bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
REALIZING PLEASANT GROVE: THE REAL PRESENCE OF THE ESCHATON IN THE LIFE OF STANLEY HAUERWAS
Authors: BOERSMA HANS 
Published: March 2012

AbstractTaking my cue from Hannah's Child: A Theologian's Memoir, I discuss the struggles Stanley Hauerwas experiences in trying to identify a place he can call home. The memoir suggests that his academic endeavours have taken Hauerwas far from his hometown, Pleasant Grove, Texas. The book shows, however, that places such as Pleasant Grove function for Hauerwas as anticipations of the heavenly eschaton. To suggest that Christians have no home here on earth does not take into account sufficiently the “real presence” of the heavenly future in everyday realities, such as Stanley's love of Paula Gilbert and a person's appropriate affection of his country.
HANNAH'S CHILD: A LIFE GIVEN AND THEREFORE LIVED
Authors: RICHES AARON 
Published: March 2012

AbstractIn response to Hannah's Child, this essay begins from the reality of “unlikely friendships” and the idea of the “conservative radical”. The essay then moves into a discussion of three particular themes raised in Hauerwas's memoir and in his work generally: Christocentrism as sequela Christi; Christian politics as eschatology; and witness as the heart of Christian life. What draws the various themes of the essay together is the proposal that givenness is the unique and Christocentric key to the Christian unity of thought and practice.
Promises and practices: job evaluation and equal pay forty years on!
Authors: Gilbert Kay 
Published: March 2012

ABSTRACTThis article examines the claim made by Barbara Castle when introducing the Equal Pay Act (EPA) in 1970 that there is nothing preventing unions pressing for job evaluation schemes to achieve equal pay. It does this by examining the research on potential hurdles to job evaluation and those that can be found in the UK law since the introduction of the EPA. The article concludes that the standards for selecting job evaluation and the obstacles of introducing job evaluation have significantly changed over the period, leaving little promise of an extension of its use to achieve equal pay.
Feasibility and reliability of measuring strength, sprint power, and aerobic capacity in athletes and non‐athletes with cerebral palsy
Authors: DE GROOT SONJA , JANSSEN THOMAS W J , EVERS MARIJN , VAN DER LUIJT PIETER , NIENHUYS KIRSTEN N G , DALLMEIJER ANNET J 
Published: March 2012

Aim  The aim of this study was to analyse the feasibility and reliability of the tests used to determine muscle strength, sprint power, and aerobic capacity in athletes and non‐athletes with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods  Twenty individuals with spastic CP (four females, 16 males; age range 18–49y; Gross Motor Function Classification System level I, n=15; II, n=5; unilateral CP, n=10; bilateral CP, n=10; athletes, n=12; non‐athletes, n=8) participated in the study. Isometric and isokinetic knee flexor and extensor strength, sprint power, and aerobic capacity were determined, using, respectively an isokinetic dynamometer, a Wingate cycling test, and a graded maximal bicycle exercise test, on three occasions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of measurements, and smallest detectable differences (SDD) were calculated.Results  The feasibility of the isometric strength test, Wingate test, and graded exercise test was good; the isokinetic strength test was difficult to perform for five participants. The strength parameters showed moderate to good ICCs (isometric, 0.74–0.94; isokinetic, 0.88–0.93) but high SDDs (isometric, 25–45%; isokinetic, 30–45%). Sprint power (ICC 0.98; SDD 24%) and aerobic capacity (ICC 0.98–0.99; SDD 16–21%) showed good ICCs and moderate SDDs.Interpretation  All tests, except for the isokinetic strength test, seemed to be feasible for almost all participants. All tests are suitable for evaluating changes in a group; however, only large improvements (16–45%) can be detected when monitoring individual changes.
Quality of life following liver transplantation in patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Andersen Marit Helen , Dueland Svein , Hagness Morten , Vidnes Tone , Finstad Ellen Drolsum , Wahl Astrid Klopstad , Foss Aksel 
Published: March 2012

Purpose: To study quality of life (QoL) in patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) following liver transplantation (Ltx).Methods: Ten patients participated in a prospective explorative pilot study. Inclusion criteria were nonresectable liver‐only metastases determined by CT/MRI‐, PET/CT‐ scans and colonoscopy, and ECOG 0‐1. Primary outcome was QoL assessed by the EORTC‐C30 questionnaires at baseline, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after Ltx.Results: The patients’ age ranged from 50 to 63 years. Nine of 10 patients were observed for 12 months. One patient did not return the form at 6 months and died shortly after because of recurrence of the malignant disease. Compared to baseline, Ltx resulted in sustained excellent global health status scale (score of 100) in one patient, improved scores in 4 and unchanged scores in 3 patients at 12 months. The majority of the patients also reported good functional scores at follow‐ups. Although two patients had marked symptoms both before and after Ltx, the patients in general reported low levels of pain and fatigue before and after surgery.Conclusion: The present study indicates that CRC patients with liver‐only metastases who receive Ltx have good QoL and have mostly minor symptoms the first year after Ltx.
pH‐dependent inhibition of native GABAA receptors by HEPES
Authors: Hugel S , Kadiri N , Rodeau JL , Gaillard S , Schlichter R 
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Artificial buffers such as HEPES are extensively used to control extracellular pH (pHe) to investigate the effect of H+ ions on GABAA receptor function.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH In neurones cultured from spinal cord dorsal horn (DH), dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and cerebellar granule cells (GC) of neonatal rats, we studied the effect of pHe on currents induced by GABAA receptor agonists, controlling pHe with HCO3‐ or different concentrations of HEPES.KEY RESULTS Changing HEPES concentration from 1 to 20 mM at constant pHe strongly inhibited the currents induced by submaximal GABA applications, but not those induced by glycine or glutamate, on DH, DRG or GC neurones, increasing twofold the EC50 for GABA in DH neurones and GC. Submaximal GABAA receptor‐mediated currents were also inhibited by piperazine‐N,N′‐bis(2‐ethanesulfonic acid) (PIPES), 3‐(N‐morpholino)propanesulfonic acid, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or imidazole. PIPES and HEPES, both piperazine derivatives, similarly inhibited GABAA receptors, whereas the other buffers had weaker effects and 2‐(N‐morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid had no effect. HEPES‐induced inhibition of submaximal GABAA receptor‐mediated currents was unaffected by diethylpyrocarbonate, a histidine‐modifying reagent. HEPES‐induced inhibition of GABAA receptors was independent of membrane potential, HCO3‐ and intracellular Cl‐ concentration and was not modified by flumazenil, which blocks the benzodiazepine binding site. However, it strongly depended on pHe.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Inhibition of GABAA receptors by HEPES depended on pHe, leading to an apparent H+‐induced inhibition of DH GABAA receptors, unrelated to the pH sensitivity of these receptors in both low and physiological buffering conditions, suggesting that protonated HEPES caused this inhibition.
Role of H2O2 in hypertension, renin‐angiotensin system activation and renal medullary disfunction caused by angiotensin II
Authors: Sousa T , Oliveira S , Afonso J , Morato M , Patinha D , Fraga S , Carvalho F , Albino‐Teixeira A 
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Activation of the intrarenal renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) and increased renal medullary hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) contribute to hypertension. We examined whether H2O2 mediated hypertension and intrarenal RAS activation induced by angiotensin II (Ang II).EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Ang II (200 ng·kg−1·min−1) or saline were infused in Sprague Dawley rats from day 0 to day 14. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐catalase (10 000 U·kg−1·day−1) was given to Ang II‐treated rats, from day 7 to day 14. Systolic blood pressure was measured throughout the study. H2O2, angiotensin AT1 receptor and Nox4 expression and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) activation were evaluated in the kidney. Plasma and urinary H2O2 and angiotensinogen were also measured.KEY RESULTS Ang II increased H2O2, AT1 receptor and Nox4 expression and NF‐κB activation in the renal medulla, but not in the cortex. Ang II raised plasma and urinary H2O2 levels, increased urinary angiotensinogen but reduced plasma angiotensinogen. PEG‐catalase had a short‐term antihypertensive effect and transiently suppressed urinary angiotensinogen. PEG‐catalase decreased renal medullary expression of AT1 receptors and Nox4 in Ang II‐infused rats. Renal medullary NF‐κB activation was correlated with local H2O2 levels and urinary angiotensinogen excretion. Loss of antihypertensive efficacy was associated with an eightfold increase of plasma angiotensinogen.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The renal medulla is a major target for Ang II‐induced redox dysfunction. H2O2 appears to be the key mediator enhancing intrarenal RAS activation and decreasing systemic RAS activity. The specific control of renal medullary H2O2 levels may provide future grounds for the treatment of hypertension.
Mitochondrial F0F1‐ATP synthase is a molecular target of 3‐iodothyronamine, an endogenous metabolite of thyroid hormone
Authors: Cumero S , Fogolari F , Domenis R , Zucchi R , Mavelli I , Contessi S 
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 3‐iodothyronamine (T1AM) is a metabolite of thyroid hormone acting as a signalling molecule via non‐genomic effectors and can reach intracellular targets. Because of the importance of mitochondrial F0F1‐ATP synthase as a drug target, here we evaluated interactions of T1AM with this enzyme.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Kinetic analyses were performed on F0F1‐ATP synthase in sub‐mitochondrial particles and soluble F1‐ATPase. Activity assays and immunodetection of the inhibitor protein IF1 were used and combined with molecular docking analyses. Effects of T1AM on H9c2 cardiomyocytes were measured by in situ respirometric analysis.KEY RESULTS T1AM was a non‐competitive inhibitor of F0F1‐ATP synthase whose binding was mutually exclusive with that of the inhibitors IF1 and aurovertin B. Both kinetic and docking analyses were consistent with two different binding sites for T1AM. At low nanomolar concentrations, T1AM bound to a high‐affinity region most likely located within the IF1 binding site, causing IF1 release. At higher concentrations, T1AM bound to a low affinity‐region probably located within the aurovertin binding cavity and inhibited enzyme activity. Low nanomolar concentrations of T1AM increased ADP‐stimulated mitochondrial respiration in cardiomyocytes, indicating activation of F0F1‐ATP synthase consistent with displacement of endogenous IF1,, reinforcing the in vitro results.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Effects of T1AM on F0F1‐ATP synthase were twofold: IF1 displacement and enzyme inhibition. By targeting F0F1‐ATP synthase within mitochondria, T1AM might affect cell bioenergetics with a positive effect on mitochondrial energy production at low, endogenous, concentrations. T1AM putative binding locations overlapping with IF1 and aurovertin binding sites are described.
Curcumin ameliorates hepatic fibrosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus – insights into its mechanisms of action
Authors: Stefanska B 
Published: March 2012

A wide variety of beneficial effects have been attributed to curcumin, a major polyphenol from the golden spice Curcuma longa known as turmeric, including amelioration of severe complications of type 2 diabetes such as hepatic fibrosis, retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy. In the present issue of BJP, Lin and colleagues reveal new mechanisms by which curcumin inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells in vitro, a hallmark of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis and hepatic fibrogenesis associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. They demonstrated that curcumin suppresses the advanced glycation end‐products (AGEs)‐mediated induction of the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) gene expression by increasing PPARγ activity and stimulating de novo synthesis of glutathione. As a result, downstream elements of RAGE‐activated pathways are inhibited, which prevents oxidative stress, inflammation and hepatic stellate cell activation. This report suggests that curcumin may have potential as an anti‐fibrotic agent in type 2 diabetes and opens the door to the evaluation of curcumin therapeutic effects in liver conditions of different aetiology and in other disorders linked to the impairment of PPARγ activity, such as obesity and atherosclerosis.LINKED ARTICLE This article is a commentary on Lin et al., pp. 2212–2227 of this issue. To view this paper visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2012.01910.x
Farmers’ Income and Production Responses to Rural Taxation Reform in Three Regions in China
Authors: Xu Cuiping , Holly Wang H. , Shi Qinghua 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe relationship between agricultural taxation and production efficiency has been thoroughly explored for many countries. Recently, China has taken various measures including the rural taxation reform (RTR) to promote grain production and to increase farmer incomes. In this study, we investigate whether the Chinese policy of abolishing rural taxation has improved farm households’ incomes and affected their production decisions. Using household survey data obtained from three regions in China, we estimate the effect of the RTR on farmers’ income. Results show that the RTR has significantly improved farmers’ post‐tax net income by 9.2% in Shandong, 16.9% in Shanxi and 16.8% in Zhejiang. These increments, mostly from farm income rather than from off‐farm income, are much higher than the direct income increase from the tax savings. In addition, we examine the dynamic impact of farmers’ net income, and find that the RTR has a sustained positive income effect in Shandong and Shanxi, whereas its positive effect in Zhejiang appears temporary. We also examine farmers’ production responses to the RTR. Results show that farmers in the three regions respond in different ways: farmers in Shandong significantly increase their labour input, farmers in Zhejiang increase intermediate inputs, whereas Shanxi farmers augment their intermediate inputs and enlarge their crop acreage. It appears that the farmers’ responses to the taxation reform vary due to the agronomic and economic factors in these three regions, suggesting that diverse post‐RTR supplemental policies should be implemented in different regions.
Preexisting Venous Calcification Prior to Dialysis Vascular Access Surgery
Authors: Lee Timmy , Safdar Nida , Mistry Meenakshi J. , Wang Yang , Chauhan Vibha , Campos Begoña , Munda Rino , Cornea Virgilius , Roy‐Chaudhury Prabir 
Published: March 2012

AbstractVascular calcification is present in arterial vessels used for dialysis vascular access creation prior to surgical creation. Calcification in the veins used to create a new vascular access has not previously been documented. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of venous calcification in samples collected at the time of vascular access creation. Sixty‐seven vein samples were studied. A von Kossa stain was performed to quantify calcification. A semi‐quantitative scoring system from 0 to 4+ was used to quantify the percentage positive area for calcification as a fraction of total area (0: 0; 1+: 1–10%; 2+: 11–25%; 3+: 26–50%; 4+: >50% positive). Twenty‐two of 67 (33%) samples showed evidence of venous calcification. Histologic examination showed varying degrees of calcification within each cell layer. Among the subset of patients with calcification, 4/22 (18%), 19/22 (86%), 22/22 (100%), and 7/22 (32%) had calcification present within the endothelium, intima, media, and adventitia, respectively. The mean semi‐quantitative scores of the 22 samples with calcification were 0.18 ± 0.08, 1.2 ± 0.14, 1.6 ± 0.13, and 0.36 ± 0.12 for the endothelium, intima, media, and adventitia, respectively. Our results demonstrate that vascular calcification is present within veins used to create new dialysis vascular access, and located predominately within the neointimal and medial layers.
A standard blood bank donation alters the thermal and cardiovascular responses during subsequent exercise
Authors: Mora‐Rodriguez Ricardo , Aguado‐Jimenez Roberto , Del Coso Juan , Estevez Emma 
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND: The fear for adverse effects of blood donation on subsequent exercise may prevent physically active people from donating. We studied the impact of a standard blood bank donation (i.e., 450‐mL blood withdrawal) on the thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses to prolonged exercise in the heat.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Eight moderately trained, heat‐acclimated males cycled for 1 hour at 60% in a hot environment (34.9 ± 0.6°C) on four occasions: 1) 2 days before blood donation (CON), 2) 2 hours after donation (DON), 3) 2 days after donation (2 DAYS), and 4) 7 days after donation (7 DAYS).RESULTS: Two‐thirds of the blood volume withdrawn was endogenously restored before exercise in the DON trial (p < 0.05). DON started with increased preexercise rectal temperature (TRE; 0.42 ± 0.1°C above CON; p < 0.05), which resulted in high levels of hyperthermia (i.e., 39.0 ± 0.2°C) after 1 hour of exercise. Skin temperature (34.5 ± 0.1°C) and sweat rate (1.15 ± 0.1 L/h) were not affected by DON. However, DON lowered the skin blood flow : TRE relationship and elevated heart rate (HR) above CON (12 ± 4 beats/min; p < 0.05) maintaining cardiac output. After 2 DAYS, TRE and HR were restored to CON levels while cardiac output increased above CON (6%; p < 0.05) in association with reduced hemoglobin concentration (i.e., peak hemodilution).CONCLUSION: A blood bank donation increases preexercise TRE. Subsequent exercise in a hot environment results in high levels of hyperthermia and HR. These thermoregulatory and cardiovascular perturbations observed during exercise disappear 2 days after donation.
Distinct roles of trauma and transfusion in induction of immune modulation after injury
Authors: Jackman Rachael P. , Utter Garth H. , Muench Marcus O. , Heitman John W. , Munz Matthew M. , Jackman Robert W. , Biswas Hope H. , Rivers Ryan M. , Tobler Leslie H. , Busch Michael P. , Norris Philip J. 
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND: Trauma and transfusion can both alter immunity, and while transfusions are common among traumatically injured patients, few studies have examined their combined effects on immunity.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We tracked the plasma levels of 41 immunomodulatory proteins in 56 trauma patients from time of injury up to 1 year later. In addition, a murine model was developed to distinguish between the effects of transfusion and underlying injury and blood loss.RESULTS: Thirty‐one of the proteins had a significant change over time after traumatic injury, with a mixed early response that was predominantly anti‐inflammatory followed by a later increase in proteins involved in wound healing and homeostasis. Results from the murine model revealed similar cytokine responses to humans. In mice, trauma and hemorrhage caused early perturbations in a number of the pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory mediators measured, and transfusion blunted early elevations in interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐10, matrix metalloproteinase‐9, and interferon‐γ. Transfusion caused or exacerbated changes in monocyte chemotactic protein‐1, IL‐1α, IL‐5, IL‐15, and soluble E‐selectin. Finally, trauma and hemorrhage alone increased CXCL1 and IL‐13.CONCLUSIONS: This work provides a detailed characterization of the major shift in the immunologic environment in response to trauma and transfusion and clarifies which immune mediators are affected by trauma and hemorrhage and which by transfusion.
Efficacy and safety of peripheral blood stem cell mobilization and collection: a single‐center experience in 190 allogeneic donors
Authors: Rinaldi Cristina , Savignano Chiara , Pasca Samantha , Sperotto Alessandra , Patriarca Francesca , Isola Miriam , Fanin Renato , De Angelis Vincenzo 
Published: March 2012

BACKGROUND: In the past two decades peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) have increasingly replaced marrow as stem cells source for allogeneic transplantation. The PBSC donation initially applied only to related donors; later, due to the safety of the procedure, it was extended to unrelated donors.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We have retrospectively collected data regarding mobilization, collection, and short‐ and long‐term follow‐up of 190 consecutive donors, 174 related and 16 unrelated. All donors followed a standard protocol for mobilization and underwent at least one PBSC collection. Follow‐up in related donors was performed every 4 months in the first year and then annually, with no time limits, while unrelated donors were monitored for 10 years.RESULTS: All 190 donors completed the established mobilization protocol. The mobilizing capacity was significantly greater in males and in donors less than 60 years old. No case of major toxicity by granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor was found, nor thromboembolic events. The total dose of CD34+/recipient (median 5.8 × 106/kg recipient/body weight) was statistically correlated with age, CD34+ before and after mobilization, and collection efficiency. Compliance to follow‐up was 66%, with a significant difference between related and unrelated (63% vs. 100%, p = 0.03). During follow‐up no significant abnormalities in hematologic variables or hematologic malignancies were reported.CONCLUSION: Our study allowed us to define the PBSC donation as “a safe procedure for the donors,” with short‐ and long‐term effects limited to a small percentage of donors and “effective for the recipient,” due to the dose of collected CD34+, adequate for transplantation in almost all recipients.
Dialysis‐Dependent Changes in Ventricular Repolarization
Authors: GREEN DARREN , BATCHVAROV VELISLAV , WIJESEKARA CHANDRAKUMARA , KALRA PHILIP A. , CAMM ALAN J. 
Published: March 2012

Background:

Epidemiological data suggest increased risk of sudden death during and immediately after hemodialysis. Microvolt T‐wave alternans (mTWA) is an electrocardiogram (ECG) measure of abnormal ventricular repolarization, which can be used in sudden death risk stratification. The aim of this study was to determine whether mTWA measurements during dialysis indicate abnormal repolarization as a potential trigger to dialysis associated arrhythmias.
Methods:

Forty‐eight‐hour, 12‐lead Holter ECG recordings were taken on a cohort of maintenance hemodialysis patients. Modified moving average mTWA was examined for 48 hours from the start of dialysis. Predialysis biochemistry was taken and echocardiography was performed on a nondialysis day.
Results:

Nineteen patients were analyzed (age 61 ± 14 years, time on dialysis 2.7 ± 2 years). mTWA increased during dialysis (P < 0.01) but returned to baseline 2 hours postdialysis (first hour mTWA = 10.1 ± 4.5μV, final hour mTWA = 12.2 ± 3.7μV, postdialysis mTWA = 10.3 ± 2.7μV, P = 0.015). The change in mTWA did not correlate with serum biochemistry or echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular mass and function. Peak mTWA and frequency of spikes in mTWA ≥ 65μV were not more common during dialysis compared to other times. Patients who showed greater frequency of spikes ≥65μV or increase in hourly mean mTWA during dialysis did not have a worse cardiovascular outcome over a mean follow‐up of 2.6 years.
Conclusions:

Though there were subtle changes in mTWA during dialysis, there was no association with mTWA abnormalities previously shown to be associated with worse outcome. The presence of abnormal mTWA did not correlate with outcome. (PACE 2012; 35:703–710)