bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Utility of preoperative chemoradiotherapy for advanced esophageal carcinoma
Authors: Kuroda Junko , Yoshida Masashi , Kitajima Masaki , Yanagisawa Akio , Matsubara Toshiki , Yamaguchi Toshiharu , Osamura Yoshiyuki , Ohta Keiichirou , Kubota Keisuke , Beck Yoshifumi , Yamashita Yuichi 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground and Aims:  The most effective treatment would be neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) plus surgery with three‐field lymphadenectomy, if tolerability and complications are acceptable. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the tolerability of NACRT+ systematic three‐field lymphadenectomy.Methods:  A total of 127 cases of advanced esophageal carcinoma were objected, among which 32 had NACRT, being the cases suspected to cT3–T4 or, < cT3 with multiple lymph node metastasis. ≧ T2 of 95 cases were treated by surgery alone (NACRT [−] case). The effect of NACRT was evaluated by histological examination and corrected with the clinicopathologic factors, including postoperative prognosis. After reports JCOG9907, we treated eight cases with neoadjuvant chemotherapy at stages II and III. We examined Musashi‐1 staining for these eight cases.Results:  Histological good response to NACRT group showed good prognosis. Lymph node metastasis is a predictive factor for prognosis. In this additional study, Musashi‐1 was positive after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in three cases. The histological response was grade 1 in all of them and recurrence was observed within a short period of time. Two cases of grade 3 were negative staining to Musashi‐1 and showed no recurrence.Conclusions:  This study shows that NACRT plus surgery with three‐field lymphadenectomy is a feasible therapeutic approach for the cases with multiple lymph node metastases. Prognosis was significantly better in cases with marked histological improvement. It is important to find the predictive factors of histological improvement. Musashi‐1 might be a candidate maker for histological response and prognosis, and further studies are needed to prove it.
Endoscopic characteristics of short‐segment Barrett's esophagus, focusing on squamous islands and mucosal folds
Authors: Ishimura Norihisa , Amano Yuji , Uno Goichi , Yuki Takafumi , Ishihara Shunji , Kinoshita Yoshikazu 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Endoscopic definitions of Barrett's esophagus (BE) vary among countries, mainly because of the difficulty in diagnosing short‐segment BE (SSBE) endoscopically. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the endoscopic identification of squamous islands and the specific position of columnar epithelium helps improve the diagnosis of SSBE.Methods:  First, we prospectively enrolled 100 consecutive patients with SSBE and evaluated the number of identified squamous islands in the columnar epithelium with different modalities: white light (WL), narrow band imaging (NBI), and iodine chromoendoscopy. Second, in another group of 100 consecutive patients with tongue‐like SSBE, the correlation of the location of Barrett's mucosa to the esophageal longitudinal folds (ridge or valley) was evaluated endoscopically.Results:  It was possible to detect squamous islands in 48, 71, and 75 patients by WL, NBI, and iodine chromoendoscopy, respectively. The detection rate of squamous islands by NBI or iodine chromoendoscopy was significantly superior to that by WL. Tongue‐like SSBEs were predominantly found on the ridge of mucosal folds (71%), similar to the location of mucosal breaks (84%).Conclusions:  Squamous islands in the columnar epithelium were efficiently observed by NBI or iodine chromoendoscopy. SSBE was found more frequently on the ridges but not in the valleys of esophageal longitudinal mucosal folds. NBI endoscopic observation focusing on columnar epithelium with squamous islands on the ridges of distal esophageal folds may improve endoscopic detection of SSBE.
Genomic copy number of a carcinogenic single nucleotide polymorphism at 8q24 in non‐risk allele colorectal cancer associated with insulin growth factor 2 receptor expression
Authors: Takahashi Yusuke , Mimori Koshi , Yamamoto Ken , Watanabe Masahiko , Tanaka Jun‐Ichi , Kudo Shin‐Ei , Sugihara Ken‐Ichi , Hase Kazuo , Mochizuki Hidetaka , Kusunoki Masato , Yamada Kazutaka , Shimada Yasuhiro , Moriya Yoshihiro , Mori Masaki 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The incidence of both diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia is increasing and they are risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC). On the other hand, the carcinogenic significance of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs6983267 at 8q24, in CRC has been reported. The association between the SNP genotype and genes associated with diabetes or hyperlipidemia was investigated in cases of CRC.Methods:  In 107 cases of CRC diagnosed in eight institutes from 2003 to 2008, array‐CGH and cDNA microarray was performed and the data analyzed from two groups subdivided according to SNP genotype.Results:  In the array‐CGH data, we selected 38 genes related to diabetes or fat metabolism, and of these 10 had a correlation coefficient between the genome copy number at 8q24 locus and that of each gene. Of the 10 genes, insulin growth factor 2 receptor (IGF2R) was the only one with an expression level significantly associated with the 8q24 genotype. IGF2R expression was significantly lower in non‐risk allele than in risk allele cases (P = 0.012). There was neither a diabetes‐ nor a fat metabolism‐related gene that was significantly associated with CRC cases with the risk allele at 8q24.Conclusions:  SNP at 8q24 makes diabetes a risk factor of CRC via IGF2R, especially in genetically non‐risk allele cases. We speculate that the risk allele of 8q24 might be risky enough that diabetes is not necessary to worsen the risk for CRC.
Intestinal cancers occurring in patients with Crohn's disease
Authors: Kamiya Toru , Ando Takafumi , Ishiguro Kazuhiro , Maeda Osamu , Watanabe Osamu , Hibi Satoshi , Mimura Shunya , Ujihara Masaki , Hirayama Yutaka , Nakamura Masanao , Miyahara Ryoji , Ohmiya Naoki , Goto Hidemi 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground and Aims:  The number of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and the number of cases of intestinal cancer associated with CD have both been increasing in Japan. However, the number of reported cases is lower than for ulcerative colitis‐associated cancer. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical picture of CD‐associated intestinal cancer in a consecutive series of patients with CD and to stress the importance of surveillance.Methods:  We enrolled 174 consecutive patients (130 men, 44 women, mean age 25 years) diagnosed with CD and investigated the development of intestinal cancer from October 1998 to July 2010. There were 104 cases of the ileocolitis type, 47 of ileitis, and 23 of colitis.Results:  Intestinal cancer developed in two male patients (1.5% of the total), whose respective ages at onset of CD were 41 and 19 years, and 55 and 37 years at onset of cancer. Both cases were of ileocolitis‐type CD; one cancer developed in the rectum and the other in the small bowel, and both were accompanied by severe stricture. Histopathological results revealed well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, respectively.Conclusions:  Intestinal cancer developed in patients with ileocolitis‐type CD of more than 10 years' duration. Our findings suggest that patients with chronic, widespread CD should be under cancer surveillance.
Association of prostate‐specific antigen doubling time and cancer in men undergoing repeat prostate biopsy
Authors: Moreira Daniel M , Gerber Leah , Thomas Jean‐Alfred , Bañez Lionel L , McKeever Madeline G , Freedland Stephen J 
Published: April 2012

Objectives:  To analyze the association between prostate‐specific antigen doubling time with prostate cancer risk and grade among men with prostate‐specific antigen levels ≥4.0 ng/mL undergoing repeat prostate biopsy.Methods:  A total of 286 patients with prostate‐specific antigen ≥4 ng/mL and available prostate‐specific antigen doubling time data, who underwent repeat prostate biopsy from 1996–2009, were included in this analysis. Prostate‐specific antigen doubling time was divided into three groups: >9 years, 3–9 years and <3 years. Multivariate analyses of prostate‐specific antigen doubling time with cancer risk and grade (≤3 + 4 vs≥4 + 3) were carried out using logistic regression adjusting for prebiopsy prostate‐specific antigen, race, age, digital rectal examination, year of biopsy and number of prior negative biopsies.Results:  The median prostate‐specific antigen doubling time before biopsy was 4.5 years (interquartile range = 2.5–10). Shorter prostate‐specific antigen doubling time was associated with higher prostate‐specific antigen (P < 0.001), but it was unrelated to age, digital rectal examination or race. Shorter prostate‐specific antigen doubling time as a continuous variable was associated with greater prostate cancer risk in both uni‐ (hazard ratio = 0.99, 95% confidence interval = 0.98–0.99, P = 0.001) and multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 0.99, 95% confidence interval = 0.98–0.99, P = 0.004). The prevalence of cancer among prostate‐specific antigen doubling time groups (>9, 3–9, <3 years) was 17%, 37% and 40%, respectively. Shorter prostate‐specific antigen doubling time groups were associated with higher cancer risk (P = 0.001). Stratified by grade, short prostate‐specific antigen doubling time as a continuous variable significantly predicted both low‐ (P = 0.010) and high‐grade disease (P = 0.049). The inclusion of prostate‐specific antigen doubling time groups in a multivariate model to predict biopsy positivity increased its accuracy from 0.69 to 0.74.Conclusion:  Prostate‐specific antigen doubling time seems to provide further cancer risk assessment in men undergoing repeat biopsy for prostate‐specific antigen ≥4.0 ng/mL. If validated in future studies, the present findings support the use of prostate‐specific antigen doubling time in the risk stratification of this patient population.
Unmet needs of people with end‐stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: recommendations for change in Australia
Authors: Crawford G. B. , Brooksbank M. A. , Brown M. , Burgess T. A. , Young M. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasing cause of mortality. However, people with COPD are unlikely to receive care that meets the needs of themselves or their carers at the end of life.AimsTo explore the needs of people with end‐stage COPD in South Australia and develop recommendations for a model of care.MethodsThree related studies were undertaken: in Study 1, 15 people with advanced COPD and their carers were interviewed twice, 6 months apart; Study 2 investigated views of an Expert Panel and Study 3 conducted focus groups and interviews with service providers and community groups to examine service availability and accessibility.ResultsThis project demonstrated that the needs of people with COPD are not being met. There was an absence of a coordinated pathway for support. Care was fragmented, episodic and reactive. The role of carers was poorly recognised. Health professionals identified the lack of a clear transition to an end‐stage and significant barriers to obtaining support for activities of daily living. Communication issues were identified in all studies, including the absence of advance care planning conversations.ConclusionsA flexible model of care is needed that assists people with COPD to navigate the health system. This should be patient centred and coordinated across primary, acute and community sectors. Neither respiratory nor palliative care services alone can adequately support people with COPD. The integration of a multidisciplinary palliative approach within a chronic disease management strategy will be central for the best care for people living with advanced COPD.
Dialysis in public and private hospitals in Queensland
Authors: Gray N. A. , Dent H. , McDonald S. P. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractBackground:  Clinical outcomes for patients treated in public and private hospitals may be different.Aim:  The aim of the study was to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving dialysis at public and private hospitals in Queensland.Methods:  Incident adult dialysis patients in Queensland registered with the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry between 1999 and 2009 were classified by dialysis modality at either a public or private hospital. Outcomes were dialysis patient characteristics and survival.Results:  Three thousand, three hundred and ten patients commenced dialysis in public hospitals, 1939 haemodialysis (HD) and 1371 peritoneal dialysis (PD). Seven hundred and ninety‐three patients commenced dialysis in private hospitals, 757 HD and 36 PD. Compared with public HD, private HD patients were older, had more coronary artery disease and less diabetes, and were more likely to live in an urban area. Public HD patients were more likely to be obese and referred late to a nephrologist. Nearly all indigenous patients were managed in public hospitals. Private patients were more likely to have an arteriovenous fistula or graft at first HD (P < 0.001) but not after excluding late referrals (P = 0.09). Public hospitals provided longer HD sessions and more HD hours per week for all age groups except 75+ years. Compared with public hospital HD, patient survival adjusted for multiple variables was comparable for private hospital HD (hazard ratio 1.20 (95% confidence interval 0.98–1.46, P = 0.07)) but worse for public PD (hazard ratio 1.14 (95% confidence interval 1.05–1.24, P = 0.002)).Conclusion:  Private HD patients are older and less likely to be diabetic than public patients. Patient survival is worse for public PD than public HD.
Habits, action sequences and reinforcement learning
Authors: Dezfouli Amir , Balleine Bernard W. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIt is now widely accepted that instrumental actions can be either goal‐directed or habitual; whereas the former are rapidly acquired and regulated by their outcome, the latter are reflexive, elicited by antecedent stimuli rather than their consequences. Model‐based reinforcement learning (RL) provides an elegant description of goal‐directed action. Through exposure to states, actions and rewards, the agent rapidly constructs a model of the world and can choose an appropriate action based on quite abstract changes in environmental and evaluative demands. This model is powerful but has a problem explaining the development of habitual actions. To account for habits, theorists have argued that another action controller is required, called model‐free RL, that does not form a model of the world but rather caches action values within states allowing a state to select an action based on its reward history rather than its consequences. Nevertheless, there are persistent problems with important predictions from the model; most notably the failure of model‐free RL correctly to predict the insensitivity of habitual actions to changes in the action–reward contingency. Here, we suggest that introducing model‐free RL in instrumental conditioning is unnecessary, and demonstrate that reconceptualizing habits as action sequences allows model‐based RL to be applied to both goal‐directed and habitual actions in a manner consistent with what real animals do. This approach has significant implications for the way habits are currently investigated and generates new experimental predictions.
CT evaluation for ‘quiescent’ herniation following closure of diverting loop ileostomy
Authors: Saeed Z. M. , Lloyd‐Evans J. , Reid T. D. , Williams R. , Robinson M. , Williams G. L. , Stephenson B. M. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAim  The prevalence of abdominal wall herniation at the site of a previous temporary stoma is uncertain. This cohort study investigated the frequency of radiological abnormalities at the site of a closed diverting loop ileostomy.Method  All patients in whom an ileostomy was raised and later closed during a 5‐year period formed the study group. When colorectal cancer surveillance computed tomography (CT) was undertaken the images were scrutinized and graded as to defined anatomical abnormalities.Results  One hundred and seventy‐nine patients had an ileostomy, of which 92 were diverting. Fifty‐nine (64%) were closed at various intervals (median time to closure 6 (2–22) months and 43 underwent a surveillance CT at 1–3 (median 2) years. At 1 year an abnormality (atrophy or defect) at the site of closure was seen in 16 (37%) CT scans. These were more frequent with increasing duration of follow‐up. One asymptomatic hernia was detected at 2 years but there was no deterioration in the abdominal wall at 3 years when compared with that at 2 years.Conclusion  Abnormalities in the abdominal wall at the site of a closed diverting ileostomy are common but true herniation is unusual. The routine use of prophylactic mesh at ileostomy closure may be unnecessary.
Chongqing: Beyond the latecomer advantage 重庆：超越后发优势
Authors: Cai 蔡建明 Jianming , Yang 杨振山 Zhenshan , Webster Douglas , Song 宋涛 Tao , Gulbrandson Andrew 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe spectacular growth of Chinese cities since the 1980s is often theorised as reflecting the advantages of latecomer development (ALD). ALD has been more effective in cosmopolitan, globally accessible coastal cities than outer cities. As leading cities, like Shanghai, close the development gap, the potential for ‘easy’ ALD growth falls off rapidly. Because institution building is more difficult than firm‐based growth, ALD strategies may generate rapid short‐term economic growth but not sustainable development. Accordingly, Chongqing municipality, with a population of 33 million, in West China, is pursuing a beyond latecomer advantage model. This is characterised by: (i) reducing poverty and rural‐urban disparity through accelerated urbanisation, rural‐urban integration and emphasising human resource development; (ii) upgrading the value added of Chongqing's economy through targeting of FDI and incentives to local start‐ups; (iii) endogenous development, reducing risks from external shocks; (iv) Hukou reform; (v) establishing a land use conversion certificate market to rationalise land use; (vi) emphasis on morality to address crime/corruption; (vii) recognition of the importance of amenity in attracting investment and talent; and (viii) establishing a longer developmental time perspective. This paper explores this Chongqing model in detail.摘要中国自20世纪80年代以来所取得的辉煌经济增长，在很大程度上是基于其引进外资和利用后发优势来实现的。而后发优势的推进，在国际化大都市和那些拥有全球通达性的沿海城市会更为有效。作为先锋性城市，如上海等，随着与全球城市发展的差距日益缩小，“易于”实现后发优势的潜力就会迅速消失，这是因为制度建设要比以企业为基础的经济增长更难推进，因此后发优势或许能带来快速的短期经济增长，但并不能带来当然的可持续发展。有鉴于此，重庆市，这座拥有3300万人口的中国西部城市，正在寻找一条“超越后发优势”的发展道路。这一模式目前正在成长中，表现出如下特征：（1）通过加快城市化进程、城乡融合发展和强调人力资本开发，减少贫困和城乡差别；（2）通过引进外资和刺激本地企业创业，提升重庆市的经济附加值；（3）通过内生性发展，减少外部动荡所引起的风险；（4）通过农村集体土地资产的创新性盘活，有效地进行户籍改革；（5）通过建立土地市场的流转证制度，优化城乡土地的利用效率；（6）通过强调道德建设和反腐倡廉以及强有力的打击犯罪，提升全体市民的向心力和士气；（7）通过强调环境质量在吸引投资和人才方面的重要作用，加快外向型和宜居型城市的发展步伐；（8）通过建立公务员服务质量评价体系，倡导长期发展观，以推进经济社会发展的持续平衡性。
COMPETITIVENESS AND STABILITY OF COLLUSIVE BEHAVIOR
Authors: Matsumura Toshihiro , Matsushima Noriaki 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTWe investigate the relationship between the degree of competition and the stability of collusive behaviour, by introducing the element of relative performance in the objective functions of the firms. We show that an increase in the degree of competition destabilizes the collusion. This relation differs starkly in the standard symmetric Cournot and Bertrand duopoly models, with the former being more unstable than the latter.
From Farming to Development: Urban Coalitions in Pune, India
Authors: SAMI NEHA 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIn an increasingly global India, an agricultural community in Pune, Maharashtra was faced with losing farmland to urbanization and devised an unusual solution. Pooling their land together, these farmers leveraged their social and political networks to take advantage of the changing economic climate in Pune and built a mixed‐use township on their 400 acres of farmland. They formed alliances with other stakeholders, both internally within the agricultural community and externally at the city and state levels. This case study highlights the significance of ad‐hoc coalitions in the power and politics of urban processes in an Indian city. These coalitions have emerged as a result of a political power and leadership vacuum in Indian cities in the face of the changing focus and priorities of national and regional governments as well as a growing gap in urban service provision.RésuméDans une Inde toujours plus mondialisée, une communauté agricole de Pune (Maharashtra) confrontée à la perte de terres cultivées au profit de l'urbanisation a mis au point une solution originale. Réunissant leurs terres, les agriculteurs ont mobilisé leurs réseaux sociaux et politiques pour tirer parti du nouveau climat économique de Pune, créant une commune plurifonctionnelle sur les 160 hectares de leurs terres arables. Ils ont formé des alliances avec d'autres parties prenantes, à la fois au sein de la communauté agricole et aux niveaux de la ville et de l'État. Cette étude de cas souligne l'importance des coalitions ponctuelles dans les structures de pouvoir et les politiques des processus urbains en Inde. Dans les villes indiennes, ces coalitions sont nées d'une vacance du pouvoir politique et des responsables face à l'évolution des centres d'intérêt et des priorités des gouvernements national et régionaux, ainsi que des insuffisances croissantes dans la fourniture des services urbains.
Are we reaching them yet? Service access patterns among attendees at the headspace youth mental health initiative
Authors: Patulny Roger , Muir Kristy , Powell Abigail , Flaxman Saul , Oprea Ioana 
Published: April 2012

BackgroundAustralian young people have a high prevalence of mental health problems but low rates of service use. This article examines whether the Australian National Youth Mental Health Foundation, headspace, has helped redress this through providing youth‐specific services.MethodThe article compares headspace service use demographics with population data from the Australian Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing from 2007.ResultsHeadspace has improved access relative to the population, particularly among males and socially and economically excluded young people.ConclusionsDespite overall successes, certain ethnic and age groups appear under‐represented and in need of more careful targeting by youth mental health services.
Critical care nurses' perspectives on elder abuse
Authors: Daly Jeanette M , Schmeidel Klein Amy N , Jogerst Gerald J 
Published: April 2012

Aims: To explore through interviews of critical care nurses their perspectives on elder abuse to achieve a better understanding of the problems of reporting and generate ideas for improving the process.Background: In 44 states and the District of Columbia health care providers are required by law to report elder abuse but the patient, patient's family and health care providers all have barriers to reporting allegations of elder abuse. Design: This study design is qualitative.Method: Through a mailed survey, critical care nurses were invited to participate in a taped in‐depth qualitative interview.Results: Ten nurses were interviewed. A thematic analysis was used to describe the following core themes: types of elder abuse, suspicions of elder abuse, reporting of elder abuse, barriers to reporting elder abuse, legislation and improvement in practice.Conclusions: Critical care nurses are aware of elder abuse and somewhat systematically evaluate for abuse at admission to their unit. They recognize signs and symptoms of abuse and are suspicious when it is warranted. They are aware of why an older person does not want to report abuse and take this into consideration when soliciting information. Facts, values and experience influence personally defining abuse, suspicion and dependence for each individual health care professional.Relevance to clinical practice: Critical care unit protocols and/or policies and procedure for reporting elder abuse are needed in critical care settings and are warranted for providing quality of care.