bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anaemia is highly prevalent among unselected internal medicine inpatients and is associated with increased mortality, earlier readmission and more prolonged hospital stay: an observational retrospective cohort study
Authors: Nathavitharana R. L. , Murray J. A. , D'Sousa N. , Sheehan T. , Frampton C. M. , Baker B. W. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground:  Anaemia is associated with adverse outcomes in elderly community‐dwelling individuals, but this problem is less well characterised in the inpatient setting.Aims:  To determine the prevalence of anaemia and its associations in a well‐defined cohort of internal medicine inpatients.Methods:  A retrospective cohort study of non‐elective admissions under internal medicine at Palmerston North Hospital, New Zealand, was conducted for 4 months of 2008 with outcome analysis on 1 March 2010.Results:  At admission, 497 of 1491 (33.3%) patients were anaemic by World Health Organization criteria (haemoglobin <130 g/L for males; <120 g/L for females). Anaemia was more prevalent in males (38.1%) than females (28.2%), P < 0.001, in patients aged 65 years or older (41%) than in those under 65 (21.3%), P < 0.001, in New Zealand Europeans (34.3%) than in Māori and people from the Pacific Islands (26.4%), P= 0.04, and in patients admitted primarily because of malignancy, endocrine/metabolic disease, infection, and acute coronary syndrome/congestive heart failure (P < 0.001). Anaemia was independently associated with increased length of hospital stay (7.3 days vs 5.1 days in non‐anaemic patients; P < 0.001), with mortality (P < 0.001) and unplanned hospital readmission (P < 0.001) during the follow‐up period. Anaemia was infrequently acknowledged or investigated. Secondary analysis using a haemoglobin threshold of 110 g/L showed similar results.Conclusions:  Anaemia is highly prevalent among medical inpatients with variation because of gender, age, race and reason for admission. Anaemia independently predicts for prolonged hospital stay, increased mortality and shorter time to readmission, but is usually not documented or investigated in this setting.
Spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma during pregnancy: Three case reports
Authors: Tada Shin , Yasue Akira , Nishizawa Haruki , Sekiya Takao , Hirota Yutaka , Udagawa Yasuhiro 
Published: July 2011

AbstractWe present three extremely rare cases of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma occurring in pregnancy. The patients developed progressive paralysis of the upper and lower limbs and the diagnoses were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Urgent decompression is required to prevent neurological sequelae. The pregnancy may either be continued or delivered depending on the gestational age and severity of the disorder. Pregnancy‐induced structural changes of the vascular walls and hemodynamic changes may play a role in the pathogenesis of spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma.
Predictive value of HbA1c for incident diabetes among subjects with impaired glucose tolerance—analysis of the Indian Diabetes Prevention Programmes
Authors: Ramachandran A. , Snehalatha C. , Samith Shetty A. , Nanditha A. 
Published: July 2011

Diabet. Med. 29, 94–98 (2012)AbstractAims  The objectives of the study were to assess the predictive value of baseline HbA1c for incident diabetes among the participants with impaired glucose tolerance in the Indian Diabetes Prevention Programmes 1 and 2.Methods  Data at baseline and at 3‐year follow‐up were analysed in combined cohorts of the Indian Diabetes Prevention Programmes 1 and 2. Within the 3 years, 324 of the 845 participants developed diabetes (World Health Organization criteria). The predictive value of baseline HbA1c for incident diabetes was determined by logistic regression analysis.Results  Baseline HbA1c values had heterogenous distribution. The distribution was similar in isolated impaired glucose tolerance or in impaired glucose tolerance in combination with impaired fasting glucose. A progressive increase in diabetes occurred with increasing HbA1c. HbA1c showed the strongest association with incident diabetes in the multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio 3.548, P < 0.0001). The cut‐off HbA1c of 43 mmol/mol (6.05%) had 67% sensitivity and 60% specificity to predict future diabetes. The diagnostic sensitivity of HbA1c of ≥ 48 mmol/mol (≥ 6.5%) was only 51%, with a specificity of 87%, when compared with the oral glucose tolerance glucose values.Conclusions  Baseline HbA1c was highly predictive of future diabetes in Asian Indian subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and nearly 60% of the incidence occurred with values ≥ 42 mmol/mol (≥ 6.0). Diagnostic sensitivity of HbA1c≥ 48 mmol/mol (≥ 6.5%) for new diabetes was only 51% using the oral glucose tolerance test as the standard for comparison.
Randomized, double‐blind, split‐side comparison study of moisturizer containing licochalcone vs. 1% hydrocortisone in the treatment of infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis
Authors: Wananukul S. , Chatproedprai S. , Charutragulchai W. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractsBackground  Infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis (ISD) is a common skin lesion in infants. There may be differences in recommendation for treatment of ISD.Objective  To compare the efficacy of moisturizer containing licochalcone vs. 1% hydrocortisone for the treatment of ISD.Methods  This was a randomized, prospective, split‐side, double‐blind study that was conducted in 75 infants between the age of 2 weeks and 1 year. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of ISD were treated twice daily, simultaneously with either moisturizer containing 0.025% licochalcone or 1% hydrocortisone on opposite sides of the lesion. The scoring system was used to assess the severity of the rash by the presence of erythema, scale and crusts. The lesions on each side were evaluated on day 0, 3–4, 6–7 and 14.Results  A total of 72 patients completed the study. The moisturizer containing licochalcone group had a higher clearing rate (42%) compared to 1% hydrocortisone group (32%) (P = 0.03) on day 3–4. Both products were equally effective in the treatment at day 6–7 and 14 (P = 0.45 and 1, respectively). By the end of the second week, the cure rate of the moisturizer containing 0.025% licochalcone and 1% hydrocortisone group was 90% and 92%, respectively.Limitations  The small sample size was a study limitation.Conclusion  Moisturizer containing 0.025% licochalcone had higher cure rate compared to 1% hydrocortisone for the treatment of ISD at day 3–4. However, by the end of the first week, this difference was no longer significant.
Dermoscopy of scalp tumours: a multi‐centre study conducted by the international dermoscopy society
Authors: Stanganelli I. , Argenziano G. , Sera F. , Blum A. , Ozdemir F. , Karaarslan I.K. , Piccolo D. , Peris K. , Kirchesch H. , Bono R. , Pizzichetta M.A. , Gasparini S. , Braun R.P. , Correia O. , Thomas L. , Zaballos P. , Puig S. , Malvehy J. , Scalvenzi M. , Rabinovitz H. , Bergamo A. , Pellacani G. , Longo C. , Pavlovic M. , Rosendahl C. , Hofmann‐Wellenhof R. , Cabo H. , Marghoob A.A. , Langford D. , Astorino S. , Manganoni A.M. , Gourhant J.‐Y. , Keir J. , Grichnik J.M. , Fumo G. , Dong H. , Sortino Rachou A.M. , Ferrara G. , Zalaudek I. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground  Little is known about the dermoscopic features of scalp tumours.Objective  To determine the dermoscopic features of scalp tumours.Methods  Retrospective analysis of dermoscopic images of histopathologically diagnosed scalp tumours from International Dermoscopy Society members.Results  A total of 323 tumours of the scalp from 315 patients (mean age: 52 years; range 3–88 years) were analysed. Scalp nevi were significantly associated with young age (<30 years) and exhibited a globular or network pattern with central or perifollicular hypopigmentation. Melanoma and non‐melanoma skin cancer were associated with male gender, androgenetic alopecia, age >65 years and sun damage. Atypical network and regression were predictive for thin (≤1 mm) melanomas, whereas advanced melanomas (tumour thickness > 1 mm) revealed blue white veil, unspecific patterns and irregular black blotches or dots.Conclusions  The data collected provide a new knowledge regarding the clinical and dermoscopy features of pigmented scalp tumours.
A psychodynamic interpretation of staff accounts of working with people who have learning disabilities and complex needs
Authors: Storey Judith , Collis Mary‐Ann , Clegg Jennifer 
Published: July 2011

Accessible summary
We asked eight members of staff who were working with people who had a learning disability, and also, complex mental health needs to tell us how they felt about their work.
These workers told us that not having enough staff and having a wide range of patients with different needs to look after made their job difficult. We felt they tried to put a ‘brave face’ on but we felt they worried greatly about working with patients who had complex mental health needs.
We did not feel these workers were given enough opportunity to think and talk about their feelings about their work. Staff tried to cope with these difficult thoughts and feelings about their work by trying to forget them or by thinking about other things.
Staff need to be given time to think and talk about their work and their feelings towards their patients. This may help them to feel less stressed and more able to cope with their patients and their work.
SummaryExperiences of eight staff working with people who have a learning disability and complex mental health needs were explored by interviews and analysed using the free association narrative interview approach (Hollway & Jefferson 2000). Participants reported that organisational factors such as not having enough permanent staff and having to manage a complex patient mix impacted upon their work. Participants’ unconscious communications were interpreted as evidence that they were experiencing projected anxiety from their patients. Participants did not appear to be given opportunities in work to reflect upon their emotions and often coped by repressing painful experiences or displacing these onto the organisation. Staff would benefit from exploring their conscious and unconscious reactions to their patients.
Melatonin synthesis in retina: cAMP‐dependent transcriptional regulation of chicken arylalkylamineN‐acetyltransferase by a CRE‐like sequence and a TTATT repeat motif in the proximal promoter
Authors: Haque Rashidul , Chong Nelson W. , Ali Fatima , Chaurasia Shyam S. , Sengupta Trisha , Chun Eugene , Howell Jennifer C. , Klein David C. , Iuvone P. Michael 
Published: July 2011

J. Neurochem.(2011)119, 6–17.AbstractArylalkylamineN‐acetyltransferase (AANAT) is the key regulatory enzyme controlling the daily rhythm of melatonin biosynthesis. In chicken retinal photoreceptor cells,Aanattranscription and AANAT activity are regulated in part by cAMP‐dependent mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to identify regulatory elements within the chickenAanatpromoter responsible for cAMP‐dependent induction. Photoreceptor‐enriched retinal cell cultures were transfected with a luciferase reporter construct containing up to 4 kb of 5′‐flanking region and the first exon ofAanat. Forskolin treatment stimulated luciferase activity driven by the ∼4 kb promoter construct and by all 5′‐deletion constructs except the smallest,Aanat(−217 to +120)luc. Maximal basal and forskolin‐stimulated expression levels were generated by theAanat(−484 to +120)luc construct. This construct lacks a canonical cyclic AMP‐response element (CRE), but contains two other potentially important elements in its sequence: an eight times TTATT repeat (TTATT8) and a CRE‐like sequence. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays, luciferase reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and siRNA experiments provide evidence that these elements bind c‐Fos, JunD, and CREB to enhance basal and forskolin‐stimulatedAanattranscription. We propose that the CRE‐like sequence and TTATT8elements in the 484 bp proximal promoter interact to mediate cAMP‐dependent transcriptional regulation ofAanat.
Assessment of a Novel Hybrid Delphi and Nominal Groups Technique to Evaluate Quality Indicators
Authors: Davies Sheryl , Romano Patrick S. , Schmidt Eric M. , Schultz Ellen , Geppert Jeffrey J. , McDonald Kathryn M. 
Published: July 2011

Objective. To test the implementation of a novel structured panel process in the evaluation of quality indicators.
Data Source. National panel of 64 clinicians rating usefulness of indicator applications in 2008–2009.
Study Design. Hybrid panel combined Delphi Group and Nominal Group (NG) techniques to evaluate 81 indicator applications.
Principal Findings. The Delphi Group and NG rated 56 percent of indicator applications similarly. Group assignment (Delphi versus Nominal) was not significantly associated with mean ratings, but specialty and research interests of panelists, and indicator factors such as denominator level and proposed use were. Rating distributions narrowed significantly in 20.8 percent of applications between review rounds.
Conclusions. The hybrid panel process facilitated information exchange and tightened rating distributions. Future assessments of this method might include a control panel.
The intestinal anti‐inflammatory effect of dersalazine sodium is related to a down‐regulation in IL‐17 production in experimental models of rodent colitis
Authors: Camuesco D , Rodríguez‐Cabezas ME , Garrido‐Mesa N , Cueto‐Sola M , Bailón E , Comalada M , Arribas B , Merlos M , Balsa D , Zarzuelo A , Janer G , Xaus J , Román J , Gálvez J 
Published: July 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Dersalazine sodium (DS) is a new chemical entity formed by combining, through an azo bond, a potent platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist (UR‐12715) with 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA). DS has been demonstrated to have anti‐inflammatory effects on trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)‐induced colitis in rats and recently in UC patients in phase II PoC. There is Increasing evidence that Th17 cells have an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to further characterize the anti‐inflammatory effects of DS.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Effect of DS (10 or 30 mg·kg−1 b.i.d.) on TNBS‐induced colitis in rats was studied after 2 and 7 days with special focus on inflammatory mediators. Additionally, its anti‐inflammatory properties were analysed in two different models of dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)‐induced colitis, BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, the latter being dependent on IL‐17.KEY RESULTS DS, when administered for 7 days, showed intestinal anti‐inflammatory effects in TNBS‐induced colitis; these effects were observed both macroscopically and through the profile of inflammatory mediators (TNF, IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐17). Although the 2 day treatment with DS did not induce intestinal anti‐inflammatory effects, it was sufficient to reduce the enhanced IL‐17 expression. DS showed beneficial effects on DSS‐induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice and reduced colonic pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐1β, IL‐6 and IL‐17. In contrast, it did not exert intestinal anti‐inflammatory effects on DSS‐induced colitis in BALB/c mice.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS DS exerts intestinal anti‐inflammatory activity in different rodent models of colitis through down‐regulation of IL‐17 expression.
A Novel Strategy to Engineer Small‐Diameter Vascular Grafts From Marrow‐Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Zhao Jie , Liu Liangqi , Wei Jing , Ma Dongyang , Geng Wenxin , Yan Xingrong , Zhu Jun , Du Huicong , Liu Ying , Li Liwen , Chen Fulin 
Published: July 2011

AbstractTissue‐engineered blood vessels have mainly relied on endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), and biocompatible materials. However, long‐term results have revealed several material‐related failures, such as stenosis, thromboembolization, and the risk of infection. Furthermore, SMCs from elderly persons have reduced capacity in proliferation and collagen production. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to differentiate into multiple cell lineages, including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, ECs, and SMCs. In the current experiment, rabbit MSCs were cultured to form a cell sheet. A tissue‐engineered vascular graft (TEVG) was fabricated by rolling the MSC sheet around a mandrel. The TEVG was implanted into a defect of the common carotid artery after it was examined macroscopically and microscopically. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that cell sheet was composed of five to seven layers of cells with the thickness of 40–50 µm. Results from the adhesion assay revealed that MSCs had similar antiplatelet adhesion property to ECs. Histological analysis of TEVGs showed that the layers of the cell sheet had fully fused in vitro. After implantation, TEVGs had excellent patency and integrated well with the native vessel. The structure of the TEVGs was similar to that of the native artery 4 weeks after implantation. Electron microscopy showed that the implanted TEVGs endothelialized. These results indicated that a completely biological TEVG could be assembled with autologous MSCs. These TEVGs are useful for revascularization in humans, which would reduce the occurrence of complications caused by foreign materials.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Cerebellum and Eyeblink Conditioning in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Spottiswoode Bruce S. , Meintjes Ernesta M. , Anderson Adam W. , Molteno Christopher D. , Stanton Mark E. , Dodge Neil C. , Gore John C. , Peterson Bradley S. , Jacobson Joseph L. , Jacobson Sandra W. 
Published: July 2011

Background:  Prenatal alcohol exposure is related to a wide range of neurocognitive effects. Eyeblink conditioning (EBC), which involves temporal pairing of a conditioned with an unconditioned stimulus, has been shown to be a potential biomarker of fetal alcohol exposure. A growing body of evidence suggests that white matter may be a specific target of alcohol teratogenesis, and the neural circuitry underlying EBC is known to involve the cerebellar peduncles. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that has proven useful for assessing central nervous system white matter integrity. This study used DTI to examine the degree to which the fetal alcohol‐related deficit in EBC may be mediated by structural impairment in the cerebellar peduncles.Methods:  Thirteen children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and 12 matched controls were scanned using DTI and structural MRI sequences. The DTI data were processed using a voxelwise technique, and the structural data were used for volumetric analyses. Prenatal alcohol exposure group and EBC performance were examined in relation to brain volumes and outputs from the DTI analysis.Results:  Fractional anisotropy (FA) and perpendicular diffusivity group differences between alcohol‐exposed and nonexposed children were identified in the left middle cerebellar peduncle. Alcohol exposure correlated with lower FA and greater perpendicular diffusivity in this region, and these correlations remained significant even after controlling for total brain and cerebellar volumes. Conversely, trace conditioning performance was related to higher FA and lower perpendicular diffusivity in the left middle peduncle. The effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on trace conditioning was partially mediated by lower FA in this region.Conclusions:  This study extends recent findings that have used DTI to reveal microstructural deficits in white matter in children with FASD. This is the first DTI study to demonstrate mediation of a fetal alcohol‐related effect on neuropsychological function by deficits in white matter integrity.
Alcohol Induces Liver Neoplasia in a Novel Alcohol‐Preferring Rat Model
Authors: Yip‐Schneider Michele T. , Doyle Courtney J. , McKillop Iain H. , Wentz Sabrina C. , Brandon‐Warner Elizabeth , Matos Jesus M. , Sandrasegaran Kumaresan , Saxena Romil , Hennig Matthew E. , Wu Huangbing , Waters Joshua A. , Klein Patrick J. , Froehlich Janice C. , Max Schmidt C. 
Published: July 2011

Background:  Alcohol is a significant risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To date, no rodent model has demonstrated the formation of hepatic neoplasia in the setting of chronic alcohol consumption alone.Methods:  We investigated whether rats selectively bred for high alcohol preference (P rats), allowed free access to water, or water and 10% (v/v) alcohol, for 6, 12, or 18 months, develop hepatic neoplasia.Results:  At necropsy, liver tumor incidence and multiplicity were significantly increased in 18‐month alcohol‐consuming versus water‐consuming P rats. These data were confirmed histologically by glutathione‐S‐transferase pi‐class (GSTp) staining. Phosphorylated mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (MAPK/ERK) staining was also increased in the sinusoidal lining cells within livers of alcohol‐consuming versus water only P rats. In addition, cytochrome p450IIE1 (CYP2E1) mRNA, protein expression/activity, and intrahepatic oxidative stress were significantly increased in alcohol‐consuming P rat livers versus water only. In contrast, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase expression decreased in alcohol‐consuming versus water only P rats. No significant difference in alcohol dehydrogenase expression was detected.Conclusions:  These data demonstrate that chronic alcohol consumption is associated with hepatic neoplasia, MAPK/ERK activation, increased CYP2E1 activity, and intrahepatic oxidative stress in P rats. As these rats are well characterized as a model of alcoholism, these findings identify a novel rodent model of alcohol or “alcoholism”‐induced liver neoplasia.
Histone Deacetylases (HDAC)‐Induced Histone Modifications in the Amygdala: A Role in Rapid Tolerance to the Anxiolytic Effects of Ethanol
Authors: Sakharkar Amul J. , Zhang Huaibo , Tang Lei , Shi Guangbin , Pandey Subhash C. 
Published: July 2011

Background:  Rapid tolerance to the anxiolytic effects of ethanol appears to be an important factor in the development of alcoholism. Here, we investigated the involvement of amygdaloid histone deacetylases (HDAC)‐induced epigenetic changes in rapid ethanol tolerance (RET).
Methods:  RET in rats was induced by 2 ethanol injections administered 24 hours apart. Both ethanol‐tolerant and control rats were treated with the HDAC inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA), and anxiety‐like behaviors were measured. HDAC activity, histone (H3 and H4) acetylation, and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression in the amygdala of these rats were also measured.
Results:  A single ethanol exposure was able to produce an anxiolytic response, inhibit amygdaloid HDAC activity, and increase both histone acetylation and NPY expression (mRNA and protein levels) in the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) and medial nucleus of amygdala (MeA) of rats. In contrast, 2 exposures of the same dose of ethanol (24 hours apart) neither elicited a similar anxiolytic response nor modulated HDAC activity, histone acetylation, or NPY expression in the amygdala. However, exposure to a higher dose of ethanol on the second day was able to produce an anxiolytic response and also inhibit amygdaloid HDAC activity. TSA treatment caused the reversal of RET by inhibiting HDAC activity, thereby increasing histone acetylation and NPY expression in the CeA and MeA.
Conclusions:  Cellular tolerance to the initial acute ethanol‐induced inhibition of HDAC activity and the subsequent upregulation of histone acetylation and NPY expression in the amygdala may be involved in the mechanisms underlying rapid tolerance to the anxiolytic effects of ethanol.