bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Excess of health care use in general practice and of comorbid chronic conditions in cancer patients compared to controls
Authors: Jabaaij Lea , van den Akker Marjan , Schellevis François G 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
The number of cancer patients and the number of patients surviving initial treatments is expected to rise. Traditionally, follow-up monitoring takes place in secondary care. The contribution of general practice is less visible and not clearly defined.
This study aimed to compare healthcare use in general practice of patients with cancer during the follow-up phase compared with patients without cancer. We also examined the influence of comorbid conditions on healthcare utilisation by these patients in general practice.

Methods
We compared health care use of N=8,703 cancer patients with an age and gender-matched control group of patients without cancer from the same practice. Data originate from the Netherlands Information Network of General Practice (LINH), a representative network consisting of 92 general practices with 350,000 enlisted patients. Health care utilisation was assessed using data on contacts with general practice, prescription and referral rates recorded between 1/1/2001 and 31/12/2007. The existence of additional comorbid chronic conditions (ICPC coded) was taken into account.

Results
Compared to matched controls, cancer patients had more contacts with their GP-practice (19.5 vs. 11.9, p<.01), more consultations with the GP (3.5 vs. 2.7, p<.01), more home visits (1.6 vs. 0.4, p<.01) and they got more medicines prescribed (18.7 vs. 11.6, p<.01) during the follow-up phase. Cancer patients more often had a chronic condition than their matched controls (52% vs. 44%, p<.01). Having a chronic condition increased health care use for both patients with and without cancer. Cancer patients with a comorbid condition had the highest health care use.

Conclusion
We found that cancer patients in the follow-up phase consulted general practice more often and suffered more often from comorbid chronic conditions, compared to patients without cancer. It is expected that the number of cancer patients will rise in the years to come and that primary health care professionals will be more involved in follow-up care. Care for comorbid chronic conditions, communication between specialists and GPs, and coordination of tasks then need special attention.
Factors associated with prenatal folic acid and iron supplementation among 21,889 pregnant women in Northern Tanzania: A cross-sectional hospital-based study
Authors: Ogundipe Olukemi , Hoyo Cathrine , Østbye Truls , Oneko Olola , Manongi Rachael , Lie Rolv Terje , Daltveit Anne Kjersti 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
Folate and iron deficiency during pregnancy are risk factors for anaemia, preterm delivery, and low birth weight, and may contribute to poor neonatal health and increased maternal mortality. The World Health Organization recommends supplementation of folic acid (FA) and iron for all pregnant women at risk of malnutrition to prevent anaemia. We assessed the use of prenatal folic acid and iron supplementation among women in a geographical area with a high prevalence of anaemia, in relation to socio-demographic, morbidity and health services utilization factors.

Methods
We analysed a cohort of 21,889 women who delivered at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), Moshi, Tanzania, between 1999 and 2008. Logistic regression models were used to describe patterns of reported intake of prenatal FA and iron supplements.

Results
Prenatal intake of FA and iron supplements was reported by 17.2% and 22.3% of pregnant women, respectively. Sixteen percent of women reported intake of both FA and iron. Factors positively associated with FA supplementation were advanced maternal age (OR = 1.17, 1.02-1.34), unknown HIV status (OR = 1.54, 1.42-1.67), a diagnosis of anaemia during pregnancy (OR = 12.03, 9.66-14.98) and indicators of lower socioeconomic status. Women were less likely to take these supplements if they reported having had a malaria episode before (OR = 0.57, 0.53-0.62) or during pregnancy (OR = 0.45, 0.41-0.51), reported having contracted other infectious diseases (OR = 0.45, 0.42-0.49), were multiparous (OR = 0.73, 0.66-0.80), had preeclampsia/eclampsia (OR = 0.48, 0.38-0.61), or other diseases (OR = 0.55, 0.44-0.69) during pregnancy. Similar patterns of association emerged when iron supplementation alone and supplementation with both iron and FA were evaluated.

Conclusions
FA and iron supplementation are low among pregnant women in Northern Tanzania, in particular among women with co-morbidities before or during pregnancy. Attempts should be made to increase supplementation both in general and among women with pregnancy complications.
Enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities of traditional medicinal plants: Potential application in the management of hyperglycemia
Authors: Gulati Vandana , Harding Ian H , Palombo Enzo A 
Published: June 2012

AbstractBackgroundTraditional Indian and Australian medicinal plant extracts were investigated to determine their therapeutic potential to inhibit key enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism, which has relevance to the management of hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes. The antioxidant activities were also assessed.MethodsThe evaluation of enzyme inhibitory activity of seven Australian aboriginal medicinal plants and five Indian Ayurvedic plants was carried out against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Antioxidant activity was determined by measuring (i) the scavenging effect of plant extracts against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and 2, 2′-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) and (ii) ferric reducing power. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were also determined.ResultsOf the twelve plant extracts evaluated, the highest inhibitory activity against both α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes was exerted bySantalum spicatumandPterocarpus marsupiumwith IC50values of 5.43 μg/ml and 0.9 μg/ml, respectively, and 5.16 μg/ml and 1.06 μg/ml, respectively. However, the extracts ofAcacia ligulata(IC50 = 1.01 μg/ml),Beyeria leshnaultii(0.39 μg/ml),Mucuna pruriens(0.8 μg/ml) andBoerhaavia diffusa(1.72 μg/ml) exhibited considerable activity against α-glucosidase enzyme only. The free radical scavenging activity was found to be prominent in extracts ofAcacia kempeana,Acacia ligulatafollowed byEuphorbia drummondiiagainst both DPPH and ABTS. The reducing power was more pronounced inEuphorbia drummondiiandPterocarpus marsupiumextracts. The phenolic and flavonoid contents ranged from 0.42 to 30.27 μg/mg equivalent of gallic acid and 0.51 to 32.94 μg/mg equivalent of quercetin, respectively, in all plant extracts. Pearson’s correlation coefficient between total flavonoids and total phenolics was 0.796.ConclusionThe results obtained in this study showed that most of the plant extracts have good potential for the management of hyperglycemia, diabetes and the related condition of oxidative stress.
Algorithmic processing of pressure waveforms to facilitate estimation of cardiac elastance
Authors: Stevenson David , Revie James , Chase J Geoffrey , Hann Christopher E , Shaw Geoffrey M , Lambermont Bernard , Ghuysen Alexandre , Kolh Philippe , Desaive Thomas 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
Cardiac elastances are highly invasive to measure directly, but are clinically useful due to the amount of information embedded in them. Information about the cardiac elastance, which can be used to estimate it, can be found in the downstream pressure waveforms of the aortic pressure (P

ao
) and the pulmonary artery (P

pa
). However these pressure waveforms are typically noisy and biased, and require processing in order to locate the specific information required for cardiac elastance estimations. This paper presents the method to algorithmically process the pressure waveforms.

Methods
A shear transform is developed in order to help locate information in the pressure waveforms. This transform turns difficult to locate corners into easy to locate maximum or minimum points as well as providing error correction.

Results
The method located all points on 87 out of 88 waveforms for P

pa
, to within the sampling frequency. For P

ao
, out of 616 total points, 605 were found within 1%, 5 within 5%, 4 within 10% and 2 within 20%.

Conclusions
The presented method provides a robust, accurate and dysfunction-independent way to locate points on the aortic and pulmonary artery pressure waveforms, allowing the non-invasive estimation of the left and right cardiac elastance.
Structure based sequence analysis & epitope prediction of gp41 HIV1 envelope glycoprotein isolated in Pakistan
Authors: Jafri Syyada Samra , Kiran Saliha , Jamal Syed Babar , Shah Masaud 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
Gp41 is an envelope glycoprotein of human immune deficiency virus (HIV). HIV viral glycoprotein gp41, present in complex with gp120, assists the viral entry into host cell. Over eighty thousands individuals are HIV infected in Pakistan which makes about 0.2% of 38.6 million infected patients worldwide. Hence, HIV gp41 protein sequences isolated in Pakistan were analyzed for the CD4 and CD8 T cells binding epitopes.

Results
Immunoinformatics tools were applied for the study of variant region of HIV gp41envelope protein. The protein nature was analyzed using freely accessible computational software. About 90 gp41 sequences of Pakistani origin were aligned and variable and conserved regions were found. Four segments were found to be conserved in gp41 viral protein. A method was developed, involving the secondary structure, surface accessibility, hydrophobicity, antigenicity and molecular docking for the prediction and location of epitopes in the viral glycoprotein. Some highly conserved CD4 and CD8 binding epitopes were also found using multiple parameters. The predicted continuous epitopes mostly fall in the conserved region of 1–12; 14–22 and 25–46 and can be used as effective vaccine candidates.

Conclusions
The study revealed potential HIV subtype a derived cytotoxic T cell (CTL) epitopes from viral proteome of Pakistani origin. The conserved epitopes are very useful for the diagnosis of the HIV 1 subtype a. This study will also help scientists to promote research for vaccine development against HIV 1 subtype a, isolated in Pakistan.
Facile synthesis of SrCO3 nanostructures in methanol/water solution without additives
Authors: Li Lishuo , Lin Rongyi , Tong Zhangfa , Feng Qingge 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Highly dispersive strontium carbonate (SrCO3) nanostructures with uniform dumbbell, ellipsoid, and rod-like morphologies were synthesized in methanol solution without any additives. These SrCO3 were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption. The results showed that the reaction temperature and the methanol/water ratio had important effects on the morphologies of SrCO3 particles. The dumbbell-like SrCO3 exhibited a Broader-Emmett-Teller surface area of 14.9 m2 g−1 and an average pore size of about 32 nm with narrow pore size distribution. The formation mechanism of the SrCO3 crystal was preliminary presented.
Excellent resistive memory characteristics and switching mechanism using a Ti nanolayer at the Cu/TaOx interface
Authors: Rahaman Sheikh Ziaur , Maikap Siddheswar , Tien Ta-Chang , Lee Heng-Yuan , Chen Wei-Su , Chen Frederick T , Kao Ming-Jer , Tsai Ming-Jinn 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Excellent resistive switching memory characteristics were demonstrated for an Al/Cu/Ti/TaOx/W structure with a Ti nanolayer at the Cu/TaOx interface under low voltage operation of ± 1.5 V and a range of current compliances (CCs) from 0.1 to 500 μA. Oxygen accumulation at the Ti nanolayer and formation of a defective high-κ TaOx film were confirmed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy. The resistive switching memory characteristics of the Al/Cu/Ti/TaOx/W structure, such as HRS/LRS (approximately 104), stable switching cycle stability (>106) and multi-level operation, were improved compared with those of Al/Cu/TaOx/W devices. These results were attributed to the control of Cu migration/dissolution by the insertion of a Ti nanolayer at the Cu/TaOx interface. In contrast, CuOx formation at the Cu/TaOx interface was observed in an Al/Cu/TaOx/W structure, which hindered dissolution of the Cu filament and resulted in a small resistance ratio of approximately 10 at a CC of 500 μA. A high charge-trapping density of 6.9 × 1016 /cm2 was observed in the Al/Cu/Ti/TaOx/W structure from capacitance-voltage hysteresis characteristics, indicating the migration of Cu ions through defect sites. The switching mechanism was successfully explained for structures with and without the Ti nanolayer. By using a new approach, the nanoscale diameter of Cu filament decreased from 10.4 to 0.17 nm as the CC decreased from 500 to 0.1 μA, resulting in a large memory size of 7.6 T to 28 Pbit/sq in. Extrapolated 10-year data retention of the Ti nanolayer device was also obtained. The findings of this study will not only improve resistive switching memory performance but also aid future design of nanoscale nonvolatile memory.
Growth of GeSi nanoislands on nanotip-patterned Si (100) substrates with a stress-induced self-limiting interdiffusion
Authors: Tang Ruifan , Huang Kai , Lai Hongkai , Li Cheng , Wu Zhiming , Kang Junyong 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
GeSi nanoislands grown on nanotip pre-patterned Si substrates at various temperatures are investigated. Nanoislands with a high density and narrow size distribution can be obtained within an intermediate temperature range, and the Ge atom diffusion length is comparable to half of the average distance of the Si nanotips. The Ge concentration distributions at the center and edge of the GeSi nanoislands are measured by scanning transmission electron microscopy. The results reveal that there is a Si core at the center of the GeSi nanoisland, but the Ge concentration presents a layered distribution above the Si nanotips. The radial component of the stress field in Ge layer near the Ge/Si interface on the planar, and the nanotip regions is qualitatively discussed. The difference of the stress field reveals that the experimentally observed concentration profile can be ascribed to the stress-induced interdiffusion self-limiting effect of the Si nanotips.
Synthesis and characterization of maleimide-functionalized polystyrene-SiO2/TiO2 hybrid nanocomposites by sol–gel process
Authors: Ramesh Sivalingam , Sivasamy Arumugam , Kim Joo-Hyung 
Published: June 2012

Abstract
Maleimide-functionalized polystyrene (PSMA-SiO2/TiO2) hybrid nanocomposites were prepared by sol–gel reaction starting from tratraethoxysilane (TEOS) and titanium isopropoxide in the solution of polystyrene maleimide in 1,4-dioxane. The hybrid films were obtained by the hydrolysis and polycondensation of TEOS and titanium isopropoxide in maleimide-functionalized polystyrene solution followed by the Michael addition reaction. The transparency of polymer (PSMA-SiO2/TiO2) hybrid was prepared from polystyrene titanium isopropoxide using the γ-aminopropyltriethoxy silane as crosslinking agent by in situ sol–gel process via covalent bonding between the organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposites. The maleimide-functionalized polystyrene was synthesized by Friedel-Crafts reaction from N-choloromethyl maleimide. The FTIR spectroscopy data conformed the occurrence of Michael addition reaction between the pendant maleimide moieties of the styrene and γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The chemical structure and morphology of PSMA-SiO2/TiO2 hybrid nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13 C NMR, SEM, XRD, and TEM analyses. The results also indicate that the inorganic particles are much smaller in the ternary systems than in the binary systems; the shape of the inorganic particles and compatibility for maleimide-functionalized polystrene and inorganic moieties are varied with the ratio of the inorganic moieties in the hybrids. Furthermore, TGA and DSC results indicate that the thermal stability of maleimide-functionalized polystyrene was enhanced through the incorporation of the inorganic moieties in the hybrid materials.
Nm23/nucleoside diphosphate kinase-A as a potent prognostic marker in invasive pancreatic ductal carcinoma identified by proteomic analysis of laser micro-dissected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue
Authors: Takadate Tatsuyuki , Onogawa Tohru , Fujii Kiyonaga , Motoi Fuyuhiko , Mikami Sayaka , Fukuda Tetsuya , Kihara Makoto , Suzuki Takashi , Takemura Taro , Minowa Takashi , Hanagata Nobutaka , Kinoshita Kengo , Morikawa Takanori , Shirasaki Keiichi , Rikiyama Toshiki , Katayose Yu , Egawa Shinichi , Nishimura Toshihide , Unno Michiaki 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
Pancreatic cancer is among the most lethal malignancies worldwide. This study aimed to identify a novel prognostic biomarker, facilitating treatment selection, using mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic analysis with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue.

Results
The two groups with poor prognosis (n = 4) and with better prognosis (n = 4) had been carefully chosen among 96 resected cases of pancreatic cancer during 1998 to 2007 in Tohoku University Hospital. Although those 2 groups had adjusted background (UICC-Stage IIB, Grade2, R0, gemcitabine adjuvant), there was a significant difference in postoperative mean survival time (poor 21.0 months, better 58.1 months, P = 0.0067). Cancerous epithelial cells collected from FFPE tissue sections by laser micro-dissection (LMD) were processed for liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In total, 1099 unique proteins were identified and 6 proteins showed different expressions in the 2 groups by semi-quantitative comparison. Among these 6 proteins, we focused on Nm23/Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase A (NDPK-A) and immunohistochemically confirmed its expression in the cohort of 96 cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed high Nm23/NDPK-A expression to correlate with significantly worse overall survival (P = 0.0103). Moreover, in the multivariate Cox regression model, Nm23/NDPK-A over-expression remained an independent predictor of poor survival with a hazard ratio of 1.97 (95% CI 1.16-3.56, P = 0.0110).

Conclusions
We identified 6 candidate prognostic markers for postoperative pancreatic cancer using FFPE tissues and immunohistochemically demonstrated high Nm23/NDPK-A expression to be a useful prognostic marker for pancreatic cancer.
Control of the olive fruit fly using genetics-enhanced sterile insect technique
Authors: Ant Thomas , Koukidou Martha , Rempoulakis Polychronis , Gong Hong-Fei , Economopoulos Aris , Vontas John , Alphey Luke 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
The olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae, is the major arthropod pest of commercial olive production, causing extensive damage to olive crops worldwide. Current control techniques rely on spraying of chemical insecticides. The sterile insect technique (SIT) presents an alternative, environmentally friendly and species-specific method of population control. Although SIT has been very successful against other tephritid pests, previous SIT trials on olive fly have produced disappointing results. Key problems included altered diurnal mating rhythms of the laboratory-reared insects, resulting in asynchronous mating activity between the wild and released sterile populations, and low competitiveness of the radiation-sterilised mass-reared flies. Consequently, the production of competitive, male-only release cohorts is considered an essential prerequisite for successful olive fly SIT.

Results
We developed a set of conditional female-lethal strains of olive fly (named Release of Insects carrying a Dominant Lethal; RIDL®), providing highly penetrant female-specific lethality, dominant fluorescent marking, and genetic sterility. We found that males of the lead strain, OX3097D-Bol, 1) are strongly sexually competitive with wild olive flies, 2) display synchronous mating activity with wild females, and 3) induce appropriate refractoriness to wild female re-mating. Furthermore, we showed, through a large proof-of-principle experiment, that weekly releases of OX3097D-Bol males into stable populations of caged wild-type olive fly could cause rapid population collapse and eventual eradication.

Conclusions
The observed mating characteristics strongly suggest that an approach based on the release of OX3097D-Bol males will overcome the key difficulties encountered in previous olive fly SIT attempts. Although field confirmation is required, the proof-of-principle suppression and elimination of caged wild-type olive fly populations through OX3097D-Bol male releases provides evidence for the female-specific RIDL approach as a viable method of olive fly control. We conclude that the promising characteristics of OX3097D-Bol may finally enable effective SIT-based control of the olive fly.
Postembryonic neuronal addition in Zebrafish dorsal root ganglia is regulated by Notch signaling
Authors: McGraw Hillary Faye , Snelson Corey D , Prendergast Andrew , Suli Arminda , Raible David W 
Published: June 2012

Abstract

Background
The sensory neurons and glia of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) arise from neural crest cells in the developing vertebrate embryo. In mouse and chick, DRG formation is completed during embryogenesis. In contrast, zebrafish continue to add neurons and glia to the DRG into adulthood, long after neural crest migration is complete. The molecular and cellular regulation of late DRG growth in the zebrafish remains to be characterized.

Results
In the present study, we use transgenic zebrafish lines to examine neuronal addition during postembryonic DRG growth. Neuronal addition is continuous over the period of larval development. Fate-mapping experiments support the hypothesis that new neurons are added from a population of resident, neural crest-derived progenitor cells. Conditional inhibition of Notch signaling was used to assess the role of this signaling pathway in neuronal addition. An increase in the number of DRG neurons is seen when Notch signaling is inhibited during both early and late larval development.

Conclusions
Postembryonic growth of the zebrafish DRG comes about, in part, by addition of new neurons from a resident progenitor population, a process regulated by Notch signaling.