bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patients for patient safety in China: A cross sectional study
Authors: Zhang Qiongwen , Li Yulin , Li Jing , Mao Xuanyue , Zhang Lijuan , Ying Qinghua , Wei Xin , Shang Lili , Zhang Mingming 
Published: February 2012

Abstract Objectives: To investigate the baseline status of patients’ awareness, knowledge, and attitudes to patient safety in China, and to determine the factors that influence patients’ involvement in patient safety.Methods: We conducted a cross sectional survey using questionnaires adapted from recent studies on patient safety from outside China. The items included medical errors, infection, medication safety, and other aspects of patient safety. The questionnaire included 17 items and 5 domains. The survey was conducted between Jan. 2009 and Dec. 2010 involving 1000 patients from ten grade‐A hospitals in seven provinces or cities in China. Most patients from the surgery departments completed the questionnaires voluntarily and anonymously. Five reviewers independently input the data into Microsoft Excel 2003, and the data were double‐checked. Data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 software for differences in the perceptions and attitudes of patients toward patient safety among different genders, ages, and regions.Results: We distributed 1000 questionnaires and collected 959 completed questionnaires (response rate: 96%). Among the respondents, 58% of patients did not know what medical error is. Sixty‐five percent of patients wanted disclosure of all medical errors. After errors occurred, 58% of patients wanted explanations of all possible harms that had resulted. Among 187 patients who had experienced medical errors, 83% of patients had sought appropriate legal action. About 52% of patients understood hospital infection, but 28% patients did not know that infections could occur in hospital. Seventy‐eight percent of patients thought that medical staff should wash their hands before examining patients. More than half of the patients (68%) were willing to remind the staff of hygiene if they saw unsanitary conditions in a health clinic. Only 14% of patients knew the side effects of medications that they took.Conclusion: The majority of patients surveyed expressed willingness to contribute to patient safety, but their knowledge about patient safety practices was generally very limited.
Silencing thioredoxin induces liver cancer cell senescence under hypoxia
Authors: Zhang Ti , Liu Heping , Zhu Cihui , Briggs Katrina , Kang Ya'an , Fleming Jason A. , Curley Steven A. 
Published: February 2012

Aim:  Although thioredoxin 1 (TXN) has pleiotropic cellular functions as a redox‐sensitive protein, very little is known about its role in tumor survival and growth under hypoxia. MHCC97H hepatocellular carcinoma cells have a high metastatic potential and high thioredoxin expression levels compared with their parent cell line, MHCC97. Thus, we used this cell line to explore the functional connections between TXN and hypoxia.Methods:  MHCC97H cells were cultured under normoxia and hypoxia for specific periods after nucleofection with TXN siRNA or control siRNA. We assessed the β‐phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) sensitivity of the cells, cell proliferation, cell cycle and senescence, and DNA damage response by using 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, colony formation assays, flow cytometry, β‐galactosidase staining, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry.Results:  β‐phenylethyl isothiocyanate treatment shifted reduced TXN to oxidized TXN in MHCC97H cells. Although silencing of TXN via siRNA had no effect on the PEITC sensitivity of the cells, it suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation under both normoxia and hypoxia. Under hypoxia, silencing TXN did not induce apoptosis but induced DNA damage response and cellular senescence.Conclusions:  High TXN levels in MHCC97H cells protect them from DNA damage and cellular senescence under hypoxia. Targeting TXN might enhance the chemotherapeutic effects of some DNA‐damaging agents against hepatocellular carcinoma.
Plasma free choline is a novel non‐invasive biomarker for early‐stage non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis: A multi‐center validation study
Authors: Imajo Kento , Fujita Koji , Yoneda Masato , Shinohara Yoshiyasu , Suzuki Kaori , Mawatari Hironori , Takahashi Junichiro , Nozaki Yuichi , Sumida Yoshio , Kirikoshi Hiroyuki , Saito Satoru , Nakamuta Makoto , Matsuhashi Nobuyuki , Wada Koichiro , Nakajima Atsushi 
Published: February 2012

Aim:  Choline is a dietary component that is crucial for normal cellular function. Choline is predominantly absorbed from the small intestine and completely metabolized in the liver. We recently demonstrated that free choline (fCh) levels in blood reflect the level of phosphatidylcholine synthesis in the liver and is correlated with the onset of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our aim here was to validate the utility of this biomarker for NASH diagnosis.Methods:  Our cohort consisted of 110 patients with biopsy proven non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) from four centers across Japan and 25 age‐matched healthy controls. Plasma fCh levels were measured using high‐performance liquid chromatography.Results:  Patients with diagnosed or borderline NASH had significantly increased plasma fCh levels when compared with control subjects, or patients not diagnosed with NASH. Interestingly, an association between plasma fCh levels and expression of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, which catalyzes the transfer of triglyceride, was reflected in the markedly negative correlation between these two variables in patients with NAFLD. Moreover, the grade of liver steatosis and fibrosis stage increased with increasing plasma fCh levels (P < 0.05). The area under the receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curves for NASH, including borderline diagnosis, was 0.811. Additionally, the areas under the ROC for fibrosis stage were 0.816 for >stage 1, 0.805 for >stage 2, 0.809 for >stage 3 and 0.818 for >stage 4.Conclusion:  Plasma fCh levels are closely related to the grade of liver steatosis and fibrosis, and predict NASH severity. Plasma fCh levels are therefore a potential diagnostic marker for early‐stage NASH in clinical practice.
Association of Ephrin receptor A3 gene polymorphism with susceptibility to chronic severe hepatitis B
Authors: Yang Hong , He Xing‐Xing , Song Qi‐Long , Chen Man , Li Jin , Wang Meng‐Yi , Yu Jin‐Ling , Yao Jin‐Jian , Liu Li‐Feng , Lin Ju‐Sheng 
Published: February 2012

Aim:  Previous research has suggested that Ephrin receptor A3 (EphA3) plays signaling roles in the processes of inflammation by regulating lymphocyte migration and proliferation. In this study, we investigated whether the EphA3 gene polymorphism was associated with disease progression of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.Methods:  The EphA3 variant rs9310117 was genotyped in 1245 unrelated Han Chinese HBV carriers including 800 cases and 445 controls. χ2 test was used to examine the difference in allele frequencies and genotype distributions between groups. The association between the polymorphism and disease progression of HBV infection was conducted by unconditional logistic regression analysis.Results:  Statistical analysis revealed that the genetic variant was significantly associated with the occurrence of chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB). We observed that subjects bearing at least one T allele (C/T or T/T genotype) had a decreased susceptibility to chronic severe hepatitis B compared with those bearing C/C genotype (P = 0.003, odds ratio = 0.560; 95% confidence interval, 0.381–0.824, recessive model). Genotype C/T had also been confirmed to protect subjects from suffering chronic severe hepatitis B (P = 0.001, odds ratio = 0.498; 95% confidence interval, 0.330–0.752, additive model).Conclusion:  Our results suggest that the genetic alteration at EphA3 locus plays a role in the occurrence of chronic severe hepatitis B.
Experimental Soybean Meal Intoxication in Cattle
Authors: Raboisson D. , Ferrières A. , Nicot M.C. , Enjalbert F. , Schelcher F. 
Published: February 2012

BackgroundCattle are commonly fed soybean meal (SBM) and accidental intoxication sometimes occurs.ObjectivesTo describe the biologic and clinical features of SBM intoxication.AnimalsFour steers with ruminal cannula.MethodsControlled experimental trial. SBM was administered once at 1 and 2% of body weight (BW) via cannula at 2‐month intervals.ResultsThis study showed a 2‐phase pathogenic course for 2% BW SBM intoxication. The 1st phase (until 10 hours post‐administration) is restricted to ruminal modification with volatile fatty acid overproduction and moderate ruminal ammonia concentration. In the 2nd phase (12–22 hours post‐administration), ruminal pH returned to initial values and marked ammonia accumulation occurred in blood, inducing severe metabolic alkalosis with hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and delayed aciduria (30–40 hours post‐administration). Among the clinical signs, nervous signs were only observed during the period with increased plasma ammonia concentration. At 1% BW, ruminal and blood modifications were less pronounced than at 2% BW, and clinical signs were not observed.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceAmmonia accumulation in blood during the second phase is the consequence of continued ammonia production, decreased carbohydrate fermentation, and overwhelming of hepatic detoxifying capacity. Because ammonia accumulation is associated with the clinical signs, treatment of SBM intoxication could be similar to treatment of urea intoxication, including rumenotomy, oral administration of cold water and vinegar, and measurement of ruminal pH.
Patient-specific factors relating to medication adherence in a post-percutaneous coronary intervention cohort
Authors: Rushworth Gordon F , Cunningham Scot , Mort Alasdai , Rudd Ia , Leslie Stephen J 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Objective
To explore the association between medication adherence and qualitatively characterised patient-specific themes relating to medication adherence in patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods
Data-collection questionnaires and qualitative topic guides were piloted in two patients. A validated questionnaire generated an adherence score for a convenience sample of 20 patients within 7 days of PCI. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were subsequently carried out with all patients to explore patient-specific themes relating to measured medication adherence.

Key findings
Fourteen out of 20 patients (70%) had scores indicative of good adherence. Key factors associated with good adherence included having a good relationship with the doctor, having an understanding of the condition, knowledge of the indications and consequences of non-adherence, perceived health benefits and medications eliciting tangible symptom control. There were misconceptions of concern regarding adverse drug reactions and the importance of aspirin, both of which had a negative effect on adherence. The role of the community pharmacist was sometimes, although not always, misunderstood.

Conclusion
This study suggests there is an association between patients' beliefs, knowledge, understanding and misconceptions about medication and their adherence in a post-PCI cohort. To optimise medication adherence it is vital for prescribers to remain patient-focused and cognisant of patient-specific themes relating to medication adherence.
Using Bayes’ theorem in behavioural crime linking of serial homicide
Authors: Salo Benny , Sirén Jukka , Corander Jukka , Zappalà Angelo , Bosco Dario , Mokros Andreas , Santtila Pekka 
Published: February 2012

Purpose. The study extends research by Santtila et al. (2008) by investigating the effectiveness of linking cases of serial homicide using behavioural patterns of offenders, analysed through Bayesian reasoning. The study also investigates the informative value of individual behavioural variables in the linking process.Methods. Offender behaviour was coded from official documents relating to 116 solved homicide cases belonging to 19 separate series. The basis of the linkage analyses was 92 behaviours coded as present or absent in the case based on investigator observations on the crime scene. We developed a Bayesian method for linking crime cases and judged its accuracy using cross‐validation. We explored the information added by individual behavioural variables, first, by testing if the variable represented purely noise with respect to classification, and second, by excluding variables from the original model, one by one, by choosing the behaviour that had the smallest effect on classification accuracy.Results. The model achieved a classification accuracy of 83.6% whereas chance expectancy was 5.3%. In simulated scenarios of only one and two known cases in a series, the accuracy was 59.0 and 69.2%, respectively. No behavioural variable represented pure noise but the same level of accuracy was achieved by analysing a set of 15, as analysing all 92 variables.Conclusion. The study illustrates the utility of analysing individual behavioural variables through Bayesian reasoning for crime linking. Feasible applied use of the approach is illustrated by the effectiveness of analysing a small set of carefully chosen variables.
A new inhibitory pathway in the jellyfishPolyorchis penicillatus
Authors: Mackie G.O. , Meech R.W. , Spencer A.N. 
Published: February 2012

Contact of food with the manubrial lips in the genus Polyorchis A. Agassiz, 1862 evokes trains of electrical impulses (E potentials) that propagate to the margin. E potentials are also produced by food stimuli at the margin and tentacle bases. E potentials are shown to be associated with inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (ipsps) in the swimming motor neurons and contribute to the arrest of swimming during feeding. The conduction pathway for E potentials is a nerve plexus located in the endodermal walls of the stomach and radial and ring canals. We have explored the conducting properties of the system; the conduction velocity varies with stimulus frequency but is about 15 cm/s when stimuli are more than 50 s apart. Neurites belonging to the E system run around the margin adjacent to the inner nerve ring, where the swimming pacemaker neurons are located. We suggest that they may make inhibitory synapses on to the swimming motor neurons, but this has yet to be demonstrated anatomically. The reversal potential for ipsps, recorded intracellularly with potassium acetate micropipettes, was estimated to be about –69 mV. Swimming inhibition mediated by this endodermal pathway is distinct from that observed during protective “crumpling” behaviour and that associated with contractions of the radial muscles seen during feeding, though it may accompany the latter.
Prolonged life span among endemicGasterosteuspopulations
Authors: Gambling S.J. , Reimchen T.E. 
Published: February 2012

Throughout their circumboreal coastal distribution, the threespine stickleback ( Gasterosteus aculeatus L., 1758) typically reproduce at 1 or 2 years of age (second or third summer) and die during the year of the reproductive cycle. Extending from a previous study on the Haida Gwaii archipelago, western Canada, that identified an exceptionally long life span (8 years) in a population of large-bodied threespine stickleback, we use pelvic spine annuli to examine age of the five largest adult stickleback of 12 additional populations comprising five populations with average-sized adults (45–60 mm standard length (SL)) and seven populations with large-bodied adult stickleback (>75 mm SL). Each of the small-bodied populations had a maximum age of 1 or 2 years typical for the taxon. Among the large-bodied populations, which also reached adult size in the 2nd year, adult stickleback in the populations ranged from 3 to 6 years, indicating extended longevity. Low productivity habitats and refuge against gape-limited piscivores, each of which theoretically predicts reduced rate of senescence, are associated with the greatest longevity among these populations. These data combined with the recent full genome sequence for stickleback provide opportunities for locating genetic markers for extended longevity.
Bioactivity and Prognostic Significance of Growth Differentiation Factor GDF15 Secreted by Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Corre Jill , Labat Elodie , Espagnolle Nicolas , Hébraud Benjamin , Avet-Loiseau Hervé , Roussel Murielle , Huynh Anne , Gadelorge Mélanie , Cordelier Pierre , Klein Bernard , Moreau Philippe , Facon Thierry , Fournié Jean-Jacques , Attal Michel , Bourin Philippe 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Overexpression of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells occurs widely in patients with multiple myeloma, but the pathophysiologic effects of GDF15 in this setting remain undefined. GDF15 has been described in numerous solid tumors but never in hematologic malignancies. In this study, we report that GDF15 significantly increases survival of stroma-dependent multiple myeloma cells including primary multiple myeloma cells. In particular, GDF15 conferred resistance to melphalan, bortezomib, and to a lesser extent, lenalidomide in both stroma-dependent and stroma-independent multiple myeloma cells. Akt-dependent signaling was critical to mediate the effects of GDF15, whereas Src and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathways were not involved. Given these results, we tested the clinical significance of plasma concentrations of GDF15 (pGDF15) in 131 patients with multiple myeloma and found that it correlated with disease prognosis. Specifically, patients with high levels of pGDF15 had lower probabilities of event-free and overall survival 30 months after diagnosis than patients with low pGDF15 levels. Our findings suggest that tumor microenvironment-derived GDF15 is a key survival and chemoprotective factor for multiple myeloma cells, which is pathophysiologically linked to both initial parameters of the disease as well as patient survival. Cancer Res; 72(6); 1395–406. ©2012 AACR.
Molecular Pathways: Microsatellite Instability in Colorectal Cancer: Prognostic, Predictive, and Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Sinicrope Frank A. , Sargent Daniel J. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
Microsatellite instability (MSI) is the molecular fingerprint of the deficient mismatch repair (MMR) system, which characterizes ∼15% of colorectal cancers. MSI develops as a result of germline mutations in MMR genes or, more commonly, from epigenetic silencing of MLH1 in sporadic tumors occurring in a background of methylation of CpG islands in gene promoter regions and in tumors that frequently show hotspot mutations in the BRAF oncogene. MSI tumors have distinct phenotypic features and have been consistently associated with a better stage-adjusted prognosis compared with microsatellite stable tumors. MSI negatively predicts response to 5-fluorouracil and may also determine responsiveness to other drugs used for treatment of colorectal cancers. Recent data have expanded the molecular heterogeneity of MSI tumors and may contribute to our understanding of differential chemosensitivity. The ability to identify deficient MMR has important implications for patient management, and it holds promise for therapeutic exploitation and for the development of novel therapeutics. Clin Cancer Res; 18(6); 1506–12. ©2012 AACR.
Ischemic Transient Neurological Events Identified by Immune Response to Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Jickling Glen C. , Zhan Xinhua , Stamova Boryana , Ander Bradley P. , Tian Yingfang , Liu Dazhi , Sison Shara-Mae , Verro Piero , Johnston S. Claiborne , Sharp Frank R. 
Published: February 2012

Background and Purpose—
Deciphering whether a transient neurological event (TNE) is of ischemic or nonischemic etiology can be challenging. Ischemia of cerebral tissue elicits an immune response in stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). This response, as detected by RNA expressed in immune cells, could potentially distinguish ischemic from nonischemic TNE.

Methods—
Analysis of 208 TIAs, ischemic strokes, controls, and TNE was performed. RNA from blood was processed on microarrays. TIAs (n=26) and ischemic strokes (n=94) were compared with controls (n=44) to identify differentially expressed genes (false discovery rate <0.05, fold change ≥1.2). Genes common to TIA and stroke were used predict ischemia in TIA diffusion-weighted imaging-positive/minor stroke (n=17), nonischemic TNE (n=13), and TNE of unclear etiology (n=14).

Results—

Seventy-four genes expressed in TIA were common to those in ischemic stroke. Functional pathways common to TIA and stroke related to activation of innate and adaptive immune systems, involving granulocytes and B cells. A prediction model using 26 of the 74 ischemia genes distinguished TIA and stroke subjects from control subjects with 89% sensitivity and specificity. In the validation cohort, 17 of 17 TIA diffusion-weighted imaging-positive/minor strokes were predicted to be ischemic, and 10 of 13 nonischemic TNE were predicted to be nonischemic. In TNE of unclear etiology, 71% were predicted to be ischemic. These subjects had higher ABCD
2
scores.

Conclusions—
A common molecular response to ischemia in TIA and stroke was identified, relating to activation of innate and adaptive immune systems. TNE of ischemic etiology was identified based on gene profiles that may be of clinical use once validated.
Lipid and Lipoprotein Biomarkers and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Berger Jeffrey S. , McGinn Aileen P. , Howard Barbara V. , Kuller Lewis , Manson JoAnn E. , Otvos Jim , Curb J. David , Eaton Charles B. , Kaplan Robert C. , Lynch John K. , Rosenbaum Daniel M. , Wassertheil-Smoller Sylvia 
Published: February 2012

Background—
Few studies simultaneously investigated lipids and lipoprotein biomarkers as predictors of ischemic stroke. The value of these biomarkers as independent predictors of ischemic stroke remains controversial.

Methods—
We conducted a prospective nested case-control study among postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study to assess the relationship between fasting lipids (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], and triglycerides), lipoproteins (LDL, HDL, and very low-density lipoprotein [VLDL] particle number and size, intermediate-density lipoprotein [IDL] particle number, and lipoprotein (a)), and risk of ischemic stroke. Among women free of stroke at baseline, 774 ischemic stroke patients were matched according to age and race to control subjects, using a 1:1 ratio.

Results—

In bivariate analysis, baseline triglycerides (
P
<0.001), IDL particles (
P
<0.01), LDL particles (
P
<0.01), VLDL triglyceride (
P
<0.001), VLDL particles (
P
<0.01), VLDL size (
P
<0.001), LDL size (
P
=0.03), and total/HDL cholesterol ratio (
P
<0.01) were significantly higher among women with incident ischemic stroke, whereas levels of HDL-C (
P
<0.01) and HDL size (
P
<0.01) were lower. No significant baseline difference for total cholesterol (
P
=0.15), LDL-C (
P
=0.47), and lipoprotein (a) (
P
=0.11) was observed. In multivariable analysis, triglycerides (odds ratio for the highest versus lowest quartile, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.13–2.17;
P
for trend=0.02), VLDL size (odds ratio, 1.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–2.28;
P
for trend=0.03), and IDL particle number (odds ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–2.04;
P
for trend=0.02) were significantly associated with ischemic stroke.

Conclusions—
Among a panel of lipid and lipoprotein biomarkers, baseline triglycerides, VLDL size, and IDL particle number were significantly associated with incident ischemic stroke in postmenopausal women.