bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Review article: Risks of coronary artery calcification in chronic kidney disease: Do the same rules apply?
Authors: MCCULLOUGH PETER A , AGARWAL MOHIT , AGRAWAL VARUN 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYAtherosclerosis, once present, in the intimal and medial spaces of the blood vessel wall becomes calcified due to a variety of cellular and metabolic processes. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) appear to have both accelerated and amplified vascular calcification compared with the general population. Calcium deposition within vascular tissue in the form of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals appears to be a permanent step in the mature atherosclerotic plaque, and to date has not been found to be reversible or modifiable with common treatments for atherosclerosis or dialysis management strategies. Densely calcified lesions with a circumferential arc of calcium around the vessel wall may be severely stenotic, however, are unlikely to develop symptomatic plaque rupture with an acute coronary syndrome. For that reason, the expected outcomes of atherosclerotic therapies in patients with CKD bone and mineral disorder have not followed the same rules of evidence. This paper will review the differences between the CKD and general population with respect to vascular calcification and the observed natural history in observational and interventional studies.
Chronic kidney disease in children: The National Paediatric Hospital experience in Hanoi, Vietnam
Authors: HUONG NGUYEN THI QUYNH , LONG TRAN DINH , BOUISSOU FRANÇOIS , LIEM NGUYEN THANH , TRUONG DINH MINH , NGA DO KIM , CHIEN TRAN THI , BASCANDS JEAN‐LOUP 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARY:Aim:  The goal of this descriptive study was to evaluate the aetiology and the socioeconomic status in hospitalized children in Hanoi and propose solutions to improve prevention and basic health care of patients with chronic kidney disease in Hanoi City.Methods:  The records of all 152 hospitalized children with chronic kidney disease in the National Paediatric Hospital in Hanoi from January 2001 to December 2005 were analyzed.Results:  The incidence of paediatric chronic kidney disease native to Hanoi City was estimated to be 5.1/million‐child population (pmcp). Median age was 11.29 years; 60.5% were boys and 39.5% were girls; 65% of patients were in end‐stage renal disease. Causes of chronic kidney disease included glomerulonephritis (66.4%) and congenital/hereditary anomalies (13%). In 19.8% of children, the aetiology was unavailable. During hospitalization, five patients died and 76 patients (50%) refused the treatment although beneficiaries of health insurance. Thirty patients (19.74%) received peritoneal dialysis and haemodialysis, and seven patients received renal transplantation with a familial living donor.Conclusion:  Late referral, and limited facilities for renal replacement therapy explain the poor outcome in this study. We need a program to delineate the burden of chronic kidney disease and improve primary health care for health promotion and prevention of paediatric chronic kidney disease.
Review article: Potential cellular therapies for renal disease: Can we translate results from animal studies to the human condition?
Authors: LITTLE MELISSA H , RAE FIONA K 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYThe incidence of chronic kidney disease is increasing worldwide, prompting considerable research into potential regenerative therapies. These have included studies to determine whether an endogenous renal stem cell exists in the postnatal kidney and whether non‐renal adult stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cell, can ameliorate renal damage. Such stem cells will either need to be recruited to the damaged kidney to repair the damage in situ or be differentiated into the desired cell type and delivered into the damaged kidney to subsequently elicit repair without maldifferentiation. To date, these studies have largely been performed using experimental and genetic models of renal damage in rodents. The translation of such research into a therapy applicable to human disease faces many challenges. In this review, we examine which animal models have been used to evaluate potential cellular therapies and how valid these are to human chronic kidney disease.
Review article: Getting the balance right: Assessing causes and extent of vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease
Authors: KETTELER MARKUS , BIGGAR PATRICK H 
Published: April 2009

SUMMARYVascular calcification is part of the definition of chronic kidney disease – mineral and bone disorder (CKD‐MBD). It is also a surrogate parameter of cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality risk in the CKD population. However, vascular calcification is not a homogenous entity, but a rather complex manifestation influenced by derangements of calcium and phosphate homeostasis, by dysregulated calcification inhibitors and promoters, and by the type of arterial disease (atherosclerosis vs arteriosclerosis). Despite the clear‐cut risk association between the presence of vascular calcification and mortality, it is currently not well defined, how this knowledge about calcification should be translated into active clinical management. Further, the choice of the appropriate imaging test is a matter of debate. This article attempts to provide an update on insights into the pathophysiology of vascular calcification processes and a subjective view of the clinical consequences of management of CKD patients at risk.
Metabolic syndrome and the development of chronic kidney disease among 118 924 non‐diabetic Taiwanese in a retrospective cohort
Authors: SUN FENG , TAO QIUSHAN , ZHAN SIYAN 
Published: April 2009

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common risk factor for cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Western populations; however, no prospective studies have examined MetS as a risk factor for CKD in Chinese adults.Methods:  The incidence of CKD and the prospective link between MetS (defined by two criteria: modified Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP‐III) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF)) and CKD among 118 924 Taiwanese participants without baseline diabetes, aged 20–74 years with a mean 3.7 years follow up, was examined. CKD was measured by using estimated glomerular filtration rate or dipstick proteinuria (1+). The association between MetS or combination patterns of MetS abnormalities and CKD was evaluated using Cox models with adjustment for confounders.Results:  The incidence of CKD was 288/10 000 person‐years (95% confidence interval (CI), 283–293). The findings showed that central obesity (OB), high blood pressure (BP) and high triglyceride were considered to be the major metabolic events in the study cohort. Incidences and hazard ratios (HR) on CKD had evidently increasing trends with the number of MetS components. The multivariable‐adjusted HR for CKD associated with ATP‐III‐MetS was 1.30 (95% CI, 1.24–1.36). Equivalent HR for IDF‐MetS were 1.37 (95% CI, 1.30–1.44). The associations were still observed when analyzing by stratifying incident diabetes and adjusting hypertension status.Conclusion:  MetS induces an increased risk for CKD independent of baseline confounding factors and subsequent incident diabetes modified the associations lightly. The mechanism through which MetS may cause CKD in this population likely is the development of multiple metabolic pathogenic processes together.
Salvage radical prostatectomy for recurrent prostate cancer after radiation therapy
Authors: Leonardo Costantino , Simone Giuseppe , Papalia Rocco , Franco Giorgio , Guaglianone Salvatore , Gallucci Michele 
Published: April 2009

AbstractSalvage radical prostatectomy is considered for patients with locally recurrent prostate cancer after external beam radiotherapy. Between 2001 and 2004, 32 men treated with curative intent with radiotherapy for prostate cancer were subsequently treated with salvage surgery for clinically localized prostate cancer. We assessed the morbidity associated with this procedure and the outcome of the patients. Thirty‐two patients underwent salvage radical prostatectomy. Initial pre‐radiation median prostate‐specific antigen was 13 ng/ml. Pre‐radiation disease was clinical stage T1b in five cases, T2a in 10, T2b in 10 and T3a in seven. Mean operative time was 122 minutes, intraoperative blood loss was 550 ml and hospital stay and catheterization time were 5 and 12 days, respectively. There was biochemical failure in eight patients after salvage radical prostatectomy and 24 patients are biochemical non evidence of disease (bNED). In recurrent prostate local disease with prostate‐specific antigen <10 ng/ml and life expectancy greater than 10 years, salvage radical prostatectomy is a reasonable treatment option.
Survival and persistence of human and ruminant‐specific faecal Bacteroidales in freshwater microcosms
Authors: Walters Sarah P. , Field Katharine G. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryAmplification of host‐specific markers from Bacteroidales faecal anaerobes can rapidly identify the source of faecal pollution. It is necessary to understand persistence and survival of these markers and marker cells, both to interpret quantitative source‐tracking data, and to use such data to predict pathogen occurrence. We measured marker persistence and cell survival of two human (HF134, HF183) and two ruminant (CF128, CF193) faecal Bacteroidales markers, compared with Escherichia coli and enterococci. Freshwater microcosms were inoculated with fresh cattle or human faeces and incubated at 13°C in natural light or darkness. Marker persistence was measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quantitative PCR. Survival of marker cells was measured by real‐time quantitative PCR. There was no difference in persistence between the two human‐specific Bacteroidales DNA markers in the light and dark microcosms. Cell survival profiles of the two human markers were also similar; both were significantly affected by light. Ruminant markers persisted and survived longer than human markers (14 versus 6 days respectively). CF193 decreased more rapidly than CF128, and light significantly affected CF128 but not CF193. These results support use of host‐specific faecal Bacteroidales markers as indicators of recent faecal pollution, but suggest that caution is needed in interpreting quantitative results to indicate proportional contribution of different sources, as individual markers differ in their survival, persistence and response to environmental variables. The survival and persistence profiles for Bacteroidales markers are consistent with survival profiles for several faecal pathogens.
Distribution and evolution of ferripyoverdine receptors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Bodilis Josselin , Ghysels Bart , Osayande Julie , Matthijs Sandra , Pirnay Jean‐Paul , Denayer Sarah , De Vos Daniel , Cornelis Pierre 
Published: April 2009

Summary Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous Gram‐negative bacterium, which is also able to cause severe opportunistic infections in humans. The colonization of the host is importantly affected by the production of the high‐affinity iron (III) scavenging peptidic siderophore pyoverdine. The species P. aeruginosa can be divided into three subgroups (‘siderovars’), each characterized by the production of a specific pyoverdine and receptor (FpvA). We used a multiplex PCR to determine the FpvA siderovar on 345 P. aeruginosa strains from environmental or clinical origin. We found about the same proportion of each type in clinical strains, while FpvA type I was slightly over‐represented (49%) in environmental strains. Our multiplex PCR also detected the presence or absence of an additional receptor for type I pyoverdine (FpvB). The fpvB gene was in fact present in the vast majority of P. aeruginosa strains (93%), regardless of their siderovar or their origin. Finally, molecular analyses of fpvA and fpvB genes highlighted a complex evolutionary history, probably linked to the central role of iron acquisition in the ecology and virulence of P. aeruginosa.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Way of Coping Checklist‐Revised (WCCL‐R) in the Asian Context
Authors: Sawang Sukanlaya , Oei Tian P.S. , Goh Yong Wah , Mansoer Wilman , Markhum Enoch , Ranawake D. 
Published: April 2009

Industrial employment growth has been one of the most dynamic areas of expansion in Asia; however, current trends in industrialised working environments have resulted in greater employee stress. Despite research showing that cultural values affect the way people cope with stress, there is a dearth of psychometrically established tools for use in non‐Western countries to measure these constructs. Studies of the “Way of Coping Checklist‐Revised” (WCCL‐R) in the West suggest that the WCCL‐R has good psychometric properties, but its applicability in the East is still understudied. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is used to validate the WCCL‐R constructs in an Asian population. This study used 1,314 participants from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Thailand. An initial exploratory factor analysis revealed that original structures were not confirmed; however, a subsequent EFA and CFA showed that a 38‐item, five‐factor structure model was confirmed. The revised WCCL‐R in the Asian sample was also found to have good reliability and sound construct and concurrent validity. The 38‐item structure of the WCCL‐R has considerable potential in future occupational stress‐related research in Asian countries.La croissance de l’emploi dans l’industrie a été l’un des aspects les plus dynamiques de l’expansion en Asie, mais l’évolution actuelle des environnements de travail industriels a accru le stress des salariés. Malgré les recherches qui ont souligné que les valeurs culturelles affectaient la façon dont les gens faisaient face au stress, on ne peut que regretter la pénurie d’outils psychométriquement valides pour mesurer ces dimensions dans les pays non occidentaux. Les travaux occidentaux sur la “liste révisée des stratégies de faire‐face” (WCCL‐R) laissent entendre que cette échelle présentent des propriétés psychométriques positives, mais ses possibilités d’application en Asie n’ont pas été suffisamment étudiées. On a mis à l’épreuve par analyse factorielle les concepts de la WCCL‐R sur une population asiatique. L’échantillon comprenait 1,314 sujets en provenance d’Indonésie, du Sri Lanka, de Singapour et de Thaïlande. Une première analyse factorielle exploratoire n’a pas confirmé la structure originelle. Toutefois, les analyses ultérieures débouchèrent sur un modèle à cinq facteurs et 38 items. On a aussi pu constater que la WCCL‐R présentait une bonne fidélité, des concepts pertinents et une validité concurrente satisfaisante. La structure en 38 items de la WCCL‐R recèle un potentiel considérable pour les recherches sur le stress professionnel dans les pays asiatiques.
Are Good Industrial Relations Good for the Economy?
Authors: Addison John T. , Teixeira Paulino 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
Recent US microeconomic analysis indicates that good industrial relations might improve firm performance. Of late, it has also been claimed that the benefits of industrial relations quality - proxied inversely by a strikes variable - could also extend to the macroeconomy. Using cross-country data, we find that, independent of other labor market institutions, a lower strike volume is associated with lower unemployment. Although there is a separate line of causation running from unemployment to strikes, our analysis suggests that this is not dominant. That said, support for the notion that macro performance owes something to good industrial relations is, however, weakened once we formally control for strike endogeneity.
Sectoral Transformation, Turbulence and Labor Market Dynamics in Germany
Authors: Bachmann Ronald , Burda Michael C. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThis paper analyzes the interaction between structural change and labor market dynamics in West Germany, during a period when industrial employment declined by more than 30% and service sector employment more than doubled. Using transition data on individual workers, we document a marked increase in structural change and turbulence, in particular since 1990. Net employment changes resulted partly from an increase in gross flows, but also from an increase in the net transition ‘yield’ at any given gross worker turnover. In growing sectors, net structural change was driven by accessions from nonparticipation rather than unemployment; contracting sectors reduced their net employment primarily via lower accessions from non-participation. German reunification and Eastern enlargement appear to have contributed significantly to this accelerated pace of structural change.
Implementation and evaluation of existing guidelines on the use of neurophysiological tests in non‐acute migraine patients: a questionnaire survey of neurologists and primary care physicians
Authors: Rossi P. , Schoenen J. , Bolla M. , Tassorelli C. , Sandrini G. , Nappi G. 
Published: April 2009

Background and purpose:  The main aims of this study were to evaluate: the diffusion, use and perception of the usefulness of the 2004 EFNS guidelines on neurophysiological testing in non‐acute headache patients; the frequency with which the different neurophysiological tests were recommended in non‐acute migraine patients by physicians aware or unaware of the guidelines; and the appropriateness of the reasons given for recommending neurophysiological tests.Methods:  One hundred and fifty physicians selected amongst the members of the Italian societies of general practitioner (GPs), neurologists and headache specialists were contacted via e‐mail and invited to fill in a questionnaire specially created for the study.Results:  Ninety‐two percent of the headache specialists, 8.6% of the neurologists and 0% of the GPs were already aware of the EFNS guidelines. A significantly higher proportion of headache specialists had not recommended any neurophysiological tests to the migraine patients they had seen in the previous 3 months, whereas these tests had frequently been prescribed by the GPs and neurologists. Overall, 80%, 42% and 42.6% of the reasons given by headache specialists, neurologists and GPs, respectively, for recommending neurophysiological testing in their migraine patients were appropriate (P < 0.01).Conclusions:  The diffusion of the EFNS guidelines on neurophysiological tests and neuroimaging procedures was found to be very limited amongst neurologists and GPs. The physicians aware of the EFNS guidelines recommended neurophysiological tests to migraine patients less frequently and more appropriately than physicians who were not aware of them. The most frequent misconceptions regarding neurophysiological tests concerned their perceived capacity to discriminate between migraine and secondary headaches or between migraine and other primary headaches.
Two different doses of Amitriptyline ER in the prophylaxis of migraine: long‐term results and predictive factors
Authors: Lampl C. , Huber G. , Adl J. , Luthringshausen G. , Franz G. , Marecek S. , Weber J. , Baumhackl U. , Mueller T. 
Published: April 2009

Background and purpose:  The rationale for our study was to examine the prophylactic benefit of two doses of amitriptyline over a 6‐month observational period in patients with migraine. We aimed at evaluating whether 50 mg of amitryptiline extended release was more effective than 25 mg in reducing the number of migraine days.Methods:  Primary outcome measure was the reduction of migraine days in time course (i.e., 3 and 6 months after patient enrolment). As secondary analyses, predictors of treatment response were evaluated. Treatment response was defined as reduction of ≥30% and ≥50% in migraine headache days in time course.Results:  The intent‐to‐treat population comprised 132 patients (female 96; male 36) with migraine. Median migraine days per month were reduced from 7 days (range: 6–15) at baseline, to 6 days (range: 4–12; P < 0.001) at 3 months, and to 6 days (range: 3–12; P < 0.001) at 6 months, respectively. However, no statistically significant difference in the number of migraine days was seen between the two treatment groups at 3 and 6 months. As a result of secondary analyses, the number of migraine days per month at baseline was the only independent predictor of response to amitriptyline treatment (for both definitions of treatment response, i.e., response rate ≥30% and response rate ≥50%) at 6 months.Conclusions:  The prophylactic effect of amitriptyline seen in our study was rather weak and did not differ between the two treatment groups. The results of this 6‐month, prospective, open‐label clinical observation are therefore not encouraging.
Variation of trabecular microarchitectural parameters in cranial, caudal and mid‐vertebral regions of the ovine L3 vertebra
Authors: Kennedy Oran D. , Brennan Orlaith , Rackard Susan M. , O’Brien Fergal J. , Taylor David , Lee T. Clive 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe lumbar vertebrae are major load‐bearing structures within the spinal column. The current understanding of the microstructure of these bodies and their full role in load‐bearing is incomplete. There is a need to develop our understanding of these issues to improve fracture prediction in musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoporosis. The lumbar vertebrae consist primarily of trabecular bone enclosed in a thin cortical shell, but little is known about how microstructural parameters vary within these structures, particularly in relation to the trabecular compartment. The specific aim of this study was to use micro‐computed tomography to characterize the trabecular microarchitecture of the ovine L3 vertebra in cranial, mid‐vertebra and caudal regions. The L3 vertebra was obtained from skeletally mature ewes (n = 18) more than 4 years old. Three‐dimensional reconstructions of three pre‐defined regions were obtained and microarchitectural parameters were calculated. Whereas there was no difference in bone volume fraction or structural model index between regions, trabecular number, thickness, spacing, connectivity density, degree of anisotropy and bone mineral density all displayed significant regional variations. The observed differences were consistent with the biomechanical hypothesis that in vivo loads are distributed differently at the endplates compared with the mid‐vertebra. Thus, a more integrative approach combining biomechanical theory and anatomical features may improve fracture risk assessment in the future.
The evolution of orbit orientation and encephalization in the Carnivora (Mammalia)
Authors: Finarelli John A. , Goswami Anjali 
Published: April 2009

AbstractEvolutionary change in encephalization within and across mammalian clades is well‐studied, yet relatively few comparative analyses attempt to quantify the impact of evolutionary change in relative brain size on cranial morphology. Because of the proximity of the braincase to the orbits, and the inter‐relationships among ecology, sensory systems and neuroanatomy, a relationship has been hypothesized between orbit orientation and encephalization for mammals. Here, we tested this hypothesis in 68 fossil and living species of the mammalian order Carnivora, comparing orbit orientation angles (convergence and frontation) to skull length and encephalization. No significant correlations were observed between skull length and orbit orientation when all taxa were analysed. Significant correlations were observed between encephalization and orbit orientation; however, these were restricted to the families Felidae and Canidae. Encephalization is positively correlated with frontation in both families and negatively correlated with convergence in canids. These results indicate that no universal relationship exists between encephalization and orbit orientation for Carnivora. Braincase expansion impacts orbit orientation in specific carnivoran clades, the nature of which is idiosyncratic to the clade itself.