bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New technique for safer endoscopic submucosal dissection using the duodenal balloon occlusion method
Authors: Mori Hirohito , Kobara Hideki , Inoue Hideyuki , Kobayashi Mitsuyoshi , Muramatsu Akemi , Nomura Takako , Gong Jian , Hagiike Masanobu , Izuishi Kunihiko , Suzuki Yasuyuki , Masaki Tsutomu 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) enables complete, collective removal of gastrointestinal (GI) malignant tumors, but requires a long operation time. Air insufflated during ESD is distributed throughout the entire GI tract, and thus causes an enlarged feeling of the abdomen. We aimed to reduce the incidence of an enlarged feeling of the abdomen by wedging a balloon in the bulbus duodeni to reduce air flow into the lower parts of the GI tract.Methods:  Sixteen patients who were approved by the institutional ethics committee and provided consent to participate in this single‐center, prospective study were divided into two groups using a sealed‐envelope randomization method: ESD with a balloon wedged in the bulbus duodeni (the balloon [+] group) or conventional ESD with no balloon (the balloon [−] group). Total air volume in the entire GI tract and its change before and after ESD were measured objectively by 3‐D computed tomography.Results:  In the balloon (+) group, the mean intestinal gas volume (± standard deviation) was 274.3 ± 142.0 mL before ESD, and 352.5 ± 183.2 mL after, with a mean change of 78.1 ± 139.7 mL. The increase in intestinal gas volume was well controlled. No postoperative complications, such as an enlarged feeling of the abdomen, was reported in the balloon (+) group.Conclusions:  Our new technique has several advantages, including reduction in the frequency of postoperative abdominal symptoms, and will be useful and safe for gastric ESD.
Predicting response to therapy in chronic hepatitis C: An approach combining interleukin‐28B gene polymorphisms and clinical data
Authors: Ladero José M , Martin Elena García , Fernández Cristina , Carballo Miguel , Devesa María J , Martínez Carmen , Suárez Avelina , Díaz‐Rubio Manuel , Agúndez José A 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Polymorphisms at the interleukin‐28B (IL28B) gene predict therapeutic response in chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (CHC‐1) infection. The aim of the present study was to establish whether a unique single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) represents the whole predictive value of the IL28B haplotype for sustained viral response (SVR) and primary non‐response (PNR).Methods:  SNP rs12979860 and rs8099917 were determined by TaqMan assays in 110 CHC‐1 Caucasian patients treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin.Results:  There were 51 SVR, 43 PNR, and 16 relapses. Baseline predictors of SVR were rs12979860CC genotype (P = 0.008), viral load < 400.000 IU/mL (P < 0.010), age (P = 0.013), γ‐glutamyl transferase (P = 0.022), alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.008), and cholesterol (P = 0.048). The area under the receiver‐operating curve (AUROC) of the model, including these variables, was 0.841 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.767–0.916). The same figures for PNR were rs12979860 T‐allele carrier state (P = 0.00008), viral load ≥ 400.000 IU/mL (P = 0.007), aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.048), and serum cholesterol (P = 0.064), (AUROC = 0.869, 95% CI = 0.792–0.945). After excluding rs12979860CT SNP from multivariate analyses, the rs8099917 genotype alone did not predict SVR (P = 0.185), but strongly predicted PNR (P = 0.003). The significance of haplotypes combining both SNP as predictors of SVR and PNR was higher than those of each separate SNP.Conclusions:  The rs12979860 SNP strongly predicts therapeutic response in CHC‐1 patients, and if associated with easy‐to‐obtain baseline criteria, provides a useful tool for the selection of candidates for antiviral therapy. IL28B haplotypes might improve the clinical usefulness of individual SNP.
Toll‐like receptor 2 monoclonal antibody or/and Toll‐like receptor 4 monoclonal antibody increase counts of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria in dextran sulfate sodium‐induced colitis in mice
Authors: Dong Le , Li Juan , Liu Yi , Yue Wenjie , Luo Xiaoting 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The accurate pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) is not yet well understood. Recently, Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2), TLR4 and gut microbial flora have been proved as playing important roles in the process of UC. This study was to evaluate the effect of TLR2 and TLR4 monoclonal antibodies on gut microbial flora in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced colitis in a mouse model.Methods:  We evaluated the effects of the TLR2 and TLR4 monoclonal antibodies on the development of DSS‐induced colitis. Clinical symptoms were evaluated by the disease activity index (DAI), while tissue samples were evaluated by histological scoring (HS). Meanwhile, the mucosal mRNA expressions of TLR2, TLR4, interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and IL‐17 were analyzed by Realtime polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mucosal protein TRAF6, TAB1, P‐IKK, P‐P38α mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPL) and c‐jun expressions of the TLR2 and TLR4 signaling pathways were analyzed using Western blot. The mucosal nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) was analyzed using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Fecal samples were obtained directly from the cecum for microbiological studies.Results:  Expressions of TLR2 and TLR4 in colonic epithelial cells on DSS‐induced colitis were much higher than normal ones. After the treatment with TLR2mAb and TLR4mAb, DAI and HS were decreased significantly. The UC model group showed a conspicuous increase of Escherichia coli and decreases of Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. After being treated with TLR2mAb or/and TLR4mAb, Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. increased to the normal level.Conclusions:  TLR2mAb and TLR4mAb can suppress the development of DSS‐induced colitis and increase counts of Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria.
Colonization of paediatric lower respiratory tract with genital Mycoplasma species
Authors: PATEL KATIR K. , SALVA PAUL S. , WEBLEY WILMORE C. 
Published: July 2011

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Recently, much attention has been given to the possible role played by pathogens that colonize neonatal or paediatric airway and their potential involvement in chronic respiratory disease. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the prevalence of Mycoplasma organisms in the BAL fluid of paediatric patients suffering from a variety of chronic respiratory diseases to determine if there was any clear disease association with bacterial presence.Methods:  We examined 319 paediatric BAL samples for the presence of M. genitalium, M. hominis, U. urealyticum, U. parvum and M. pneumoniae DNA with species‐specific PCR.Results:  Mycoplasma DNA was found in 32.6% (104/319) of patient samples; 10% (32/319) for M. pneumoniae, 8.8% for U. parvum, 2.8% for U. urealyticum; 4.7% for M. hominis and 9.1% for M. genitalium. There were no significant clinical and laboratory differences except serum IgE in asthmatics according to Mycoplasma colonization or not. Elevated levels of IgE were found more often in Mycoplasma DNA‐negative patients than patients with bacterial DNA, 85/109 versus 24/109 respectively (P < 0.0001). There was no difference in the frequency of Mycoplasmas between the asthmatics and the non‐asthmatics; 30.6% (69/225) versus 37.2% (35/94) for Mycoplasma 16S DNA, and 8% versus 14.9% for M. pneumoniae, respectively.Conclusions:  Our data indicate that in addition to M. pneumoniae, urogenital Mycoplasma species may colonize the airway of patients with chronic respiratory diseases. There was, however, no association between chronic asthma diagnosis and Mycoplasma colonization in this study.
‘A place where I can be me’: a role for social and leisure provision to support young people with language impairment
Authors: Myers Lucy , Davies‐Jones Clare , Chiat Shula , Joffe Victoria , Botting Nicola 
Published: July 2011

AbstractBackground: The long‐term well‐being of children with language impairment is an area of increasing interest to families, educators and employers as language impairment is often life‐long. Furthermore, language impairment and psychiatric difficulty are known to overlap in both populations originally diagnosed as having language impairment and those receiving mental health services. However, there are currently little data available about the wider quality of life for people with language impairment, especially from the perspective of the young people themselves. There is a dearth of information about community‐based activities provided for the support and leisure of this population. The Afasic Youth Project meets once a week and is one of only a handful of such groups across the United Kingdom.Methods & Procedures: This study reports the experiences and views of 19 young people aged 13–23 years attending a leisure provision for young people with primary communication needs. The views of 20 parents were also gained. Interviews with young people and parents were based on items used in the Manchester Language Study in which a large group of young people with a history of language difficulties (n= 130) and typically developing 16‐year‐olds (n= 109) expressed their views on a range of quality of life measures. This allows a context against which to evaluate the responses of the young people in the study. An additional section of the interview was designed to address the young people's views on the Afasic Youth Project specifically.Outcomes & Results: Social patterns of the young people were very similar to those reported by the Manchester Language Study indicating that they are a group relatively representative of the language impairment population. A number of positive themes emerged in relation to the club, which included freedom to be true to self, and meeting similar individuals. Interestingly, parents expressed some similar themes, but also had additional thoughts about the group, including the need to meet other parents in similar situations and the belief that the group was aiding social development.Conclusions & Implications: The analysis suggests that community‐based social and leisure provision is an important ‘missing’ service for young people with language impairment, providing an alternative to school‐based activities and support older teenagers beyond compulsory education. There is a pressing need to investigate the potential role of such facilities given that recent research into language impairment has clearly shown associations with long‐term and wide‐ranging social and emotional risk.
Pro con debate: the use of regional vs systemic analgesia for neonatal surgery
Authors: Bösenberg Adrian T , Jöhr Martin , Wolf Andrew R 
Published: July 2011

SummaryIn recent years the inclusion of regional techniques to pediatric anesthesia has transformed practice. Simple procedures such as caudal anesthesia with local anaesthetics can reduce the amounts of general anesthesia required and provide complete analgesia in the postoperative period while avoiding large amounts of opioid analgesia with potential side effects that can impair recovery. However, the application of central blocks (epidural and spinal local anesthesia) via catheters in the younger infant, neonate and even preterm neonate remains more controversial. The potential for such invasive maneuvers themselves to augment risk, can be argued to outweigh the benefits, others would argue that epidural analgesia can reduce the need for postoperative ventilation and that this not only facilitates surgery when intensive care facilities are limited, but also reduces cost in terms of PICU stay and recovery profile. Currently, opinions are divided and strongly held with some major units adopting this approach widely and others maintaining a more conservative stance to anesthesia for major neonatal surgery. In this pro‐con debate the evidence base is examined, supplemented with expert opinion to try to provide a balanced overall view.
Data-Driven Density Estimation in the Presence of Additive Noise with unknown Distribution
Authors: Comte F. , Lacour C. 
Published: July 2011

Summary
We study the model Y = X+ε. We assume that we have at our disposal independent identically distributed observations Y1,…,Yn and ε−1,…,ε−M. The (Xj)1 ⩽j ⩽n are independent identically distributed with density f, independent of the (εj)1 ⩽j ⩽n, independent identically distributed with density f. The aim of the paper is to estimate f without knowing f. We first define an estimator, for which we provide bounds for the integrated L2-risk. We consider ordinary smooth and supersmooth noise ε with regard to ordinary smooth and supersmooth densities f. Then we present an adaptive estimator of the density of f. This estimator is obtained by penalization of a projection contrast and yields to model selection. Lastly, we present simulation experiments to illustrate the good performances of our estimator and study from the empirical point of view the importance of theoretical constraints.
Weekly IM interferon beta‐1a in multiple sclerosis patients over 50 years of age
Authors: Lampl C. , You X. , Limmroth V. 
Published: July 2011

Background:  Efficacy and safety data have not previously been compiled for intramuscular interferon beta‐1a (IM IFNβ‐1a) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) ≥ 50 years of age. We investigated the efficacy and safety of IM IFNβ‐1a in patients segregated by 50 and 40 years of age in separate meta‐analyses.Methods:  The MS Clinical Research Group Study, the Controlled High‐Risk Subjects AVONEX® (IM IFNβ‐1a) MS Prevention Study, the IFNβ‐1a European Dose‐Comparison Study, and a multicenter, open‐label antigenicity and safety study of human serum albumin‐free IM IFNβ‐1a were analyzed.Results:  Overall, 906 patients (68 aged ≥ 50 years and 838 aged <50 years, or 323 aged ≥ 40 years and 583 aged <40 years) received IM IFNβ‐1a for ≥ 24 months. At baseline, patients ≥ 50 years had significantly higher Expanded Disability Status Scale scores than patients <50 years (3.4 vs. 2.8; P < 0.001), but fewer relapses in the three preceding years (2.6 vs. 3.4; P < 0.001); patients ≥ 40 years and <40 years exhibited similar differences. After 2 years of treatment, there were no significant differences in annualized relapse rate, sustained disability progression, time to sustained disability progression, or number of MRI‐identified gadolinium‐enhanced lesions between age groups in either analysis. The cumulative probability of relapse was significantly lower in patients ≥ 40 years versus patients <40 years (0.601 vs. 0.702; P < 0.001). Adverse event incidence did not differ significantly between age groups in either analysis.Conclusions:  IM IFNβ‐1a is effective and well tolerated in patients with MS ≥ 40 and ≥ 50 years as well as younger patients.
Nurses’ self‐reported knowledge about and attitude to nutrition – before and after a training programme
Authors: Bjerrum Merete , Tewes Marianne , Pedersen Preben 
Published: July 2011

Scand J Caring Sci; 2012; 26; 81–89

Nurses’ self‐reported knowledge about and attitude to nutrition – before and after a training programmeBackground:  It is well known that appropriate nutrition is vital for inpatientrecovery. Traditionally, nutrition is part of nurses’ area of responsibility and as it affects mortality and morbidity, it is important that nurses feel responsible for, and accomplish adequate nutrition care during the patients’ hospital stay. But putting evidence of nutritional topics into practice is challenging and nutrition care seems to be a low priority nursing task.Aims:  To investigate the impact of training programme targeted nurses with special responsibilities for nutrition on the nurses’ knowledge of nutrition, and whether it enhanced their attitude to their responsibility for nutrition care in relation to assessment and management.Methods:  An intervention study was conducted with 16 nurses from either medical or surgical wards who participated in a 12‐month training programme. These nurses were divided into two groups and interviewed twice before and after the intervention. Focus group interviews were used to gather data about their daily clinical work in relation to nutrition. Deductive content analysis was used to analyse the described data.Results:  The training programme did have an impact on the nurses’ knowledge of nutrition. It made them feel more secure and strengthened their ability to take responsibility for more nutrition management and as the results indicate, improved their awareness of nurse‐specific treatment and their responsibility for nutrition assessment. We also found that nurses still have difficulty expressing their knowledge of nutrition using academic concepts, as they mainly use general phrases.Conclusion:  The findings suggest that a short‐duration training programme enhances nurses’ awareness of nutrition care, but it is not enough to achieve the nurses’ full understanding of their responsibility for nutrition care.
Effects of respiratory mechanical forces on the pharmacological response of lung cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents
Authors: Hendricks Peter , Diaz Francisco J. , Schmitt Sarah , Sitta Sittampalam G. , Nirmalanandhan Victor Sanjit 
Published: July 2011

AbstractIn vitro screening of chemotherapeutic agents is routinely carried out in static monolayer cell cultures. However, drugs administered to patients act in the presence of various microenvironments in vivo. For example, in lung tumors, mechanical forces are constantly present and do affect the physiological response of the lung tissue to a variety of therapeutic agents. We hypothesized that mechanical forces may affect the response of lung tumors to chemotherapeutic agents and studied the effects under simulated conditions. First, we examined the effects of simulated forces that approximate normal respiration on the proliferation and morphology of NCI‐H358 and A549 cell lines. Then, we studied the effects of the simulated forces on the ability of Paclitaxel, Doxorubicin, Cisplatin, Zactima and an experimental drug to induce cytotoxicity in both cell lines. Cells were treated with the drugs in the presence or absence of simulated forces (20% maximum strain and 15 cycles/minute) that approximate human lung expansion and contraction. Cell proliferation and the effectiveness of the drugs were assessed. Using a standard exponential cell growth model, it was determined that mechanical forces significantly reduced the proliferation of both cell lines. Interestingly, forces also significantly lowered the effectiveness of all drugs except Zactima in A549 cells, while in NCI‐H358 cells, Zactima was the only drug that demonstrated an increase in effectiveness owing to applied forces. Our results demonstrate that mechanical forces have significant impact on cell survival and chemotherapeutic efficacy and may be of significance in engineering improved screening assays for antitumor drug discovery.
Effects of magnetized water on the distribution pattern of soil water with respect to time in trickle irrigation
Authors: Khoshravesh M. , Mostafazadeh‐Fard B. , Mousavi S. F. , Kiani A. R. 
Published: July 2011

AbstractIn arid and semi‐arid regions, farmers use low quality groundwater because of limited availability of high quality irrigation water; instead, magnetized water can be used for irrigation given its better quality. Magnetized water is obtained by passing water through permanent magnets or through electro‐magnets installed in or on a feeding pipeline. This study at the Gorgan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Gorgan province, Iran, investigated soil moisture distribution from trickle irrigation. Treatments were magnetic and non‐magnetic water and sub‐treatments involved the addition of 200 mg/L calcium carbonate and 400 mg/L calcium carbonate with well water providing the control. The experiment was laid out with a complete randomized block design with three replications. Soil moisture around the drippers was measured for 1, 2 and 3 days after irrigation during the 3‐month irrigation period. The results show that the differences in soil moisture for days 1, 2 and 3 after irrigation with magnetized irrigation water were lesser than those for the non‐magnetized irrigation water treatments. Irrigation with magnetized irrigation water caused higher soil moisture compared with the non‐magnetized irrigation water for different irrigation water salinities. The use of magnetized water for irrigation is recommended to improve irrigation efficiency.
Cervical precancerous lesions – chromosomal instability in peripheral blood lymphocytes in relation to lesion stage, age and smoking habits
Authors: MILOŠEVIĆ‐DJORDJEVIĆ OLIVERA , STOŠIĆ IVANA , GRUJIČIĆ DARKO , BANKOVIĆ DRAGIĆ , ARSENIJEVIĆ SLOBODAN 
Published: July 2011

AbstractObjective. To evaluate chromosomal damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of patients newly diagnosed with cervical precancerous lesions with respect to age, smoking habits, miscarriages, abortions and lesion stage. Design. Clinical study. Setting. Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Kragujevac, Serbia, during 2009‐2010. Population. The analyzed samples included 41 untreated patients aged 24–65years with a diagnosed low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL; 19 patients) or a high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL; 22 patients). Control samples were obtained from 40 healthy women aged 24–53 years. Methods. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) was estimated in circulating lymphocytes by using the cytokinesis‐block micronucleus assay. Main Outcome Measure. The frequency of MN in PBL. Results. The mean MN frequencies of both LSIL and HSIL patients were significantly higher than the MN frequency of healthy control women. There was no significant difference in MN frequency between LSIL and HSIL patients, between smokers and nonsmokers in both patient and control samples, or between miscarriage groups and abortion groups of patients. Considering confounder factors, age and health status influenced MN frequency. Conclusions. The results suggest that MN frequency in PBL of patients with cervical precancerous lesions corresponds to an increase of chromosomal damage, irrespective of smoking habits, miscarriages, abortions and lesion stages.