bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intravitreal pegaptanib combined with diode laser therapy for stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity in zone I and posterior zone II
Authors: Autrata Rudolf , Krejčířová Inka , Šenková Kateřina , Holoušová Marie , Doležel Zdeněk , Borek Ivo 
Published: June 2012

Purpose To investigate efficacy of intravitreal injection of pegaptanib and laser photocoagulation for treatment of stage 3+ retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) affecting zone I and posterior zone II, and to compare the results in terms of regression, development of peripheral retinal vessels, and final structural outcome with conventional laser photocoagulation or combined with cryotherapy. Methods In a prospective comparative study, 152 eyes with zone I, II posterior ROP 3+ (76 premature rabies), from 2009 to 2011, were included. Patients were randomly assigned to receive intravitreal pegaptanib (Macugen® 0.3 mg = 0.02 mL, Pfizer) with conventional diode laser photocoagulation in group 1 (68 eyes of 34 infants) or only laser therapy combined with cryotherapy in group 2 (84 eyes of 42 infants), bilaterally. The primary outcome of treatment success was defined as absence of recurrence of stage 3+ ROP. The mean follow-up after treatment was 19.3 months in group 1 and 21.5 months in group 2. Results Final favorable anatomic outcome and stable regression of ROP at last control examination was noted in 89.7% of eyes in group 1 and 60.8 % of eyes in group 2. Regression of plus disease and peripheral retinal vessels development appeared significantly more rapidly in group 1. No recurrence of neovascularization (stage 3+ ROP) was identified in 85.4% of patients in group 1 and 50% of patients in group 2. Conclusions Results of this study support the administration of intravitreal pegaptanib as useful therapy in the management of stage 3+ ROP.
Intravitreal pegaptanib as adjunctive treatment for stage 3+ ROP shown to be effective in a prospective, randomized, controlled multicenter clinical trial
Authors: Mintz-Hittner Helen A. 
Published: June 2012

Purpose Both intravitreal pegaptanib with laser therapy and intravitreal bevacizumab monotherapy have been found to be more efficacious than laser therapy alone in prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials. Results The use of pegaptanib with laser therapy was efficacious in 91.2% compared with 69.0% in controls. The use of bevacizumab monotherapy was efficacious in 95.7% compared with 78.1% in controls. Conclusions The use of anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for retinopathy of prematurity has been shown to be efficacious, without toxicity reported to date; however, the best drug and dose which allows greatest efficacy with fewest recurrences and without toxicity must be determined.
Acetylcholine Induces Human Detrusor Muscle Cell Proliferation: Molecular and Pharmacological Characterization
Authors: Arrighi Nicola , Bodei Serena , Zani Danilo , Simeone Claudio , Cunico Sergio Cosciani , Spano Pier Franco , Sigala Sandra 
Published: June 2012

Introduction The purpose of the study is to understand whether the cholinergic stimulation is important, not only in inducing contraction of the detrusor muscle, but also in modulating the proliferation of smooth muscle cells. These results could help to better understand the role of antimuscarinic drugs, which are currently used for the treatment of many urological diseases. Patients and Methods Primary cultures were prepared from biopsies of human detrusor muscle of subjects >65 years. From the cell culture set-up for each patient, mRNA was extracted and both the gene expression and the influence of increasing passages on the expression of muscarinic receptor subtypes were evaluated by semi-quantitative and quantitative PCR (RT-PCR and Q-RT-PCR). The rate of cell proliferation induced by cholinergic drugs was assessed by the evaluation of the [3H]-thymidine incorporation. Results The gene expression analysis demonstrated that the range of expression of muscarinic subtypes in human detrusor smooth muscle cells (HDSMCs) is M2 > M3 > M1 > M4 >> M5. The exposure to the cholinergic agonist carbachol induced a concentration-dependent increase in cell proliferation rate. The pharmacological characterization indicated that this effect was mainly mediated by the receptor subtypes M3 and M2. Discussion The cholinergic stimulation led to an increase in HDSMC proliferation, suggesting that this phenomenon might be involved in the pathogenic mechanism through which the cervico-urethral obstruction causes a detrusor hypertrophy, followed by a loss of function. These results could then provide an indication of the use of antimuscarinic drugs in the treatment of lower urinary tract disorders.
Impaired Therapeutic Capacity of Autologous Stem Cells in a Model of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Shin Laura , Peterson Daniel A. 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Endogenous stem cells in the bone marrow respond to environmental cues and contribute to tissue maintenance and repair. In type 2 diabetes, a multifaceted metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, major complications are seen in multiple organ systems. To evaluate the effects of this disease on the endogenous stem cell population, we used a type 2 diabetic mouse model (db/db), which recapitulates these diabetic phenotypes. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from db/db mice were characterized in vitro using flow cytometric cell population analysis, differentiation, gene expression, and proliferation assays. Diabetic MSCs were evaluated for their therapeutic potential in vivo using an excisional splint wound model in both nondiabetic wild-type and diabetic mice. Diabetic animals possessed fewer MSCs, which were proliferation and survival impaired in vitro. Examination of the recruitment response of stem and progenitor cells after wounding revealed that significantly fewer endogenous MSCs homed to the site of injury in diabetic subjects. Although direct engraftment of healthy MSCs accelerated wound closure in both healthy and diabetic subjects, diabetic MSC engraftment produced limited improvement in the diabetic subjects and could not produce the same therapeutic outcomes as in their nondiabetic counterparts in vivo. Our data reveal stem cell impairment as a major complication of type 2 diabetes in mice and suggest that the disease may stably alter endogenous MSCs. These results have implications for the efficiency of autologous therapies in diabetic patients and identify endogenous MSCs as a potential therapeutic target.
Instruments de mesure et voies thérapeutiques du burn-out : la responsabilité sociale court-circuitée
Authors: Kirouac Laurie 
Published: June 2012

Alors qu’il est demeuré jusqu’aux années 1980 le propre des milieux professionnels axés sur le relationnel et le soin, on considère aujourd’hui que leburn-outpeut toucher l’ensemble des travailleurs, quel que soit le contenu de leur activité productive. Comment rendre compte de l’importance du retentissement que connaît cette pathologie aujourd’hui? L’objectif du présent article est double. À partir de l’étude de trois de ces principaux instruments de mesure — modèle de Maslach et Jackson, modèle de Siegrist et modèle de Karasek —, il s’agira d’abord de mettre en lumière à quel point les facteurs psychosociaux mobilisés par ces modèles pour appréhender leburn-outet en estimer la prévalence, loin de représenter des besoins psychologiques fondamentaux, sont davantage le reflet des injonctions et contraintes qui caractérisent l’expérience du travail contemporain. De même, alors que cesfacteurs psychosociauxne sauraient être du seul ressort de l’individu, l’article cherchera à montrer que les interventions pratiquées auprès des personnes « à risque » ou « en processus » deburn-outs’en tiennent la plupart du temps au seul périmètre de la psychologie et de la responsabilité individuelles.
Psychologisation ou singularisation? L’intervention sociale au temps de l’accompagnement
Authors: Namian Dahlia 
Published: June 2012

L’hypothèse de la psychologisation nourrit la réflexion critique sur l’intervention sociale depuis maintenant quelques décennies, suscitant des mises en garde de toutes sortes à l’égard de l’appauvrissement du social et notamment de l’action collective. Si la mauvaise réputation de la psychologisation n’est plus à démontrer, il semble pertinent et nécessaire en revanche 1) d’élargir la réflexion sur le spectre des possibles qui émergent des dynamiques historiques et sociales contemporaines auxquelles la psychologisation est associée; 2) de replacer le phénomène de la prolifération des pratiques d’accompagnement qui semblent s’appuyer sur une psychologisation croissante des interventions sociales dans un contexte de transformations sociales plus larges et 3) d’ illustrer les liens entre accompagnement et psychologisation à l’aide d’une recherche empirique récente centrée sur l’étude des pratiques d’accompagnement dans deux contextes « d’expérience-limite ».
Au-delà de la phobie de l’homo : quand le concept d’homophobie porte ombrage à la lutte contre l’hétérosexisme et l’hétéronormativité
Authors: Bastien Charlebois Janik 
Published: June 2012

Malgré le fait que le concept d’homophobie ait été critiqué pour sa portée limitée et sa tendance à la psychologisation, il demeure plus populaire que l’hétérosexisme et l’hétéronormativité dans la littérature scientifique ainsi que dans les sphères de l’activisme et de l’intervention sociale. En examinant les modes d’infériorisation que chacun de ces concepts est en mesure de recenser ainsi que les pistes d’intervention qu’« homophobie » et « hétérosexisme » rendent respectivement possibles, il est plus facile de mettre en lumière les limites de l’homophobie. Sans nécessairement proscrire le concept, il convient de le subordonner clairement à un cadre d’analyse rendant compte du caractère politique de l’infériorisation des personnes lesbiennes, gaies, bisexuelles, trans* et queer.
Le mouvement des caisses populaires acadiennes et sa contribution à la vitalité de la communauté acadienne et francophone du Nouveau-Brunswick1
Authors: Levesque Monique , Deschênes Sébastien 
Published: June 2012

Le Mouvement des caisses populaires acadiennes aura 75 ans en 2011. L’historique présente l’évolution qui l’a amené à près de 200 000 membres, à l’accumulation d’actifs de 2,5 milliards $ et à la mise en place d’une structure organisationnelle en appui aux services offerts par ses Caisses. La notion de vitalité, toujours en développement, aide les communautés en milieu minoritaire à améliorer leurs compréhensions de ce qui leur permettrait de se maintenir, voire de s’épanouir de façon distincte et active. L’analyse de la contribution d’une institution à la vitalité est une approche encore peu utilisée dans les écrits. Les résultats de l’analyse font valoir que par ses résultats, ses acquis, ses valeurs coopératives et son implication socio-économique, le Mouvement contribue à la vitalité de la communauté francophone et acadienne du Nouveau-Brunswick.
Tocilizumab for the treatment of large‐vessel vasculitis (giant cell arteritis, Takayasu arteritis) and polymyalgia rheumatica
Authors: Unizony S. , Arias‐Urdaneta L. , Miloslavsky E. , Arvikar S. , Khosroshahi A. , Keroack B. , Stone J. R. , Stone J. H. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractObjectiveThe interleukin‐6 pathway is up‐regulated in giant cell arteritis (GCA), Takayasu arteritis (TA), and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). We retrospectively assessed the outcomes of 10 patients with relapsing/refractory GCA, TA, or PMR treated with tocilizumab (TCZ).MethodsPatients with GCA (n = 7), TA (n = 2), and PMR (n = 1) received TCZ. Seven subjects had failed at least 1 second‐line agent. The outcomes evaluated were symptoms of disease activity, inflammatory markers, ability to taper glucocorticoids, and cross‐sectional imaging when indicated clinically.ResultsThe mean followup time of this cohort since diagnosis was 27 months (range 16–60 months). The patients were treated with TCZ for a mean period of 7.8 months (range 4–12 months). Before TCZ therapy, the patients experienced an average of 2.4 flares/year. All patients entered and maintained clinical remission during TCZ therapy. The mean daily prednisone dosages before and after TCZ initiation were 20.8 mg/day (range 7–34.3 mg/day) and 4.1 mg/day (range 0–10.7 mg/day), respectively (P = 0.0001). The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate declined from 41.5 mm/hour (range 11–68 mm/hour) to 7 mm/hour (range 2.2–11.3 mm/hour; P = 0.0001). The adverse effects of TCZ included mild neutropenia (n = 4) and transaminitis (n = 4). One patient flared 2 months after TCZ discontinuation. An autopsy on 1 patient who died from a postoperative myocardial infarction following elective surgery revealed persistent vasculitis of large and medium‐sized arteries.ConclusionTCZ therapy led to clinical and serologic improvement in patients with refractory/relapsing GCA, TA, or PMR. The demonstration of persistent large‐vessel vasculitis at autopsy of 1 patient who had shown a substantial response requires close scrutiny in larger studies.
Valleytronics, Carrier Filtering and Thermoelectricity in Bismuth: Magnetic Field Polarization Effects
Authors: Popescu Adrian , Woods Lilia M. 
Published: June 2012

AbstractValley polarization of multi‐valleyed materials is of significant interest for potential applications in electronic devices. The main challenge is removing the valley degeneracy in some controllable way. The unique properties of bismuth, including its anisotropic electronic structure and Dirac valley degeneracy, make this material an excellent system for valleytronics. It is demonstrated theoretically that the direction of an externally applied magnetic field in the binary‐bisectrix plane has a profound effect not only on the charge, but also on the thermal transport along the trigonal direction. The rotating field probes the electronic mass anisotropy and tunes the contribution from a particular Dirac valley in the electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity at moderate temperatures and field strengths. It is further shown that the field polarization of the transport properties is accompanied by selective filtering of the carriers type providing further opportunities for thermoelectric transport control.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Selective CH Benzylation towards Functionalized Azoles with a Quaternary Carbon Center
Authors: Xie Pan , Huang Hanmin , Xie Yinjun , Guo Shengmei , Xia Chungu 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe direct CH benzylation of azoles with benzyl chlorides proceeds efficiently, via sequential cleavage of one sp2 CH bond and two sp3 CH bonds in the presence of a palladium catalyst, to generate a wide range of tribenzylated azoles with a quaternary carbon center efficiently. The same catalyst could also promote the mono‐ and di‐benzylation reactions through fine turning of the base and reaction conditions.
Enantioselective Synthesis of 4‐Isoxazolines by 1,3‐Dipolar Cycloadditions of Nitrones to Alkynals Catalyzed by Fluorodiphenylmethylpyrrolidines
Authors: Alemán José , Fraile Alberto , Marzo Leyre , Ruano José Luis García , Izquierdo Cristina , Díaz‐Tendero Sergio 
Published: June 2012

AbstractThe first organocatalytic enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar reaction between nitrones and alkynals catalyzed by (S)‐2‐(fluorodiphenylmethyl)pyrrolidine to give 4‐isoxazolines (2,3‐dihydroisoxazoles) with high enantiomeric excess, excellent yields and low catalyst loading (1–5 mol%) is presented. The catalytic loading could be reduced to 1 mol% with only slight increases in reaction times.
The Organic Milk Market in Germany Is Maturing: A Demand System Analysis of Organic and Conventional Fresh Milk Segmented by Consumer Groups
Authors: Schröck Rebecca 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTLiterature provides evidence of a highly price‐elastic demand for organic food. However, most of the studies were conducted several years ago. In the meantime the organic market has matured. Consequently, results in literature need to be reviewed. This study specifically addresses own‐price elasticity estimates for organic and conventional milk. The analysis is based on a household panel dataset of 20,000 German households. A two‐step estimation procedure is applied. First, a probit regression examines which household characteristics affect the probability of buying organic milk. Second, a linear approximated almost ideal demand system provides detailed demand elasticity estimates. By using up‐to‐date data, distinguishing between different consumer groups, incorporating sociodemographic information and relying on a considerably large sample size this study is both an update and a refinement of previous research. In contrast to previous studies, econometric results suggest that demand for organic milk is absolutely price‐inelastic in Germany. However, price responsiveness differs substantially between milk types and consumer groups. (EconLit classifications: C33, C34, D12). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of freeze‐drying parameters on the cure characteristics of freeze‐dried BSA‐loaded silicone elastomer
Authors: McConville Christopher , Woolfson Andrew David , Malcolm Robert Karl 
Published: June 2012

AbstractTo formulate therapeutic proteins into polymeric devices the protein is typically in the solid state, which can be achieved by the process of freeze‐drying. However, freeze‐drying not only risks denaturing the protein but it can adversely affect the cure characteristics of protein‐loaded silicone elastomers. This study demonstrates that a variation in the parameters of the freeze‐dryer can significantly affect the residual moisture content of freeze‐dried BSA, which in turn has an effect on the bulk density and flow properties of the BSA. The bulk density and flow properties of the BSA subsequently affect the cure characteristics of BSA‐loaded silicone elastomers. An increase in the residual moisture content results in the freeze‐dried BSA having a decreased bulk density and poor flow properties which can have a detrimental effect on the cure characteristics of a freeze‐dried BSA‐loaded silicone elastomer. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Thermally induced crystallization and enzymatic degradation studies of poly (L‐lactic acid) films
Authors: Vasanthan Nadarajah , Gezer Hande 
Published: June 2012

AbstractPoly(L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) films with different crystallinities were prepared by solvent casting and subsequently annealed at various temperatures (Ta) (80–110°C). The effects of crystallinity on enzymatic degradation of PLLA films were examined in the presence of proteinase K at 37°C by means of weight loss, DSC, FTIR spectroscopy, and optical microscopy. DSC and the absorbance ratio of 921 and 956 cm−1 (A921/A956) were used to evaluate crystallinity changes during thermally induced crystallization and enzymatic hydrolysis. The highest percentage of weight loss was observed for the film with the lowest initial crystallinity and the lowest percentage of weight loss was observed for the film with highest crystallinity. FTIR investigation of degraded films showed a band at 922 cm−1 and no band at 908 cm−1 suggested that all degraded samples form α crystals. The rate of degradation was found to depend on the initial crystallinity of PLLA film and shown that enzymatic degradation kinetics followed first‐order kinetics for a given enzyme concentration. DSC crystallinity and IR absorbance ratio, A921/A956 ratio, showed no significant changes with degradation time for annealed PLLA films whereas as‐cast PLLA film showed an increase in crystallinity with degradation; this revealed that degradation takes place predominantly in the free amorphous region of annealed PLLA films without changing long range and short range order © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Effect of fullerene C60 on the melt grafting reaction between multifunctional monomer and polypropylene
Authors: Wan Dong , Xing Haiping , Zhang Zhenjiang , Wang Yujie , Wang Lu , Wang Yanhui , Jiang Zhiwei , Tang Tao 
Published: June 2012

AbstractEffect of different content of C60 on the melt radical reaction between trimethylol propane triacrylate (TMPTA) and polypropylene (PP) was studied by means of Fourier transform infrared, melt torque values, and rheological results. C60 could transfer most of the reactive PP macroradicals to more stable macroradicals at first due to its higher reaction rate with radicals. Therefore, the homopolymerization of TMPTA was restrained to some extent. PP samples containing TMPTA, C60, and 2,5‐dimethyl‐2,5(tert‐butylperoxy) hexane peroxide (DHBP) showed a more obvious influence on increasing the entanglements between PP chains comparing with PP samples containing C60 and DHBP, owing to the synergetic effect between TMPTA and C60 on branching with PP macroradicals. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Making the Right to Education a Reality for War Affected Children: The Northern Uganda Experience
Authors: Bragin Martha , Opiro Wirefred George 
Published: June 2012

ABSTRACTArticles 28 and 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child seek to guarantee the right to education for all children and adolescents. Further, when children affected by armed conflict are asked to prioritize their own needs, education is at the top of the list. Young people equate education with a hopeful future and are eager to attend school. However, all too often, soon after they receive a school placement, those same young people discover that they find learning difficult and begin to fall away.Part of the difficulty may lie in the ways in which violence affects cognitive capacity. From intrusive thoughts, to hyper‐vigilance, to chronic pre‐occupied sadness, young people who have been exposed to violence have difficulty keeping their minds on their studies. This contributes to school failure, early school leaving, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness that can contribute to a cycle of violence.Serious international attention has been paid to insuring the right of education to children and adolescents affected by on‐going conflict through the creation of schools and non‐formal educational opportunities in conflict zones. However, little has been written until now on how to insure that when these children attend school they are able to overcome the specific obstacles to learning that exposure to violence creates.The Ministry of Education and Sports of the Government of Uganda has undertaken a program that attempts to do just that. This article will describe the use of theoretical literature that addresses the learning problems that war affected children face in dynamic interaction with indigenous practices and support for resilience to create an effective program to help these children succeed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.