bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Floor mattresses: Another potentially dangerous infant sleeping environment
Authors: Byard Roger W , Winskog Calle 
Published: March 2011

Aim:  To identify and characterise cases of infant deaths where the fatal episodes were considered to be because of positional asphyxia from wedging and/or suffocation associated with sleeping on or near a mattress that had been placed on a floor.Methods:  Retrospective review of autopsy cases from Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, Australia, was performed over a 10‐year period from January 2001 to December 2009 to identify such cases.Results:  A total of five deaths were identified. In three cases, infants were wedged between the sides of mattresses and a wall or a sofa. In one case, the infant's head was wedged between a mattress side and a chest of drawers, and in the remaining case, the head was pressed into a plastic bag containing clothes. The age range was 2–10 months, with a male‐to‐female ratio of 3:2.Conclusions:  Although such deaths are not common, they may be more prevalent when there is overcrowding and reduced sleeping space. While the ideal situation is to provide an infant with his or her own sleeping space, infants sleeping on or near floor mattresses can have the risk of asphyxiation reduced if such mattresses are not located close to furniture or walls, and are not near items such as soft materials or plastic sheeting that could cause airway obstruction.
Recurrent mesh erosion and retropubic abscess following anterior intravaginal slingplasty
Authors: Lo Tsia‐Shu , Ashok Kiran 
Published: March 2011

AbstractAnterior intravaginal slingplasty (IVS), which utilizes multifilament polypropylene mesh is associated with significant risk of mesh erosion and infection. A case of mesh erosion occurred at 6 months following retropubic suburethral IVS sling was referred to our clinic. Complete removal of the protruded tape with primary closure of the vaginal defect was performed. However, repeat vaginal erosion was observed 2 years later. The undermined remaining tape further developed a retropubic purulent abscess. Thereafter, complete mesh removal and debridement in the retropubic space was carried out. The retropubic abscess resulted from the remains of the IVS tape. We emphasize that complicated sequel can develop after incomplete removal of IVS tape when tape erosion is encountered.
Effect of Ramadan fasting on maternal oxidative stress during the second trimester: A preliminary study
Authors: Ozturk Ebru , Balat Ozcan , Ugur Mete Gurol , Yazıcıoglu Caglar , Pence Sadrettin , Erel Özcan , Kul Seval 
Published: March 2011

AbstractAim:  To evaluate whether fasting during Ramadan has any significant effects on maternal oxidative stress or fetal health in healthy, pregnant women with an uncomplicated, second‐trimester, singleton pregnancy.Methods:  During the month of Ramadan, 1–29 September 2008, 42 fasting and 30 non‐fasting pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective controlled study. Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and the oxidative stress index (OSI) were measured from maternal serum samples taken on a fasting day during Ramadan. The two groups underwent routine follow‐up examinations. At the end of the pregnancy, maternal complications, birth weight and maternal weight gain during the entire pregnancy were noted. To evaluate whether the duration of fasting days (≥10 or ≥15 days) had any significant effects on maternal oxidative stress, pregnant women who observed Ramadan for more than nine days or those who fasted for more than 14 days were compared with the control group in terms of TAS, TOS and OSI.Results:  No significant differences were observed between the groups studied in terms of TAS, TOS, OSI, maternal age, gestational age, parity, birth weight or weight gain during the pregnancy. The TAS level was evaluated as significantly higher (P = 0.027) in the ≥10 fasting days group compared to the non‐fasting control group, while there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to TOS and OSI.Conclusion:  Maternal fasting during Ramadan during the second trimester does not have a significant effect on maternal oxidative stress, fetal development or fetal birth weight.
Uterine inversion due to a leiomyoma on postpartum day 41: A case report
Authors: Shirota Kyoko , Ota Takeharu , Tsujioka Hiroshi , Miyamoto Shingo 
Published: March 2011

AbstractUterine leiomyomas are common tumors in women of reproductive age and are frequently detected during pregnancy. The major complications during pregnancy include abortion, preterm delivery, abruptio placentae, intrauterine growth retardation, dystocia, and postpartum hemorrhage. Little attention is given to uterine leiomyomas postpartum compared to leiomyomas prior to childbirth. In the present case, a 27‐year‐old woman, gravida 1 para 1, presented with massive vaginal bleeding, urinary retention and lower abdominal pain on postpartum day 41. She was diagnosed with uterine inversion due to leiomyoma. After a vaginal myomectomy, the uterus was re‐placed with a combined vaginal and abdominal approach. Because of timely medical intervention, the patient managed to overcome the crisis and her reproductive organs were successfully preserved.
Recombinant activated factor VII as a promising adjuvant therapy for postpartum hemorrhage in the practice of obstetric anesthesia: Experience from a university hospital in Taiwan
Authors: Jan Jing‐Yi , Lin Shin‐Yu , Lin Chia‐Hui , Lee Chien‐Nan , Fan Shou‐Zen , Han Yin‐Yi 
Published: March 2011

AbstractMassive postpartum hemorrhage is one of the major complications in the peripartum period. In some critical cases, hemostasis is hard to achieve even after a hysterectomy has been performed. Recombinant activated factor VII has been reported as a promising adjuvant therapy for obstetric hemorrhage, although it remains unlicensed for this indication. Eight cases receiving recombinant activated factor VII in postpartum hemorrhage refractory to the conventional therapy in a Taiwanese hospital were analyzed retrospectively. A good response, defined as bleeding control in 15 min, was achieved in six patients (75%) with a single dose ranging from 55 to 105 µg/kg. The two patients with a poor response were later discovered to have had unsolved birth canal injuries. No drug‐related adverse effects were noted. We recommend that any surgical bleeding should first be controlled, as well as the correction of metabolic and hematological abnormalities; however, in the situation of intractable postpartum hemorrhage, recombinant activated factor VII offers a salvage therapy and should be considered early, even before hysterectomy.
Alcohol tax changes and the use of alcohol in Europe
Authors: ÖSTERBERG ESA L. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. Different motives in determining the level and structure of alcohol taxes lead to greatly varying alcohol excise duty levels. The aim of this paper is to look at alcohol excise duty rates in European Union (EU) and the mechanisms affecting them. Also the trends in alcohol prices and alcohol consumption will be discussed. Material. Material concerning alcohol taxes and consumption comes from available statistics and published literature. Results. This paper shows that despite many attempts the EU has not been able to harmonise alcohol excise duty rates in its member states. The importance of alcohol taxes as an alcohol control measure has decreased as the real value of alcohol excise duty rates has decreased in most EU countries during the last decades. Discussion. In most European countries the share of alcohol taxes of the price of alcoholic beverages is quite low. Therefore, increasing alcohol excise duty rates would in most countries lead to increased alcohol tax revenues to the public sector. Consequently, increasing alcohol excise duty rates would serve both the fiscal and the health and social policy interests of the state.[Österberg EL. Alcohol tax changes and the use of alcohol in Europe. Drug Alcohol Rev 2011;30:124–129]
Costs of Taxation and Benefits of Public Goods with Multiple Taxes and Goods
Authors: ANDERSON JAMES E. , MARTIN WILL 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe fact that raising taxes can increase taxed labor supply through income effects is frequently and erroneously used to justify greater public good provision than indicated by traditional, compensated analyses. We develop a model including multiple public goods and taxes and derive measures of the marginal benefits of public goods and the Marginal Cost of Funds (MCF) using both compensated and uncompensated measures. We confirm that the desirability of tax‐financed public projects is independent of the method used. An important innovation is to show that the benefits of public goods must be adjusted by a benefit multiplier not previously seen in the literature if an uncompensated MCF is used.
Taxes, Tuition Fees, and Education for Pleasure
Authors: MALCHOW‐MØLLER NIKOLAJ , NIELSEN SØREN BO , SKAKSEN JAN ROSE 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe fact that education provides both a productive and a consumptive (nonproductive) return has important and, in some cases, dramatic implications for optimal taxes and tuition fees. Using a simple model, we show that when the consumption share in education is endogenous and tuition fees are unconstrained, the optimal tax/fee system involves regressive income taxes and high tuition fees. A progressive labor income tax system may, on the other hand, be a second‐best response to politically constrained, low tuition fees. Finally, the existence of individuals with different abilities will also move the optimal income tax system toward progressivity.
Multiscale Adaptive Regression Models for Neuroimaging Data
Authors: Li Yimei , Zhu Hongtu , Shen Dinggang , Lin Weili , Gilmore John H. , Ibrahim Joseph G. 
Published: March 2011

Summary
Neuroimaging studies aim to analyse imaging data with complex spatial patterns in a large number of locations (called voxels) on a two-dimensional surface or in a three-dimensional volume. Conventional analyses of imaging data include two sequential steps: spatially smoothing imaging data and then independently fitting a statistical model at each voxel. However, conventional analyses suffer from the same amount of smoothing throughout the whole image, the arbitrary choice of extent of smoothing and low statistical power in detecting spatial patterns. We propose a multiscale adaptive regression model to integrate the propagation– separation approach with statistical modelling at each voxel for spatial and adaptive analysis of neuroimaging data from multiple subjects. The multiscale adaptive regression model has three features: being spatial, being hierarchical and being adaptive. We use a multiscale adaptive estimation and testing procedure to utilize imaging observations from the neighbouring voxels of the current voxel to calculate parameter estimates and test statistics adaptively. Theoretically, we establish consistency and asymptotic normality of the adaptive parameter estimates and the asymptotic distribution of the adaptive test statistics. Our simulation studies and real data analysis confirm that the multiscale adaptive regression model significantly outperforms conventional analyses of imaging data.
Adaptive Inference for the Mean of a Gaussian Process in Functional Data
Authors: Bunea Florentina , Ivanescu Andrada E. , Wegkamp Marten H. 
Published: March 2011

Summary
We propose and analyse fully data-driven methods for inference about the mean function of a Gaussian process from a sample of independent trajectories of the process, observed at random time points and corrupted by additive random error. Our methods are based on thresholded least squares estimators relative to an approximating function basis. The variable threshold levels are determined from the data and the resulting estimates adapt to the unknown sparsity of the mean function relative to the approximating basis. These results are obtained via novel oracle inequalities, which are further used to derive the rates of convergence of our mean estimates. In addition, we construct confidence balls that adapt to the unknown regularity of the mean and covariance function of the stochastic process. They are easy to compute since they do not require explicit estimation of the covariance operator of the process. A simulation study shows that the new method performs very well in practice and is robust against large variations that may be introduced by the random-error terms.
Functional Singular Component Analysis
Authors: Yang Wenjing , Müller Hans-Georg , Stadtmüller Ulrich 
Published: March 2011

Summary
Aiming at quantifying the dependence of pairs of functional data (X,Y), we develop the concept of functional singular value decomposition for covariance and functional singular component analysis, building on the concept of ‘canonical expansion’ of compact operators in functional analysis. We demonstrate the estimation of the resulting singular values, functions and components for the practically relevant case of sparse and noise-contaminated longitudinal data and provide asymptotic consistency results. Expanding bivariate functional data into singular functions emerges as a natural extension of the popular functional principal component analysis for single processes to the case of paired processes. A natural application of the functional singular value decomposition is a measure of functional correlation. Owing to the involvement of an inverse operation, most previously considered functional correlation measures are plagued by numerical instabilities and strong sensitivity to the choice of smoothing parameters. These problems are exacerbated for the case of sparse longitudinal data, on which we focus. The functional correlation measure that is derived from the functional singular value decomposition behaves well with respect to numerical stability and statistical error, as we demonstrate in a simulation study. Practical feasibility for applications to longitudinal data is illustrated with examples from a study on aging and on-line auctions.
Influence of season on some skin properties: winter vs. summer, as experienced by 354 Shanghaiese women of various ages
Authors: Qiu H. , Long X. , Ye J. C. , Hou J. , Senee J. , Laurent A. , Bazin R. , Flament F. , Adam A. , Coutet J. , Piot B. 
Published: March 2011

SynopsisThe facial skin of 354 women, aged 18–80, living in Shanghai, was investigated over two successive 6 month periods, summer and winter. Results from clinical assessments indicate that aging signs, such as wrinkling and sagging, are unaffected over such period.However, physical measurements revealed alterations in some functional criteria of the skin, such as sebum output, skin colour, melanin content of pigmented spots, skin hydration, all being increased during summer. The relationships between all criteria, as well as technical or applied inferences/consequences from this study, are discussed.
Corneobiology and Corneotherapy – a final chapter
Authors: Kligman A. M. 
Published: March 2011

SynopsisThe text obtained for this review from Professor Albert Kligman was drawn posthumously from a variety of notes that he had been planning to use to write a review on corneobiology and corneotherapy. It was a review that he had dearly hoped to complete – his final ‘magnum opus’ with reflections on the subject.
Fenretinide metabolism in humans and mice: utilizing pharmacological modulation of its metabolic pathway to increase systemic exposure
Authors: Cooper Jason P , Hwang Kyunghwa , Singh Hardeep , Wang Dong , Reynolds C Patrick , Curley Jr Robert W , Williams Simon C , Maurer Barry J , Kang Min H 
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE High plasma levels of fenretinide [N‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4‐HPR)] were associated with improved outcome in a phase II clinical trial. Low bioavailability of 4‐HPR has been limiting its therapeutic applications. This study characterized metabolism of 4‐HPR in humans and mice, and to explore the effects of ketoconazole, an inhibitor of CYP3A4, as a modulator to increase 4‐HPR plasma levels in mice and to increase the low bioavailability of 4‐HPR.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH 4‐HPR metabolites were identified by mass spectrometric analysis and levels of 4‐HPR and its metabolites [N‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)retinamide (4‐MPR) and 4‐oxo‐N‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4‐oxo‐4‐HPR)] were quantified by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Kinetic analysis of enzyme activities and the effects of enzyme inhibitors were performed in pooled human and pooled mouse liver microsomes, and in human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 isoenzyme microsomes. In vivo metabolism of 4‐HPR was inhibited in mice.KEY RESULTS Six 4‐HPR metabolites were identified in the plasma of patients and mice. 4‐HPR was oxidized to 4‐oxo‐4‐HPR, at least in part via human CYP3A4. The CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole significantly reduced 4‐oxo‐4‐HPR formation in both human and mouse liver microsomes. In two strains of mice, co‐administration of ketoconazole with 4‐HPR in vivo significantly increased 4‐HPR plasma concentrations by > twofold over 4‐HPR alone and also increased 4‐oxo‐4‐HPR levels.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Mice may serve as an in vivo model of human 4‐HPR pharmacokinetics. In vivo data suggest that the co‐administration of ketoconazole at normal clinical doses with 4‐HPR may increase systemic exposure to 4‐HPR in humans.
Naringin directly activates inwardly rectifying potassium channels at an overlapping binding site to tertiapin‐Q
Authors: Yow Tin T , Pera Elena , Absalom Nathan , Heblinski Marika , Johnston Graham AR , Hanrahan Jane R , Chebib Mary 
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND G protein‐coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (KIR3) channels are important proteins that regulate numerous physiological processes including excitatory responses in the CNS and the control of heart rate. Flavonoids have been shown to have significant health benefits and are a diverse source of compounds for identifying agents with novel mechanisms of action.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The flavonoid glycoside, naringin, was evaluated on recombinant human KIR3.1–3.4 and KIR3.1–3.2 expressed in Xenopus oocytes using two‐electrode voltage clamp methods. In addition, we evaluated the activity of naringin alone and in the presence of the KIR3 channel blocker tertiapin‐Q (0.5 nM, 1 nM and 3 nM) at recombinant KIR3.1–3.4 channels. Site‐directed mutagenesis was used to identify amino acids within the M1–M2 loop of the KIR3.1F137S mutant channel important for naringin's activity.KEY RESULTS Naringin (100 µM) had minimal effect on uninjected oocytes but activated KIR3.1–3.4 and KIR3.1–3.2 channels. The activation by naringin of KIR3.1–3.4 channels was inhibited by tertiapin‐Q in a competitive manner. An alanine‐scan performed on the KIR3.1F137S mutant channel, replacing one by one aromatic amino acids within the M1–M2 loop, identified tyrosines 148 and 150 to be significantly contributing to the affinity of naringin as these mutations reduced the activity of naringin by 20‐ and 40‐fold respectively.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These results show that naringin is a direct activator of KIR3 channels and that tertiapin‐Q shares an overlapping binding site on the KIR3.1–3.4. This is the first example of a ligand that activates KIR3 channels by binding to the extracellular M1–M2 linker of the channel.
Spinal neuronal NOS activation mediates sigma‐1 receptor‐induced mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity in mice: involvement of PKC‐dependent GluN1 phosphorylation
Authors: Roh Dae‐Hyun , Choi Sheu‐Ran , Yoon Seo‐Yeon , Kang Suk‐Yun , Moon Ji‐Young , Kwon Soon‐Gu , Han Ho‐Jae , Beitz Alvin J. , Lee Jang‐Hern 
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We recently demonstrated that activation of the spinal sigma‐1 receptor induces mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity via calcium‐dependent second messenger cascades and phosphorylation of the spinal NMDA receptor GluN1 subunit (pGluN1). Here we examined the role of NO in this process, as it plays a critical role in PKC‐mediated calcium signalling and the potentiation of NMDA receptor function.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The effects of intrathecal (i.t.) pretreatment with nNOS inhibitors on PRE084 (sigma‐1 receptor agonist)‐induced pain were assessed in mice by use of mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia tests. Western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemical techniques were used to determine effects of these treatments on spinal pGluN1‐immunoreactive (ir) cells, whether PRE084 induces a time‐dependent modification of nNOS activity in the dorsal horn, and if any changes in nNOS activity can be blocked by sigma‐1 receptor, calcineurin or soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) inhibitors.KEY RESULTS PRE084, injected i.t., induced mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity, and increased the number of PKC‐ and PKA‐dependent pGluN1‐ir cells in spinal cord. This PRE084‐induced hypersensitivity and increase in PKC‐dependent pGluN1 expression were blocked by pretreatment with NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME) or 7‐nitroindazole (7‐NI). PRE084 also time‐dependently decreased the ratio of phosphorylated nNOS (pnNOS) to nNOS expression and the number of spinal pnNOS‐ir cells. This decrease in pnNOS was prevented by BD1047, a sigma‐1 receptor antagonist and cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor, but not by a sGC inhibitor.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Spinal sigma‐1 receptor‐induced sensitization is mediated by an increase in nNOS activity, which is associated with an NO‐induced increase in PKC‐dependent pGluN1 expression.
Transfusion‐related acute lung injury: reports to the French Hemovigilance Network 2007 through 2008
Authors: Ozier Yves , Muller Jean‐Yves , Mertes Paul‐Michel , Renaudier Philippe , Aguilon Philippe , Canivet Nathalie , Fabrigli Patrick , Rebibo Danielle , Tazerout Mahdi , Trophilme Catherine , Willaert Béatrice , Caldani Cyril 
Published: March 2011

BACKGROUND: Transfusion‐related acute lung injury (TRALI) is a major cause of transfusion‐related mortality and morbidity. Epidemiologic studies using data from national transfusion schemes can help achieve a better understanding of TRALI incidence.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary working group analyzed TRALI cases extracted from the French Hemovigilance Network Database (2007‐2008). All notified cases were reviewed for diagnosis. Those meeting the Canadian Consensus Conference criteria for TRALI were classified according to imputability to transfusion and clinical severity. Patient data (clinical characteristics, number and types of products transfused, and serology results) were obtained.RESULTS: There were 62 TRALI cases and 23 possible TRALI cases during the 2‐year period. An immune‐mediated mechanism was identified in 30 of 50 TRALI cases with complete serology. TRALI was considered to be the cause of death in 7.1% of patients and might have contributed to death in an additional 9.4% of TRALI or possible TRALI patients. Occurrence ranked high in obstetrics (15%), after surgery (34%), and in hematologic malignancies (21%). Single‐donor high‐plasma‐volume components were involved in half of the cases where the implicated blood product could be determined and carried the highest risk per component (1:31,000 for single‐donor fresh‐frozen plasma units and apheresis platelet [PLT] concentrates, and 1:173,000 for red blood cells). No incident could be definitively related to the transfusion of solvent/detergent‐treated pooled plasma (>200,000 units transfused), nor to pooled PLT concentrates.CONCLUSION: The proportion of TRALI cases related to plasma‐rich components was lower than previously described.