bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do scattered white spots in the duodenum mark a specific gastrointestinal pathology?
Authors: BIYIKOĞLU İbrahim , BABALI Ayşegül , ÇAKAL Başak , KÖKLÜ Seyfettin , FILIK Levent , ASTARCI Müzeyyen H , ÜSTÜN Hüseyin , ÜSTÜNDAĞ Yücel , AKBAL ERDEM 
Published: October 2009

OBJECTIVE:  To discover whether scattered white spots (SWS) in the duodenum are related to a specific kind of disease. We also scrutinized other upper endoscopic findings which might be associated with SWS.METHODS:  Among the patients who were admitted for upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy, those having the endoscopic appearance of SWS in duodenum were enrolled in this study. In total 107 patients [70 women, 37 men, mean age: 51.6 ± 16.88 years (range: 17–82 years)] were included. At least three duodenal biopsies were taken from each patient and histopathological examinations were done by experienced pathologists.RESULTS:  The histopathological examination revealed that 39 (36.4%) patients had intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL), 15 (14%) patients had giardiasis (G) and 30 (28.1%) patients had chronic non‐specific duodenitis (CD). Two patients with IL were also found to have G. Twenty patients had both IL and CD. One had both G and CD. G was the least common etiology for SWS in the duodenum. The most common reasons for SWS in the duodenum in this study group were IL and CD, in order of decreasing frequency. There was no significant relationship with the other upper endoscopic findings in all these patients.CONCLUSION:  Histopathological examinations should be provided for each patient with SWS in the duodenum to assess the etiology.
Clinical features and spiral computed tomography analysis of undifferentiated embryonic liver sarcoma in adults
Authors: YANG Lian , CHEN Li Bo , XIAO Jie , HAN Ping 
Published: October 2009

OBJECTIVE:  To summarize the clinical and spiral computed tomography (CT) features of undifferentiated embryonic liver sarcoma (UELS) in adults.METHODS:  Clinical and CT findings of four adult patients with pathology‐approved UELS were retrospectively analyzed with a literature review. All patients were examined using a plain and enhanced spiral CT scan.RESULTS:  The participants were two men and two women with a mean age of 36.5 years. The clinical manifestations were the right upper quadrant mass, pain (n= four) and intermittent fever (n= three). Laboratory tests showed a mild elevation of alpha‐fetoprotein in one patient and mildly abnormal liver function in two. Liver cirrhosis was present in one patient coexistent with hepatocellular carcinoma. CT findings indicated a huge well‐defined cystic‐solid mass with varying degrees of enhancement of the solid component. Irregular high‐density lesions showing hemorrhage occurred in three patients and the inferior vena cava was compressed in one.CONCLUSION:  UELS showed a solitary and predominantly cystic or multicystic appearance on CT imaging compared with ultrasound (US) from the medical literature, which shows a predominantly hypoechoic mass. The laboratory tests were normal or mildly abnormal despite the presence of the large mass. The combination of these clinical features and CT findings together with those of US are helpful in making a prospective diagnosis.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Quantitative assessment of liver fat content by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: ZHONG Liang , CHEN Jie Jun , CHEN Jie , LI Lei , LIN Zhi Qian , WANG Wen Jing , XU Jian Rong 
Published: October 2009

OBJECTIVE:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of imaging technology in the quantitative assessment of fatty liver with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton MR spectroscopy.METHODS:  Overall 36 patients with diffuse fatty liver who had undertaken the computed tomography (CT) scan, MRI and proton MR spectroscopy (1H MRS) were analyzed. Their body mass index (BMI) was measured and their liver to spleen CT ratio (L/S) calculated on the plain CT scan. MR T1‐weighted imaging (T1WI) was obtained with in‐phase (IP) and out‐of‐phase (OP) images. T2‐weighted imaging (T2WI) was acquired with or without the fat‐suppression technique. The liver fat content (LFC) was quantified as the percentage of relative signal intensity loss on T1WI or T2WI images. The intrahepatic content of lipid (IHCL) was expressed as the percentage of peak value ratio of lipid to water by 1H MRS.RESULTS:  The results of BMI measurement, CT L/S ratio, LFC calculated from MR T1WI and T2WI images, as well as IHCL measured by 1H MRS were 27.26 ± 3.01 kg/m2, 0.88 ± 0.26, 13.80 ± 9.92%, 40.67 ± 16.04% and 30.98 ± 20.43%, respectively. The LFC calculated from MR T1WI, T2WI images and IHCL measured by 1H MRS correlated significantly with the CT L/S ratio (r=−0.830, P= 0.000; r=−0.736, P= 0.000; r=−0.461, P= 0.005, respectively). BMI correlated significantly only with the liver fat contents measured by T1WI IP/OP and 1H MRS (r=−0.347, P= 0.038; r=−0.374, P= 0.025, respectively).CONCLUSION:  CT, MR imaging and 1H MRS were effective methods for the quantitative assessment of LFC. The MR imaging, especially 1H MRS, would be used more frequently in the clinical evaluation of fatty liver and 1H MRS could more accurately reflect the severity of fatty liver.
Randomization in the Design of Experiments
Authors: Cox D. R. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryA general review is given of the role of randomization in experimental design. Three objectives are distinguished, the avoidance of bias, the establishment of a secure base for the estimation of error in traditional designs, and the provision of formally exact tests of significance and confidence limits. The approximate randomization theory associated with analysis of covariance is outlined and conditionality considerations are used to explain the limited role of randomization in experiments with very small numbers of experimental units. The relation between the so‐called design‐based and model‐based analyses is discussed. Corresponding results in sampling theory are mentioned briefly.
The Coverage Properties of Confidence Regions After Model Selection
Authors: Kabaila Paul 
Published: October 2009

Summary It is very common in applied frequentist (“classical”) statistics to carry out a preliminary statistical (i.e. data‐based) model selection by, for example, using preliminary hypothesis tests or minimizing AIC. This is usually followed by the inference of interest, using the same data, based on the assumption that the selected model had been given to us a priori. This assumption is false and it can lead to an inaccurate and misleading inference. We consider the important case that the inference of interest is a confidence region. We review the literature that shows that the resulting confidence regions typically have very poor coverage properties. We also briefly review the closely related literature that describes the coverage properties of prediction intervals after preliminary statistical model selection. A possible motivation for preliminary statistical model selection is a wish to utilize uncertain prior information in the inference of interest. We review the literature in which the aim is to utilize uncertain prior information directly in the construction of confidence regions, without requiring the intermediate step of a preliminary statistical model selection. We also point out this aim as a future direction for research.
The Intra‐Cluster Correlation Coefficient in Cluster Randomized Trials: A Review of Definitions
Authors: Eldridge Sandra M. , Ukoumunne Obioha C. , Carlin John B. 
Published: October 2009

SummaryThe intra‐cluster correlation coefficient (ICC) of the primary outcome plays a key role in the design and analysis of cluster randomized trials (CRTs), but the precise definition of this parameter is somewhat elusive, especially in the context of non‐normally distributed outcomes. In this paper, we provide a unified treatment of ICC as used in CRTs. We present a general definition of the ICC that may be expressed in different ways depending on the modelling approach used to describe the data, illustrating how this general definition is applied to continuous and dichotomous outcomes. Greater complexity arises for dichotomous outcomes; in particular, the usual definition of the ICC cannot be related directly to the parameters of the logistic‐normal model that is commonly used for dichotomous outcomes. We show how the definition of the ICC is different when covariates are introduced. Finally, we use our framework and definition of the ICC to draw out implications for those interpreting and choosing values of the ICC when planning CRTs.
The Effects of Resistance Training on Metabolic Health With Weight Regain
Authors: Warner Shana O. , Linden Melissa A. , Liu Ying , Harvey Benjamin R. , Thyfault John P. , Whaley‐Connell Adam T. , Chockalingam Anand , Hinton Pamela S. , Dellsperger Kevin C. , Thomas Tom R. 
Published: October 2009

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2010;12:64–72. ©2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.To determine whether resistance training effectively maintains improvements in cardiometabolic syndrome risk factors during weight regain, 9 individuals lost 4% to 6% of their body weight during an 8‐ to 12‐week diet‐ and aerobic exercise–induced weight loss phase followed by a controlled weight regain phase (8–12 weeks), during which they regained approximately 50% of the lost weight while participating in a supervised resistance training program. Following weight loss (6.0%±0.3%), body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference, all abdominal adipose tissue depots, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) were significantly reduced, while quantitative insulin‐sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen consumption) significantly increased. During weight regain (48.3%±3.3% of lost weight), body fat percentage, waist circumference, and maximal oxygen consumption were maintained and muscular strength and lean body mass significantly increased. Abdominal adipose tissue depots, insulin, HOMA, and QUICKI did not significantly change after weight regain. Resistance training was effective in maintaining improvements in metabolic health during weight regain.
Modeling the Hydrology of Climate Change in California’s Sierra Nevada for Subwatershed Scale Adaptation1
Authors: Young Charles A. , Escobar‐Arias Marisa I. , Fernandes Martha , Joyce Brian , Kiparsky Michael , Mount Jeffrey F. , Mehta Vishal K. , Purkey David , Viers Joshua H. , Yates David 
Published: October 2009

Young, Charles A., Marisa I. Escobar‐Arias, Martha Fernandes, Brian Joyce, Michael Kiparsky, Jeffrey F. Mount, Vishal K. Mehta, David Purkey, Joshua H. Viers, and David Yates, 2009. Modeling the Hydrology of Climate Change in California’s Sierra Nevada for Subwatershed Scale Adaptation. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 45(6):1409‐1423.Abstract:  The rainfall‐runoff model presented in this study represents the hydrology of 15 major watersheds of the Sierra Nevada in California as the backbone of a planning tool for water resources analysis including climate change studies. Our model implementation documents potential changes in hydrologic metrics such as snowpack and the initiation of snowmelt at a finer resolution than previous studies, in accordance with the needs of watershed‐level planning decisions. Calibration was performed with a sequence of steps focusing sequentially on parameters of land cover, snow accumulation and melt, and water capacity and hydraulic conductivity of soil horizons. An assessment of the calibrated streamflows using goodness of fit statistics indicate that the model robustly represents major features of weekly average flows of the historical 1980‐2001 time series. Runs of the model for climate warming scenarios with fixed increases of 2°C, 4°C, and 6°C for the spatial domain were used to analyze changes in snow accumulation and runoff timing. The results indicated a reduction in snowmelt volume that was largest in the 1,750‐2,750 m elevation range. In addition, the runoff center of mass shifted to earlier dates and this shift was non‐uniformly distributed throughout the Sierra Nevada. Because the hydrologic model presented here is nested within a water resources planning system, future research can focus on the management and adaptation of the water resources system in the context of climate change.
Conserved primers for DNA barcoding historical and modern samples from New Zealand and Antarctic birds
Authors: PATEL SELINA , WAUGH JOHN , MILLAR CRAIG D. , LAMBERT DAVID M. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractOur ability to DNA barcode the birds of the world is based on the effective amplification and sequencing of a 648 base pair (bp) region of the mitochondrial cytochromecoxidase (COI orcox1) gene. For many geographic regions the large numbers of vouchered specimens necessary for the construction of a DNA barcoding database have already been collected and are available in museums and other institutions. However, many of these specimens are old (>20 years) and are stored as either fixed study skins or dried skeletons. DNA extracted from such historical samples is typically degraded and, generally, only short DNA fragments can be recovered from such specimens making the recovery of the barcoding region as a single fragment difficult. We report two sets of conserved primers that allow the amplification of the entire DNA barcoding region in either three or five overlapping fragments. These primer sets allow the recovery of DNA barcodes from valuable historical specimens that in many cases are unique in that they are unable or unlikely to be collected again. We also report three new primers that in combination allow the effective amplification from modern samples of the entire DNA barcoding region as a single DNA fragment for 17 orders of Southern Hemisphere birds.
Prevalence of major eye diseases and causes of visual impairment in the adult Finnish population: a nationwide population‐based survey
Authors: Laitinen Arja , Laatikainen Leila , Härkänen Tommi , Koskinen Seppo , Reunanen Antti , Aromaa Arpo 
Published: October 2009

Abstract.Purpose:  To estimate the prevalence of cataract, glaucoma, age‐related maculopathy (ARM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the adult Finnish population.Methods:  A representative cross‐sectional sample of the Finnish population aged 30 years and older. Of the 7979 eligible people, 7413 (93%) were interviewed and/or examined. The interview included self‐reported doctor‐made diagnoses of cataract, glaucoma, degenerative fundus changes (mainly ARM) or DR. Information on self‐reported eye diseases was complemented with data from national registers, and case records were gathered for non‐participants and persons with visual acuity (VA) < 0.5 or reporting difficulties in vision or eye diseases without assessed VA.Results:  Based on self‐reported and/or register‐based data the estimated total prevalences of cataract, glaucoma, ARM and DR in the study population were 10%, 5%, 4% and 1%, respectively. All these chronic eye diseases increased with age (p < 0.001). The corresponding prevalences for persons aged 65 and older were 34%, 13%, 12% and 2%, respectively. Cataract and glaucoma were more common in women than in men [odds ratio (OR) 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–1.91; OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.24–1.98, respectively]. The most prevalent eye diseases in people with visual impairment (VA ≤ 0.25) were ARM (37%), unoperated cataract (27%), glaucoma (22%) and DR (7%).Conclusion:  The high prevalence of these mainly age‐related eye diseases, together with increasing life expectancy, mean that continuous efforts are needed to identify and treat eye diseases in order to maintain patients’ quality of life and to alleviate the social and economic burden of serious eye diseases.
The Differential Importance of Personal and Environmental Resources to Older Canadians
Authors: LOW GAIL , KEATING NORAH , GAO ZHIWEI 
Published: October 2009

S'appuyant sur le système social de production et sur la théorie du capital social, les auteurs questionnent l'importance spécifique des ressources personnelles et environnementales sur la satisfaction, en utilisant le temps, la santé, la situation financière et les activités principales comme variables. Les données sur les Canadiens et les Canadiennes âgés de 60 ans et plus (n=5,986) ayant participéà l'Enquête sociale générale — engagement social (cycle 17) ont été analysées. Les personnes âgées canadiennes ont été très satisfaites de l'utilisation de leur temps, mais moins de leur situation financière. Alors que les limitations dues à la santé et le sentiment de maîtrise ont été importants dans les quatre domaines, l'environnement physique et les activités communautaires ont eu de plus en plus d'effets idiosyncrasiques et spécifiques aux domaines. Les auteurs analysent en outre la signification de leurs résultats en se servant de la documentation sur la résilience, de la spécificité fonctionnelle des relations sociales et de l'utilisation maximale des ressources.Drawing on social productive function and social capital theory, we examine the differential importance of personal and environmental resources to the satisfaction with time use, health, finances, and main activities. Data pertaining to Canadians aged 60 and above (n=5,986) participating in the General Social Survey (Cycle 17) were analyzed. Canadian seniors were most satisfied with their time use and least with their finances. While health limitations and the sense of mastery were important to all four domains, the physical environment and civic activities yielded increasingly idiosyncratic, domain‐specific effects. We further explore the significance of our findings using literature pertaining to resilience, the functional specificity of social relationships, and the maximum utility of resources.
Treatment of aseptic nonunion after intramedullary nailing fixation with locking plate
Authors: Chen Sheng‐bao , Zhang Chang‐qing , Jin Dong‐xu , Cheng Xiang‐guo , Sheng Jia‐gen , Zeng Bing‐fang 
Published: October 2009

Objective:  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of locking plate combined with bone grafting in the treatment of aseptic nonunion following intramedullary nailing fixation of fractures of the long bones.Methods:  Thirty‐eight consecutive patients treated in our hospital between January 2004 and December 2006 were included in this retrospective study. The nonunions included 20 femurs, 15 tibias, and 3 humeri. The duration of non‐union ranged from 6 to 84 months and 21 (55.3%) of them were located around the metaphysis of the affected long bones. There were 12 women and 26 men with a mean age of 39.2 years (range, 9–70 years). Locking plate combined with bone grafting was the procedure chosen to treat every case of nonunion in this series. The clinical outcomes were evaluated.Results:  All patients were followed up for 6–20 months (average 11.6 months). After locking plate fixation combined with bone grafting, union was achieved in all cases, the average healing time being 5.3 months (range, 4–8 months). Infection of the superficial incision occurred in three cases (7.9%) and delayed healing of the incision in one case, all of which healed with no further complications. The function of the adjacent joints was excellent to good in 30 patients (78.9%), fair in 7 (18.4%) and poor in 1 (2.6%) after follow‐up.Conclusion:  Locking plate fixation combined with bone grafting is a highly effective treatment for aseptic nonunions of the long bones after intramedullary nailing fixation, especially in the case of metaphyseal nonunion.
Posterolateral transforaminal interbody fusion for thoracic disc herniation: a retrospective study of 38 cases
Authors: Ding Wen‐yuan , Guo Zhao , Zhang Ying‐ze , Shen Yong , Li Bao‐jun , Zhang Wei , Chen Hong‐liang 
Published: October 2009

Objective:  To evaluate the clinical results of posterolateral transforaminal interbody fusion (PTIF) for the treatment of thoracic disc herniation (TDH).Methods:  Thirty‐eight patients with TDH were treated with PTIF in our hospital from November 1999 to November 2003. The mean follow‐up period was 5.8 years (range, 4.2 to 6.5 years). There were 24 men and 14 women, ranging from 30.5 to 67.5 years, with an average of 46.5 years. The interval between onset of symptoms and surgery ranged from 5 to 12 months with an average of 9 months. In this group, the disc herniation involved T9‐10 or T10‐11 in 26 (68.5%) patients, T8‐9 in 4 (10.5%), T11‐12 in 4 (10.5%) and T12L1 in 4 (10.5%). All patients underwent X‐ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. Twenty‐two patients underwent myelography, while 25 patients underwent computer tomography (CT) or CT myelography (CTM) examination. The clinical results were evaluated using the Otani scoring system.Results:  The outcome according to the Otani scoring system was excellent in 16 patients, good in 18, fair in 2 and poor in 2. No neurological symptoms, wound infection or clinical or radiographic evidence of instability were found; and the fusion rate was 100% by final follow‐up. An excellent or good outcome was achieved in 89.5% of patients.Conclusion:  PTIF is an effective strategy for the treatment of TDH.
The role of the calcar femorale in stress distribution in the proximal femur
Authors: Zhang Qi , Chen Wei , Liu Huai‐jun , Li Zhi‐yong , Song Zhao‐hui , Pan Jin‐she , Zhang Ying‐ze 
Published: October 2009

Objective:  To investigate the role of the calcar femorale in stress distribution in the proximal femur.Methods:  Twenty‐five specimens of proximal femurs were fixed to simulate single‐limb stance. Strain gauges were applied to record the strain under different loads. Strain values of 27 selected sites in the proximal femur were recorded and analyzed at the level of 100 N, 200 N, 300 N, 400 N, 500 N, 600 N and 700 N, respectively before and after disruption of the calcar femorale.Results:  When a normal load was being borne, strain values measured in the posterior and medial aspects of the proximal femur were greater than those measured in the anterior and lateral aspects, no matter whether the calcar femorale was disrupted or not. However after disruption of the calcar femorale, strain values in the posterior and medial aspects of the proximal femur increased significantly, whereas those of the anterior and lateral aspects decreased significantly.Conclusion:  The calcar femorale redistributes stress in the proximal femur by decreasing the load in the posterior and medial aspects and increasing the load in the anterior and lateral aspects.