bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on insulin resistance in hemodialysis patients
Authors: KHEDR Essam , EL‐SHARKAWY Magdy , ABDULWAHAB Saed , ELDIN Essam Nor , ALI Medhat , YOUSSIF Abla , AHMED Bassam 
Published: June 2009

AbstractInsulin resistance is a characteristic feature of uremia. Insulin resistance and concomitant hyperinsulinemia are present irrespective of the type of renal disease. Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) was said to be associated with improvement in insulin sensitivity in uremic patients. The aim of this study was to compare insulin resistance in adult uremic hemodialysis (HD) patients including diabetic patients treated with or without rHuEPO. A total of 59 HD patients were studied, patients were divided into 2 groups of subjects: 30 HD patients on regular rHuEPO treatment (group A), and 29 HD patients not receiving rHuEPO (group B) diabetic patients were not excluded. Full medical history and clinical examination, hematological parameters, lipid profile, serum albumin, parathyroid horomone, Kt/V, fasting glucose, and insulin levels were measured in all subjects. Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA‐IR) was used to compare insulin resistance. The results of this study showed that the mean insulin level of HD patients treated with rHuEPO (group A) (17.5 ± 10.6 μU/mL) was significantly lower than patients without rHuEPO (group B) (28.8 ± 7.7 μU/mL), (P<0.001). Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance levels in group A were significantly lower than in group B (3.8 ± 2.97, 7.98 ± 4.9, respectively, P<0.001). Insulin resistance reflected by HOMA‐IR levels among diabetic patients in group A was significantly lower than among diabetic patients in group B (3.9 ± 3.2, 9.4 ± 7.2, respectively, P<0.001). Also, HOMA‐IR levels among nondiabetic patients in group A were significantly lower than among nondiabetic patients in group B (3.7 ± 2.85, 6.9 ± 1.43, respectively, P<0.01). We found a statistically significant negative correlation between duration of erythropoietin treatment, fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, and insulin resistance (r=−0.62, −0.71, and −0.57, P<0.001). Patients treated with rHuEPO showed less insulin resistance compared with patients not treated with rHuEPO in diabetic and nondiabetic patients and, duration of erythropoietin treatment is negatively correlated with insulin levels and insulin resistance in HD patients.
Cocaine and Ethanol: Combined Effects on Coronary Artery Blood Flow and Myocardial Function in Dogs
Authors: Wilson Lance D. , Malik Mamta , Willson Howard 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjectives: In combination, cocaine and ethanol are more cardiotoxic than is either substance alone. These substances together constitute a drug abuse combination that commonly results in fatality. Previously the authors have demonstrated that cardiotoxicity of cocaine and ethanol is in part due to synergistic myocardial‐depressant effects. However, it remains unclear whether this myocardial depression is associated with concomitant adverse effects on coronary blood flow in relation to these substances. The aim of this study was to investigate combined effects of cocaine and ethanol on myocardial blood flow, in relation to indices of myocardial function.Methods: Anesthetized dogs were instrumented for hemodynamic monitoring with Doppler flow probes placed on the circumflex and left anterior descending (LAD) coronary arteries. Dogs were randomized to three groups (eachn = 6): ethanol (E, 1.5 g/kg followed by placebo), cocaine (C, placebo followed by cocaine, 7.5 mg/kg IV), or cocaine plus ethanol (C + E). All measurements were made at control, after placebo or ethanol, and then at fixed time intervals after cocaine or placebo bolus over 3 hours.Results: In both the C + E and the C groups, circumflex blood flow (CBF) decreased by 71% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 56% to 85%) and 57% (95% CI = 43% to 72%, both p < 0.04 vs. baseline) immediately after cocaine bolus. This was associated with transient depression of cardiac output, myocardial contractile function, and rate‐pressure product (RPP), all indices of myocardial oxygen demand. A subsequent rebound increase of coronary sinus blood flow (CSBF) of 56% (95% CI = 26% to 137%, p < 0.03) compared to baseline occurred only in the C group and was associated with increases of myocardial contractile function and RPP. In the C + E group, 2 hours after drug administration, there was a decrease in CSBF of 49% (95% CI = 32% to 67%; p < 0.01) compared to baseline, which was associated with concomitant numerical decreases of the indices of myocardial oxygen demand and accumulation of cocaethylene.Conclusions: Acute decreases in myocardial flow secondary to cocaine, and cocaine and ethanol in combination, were similar and temporally associated with cocaine’s direct myocardial‐depressant effects. Rebound increases in myocardial function and blood flow due to cocaine were attenuated by ethanol. Delayed myocardial depression and decreases in myocardial blood flow were observed only with coadministration of cocaine and ethanol.
Prospective Validation of the Pediatric Appendicitis Score in a Canadian Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Bhatt Maala , Joseph Lawrence , Ducharme Francine M. , Dougherty Geoffrey , McGillivray David 
Published: June 2009

AbstractObjectives:  Clinical scoring systems attempt to improve the diagnostic accuracy of pediatric appendicitis. The Pediatric Appendicitis Score (PAS) was the first score created specifically for children and showed excellent performance in the derivation study when administered by pediatric surgeons. The objective was to validate the score in a nonreferred population by emergency physicians (EPs).Methods:  A convenience sample of children, 4–18 years old presenting to a pediatric emergency department (ED) with abdominal pain of less than 3 days’ duration and in whom the treating physician suspected appendicitis, was prospectively evaluated. Children who were nonverbal, had a previous appendectomy, or had chronic abdominal pathology were excluded. Score components (right lower quadrant and hop tenderness, anorexia, pyrexia, emesis, pain migration, leukocytosis, and neutrophilia) were collected on standardized forms by EPs who were blinded to the scoring system. Interobserver assessments were completed when possible. Appendicitis was defined as appendectomy with positive histology. Outcomes were ascertained by review of the pathology reports from the surgery specimens for children undergoing surgery and by telephone follow‐up for children who were discharged home. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated. The overall performance of the score was assessed by a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:  Of the enrolled children who met inclusion criteria (n = 246), 83 (34%) had pathology‐proven appendicitis. Using the single cut‐point suggested in the derivation study (PAS 5) resulted in an unacceptably high number of false positives (37.6%). The score’s performance improved when two cut‐points were used. When children with a PAS of ≤4 were discharged home without further investigations, the sensitivity was 97.6% with a NPV of 97.7%. When a PAS of ≥8 determined the need for appendectomy, the score’s specificity was 95.1% with a PPV of 85.2%. Using this strategy, the negative appendectomy rate would have been 8.8%, the missed appendicitis rate would have been 2.4%, and 41% of imaging investigations would have been avoided.Conclusions:  The PAS is a useful tool in the evaluation of children with possible appendicitis. Scores of ≤4 help rule out appendicitis, while scores of ≥8 help predict appendicitis. Patients with a PAS of 5–7 may need further radiologic evaluation.
Application of DNA Forensic Techniques for Identifying Poached Guanacos (Lama guanicoe) in Chilean Patagonia*
Authors: Marín Juan C. , Saucedo Cristian E. , Corti Paulo , González Benito A. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) is a protected and widely distributed ungulate in South America. A poacher, after killing guanacos in Valle Chacabuco, Chilean Patagonia, transported and stored the meat. Samples were retrieved by local police but the suspect argued that the meat was from a horse. Mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (774 pb), 15 loci microsatellites, and SRY gene were used to identify the species, number of animals and their population origin, and the sex of the animals, respectively. Analysis revealed that the samples came from a female (absence of SRY gene) Patagonian guanaco (assignment probability between 0.0075 and 0.0282), and clearly distinguishing it from sympatric ungulates (E‐value = 0). Based on the evidence obtained in the field in addition to forensic data, the suspect was convicted of poaching and illegally carrying fire arms. This is the first report of molecular tools being used in forensic investigations of Chilean wildlife indicating its promising future application in guanaco management and conservation.
Farmers' health and agricultural productivity
Authors: Loureiro Maria L. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractAgriculture is one of the most hazardous productive sectors around the world. Most previous studies have focused on health issues of farmers in developing countries, while little attention has been paid to farmers' health problems in developed countries. The present study assesses the effect of farmers' health conditions on agricultural productivity in Norway. Employing stochastic frontier regression techniques, we conclude that differences in farmers’ health help to explain the variance in agricultural production efficiency.
Measuring technical efficiency in the stochastic varying coefficient frontier model
Authors: Karagiannis Giannis , Tzouvelekas Vangelis 
Published: June 2009

AbstractDue to the assumption that the best practice methods refer to each input separately instead of the whole set of inputs used by a firm, the benchmark technology as defined in the stochastic varying coefficient frontier model may be infeasible and theoretically improper whenever the maximum response coefficients are not coming from the same production unit. To overcome this problem, we propose alternative measures of output‐oriented and single‐factor technical efficiencies inspired from the maximum likelihood formulation of the nonneutral frontier model. The empirical results indicate that there are significant differences between the two in terms of the estimated efficiency scores but not significant differences we detected in terms of the efficiency ranking.
Risk‐matching behavior in microcredit group formation: evidence from northern Ethiopia
Authors: Berhane Guush , Gardebroek Cornelis , Moll Henk A. J. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractTheoretical models on group lending assume the formation of groups of homogenous risk types. Recent theoretical and empirical findings challenge this view arguing that when markets for insurance are missing, risk homogeneity may not hold any more and risk heterogeneity can be the optimal outcome. Using data from an MFI in Tigray (Ethiopia), this article examines the homogeneity hypothesis and reflects on implications for repayment. No evidence is found that supports risk homogeneity, even accounting for matching frictions. However, we also do not find an explicit link between the presence of risk heterogeneity and side‐payments due to missing insurance as suggested in the literature. Instead, other trust‐based social networks seem to underlie heterogeneity. Such social networks are often synchronized with credit groups and influence the probability of repayment under heterogeneity. The implication is that successful repayment rates in group lending need not arise only under risk homogeneity but can also arise under risk heterogeneity. Heterogeneity may also serve to bridge missing insurance markets in poor rural environments. MFIs therefore need to consider such local conditions when designing their lending schemes.
Announcement effects and the theory of storage: an empirical study of lumber futures
Authors: Karali Berna , Thurman Walter N. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractWe investigate how lumber futures returns are affected by monthly housing starts announcements and analyze the dependence of the response on lumber inventories and time to delivery. To do so we develop a generalized least squares (GLS) method to jointly analyze simultaneously traded contracts. We find that increases in the unanticipated component of housing starts announcements increase returns on lumber futures contracts. Further, and as predicted by the theory of storage but previously unrecorded, the effects of housing starts shocks decline with lumber inventories. There is also a time‐to‐delivery effect: near‐delivery contracts respond more sharply to housing starts news than do farther‐out contracts.
Assessing agricultural trade policies options with the European Union: a Brazilian perspective
Authors: Piketty Marie Gabrielle , Weissleder Lucie , De Souza Filho Hildo Meirelles , Batalha Mário Otávio , Adenäuer Marcel , Becker Arno 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBrazil has shown interest in agricultural trade negotiations at bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels. This study addresses several important negotiations, using the agricultural sector model CAPRI (Common Agricultural Policy Regional Impact Analysis), to analyze liberalization scenarios between the European Union and the Mercosur countries focusing particularly on their impacts in Brazil. Four possible agreements between Europe and Mercosur are simulated, including a broader multilateral agreement proposed in the G20. The results suggest that a bilateral scenario involving larger tariff rate quota increase, as called for by Mercosur, generates larger gains than accepting the European Union proposal of 2004 or further multilateral trade liberalization based on the G20 proposal. However, much larger increases in tariff rate quotas for all products are not necessarily justified in all cases. Moreover, Brazil's production and export potential is limited by factors other than trade restrictions.
Ex ante analysis of the benefits of transgenic drought tolerance research on cereal crops in low‐income countries
Authors: Kostandini Genti , Mills Bradford F. , Omamo Steven Were , Wood Stanley 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThis article develops a framework to examine the ex ante benefits of transgenic research on drought in eight low‐income countries, including the benefits to producers and consumers from farm income stabilization and the potential magnitude of private sector profits from intellectual property rights (IPRs). The framework employs country‐specific agroecological–drought risk zones and considers both yield increases and yield variance reductions when estimating producer and consumer benefits from research. Benefits from yield variance reductions are shown to be an important component of aggregate drought research benefits, representing 40% of total benefits across the eight countries. Further, estimated annual benefits of US$178 million to the private sector suggest that significant incentives exist for participation in transgenic drought tolerance research.
Respiratory patterns in panic disorder reviewed: a focus on biological challenge tests
Authors: Niccolai V. , Van Duinen M. A. , Griez E. J. 
Published: June 2009

Objective: To provide a systematic review of studies investigating respiration in PD and comments on relative inconsistencies.Method: A Medline search of controlled studies focusing on pCO2, respiratory rate, tidal volume, and minute volume in PD patients was conducted for baseline/resting condition, challenge, and recovery phase. Respiratory variability and comparisons between panickers and non‐panickers were also examined.Results: Lower pCO2levels in PD subjects are a consistent finding during the baseline/resting condition, the challenge, and recovery phases. Tidal volume and minute volume are increased in PD subjects relative to controls during the baseline/resting condition. However, the most robust finding is a higher than normal respiratory variability, which appears to be a promising factor for the identification of respiratory etiopathological pathways in PD.Conclusion: Respiratory variability might be a candidate for a biological marker of PD: an abnormal breathing pattern as found in panic disorder (PD) patients compared with controls might indicate instability of the respiratory homeostasis.
MPO‐ANCA‐ and IgA‐positive systemic vasculitis: a possibly overlapping syndrome of microscopic polyangiitis and Henoch‐Schoenlein purpura
Authors: Nagasaka Takeshi , Miyamoto Jyuria , Ishibashi Masafumi , Chen Kon Ron 
Published: June 2009

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) can be distinguished from Henoch‐Schoenlein purpura (HSP) based on the presence of renal‐pulmonary complications, myeloperoxidase‐antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (MPO‐ANCA) seropositivity and pauci‐immune glomerulonephritis; these characteristics of MPA are generally not found in HSP. Here, we present a unique case with MPA and HSP overlapping syndrome. A 74‐year‐old man presented with a skin rash accompanied by intracranial bleeding, acute renal failure and pulmonary hemorrhage resulting in a fatal outcome. An autopsy revealed the marked formation of crescentic glomerulonephritis, diffuse pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage and focal cerebral bleeding. Histological features showing both dermal small‐vessel vasculitis and cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa‐like arteritis suggested MPA rather than HSP, in which the dermal small vessels are exclusively affected. Meanwhile, capillary immunoglobulin (Ig)A deposits in the skin and glomeruli suggested HSP.As MPA and HSP overlapping syndrome characterized by the synergistic effect of MPO‐ANCA and the IgA immune complex may result in a fatal outcome, aggressive immunosuppressive therapy should be initiated as early as possible.
Nodal marginal zone lymphoma: current knowledge and future directions of an heterogeneous disease
Authors: Arcaini Luca , Lucioni Marco , Boveri Emanuela , Paulli Marco 
Published: June 2009

AbstractNodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL) is a defined, separate clinicopathological entity. NMZL is a B‐cell neoplasm originated in the lymph node, whose histology resembles the nodal infiltration by mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue‐ or splenic‐type marginal zone lymphoma, in the absence of clinical evidence of extranodal or spleen disease. The lack of characteristic phenotypic or molecular diagnostic findings is still hampering the reproducibility of this diagnosis. Herein, we review the main morphological and immunophenotypical markers, discussing the differential with other overlapping entities. We also summarize the clinical features and outcome of this rare lymphoma and we discuss the possible association with hepatitis C virus infection.
Paraplegia in a Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) due to multiple myeloma
Authors: Mauel Susanne , Fritsch Guido , Ochs Andreas , Koch Martin , Kershaw Olivia , Gruber Achim D. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground A 38‐year‐old male Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus) developed progressive hind leg paresis. A computed tomography scan of the vertebral column revealed soft tissue type densities within vertebral bones.Methods and results At necropsy infiltrating tumor masses were found in the vertebral bodies, protruding into the spinal canal and compressing the spinal cord. Microscopically neoplastic plasma cells infiltrated the vertebral bodies and adjacent soft tissues. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells tested positive for B cell markers (CD38, CD79α), kappa, and lambda light chains, while vimentin, GFAP, S100, and CD138 were not expressed. The tumor was classified as multiple myeloma on the basis of radiographic, pathological, and immunohistochemical findings.Conclusions This first systematic case description on multiple myeloma in a non‐human primate revealed many similarities with the disease in humans and the immunohistochemical tools proved suitable for their use in the orangutan.
Association among interleukin‐6 gene polymorphism, diabetes and periodontitis in a Chinese population
Authors: Xiao LM , Yan YX , Xie CJ , Fan WH , Xuan DY , Wang CX , Chen L , Sun SY , Xie BY , Zhang JC 
Published: June 2009

Objectives:  Diabetics significantly increase risk for periodontitis. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) gene polymorphism may play certain roles in the progression of periodontitis with diabetes. The purpose of this study was to assess the association among IL‐6 gene polymorphisms, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic periodontitis (CP) in a Chinese population.Material and methods:  DNA was obtained from 159 patients with CP, 88 patients with T2DM, 110 patients with CP&T2DM and 135 control subjects. The ‐174/‐572/‐597 polymorphisms of IL‐6 gene were investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction products. The results were further confirmed by sequencing. Significance was set at P < 0.008 after Bonferroni correction.Results:  Among four groups, CP&T2DM group showed the lowest IL‐6‐572 CC genotype and C‐allele frequencies (54.5% and 74.1%). In this regard, there were significant differences between CP&T2DM group and the control group [P = 0.006, odds ratio (OR) = 0.475, 95% CI: 0.279–0.808 and P = 0.002, OR = 0.502, 95% CI: 0.319–0.788 respectively]. Logistic regression with adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, smoking and stress showed no significant difference in terms of IL‐6‐572 genotypes (P = 0.058, OR= 0.523, 95% CI: 0.268–1.022).Conclusions:  The IL‐6‐572 genotype and allele distributions are unique to subjects with CP&T2DM in a Chinese population.
Ethanol preference in C. elegans
Authors: Lee J. , Jee C. , McIntire S. L. 
Published: June 2009

Caenorhabditis elegans senses multiple environmental stimuli through sensory systems and rapidly changes its behaviors for survival. With a simple and well‐characterized nervous system, C. elegans is a suitable animal model for studying behavioral plasticity. Previous studies have shown acute neurodepressive effects of ethanol on multiple behaviors of C. elegans similar to the effect of ethanol on other organisms. Caenorhabditis elegans also develops ethanol tolerance during continuous exposure to ethanol. In mammals, chronic ethanol exposure leads to ethanol tolerance as well as increased ethanol consumption. Ethanol preference is associated with the development of tolerance and may lead to the development of ethanol dependence. In this study, we show that C. elegans is a useful model organism for studying chronic effects of ethanol, including the development of ethanol preference. We designed a behavioral assay for testing ethanol preference after prolonged ethanol exposure. Despite baseline aversive responses to ethanol, animals show ethanol preference after 4 h of pre‐exposure to ethanol and exhibit significantly enhanced preference for ethanol after a lifetime of ethanol exposure. The cat‐2 and tph‐1 mutant animals have defects in the synthetic enzymes for dopamine and serotonin, respectively. These mutants are deficient in the development of ethanol preference, indicating that dopamine and serotonin are required for this form of behavioral plasticity.