bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Familial severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Left herniation in one sibling and bilateral herniation in another
Authors: Nagase Hiromi , Ishikawa Hiroshi , Kurosawa Kenji , Furuya Noritaka , Itani Yasufumi , Yamanaka Michiko 
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACTFamilial congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is extremely rare; it comprises about 2% of all CDH cases. The empirical risk is about 2%, increasing to 10% in a family with two affected children. This report describes severe CDH in two siblings who had been diagnosed prenatally. The female newborn diagnosed with left CDH prenatally was born at 38 weeks of gestation. Despite surgical repair and intensive treatment, she died 10 days after birth. Her younger brother was born at 39 weeks of gestation after being diagnosed with bilateral CDH prenatally, and died 75 min after birth. Both infants had neither other congenital anomaly nor chromosomal abnormalities. Their parents are healthy without consanguinity. Their first daughter and the fourth child have no congenital anomalies.
Effects of a multi‐method discharge planning educational program for medical staff nurses
Authors: SUZUKI Shigemi , NAGATA Satoko , ZERWEKH Joyce , YAMAGUCHI Takuhiro , TOMURA Hikari , TAKEMURA Yukie , MURASHIMA Sachiyo 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAim:  To evaluate the effects of an educational program on discharge planning for staff nurses that was developed to improve their knowledge, attitudes, and practice as well as the organizational climate regarding discharge planning.Methods:  Quasi‐experimental design was used. Participants were 256 staff nurses on general internal medicine units in a 1210‐bed national university hospital in the Tokyo area. Two groups were studied: an education group consisting of 102 nurses from 4 units and a control group consisting of 154 nurses from 6 units. The 3‐month education program included study meetings, periodic conferences, and home visits following discharge. The control group received no education. Both groups answered an anonymous self‐administered questionnaire before and after the intervention period. For post‐intervention group comparisons, analysis of covariance was used.Results:  We analyzed the data obtained from 87 education group nurses (response rate: 85.3%) and 104 control group nurses (response rate: 67.5%). In the education group, knowledge increased post intervention regarding home visiting nursing services, the hospital discharge planning department, and two relevant Japanese laws related to discharge planning. In addition, the education group showed improvement in attitudes towards discharge planning. Likewise, co‐workers' recognition of discharge planning needs and their support for discharge planning were significantly improved in education‐group units compared with control‐group units.Conclusion:  This education program was successful in strengthening knowledge of various systems related to discharge planning, improving the nurses' attitudes towards discharge planning, and impacting the climate of entire units; therefore, it was found to be effective.
Five‐year follow up of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor: Recurrence‐free survival by risk group
Authors: KAPOOR Rakesh , KHOSLA Divya , KUMAR Pankaj , KUMAR Narendra , BERA Anjan 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAim:  Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common mesenchymal tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. There is limited published data on GIST from the Indian subcontinent. This 5‐year retrospective analysis of 49 patients treated for GIST reports clinical and pathological features and survival outcome by risk stratification.Methods:  We reviewed 49 cases of GIST from January 2004 to December 2008. Imatinib was administered after surgery in patients with either high‐risk, residual or metastatic disease and at onset of recurrence or metastatic disease in patients with intermediate risk.Results:  The mean age was 50 years (range, 17–80 years). Patients with localized tumor were classified as low (n = 2), intermediate (n = 4) and high risk (n = 32), based on the primary tumor and mitotic index. At a median follow up of 21 months, 2‐year and 3‐year recurrence or progression‐free survival rates were 61 and 39%, respectively, for all patients. The median recurrence‐free survival rate in the intermediate‐risk and high‐risk groups were 7 and 49 months, respectively. The median progression‐free survival in the residual (n = 4) and metastatic disease group (n = 7) was 10 and 29 months, respectively.Conclusion:  This study demonstrates the role of imatinib in adjuvant and therapeutic settings. Responses have been durable and most patients tolerate the drug well at clinically effective doses. In view of high recurrence rates in the intermediate‐risk group in our study, it would be better to keep these patients on strict follow up to detect recurrence at the earliest opportunity.
Influence of ι‐Carrageenan, Pectin, and Gelatin on the Physicochemical Properties and Stability of Milk Protein‐Stabilized Emulsions
Authors: Tippetts M. , Martini S. 
Published: February 2012

Abstract:  This study evaluated the stability of bilayer emulsions as a function of secondary layer composition and pH. Primary emulsions were formulated with 5% soybean oil, 1% protein from nonfat dry milk (NDM) powder as emulsifier and ι‐carrageenan (ι‐carr), low‐methoxyl pectin (LMp), high‐methoxyl pectin (HMp), or gelatin as secondary layers. ζ‐Potential values increased for each emulsion as the pH decreased, with ι‐carr emulsions being consistently more negatively charged than primary emulsions and significantly more stable. ζ‐Potential values were not always correlated to emulsion stability. Gelatin secondary emulsions at pH 3 and HMp secondary emulsions at pH 7 were unstable due to the presence of depletion flocculation. In addition, LMp secondary emulsions stability at pH 7 might be due to calcium bridging, which increased the emulsion's viscosity. Overall, the stability of NDM emulsions was improved when ι‐carr and LMp were used as secondary layers at pH 7 and 5, and when ι‐carr and HMp were used as secondary layers at pH 3. Increased stability of these systems can be attributed to a second homogenization step used to formulate the secondary emulsions and to the presence of Ca+2 in the NDM. Results from this research show that the stability of bilayer emulsions is driven by the presence of depletion flocculation, droplet charge, droplet size and distribution and viscosity.Practical Application:  The use of everyday ingredients (nonfat dry milk powder, gelatin, pectin, and carrageenan), which are understood and accepted by the average consumer, creates label‐friendly products that are the wave of the future. Stable emulsions can be formed using these ingredients at various pH. Understanding the stability and how the pH impacts the physicochemical characteristics and stability of these emulsions will enable manufactures to use ordinary ingredients to create healthier products (for example, low‐fat dressings, sauces, dips, and beverages).
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for malignant liver tumours in challenging locations
Authors: Kelogrigoris Michalis , Laspas Fotios , Kyrkou Katerina , Stathopoulos Kostas , Georgiadou Vithleem , Thanos Loucas 
Published: February 2012

AbstractPurpose: To evaluate the treatment results of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for primary and metastatic malignant liver tumours in challenging locations and also to present the treatment strategy that was used in these cases.Patients and Methods: From January 2007 to January 2010, we performed CT‐guided RFA on 528 lesions in 402 patients (265 men and 137 women; mean age 65.1 years, range 19–82 years) with liver tumours (primary and metastatic) of which 98 lesions in 84 patients (55 men and 29 women; mean age 67.8 years, range 33–82 years) were located in challenging locations, defined as less than 5 mm from a large vessel or an extrahepatic organ (heart, lung, gall bladder, right kidney or gastrointestinal tract). The sizes of the tumours ranged 1.5–6 cm. We used two different RFA systems with an expandable needle electrode (RITA; Rita Medical Systems, Inc, Mountain View, CA, USA and MIRAS; Invatec S.r.l., Roncadelle, Italy).The tumours were considered as ablated completely if no viability was found on dual‐phase dynamic contrast‐enhanced CT at 1 month after RFA.Results: Complete ablation was obtained in 89.7% (88/98) of the high‐risk located lesions, while 10 (10.3%) of the lesions were managed with repeated RFA because of tumour residue. The 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐year survival rates were 82.6, 67.3 and 54.1%, respectively. Minor complications occurred in eight of the 84 patients (9.5%), including small sub‐capsular haematoma in four, small pleural effusion in three and partial liver infarction in one. Local tumour progression rate was 9.2% (9/98).Conclusion: RFA is a safe and effective method of treatment of primary and metastatic liver tumours even located in challenging locations when performed by a well‐trained and experienced interventional radiologist.
Obstacles to participation in randomised cancer clinical trials: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Grand Melissa M , O'Brien Peter C 
Published: February 2012

SummaryAccrual to clinical trials continues to be a problem in many countries including Australia despite its fundamental importance to the progress of evidence‐based medicine. This paper reviews the current literature addressing the obstacles to accrual excluding those related to protocol design. An electronic search of the literature identified publications in oncology specifically addressing the obstacles to participation in clinical trials. This search was supplemented by searches of key oncology journals. Obstacles fall into three main categories – clinician, patient and system; however, there are overlaps between categories. Clinician behaviour is the most important of these. Exclusion of patients for reasons other than defined eligibility criteria, concerns about increased time requirements, and suboptimal communication with patients all affect accrual. Risk management strategies for clinical trials need to be individualised to address the obstacles most likely to negatively impact on accrual. Communication between clinician and patient appears to be a greater issue than previously recognised. Time concerns need to be addressed as generational change affects the expectations of the medical workforce.
De novo characterization of the Timema cristinae transcriptome facilitates marker discovery and inference of genetic divergence
Authors: COMEAULT AARON A. , SOMMERS MATHEW , SCHWANDER TANJA , BUERKLE C. ALEX , FARKAS TIMOTHY E. , NOSIL PATRIK , PARCHMAN THOMAS L. 
Published: February 2012

AbstractAdaptation to different ecological environments can promote speciation. Although numerous examples of such ‘ecological speciation’ now exist, the genomic basis of the process, and the role of gene flow in it, remains less understood. This is, at least in part, because systems that are well characterized in terms of their ecology often lack genomic resources. In this study, we characterize the transcriptome of Timema cristinae stick insects, a system that has been researched intensively in terms of ecological speciation, but for which genomic resources have not been previously developed. Specifically, we obtained >1 million 454 sequencing reads that assembled into 84 937 contigs representing approximately 18 282 unique genes and tens of thousands of potential molecular markers. Second, as an illustration of their utility, we used these genomic resources to assess multilocus genetic divergence within both an ecotype pair and a species pair of Timema stick insects. The results suggest variable levels of genetic divergence and gene flow among taxon pairs and genes and illustrate a first step towards future genomic work in Timema.
The 7‐year cumulative incidence of cornea guttata and morphological changes in the corneal endothelium in the Reykjavik Eye Study
Authors: Zoega Gunnar M. , Arnarsson Arsaell , Sasaki Hiroshi , Söderberg Per G. , Jonasson Fridbert 
Published: February 2012

Abstract.Purpose:  To examine the corneal endothelium and establish the 7‐year cumulative incidence of cornea guttata (CG).Methods:  Population‐based prospective cohort study with 573 participants (third wave of the Reykjavik Eye Study (RES) in 2008). Four hundred and thirty‐seven subjects had either right or left eyes available for analysis after excluding confounding eye conditions. The baseline for eyes at risk for developing CG is the second wave of the RES in 2001. Participants underwent specular microscopy and a standardized eye examination.Results:  The cumulative 7‐year incidence of CG in either eye was estimated as a 95% confidence interval for the expected value for both genders combined (15–23%), for males (8–18%) and for females (19–29%). In right eye only, the 7‐year cumulative incidence for both genders combined was estimated to be 6–11%. For genders combined and for males only, the data indicated no correlation between 7‐year cumulated incidence and age at baseline. In women, however, the change of 7‐year incidence for CG in at least one eye appeared to be correlated to age at baseline. Reduction of endothelial cell density for corneas with CG at baseline was found [CI (0.95)−132 ± 94].Conclusion:  The cumulative 7‐year incidence of primary central CG for a middle‐aged and older Caucasian population without history of potentially confounding eye disease has been established. Women tend to have higher incidence if onset occurs at middle age. If CG is present, the cell density and the cell size variation decrease within a 7‐year period.
Autonomic nervous system dysfunction in obesity and Prader–Willi syndrome: current evidence and implications for future obesity therapies
Authors: Haqq A. M. , DeLorey D. S. , Sharma A. M. , Freemark M. , Kreier F. , Mackenzie M. L. , Richer L. P. 
Published: February 2012

SummaryThe autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls essential functions like breathing, heart rate, digestion, body temperature and hormone levels. Evidence suggests that ANS dysfunction is associated with adult and childhood obesity and plays a role in the distribution of total body fat and the development of obesity‐related complications in humans. This review summarizes our current understanding of ANS involvement in the pathogenesis of obesity and Prader–Willi syndrome. Available evidence of ANS dysfunction in the control of energy balance is limited and, in some cases, contradictory. Further investigation in this area is warranted in order to better understand the important contributions of the ANS to regulation of body fat, development of obesity and its comorbidities. Results from these studies will guide the development of novel obesity therapeutics targeting specific ANS dysfunction.
The Novel Akt Inhibitor API-1 Induces c-FLIP Degradation and Synergizes with TRAIL to Augment Apoptosis Independent of Akt Inhibition
Authors: Li Bo , Ren Hui , Yue Ping , Chen Mingwei , Khuri Fadlo R. , Sun Shi-Yong 
Published: February 2012

Abstract
API-1 (pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines) is a novel small-molecule inhibitor of Akt, which acts by binding to Akt and preventing its membrane translocation and has promising preclinical antitumor activity. In this study, we reveal a novel function of API-1 in regulation of cellular FLICE-inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) levels and TRAIL-induced apoptosis, independent of Akt inhibition. API-1 effectively induced apoptosis in tested cancer cell lines including activation of caspase-8 and caspase-9. It reduced the levels of c-FLIP without increasing the expression of death receptor 4 (DR4) or DR5. Accordingly, it synergized with TRAIL to induce apoptosis. Enforced expression of ectopic c-FLIP did not attenuate API-1–induced apoptosis but inhibited its ability to enhance TRAIL-induced apoptosis. These data indicate that downregulation of c-FLIP mediates enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis by API-1 but is not sufficient for API-1–induced apoptosis. API-1–induced reduction of c-FLIP could be blocked by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Moreover, API-1 increased c-FLIP ubiquitination and decreased c-FLIP stability. These data together suggest that API-1 downregulates c-FLIP by facilitating its ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. Because other Akt inhibitors including API-2 and MK2206 had minimal effects on reducing c-FLIP and enhancement of TRAIL-induced apoptosis, it is likely that API-1 reduces c-FLIP and enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis independent of its Akt-inhibitory activity. Cancer Prev Res; 5(4); 612–20. ©2012 AACR.
Evaluation of Patient and Proxy Responses on the Activity Measure for Postacute Care
Authors: Jette Alan M. , Ni Pengsheng , Rasch Elizabeth K. , Appelman Jed , Sandel M. Elizabeth , Terdiman Joseph , Chan Leighton 
Published: February 2012

Background and Purpose—
Our objective was to examine the agreement between adult patients with stroke and family member or clinician proxies in activity measure for postacute care (AM-PAC) summary scores for daily activity, basic mobility, and applied cognitive function.

Methods—
This study involved 67 patients with stroke admitted to a hospital within the Kaiser Permanente of Northern California system and were participants in a parent study on stroke outcomes. Each participant and proxy respondent completed the AM-PAC by personal or telephone interview at the point of hospital discharge or during ≥1 transitions to different postacute care settings.

Results—
The results suggest that for patients with a stroke proxy, AM-PAC data are robust for family or clinician proxy assessment of basic mobility function and clinician proxy assessment of daily activity function, but less robust for family proxy assessment of daily activity function and for all proxy groups' assessments of applied cognitive function. The pattern of disagreement between patient and proxy was, on average, relatively small and random. There was little evidence of systematic bias between proxy and patient reports of their functional status. The degree of concordance between patient and proxy was similar for those with moderate to severe strokes compared with mild strokes.

Conclusions—
Patient and proxy ratings on the AM-PAC achieved adequate agreement for use in stroke research when using proxy respondents could reduce sample selection bias. The AM-PAC data can be implemented across institutional as well as community care settings while achieving precision and reducing respondent burden.
Cerebellar and Cerebral Autoregulation in Migraine
Authors: Reinhard Matthias , Schork Joscha , Allignol Arthur , Weiller Cornelius , Kaube Holger 
Published: February 2012

Background and Purpose—
Silent ischemic brain lesions frequently occur in migraine with aura and are most often located in cerebellar border zones. This may imply an impairment of cerebellar blood flow autoregulation. This study investigated the characteristics of interictal cerebellar autoregulation in migraine with and without aura.

Methods—
Thirty-four patients (n=17, migraine without aura; n=17, migraine with aura) and 35 age- and sex-matched controls were studied. Triple simultaneous transcranial Doppler monitoring of one posterior inferior cerebellar artery, right posterior cerebral artery, and left middle cerebral artery was performed. Autoregulation dynamics were assessed from spontaneous blood pressure fluctuations (correlation coefficient index Dx) and from respiratory-induced 0.1-Hz blood pressure oscillations (phase and gain).

Results—

Compared with controls, the autoregulatory index Dx was higher (indicating less autoregulation) in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (
P
=0.0062) and middle cerebral artery (
P
=0.0078) in migraine with aura, but not in migraine without aura. Phase and gain did not significantly differ between migraine patients and controls. No significant associations of autoregulation with clinical factors were found, including frequency of migraine attacks and orthostatic intolerance.

Conclusions—
This first-time analysis of cerebellar autoregulation in migraine did not show a specific cerebellar dysautoregulation in the interictal period. More static autoregulatory properties (index Dx) are, however, impaired in persons with migraine with aura both in the cerebellar and anterior circulation. The cerebellar predilection of ischemic lesions in migraine with aura might be a combination of altered autoregulation and additional factors, such as the end artery cerebellar angioarchitecture.
Fibrin Clot Properties in Acute Stroke
Authors: Pera Joanna , Undas Anetta , Topor-Madry Roman , Jagiella Jeremiasz , Klimkowicz-Mrowiec Aleksandra , Slowik Agnieszka 
Published: February 2012

Background and Purpose—
Fibrin clot formation is important in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We investigated plasma fibrin clot characteristics in acute ICH compared with acute ischemic stroke (IS) and nonstroke conditions.

Methods—
In the 3 studied groups, we analyzed plasma fibrin clot phenotype and its association with clinical stroke presentation.

Results—

Compared with controls, in patients with acute strokes, fibrin clots presented with lower clot permeability, longer lysis time, and higher maximum clot absorbance (for all,
P
<0.001). In ICH patients compared with IS patients, only lysis time was shorter by 13% (
P
<0.001). In the ICH group, neurological deficit correlated significantly (
P
<0.05) with clot compaction, and the rate of increase in
d
-dimers released from clots, whereas initial hematoma volume correlated with lag phase of fibrin formation on turbidimetry and compaction (
P
<0.05).

Conclusions—
In both types of acute strokes, fibrin clot properties are altered: denser fibrin clots are relatively resistant to lysis. In acute ICH, fibrin clots are more susceptible to tissue plasminogen activator–mediated lysis compared with in IS, which might affect ICH pathogenesis.
The One-Year Attributable Cost of Poststroke Aphasia
Authors: Ellis Charles , Simpson Annie N. , Bonilha Heather , Mauldin Patrick D. , Simpson Kit N. 
Published: February 2012

Background and Purpose—
Little is known about the contribution of aphasia to the cost of care for patients who experience stroke.

Methods—
We retrospectively examined a cohort of South Carolina Medicare beneficiaries who experienced ischemic stroke in 2004 to determine the attributable cost of aphasia. Univariate analyses were used to compare demographic, comorbidity, and severity differences between individuals with poststroke aphasia and those without aphasia. Differences in payments by Medicare because of stroke were examined using a gamma-distributed generalized linear multivariate model.

Results—
Three thousand, two hundred Medicare beneficiaries experienced ischemic stroke in South Carolina in 2004, and 398 beneficiaries had poststroke aphasia. Patients with aphasia experienced longer length of stays, greater morbidity, and greater mortality than did those without aphasia. In adjusted models that controlled for relevant covariates, the attributable 1-year cost of aphasia was estimated at $1703.

Conclusions—
Aphasia adds to the cost of stroke-related care, above the cost of stroke alone.