bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of factors contributing to uterine scar formation after laparoscopic myomectomy
Authors: KUMAKIRI JUN , KIKUCHI IWAHO , KITADE MARI , KUMAKIRI YUKO , KURODA KEIJI , MATSUOKA SHOZO , TOKITA SACHIKO , TAKEDA SATORU 
Published: July 2010

AbstractObjective. To evaluate factors contributing to uterine scar formation after laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) and to estimate whether uterine scarring indicated risk of uterine rupture. Design. Retrospective study. Setting. University‐affiliated hospital. Population. A total of 692 patients who underwent second‐look laparoscopy (SLL) after LM. Method. Video‐tape recording during SLL to evaluate the conditions of uterine suture wound healing, with univariate and logistic regression analysis. Main outcome measures. Correlation between scar formation and operative findings at LM. Factors influencing scar formation in 305 patients with an enucleated solitary myoma. Results. SLL revealed that 628 patients (90.8%) had a normal uterus and 64 patients (9.2%) had a scarred uterus. Deformation of the endometrium found by preoperative imaging and complete myometrial penetration during LM had a positive correlation and the number of enucleated myomas a negative correlation with scar formation. Significant factors associated with scar formation were complete myometrial penetration (odds ratio, 2.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.30–4.93; p = 0.006) and enucleation of a subserosal myoma (odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.08–0.70; p = 0.009). Of the 98 patients who delivered, none suffered a uterine rupture regardless of the presence of a uterine scar. Conclusions. Uterine scar formation after LM correlated with the degree of myometrial penetration. However, the presence of a uterine scar did not appear to influence the delivery outcome.
Evaluation of a brief cognitive intervention in patients with signs of postnatal depression: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: WIKLUND INGELA , MOHLKERT PAMELA , EDMAN GUNNAR 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe effectiveness of a brief intervention based on individual cognitive behavioral counseling in mothers with signs of postnatal depression was evaluated. Patients undergoing a complicated delivery were invited to participate. Women who scored above a cut‐off level (>12) on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were randomized to either a brief individual cognitive behavioral counseling comprising three weekly 1 hour sessions (n = 33) or standard care (n = 34). Measures of postnatal depression were collected from EPDS, 1 month after birth and 1 month after treatment. Both groups showed a significant decline from baseline to follow‐up, mean scores declined from 16.9 to 7.6 (intervention group) vs. 13.6 to 9.9 (control group; p < 0.001). There was a significant interaction effect (Group*Time) between the intervention and the control group showing a more rapid decline of EPDS scores for the intervention group (p < 0.001). The results suggest that brief cognitive behavioral counseling is an effective treatment in women at risk for developing postnatal depression.
Cannabis Use in Patients with a First Psychotic Episode and Subjects at Ultra High Risk of Psychosis: Impact on Psychotic- and Pre-Psychotic Symptoms
Authors: Machielsen Marise , van der Sluis Suzanne , de Haan Lieuwe 
Published: July 2010

Objectives: Co-morbidity with cannabis use disorder is common in patients with a psychotic disorder and is associated with adverse outcome. This study aimed to determine prevalence of cannabis use disorder among patients with a psychotic disorder and subjects at ultra high risk of psychosis and to study the influence of cannabis use on severity of (pre-)psychotic symptomatology, psychosocial functioning and variables related to the course of the disorder in these patients. Methods: In this study 169 consecutively assessed patients with a psychotic disorder were included as well as 59 consecutively assessed subjects at ultra high risk of psychosis. Results: 45% of the patients with a psychotic disorder and 27% of the UHR patients were diagnosed with a co-morbid cannabis use disorder. Patients with cannabis use disorders did not differ from patients without cannabis use disorder in severity of psychotic symptoms. However, excluding patients with substance use disorder other than cannabis use disorder resulted in higher scores on positive symptom levels for patients with cannabis use disorder compared to patients without any substance use disorder. Regarding ultra high risk patients, subjects with cannabis use disorder did not differ from subjects without cannabis use disorder on severity of pre-psychotic symptomatology. However, a negative correlation was found between the amount of cannabis used recently and scores on the pre-psychotic negative subscale. Conclusion: Our results suggest a specific association between cannabis abuse and psychotic symptomatology.
Meta-Analysis of Relapse Prevention Antidepressant Trials in Depressive Disorders
Authors: Glue Paul , Donovan Mary Rocco , Kolluri Sheela , Emir Birol 
Published: July 2010

Objective: Continuation therapy with antidepressants is recommended for depressed patients who have responded to initial treatment. We quantified its efficacy in preventing relapse of depression in a meta-analysis of 54 double-blind placebo-controlled relapse prevention studies (patient n = 9268). Method: Relapse prevention studies in primary depression and depression subtypes were identified in a systematic literature search. The primary efficacy comparison was relapse rates between active and placebo arms calculated as odds ratios (ORs) using Review Manager version 5.0. Effects of patient age, drug class, diagnostic system and duration of therapy on ORs was examined, along with ORs calculated using different statistical methods. Results: Continuation antidepressants produced robust reduction in relapse (OR = 0.35; 95%CI 0.32–0.39). Pooled ORs were not affected by patient age, drug class, depression subtype or treatment duration, and were similar when calculated by different statistical methods. Patients with primary depression diagnosed by earlier diagnostic systems had slightly lower ORs than those diagnosed using DSM criteria. Conclusions: This meta-analysis emphasizes the importance of continuation treatment following acute response in depressive disorders. The robust findings of relapse prevention designs contrast with acute antidepressant efficacy studies, and may be due to enrichment of the patient population.
Changing Epidemiology of Intentional Antidepressant Drug Overdose in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Wong Anselm , Taylor David McD , Ashby Karen , Robinson Jeff 
Published: July 2010

Aim: To determine the epidemiology of intentional antidepressant drug overdose (OD), over an extended time period, in Victoria, Australia. Methods: Retrospective epidemiological study of all cases reported to the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset (VEMD) January 1998 to December 2007 and calls to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre (VPIC) June 2005 to September 2008. Results: 5467 VEMD cases were analysed. 3169 (57.9%) cases involved selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and 1149 (21%) involved tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Sertraline (1252, 22.9% cases) was the most common drug. During 2001, the peak year of OD, there were 8.8 OD/100 000 population in the SSRI group and 3.8 OD/100 000 population in the TCA group. Trends over the study period showed increasing SSRI and ‘other’ newer antidepressant prescription rates and decreases for TCA and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI). However, the risks of OD in all drug classes were similar and OD/100 000 prescriptions trended downwards for all drug classes over time. 1833 VPIC calls were analysed. Calls relating to SSRIs were the most common yet SSRI OD was associated with significantly fewer symptoms (p < 0.001) and fewer patients with Poisoning Severity Score classifications of moderate or severe (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Antidepressant OD patterns are changing. Antidepressant OD incidence is following prescribing trends. The risk of OD is similar for all drug classes. Absolute numbers of OD and OD/100 000 prescriptions are decreasing for all drug classes.
Inflammation in the Central Nervous System and Th17 Responses Are Inhibited by IFN-γ–Induced IL-18 Binding Protein
Authors: Millward Jason M. , Løbner Morten , Wheeler Rachel D. , Owens Trevor 
Published: July 2010

AbstractInflammatory responses are essential for immune protection but may also cause pathology and must be regulated. Both Th1 and Th17 cells are implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. We show in this study that IL-18–binding protein (IL-18bp), the endogenous inhibitor of the Th1-promoting cytokine IL-18, is upregulated by IFN-γ in resident microglial cells in the CNS during multiple sclerosis-like disease in mice. Test of function by overexpression of IL-18bp in the CNS using a viral vector led to marked reduction in Th17 responses and robust inhibition of incidence, severity, and histopathology of disease, independently of IFN-γ. The disease-limiting action of IL-18bp included suppression of APC-derived Th17-polarizing cytokines. IL-18bp thus acts as a sensor for IFN-γ and can regulate both Th1 and Th17 responses in the CNS.
Inducible Cyclooxygenase Released Prostaglandin E2 Modulates the Severity of Infection Caused by Streptococcus
pyogenes
Authors: Goldmann Oliver , Hertzén Erika , Hecht Alexander , Schmidt Heike , Lehne Sabine , Norrby-Teglund Anna , Medina Eva 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a significant human pathogen that can cause life-threatening invasive infections. Understanding the mechanism of disease is crucial to the development of more effective therapies. In this report, we explored the role of PGE2, an arachidonic acid metabolite, and its rate-limiting enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in the pathogenesis of severe S. pyogenes infections. We found that the COX-2 expression levels in tissue biopsies from S. pyogenes-infected patients, as well as in tissue of experimentally infected mice, strongly correlated with the severity of infection. This harmful effect was attributed to PGE2-mediated suppression of the bactericidial activity of macrophages through interaction with the G2-coupled E prostanoid receptor. The suppressive effect of PGE2 was associated with enhanced intracellular cAMP production and was mimicked by the cAMP-elevating agent, forskolin. Activation of protein kinase A (PKA) was the downstream effector mechanisms of cAMP because treatment with PKI14–22, a highly specific inhibitor of PKA, prevented the PGE2-mediated inhibition of S. pyogenes killing in macrophages. The inhibitory effect exerted by PKA in the generation of antimicrobial oxygen radical species seems to be the ultimate effector mechanism responsible for the PGE2-mediated downregulation of the macrophage bactericidal activity. Importantly, either genetic ablation of COX-2, pharmacological inhibition of COX-2 or treatment with the G2-coupled E prostanoid antagonist, AH6809, significantly improved the disease outcome in S. pyogenes infected mice. Therefore, the results of this study open up new perspectives on potential molecular pathways that are prone to pharmacological manipulation during severe streptococcal infections.
Characterization of Cytokine-Induced Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells from Normal Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells
Authors: Lechner Melissa G. , Liebertz Daniel J. , Epstein Alan L. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Tumor immune tolerance can derive from the recruitment of suppressor cell populations, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). In cancer patients, increased MDSCs correlate with more aggressive disease and a poor prognosis. Expression of 15 immune factors (TGFβ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, GM-CSF, M-CSF, IDO, fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, c-kit ligand, inducible NO synthase, arginase-1, TNF-α, cyclo-oxygenase 2, vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) by MDSC-inducing human solid tumor cell lines was evaluated by RT-PCR. Based upon these data, cytokine mixtures were then tested for their ability to generate suppressive CD33+ cells from healthy donor PBMCs in vitro by measuring their ability to inhibit the proliferation of, and IFN-γ production by, fresh autologous human T cells after CD3/CD28 stimulation. Induced MDSCs were characterized with respect to their morphology, surface phenotype, and gene expression profile. MDSC-inducing cancer cell lines demonstrated multiple pathways for MDSC generation, including overexpression of IL-6, IL-1β, cyclo-oxygenase 2, M-CSF, and IDO. CD33+ cells with potent suppressive capacity were best generated in vitro by GM-CSF and IL-6, and secondarily by GM-CSF + IL-1β, PGE2, TNF-α, or VEGF. Characterization studies of cytokine-induced suppressive cells revealed CD33+CD11b+CD66b+HLA-DRlowIL-13Rα2int large mononuclear cells with abundant basophilic cytoplasm. Expression of inducible NO synthase, TGFβ, NADPH oxidase, VEGF, and/or arginase-1 was also upregulated, and Transwell studies showed suppression of autologous T cells to be contact dependent. Suppressive CD33+ cells generated from PBMCs by GM-CSF and IL-6 were consistent with human MDSCs. This study suggests that these cytokines are potential therapeutic targets for the inhibition of MDSC induction in cancer patients.
Cutting Edge: Merocytic Dendritic Cells Break T Cell Tolerance to β Cell Antigens in Nonobese Diabetic Mouse Diabetes
Authors: Katz Jonathan D. , Ondr Jennifer K. , Opoka Robert J. , Garcia Zacharias , Janssen Edith M. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
In type 1 diabetes, the breach of central and peripheral tolerance results in autoreactive T cells that destroy insulin-producing, pancreatic β cells. In this study, we identify a critical subpopulation of dendritic cells responsible for mediating both the cross-presentation of islet Ags to CD8+ T cells and the direct presentation of β cell Ags to CD4+ T cells. These cells, termed merocytic dendritic cells (mcDCs), are more numerous in the NOD mouse and, when Ag-loaded, rescue CD8+ T cells from peripheral anergy and deletion while stimulating islet-reactive CD4+ T cells. When purified from the pancreatic lymph nodes of overtly diabetic NOD mice, mcDCs break peripheral T cell tolerance to β cells in vivo and induce rapid onset type 1 diabetes in the young NOD mouse. Thus, the mcDC subset appears to represent the long-sought APC responsible for breaking peripheral tolerance to β cell Ags in vivo.
The IFN-γ–Dependent Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Promoter Activity Is Positively Regulated by IFN Regulatory Factor-1 and Sp1 but Repressed by Growth Factor Independence-1b and Krüppel-Like Factor-4, and It Is Dysregulated in Psoriatic Keratinocytes
Authors: Madonna Stefania , Scarponi Claudia , Sestito Rosanna , Pallotta Sabatino , Cavani Andrea , Albanesi Cristina 
Published: July 2010

Abstract
Epidermal keratinocytes can counteract the detrimental effects of IFN-γ by inducing the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)1, which plays an important anti-inflammatory and self-protective role. To date, limited information exists on its expression and regulation in human diseased keratinocytes. In this study, we compared the expression levels of SOCS1 in keratinocytes isolated from skin affected by psoriasis with cells obtained from healthy donors, unveiling that keratinocytes are more prone than healthy cells to upregulate SOCS1 mRNA expression in response to IFN-γ. We explored the regulatory mechanisms involved in socs1 gene transcription, and found that Sp1 and IFN regulatory factor-1 transcription factors are, respectively, responsible for the basal and IFN-γ–induced activity of human socs1 promoter. In parallel, we demonstrated that socs1 promoter is negatively regulated by two transcriptional repressors, namely, growth factor independence-1b and Krüppel-like factor 4, which tightly control SOCS1 transcription on IFN-γ stimulation. Interestingly, although the expression of Sp1 and IFN regulatory factor-1 activators of socs1 promoter is unaltered, growth factor independence-1b and Krüppel-like factor 4 are significantly reduced in psoriatic compared with healthy keratinocytes. This reduction and the consequent unbalanced binding of transcriptional activators and repressors to socs1 promoter after IFN-γ stimulation might be responsible for the enhanced expression of SOCS1 in psoriatic cells. We suggest that SOCS1 exaggerated upregulation in psoriatic keratinocytes could represent a mechanism through which these cells attempt to protect themselves from IFN-γ effects. However, the SOCS1 increased levels in psoriatic keratinocytes are not sufficient to completely inhibit the expression of proinflammatory genes.
Determination of acrylamide in food by gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
Authors: Vlčáková Miriam , Vieriková Michaela 
Published: July 2010

Acrylamide in food was determined by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after bromination of acrylamide and underivatized acrylamide was quantified by ultra performance liquid chromatography -mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Two different sample preparation methods were used and optimised. The GC-MS method was used for various food matrices like breads, potato crisps, potato crackers, french fries. The UPLC-MS method was used for analysis of coffee. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for acrylamide were 7 µg.kg-1 and 20 µg.kg-1 by GC-MS, 9 µg.kg-1 and 30 µg.kg-1 by UPLC-MS. For both methods the reproducibility, given as relative standard deviation was < 5% , and the recovery was close to 100 %.
Functional renormalization group approach to the BCS‐BEC crossover
Authors: Diehl S. , Floerchinger S. , Gies H. , Pawlowkski J.M. , Wetterich C. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe phase transition to superfluidity and the BCS‐BEC crossover for an ultracold gas of fermionic atoms is discussed within a functional renormalization group approach. Non‐perturbative flow equations, based on an exact renormalization group equation, describe the scale dependence of the flowing or average action. They interpolate continuously from the microphysics at atomic or molecular distance scales to the macroscopic physics at much larger length scales, as given by the interparticle distance, the correlation length, or the size of the experimental probe. We discuss the phase diagram as a function of the scattering length and the temperature and compute the gap, the correlation length and the scattering length for molecules. Close to the critical temperature, we find the expected universal behavior. Our approach allows for a description of the few‐body physics (scattering and molecular binding) and the many‐body physics within the same formalism.
Information sources and perceived success in corporate finance
Authors: Huvila Isto 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe work of corporate finance professionals is information‐intensive, despite the fact that the practices and motivations of their information preferences have been researched very little. The present study investigates perceived success and how it is related to corporate finance professionals' information source use behavior based on a Web survey of 92 Finnish corporate finance professionals. The principal finding of the statistical analysis of the data is that perceptions of work success and specific types of information sources contributing to the success are related. The correlations are complex, and very different types of information sources contribute to individual types of success, and vice versa. The findings indicate that information sources function as measures of success and serve an instrumental purpose. Besides functional relations, the correlation of the variables suggests more comprehensive success and information source use related dependencies and preferences. The findings imply that by studying existing perceptions of success, it is possible to make inferences about preferred information sources. The study also suggests that both personal and organizational perceptions of success should be taken into account when planning information services and information literacy education for corporate finance professionals to increase their effectiveness and relevance for the professionals.
Social network site changes over time: The case of MySpace
Authors: Wilkinson David , Thelwall Mike 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe uptake of social network sites (SNSs) has been highly trend‐driven, with Friendster, MySpace, and Facebook being successively the most popular. Given that teens are often early adopters of communication technologies, it seems reasonable to assume that the typical user of any particular SNS would change over time, probably becoming older and covering different segments of the population. This article analyzes changes in MySpace self‐reported member demographics and behavior from 2007 to 2010 using four large samples of members and focusing on the United States. The results indicate that despite its take‐up rate declining, with only about 1 in 10 members being active a year after joining, the dominant (modal) age for active U.S. members remains midadolescence, but has shifted by about 2 years from 15 to 17, and the U.S. dominance of MySpace is shrinking. There also has been a dramatic increase in the median number of Friends for new U.S. members, from 12 to 96—probably due to MySpace's automated Friend Finder. Some factors show little change, however, including the female majority, the 5% minority gay membership, and the approximately 50% private profiles. In addition, there has been an increase in the proportion of Latino/Hispanic U.S. members, suggesting a shifting ethnic profile. Overall, MySpace has surprisingly stable membership demographics and is apparently maintaining its primary youth appeal, perhaps because of its music orientation.
A group sequential type design for three‐arm non‐inferiority trials with binary endpoints
Authors: Li Gang , Gao Shan 
Published: July 2010

AbstractThe three‐arm design with a test treatment, an active control and a placebo group is the gold standard design for non‐inferiority trials if it is ethically justifiable to expose patients to placebo. In this paper, we first use the closed testing principle to establish the hierarchical testing procedure for the multiple comparisons involved in the three‐arm design. For the effect preservation test we derive the explicit formula for the optimal allocation ratios. We propose a group sequential type design, which naturally accommodates the hierarchical testing procedure. Under this proposed design, Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of the sequential effect preservation test when the variance of the test statistic is estimated based on the restricted maximum likelihood estimators of the response rates under the null hypothesis. When there are uncertainties for the placebo response rate, the proposed design demonstrates better operating characteristics than the fixed sample design.