bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase overexpression in gallbladder carcinoma confers an independent prognostic indicator
Authors: Wu Li-Ching , Chen Li-Tzong , Tsai Yueh-Ju , Lin Chun-Mao , Lin Ching-Yih , Tian Yu-Fang , Sheu Ming-Juen , Uen Yih-Huei , Shiue Yow-Ling , Wang Yu-Hui , Yang Shu-Jing , Wu Wen-Ren , Li Shau-Hsuan , Iwamuro Masaya , Kobayasshi Naoya , Huang Hsuan-Ying , Li Chien-Feng 
Published: January 2012

AimsIncreased β-oxidation of branched-chain fatty acids provides an additional metabolic advantage for cancer cells thereby enhancing tumour development and progression. Alpha-methylacyl coenzyme A racemase (AMACR) is an enzyme essential for the catabolism of branched-chain fatty acids that allows their subsequent β-oxidation and thus plays an important role in generating biological energy. However, the expression of AMACR has never been systemically investigated in gallbladder carcinoma. This study evaluated the expression status, associations with clinicopathological variables and prognostic implications of AMACR in a well-defined cohort of gallbladder carcinoma and confirmed their expression status in gallbladder carcinoma cells.MethodsAMACR immunostaining was assessable in 89 cases on tissue microarrays of gallbladder carcinoma, and it was correlated with clinicopathological factors and patient survival. In three gallbladder carcinoma cell lines and one non-tumorigenic cholangiocyte, AMACR mRNA expression was measured by real-time reverse transcription PCR and the endogenous expression of AMACR protein was analysed by western blotting.ResultsAMACR overexpression was significantly associated with an advanced primary tumour status (p=0.027) and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage (p=0.027), an increased histological grade (p=0.002) and vascular invasion (p=0.017). Importantly, AMACR overexpression independently predicted worse disease-specific survival (p=0.0452, RR 1.887). Expression levels ofAMACRmRNA and total protein in various cells were comparable. The abundance of AMACR expression increased in tumour cells and was even higher in the metastatic cell line.ConclusionsIn primary gallbladder carcinoma, AMACR overexpression was correlated with important prognosticators and independently portended worse outcomes, highlighting the potential prognostic and therapeutic utility of AMACR in gallbladder carcinoma.
Successful detection of embologenic ulceration in a symptomatic non-hemodynamic intracranial stenosis using C-arm cone beam CT
Authors: Heller Robert S , Malek Adel M 
Published: January 2012

ObjectiveThe gold standard for the diagnosis of intracranial atherosclerosis remains catheter based digital subtraction angiography (DSA). A symptomatic hemodynamically non-significant intracranial atherosclerotic lesion is described, whose underlying embologenic characteristics were not detectable by either DSA or three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) but fully realized by C-arm cone beam CT (CBCT) angiography.Clinical presentationA 73-year-old man presented with crescendo transient ischemic attacks consisting of right arm tingling and hand weakness despite long term dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel for coronary artery stent. DSA and 3DRA demonstrated a smooth benign appearing left cavernous internal carotid stenosis of <50%.InterventionGiven the incongruence of the lesion with the patient's symptoms and lack of response to aggressive medical treatment, a decision was made to obtain higher resolution imaging. CBCT angiography was obtained with injection at two contrast dilutions, which uncovered an underlying ruptured ulcerated calcific plaque with a small dissective component and overlying thrombus. The lesion was treated with anticoagulation followed by balloon mounted stent angioplasty, with symptom resolution and maintained patency at the 1 year follow-up.ConclusionThe superior spatial resolution and dynamic range characteristics of CBCT angiography provide added clinical utility in disambiguation of questionable intracranial atherosclerotic lesions which may be missed by conventional planar and rotational angiography. The additional information provided by CBCT angiography could be useful in lesion risk stratification and help refine indications for intracranial stent angioplasty given its recent documented shortcomings vis a vis medical management.
Occurrence of angiographic femoral artery complications after vascular closure with Mynx and AngioSeal
Authors: Fargen Kyle M , Velat Gregory J , Lawson Matthew F , Ritchie Charles A , Firment Christopher , Hoh Brian L , Bennett Jeffery A , Mocco J 
Published: January 2012

IntroductionThere have been recent reports of high vascular complication rates after the use of the Mynx vascular closure device (VCD). At our institution, vascular complications due to these devices have rarely been encountered. A study was undertaken to retrospectively compare angiographic abnormalities seen after femoral artery closure by both the Mynx and AngioSeal VCDs to provide further insight into the risks associated with VCDs.MethodsAll adult patients who underwent deployment of either a Mynx or AngioSeal VCD and subsequently underwent repeat angiography within the next 30 days between 1 July 2010 and 1 April 2011 were reviewed. Two independent blinded radiologists compared blinded pre-procedure and follow-up femoral angiograms for the presence of pseudoaneurysm or other vascular abnormality. Hospital records were reviewed for major or minor complications of the groin site or femoral artery.ResultsThirty patients (31 angiograms) underwent vascular closure with a Mynx and 57 patients (69 angiograms) received an AngioSeal. The average time elapse until repeat femoral angiography was 6.2 days (range 1–21, median 5.5 days) in the Mynx group and 6.3 days (range 0–30, median 5 days) in the AngioSeal group. Two pseudoaneurysms and one minor stenosis were identified in the AngioSeal group. No angiographic abnormalities were seen in the Mynx group. No intraluminal filling defects were demonstrated on any of the follow-up femoral angiograms. One patient who received an AngioSeal developed a delayed minor groin site hematoma that did not require surgical intervention.ConclusionsAngiographic complications were seen in only 3% of patients after closure with Mynx or AngioSeal VCDs. There were no clinically significant groin site or vascular complications. These data suggest that both VCDs are safe for use after angiography with a low rate of femoral artery complications.
Prevalence of Salmonella serotypes in male mule ducks in Belgium
Authors: Flament A. , Soubbotina A. , Mainil J. , Marlier D. 
Published: January 2012

Salmonella species infections of male mule ducks were studied for 32 months in 100 flocks on nine duck farms in Belgium. The prevalence of Salmonella species infections changed significantly over time (P<0.001) with infection rates of 50, 13.4, 6.7, 2.6 and 2.9 per cent, respectively, at the time of arrival on the farm, at three, six and nine weeks of age, and when the ducks left the breeding unit to enter the force‐feeding rooms (at 11 or 12 weeks of age). During the study period, 95 strains of Salmonella were isolated, belonging to 11 serotypes. S Indiana (42.1 per cent) and S Regent (36.8 per cent) were the two most common serotypes, whereas S Typhimurium and S Enteritidis were found only once (1.1 per cent). All isolated strains were resistant to at least two antimicrobials, but resistance to more than five antimicrobials was observed in 21.6 per cent of the strains.
Failure of Iniparib to Inhibit Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase In Vitro
Authors: Patel Anand G. , De Lorenzo Silvana B. , Flatten Karen S. , Poirier Guy G. , Kaufmann Scott H. 
Published: January 2012

Abstract
Purpose: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are undergoing extensive clinical testing for their single-agent activity in homologous recombination (HR)-deficient tumors and ability to enhance the action of certain DNA-damaging agents. Compared with other PARP inhibitors in development, iniparib (4-iodo-3-nitrobenzamide) is notable for its simple structure and the reported ability of its intracellular metabolite 4-iodo-3-nitrosobenzamide to covalently inhibit PARP1 under cell-free conditions. The present preclinical studies were conducted to compare the actions iniparib with the more extensively characterized PARP inhibitors olaparib and veliparib.
Experimental Design: The abilities of iniparib, olaparib, and veliparib to (i) selectively induce apoptosis or inhibit colony formation in HR-deficient cell lines, (ii) selectively sensitize HR-proficient cells to topoisomerase I poisons, and (iii) inhibit formation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymer (pADPr) in intact cells were compared.
Results: Consistent with earlier reports, olaparib and veliparib selectively induced apoptosis and inhibited colony formation in cells lacking BRCA2 or ATM. Moreover, like earlier generation PARP inhibitors, olaparib and veliparib sensitized cells to the topoisomerase I poisons camptothecin and topotecan. Finally, olaparib and veliparib inhibited formation of pADPr in intact cells. In contrast, iniparib exhibited little or no ability to selectively kill HR-deficient cells, sensitize cells to topoisomerase I poisons, or inhibit pADPr formation in situ. In further experiments, iniparib also failed to sensitize cells to cisplatin, gemcitabine, or paclitaxel.
Conclusions: While iniparib kills normal and neoplastic cells at high (&gt;40 μmol/L) concentrations, its effects are unlikely to reflect PARP inhibition and should not be used to guide decisions about other PARP inhibitors. Clin Cancer Res; 18(6); 1655–62. ©2012 AACR.
Analysis of Collaborative Communication for Linguistic Cues of Cognitive Load
Authors: Khawaja M. Asif , Chen Fang , Marcus Nadine 
Published: January 2012

Objective: Analyses of novel linguistic and grammatical features, extracted from transcribed speech of people working in a collaborative environment, were performed for cognitive load measurement. Background: Prior studies have attempted to assess users’ cognitive load with several measures, but most of them are intrusive and disrupt normal task flow. An effective measurement of people’s cognitive load can help improve their performance by deploying appropriate output and support strategies accordingly. Methods: The authors studied 33 members of bushfire management teams working collaboratively in computerized incident control rooms and involved in complex bushfire management tasks. The participants’ communication was analyzed for some novel linguistic features as potential indices of cognitive load, which included sentence length, use of agreement and disagreement phrases, and use of personal pronouns, including both singular and plural pronoun types. Results: Results showed users’ different linguistic and grammatical patterns with various cognitive load levels. Specifically, with high load, people spoke more and used longer sentences, used more words that indicated disagreement with other team members, and exhibited increased use of plural personal pronouns and decreased use of singular pronouns. Conclusion: The article provides encouraging evidence for the use of linguistic and grammatical analysis for measuring users’ cognitive load and proposes some novel features as cognitive load indices. Application: The proposed approach may be applied to many data-intense and safety-critical task scenarios, such as emergency management departments, for example, bushfire or traffic incident management centers; air traffic control rooms; and call centers, where speech is used as part of everyday tasks.
Can Vestibular‐Evoked Myogenic Potentials Help Differentiate Ménière Disease from Vestibular Migraine?
Authors: Zuniga M. Geraldine , Janky Kristen L. , Schubert Michael C. , Carey John P. 
Published: January 2012

ObjectivesTo characterize both cervical and ocular vestibular‐evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP, oVEMP) responses to air‐conducted sound (ACS) and midline taps in Ménière disease (MD), vestibular migraine (VM), and controls, as well as to determine if cVEMP or oVEMP responses can differentiate MD from VM.Study DesignProspective cohort study.SettingTertiary referral center.Subjects and MethodsUnilateral definite MD patients (n = 20), VM patients (n = 21) by modified Neuhauser criteria, and age‐matched controls (n = 28). cVEMP testing used ACS (clicks), and oVEMP testing used ACS (clicks and 500‐Hz tone bursts) and midline tap stimuli (reflex hammer and Mini‐Shaker). Outcome parameters were cVEMP peak‐to‐peak amplitudes and oVEMP n10 amplitudes.ResultsRelative to controls, MD and VM groups both showed reduced click‐evoked cVEMP (P <. 001) and oVEMP (P <. 001) amplitudes. Only the MD group showed reduction in tone‐evoked amplitudes for oVEMP. Tone‐evoked oVEMPs differentiated MD from controls (P =. 001) and from VM (P =. 007). The oVEMPs in response to the reflex hammer and Mini‐Shaker midline taps showed no differences between groups (P >. 210).ConclusionsUsing these techniques, VM and MD behaved similarly on most of the VEMP test battery. A link in their pathophysiology may be responsible for these responses. The data suggest a difference in 500‐Hz tone burst–evoked oVEMP responses between MD and MV as a group. However, no VEMP test that was investigated segregated individuals with MD from those with VM.
Submandibular Space Abscess
Authors: Mohamadi Ardehali Mojtaba , Jafari Mehrdad , Bagheri Hagh Ali 
Published: January 2012

ObjectiveIn this study, the authors compare the external cervical approach with their new minimally invasive technique of intraoral drainage for submandibular space abscesses.Study Design and SettingIn a randomized clinical trial, 40 patients with submandibular abscess entered the study in Amiralam Hospital of Tehran.Subjects and MethodsSubjects were randomly divided in 2 groups of the classic external approach with skin incision in the submandibular area and the intraoral approach for abscess drainage. The data, including demographic details, need for a repeated surgery, days of postoperative hospitalization, scar formation, and possible complications, were recorded and analyzed.ResultsThe patients required an average of 5.5 and 5.4 days of postoperative intravenous (IV) antibiotics in the intraoral and external approaches, respectively, and were discharged from the hospital 1 day after the cessation of the IV antibiotics. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative hospitalization and days of intravenous antibiotics administration. No patients had weakness in their marginal mandibular nerve or skin scarring postoperatively in the intraoral approach group.ConclusionThis study reveals that submandibular abscess in selected cases can be successfully treated with an intraoral drainage approach, which is a better choice than the external technique in terms of better cosmetic outcome. Postoperative care in these patients is much easier because there is no need for daily irrigation and dressing of the wound. Also, there is possibly no risk for injury to surrounding nerves.
Electrocochleography during Cochlear Implantation for Hearing Preservation
Authors: Mandalà Marco , Colletti Liliana , Tonoli Giovanni , Colletti Vittorio 
Published: January 2012

ObjectiveTo determine whether intraoperative electrocochleography during cochlear implant surgery provides online feedback to modify surgical procedure, reduce trauma, and increase preservation of residual hearing.Study DesignProspective cohort study.SettingTertiary referral center, Otolaryngology Department, University of Verona.Subjects and MethodsTwenty‐seven adult patients undergoing cochlear implant surgery who had low‐ to mid‐frequency (0.25‐2 kHz) auditory thresholds measured preoperatively were enrolled. Fifteen subjects had compound action potentials measured to assess cochlear function during surgery. In those patients, surgery was modified according to electrocochleographic feedback. Twelve control subjects underwent cochlear implant surgery with blinded electrocochleographic monitoring.ResultsThe average preoperative pure‐tone audiometry thresholds (0.25‐2 kHz) were 74.3 ± 10.2 and 81.5 ± 12.7 dB hearing level (HL) in the electrocochleographic feedback and control cohorts, respectively (P >. 05). Compound action potential recordings showed a mean maximum latency shift of 0.63 ± 0.36 ms and normalized amplitude deterioration of 59% ± 19% during surgery. All of these changes reverted to normal after electrode insertion in all but 1 subject in the electrocochleographic feedback group. The average shifts in postoperative pure‐tone average threshold (0.25‐2 kHz), evaluated before activation, were 8.7 ± 4.3 and 19.2 ± 11.4 dB HL in the electrocochleographic feedback and control cohorts, respectively (P =. 0051). Complete hearing preservation (loss of ≤10 dB) at 1 month before activation was achieved in 85% (11/13) of electrocochleographic feedback subjects and in 33% (4/12) of control patients (P =. 0154).ConclusionMonitoring cochlear function with electrocochleography gives real‐time feedback during surgery, providing objective data that might help in modifying the surgical technique in ways that can improve the rate of hearing preservation.
Genetic analyses of smoking initiation, persistence, quantity, and age-at-onset of regular cigarette use in Brazilian families: the Baependi Heart Study
Authors: Horimoto Andréa RVR , Oliveira Camila M , Giolo Suely R , Soler Júlia P , de Andrade Mariza , Krieger José E , Pereira Alexandre C 
Published: January 2012

Abstract

Background
The purpose of this study was to estimate the genetic influences on the initiation of cigarette smoking, the persistence, quantity and age-at-onset of regular cigarette use in Brazilian families.

Methods
The data set consisted of 1,694 individuals enrolled in the Baependi Heart Study. The heritability and the heterogeneity in genetic and environmental variance components by gender were estimated from variance components approaches, using the SOLAR (Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines) computer package. The mixed-effects Cox model was used for the genetic analysis of the age-at onset of regular cigarette use.

Results
The heritability estimates were high (> 50%) for smoking initiation and were intermediate, ranging from 23.4 to 31.9%, for smoking persistence and quantity. Significant evidence for heterogeneity in variance components by gender was observed for smoking initiation and age-at-onset of regular cigarette use. Genetic factors play an important role in the interindividual variation of these phenotypes in females, while in males there is a predominant environmental component, which could be explained by greater social influences in the initiation of tobacco use.

Conclusions
Significant heritabilities were observed in smoking phenotypes for both males and females from the Brazilian population. These data add to the literature and are concordant with the notion of significant biological determination in smoking behavior. Samples from the Baependi Heart Study may be valuable for the mapping of genetic loci that modulate this complex biological trait.
No effect of recumbency duration on the occurrence of post-lumbar puncture headache with a 22G cutting needle
Authors: Kim Sung R , Chae Hyun S , Yoon Mi J , Han Jung H , Cho Kwang J , Chung Sun J 
Published: January 2012

Abstract

Background
Supine recumbence has been widely performed to prevent post-lumbar puncture headache (PLPH). However, the optimal duration of supine recumbence is controversial. The aim of the study is to compare the occurrence of PLPH according to the duration of supine recumbence in patients with neurological disorders.

Methods
A non-equivalent control/experimental pre-/post-test study design was used. Seventy consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled between July 2007 and July 2008. Thirty-five patients underwent supine recumbence for four hours after lumbar puncture (Group 1) and 35 patients underwent supine recumbence for one hour (Group 2).

Results
The overall frequency of PLPH was 31.4%. The frequency of PLPH was not significantly different between the Group 1 (28.6%) and Group 2 (34.3%) (P = 0.607). In patients with PLPH, the median severity (P = 0.203) and median onset time of PLPH (P = 0.582) were not significantly different between the two groups. In a logistic regression analysis, the previous history of post-lumbar puncture headache was a significant risk factor for the occurrence of PLPH (OR = 11.250, 95% CI: 1.10-114.369, P = 0.041).

Conclusions
Our study suggests that short duration (one hour) of supine recumbence may be as efficient as long duration (four hours) of supine recumbence to prevent PLPH.
In vitro assessment of some sperm function following exposure to levonorgestrel in human fallopian tubes
Authors: Hermanny Alexia , Bahamondes M Valeria , Fazano Francisco , Marchi Nadia M , Ortiz Maria Elena , Genghini Maria Heloisa RR , Croxatto Horacio B , Bahamondes Luis 
Published: January 2012

Abstract

Background
The mechanism of action of levonorgestrel (LNG) as emergency contraception (EC) remains a subject of debate and its effect on sperm function has been only partially explained. The aim of this study was to assess whether LNG at a similar dose to those found in serum following oral intake for EC could affect spermatozoa when exposed to human fallopian tubes in vitro.

Methods
Fifteen mini-laparotomies were performed, the side on which ovulation occurred was recorded, and both tubes were removed and perfused with a suspension containing 1 × 10(6) motile spermatozoa, with or without LNG. Following 4-hour incubation, the tubes were sectioned to separate the isthmus and the ampulla. Each segment was flushed and the material was evaluated to quantify the number of motile sperm, the number of spermatozoa adhering to the oviductal epithelium and the acrosome reaction (AR) rate.

Results
The addition of LNG did not significantly alter the number of recovered motile spermatozoa either at the isthmus or at the ampulla, nor did it have any effect on the number of recovered spermatozoa adhered to the human tubal epithelium. Furthermore, LNG did not affect the AR rate. No significant differences were found even when the side on which ovulation occurred was taken into account.

Conclusions
In a similar dose to that observed in serum following oral intake for EC, LNG had no effect on the number of motile spermatozoa recovered from the human fallopian tubes in vitro, on their adhesion to the tubal epithelium, distribution or AR rate. The possible effect of LNG as EC on sperm function remains poorly understood.