bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intra coronary freshly isolated bone marrow cells transplantation improve cardiac function in patients with ischemic heart disease
Authors: Bozdag-Turan Ilkay , Goekmen Turan R , Ludovicy Sophie , Akin Ibrahim , Kische Stephan , Schneider Henrik , Rehders Tim C , Turan C Hakan , Arsoy Nicole S , Hermann Tina , Paranskaya Liliya , Ortak Jasmin , Kohlschein Peter , Bastian Manuela , Sahin Kurtulus , Nienaber Christoph A , Ince Hueseyin 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Background
Autologous bone marrow cell transplantation (BMCs-Tx) is a promising novel option for treatment of cardiovascular disease. In this study we analyzed whether intracoronary autologous freshly isolated BMCs-Tx have beneficial effects on cardiac function in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Results
In this prospective nonrandomized study we treated 12 patients with IHD by freshly isolated BMCs-Tx by use of point of care system and compared them with a representative 12 control group without cell therapy. Global ejection fraction (EF) and infarct size area were determined by left ventriculography.
Intracoronary transplantation of autologous freshly isolated BMCs led to a significant reduction of infarct size (p < 0.001) and an increase of global EF (p = 0.003) as well as infarct wall movement velocity (p < 0.001) after 6 months follow-up compared to control group. In control group there were no significant differences of global EF, infarct size and infarct wall movement velocity between baseline and 6 months after coronary angiography. Furthermore, we found significant decrease in New York Heart Association (NYHA) as well as significant decrease of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level 6 months after intracoronary cell therapy (p < 0.001), whereas there were no significant differences in control group 6 months after coronary angiography.

Conclusions
These results demonstrate that intracoronary transplantation of autologous freshly isolated BMCs by use of point of care system is safe and may lead to improvement of cardiac function in patients with IHD.

Trial registration
Registration number: ISRCTN54510226
Neuromuscular control of free-flight yaw turns in the hawkmothManduca sexta
Authors: Springthorpe Dwight , Fernández María José , Hedrick Tyson L. 
Published: April 2012

SUMMARYThe biomechanical properties of an animal’s locomotor structures profoundly influence the relationship between neuromuscular inputs and body movements. In particular, passive stability properties are of interest as they may offer a non-neural mechanism for simplifying control of locomotion. Here, we hypothesized that a passive stability property of animal flight, flapping counter-torque (FCT), allows hawkmoths to control planar yaw turns in a damping-dominated framework that makes rotational velocity directly proportional to neuromuscular activity. This contrasts with a more familiar inertia-dominated framework where acceleration is proportional to force and neuromuscular activity. To test our hypothesis, we collected flight muscle activation timing, yaw velocity and acceleration data from freely flying hawkmoths engaged in planar yaw turns. Statistical models built from these data then allowed us to infer the degree to which the moths inhabit either damping- or inertia-dominated control domains. Contrary to our hypothesis, a combined model corresponding to inertia-dominated control of yaw but including substantial damping effects best linked the neuromuscular and kinematic data. This result shows the importance of including passive stability properties in neuromechanical models of flight control and reveals possible trade-offs between manoeuvrability and stability derived from damping.
Beliefs and Perceptions of Women with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Who Refused Conventional Treatment in Favor of Alternative Therapies
Authors: Citrin Dennis L. , Bloom Diane L. , Grutsch James F. , Mortensen Sara J. , Lis Christopher G. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Purpose.
Although breast cancer is a highly treatable disease, some women reject conventional treatment opting for unproven “alternative therapy” that may contribute to poor health outcomes. This study sought to understand why some women make this decision and to identify messages that might lead to greater acceptance of evidence-based treatment.

Patients and Methods.
This study explored treatment decision making through in-depth interviews with 60 breast cancer patients identified by their treating oncologists. Thirty refused some or all conventional treatment, opting for alternative therapies, whereas 30 accepted both conventional and alternative treatments. All completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Rotter Locus of Control scale.

Results.
Negative first experiences with “uncaring, insensitive, and unnecessarily harsh” oncologists, fear of side effects, and belief in the efficacy of alternative therapies were key factors in the decision to reject potentially life-prolonging conventional therapy. Refusers differed from controls in their perceptions of the value of conventional treatment, believing that chemotherapy and radiotherapy were riskier (p &lt; .0073) and less beneficial (p &lt; .0001) than did controls. Controls perceived alternative medicine alone as riskier than did refusers because its value for treating cancer is unproven (p &lt; .0001). Refusers believed they could heal themselves naturally from cancer with simple holistic methods like raw fruits, vegetables, and supplements.

Conclusion.
According to interviewees, a compassionate approach to cancer care plus physicians who acknowledge their fears, communicate hope, educate them about their options, and allow them time to come to terms with their diagnosis before starting treatment might have led them to better treatment choices.
Effects of isoflurane anesthesia with and without dexmedetomidine or remifentanil on quantitative electroencephalographic variables before and after nociceptive stimulation in dogs
Authors: Kulka Anne M. , Otto Klaus A. , Bergfeld Carina , Beyerbach Martin , Kästner Sabine B. R. 
Published: April 2012

Abstract
Objective—To evaluate the influence of various anesthetic protocols and 3 multiples of isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) before and after supramaximal stimulation on electroencephalographic (EEG) variables in dogs.
Animals—6 healthy adult Beagles (mean ± SD body weight, 16.3 ± 1.0 kg).
Procedures—All dogs underwent 3 anesthesia sessions with a minimum of 1 week separating sessions: isoflurane alone, isoflurane and a constant rate infusion of dexmedetomidine (3 μg/kg/h, IV; ID), and isoflurane and a constant rate infusion of remifentanil (18 μg/kg/h, IV; IR). The MAC of isoflurane was determined via supramaximal electrical stimulation. Quantitative variables (frequency bands and their ratios, median frequency, 95% spectral edge frequency [SEF], and an EEG index) were determined directly before and after supramaximal stimulation at 0.75, 1.0, and 1.5 times the MAC for each session of 20-second epochs.
Results—Mean ± SD isoflurane MACs for isoflurane alone, ID, and IR were 1.7 ± 0.3%, 1.0 ± 0.1%, and 1.0 ± 0.1%, respectively. Prestimulation 95% SEF decreased significantly with increasing MAC during the isoflurane alone and ID sessions. Significant decreases in δ frequency band (0.5 to 3.5 Hz) presence and significant increases in β frequency band (> 12.5 Hz) presence, median frequency, and 95% SEF after stimulation were dependent on the MAC and anesthetic protocol. The EEG index had the strongest correlation with increasing MAC during the isoflurane-alone session (ρ = −0.89) and the least in the IR session (ρ = −0.15).
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Anesthesia with isoflurane alone resulted in the greatest overall EEG depression of all protocols. Use of remifentanil depressed the EEG response to nociceptive stimulation more strongly than did dexmedetomidine. The EEG variables evaluated did not appear useful when used alone as indicators of anesthetic depth in dogs.
Pioglitazone therapy in progressive differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Bockisch A. , Nagarajah J. , Rosenbaum-Krumme S. J. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryAim: Rosiglitazone achieved promising results in progressive differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with redifferentiative and antiproliferative effects, but has been taken off the market. Thus we evaluated another glitazone, pioglitazone, expecting similar positive results. Patient, materials, methods: Five patients with progressive DTC and no or only negligible iodine uptake were enrolled. Oral pioglitazone treatment was applied for 6 months. The re-differentiative effect was assessed by 124I-NaI PET/CT dosimetry and the anti-proliferative effect by 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. Results: A redifferentiative effect of pioglitazone could not be shown. Lesion dosimetry indicated that 3/5 patients had unchanged no lesion absorbed dose per administered activity (LDpA) in any tumour lesion, 2/5 patients had a deterioration of LDpA within some lesions, thus radioiodine therapy was not performed in any patient. Volumetric analysis, using RECIST criteria, revealed progressive disease in 3/5 patients and stable disease in 2/5 patients. Metabolic changes, using EORTC criteria, revealed 3/5 patients with progressive metabolic disease, 1/5 patient with stable metabolic disease and 1/5 patients with partial metabolic response. The medication was well-tolerated, and no patient developed clinically important toxicity associated with the treatment. Conclusion: Pioglitazone revealed some positive effects in radioiodine negative and progressive DTC patients but it did not fulfill the expectations given by the results of rosiglitazone therapy.
Complications of tibial plateau levelling osteotomy in dogs
Authors: Peirone B. , Bergh M. S. 
Published: April 2012

SummaryThe tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is one of the most common surgical procedures used to treat cranial cruciate ligament disease in dogs. Complications occurring during or after TPLO can range in severity from swelling and bruising to fracture and osteomyelitis. Ten to 34% of TPLO surgical procedures are reported to experience a complication and approximately two to four percent require revision surgery to address a complication. Although the risk factors for many complications have not been fully assessed, the best available evidence suggests that complications of TPLO can be reduced with increased surgeon experience, careful surgical planning, and accurate execution of the surgical procedure. Identification of known or suspected risk factors and intraoperative technical errors allow subsequent action to be taken that is aimed at decreasing postoperative morbidity. There is a need for prospective studies with consistent data reporting in order to fully reveal the incidence risk factors for complications associated with TPLO.
Age and Structure of Mature Knobcone Pine Forests in the Northern California Coast Range, USA
Authors: Fry Danny L. , Dawson James , Stephens Scott L. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAn understanding of current structural conditions and disturbance history is a requisite for optimal management of forest ecosystems, especially for serotinous species such as knobcone pine (Pinus attenuataLemmon). Knobcone pine is widely distributed in California, yet little is known regarding age and forest structure patterns. In this study, we quantify forest conditions of 21 mature knobcone pine stands in the northern Mayacmas Mountains, north Coast Range, California, USA. Characterized by complex terrain, knobcone pine forests occur in small patches interspersed with chaparral and mixed evergreen forests. Stands displayed unimodal, bimodal, and diffuse age distributions with predominant stand ages ranging from 42 yr to 70 yr, although trees ranged from 17 yr to 98 yr old. Knobcone pine stands appear to have been maintained by stand replacing fires. However, stands with uneven-aged structures were produced through the persistence of residual trees and low intensity fires that created secondary cohorts. Stands varied in density, ranging from 503 stems ha−1to 2986 stems ha−1, with snags comprising 12 % to 40 % of total density. Wildfires that occurred from the 1930s to the 1960s, in addition to a large wildfire in 1981, created a heterogeneous landscape of knobcone pine forests. Older stands have lower canopy cover, high snag densities, and many trees with evidence of western gall rust (Peridermium harknessii) infections—signs that they are approaching their expected life spans. Risks and constraints associated with using stand replacing prescribed fire pose a challenge for managers of knobcone pine forests, and research may be needed to explore feasible treatment alternatives.
Modelling Fire Ignition Probability from Satellite Estimates of Live Fuel Moisture Content
Authors: Jurdao Sara , Chuvieco Emilio , Arevalillo Jorge M. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBiomass burning has critical ecological and social impacts. Recent changes in climate patterns and land use have involved alterations of traditional fire regimes, which have increased the negative impacts of fire. Live Fuel Moisture Content (LFMC) has proven to be one of the main factors related to fire risk, as it affects fire ignition and fire behavior, and therefore it is an essential indicator for fire risk assessment. The aim of our research was to explore several methods to convert LFMC into Ignition Probability (IP) at a national scale, considering climate and vegetation functional types. The project covers the Iberian Peninsula territory of Spain (492 175 km2), for a ten year period. The LFMC data was estimated from NOAA-AVHRR imagery, whereas fire occurrence was based on the standard MODIS Thermal Anomalies product (MOD14). Non-parametric significance tests, histograms and percentiles, classification trees, and logistic regression models were used for estimating the IP from five variables based on LFMC. These modelling approaches were compared and Logistic Regression (LR) analysis was found to be most advantageous, since it uses several predictor variables to compute a continuous probability of IP. The area under the ROC curve of the LR models for the Iberian Peninsula was 0.65 for the Mediterranean region and >0.8 for the Eurosiberian region. The LFMC from one week before the fire detection was the most influential variable in the statistical analysis and it was the main variable in the Mediterranean models. In the Eurosiberian models, the LFMC decrement since spring was also important. The LFMC one week before the fire detection and the difference between the LFMC one week and two weeks before the fire detection were included in the grassland model. Shrubland is less susceptible to rapid moisture changes than grassland, so the LFMC from two weeks before the fire and the LFMC decrement since spring were more influential.
Otolaryngologists: How Safe They are from Skin Infections?
Authors: Puri KJPS , Kalsy Jyotika , Kalra PS 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT
Otolaryngologists are daily examining patients both in clinics and theaters which makes them vulnerable to acquire infections.

Aim
To highlight the early signs and symptoms of skin infections in patients coming to otolaryngology department and to learn to safeguard oneself from contagious skin problems as many of them are contagious in their early stages of evolution.

Patients and methods
Over a period of 1 year, 2,450 patients were screened for the skin problems. The patients were examined clinically by dermatologist for contagious skin diseases. Photographs were taken and necessary investigations done, like scrapings for fungus in 10% KOH under direct microscopy, pus for culture sensitivity for fungus, bacteria and virus, tzanck smear, direct examination of expressed material under microscope skin biopsy.

Results
Out of the 2,450 patients, 182 (7.4%) patients were found to have skin diseases with high and low virulence. They were in the age range from 1 to 66 years. Around 111(60.99%) patients were females and 71(39.01%) males. It was found that maximum patients were in the age group of 20 to 40 years. Majority of the diseases were bacterial in nature in 72 (39.5%) patients, followed by superficial fungal infections in 56 (30.9%) patients, viral infections in 36 (19.7%) and arthropod infections in 18 (9.9%) patients.

Conclusion
Otolaryngologists are daily examining patients both in clinics and theaters which makes them more prone to acquire infections. So, the emphasis of study is to be able to diagnose, treat and safeguard oneself from these skin infections.
Simplified Nomenclature for describing Keratoconus
Authors: Kim Joan T , Zloty Peter 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACT
Keratoconus is a condition that has been described since the 1850s. It is typically defined as a bilateral, progressive, noninflammatory thinning and steepening disorder of the central or paracentral cornea. In its advanced form, diagnosis is rather straightforward. It is the subtler manifestations of keratoconus that impart a diagnostic challenge. With the advent of newer diagnostic equipment and the parameters that are now measurable, there is an opportunity to update our current classifications and definitions of keratoconus. The purpose of our paper is to propose and define terminology that reflects both our current knowledge and new data from diagnostic tests.

How to cite this article
Belin MW, Kim JT, Zloty P, Ambrosio R Jr. Simplified Nomenclature for describing Keratoconus. Int J Keratoco Ectatic Corneal Dis 2012;1(1):31-35.
Forced migration
Authors: Chatty Dawn 
Published: April 2012

Abstract

Forced migration as a substantive topic is a new field of academic scholarship. It was first delineated in
Imposing Aid
, the seminal work by Barbara Harrell‐Bond (1986) and in the establishment of a center for the study of forced migration at the University of Oxford in 1982. Two important survey works in the 1980s and 1990s, Hansen and Oliver‐Smith (1982) and Zolberg et al. (1989) contributed to the expansion of this academic field of study.
Synthesis and Biophysical Study of Disassembling Nanohybrid Bioconjugates with a Cubic Octasilsesquioxane Core
Authors: Trastoy Beatriz , Bonsor Daniel A. , Pérez‐Ojeda M. Eugenia , Jimeno M. Luisa , Méndez‐Ardoy Alejandro , García Fernández José Manuel , Sundberg Eric J. , Chiara Jose Luis 
Published: April 2012

AbstractPolyhedral oligosilsesquioxanes (POSS) have recently attracted attention as scaffolds for the synthesis of multivalent bioconjugates. The synthesis of glycosyl‐octasilsesquioxanes (glyco‐POSS) using a copper(I)‐catalyzed azide‐alkyne 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition approach is reported. The problems associated with the use of bases or aqueous media in their preparation are investigated and a comprehensive study of the multivalent interaction between the mannosyl‐octasilsesquioxanes and a model lectin, concanavalin A (Con A), using an array of complementary biophysical techniques is presented. The possibility to modulate the half‐life of POSS conjugates in aqueous solution and the low toxicity of their constituent monomeric organosilanes offers an advantage over other scaffolds in vivo, preventing bioaccumulation and saturation of complementary receptors (lectins). Despite the hydrolysis in water, the octamannosyl‐POSS studied shows a 50‐fold higher binding affinity to Con A than methyl α‐D‐mannopyranoside. These experiments suggest that the novel glyco‐POSS are attractive compounds for in vivo applications that require multivalent display of glycans.
Informed consent for whole genome sequencing: A qualitative analysis of participant expectations and perceptions of risks, benefits, and harms
Authors: Tabor Holly K. , Stock Jacquie , Brazg Tracy , McMillin Margaret J. , Dent Karin M. , Yu Joon‐Ho , Shendure Jay , Bamshad Michael J. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractScientific evidence on the extent to which ethical concerns about privacy, confidentiality, and return of results for whole genome sequencing (WGS) are effectively conveyed by informed consent (IC) is lacking. The aim of this study was to learn, via qualitative interviews, about participant expectations and perceptions of risks, benefits, and harms of WGS. Participants in two families with Miller syndrome consented for WGS were interviewed about their experiences of the IC process and their perceptions of risks, benefits, and harms of WGS. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed for common themes. IC documents are included in the Supplementary Materials. Participants expressed minimal concerns about privacy and confidentiality with regard to both their participation and sharing of their WGS data in restricted access databases. Participants expressed strong preferences about how results should be returned, requesting both flexibility of the results return process and options for the types of results to be returned. Participant concerns about risks to privacy and confidentiality from broad sharing of WGS data are likely to be strongly influenced by social and medical context. In these families with a rare Mendelian syndrome, the perceived benefits of participation strongly trumped concerns about risks. Individual preferences, for results return, even within a family, varied widely. This underscores the need to develop a framework for results return that allows explicitly for participant preferences and enables modifications to preferences over time. Web‐based tools that facilitate participant management of their individual research results could accommodate such a framework. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Specific paucity of unmyelinated C‐fibers in cutaneous peripheral nerves of the African naked‐mole rat: Comparative analysis using six species of bathyergidae
Authors: Smith Ewan S , Purfürst Bettina , Grigoryan Tamara , Park Thomas J. , Bennett Nigel C. , Lewin Gary R. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn mammalian peripheral nerves, unmyelinated C‐fibers usually outnumber myelinated A‐fibers. By using transmission electron microscopy, we recently showed that the saphenous nerve of the naked mole‐rat (Heterocephalus glaber) has a C‐fiber deficit manifested as a substantially lower C:A‐fiber ratio compared with other mammals. Here we determined the uniqueness of this C‐fiber deficit by performing a quantitative anatomical analysis of several peripheral nerves in five further members of the Bathyergidae mole‐rat family: silvery (Heliophobius argenteocinereus), giant (Fukomys mechowii), Damaraland (Fukomys damarensis), Mashona (Fukomys darlingi), and Natal (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis) mole‐rats. In the largely cutaneous saphenous and sural nerves, the naked mole‐rat had the lowest C:A‐fiber ratio (∼1.5:1 compared with ∼3:1), whereas, in nerves innervating both skin and muscle (common peroneal and tibial) or just muscle (lateral/medial gastrocnemius), this pattern was mostly absent. We asked whether lack of hair follicles alone accounts for the C‐fiber paucity by using as a model a mouse that loses virtually all its hair as a consequence of conditional deletion of the β‐catenin gene in the skin. These β‐catenin loss‐of function mice (β‐cat LOF mice) displayed only a mild decrease in C:A‐fiber ratio compared with wild‐type mice (4.42 compared with 3.81). We suggest that the selective cutaneous C‐fiber deficit in the cutaneous nerves of naked mole‐rats is unlikely to be due primarily to lack of skin hair follicles. Possible mechanisms contributing to this unique peripheral nerve anatomy are discussed. J. Comp. Neurol. 520:2785–2803, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.