L. , Aractingi S. , Aubin F. , Bachelez H. , Cribier B. , Jullien D. , Le Maître M. , Richard M.‐A. , Ortonne J.‐P. , Paul C. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractObjective  The objective of this systematic review was to prepare for evidence‐based recommendations on the use of vitamin D analogues, and their combination with topical steroids in psoriasis.Methods  Literature systematic review performed in May 2011. The Cochrane, PubMed and Embase databases were systematically searched with different combinations: including Psoriasis AND calcipotriol expanded to all vitamin D analogues. To assess efficacy across studies, we used two predefined criteria to account for the numerous endpoints found in the literature, ‘Treatment success’ corresponding to 90% improvement in severity and ‘Satisfactory response’ corresponding to 75% improvement. We conducted a meta‐analysis comparing the efficacy of vitamin D analogues plus topical steroids (VDS) vs. vitamin D analogues alone (VD). To determine the relative cost‐efficacy of the topical drugs available on the market, cost/efficacy ratios were calculated for each product according to the approved therapeutic regimen.Results  51 articles were selected. The application duration varied between three to 52 weeks across studies. VD as monotherapy had a satisfactory response rate between 22% to 96% and a treatment success rate ranging from 4% to 40%. VDS had a satisfactory response rate between 35% to 86% and a treatment success rate ranging from 27% to 53%. A meta‐analysis found a probability of success twice higher with VDS than with VD in adult plaque psoriasis. The cost/efficacy ratio was evaluated as 1.2–1.8 times higher for VDS than for VD.Conclusion  VDS is twice more effective than VD and displays a better cost per success. Additional studies are needed to clarify maintenance treatment, impact on quality of life, treatment of non‐plaque psoriasis. It will be important to harmonize outcome measures in future studies with topical agents in psoriasis to better appraise their efficacy.
Retinal measurements using time domain OCT imaging before and after myopic Lasik
Authors: Lei Feng , Burns Stephen A , Shao Liqin , Yang Yabo 
Published: April 2012

Citation information: Lei F, Burns SA, Shao L & Yang Y. Retinal measurements using time domain OCT imaging before and after myopic Lasik. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2012, 32, 222–227. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2012.00905.xAbstractPurpose:  To compare retinal measurements obtained by time domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices before and after myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (Lasik) and to assess the interaction of Lasik and retinal structures as measured by time domain OCT.Methods:  Fifty‐three patients randomly selected participated in the study. Only the right eye of each subject was included in the study. Comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including refraction examination, slit lamp examination, dilated fundus examination, corneal topography, corneal thickness, intraocular pressure, and retinal Stratus OCT scans were acquired for each patient before myopic Lasik and 3 months after surgery.Results:  Total macular volume (TMV) changed significantly between preoperative and postoperative measurements (p = 0.003). No statistical differences were found between preoperative and postoperative disc area, rim area, cup/disk vert. ratio, or average foveal thickness (p > 0.05). The variation in TMV correlated significantly with the change in spherical refraction equivalent, maximal corneal curvature, minimal corneal curvature, and corneal ablation depth.Conclusions:  Most retinal OCT measurements undergo no obvious changes after myopic Lasik. The increased TMV measurements we measured after Lasik seem to be correlated with the alteration in corneal shape. The exact mechanism for this change is not clear, while we examined several possibilities including subclinical macular oedema, magnification changes, errors in OCT analysis and IOP, none of these seem to be a likely cause.
JTV519 (K201) reduces sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ leak and improves diastolic function in vitro in murine and human non‐failing myocardium
Authors: Sacherer M , Sedej S , Wakuła P , Wallner M , Vos MA , Kockskämper J , Stiegler P , Sereinigg M , von Lewinski D , Antoons G , Pieske BM , Heinzel FR ,   CONTICA investigators
Published: April 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Ca2+ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) via ryanodine receptors (RyR2s) contributes to cardiomyocyte dysfunction. RyR2 Ca2+ leak has been related to RyR2 phosphorylation. In these conditions, JTV519 (K201), a 1,4‐benzothiazepine derivative and multi‐channel blocker, stabilizes RyR2s and decrease SR Ca2+ leak. We investigated whether JTV519 stabilizes RyR2s without increasing RyR2 phosphorylation in mice and in non‐failing human myocardium and explored underlying mechanisms.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH SR Ca2+ leak was induced by ouabain in murine cardiomyocytes. [Ca2+]‐transients, SR Ca2+ load and RyR2‐mediated Ca2+ leak (sparks/waves) were quantified, with or without JTV519 (1 µmol·L−1). Contribution of Ca2+‐/calmodulin‐dependent kinase II (CaMKII) was assessed by KN‐93 and Western blot (RyR2‐Ser2814 phosphorylation). Effects of JTV519 on contractile force were investigated in non‐failing human ventricular trabeculae.KEY RESULTS Ouabain increased systolic and diastolic cytosolic [Ca2+]i, SR [Ca2+], and SR Ca2+ leak (Ca2+ spark (SparkF) and Ca2+ wave frequency), independently of CaMKII and RyR‐Ser2814 phosphorylation. JTV519 decreased SparkF but also SR Ca2+ load. At matched SR [Ca2+], Ca2+ leak was significantly reduced by JTV519, but it had no effect on fractional Ca2+ release or Ca2+ wave propagation velocity. In human muscle, JTV519 was negatively inotropic at baseline but significantly enhanced ouabain‐induced force and reduced its deleterious effects on diastolic function.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS JTV519 was effective in reducing SR Ca2+ leak by specifically regulating RyR2 opening at diastolic [Ca2+]i in the absence of increased RyR2 phosphorylation at Ser2814, extending the potential use of JTV519 to conditions of acute cellular Ca2+ overload.
Hepatitis C, porphyria cutanea tarda and liver iron: an update
Authors: Ryan Caballes F. , Sendi Hossein , Bonkovsky Herbert L. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractPorphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common form of porphyria across the world. Unlike other forms of porphyria, which are inborn errors of metabolism, PCT is usually an acquired liver disease caused by exogenous factors, chief among which are excess alcohol intake, iron overload, chronic hepatitis C, oestrogen therapy and cigarette smoking. The pathogenesis of PCT is complex and varied, but hereditary or acquired factors that lead to hepatic iron loading and increased oxidative stress are of central importance. Iron loading is usually only mild or moderate in degree [less than that associated with full‐blown haemochromatosis (HFE)] and is usually acquired and/or mutations in HFE. Among acquired factors are excessive alcohol intake and chronic hepatitis C infection, which, like mutations in HFE, decrease hepcidin production by hepatocytes. The decrease in hepcidin leads to increased iron absorption from the gut. In the liver, iron loading and increased oxidative stress leads to the formation of non‐porphyrin inhibitor(s) of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase and to oxidation of porphyrinogens to porphyrins. The treatment of choice of active PCT is iron reduction by phlebotomy and maintenance of a mildly iron‐reduced state without anaemia. Low‐dose antimalarials (cinchona alkaloids) are also useful as additional therapy or as alternative therapy for active PCT in those without haemochromatosis or chronic hepatitis C. In this review, we provide an update of PCT with special emphasis upon the important role often played by the hepatitis C virus.
Natural history of chronic hepatitis B: what exactly has REVEAL Revealed?
Authors: Iloeje Uchenna H , Yang Hwai‐I , Chen Chien‐Jen 
Published: April 2012

AbstractChronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious public health problem because of its worldwide prevalence and potential to cause adverse consequences. The Risk Evaluation of Viral Load Elevation and Associated Liver Disease/Cancer‐Hepatitis B Virus (REVEAL‐HBV) study carried out in Taiwan was used to investigate the natural history of chronic hepatitis B. The REVEAL‐HBV study has established an HBV viral load paradigm in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Serum HBV DNA level has been shown to be significantly and independently associated with incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cirrhosis and liver‐related mortality across a biological gradient. It is also a major predictor of HBsAg seroclearance. Genetic features including HBV genotype and basal core promoter A1762T/G1764A mutant, and precore G1896A mutant were documented as predictors of HCC risk. Inactive HBV carriers still had an increased risk on HCC development and liver‐related mortality compared with HBsAg ‐seronegatives. Nomograms focusing on facilitating risk communication between patients and clinicians were developed incorporating non‐invasive clinical parameters to predict long‐term HCC risk. These will hopefully contribute to evidence‐based decisions in the clinical management of CHB patients. A somewhat provocative and novel finding from the REVEAL‐HBV study is the association of chronic HBV infection in active replication with an increased pancreatic cancer risk especially in women less than 50 years old. This finding will hopefully spur further research in this area seeking confirmatory evidence. Finally, we hope that the REVEAL‐HBV study will continue to be a source of data to answer other important questions in chronic hepatitis B research going forward.
Assessment of Helicobacter pylori Eradication by Virgin Olive Oil
Authors: Castro Manuel , Romero Concepción , de Castro Antonio , Vargas Julio , Medina Eduardo , Millán Raquel , Brenes Manuel 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground:  A recent study conducted by Medina et al. disclosed that virgin olive oil has a bactericidal effect in vitro against Helicobacter pylori because of its contents of certain phenolic compounds with dialdehydic structures. We carried out two clinical trials to evaluate the effect of virgin olive oil on H. pylori‐infected individuals.Materials and Methods:  Two different pilot studies were performed with 60 H. pylori‐infected adults. In the first study, thirty subjects who tested positive for H. pylori received 30 g of washed virgin olive oil for 14 days, and after 1 month, the patients took 30 g of unwashed virgin olive oil for another 14 days. In a second study, a group of 30 subjects received 30 g of a different virgin olive oil for 14 days. Helicobacter pylori‐infection status was checked by the urea breath test.Results:  Helicobacter pylori was eradicated in 8 of 30 individuals when microorganism status was checked after 4–6 weeks from the first clinical intervention although 12 of 30 individuals did not show H. pylori infection at 24–72 hour of the last oil dose. Eradication rates were 27 and 40% by intention to treat and per protocol, respectively. Moreover, only 3 of 30 individuals were H. pylori negative after 4–6 weeks from the second clinical intervention but 5 of 30 were negative at 24–72 hour of the last oil dose. Eradication rates were 10 and 11% by intention to treat and per protocol, respectively. It must also be noted that 13 subjects withdrew from the studies because of taste and nausea drawbacks.Conclusions:  The administration of virgin olive oil showed moderate effectiveness in eradicating H. pylori. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings, especially with longer periods, different administration conditions, and several types of olive oils.
Managerial Entrenchment and Capital Structure Decisions
Authors: BERGER PHILIP G. , OFEK ELI , YERMACK DAVID L. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTWe study associations between managerial entrenchment and firms' capital structures, with results generally suggesting that entrenched CEOs seek to avoid debt. In a cross‐sectional analysis, we find that leverage levels are lower when CEOs do not face pressure from either ownership and compensation incentives or active monitoring. In an analysis of leverage changes, we find that leverage increases in the aftermath of entrenchment‐reducing shocks to managerial security, including unsuccessful tender offers, involuntary CEO replacements, and the addition to the board of major stockholders.
Does the Specialist Matter? Differential Execution Costs and Intersecurity Subsidization on the New York Stock Exchange
Authors: CAO CHARLES , CHOE HYUK , HATHEWAY FRANK 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThis article tests for differences in execution costs among specialist firms for New York Stock Exchange listed securities. Execution cost differences provide a measure of the relative performance of specialist firms. We find a substantial difference in effective spreads and order processing costs across specialist firms, controlling for stock characteristics. While economically significant, the differences in execution costs between specialist firms are much smaller than the cross‐market differences reported by Huang and Stoll (1996). Within a specialist firm, there is a positive relation between order processing costs and trading activity that is consistent with the hypothesis that active stocks subsidize inactive stocks.
Corporate Governance and Equity Prices: Evidence from the Czech and Slovak Republics
Authors: CLAESSENS STIJN 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThe Czech and Slovak Republics' mass privatization scheme used voucher points distributed to the population and a competitive bidding process to change the governance of a large number of firms. Voucher prices and following secondary market prices are shown to depend upon the resulting ownership structures. The more concentrated ownership is, the higher prices are. High absolute ownership by a single domestic investor is associated with even higher voucher prices. I find some evidence that initially prices are relatively lower when a bank‐sponsored investment fund has a relatively large stake in a firm. This suggests conflicts of interest.
Heterogeneous Information Arrivals and Return Volatility Dynamics: Uncovering the Long‐Run in High Frequency Returns
Authors: ANDERSEN TORBEN G. , BOLLERSLEV TIM 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTRecent empirical evidence suggests that the interdaily volatility clustering for most speculative returns are best characterized by a slowly mean‐reverting fractionally integrated process. Meanwhile, much shorter lived volatility dynamics are typically observed with high frequency intradaily returns. The present article demonstrates, that by interpreting the volatility as a mixture of numerous heterogeneous short‐run information arrivals, the observed volatility process may exhibit long‐run dependence. As such, the long‐memory characteristics constitute an intrinsic feature of the return generating process, rather than the manifestation of occasional structural shifts. These ideas are confirmed by our analysis of a one‐year time series of five‐minute Deutschemark‐U.S. Dollar exchange rates.
Empirical Performance of Alternative Option Pricing Models
Authors: Bakshi Gurdip , Cao Charles , Chen Zhiwu 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTSubstantial progress has been made in developing more realistic option pricing models. Empirically, however, it is not known whether and by how much each generalization improves option pricing and hedging. We fill this gap by first deriving an option model that allows volatility, interest rates and jumps to be stochastic. Using S&P 500 options, we examine several alternative models from three perspectives: (1) internal consistency of implied parameters/volatility with relevant time‐series data, (2) out‐of‐sample pricing, and (3) hedging. Overall, incorporating stochastic volatility and jumps is important for pricing and internal consistency. But for hedging, modeling stochastic volatility alone yields the best performance.
On Persistence in Mutual Fund Performance
Authors: Carhart Mark M. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTUsing a sample free of survivor bias, I demonstrate that common factors in stock returns and investment expenses almost completely explain persistence in equity mutual funds' mean and risk‐adjusted returns.Hendricks, Patel and Zeckhauser's (1993)“hot hands” result is mostly driven by the one‐year momentum effect ofJegadeesh and Titman (1993), but individual funds do not earn higher returns from following the momentum strategy in stocks. The only significant persistence not explained is concentrated in strong underperformance by the worst‐return mutual funds. The results do not support the existence of skilled or informed mutual fund portfolio managers.
Cash Flow and Investment: Evidence from Internal Capital Markets
Authors: LAMONT OWEN 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTUsing data from the 1986 oil price decrease, I examine the capital expenditures of nonoil subsidiaries of oil companies. I test the joint hypothesis that 1) a decrease in cash/collateral decreases investment, holding fixed the profitability of investment, and 2) the finance costs of different parts of the same corporation are interdependent. The results support this joint hypothesis: oil companies significantly reduced their nonoil investment compared to the median industry investment. The 1986 decline in investment was concentrated in nonoil units that were subsidized by the rest of the company in 1985.
Agency Problems, Equity Ownership, and Corporate Diversification
Authors: DENIS DAVID J. , DENIS DIANE K. , SARIN ATULYA 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTWe provide evidence on the agency cost explanation for corporate diversification. We find that the level of diversification is negatively related to managerial equity ownership and to the equity ownership of outside blockholders. In addition, we report that decreases in diversification are associated with external corporate control threats, financial distress, and management turnover. These findings suggest that agency problems are responsible for firms maintaining value‐reducing diversification strategies and that the recent trend toward increased corporate focus is attributable to market disciplinary forces.
Market Orders and Market Efficiency
Authors: BROWN DAVID P. , ZHANG ZHI MING 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThis work compares a dealer market and a limit‐order book. Dealers commonly observe order flow and collect information from multiple market orders. They may be better informed than other traders, although they do not earn rents from this information. Dealers earn rents as suppliers of liquidity, and their decisions to enter or exit the market are independent of the degree of adverse selection. Introduction of a limit‐order book lowers the execution‐price risk faced by speculators and leads them to trade more aggressively on their information. Introduction of the book also lowers dealer profits, but increases the informational efficiency of prices.
When It's Not The Only Game in Town: The Effect of Bilateral Search on the Quality of a Dealer Market
Authors: LAMOUREUX CHRISTOPHER G. , SCHNITZLEIN CHARLES R. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTWe report results from experimental asset markets with liquidity traders and an insider where we allow bilateral trade to take place, in addition to public trade with dealers. In the absence of the search alternative, dealer profits are large—unlike in models with risk‐neutral, competitive dealers. However, when we allow traders to participate in the search market, dealer profits are close to zero. Dealers compete more aggressively with the alternative trading avenue than with each other. There is no evidence that price discovery is less efficient when the specialists are not the only game in town.
The Valuation of Complex Derivatives by Major Investment Firms: Empirical Evidence
Authors: BERNARDO ANTONIO E. , CORNELL BRADFORD 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThis article examines the auction of a portfolio of collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) to major broker dealers and institutional investors. The unique data set allows us to analyze a number of important empirical questions related to the valuation of CMOs by the bidders and the elasticity of demand for the securities. The results reveal that the valuations differ substantially implying a significant elasticity of demand.
The Valuation of American Options with Stochastic Interest Rates: A Generalization of the Geske—Johnson Technique
Authors: HO T. S. , STAPLETON RICHARD C. , SUBRAHMANYAM MARTI G. 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThe Geske–Johnson approach provides an efficient and intuitively appealing technique for the valuation and hedging of American‐style contingent claims. Here, we generalize their approach to a stochastic interest rate economy. The method is implemented using options exercisable on one of a finite number of dates. We illustrate how the value of an American‐style option increases with interest rate volatility. The magnitude of this effect depends on the extent to which the option is in the money, the volatilities of the underlying asset and the interest rates, as well as the correlation between them.
Income Inequality across Micro and Meso Geographic Scales in the Midwestern United States, 1979–20091
Authors: Peters David J. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis article examines the spatial distribution of income inequality and the socioeconomic factors affecting it using spatial analysis techniques across 16,285 block groups, 5,050 tracts, and 618 counties in the western part of the North Central Region of the United States. Different geographic aggregations result in different inequality outcomes, suggesting spatial scale needs to be carefully considered in inequality research. Inequality is spatially clustered in suburban areas of larger metro areas and around Native American reservations in the Dakotas. Higher inequality is associated with better socioeconomic conditions, counter to the social inequality literature but consistent with the inequality growth literature. However, growing inequality is associated with worse socioeconomic outcomes. Results partially support the polarization thesis that declines in industrial sectors and growth in services has caused incomes to diverge. Higher and growing inequality is associated with both low‐skill and high‐skill services jobs. However, employment in agricultural and industrial sectors experiencing large losses over the past three decades is also linked to higher and growing inequality. This suggests a dual process where many former agricultural and industrial workers are now employed in other sectors at lower wages, while the remaining workers in these sectors earn higher and growing wages.