bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The male sling for post‐prostatectomy urinary incontinence: a review of contemporary sling designs and outcomes
Authors: Welk Blayne K. , Herschorn Sender 
Published: October 2011

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Long‐term cure and improved rates for the bone anchored sling range from 40–88%. Midterm cure and improved rates for the retrourethral transobturator sling rage from 76–91%. Midterm cure and improved rates for the adjustable retropubic sling rage from 72–79%.Potential complications common to all urethral slings include postoperative urinary retention, perineal pain, and urethral erosion/device infection. All male urethral slings have primarily been studied in post radical prostatectomy patients, with inconsistent success among patients with prior pelvic radiation.OBJECTIVE
To examine the outcomes and adverse events associated with novel male sling designs described in the last decade.
METHODS
A literature review was carried out using Medline, EmBase, Cochrane Registered Trials Database and the Center for Reviews and Dissemination Database.
RESULTS
Three principal slings are described in the literature. The bone‐anchored sling has success rates of 40–88%, with some series having a mean follow‐up of 36–48 months. It is associated with a mesh infection rate of 2–12%, which usually requires sling explantation.
The retrourethral transobturator sling has a success rate of 76–91% among three large case series with follow‐ups of 12–27 months. There is a low reported explantation rate.
The adjustable retropubic sling has a success rate of 72–79% with follow‐ups of 26–45 months. Erosion (3–13%) and infection (3–11%) can lead to explantation.
CONCLUSIONS
Most male slings have a similar reported efficacy. Most case series define success as either dry or improved. True cure rates are lower. Mid‐ and long‐term data are now available that indicate the male sling is a viable option for PPI.
The use of male slings in severe UI, radiated patients, and non‐radical prostatectomy patients is still unclear. Further study is needed to try and define criteria for the use of male slings, and to directly compare different procedures.
Prescribed medicines for elderly frail people with diabetes resident in nursing homes—issues of polypharmacy and medication costs
Authors: Gadsby R. , Galloway M. , Barker P. , Sinclair A. 
Published: October 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 136–139 (2012)AbstractAims  To describe the numbers and costs of medications prescribed to people living with diabetes resident in nursing homes in one primary care trust in the UK.Methods  A retrospective case notes review of 75 people with known diabetes who were resident in the 11 nursing homes in the Coventry teaching primary care trust.Results  Sixty‐three residents (84%) were being prescribed four or more medications. Forty‐four residents (59%) were prescribed anti‐platelet drugs for prevention of cardiovascular disease, including aspirin, clopidogrel and dipyridamole, and 31 residents (41%) were on statin therapy. Eighteen (24%) residents had a monthly medication cost that was above £101 per month. On detailed review, these were largely residents who were being prescribed special order liquid preparations, usually for secondary cardiovascular disease prevention.Conclusion  Polypharmacy, defined as taking four or more drugs per day per resident, is highly prevalent within this population of care home residents with diabetes. A high proportion of residents are prescribed drugs for cardiovascular disease prevention, which may be entirely inappropriate in this population with limited life expectancy. Regular medication review of care home residents with diabetes should be undertaken as it has the potential to reduce costs, minimize adverse drug reactions and increase health gain.
THE IMPACT OF THE AFFILIATION OF VENTURE CAPITAL FIRMS: A SURVEY
Authors: Andrieu Guillaume 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to review the theoretical and empirical literature on the impact of the affiliation of venture capital (VC) firms with a particular focus on the differences between Europe and the US. A main characteristic of VC firms is their high level of involvement in the management of funded firms. However, the VC industry is composed of heterogeneous actors. The literature has studied to a great degree the independent funds that dominate the US market. Yet, there also exist VC funds affiliated with banks or with industrial firm, which can benefit from synergies with their parent corporation. Several studies have highlighted significant differences between these types of VC firms.
The Impact of Input and Output Tariffs on Firms' Productivity: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Luong Tuan Anh 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThis paper studies the impact of trade liberalization on productivity. It shows that when intermediate inputs are not highly differentiated, lowering input tariffs leads to a rise in within‐firm productivity and wages, and lowering output tariffs has the opposite effect. When intermediate inputs are highly differentiated, the conclusions reverse. These predictions are supported by the data, given by the industrial survey from INEGI (Mexico's Insitituto Nacional de Estadistica Geografia e Informacion) in the period 1984–90. The paper yields estimates for the elasticity of substitution among intermediate inputs, which are useful in determining the direction of the impact of trade liberalization. These estimates can be used to assess the gains from trade liberalization.
The Immigration Policy Puzzle
Authors: Giordani Paolo E. , Ruta Michele 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThis paper revisits the puzzle of immigration policy: standard economic theory predicts that free immigration improves natives' welfare, but (with few historical exceptions) an open door policy is never implemented in practice. What rationalizes the puzzle? We first review the model of immigration policy where the policy maker maximizes national income of natives net of the tax burden of immigration. We show that this model fails to provide realistic policy outcomes when the receiving region's technology is described by a standard Cobb–Douglas or CES function. Then we describe three extensions of this basic model that reconcile theory with evidence. The first introduces a cost of integration of the immigrant community in the destination country; the second takes into account the policy maker's redistributive concern across different social groups; the last extension considers positive spillover effects of (skilled) migrants on the receiving economy.
Distant Peers
Authors: Vorobej Mark 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWhat is the nature of rational disagreement? A number of philosophers have recently addressed this question by examining how we should respond to epistemic conflict with a so‐called epistemic peer—that is, someone over whom you enjoy no epistemic advantage. Some say that you're rationally required to suspend judgment in these cases—thereby denying the very possibility of a certain kind of rational disagreement. Others say that it's permissible to retain your beliefs even in the face of epistemic conflict. By distinguishing between close peers and distant peers, I argue that it's rational to respond to different types of peers in different ways. I also argue that remote peers—a particularly distant kind of distant peer—provide us with an important lesson in epistemic humility.
Toward a New Pragmatist Politics
Authors: Talisse Robert B. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractIn A Pragmatist Philosophy of Democracy, I launched a pragmatist critique of Deweyan democracy and a pragmatist defense of an alternative view of democracy, one based in C. S. Peirce's social epistemology. In this article, I develop a more precise version of the criticism of Deweyan democracy I proposed in A Pragmatist Philosophy of Democracy, and provide further details of the Peircean alternative. Along the way, some recent critics are addressed.
Phosphorylation of LRRK2 serines 955 and 973 is disrupted by Parkinson’s disease mutations and LRRK2 pharmacological inhibition
Authors: Doggett Elizabeth A. , Zhao Jing , Mork Christina N. , Hu Dongmei , Nichols R. Jeremy 
Published: October 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 37–45.AbstractMutations in leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common cause of familial Parkinson’s disease. An amino terminal cluster of constitutively phosphorylated residues, serines 860, 910, 935, 955, and 973, appears to be biologically relevant. Phosphorylation of serines 910 and 935 is regulated in response to LRRK2 kinase activity and is responsible for interaction with 14‐3‐3 and maintaining LRRK2 in a non‐aggregated state. We examined the phosphorylation status of two other constitutive phosphorylation sites, serines 955 and 973. Treatment of LRRK2 expressing cells with the selective LRRK2 inhibitor LRRK2‐IN1 revealed that, like Ser910/Ser935, phosphorylation of Ser955 and Ser973 is disrupted by acute inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity. Additionally, phosphorylation of Ser955 and 973 is disrupted in the context of several Parkinson’s disease associated mutations [R1441G/C, Y1699C, and I2020T]. We observed that modification of Ser973 is dependent on the modification of Ser910/Ser935. Ser955Ala and Ser973Ala mutations do not induce relocalization of LRRK2; however, all phosphomutants exhibited similar localization patterns when exposed to LRRK2‐IN1. We conclude that the mechanisms of regulation of Ser910/935/955/973 phosphorylation are similar and physiologically relevant. These sites can be utilized as biomarkers for LRRK2 activity as well as starting points for the elucidation of upstream and downstream enzymes that regulate LRRK2.
Biliverdin reductase‐A: a novel drug target for atorvastatin in a dog pre‐clinical model of Alzheimer disease
Authors: Barone Eugenio , Mancuso Cesare , Di Domenico Fabio , Sultana Rukhsana , Murphy M. Paul , Head Elizabeth , Butterfield D. Allan 
Published: October 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 135–146.AbstractBiliverdin reductase‐A (BVR‐A) is a pleiotropic enzyme involved in cellular stress responses. It not only transforms biliverdin‐IX alpha into the antioxidant bilirubin‐IX alpha but through its serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase activity is able to modulate cell signaling networks. BVR‐A’s involvement in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment was previously described. Statins have been proposed to reduce risk of AD. In this study we evaluated the effect of atorvastatin treatment (80 mg/day for 14.5 months) on BVR‐A in the parietal cortex, cerebellum and liver of a well characterized pre‐clinical model of AD, the aged beagle. We found that atorvastatin significantly increased BVR‐A protein levels, phosphorylation and activity only in parietal cortex. Additionally, we found significant negative correlations between BVR‐A and oxidative stress indices, as well as discrimination learning error scores. Furthermore, BVR‐A up‐regulation and post‐translational modifications significantly correlated with β‐secretase protein levels in the brain, suggesting a possible role for BVR‐A in Aβ formation.
Iron metabolism and the role of HFE gene polymorphisms in Wilson disease
Authors: Pfeiffenberger Jan , Gotthardt Daniel N. , Herrmann Thomas , Seeßle Jessica , Merle Uta , Schirmacher Peter , Stremmel Wolfgang , Weiss Karl Heinz 
Published: October 2011

AbstractWilson disease (WD) is a rare inherited disorder of copper metabolism, which can lead to severe liver failure and to a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Previous animal studies and case reports suggest that hepatic iron overload and alterations in iron processing are associated with WD. The aim of this study was the assessment of iron metabolism and of the frequency of the most common HFE gene polymorphisms in WD patients.Patients and methodsData from 143 patients with WD were analysed. Clinical presentation, liver function and iron metabolism parameters were recorded. Blood samples of the patients were analysed for HFE gene alterations (H63D; C282Y). Twenty‐seven liver biopsies of these patients were studied with regard to iron content and fibrosis score.ResultsContrary to previous reports of HFE gene polymorphisms in WD patients, in our cohort the allele frequencies (C282Y: 2.1%; H63D: 7.3%) were in line with frequencies obtained for general population. Male WD patients with decreased serum ceruloplasmin (Cp), showed increased serum ferritin levels. Hepatic iron content was normal in most cases.DiscussionMale patients with very low Cp serum concentrations showed slightly elevated median serum ferritin concentrations, probably related to lack of ferroxidase acitivity. However, in consideration of absolute numbers of ferritin concentrations, these changes seem to be of minor clinical relevance.
Introduction to Pharmatech
Authors: Diaz‐Buxo Jose A. , Kotanko Peter 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThe collection of papers published in this issue of Seminars in Dialysis describes our approach to Pharmatech, which is the integration of services, medical devices, and pharmacologic agents, into specific prescription processes. Pharmatech is developed to systematically facilitate an individual's prescription according to each patient's specific needs. This includes evidence‐based algorithms for control, anemia management and isonatremic dialysis, devices to deliver precise doses of injectable drugs, and future developments to simplify loading new applications into the system.
Application of Kinetic Modeling to Mineral Metabolism Management
Authors: Stennett Amanda K. , Ofsthun Norma J. , Gotch Frank A. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractPatients with CKD face many consequences of renal failure, including disorders of bone and mineral metabolism. The current approach to management of these mineral metabolism issues lacks comprehensive quantitative assessment, so a kinetic modeling program has been designed to quantify intake and removal of phosphorus and calcium, as well as provide recommendations for treatment and prescriptions based on total mass balance and serum concentrations. This program is known as phosphorus kinetic modeling or PKM. The modeling program and associated graphical reports have been developed as a tool for clinicians in the management of mineral metabolism in CKD patients.
Improving the Delivery of Coordinated and Individualized Care
Authors: Sands Jeffrey J. , Diaz‐Buxo Jose A. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractPharmatech comprises systems for the automated use and coordination of clinical information, medical devices, care paths, and pharmacologic agents into specific prescription and care‐delivery processes tailored to meet individual patient needs. In ESRD, future suites of applications to run on hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis machines, external computers and devices both in‐center and in the home setting offer the potential to further automate billing and inventory, improve documentation, reduce medical errors, and decrease costs. On a clinical basis, these systems will aid nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and physicians in performing and overseeing a wide range of clinical activities that constitute 21st‐century medicine. Future innovations may allow Pharmatech systems to learn by achieving defined outcomes. These developments offer the potential to provide customized ESRD care by integrating standard practices with individual patient characteristics and patient‐specific needs. The development of Pharmatech represents one of the next advances in healthcare technology and will become an important component in the delivery of 21st‐century medicine. Adoption of information technology (IT) has been prioritized by the federal government, and is a key component of US healthcare policy. The United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is currently funding the development and implementation of a wide array of health IT applications. This extensive funding combined with rapid technologic advances will continue to drive Pharmatech development and the widespread implementation of medical IT in the coming decade.
Anemia Management in Patients Receiving Chronic Hemodialysis
Authors: Thakuria Mayuri , Ofsthun Norma J. , Mullon Claudy , Diaz‐Buxo Jose A. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractAnemia treatment in hemodialysis‐dependent (HDD) CKD patients involves adequate supply of iron and an erythropoiesis‐stimulating agent (ESA). Despite widespread usage of these agents, there is no generally accepted “standard dosing algorithm” for treating anemia in HDD‐CKD patients. The new anemia Quality Incentive Program (QIP) introduced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services represents a motivation to standardize and harmonize iron and ESA regimens with interactive electronic algorithms and novel modes of deliveries for IV iron and ESA doses. In addition, quality assessment and performance improvement programs at dialysis facilities include achieving measurable improvement in health outcomes, healthcare cost, and reductions in medical errors. Thus, the Corporate Medical Advisory Board for Fresenius Medical Services (FMS) is evaluating an anemia algorithm that will be incorporated into the automated workflow of a new clinical system at FMS clinics. In the future, such systems might communicate with medication pumps incorporated into state‐of‐the‐art HD machines, thereby eliminating manual data entry of medication orders and other potential errors related to data entry or administration of medications such as ESA and IV iron. In addition, the CritLine III TQA Monitor, which allows real‐time blood volume, oxygen, and anemia monitoring during HD in acute and chronic settings, may become an integrated diagnostic tool to improve volume and anemia management through better fluid management and ESA dose adjustment algorithms. These novel interactive electronic algorithms, delivery and monitoring methods, and data transfer may be integrated in the Pharmatech process to meet patient‐specific anemia therapy.
Solitary Versus Social Drinking: An Experimental Study on Effects of Social Exposures on In Situ Alcohol Consumption
Authors: Kuendig Hervé , Kuntsche Emmanuel 
Published: October 2011

Background:  Whereas the effects of modeling and of drinking contexts on alcohol use are documented, studies are lacking regarding the effect of given social exposures on actual alcohol consumption during drinking episodes (i.e., in situ alcohol consumption, the quantity of alcohol actually ingested in given occasion, e.g., in grams).Methods:  Applying the experimental paradigms, our study investigates the impact of social condition (alone vs. with others) on in situ alcohol consumption (analog measurements) of 123 young adults who participated in 2 wine‐tasting sessions (one together with others, i.e., group condition; 1 solitary, i.e., individual condition: the sequence of participation was assigned at random). Bivariate and multivariate analyses, that is, paired‐ and independent‐samples t‐tests and repeated measure analysis of variance, were applied to investigate the effects through both transversal and longitudinal perspectives.Results:  In the first session, higher average amounts of alcohol were consumed in the group condition compared with the individual one. Conversely, higher average consumption was recorded in the individual compared with the group condition in the second session. Considering simultaneously data from the 2 experimental sessions demonstrated that subjects consumed higher amounts of alcohol in individual condition when this condition was organized subsequent and not prior to the group condition. Yet, alcohol consumption in group condition appeared to not vary between the 2 sessions.Conclusions:  Results first highlight the effects of social condition on in situ alcohol consumption. However, they also suggest that in situ exposition to others drinking is possibly involved in shaping the perception of context‐related drinking norms, which might further influence subsequent drinking behaviors in an analogous context. Beyond the issues of imitation effects, these findings raise the issues of the development of preventive initiatives aiming to induce changes in individuals’ perception of context‐specific drinking norms.
Behavioral Traits Predicting Alcohol Drinking in Outbred Rats: An Investigation of Anxiety, Novelty Seeking, and Cognitive Flexibility
Authors: Hayton Scott J. , Mahoney Megan K. , Olmstead Mary C. 
Published: October 2011

Background:  Most adults in Western society consume alcohol regularly without negative consequences. For a small subpopulation, however, drinking can quickly progress to excessive and chronic intake. Given the dangers associated with alcohol abuse, it is critical to identify traits that may place an individual at risk for developing these behaviors. To that end, we used a rat model to determine whether anxiety‐related behaviors, novelty seeking, or cognitive flexibility predict excessive alcohol drinking under both limited and continuous access conditions.Methods:  Adult male rats were assessed in a series of behavioral tasks (elevated plus maze [EPM], locomotor activity, and discrimination/reversal learning in a Y‐maze) followed by 6 weeks of daily, 1‐hour access to alcohol in a free‐choice, 2‐bottle paradigm (10% alcohol vs. tap water). Next, subjects were given the opportunity to consume alcohol for 72 hours in drinking chambers that permit separate measures of each drinking bout. Half of the animals experienced a 2‐week deprivation period between the limited and continuous access sessions.Results:  Time spent on the open arms of the EPM, but not novelty seeking or discrimination/reversal learning, predicted alcohol consumption during limited, 1‐h/d access sessions to alcohol. Anxiety‐related behavior also predicted the escalation of intake when animals were given 72 hours of continuous access to alcohol. Bout size, but not frequency, was responsible for the increased consumption by high‐anxiety subjects during this period. Finally, intake during limited access sessions predicted intake during continuous access, but only in subjects with low intake during limited access.Conclusions:  These findings confirm that preexisting anxiety‐related behavior predicts alcohol intake under several schedules of alcohol access. Moreover, when access is unlimited, the high‐anxiety‐related group exhibited an increase in bout size, but not frequency, of drinking. In addition, we show that modest intake when alcohol is restricted may or may not progress to excessive intake when the drug is freely available.
Treatment of a Patient with Cleidocranial Dysplasia Using a Single‐Stage Implant Protocol
Authors: Petropoulos Vicki C. , Balshi Thomas J. , Wolfinger Glenn J. , Balshi Stephen F. 
Published: October 2011

AbstractThis patient report describes the treatment of a 45‐year‐old Caucasian woman with cleidocranial dysplasia who had significant dental problems that greatly affected her quality of life. The patient had orthodontic treatment in her earlier years along with surgical removal of supernumerary teeth. Using implants, the maxillary and mandibular arches were restored with fixed screw‐retained prostheses. Eight implants and six implants were placed in the maxilla and mandible, respectively. Both arches were immediately loaded following the Teeth in a Day™ protocol using an all‐acrylic resin provisional prosthesis. Five months later, definitive maxillary and mandibular prostheses were fabricated. The patient has been followed for a period of 5 years, and all postoperative evaluations have been uneventful.