bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Narcolepsy and sleep‐disordered breathing
Authors: Pataka A. D. , Frangulyan R. R. , Mackay T. W. , Douglas N. J. , Riha R. L. 
Published: December 2011

Background and purpose:  There is a high incidence of sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) in narcoleptic patients. Some narcoleptics with SDB may benefit from treatment with continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP). The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of SDB in narcoleptics referred to a tertiary sleep disorders clinic and assess the effectiveness of CPAP as adjunctive therapy.Methods:  A retrospective review of patients meeting ICSD‐2 criteria for the diagnosis of narcolepsy from 2000 to 2009.Results:  One hundred and two patients (61 women) with narcolepsy were included in the study. Twenty‐nine (29) patients (eight women, 21 men) were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnoea–hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) of whom 26 commenced CPAP therapy with 11 patients concurrently treated with stimulants. Patients with narcolepsy and OSAHS were older (P = 0.009) and heavier (BMI, 29.6 ± 4.8 vs. 27.3 ± 6, P = 0.042), but their ESS did not differ from patients with narcolepsy alone. Patients treated with both CPAP and stimulants were younger (P = 0.008) and less obese (BMI, 29.1 ± 4.6 vs. 30.4 ± 5.4, P = 0.044) with higher apnoea–hypopnoea index (36.15 ± 21.9 vs. 31.5 ± 16.7, P = 0.03) than those treated with CPAP alone. The ESS of CPAP‐treated patients improved during follow‐up (19 ± 3.6 vs. 15.8 ± 4.5, P = 0.006), but BMI increased (30.6 ± 5 vs. 31.7 ± 5.6, P = 0.05). The use of stimulants did not seem to improve on the effectiveness of CPAP.Conclusion:  Coexisting SDB is common in narcoleptics (28.5%). CPAP therapy in narcoleptics with OSAHS remains a useful second‐line adjunct to standard therapy.
Cerebral artery calcification in patients with acute cerebrovascular diseases: determinants and long‐term clinical outcome
Authors: Koton S. , Tashlykov V. , Schwammenthal Y. , Molshatzki N. , Merzeliak O. , Tsabari R. , Tanne D. 
Published: December 2011

Background and purpose:  Coronary artery calcium is an independent predictor of all‐cause mortality. We sought to examine the determinants of intracranial cerebral artery calcification (CAC) and its association with long‐term outcome in a large prospective cohort of stroke patients.Methods:  Consecutive patients hospitalized because of acute stroke (ischaemic and intracerebral hemorrhage) or TIA throughout a large medical center were systematically assessed and followed up for 1 year. Intracranial CAC was assessed from baseline brain CT blinded to clinical data. Patients were categorized to no, mild, and severe CAC according to their total CAC score. Determinants of CAC were studied with logistic regression analysis. Risk of death, Barthel Index ≤ 60 or death and living in a nursing facility or death were assessed.Results:  Amongst 1049 patients (mean age: 70 ± 13 years, 59% males) CAC was present in 727 (69%) patients. The main determinants of CAC were increasing age (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.3–1.6, per 5 years), diabetes (OR: 2.1, 1.4–3.0), smoking (1.4, 1.0–2.2), hypertension (1.4, 1.0–2.1), and prior coronary heart disease (1.9, 1.3–2.9). CAC was associated with mortality and poor outcome amongst patients with ischaemic stroke; however, after adjusting for age and stroke severity, no significant association was observed. In patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, outcomes were not related to CAC.Conclusions:  Intracranial CAC is highly prevalent in patients with acute stroke and its main determinants are older age, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and prior coronary heart disease. Associations between CAC and mortality or poor functional outcome in the first year after ischaemic stroke are mainly age‐ and stroke severity‐driven.
Childhood mycosis fungoides: a report of 20 cases from Turkey
Authors: Yazganoglu K.D. , Topkarci Z. , Buyukbabani N. , Baykal C. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground  Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas in adults. In the recent past, several reports have focused on an increased prevalence of MF in children.Objective  The present study was aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, treatment modalities and disease progression in childhood MF patients from Turkey.Methods  In a retrospective analysis of 368 MF patients in a referral center at Istanbul, Turkey, 20 patients were diagnosed before the age of 18 years and were included in the study.Results  Childhood cases constituted 5.4% of all MF patients. The age at the time of diagnosis ranged between 2–18 years with a mean of 9.20 ± 4.52 and a median value of 9.50 years. The clinical presentation of MF consisted of solely patches in 60%, followed by plaques or plaques and patches in 40% of the patients. Hypopigmented lesions were seen in 45% and purpuric lesions in 30% of the patients. Four patients (20%) were diagnosed to have unilesional MF. The large majority of the patients (95%) had T1N0M0 or T2N0M0 disease. Sixteen patients were followed between 1–13 years (median: 3.75 years). All the patients were treated with skin directed treatments including topical corticosteroids, topical bexarotene, topical carmustine, narrow band UVB and PUVA. None of the patients progressed to an advanced stage. After an initial clearance, 69.2% of the patients were observed to have recurrences.Conclusion  In our experience, patches were more prevalent among childhood MF cases. Overrepresentation of hypopigmented and purpuric lesions was remarkable. Progression to an advanced stage was not seen. However, recurrences after discontinuation of therapy were common.
Association of the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene A1298C Polymorphism with Male Infertility: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Shen Ouxi , Liu Renping , Wu Wei , Yu Lugang , Wang Xinru 
Published: December 2011

SummaryPublished data on the association between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene A1298C (rs1801131) polymorphism and male infertility risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta‐analysis was performed. In this meta‐analysis, a total of seven case‐control studies including 1633 cases and 1735 controls were selected to evaluate the possible association. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of association in the additive model, dominant model, recessive model, and allele‐frequency genetic model. In the overall analysis, the frequency of the C1298 allele (C vs. A) was significantly associated with susceptibility to male infertility (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.00–1.26). A subgroup analysis of the subjects showed that MTHFR 1298C was associated with significant increased risk of azoospermia in homozygote comparison (CC vs. AA) and recessive mode (CC vs. AA/AC) (OR = 1.66 for CC vs. AA genotype; OR = 1.67 for CC vs. AA/AC genotype). However, no statistically significant increased risk of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia was found in any of the genetic models. In conclusion, this meta‐analysis supports that the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism is capable of causing male infertility susceptibility, especially azoospermia.
Traditional Excluding Forces: A Review of the Quantitative Literature on the Economic Situation of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendants, and People Living with Disability
Authors: Gandelman Néstor , Ñopo Hugo , Ripani Laura 
Published: December 2011

Abstract
Unequal income distribution in Latin America and the Caribbean is linked to unequal distributions of human and physical assets and differential access to markets and services. These circumstances, and the accompanying social tensions, need to be understood in terms of traditional fragmenting forces; the sectors of the population that experience unfavorable outcomes are also recognized by characteristics such as ethnicity, race, gender, and physical disability. In addition to reviewing the general literature on social exclusion, this article surveys several more specific topics: relative deprivation (in land and housing, physical infrastructure, health and income); labor market issues, including access to labor markets in general, as well as informality, segregation, and discrimination; the transaction points of political representation, social protection, and violence; and areas in which analysis remains weak and avenues for further research in the region.
Marketing, cooperatives and price heterogeneity: evidence from the CIS dairy sector
Authors: Sauer Johannes , Gorton Matthew , White John 
Published: December 2011

AbstractDrawing on survey data, this article identifies the determinants of variations in farm gate milk prices for three CIS countries (Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine). We apply a multi‐level modeling approach, specifically a bootstrapped mixed‐effects linear regression model. The analysis suggests three main strategies to improve the price received by farmers for their output: consolidation, competition for output, and stable supply chain relationships. In Armenia and Ukraine selling through a marketing cooperative has a significant, positive, albeit modest, effect on farm gate milk prices. In all three countries studied, the size of dairy operations, trust, and contracting also affect positively the prices received by farmers.
A systematic review of correlates of physical activity in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Vancampfort D. , Knapen J. , Probst M. , Scheewe T. , Remans S. , De Hert M. 
Published: December 2011

Vancampfort D, Knapen J, Probst M, Scheewe T, Remans S, De Hert M. A systematic review of correlates of physical activity (PA) in patients with schizophrenia.Objective:  The present review evaluates systematically the published quantitative studies of correlates of PA in patients with schizophrenia.Method:  EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, CINAHL and PEDro were searched from their inception to 1 July 2011 combining the medical subject heading ‘schizophrenia’ with ‘physical activity’ or ‘physical inactivity’ or ‘exercise’ or ‘health education’ or ‘health behaviour’ or ‘health promotion’.Results:  Out of 68 potentially eligible studies, 25 papers (n = 25 013) evaluating 36 correlates were included. Correlates consistently associated with lower PA participation are the presence of negative symptoms and cardio‐metabolic comorbidity. Also, side‐effects of antipsychotic medication, lack of knowledge on cardiovascular disease risk factors, no belief in the health benefits, a lower self‐efficacy, other unhealthy lifestyle habits and social isolation correlated with lower PA participation. The quality of the PA measurement was not related to the proportion of significant associations (χ2 = 3.8, P = 0.07). Current gaps in literature that need to be examined more in detail are the role of environmental and policy‐level factors on PA participation in patients with schizophrenia.Conclusion:  All correlates should be confirmed in prospective studies, and interventions to improve the modifiable variables should be developed and evaluated.
Serotonin receptor, SERT mRNA and correlations with symptoms in males with alcohol dependence and suicide
Authors: Thompson P. M. , Cruz D. A. , Olukotun D. Y. , Delgado P. L. 
Published: December 2011

Thompson PM, Cruz DA, Olukotun DY, Delgado PL. Serotonin receptor, SERT mRNA and correlations with symptoms in males with alcohol dependence and suicide.Objective:  This study tested the hypothesis that abnormalities in components of the serotonin (5HT) system in the prefrontal cortex are associated with suicide in alcohol‐dependent subjects. Second, we assessed the relationship of lifetime impulsivity and mood symptoms with prefrontal cortex 5‐HT measures.Method:  Tissue was obtained from Brodmann’s areas (BA) 9 and 24 in postmortem samples of individuals who were alcohol dependent with suicide (n = 5), alcohol dependent without suicide (n = 9) and normal controls (n = 5). Serotonin receptor (5HT) and serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) mRNA were measured. Interviews with next of kin estimated lifetime impulsivity and mood symptoms in the last week of life.Results:  Serotonin receptor 1A (5HT1A) mRNA in BA 9 was elevated in the alcohol dependence without suicide group compared with controls. In the alcohol dependence with suicide group, anxiety symptoms were associated with decreased BA 24 SERT mRNA and depressive symptoms with BA 9 5HT1A mRNA expression. In the alcohol dependent only group impulsivity is correlated with increased BA 9, and BA 24 serotonin receptor 2A mRNA.Conclusion:  Our data suggest region‐specific change, rather than global serotonin blunting is involved in alcohol dependence and suicide. It also suggests that symptoms are differentially influenced by prefrontal cortex serotonin receptor mRNA levels.
Knockdown of BDNF suppressed invasion of HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells, a mechanism associated with inactivation of RhoA or Rac1 and actin skeleton disorganization
Authors: GUO DAWEI , SUN WENYU , ZHU LEI , ZHANG HONGBIN , HOU XUEZHONG , LIANG JIAN , JIANG XIAOFENG , LIU CHEN 
Published: December 2011

Guo DW, Sun WY, Zhu L, Zhang H, Hou X, Liang J, Jiang X, Liu C. Knockdown of BDNF suppressed invasion of HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells, a mechanism associated with inactivation of RhoA or Rac1 and actin skeleton disorganization. APMIS 2012; 120: 469–76.Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its primary receptor tropomysin‐related kinase B (TrkB) mediate critical signalings for supporting survival and growth of neurons. Even though we have previously confirmed that more expressions of BDNF and TrkB were closely correlated with multiple and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the exact mechanisms underlying have not been investigated. The expressions of BDNF and TrkB were examined by western blot and BDNF secretion was evaluated by ELISA in human HCC cell lines of HepG2 and HCCLM3 with high metastatic potential. BDNF knockdown was performed by specific BDNF‐siRNA transfection in HCC cells, actin cytoskeleton was shown by FITC‐phalloidin staining and the activations of RhoA, Rac1 or Cdc42 were determined using western blot. Cell apoptosis and invasion were examined by flow cytometry and transwell assay, respectively. More expressions of BDNF and TrkB were found in HCCLM3 than in HepG2 cells. Inhibited expression of BDNF by specific siRNA showed impaired actin polymerization and decreased activations of RhoA or Rac1 in both HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells. BDNF knockdown also induced apoptosis and suppressed invasion of both HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells. Our results suggested a role of BDNF/TrkB in confering HCCLM3 cells advantage of metastasis, and BDNF knockdown inhibited cell invasion probably through the blocked actin polymerization and the correlated inactivation of RhoA or Rac1. Aiming at BDNF/TrkB signaling interruption may be an effective strategy to prevent HCC progression.
Aminoglycoside resistance in clinical Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Western Norway
Authors: LINDEMANN PAUL CHRISTOFFER , RISBERG KINE , WIKER HARALD G. , MYLVAGANAM HAIMA 
Published: December 2011

Lindemann PC, Risberg K, Wiker HG, Mylvaganam H. Aminoglycoside resistance in clinical Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Western Norway. APMIS 2012; 120: 495–502.Resistance to gentamicin in Escherichia coli from blood culture has shown an increase over the past decade in Norway. This study was done to investigate aminoglycoside resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Western Norway. The material included 49 blood culture isolates which had shown aminoglycoside resistance collected during 2000–2009. To investigate co‐resistance to alternative antibiotics and dynamics involved in aminoglycoside resistance 67 isolates (mostly from urine) exhibiting resistance to both aminoglycosides and extended spectrum beta‐lactam antibiotics were also included. MIC values were obtained for amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, netilmicin, streptomycin and tobramycin and all isolates were screened using PCR for aac(3)‐II and aac(6′)‐Ib, encoding aminoglycoside modifying enzymes. Resistance to ≥3 aminoglycosides was found in 92% of the isolates and 60.3% showed resistance to gentamicin, netilmicin, tobramycin and kanamycin. Amikacin resistance was low. Co‐resistance to ciprofloxacin was found in 88% of the isolates with gentamicin resistance. aac(3)‐IIa/c was found in 79.3% and aac(6′)‐Ib in 37.9% of the isolates and 28.4% harboured both genes. aac(6′)‐Ib‐cr, possibly contributing to ciprofloxacin resistance was found mostly in extended spectrum beta‐lactamase producers. The aminoglycoside resistance patterns indicate co‐existence of multiple resistance mechanisms. The use of ciprofloxacin and third generation cephalosporins is likely to have contributed to the increase in aminoglycoside resistance in Norway.
A novel method for extracting green fractional vegetation cover from digital images
Authors: Liu Yaokai , Mu Xihan , Wang Haoxing , Yan Guangjian 
Published: December 2011

AbstractQuestionAlthough digital photography is an efficient and objective means of extracting green fractional vegetation cover (FVC), it lacks automation and classification accuracy. How can green FVC be extracted from digital images in an accurate and automated method?MethodsSeveral colour spaces were compared on the basis of a separability index, and CIE L*a*b* was shown to be optimal for the tested colour spaces. Thus, all image processing was performed in CIE L*a*b* colour space. Gaussian models were used to fit the green vegetation and background distributions of the a* component. Three strategies (T0, T1 and T2 thresholding method) were tested to select the optimal thresholds for segmenting the image into green vegetation and non‐green vegetation. The a* components of the images were then segmented and the green FVC extracted.ResultsThe FVC extracted using T0, T1, and T2 thresholding methods were evaluated with simulated images, and cross‐validated with FVC extracted with supervised classification methods. The results show that FVC extracted with T0, T1 and T2 thresholding methods are similar to those estimated with supervised classification methods. The mean errors associated with the FVC values provided in our approach and supervised classification are less than 0.035. In a test with simulated data, our method performed better than the supervised classification method.ConclusionsMethods presented in this paper were demonstrated to be feasible and applicable for automatically and accurately extracting FVC of several green vegetation types with varying background and shadow conditions. However, our algorithm design assumes a Gaussian distribution for both vegetated and non‐vegetated portions of a digital image; moreover, the impact of view angle on the FVC extraction from digital images must also be considered.
Novel association of VACTERL, neural tube defect and crossed renal ectopia – Sonic hedgehog signaling: A point of coherence?
Authors: Vaze Dhananjay , Mahalik Santosh , Rao Katragadda L. N. 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTThe present case report describes two patients with a novel combination of VACTERL (vertebral, anorectal, cardiac, tracheoesophageal, renal, limb), neural tube defect and crossed renal ectopia. Though cases of VACTERL associated with crossed renal ectopia have been described, the present case report is the first to describe its combination with neural tube defect. The cases reported here are significant because central nervous system manifestations are scarce in VACTERL syndrome. The role of sonic hedgehog pathway has been proposed in VACTERL association and neural tube defects. Axial Sonic hedgehog signaling has also been implicated in the mediolateral positioning of the renal parenchyma. With this knowledge, the etiopathogenesis of this novel combination is discussed to highlight the role of sonic hedgehog signaling as a point of coherence.
Therapeutic Effects of a Combinatorial Treatment of Simvastatin and Bone Marrow Stromal Cells on Experimental Embolic Stroke
Authors: Pirzad Jahromi G. , Seidi S. , Sadr S. S. , Shabanzadeh A. P. , Keshavarz M. , Kaka G. R. , Hosseini S. K. , Sohanaki H. , Charish J. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIn this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of simvastatin administered in combination with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) following experimentally induced embolic stroke in rats. Effects on infarct volume, brain oedema and neurological deficits were examined. Focal ischaemic brain injury was induced by emblazing a preformed clot into the middle cerebral artery in rats. Animals were administered simvastatin (40 mg/kg) at 1 hr after stroke, or BMSCs (3 × 106) at 24 hr after stroke or a combination of these two treatments. Rats receiving a dose of simvastatin in combination with BMSC administration demonstrated a significant reduction in neurological deficits, a significant reduction in infarct volume and a significant decrease in brain oedema. Our data show that combining simvastatin administration with BMSCs has an additive effect on improving functional outcome in this thromboembolic stroke model.
Creating Value at the Intersection of Sourcing, Hedging and Trading
Authors: Finley Blaine , Pettit Justin 
Published: December 2011

Higher commodity prices, along with higher currency and commodity price volatility, have combined with challenging economic circumstances to make for difficult economics within many industries today. These factors can introduce risk to both top‐line revenue and the cost structure, and wreak havoc on net cash flow and profitability. To the extent that high prices and increasing price volatility continue to be the rule in many global commodity categories, the authors suggest that both sourcing and hedging will soon be (if they are not already) near the top of the strategic agenda for many companies.Many companies now design their hedging programs—and in some cases their sourcing—to achieve the goals of reducing cash flow volatility and optimizing value (as opposed to the more conventional aim of minimizing sourced or manufactured unit cost). And a growing number of corporate managements have expressed interest in an even more systematic approach to risk management. Rising pressure for growth and profitability has led companies with large commodities exposures—both those that are naturally long and those with a natural short—to explore a more strategic role for commodity hedging and trading, as well as the use of innovative risk‐shifting mechanisms for inbound and outbound material flows. This article shows how companies can design their commodity risk management programs to make the greatest use of the expertise and capabilities of four different corporate groups: Purchasing, Treasury, Selling, and Marketing.To that end, the authors presents a five‐step program for creating a company‐wide strategic risk management program:
The first step involves making active design choices about what risks to “own” and what risks to limit based on the company's strategy, core competencies, and relative competitive advantages in owning that risk.
The second step is to establish relevant risk guidelines based on capacity to own risks and, to a lesser extent, risk appetite, with specific hedging targets and benchmarks. This involves defining objectives, priorities, and constraints (for example, protecting liquidity or increasing debt capacity by reducing cash flow volatility).
The third step is to identify and characterize a complete inventory of all exposures—source, size and drivers—and those exposures to be managed. This involves defining, measuring and analyzing all exposures (e.g., commodities, FX, interest rates), with special attention to aggregating, netting, natural offsets, and correlations.
The fourth step involves comparing the suitability of various hedging tools and determining how to incorporate these tools into a systematic program that will achieve stated goals, views, and risk preferences for each exposure.
The fifth and last step is establishing an appropriate risk management operating model, which involves considerations of organizational architecture, management processes, decision rights, information flows, and governance.