bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of a new refrigerator on the preservation of hepatic grafts
Authors: Kanamoto Mami , Shimada Mitsuo , Utsunomiya Tohru , Imura Satoru , Morine Yuji , Ikemoto Tetsuya , Mori Hiroki , Hanaoka Jun 
Published: February 2012

Aim:  Current medical transplantation methods focus on solutions for major problems such as the shortage of donors. To overcome these issues, expanding organ preservation time has become a major concern. A new refrigerating chamber has been recently developed, which can cool the inside of a material to the required temperature by frequently sensing the temperature of both inside and surface of the materials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of a new refrigerating system in hepatic preservation.Methods:  The liver grafts were harvested from rats and divided into two groups. Group A consisted of grafts preserved in chilled University of Wisconsin solution (UW) solution (on ice) for 24, 72 and 168 h. Group B consisted of grafts preserved in the UW solution in a new refrigerator at 4°C.Results:  In group B, aspartate aminotransferase released into effluent after cold storage for 72 h showed a marked decrease compared to group A (P < 0.05). The levels of ammonia and lactate decreased significantly in group B (P < 0.05). In group B, the levels of adenosine triphosphate were significantly preserved after cold storage for 24 h and 72 h compared to group A (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed positive cells for heme oxygenase‐1 were significantly increased in group B after cold storage.Conclusion:  This new refrigerator can improve preservation injury of hepatic grafts and may provide an innovative technique for liver transplantation.
Modelling dispersal: an eco‐evolutionary framework incorporating emigration, movement, settlement behaviour and the multiple costs involved
Authors: Travis Justin M. J. , Mustin Karen , Bartoń Kamil A. , Benton Tim G. , Clobert Jean , Delgado Maria M. , Dytham Calvin , Hovestadt Thomas , Palmer Stephen C. F. , Van Dyck Hans , Bonte Dries 
Published: February 2012

Summary1. Understanding the causes and consequences of dispersal remains a central topic in ecology and evolution. However, a mismatch exists between our empirical understanding of the complexity of dispersal and our representation of dispersal in models. While the empirical literature is replete with examples of condition dependence at the emigration, movement and settlement phases, models rarely incorporate realism or complexity to this degree. Nor do models often include the different costs associated with dispersal, which can themselves be linked to one or more of the three key phases.2. Here, we propose that by explicitly accounting for emigration, movement and settlement (and the multiple costs associated with each) we can substantially improve our understanding of both the dispersal process itself and how dispersal traits trade off against other life‐history characteristics. We explore some of these issues conceptually, before presenting illustrative results gained from a flexible individual‐based model which incorporates considerable dispersal complexity.3. These results emphasise the nonlinear interplay between the different dispersal stages. For example, we find that investment in movement ability (at a cost to fecundity) depends upon the propensity to emigrate (and vice versa). However, owing to selection acting at the metapopulation level as well as at the individual level, the relationship between the two is not straightforward. Importantly, the shape of the trade‐off between movement ability and reproductive potential can strongly influence the joint evolution of dispersal parameters controlling the degree of investment in safer movement, the probability of emigration and the straightness of movement.4. Our results highlight that the joint evolution of dispersal characteristics can have major implications for spatial population dynamics and we argue that, in addition to increasing our fundamental biological understanding, a new generation of dispersal modelling, which exploits recent empirical advances, can substantially improve our ability to predict and manage the response of species to environmental change.
Workload and its impact on community pharmacists' job satisfaction and stress: a review of the literature
Authors: Lea Victoria M , Corlett Sarah A , Rodgers Ruth M 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Objective
The objective was to identify, review and evaluate published literature on workloads of pharmacists in community pharmacy. It included identification of research involving the measurement of pharmacist workload and its impact on stress levels and job satisfaction. The review focused on literature relating to practice in the UK.

Methods
Electronic databases were searched from 1995 to May 2011. In addition, manual searches were completed for documents not available electronically. The findings were analysed with specific focus on research methodology, workload and its impact on pharmacist job satisfaction and stress levels.

Key findings
Thirteen relevant studies relating to workload in community pharmacy alone or in conjunction with job satisfaction and stress were identified. One utilised both qualitative and quantitative methods to identify differences in pharmacist workload in retail pharmacy businesses before and after the implementation of the 2005 English and Welsh community pharmacy contractual framework. This indicated that pharmacists spend most of their working day dispensing. The majority of studies suggested community pharmacists generally perceived that workload levels were increasing. Several also stated that increased workload contributed to increasing job-related stress and decreasing job satisfaction. No studies reporting dispensing rates for community pharmacies in the UK were identified and there was limited evidence concerning time devoted to non-dispensing services. One study investigated the differences between self-estimated and actual workload.

Conclusions
Whilst there is a clear perception that the type and amount of work output expected from individual community pharmacists has been changing and increasing over the last few decades, pharmacists are viewed as continuing to remain based in the dispensary. The impact of such changes to the practice of community pharmacy in the UK is poorly defined, although links have been made to increasing levels of pharmacist job dissatisfaction and stress.
Positive academic emotions moderate the relationship between self‐regulation and academic achievement
Authors: Villavicencio Felicidad T. , Bernardo Allan B. I. 
Published: February 2012

Background. Research has shown how academic emotions are related to achievement and to cognitive/motivational variables that promote achievement. Mediated models have been proposed to account for the relationships among academic emotions, cognitive/motivational variables, and achievement, and research has supported such mediated models, particularly with negative emotions.Aims. The study tested the hypotheses: (1) self‐regulation and the positive academic emotions of enjoyment and pride are positive predictors of achievement; and (2) enjoyment and pride both moderate the relationship between self‐regulation and achievement.Sample. Participants were 1,345 students enrolled in various trigonometry classes in one university.Methods. Participants answered the Academic Emotions Questionnaire‐Math (Pekrun, Goetz, & Frenzel, 2005) and a self‐regulation scale (Pintrich, Smith, Garcia, & McKeachie, 1991) halfway through their trigonometry class. The students’ final grades in the course were regressed to self‐regulation, positive emotions, and the interaction terms to test the moderation effects.Results and Conclusions. Enjoyment and pride were both positive predictors of grades; more importantly, both moderated the relationship between self‐regulation and grades. For students who report higher levels of both positive emotions, self‐regulation was positively associated with grades. However, for those who report lower levels of pride, self‐regulation was not related to grades; and, for those who reported lower levels of enjoyment, self‐regulation was negatively related to grades. The results are discussed in terms of how positive emotions indicate positive appraisals of task/outcome value, and thus enhance the positive links between cognitive/motivational variables and learning.
Medians and means in Finsler geometry
Authors: Arnaudon Marc , Nielsen Frank 
Published: February 2012

AbstractWe investigate existence and uniqueness of p-means ep and the median e1 of a probability measure μ on a Finsler manifold, in relation with the convexity of the support of μ. We prove that ep is the limit point of a continuous time gradient flow. Under some additional condition which is always satisfied for p≥2, a discretization of this path converges to ep. This provides an algorithm for determining the Finsler center points.
Assessment of adverse events in medical care: lack of consistency between experienced teams using the global trigger tool
Authors: Schildmeijer Kristina , Nilsson Lena , Årestedt Kristofer , Perk Joep 
Published: February 2012

BackgroundMany patients are harmed as the result of healthcare. A retrospective structured record review is one way to identify adverse events (AEs). One such review approach is the global trigger tool (GTT), a consistent and well-developed method used to detect AEs. The GTT was originally intended to be used for measuring data over time within a single organisation. However, as the method spreads, it is likely that comparisons of GTT safety outcomes between hospitals will occur.ObjectiveTo evaluate agreement in judgement of AEs between well-trained GTT teams from different hospitals.MethodsFive teams from five hospitals of different sizes in the southeast of Sweden conducted a retrospective review of patient records from a random sample of 50 admissions between October 2009 and May 2010. Inter-rater reliability between teams was assessed using descriptive and κ statistics.ResultsThe five teams identified 42 different AEs altogether. The number of identified AEs differed between the teams, corresponding to a level of AEs ranging from 27.2 to 99.7 per 1000 hospital days. Pair-wise agreement for detection of AEs ranged from 88% to 96%, with weighted κ values between 0.26 and 0.77. Of the AEs, 29 (69%) were identified by only one team and not by the other four groups. Most AEs resulted in minor and transient harm, the most common being healthcare-associated infections. The level of agreement regarding the potential for prevention showed a large variation between the teams.ConclusionsThe results do not encourage the use of the GTT for making comparisons between hospitals. The use of the GTT to this end would require substantial training to achieve better agreement across reviewer teams.
Accuracy of the initial diagnosis among patients with an acutely altered mental status
Authors: Sporer Karl A , Solares Mariel , Durant Edward J , Wang Wilbur , Wu Alan H B , Rodriguez Robert M 
Published: February 2012

ObjectivesThe objectives of this prospective observational study were to: (1) determine the accuracy of physician diagnosis in patients with an acutely altered mental status (AMS) within the first 20 min of emergency department (ED) presentation; and (2) access if physician confidence in early diagnosis correlates with accuracy of diagnosis.MethodsA prospective observational convenience study was conducted of 112 adult patients who presented to an urban county ED with AMS (Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤14) between August 2008 and July 2009. Within the first 20 min of patient presentation to the ED, treating physicians were asked to record their best diagnostic guess of the cause of the patient's AMS and their confidence in this diagnosis. Serial hourly GCS was performed and the results of all diagnostic testing were recorded. Blinded investigators determined the final consensus diagnostic cause of the patient's AMS.ResultsThe final consensus diagnoses for AMS aetiologies were as follows: isolated alcohol intoxication 31%, other (psychotic episodes, underlying dementia) 21%, combination alcohol/other drug intoxications 18%, isolated other drug intoxications 10%, other metabolic derangements 6%, cerebrovascular accident/transient ischaemic attack 4%, seizures/post-ictal states 4%, traumatic brain injuries 3%, isolated opiate intoxications 2%, isolated benzodiazepine intoxication 1% and septic episode 1%. The emergency physician's initial diagnosis of the AMS patient correlated with the accuracy of the final diagnosis (r2=0.807). The quintiles of confidence of diagnosis were: 0–20% degree of confidence had a 33% diagnostic accuracy, 21–40% had 25% accuracy, 41–60% had 43% accuracy, 61–80% had 52% accuracy and those with 81–100% confidence of initial diagnosis had 78% accuracy. Of the 106 patients with an initial diagnosis, 52 (51%) had a head CT performed, with eight (8%) having an acute abnormality.DiscussionEarly diagnoses of AMS patients are moderately accurate. Few early misdiagnoses of AMS patients were clinically relevant. Physicians' greater degree of confidence in their diagnosis correlated with greater accuracy.
Treatment of vitamin D deficiency: divergence between clinical practice and expert advice
Authors: Findlay Mark , Anderson Julia , Roberts Susan , Almond Alison , Isles Chris 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Background
Current recommendations for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency vary from calciferol 800 IU per day to loading doses of vitamin D followed by maintenance therapy of up to 2000 IU per day.

Objective
To assess the preparations and doses of vitamin D used to load and maintain patients with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) &lt;25 nmol/l.

Methods
We examined all requests for serum 25OHD over a 12-month period, from September 2009 to 2010 in southwest Scotland. We wrote to all 33 general practices asking whether they usually started replacement therapy with a loading dose and/or recommended over-the-counter maintenance preparations. We accessed the Emergency Care Summary for all patients with serum 25OHD &lt;25 nmol/l to determine whether they had been prescribed maintenance therapy.

Results
Serum 25OHD was requested in 1162 patients. Levels were &lt;25 nmol/l in 282 (24%) patients, only 173 (61%) of whom were receiving vitamin D replacement therapy 3–15 months after diagnosis. Only four (1.4%) were prescribed a loading dose. One hundred and fifty-three (54%) were treated with cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol and 19 (7%) with alfacalcidol or calcitriol. The median dose of chole/ergocalciferol was 800 IU per day, usually in combination with 1200 mg calcium per day.

Conclusions
We have shown a divergence between clinical practice and even the most conservative expert advice for vitamin D replacement therapy. Possible explanations are conflicting advice on treatment and difficulty obtaining suitable vitamin D preparations, particularly high dose vitamin D and vitamin D without calcium, in the UK.
The impact of diabetes duration on left ventricular diastolic function and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Kim Yujeong , Shin Mi-Seung , Kim Yeun Sun , Kang Woong Chol , Kim Bong Roung , Moon Jeonggeun , Chung Wook-Jin , Ahn Tae Hoon , Shin Eak Kyun 
Published: February 2012

Abstract

Objectives
The question of whether diabetes mellitus (DM) duration correlates with the severity of dysfunction has not been well studied. We hypothesised that the longer the duration of DM the worse the severity of left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods
We reviewed 547 diabetic patients between January 2005 and April 2010. Finally, 92 consecutive patients who presented with type 2 DM and who underwent echocardiographic assessment were enrolled according to the selection criteria. In all patients, ischaemic heart disease and heart failure were excluded.

Results
Diastolic parameters were significantly worsened with increasing duration of DM (p&lt;0.05). In the ≥7 years DM duration group (n=50), the E/Ea ratio increased significantly and the Ea/Aa ratio decreased significantly, compared with those in the &lt;7 years DM duration group (n=42). CVD developed in 28 patients (30.4%) during the follow-up period. However, the duration of DM showed less statistical correlation with the incidence of CVD (p=0.188) and other LV diastolic function indices did not differ significantly between groups with or without CVD.

Conclusions
Alteration of diastolic function induced by DM worsens with increasing duration of DM. DM duration on echocardiographic evaluation time did not differ significantly between the CVD incident and the non-CVD incident groups. The rate of CVD development was not significantly different if the duration of DM was more than 7 years. Therefore, active medical care including echocardiography should be undertaken to prevent CVD from the point of diagnosis of type 2 DM.
Xanthelasma palpebrarum: a marker of premature atherosclerosis (risk of atherosclerosis in xanthelasma)
Authors: Pandhi Deepika , Gupta Pooja , Singal Archana , Tondon Anupama , Sharma SumanBala , Madhu S V 
Published: February 2012

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the association between xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) and atherosclerosis by the measurement of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). In addition, the concurrent association between metabolic syndrome, dyslipidaemia and dyslipoproteinaemia was also assessed.Study designA cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2008 to April 2009 involving 40 patients of XP and an equal number of age, sex and body mass index matched controls. All study subjects underwent CIMT estimation by ultrasonography and were evaluated for metabolic syndrome (obesity, blood pressure, blood glucose, serum lipid profile), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B.ResultsThe mean CIMT was significantly higher in XP patients as compared with controls. However, there was no correlation with the extent or the duration of the XP lesions. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was similar in both groups while non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was more frequent in XP patients as compared with controls (p=0.001). The mean serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were similar in the two groups. However, there was significant increase in the mean pro-atherogenic apolipoprotein B and decrease in the anti-atherogenic apolipoprotein A1 levels in XP patients.ConclusionsAlteration in apolipoprotein levels (A1 and B) in XP patients may predispose to cutaneous and systemic deposition of lipids, including atherosclerosis. Therefore, XP patients irrespective of their lesion size or serum lipid levels should be screened using CIMT for detection of subclinical atherosclerosis.
Protein Kinase C Isoform ε Negatively Regulates ADP-Induced Calcium Mobilization and Thromboxane Generation in Platelets
Authors: Bynagari-Settipalli Yamini S. , Lakhani Parth , Jin Jianguo , Bhavaraju Kamala , Rico Mario C. , Kim Soochong , Woulfe Donna , Kunapuli Satya P. 
Published: February 2012

Objective—
Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family are shown to positively and negatively regulate platelet activation. Although positive regulatory roles are extensively studied, negative regulatory roles of PKCs are poorly understood. We investigated the mechanism and specific isoforms involved in PKC-mediated negative regulation of ADP-induced functional responses.

Methods and Results—

A pan-PKC inhibitor, GF109203X, potentiated ADP-induced cPLA
2
phosphorylation and thromboxane generation as well as ERK activation and intracellular calcium (Ca
2+
i
) mobilization, 2 signaling molecules, upstream of cPLA
2
activation. Thus, PKCs inhibit cPLA
2
activation by inhibiting ERK and Ca
2+
i
mobilization. Because the inhibitor of classic PKC isoforms, GO-6976, did not affect ADP-mediated thromboxane generation, we investigated the role of novel class of PKC isoforms. ADP-induced thromboxane generation, calcium mobilization, and ERK phosphorylation were potentiated in PKCε null murine platelets compared with platelets from wild-type littermates. Interestingly, when thromboxane release is blocked, ADP-induced aggregation in PKCε knockout and wild-type was similar, suggesting that PKCε does not affect ADP-induced aggregation directly. PKCε knockout mice exhibited shorter times to occlusion in an FeCl
3
-induced arterial injury model and shorter bleeding times in tail-bleeding experiments.

Conclusion—
We conclude that PKCε negatively regulates ADP-induced thromboxane generation in platelets and offers protection against thrombosis.
Substrate-Immobilized HIV-1 Tat Drives VEGFR2/α
v
β
3
–Integrin Complex Formation and Polarization in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Urbinati Chiara , Ravelli Cosetta , Tanghetti Elena , Belleri Mirella , Giacopuzzi Edoardo , Monti Eugenio , Presta Marco , Rusnati Marco 
Published: February 2012

Objective—
The HIV-1 transactivating factor (Tat) possesses features typical of both cell-adhesive and angiogenic growth factor (AGF) proteins, inducing endothelial cell (EC) adhesion and proangiogenic activation. Tat was exploited to investigate the events triggered by EC adhesion to substrate-bound AGF that lead to proangiogenic activation.

Methods and Results—

Immobilized Tat induces actin cytoskeleton organization, formation of α
v
β
3
integrin
+
focal adhesion plaques, and recruitment of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) in the ventral plasma membrane of adherent ECs. Also, acceptor photobleaching fluorescence resonance energy transfer demonstrated that VEGFR2/α
v
β
3
coupling occurs at the basal aspect of Tat-adherent ECs. Cell membrane fractionation showed that a limited fraction of α
v
β
3
integrin and VEGFR2 does colocalize in lipid rafts at the basal aspect of Tat-adherent ECs. VEGFR2 undergoes phosphorylation and triggers pp60src/ERK
1/2
activation. The use of lipid raft disrupting agents and second messenger inhibitors demonstrated that intact lipid rafts and the VEGFR2/pp60src/ERK
1/2
pathway are both required for cytoskeleton organization and proangiogenic activation of Tat-adherent ECs.

Conclusion—

Substrate-immobilized Tat causes VEGFR2/α
v
β
3
complex formation and polarization at the basal aspect of adherent ECs, VEGFR2/pp60src/ERK
1/2
phosphorylation, cytoskeleton organization, and proangiogenic activation. These results provide novel insights in the AGF/tyrosine kinase receptor/integrin cross-talk.
Antithrombin-Independent Effects of Heparins on Fibrin Clot Nanostructure
Authors: Yeromonahos Christelle , Marlu Raphaël , Polack Benoît , Caton Francois 
Published: February 2012

Objective—
Because of the widespread clinical use of heparins, their effects on the enzymatic cascade are very well known. In contrast, little is known about the direct effect of heparins on the nanostructure of fibrin fibers, even though this nanostructure plays a major role in the mechanical strength and lysis of clots. This lack of reliable data can be correlated with the lack of a nonintrusive, quantitative method to determine this structure. We recently developed such a method that allows the simultaneous determination of the average fiber radius and the protein content using spectrometric data. In this study, we assessed the nanostructure of fibrin in a system composed of human thrombin and fibrinogen.

Methods and Results—
We provide quantitative evidence showing that both unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparin directly alter the nanostructure of fibrin fibers independent of their other actions on the coagulation cascade; as expected, the pentasaccharide fondaparinux has no effect.

Conclusion—
Our results show that in addition to the effect of heparin on the coagulation cascade, modifications of the fibrin nanostructure may also contribute to improved fibrinolysis.