bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in Female Sexual Function following Anterior with and Without Posterior Vaginal Mesh Surgery for the Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Authors: Long Cheng-Yu , Juan Yung-Shun , Wu Ming-Ping , Liu Cheng-Min , Chiang Po-Hui , Tsai Eing-Mei 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Comparison of female sexual function following anterior and total transvaginal mesh (TVM) surgery has never been reported.

Aim
To compare the sexual function after anterior and total TVM repair for the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

Main Outcome Measures
The short forms of Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

Methods
One hundred and sixty-five women with symptomatic POP stages II to IV defined by the POP quantification (POP-Q) staging system underwent TVM procedures at our hospitals. Seventy women were included because they were sexually active and had complete follow-up. All subjects were divided into the anterior group (anterior TVM; N = 39) and total group (anterior and posterior TVM; N = 31). Preoperative and postoperative assessments included pelvic examination using the POP-Q system, urodynamic study, and a personal interview to evaluate urinary and sexual symptoms with the short forms of UDI-6 and IIQ-7, and the FSFI.

Results
There was no difference between the two groups as for age, parity, diabetes, hypertension, concomitant procedures, and success rates for TVM and mid-urethral sling in this study (P &gt; 0.05). Regarding the POP-Q analysis, there was a significant improvement at points Aa, Ba, C, Ap, and Bp (P &lt; 0.05) in both groups except for total vaginal length (P &gt; 0.05). The preoperative scores of UDI-6 and IIQ-7 were significantly higher in the total group (P &lt; 0.01), and the UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores showed significant decreases in both groups postoperatively (P &lt; 0.01). After TVM surgery, the score of the dyspareunia domain worsened significantly in both groups (P &lt; 0.05), and the deteriorated lubrication domain was noted only in the total group (P = 0.042).

Conclusions
TVM procedure creates an effective anatomical restoration of POP, but individual domains of FSFI may worsen. Compared with the anterior group, women of the total group had worse quality of life in term of urinary symptoms preoperatively, and experienced a greater sexual impairment on lubrication following surgery.
Evaluation of the willingness‐to‐pay for cancer treatment in Korean metastatic breast cancer patients: A multicenter, cross‐sectional study
Authors: OH Do‐Youn , CRAWFORD Bruce , KIM Sung‐Bae , CHUNG Hyun‐Cheol , MCDONALD Jeffrey , LEE Sang Yoon , KO Su‐Kyoung , RO Jungsil 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAims:  To evaluate the inherent value of breast cancer therapy a willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) study was conducted in Korean patients with metastatic breast cancer.Methods:  Patients were prospectively enrolled from four study centers and completed quality of life questionnaires to reflect their status pre‐cancer and their current health status. Clinical and socioeconomic data were collected to characterize the population and utilize during modeling. Patients' WTP for breast cancer treatment was assessed using an open‐ended question following three rounds of bidding to better hone in on their maximal WTP, starting with one of three randomly assigned start bids. Predictors of patient WTP was evaluated using linear regression models. Associations between WTP and other parameters were evaluated with correlations.Results:  Korean metastatic breast cancer patients were WTP an average of KRW 8 696 329 (US$7555) per month to return to their pre‐cancer health state, with those who were recently diagnosed as WTP the most (KRW 12 955 000 [$11 254]). WTP was closely associated with the patient's education level, income, personal financial difficulties, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and their experience of arm symptoms.Conclusion:  The results suggest that patients are WTP significant amounts per month for treatment. Breast cancer patients are heavily burdened physically, mentally and financially, and the present study indicated this significant financial burden by disclosing its relationship with WTP. Providing a better understanding of the inherent value of treatment will allow Koreans to better evaluate treatment in the coming era of personalized medicine.
FcγRIIB‐nt645+25A/G gene polymorphism and periodontitis in Japanese women with preeclampsia
Authors: Wang Y. , Sugita N. , Kikuchi A. , Iwanaga R. , Hirano E. , Shimada Y. , Sasahara J. , Tanaka K. , Yoshie H. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryFcγRIIB contains a unique immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based inhibition motif (ITIM) and functions as a negative feedback regulator of leucocyte activation and antibody production. We have previously reported FcγRIIB‐nt645+25A/G gene polymorphism to be associated with prevalence and severity of periodontitis, FcγRIIB expression level on peripheral B lymphocytes and the serum IgG level against periodontopathic bacteria. Previous studies have reported maternal periodontal disease to be associated with an increased risk for preeclampsia. Therefore, FcγRIIB‐nt645+25A/G gene polymorphism may be associated with preeclampsia by affecting immune response to periodontopathic bacteria in pregnant women. To elucidate whether FcγRIIB‐nt645+25A/G gene polymorphism has associations with preeclampsia and/or periodontitis in pregnant Japanese women, a case–control study was carried out on women with preeclampsia (n = 13) and without preeclampsia (n = 106). Maternal periodontal parameters and bacterial data of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia in subgingival plaque were collected within 5 days of delivery. FcγR genotypes of each woman were determined using the genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood. Serum IgG levels specific for each bacteria were determined. There was a significant association between FcγRIIB‐nt645+25A/G polymorphism and preeclampsia (P = 0.013). The frequency of the FcγRIIB‐nt645+25AA genotype was higher in the preeclampsia group compared with the nonpreeclampsia group (P = 0.007). The DNA level of A. actinomycetemcomitans from subgingival plaque was shown to be higher in the preeclampsia group (P = 0.017). In conclusion, maternal FcγRIIB‐nt645+25A/G polymorphism and subgingival DNA level of A. actinomycetemcomitans were significantly associated with the prevalence of preeclampsia in a limited number of Japanese women independently with periodontal infection. Further investigations should be performed to confirm this association in a larger population and to determine the biological process of the association.
NGC 5466: a unique probe of the Galactic halo shape
Authors: Lux H. , Read J. I. , Lake G. , Johnston K. V. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
Stellar streams provide unique probes of galactic potentials, with the longer streams normally providing the cleaner measurements. In this Letter, we show an example of a short tidal stream that is particularly sensitive to the shape of the Milky Way's dark matter halo: the globular cluster tidal stream NGC 5466. This stream has an interesting deviation from a smooth orbit at its western edge. We show that such a deviation favours an underlying oblate or triaxial halo (irrespective of plausible variations in the Milky Way disc properties and the specific halo parametrization chosen); spherical or prolate halo shapes can be excluded at a high confidence level. Therefore, more extensive data sets along the NGC 5466 tidal stream promise strong constraints on the Milky Way halo shape.
Electron—positron pairs in blazar jets and γ-ray loud radio galaxies
Authors: Ghisellini G. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract
The matter content of extragalactic relativistic jets is still an unsolved issue. There are strong arguments against pure electron—positron pair jets, but pairs could outnumber the electrons associated with protons by a factor of 10–20. This impacts on the estimate of the jet kinetic power, by reducing it by the same factor, and on the total energy delivered to leptons by the particle acceleration mechanism. Pairs cannot be created in the same jet zone responsible for the high-energy γ-ray emission we see in blazars, because the reprocessing of the created pairs would overproduce the X-ray flux. Copious pair creation could occur in the inner zone of the still accelerating jet, where the bulk Lorentz factor is small. It is found that the inner zone can produce a sufficient number of pairs to replenish the zone of the jet where most of the luminosity is emitted, but only if the γ-ray luminosity of the inner jet is above 1044 erg s−1 at ∼1 MeV. Since the beaming is modest, this emission can be observed at large viewing angles, and detected in radio galaxies and lobe-dominated quasars at the flux level of 10−12–10−11 erg cm−2 s−1 for a source at a redshift z= 0.1.
Changes in Fat Mass in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review
Authors: English Coralie , Thoirs Kerry , Coates Alison , Ryan Alice , Bernhardt Julie 
Published: May 2012

Background Stroke survivors have less muscle mass in their paretic limbs compared with nonparetic limbs, which may or may not be accompanied by changes in regional and/or whole body fat mass. Aim To examine the current evidence regarding differences in regional fat mass between paretic and nonparetic limbs and changes in whole body fat mass over time in stroke survivors. Methods A systematic search of relevant databases. Studies measuring whole body or regional fat mass using dual-energy X-ray absorpiometry, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging were included. Results Eleven trials were identified. Fat mass differences between paretic and nonparetic limbs and change in fat mass over time were not consistent. Meta-analyses were conducted using dual-energy X-ray absorpiometry-derived data from 10 trials ( n = 324). There were no differences in fat mass between paretic and nonparetic legs (pooled mean difference 31.4 g, 95% confidence interval −33.9 to 96.6, P = 0.35), and slightly greater fat mass in the paretic arms compared with nonparetic arms (pooled mean difference 84.0 g, 95% confidence interval 30.7 to 137.3, P = 0.002). Whole body fat mass did not increase significantly between one-month and six-months poststroke (pooled mean difference 282.3 g, 95% confidence interval −824.4 to 1389, P = 0.62), but there was an increase between six- and 12 months poststroke (pooled mean difference 1935 g, 95% confidence interval 1031 to 2839, P < 0.001). Conclusions There were inconsistent findings regarding changes in fat mass after stroke. Large, well-designed studies are required to further investigate the impact of body composition changes on the health of stroke survivors.
Aggressive Blood Pressure–Lowering Therapy Guided by Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Improves Target Organ Damage in Hypertensive Patients With Type 2 Diabetes/Prediabetes
Authors: Eguchi Kazuo , Hoshide Satoshi , Ishikawa Shizukiyo , Shimada Kazuyuki , Kario Kazuomi 
Published: May 2012

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012; 14:422–428. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.The authors tested the hypothesis that an aggressive antihypertensive treatment is beneficial in protecting against target organ damage (TOD) in patients with type 2 diabetes/prediabetes. The authors enrolled 60 patients with uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes/prediabetes and performed clinic, home, and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring. Irbesartan, amlodipine, and indapamide were used according to a titration schedule from step 1 to 5 for target home BP level ≤125/75 mm Hg. The flow‐mediated vasodilation (FMD), radial augmentation index (AI), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and urinary albumin excretion ratio (UACR), as a surrogate marker of TOD, were measured at baseline and 6 months. Compared with baseline, clinic, home, and ambulatory BP measures were significantly lower in the sixth month. FMD was increased significantly and AI, PWV, and UACR were reduced by the treatment. The extent of the changes in PWV and UACR were associated with the changes in all BP measures, but only the change in home morning BP was associated with the change in FMD. The change in AI was not associated with the change in BP levels, but was associated with the change in PWV. A very aggressive antihypertensive therapy guided by home morning BP was effective for surrogate end points in patients with diabetes/prediabetes.
Relationship of Resistant Hypertension and Treatment Outcomes With Total Arterial Compliance in a Predominantly African American Hypertensive Cohort
Authors: Bakhtar Omid , Ference Brian A. , Hedquist Lowell A. , Levy Phillip D. , Flack John M. 
Published: May 2012

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2012; 14:618–622. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Resistant hypertension (RH) affects 8% to 30% of hypertensive patients. Blood pressure (BP) reflects the interaction between vascular compliance, resistance to flow, intravascular volume, and cardiac contractility. The relationship of RH with total arterial compliance index (TACI) has not been adequately explored. The RH period prevalence (RH at baseline or follow‐up) was determined in a hypertensive cohort (N=156) and compared across quartiles of TACI. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted systolic BP, diastolic BP, and antihypertensive therapeutic intensity score (TIS) were also determined at the time of first BP control. The cohort was 85.3% African American and 67.3% female. Median follow‐up was 7 months. The prevalence of RH at baseline was 14.7% while the period prevalence was 43.6%. The period prevalence of RH by ascending quartile for TACI was 66%, 36.8%, 40%, and 30.8% (P=.008). The average BP and antihypertensive TIS at first BP control across TACI quartiles was 122.3/73.4 mm Hg (2.26), 120.7/72.5 mm Hg (1.88), 122.4/75.3 mm Hg (1.71), and 120.0/79.4 mm Hg (1.64) (P=.62, P=.03, P=.13). Low TACI was linked to higher RH prevalence and antihypertensive TIS at first attainment of goal BP according to the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. TACI provides prognostic information that is clinically and perhaps pathophysiologically relevant in RH.
Occurrence of a specific dual symbiosis in the excretory organ of geographically distant Nautiloids populations
Authors: Pernice Mathieu , Boucher‐Rodoni Renata 
Published: May 2012

SummaryNautilus is one of the most intriguing of all sea creatures, sharing morphological similarities with the extinct forms of coiled cephalopods that evolved since the Cambrian (542–488 mya). Further, bacterial symbioses found in their excretory organ are of particular interest as they provide a great opportunity to investigate the influence of host–microbe interactions upon the origin and evolution of an innovative nitrogen excretory system. To establish the potential of Nautilus excretory organ as a new symbiotic system, it is, however, necessary to assess the specificity of this symbiosis and whether it is consistent within the different species of present‐day Nautiloids. By addressing the phylogeny and distribution of bacterial symbionts in three Nautilus populations separated by more than 6000 km (N. pompilius from Philippines and Vanuatu, and N. macromphalus from New Caledonia), this study confirms the specificity of this dual symbiosis involving the presence of betaproteobacteria and spirochaete symbionts on a very wide geographical area. Overall, this work sheds further light on Nautiloids excretory organ as an innovative system of interaction between bacteria and cephalopods.
Natural replacement of vertically inherited lux‐rib genes of Photobacterium aquimaris by horizontally acquired homologues
Authors: Urbanczyk Henryk , Furukawa Takashi , Yamamoto Yuki , Dunlap Paul V. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryWe report here the first instance of a complete replacement of vertically inherited luminescence genes by horizontally acquired homologues. Different strains of Photobacterium aquimaris contain homologues of the lux‐rib genes that have a different evolutionary history. Strain BS1 from the Black Sea contains a vertically inherited lux‐rib operon, which presumably arose in the ancestor of this species, whereas the type strain NBRC 104633T, from Sagami Bay, lacks the vertically inherited lux‐rib operon and instead carries a complete and functional lux‐rib operon acquired horizontally from a bacterium related to Photobacterium mandapamensis. The results indicate that the horizontal acquisition of the lux genes expanded the pan‐genome of P. aquimaris, but it did not influence the phylogenetic divergence of this species.
Effect of Heart Failure on Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Activity in Plasma of Dogs
Authors: Gomez N. , Matheeussen V. , Damoiseaux C. , Tamborini A. , Merveille A.C. , Jespers P. , Michaux C. , Clercx C. , De Meester I. , Mc Entee K. 
Published: May 2012

BackgroundIn congestive heart failure (HF), plasma B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) seems devoid of biological effectiveness. BNP1–32 could be truncated into BNP3–32 by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4), and BNP3–32 has reduced biological activities.HypothesisIncreased DPP4 activity is associated with pathophysiology of HF.AnimalsOne hundred twenty‐eight client‐owned dogs and 9 experimental Beagles from the Clinical Veterinary Unit of the University of Liège.MethodsWe prospectively measured plasma DPP4 activity in 5 groups of dogs: normal growing dogs (n = 21), normal adult dogs (n = 60), healthy Beagle (n = 9), dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (n = 35), and dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 12). The final diagnosis and the severity of HF were determined by Doppler echocardiography. Plasma DPP4 activity was measured kinetically by a fluorimetric method.ResultsIn growing dogs, DPP4 activity was higher than in adults (P < .001) and inversely correlated with age (r = −0.57, P < .01). In adults, DPP4 activity increased linearly with body weight (r = 0.39, P < .01), but there was no influence of age or sex. No effect of the circadian rhythm was noted. DPP4 activity was significantly higher in HF ISACHC I (16.3 ± 1.14 U/L) compared with healthy adults (12.4 ± 0.65 U/L, P < .05) and HF ISACHC III (11.0 ± 1.50 U/L, P < .05). Mean DPP4 activity in ISACHC II was 15.1 ± 1.4 U/L.Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceWe did not find evidence that plasma DPP4 activity is responsible for the “BNP resistance” in overt congestive HF, but it may be implicated in early stages.
An investigation of Martian northern high‐latitude and polar impact crater interiors: Atypical interior topographic features and cavity wall slopes
Authors: FAGAN A. L. , SAKIMOTO S. E. H. 
Published: May 2012

Abstract– We examine Martian northern high‐latitude and polar impact craters (NPICs) to better understand the north polar materials and polar processes. We examine topographic characteristics for 346 NPICs and compare them to global fit data (e.g., Garvin et al. 2003; Boyce and Garbeil 2007) as well as to a small set (N = 92) of southern high‐latitude and polar impact craters (SPICs). We find that the NPIC population above 57° N is significantly shallower than the global crater population. This suggests that the NPICs (1) were initially shallow due to target properties of polar geologic units; (2) were once deeper, but have been infilled due to polar processes; or (3) a combination of both. Indeed, many of the NPICs exhibit considerable noncentral peak interior topographic features (IFTs), which may be indicative of infilling processes. The NPIC IFTs also appear to display trends in their preferential orientation within the crater cavity; some SPICs display similar interior features, but do not show a clear preference in their orientation within the crater cavity. In addition, the NPIC population displays cavity wall slope trends that seem to indicate steepening of slopes with increasing crater diameter in comparison to the global slope trend (Garvin et al. 2003). These trends suggest that the NPICs are unique in their geometry when compared to the global data set as well as with the SPICs further indicating that the north polar region may exhibit target properties and polar processes not seen in the south polar region or elsewhere on Mars.
Declarative knowledge and professional vision in teacher education: Effect of courses in teaching and learning
Authors: Stürmer Kathleen , Könings Karen D. , Seidel Tina 
Published: May 2012

Background. Teachers’ professional vision includes the ability to apply general pedagogical knowledge about components of effective teaching and learning to reason about significant features of classroom practice. It requires teachers to (a) describe, (b) explain, and (c) predict classroom situations. Although the acquisition of underling knowledge can be considered as a key element of university‐based teacher education programmes, to date, there has been little empirical research on teacher candidates’ development of professional vision.Aims. This study aims to improve understanding of how different university‐based courses in teaching and learning impact the development of professional vision.Sample. Participants were teacher candidates (N= 53) attending the same teacher education programme at a German university. They were enrolled in one of three different compulsory courses in teaching and learning, lasting one semester.Methods. In a pre‐test–post‐test design, participants’ declarative knowledge about teaching and learning was measured with a test, professional vision with the online tool Observer. Analysis of covariance and multivariate analysis of variance were conducted.Results. Teacher candidates in all three courses showed significant gains both in declarative knowledge and professional vision. Patterns of results differed depending on the course attended. A video‐based course with a focus on effective teaching resulted in highest gains in prediction of the consequences of observed events for student learning processes, which is the highest level of knowledge transfer.Conclusion. The development of professional vision is a strongly knowledge‐guided process. In line with their content and aims, university‐based courses can enhance teaching‐relevant knowledge for teacher candidates.