bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The sphingosine‐1‐phosphate pathway is upregulated in response to partial urethral obstruction in male rats and activates RhoA/Rho‐kinase signalling
Authors: Aydin Memduh , Downing Keith , Villegas Guillermo , Zhang Xinhua , Chua Rowena , Melman Arnold , DiSanto Michael E. 
Published: January 2010

OBJECTIVESTo examine the effect of partial urethral obstruction (PUO) on the sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P, a bioactive lipid shown to modulate smooth muscle, SM) pathway in the bladders of male rats, and to determine the effect of PUO on the RhoA/Rho‐kinase (ROK) pathway, and whether there is a molecular cross‐talk with the S1P pathways associated with bladder overactivity (S1P1‐S1P3, where S1P1 is associated with nitric oxide‐mediated SM relaxation, and S1P2 and S1P3 receptors are associated more with SM contraction via the ROK pathway).MATERIALS AND METHODSIn all, 20 male rats were divided into two groups and underwent PUO or a sham operation (control). After 2 weeks all rats were killed humanely and bladder specimens used for in vitro organ‐bath physiological contractility studies, and for mRNA and protein analyses of major S1P/ROK pathway constituents via real‐time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. In addition, early‐passage SM cells were transfected with recombinant sphingosine kinase (SPHK, the enzyme that converts sphingosine to S1P).RESULTSBladders from PUO rats had greater mRNA expression of the S1P2 and S1P3 receptors, as well as SPHK1, than the sham controls (4.78, 2.04 and 2.72 times, respectively). PUO rats also had significantly greater expression of RhoA and ROKα (1.76 and 2.19 times, respectively). Western blotting and organ‐bath contractility studies showed similar changes at the protein and in vitro functional level, with an increased contractility of bladder strips from PUO rats to exogenous S1P. Transfection of SPHK into isolated SM cells increased ROK expression.CONCLUSIONSWe show for the first time that the S1P signalling pathway is significantly upregulated in response to PUO in male rats at both the molecular and in vitro functional levels, correlating with an activation of the RhoA/ROK pathway. Further, we provide novel data that SPHK overexpression increases ROK expression in vitro, suggesting a novel hypothesis of S1P‐induced bladder overactivity in the mechanism for PUO‐induced bladder dysfunction and the S1P signalling pathway as a possible therapeutic target for bladder overactivity.
TORTURE WARRANTS AND DEMOCRATIC STATES: Dirty Hands in an Age of Terror
Authors: Lauritzen Paul 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTIn the aftermath of September 11, 2001, policy makers and others have debated the question of whether or not the United States should torture in an effort to prevent terrorist attacks. In a series of controversial essays, the legal theorist Alan Dershowitz argues that, if a democratic society is going to torture, it should at least be done under the cover of law. To that end, he recommends establishing a legal mechanism by which a judge could issue torture warrants—much as they do now for search warrants. In this essay, I examine Dershowitz's proposal in light of Michael Walzer's classic essay on dirty hands. Just as Walzer uses political theater as a lens for viewing the issue of political assassination, I similarly draw upon a dramatic response to Dershowitz's proposal to think through the issue of torture warrants.
Benchmark Bonds Interactions under Regime Shifts
Authors: Georgoutsos Dimitris A. , Migiakis Petros M. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractIn the present paper we examine the interactions among five benchmark ten year government bonds, namely those of the USA, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands. Our aim is to illustrate empirically a net of interactions existing among the major bond markets of Europe and the US market taking into account shifts in the underlying stochastic processes. For this purpose, differing from the rest of the relevant empirical literature, after specifying the long run equilibrium relations we estimate the linkages between the bond markets as subject to hidden Markov chains, by applying the Markov Switching Vector Error Correction framework (MS‐VECM). This formulation is found to efficiently reflect the shifts brought about by significant economic events, such as the European monetary unification. As a result we illustrate different short‐run relations referring to the periods before and after the monetary union. Overall, our empirical results indicate that stronger interactions among the markets of the system exist in the period after the EMU. Also, by means of a variance decomposition analysis we assess leader‐follower relations which indicate that the benchmark status of bonds has changed since the introduction of the common monetary policy framework in Europe.
Against Posthumous Rights
Authors: WINTER STEPHEN 
Published: January 2010

abstractA number of prominent nonconsequentialists support the thesis that we can wrong the dead by violating their moral claims. In contrast, this study suggests that the arguments offered by Thomson, Scanlon, Dworkin, Feinberg and others do not warrant posthumous rights because having claim‐grounding interests requires an entity to have the capacity to experience significance. If dead people don't have this capacity, there is no reason to attribute claims to them. Raising doubts about prominent hypothetical examples of ‘no‐effect injury’, the study concludes that nonconsequentialists should consider adopting an error theory regarding posthumous claims, and suggests two alternative explanations of the relevant moral domains.
Human in vivo study of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system and the sympathetic activity after 8 weeks daily intake of fermented milk
Authors: Usinger Lotte , Ibsen Hans , Linneberg Allan , Azizi Michel , Flambard Bénédicte , Jensen Lars T. 
Published: January 2010

SummaryObjective:  Milk fermented by lactic acid bacteria is suggested to have antihypertensive effect in humans. In vitro and animal studies have established an angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor effect of peptides in fermented milk. However, other modes of action must be considered, because until today no human studies have confirmed an ACE inhibition in relation to the intake of fermented milk.Materials and methods:  We undertook a double‐blinded randomized placebo‐controlled study including 94 borderline‐hypertensive persons to study the effect on human physiology of Lactobacillus helveticus fermented milk. The subjects were randomized into three groups: Cardi04‐300 ml, Cardi04‐150 ml or placebo. All components of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system were measured several times. Sympathetic activity was estimated by plasma noradrenaline and cardiovascular response to head‐up tilt at baseline and after 8 weeks of intervention.Results:  No ACE inhibition of the fermented milk was demonstrated, as none of the components of the renin–angiotensin–aldosteron system changed. Plasma noradrenaline response to tilt test after intervention stayed unchanged between groups (P = 0·38), but declined in the group Cardi04‐300 from 2·01 ± 0·93 nmol l−1 at baseline to 1·49 ± 0·74 nmol l−1 after 8 weeks (P = 0·002). There was no change in 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure or heart rate between groups.Conclusions:  Despite a known ACE inhibitory effect in vitro and in animals, milk fermented with Lb. helveticus did not inhibit ACE in humans. Our results suggest that the intake of fermented milk decreases sympathetic activity, although not to an extent mediating reductions of blood pressure and heart rate in borderline‐hypertensive subjects.
Nitric oxide donor trans‐[RuCl([15]aneN4)NO]2+ as a possible therapeutic approach for Chagas' disease
Authors: Guedes Paulo MM , Oliveira Fabiana S , Gutierrez Fredy RS , da Silva Grace Kelly , Rodrigues Gerson Jhonatan , Bendhack Lusiane Maria , Franco Douglas W , Do Valle Matta Maria A , Zamboni Dario S , da Silva Roberto Santana , Silva João Santana 
Published: January 2010

Background and purpose:  Benznidazole (Bz) is the therapy currently available for clinical treatment of Chagas' disease. However, many strains of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites are naturally resistant. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by activated macrophages is crucial to the intracellular killing of parasites. Here, we investigate the in vitro and in vivo activities against T. cruzi, of the NO donor, trans‐[RuCl([15]aneN4)NO]2+.Experimental approach:  Trans‐[RuCl([15]aneN4)NO]2+was incubated with a partially drug‐resistant T. cruzi Y strain and the anti‐proliferative (epimastigote form) and trypanocidal activities (trypomastigote and amastigote) evaluated. Mice were treated during the acute phase of Chagas' disease. The anti‐T. cruzi activity was evaluated by parasitaemia, survival rate, cardiac parasitism, myocarditis and the curative rate.Key results:  Trans‐[RuCl([15]aneN4)NO]2+ was 10‐ and 100‐fold more active than Bz against amastigotes and trypomastigotes respectively. Further, trans‐[RuCl([15]aneN4)NO]2+ (0.1 mM) induced 100% of trypanocidal activity (trypomastigotes forms) in vitro. Trans‐[RuCl([15]aneN4)NO]2+ induced permanent suppression of parasitaemia and 100% survival in a murine model of acute Chagas' disease. When the drugs were given alone, parasitological cures were confirmed in only 30 and 40% of the animals treated with the NO donor (3.33 µmol·kg−1·day−1) and Bz (385 µmol·kg−1·day−1), respectively, but when given together, 80% of the animals were parasitologically cured. The cured animals showed an absence of myocarditis and a normalisation of cytokine production in the sera. In addition, no in vitro toxicity was observed at the tested doses.Conclusions and implications:  These findings indicate that trans‐[RuCl([15]aneN4)NO]2+is a promising lead compound for the treatment of human Chagas' disease.This article is commented on by Machado et al., pp. 258–259 of this issue. To view this commentary visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2010.00662.x and to view a related paper in this issue by Silva et al. visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1476‐5381.2010.00524.x
Lacosamide as adjunctive therapy for partial‐onset seizures: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chung Steve , Sperling Michael R. , Biton Victor , Krauss Gregory , Hebert David , Rudd G. David , Doty Pamela ,   on behalf of the SP754 Study Group
Published: January 2010

SummaryPurpose:  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lacosamide (400 and 600 mg/day) as adjunctive treatment in patients with uncontrolled partial‐onset seizures taking one to three concomitant antiepileptic drugs (AEDs).Methods:  This multicenter, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial randomized patients 1:2:1 to placebo, lacosamide 400 mg, or lacosamide 600 mg/day. After an 8‐week baseline period, patients began treatment with placebo or lacosamide 100 mg/day, were force‐titrated weekly (100 mg/day increments) to the target dose, and entered a 12‐week maintenance period.Results:  A total of 405 patients were randomized and received trial medication. Most (82.1%) were taking two to three concomitant AEDs. Median percent reductions in seizure frequency per 28 days from baseline to maintenance (intention‐to‐treat, ITT) were 37.3% for lacosamide 400 mg/day (p = 0.008) and 37.8% for lacosamide 600 mg/day (p = 0.006) compared to 20.8% for placebo, with responder rates of 38.3% and 41.2%, respectively, compared to placebo (18.3%, p < 0.001; ITT). Patients randomized to lacosamide showed large reductions in secondarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures, with median percent reductions in seizure frequency of 59.4% for lacosamide 400 mg/day and 93.0% for lacosamide 600 mg/day compared to 14.3% for placebo, and responder rates of 56.0% and 70.2% compared to placebo (33.3%). Dose‐related adverse events included dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.Discussion:  Adjunctive treatment with lacosamide 400 and 600 mg/day reduced seizure frequency for patients with uncontrolled partial‐onset seizures. Lacosamide 400 mg/day provided a good balance of efficacy and tolerability; lacosamide 600 mg/day may provide additional benefit for some patients as suggested by secondary efficacy analyses, including response in patients with secondarily generalized tonic–clonic seizures.
The Impacts of Household Consumption and Options for Change
Authors: Tukker Arnold , Cohen Maurie J. , Hubacek Klaus , Mont Oksana 
Published: January 2010

SummaryThis introductory article situates the contributions that comprise this special issue within the field of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) studies. After a brief review of the policy history surrounding SCP, we organize our discussion and the subsequent collection of articles into two groups. The first suite of articles views the environmental impacts associated with household consumption from the perspectives of different consumer groups, income levels, and geographic areas. This work confirms and refines several insights that have been developing over the past several years, namely that food and beverages, mobility, housing, and energy‐using products are the most critical consumption domains from the standpoint of environmental sustainability and that higher household income leads to greater (but less than proportional) impacts. The second subset of articles analyzes the potential for mitigating these impacts through behavioral changes and innovation strategies. Although the contributions to this special issue describe several noteworthy examples of information‐ and team‐based initiatives to catalyze behavioral changes, the state of knowledge pertaining to this aspect of the consumption problem is much more inchoate. Research on the formulation and implementation of effective “change management for sustainable consumption” should be treated as an area of priority attention for industrial ecologists.
Association Between Fitness and Changes in Body Composition and Muscle Strength
Authors: Koster Annemarie , Visser Marjolein , Simonsick Eleanor M. , Yu Binging , Allison David B. , Newman Anne B. , van Eijk Jacques Th. M. , Schwartz Ann V. , Satterfield Suzanne , Harris Tamara B. ,   for the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study
Published: January 2010

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between physical fitness, assessed according to ability and time to complete a 400‐m walk, on changes in body composition and muscle strength over a 7‐year period.DESIGN: Prospective observational cohort study.SETTING: Memphis, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand nine hundred forty‐nine black and white men and women aged 70 to 79 participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study.MEASUREMENTS: Body composition (fat and bone‐free lean mass) was assessed using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry in Years 1 to 6 and 8. Knee extension strength was measured using isokinetic dynamometry and grip strength using isometric dynamometry in Years 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8.RESULTS: Less fit people weighed more and had a higher total percentage of fat and a lower total percentage of lean mass than very fit men and women at baseline (P<.001). Additionally, the least fit lost significantly more weight, fat mass, and lean mass over time than the very fit (all P<.01). Very fit people had the highest grip strength and knee extensor strength at baseline and follow‐up; decline in muscle strength was similar in every fitness group.CONCLUSION: Low fitness in old age was associated with greater weight loss and loss of lean mass than with high fitness. Despite having lower muscle strength, the rate of decline in the least fit persons was similar to that in the most fit. In clinical practice, a long‐distance walk test as a measure of fitness might be useful to identify people at risk for these adverse health outcomes.
A New Diagnosis Grouping System for Child Emergency Department Visits
Authors: Alessandrini Evaline A. , Alpern Elizabeth R. , Chamberlain James M. , Shea Judy A. , Gorelick Marc H. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractObjectives: A clinically sensible system of grouping diseases is needed for describing pediatric emergency diagnoses for research and reporting. This project aimed to create an International Classification of Diseases (ICD)‐based diagnosis grouping system (DGS) for child emergency department (ED) visits that is 1) clinically sensible with regard to how diagnoses are grouped and 2) comprehensive in accounting for nearly all diagnoses (>95%). The second objective was to assess the construct validity of the DGS by examining variation in the frequency of targeted groups of diagnoses within the concepts of season, age, sex, and hospital type.Methods: A panel of general and pediatric emergency physicians used the nominal group technique and Delphi surveys to create the DGS. The primary data source used to develop the DGS was the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) Core Data Project (PCDP).Results: A total of 3,041 ICD‐9 codes, accounting for 98.9% of all diagnoses in the PCDP, served as the basis for creation of the DGS. The expert panel developed a DGS framework representing a clinical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric emergency patients. The resulting DGS has 21 major groups and 77 subgroups and accounts for 96.5% to 99% of diagnoses when applied to three external data sets. Variations in the frequency of targeted groups of diagnoses related to seasonality, age, sex, and site of care confirm construct validity.Conclusions: The DGS offers a clinically sensible method for describing pediatric ED visits by grouping ICD‐9 codes in a consensus‐derived classification scheme. This system may be used for research, reporting, needs assessment, and resource planning.ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:204–213 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
A Prospective Case Series of Pediatric Procedural Sedation and Analgesia in the Emergency Department Using Single‐syringe Ketamine–Propofol Combination (Ketofol)
Authors: Andolfatto Gary , Willman Elaine 
Published: January 2010

AbstractObjectives:  This study evaluated the effectiveness, recovery time, and adverse event profile of intravenous (IV) ketofol (mixed 1:1 ketamine–propofol) for emergency department (ED) procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) in children.Methods:  Prospective data were collected on all PSA events in a trauma‐receiving, community teaching hospital over a 3.5‐year period, from which data on all patients under 21 years of age were studied. Patients receiving a single‐syringe 1:1 mixture of 10 mg/mL ketamine and 10 mg/mL propofol (ketofol) were analyzed. Patients received ketofol in titrated aliquots at the discretion of the treating physician. Effectiveness, recovery time, caregiver and patient satisfaction, drug doses, physiologic data, and adverse events were recorded.Results:  Ketofol PSA was performed in 219 patients with a median age of 13 years (range = 1 to 20 years; interquartile range [IQR] = 8 to 16 years) for primarily orthopedic procedures. The median dose of medication administered was 0.8 mg/kg each of ketamine and propofol (range = 0.2 to 3.0 mg/kg; IQR = 0.7 to 1.0 mg/kg). Sedation was effective in all patients. Three patients (1.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.0% to 3.0%) had airway events requiring intervention, of which one (0.4%; 95% CI = 0.0% to 1.2%) required positive pressure ventilation. Two patients (0.9%; 95% CI = 0.0% to 2.2%) had unpleasant emergence requiring treatment. All other adverse events were minor. Median recovery time was 14 minutes (range = 3 to 41 minutes; IQR = 11 to 18 minutes). Median staff satisfaction was 10 on a 1‐to‐10 scale.Conclusions:  Pediatric PSA using ketofol is highly effective. Recovery times were short; adverse events were few; and patients, caregivers, and staff were highly satisfied.ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:194–201 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Validation of Length of Hospital Stay as a Surrogate Measure for Injury Severity and Resource Use Among Injury Survivors
Authors: Newgard Craig D. , Fleischman Ross , Choo Esther , John Ma O. , Hedges Jerris R. , John McConnell K. 
Published: January 2010

AbstractObjectives:  While hospital length of stay (LOS) has been used as a surrogate injury outcome when more detailed outcomes are unavailable, it has not been validated. This project sought to validate LOS as a proxy measure of injury severity and resource use in heterogeneous injury populations.Methods:  This observational study used four retrospective cohorts: patients presenting to 339 California emergency departments (EDs) with a primary International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD‐9), injury diagnosis (years 2005–2006); California hospital injury admissions (a subset of the ED population); trauma patients presenting to 48 Oregon EDs (years 1998–2003); and injured Medicare patients admitted to 171 Oregon and Washington hospitals (years 2001–2002). In‐hospital deaths were excluded, as they represent adverse outcomes regardless of LOS. Duration of hospital stay was defined as the number of days from ED admission to hospital discharge. The primary composite outcome (dichotomous) was serious injury (Injury Severity Score [ISS] ≥ 16 or ICD‐9 ISS ≤ 0.90) or resource use (major surgery, blood transfusion, or prolonged ventilation). The discriminatory accuracy of LOS for identifying the composite outcome was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Analyses were also stratified by age (0–14, 15–64, and ≥65 years), hospital type, and hospital annual admission volume.Results:  The four cohorts included 3,989,409 California ED injury visits (including admissions), 236,639 California injury admissions, 23,817 Oregon trauma patients, and 30,804 Medicare injury admissions. Composite outcome rates for the four cohorts were 2.1%, 29%, 27%, and 22%, respectively. Areas under the ROC curves for overall LOS were 0.88 (California ED), 0.74 (California admissions), 0.82 (Oregon trauma patients), and 0.68 (Medicare patients). In general, the discriminatory value of LOS was highest among children, tertiary trauma centers, and higher volume hospitals, although this finding differed by the injury population and outcome assessed.Conclusions:  Hospital LOS may be a reasonable proxy for serious injury and resource use among injury survivors when more detailed outcomes are unavailable, although the discriminatory value differs by age and the injury population being studied.ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:142–150 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Anterior Provisional Restorations Used to Determine Form, Function, and Esthetics for Complex Restorative Situations, Using All‐Ceramic Restorative Systems
Authors: RESHAD MAMALY , CASCIONE DOMENICO , KIM TAE 
Published: January 2010

ABSTRACTA technique is proposed for the restoration of a large and visible maxillary anterior defect. The importance of proper diagnosis, treatment planning, and communication is emphasized. Irreversible treatment should only be rendered once patient approval has been obtained through objective evaluation with provisional restorations. The techniques presented in this article use a combination of ceramic systems currently available to satisfy functional demands while achieving acceptable esthetics. A controlled series of steps, where the provisional restorative components are being replaced by the definitive ones is planned. The only difference between the provisional and definitive restorative components is the material used. The definitive restorations consisted of an implant‐supported zirconium oxide framework. Individual pressed porcelain restorations were luted to the framework and a natural tooth.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEProvisional restorations allow an objective form of communication. Vertical and horizontal transitional lines can be effectively masked with appropriate treatment planning and a skilled ceramist. Many traditional dental laboratory steps may be eliminated or simplified without compromising the definitive restorations.(J Esthet Restor Dent 22:7–17, 2010)