bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of obesity and lower serum prostate‐specific antigen levels on prostate‐cancer screening results in American men
Authors: Culp Stephen , Porter Michael 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo determine if lower serum total prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels in obese American men affect prostate‐cancer screening results, as an increased body mass index (BMI) is inversely associated with PSA level, but the effect of this association on PSA screening results for prostate cancer is unknown.SUBJECTS AND METHODSWe analysed the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES 2001–2002, 2003–2004, and 2005–2006), a nationally representative cross‐sectional sample of non‐institutionalized adults aged ≥20 years. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of an ‘abnormal’ PSA level (4.0 or 2.5 ng/mL) based on BMI categories of normal (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25–29.9) and obese (30–39.9) in men who were eligible for prostate‐cancer screening with serum total PSA tests (age 40–75 years, BMI 18.5–39.9 kg/m2, PSA <20 ng/mL).RESULTSIn all, 3152 participants with no known prostate cancer, representing 46 million American men, were eligible for prostate‐cancer screening. After controlling for age and race, there was a statistically significant trend of a lower likelihood of having a serum total PSA level of ≥4.0 ng/mL with increased BMI. When men were stratified by race, this effect was apparent only in white non‐Hispanic men, with obese men in this group having a 46% lower likelihood of having an ‘abnormal’ PSA level (odds ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.31–0.91; P = 0.024) than those with a normal BMI. There was no observable trend in either African‐American or Hispanic men. In addition, there was no observable trend with a serum total PSA threshold of 2.5 ng/mL, regardless of race.CONCLUSIONSObese white non‐Hispanic men are about half as likely as those with a normal BMI to have a PSA level of ≥4.0 ng/mL. These results might affect prostate‐cancer screening with serum total PSA. Further studies are needed to better define the association of BMI and PSA in racial minority subgroups.
Long‐term quality‐of‐life outcome after mesh sacrocolpopexy for vaginal vault prolapse
Authors: Thomas Arun Z. , Giri Subhasis K. , Cox Ann‐Marie , Creagh Tom 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long‐term outcome of mesh sacrocolpopexy (MSC, which aims to restore normal pelvic floor anatomy to alleviate prolapse related symptoms) and its effect on patient’s quality of life, as women with vaginal vault prolapse commonly have various pelvic floor symptoms that can affect urinary, rectal and sexual function.PATIENTS AND METHODSFrom January 2000 to June 2006, consecutive patients with confirmed stage 2–4 vaginal vault prolapse subsequently had a MSC. Detailed telephone interviews using the Cleveland Clinic Short Form‐20 Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) questionnaire, with Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI), Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory (POPDI) and Colorectal‐Anal Distress Inventory (CRADI) subscales was completed by all patients to assess symptoms before and after MSC, improvement in sexual function and overall satisfaction.RESULTSIn all, 21 patients had abdominal MSC; the median (range) follow‐up was 52.2 (21–99) months. Total PFDI scores were significantly better after MSC (mean 44.0/300) than before (mean 113.9/300; P < 0.001). Analysis of the subscale scores showed that all patients reported a significant improvement of symptoms in the POPDI category (P < 0.001). CRADI subscale scores showed no significant change after MSC (before, mean 7.43/100 vs after 8.47/100; P = 0.542). There was an improvement of urinary symptoms on the UDI subscale after MSC but it was not statistically significant (P = 0.08). Analysis of score differences over time after MSC showed an insignificant decreasing slope (P = 0.227), suggesting long‐term stability of symptoms after surgery; 90% of patients reported a significant improvement in sexual function and excellent long‐term overall satisfaction with MSC.CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that MSC is a safe and effective surgical option for treating vaginal vault prolapse, providing symptom improvement and stability in the long term.
Urinary catheter balloons should only be filled with water: testing the myth
Authors: Huang James G. , Ooi Jason , Lawrentschuk Nathan , Chan Steven T.F. , Travis Douglas , Wong Lih‐Ming 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo test the hypothesis that urinary catheter balloons filled with sterile water, saline or glycine have equivalent rates of failure to deflate.MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was an in vitro equivalence study designed to test whether saline or glycine are neither substantially worse nor substantially better than water in terms of balloon‐deflation failure rates. Glycine was chosen as the third arm, as it is readily available during endoscopic procedures and would be useful to use in such situations. We hypothesised that balloon‐deflation failure rates using saline or glycine were no worse than water by 10%. We calculated the sample size for equivalence testing; 600 catheters were randomized by computer‐generated random numbers to receive 10 mL of water, saline or glycine, and then immersed in a heated artificial urine solution for 6 weeks. The catheter balloons were then deflated, noting any failures to deflate and recording the deflation volumes.RESULTSThere was no failure to deflate in all 600 catheters. The median deflation volume for water, saline and glycine was 9.0, 9.2 and 9.1 mL, respectively (P < 0.001 Kruskal–Wallis test). Post‐hoc pair‐wise comparisons showed that the deflation volume difference between water and saline was significant (P < 0.001), as was that between water and glycine (P < 0.001). The practical implication of this difference is not apparent from this study.CONCLUSIONSThe use of saline or glycine in catheter balloons has an equivalent deflation failure rate to using water, which in this study was zero.
A novel strategy based on histological protein profiling in‐silico for identifying potential biomarkers in urinary bladder cancer
Authors: Segersten M. Ulrika , Edlund E. Karolina , Micke Patrick , De La Torre Manuel , Hamberg Hans , Edvinsson Åsa E.L. , Andersson Sandra E.C. , Malmström Per‐Uno , Wester H. Kenneth 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo screen a publicly available immunohistochemistry (IHC) based web‐atlas, to identify key proteins in bladder cancer that might serve as potential biomarkers.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe first version of the Human Protein Atlas (HPA 1.0), with 660 proteins, was visually examined to identify proteins with a variable staining pattern among the 12 tissue samples representing bladder cancer. None or limited previous characterization in bladder cancer, as well as a supportive Western blot, were also required. The selected proteins were then evaluated in an independent set of patient samples (106 tumour samples of differing stage and grade) represented in a tissue microarray (TMAi). The IHC expression of the identified proteins in the TMAi was scored and related to tumour stage and grade.RESULTSThe expression profiles of the 13 proteins selected from the web‐atlas were confirmed in the TMAi. Expression patterns for seven proteins were significantly altered (P < 0.05) with higher stage and/or grade. Three of those (CN130, DSG3, PHF6) lack characterization in bladder cancer, whereas the remaining four proteins have previously been suggested as key proteins/potential biomarkers in cancer, some of them also in bladder cancer.CONCLUSIONNew candidate proteins for urinary bladder cancer were identified through screening of the publicly available HPA 1.0. Although further evaluation is necessary, this strategy is promising in the search for new biomarkers, with potential to improve the management of patients with this disease.
Urinary nerve growth factor level is increased in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and decreased in responders to treatment
Authors: Liu Hsin‐Tzu , Tyagi Pradeep , Chancellor Michael B. , Kuo Hann‐Chorng 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo measure urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), and to evaluate the role of urinary NGF in predicting the response to treatment, as the clinical diagnosis of IC/BPS is based on subjective symptoms and recent investigations suggest that urinary NGF is increased in patients with IC/BPS.PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODSUrine samples from 122 patients with IC/BPS and 28 normal controls were measured for NGF levels using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The diagnosis of IC/BPS was based on bladder pain symptoms and the results of cystoscopic hydrodistension. Patients’ perception of pain was assessed by a visual analogue scale (VAS) and a ‘global’ response assessment after treatment. Urinary NGF levels were further normalized to the concentration of urinary creatinine (NGF/Cr) and compared between control and IC/BPS subgroups at diagnosis and after treatment.RESULTSUrinary NGF/Cr levels were very low when the bladder was not distended and significantly elevated with a full bladder in patients with IC/BPS. However, urinary NGF/Cr levels were not correlated with VAS scores or cystometric bladder capacity at diagnosis, or maximum bladder capacity during hydrodistension. Patients who responded to treatment and had an improvement in VAS pain score of ≥2 had significantly lower NGF/Cr levels than nonresponders who had a VAS improvement of <2.CONCLUSIONSPatients with IC/BPS had greater urinary NGF/Cr levels than controls. A decrease of urinary NGF level was associated with greater pain reduction and a successful response, suggesting that urinary NGF levels can be a useful biomarker for detecting the severity of the bladder condition in patients with IC/BPS.
ADAMTS1, a putative anti‐angiogenic factor, is decreased in human prostate cancer
Authors: Gustavsson Heléne , Wang Wanzhong , Jennbacken Karin , Welén Karin , Damber Jan‐Erik 
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of ‘ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type I motif, 1’ (ADAMTS1) in human prostate cancer, and to study its relationship to microvessel density (MVD) and metastasis. ADAMTS1 has been described as an anti‐angiogenic and antitumour factor, but its function in prostate cancer is unknown.PATIENTS AND METHODSADAMTS1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in specimens obtained by transurethral resection of the prostate from patients with hormone‐naïve and hormone‐refractory prostate tumours, including adjacent benign tissue. A semiquantitative scoring system was used for evaluating the staining. MVD was quantified by counting the number of CD34‐positive blood vessels.RESULTSADAMTS1 was strongly expressed in the luminal epithelial cells in benign prostate glands, whereas expression was significantly lower in prostate cancer cells. There was no obvious difference between hormone‐naïve and hormone‐refractory tumours, and ADAMTS1 expression did not correlate with Gleason score. However, in hormone‐refractory tumours from patients with metastatic disease, the expression of ADAMTS1 was significantly lower than in tumours from patients without metastases. Furthermore, the MVD was higher in hormone‐refractory than in hormone‐naïve tumours and benign tissue, and MVD correlated with Gleason score. There was no association between ADAMTS1 and MVD in the hormone‐naïve tumours, while hormone‐refractory tumours with low ADAMTS1 expression had a higher MVD than those with moderate/high expression.CONCLUSIONADAMTS1 expression is decreased in prostate cancer, and might be involved in the early steps of prostate cancer development. Further, ADAMTS1 might have an anti‐angiogenic and antimetastatic role in hormone‐refractory prostate cancer, where low ADAMTS1 expression is associated with a high MVD and metastasis.
Hybrid Dirichlet Mixture Models for Functional Data
Authors: Petrone Sonia , Guindani Michele , Gelfand Alan E. 
Published: June 2009

SummaryIn functional data analysis, curves or surfaces are observed, up to measurement error, at a finite set of locations, for, say, a sample of n individuals. Often, the curves are homogeneous, except perhaps for individual-specific regions that provide heterogeneous behaviour (e.g. ‘damaged’ areas of irregular shape on an otherwise smooth surface). Motivated by applications with functional data of this nature, we propose a Bayesian mixture model, with the aim of dimension reduction, by representing the sample of n curves through a smaller set of canonical curves. We propose a novel prior on the space of probability measures for a random curve which extends the popular Dirichlet priors by allowing local clustering: non-homogeneous portions of a curve can be allocated to different clusters and the n individual curves can be represented as recombinations (hybrids) of a few canonical curves. More precisely, the prior proposed envisions a conceptual hidden factor with k-levels that acts locally on each curve. We discuss several models incorporating this prior and illustrate its performance with simulated and real data sets. We examine theoretical properties of the proposed finite hybrid Dirichlet mixtures, specifically, their behaviour as the number of the mixture components goes to ∞ and their connection with Dirichlet process mixtures.
Bootstrapping Frequency Domain Tests in Multivariate Time Series with an Application to Comparing Spectral Densities
Authors: Dette Holger , Paparoditis Efstathios 
Published: June 2009

SummaryWe propose a general bootstrap procedure to approximate the null distribution of non-parametric frequency domain tests about the spectral density matrix of a multivariate time series. Under a set of easy-to-verify conditions, we establish asymptotic validity of the bootstrap procedure proposed. We apply a version of this procedure together with a new statistic to test the hypothesis that the spectral densities of not necessarily independent time series are equal. The test statistic proposed is based on an L2-distance between the non-parametrically estimated individual spectral densities and an overall, ‘pooled’ spectral density, the latter being obtained by using the whole set of m time series considered. The effects of the dependence between the time series on the power behaviour of the test are investigated. Some simulations are presented and a real life data example is discussed.
Robust Discrimination Designs
Authors: Wiens Douglas P. 
Published: June 2009

SummaryWe study the construction of experimental designs, the purpose of which is to aid in the discrimination between two possibly non-linear regression models, each of which might be only approximately specified. A rough description of our approach is that we impose neighbourhood structures on each regression response and determine the members of these neighbourhoods which are least favourable in the sense of minimizing the Kullback–Leibler divergence. Designs are obtained which maximize this minimum divergence. Both static and sequential approaches are studied. We then consider sequential designs whose purpose is initially to discriminate, but which move their emphasis towards efficient estimation or prediction as one model becomes favoured over the other.
Diversification, Refocusing and Firm Value
Authors: Çolak Gönül 
Published: June 2009

Abstract At any point in time a firm faces three restructuring choices: diversify, refocus, or do nothing. This study analyses the causes and the consequences of these actions in a unified framework using the appropriate methodologies. Various factors, such as firm's characteristics and multinational nature, its industry's characteristics, its exchange and index inclusion, and divested (or acquired) segment(s)' industry conditions, are considered as the determinants of the diversifying and the refocusing decisions. The estimation results from the corresponding multinomial logit model suggest that refocusing occurs generally due to firm‐specific reasons, and diversification due to outside factors, such as industry and economic conditions. Added or dropped segment's industry profitability, its relationship to the core business of the firm, and its relatedness to the businesses of the conglomerate's other segments have a nontrivial effect on either decision. In a related analysis, the paper explicitly models and estimates the valuation consequences that are sustained by the firm after it undertakes a refocusing or a diversification action. To isolate the changes in firm's value that are due to these decisions only, a 2SLS estimation is used to control for endogeneity that arises because the factors that affect a firm's value are likely to have also induced the firm to make the corresponding decision. The novelty of my approach is in its inclusion of variables measuring the consequences due to both actions, the diversification and the refocusing, in the same valuation equation. Contrary to some earlier findings, I find no evidence of ‘diversification discount’ or ‘refocusing premium.’ The choice of this paper to analyse all corporate restructuring decisions in a unified framework yields valuable business insights into the reasons for undertaking such corporate events.
Conduct problems, IQ, and household chaos: a longitudinal multi‐informant study
Authors: Deater‐Deckard Kirby , Mullineaux Paula Y. , Beekman Charles , Petrill Stephen A. , Schatschneider Chris , Thompson Lee A. 
Published: June 2009

Background:  We tested the hypothesis that household chaos would be associated with lower child IQ and more child conduct problems concurrently and longitudinally over two years while controlling for housing conditions, parent education/IQ, literacy environment, parental warmth/negativity, and stressful events.Methods:  The sample included 302 families with same‐sex twins (58% female) in Kindergarten/1st grade at the first assessment. Parents’ and observers’ ratings were gathered, with some collected over a two‐year period.Results:  Chaos varied widely. There was substantial mother–father agreement and longitudinal stability. Chaos covaried with poorer housing conditions, lower parental education/IQ, poorer home literacy environment, higher stress, higher negativity and lower warmth. Chaos statistically predicted lower IQ and more conduct problems, beyond the effects of other home environment factors.Conclusions:  Even with other home environment factors controlled, higher levels of chaos were linked concurrently with lower child IQ, and concurrently and longitudinally with more child conduct problems. Parent self‐reported chaos represents an important aspect of housing and family functioning, with respect to children’s cognitive and behavioral functioning.
The muscarinic M1 receptor activates Nrf2 through a signaling cascade that involves protein kinase C and inhibition of GSK‐3beta: connecting neurotransmission with neuroprotection
Authors: Espada Sandra , Rojo Ana I. , Salinas Marta , Cuadrado Antonio 
Published: June 2009

AbstractIn this study, we provide evidence that the muscarinic M1 receptor targets NF‐E2‐related factor‐2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes containing antioxidant response elements (AREs) in their promoters and that collectively constitute the phase II antioxidant response. In hippocampal primary and cerebellar granule neuron cultures expressing endogenous M1 receptor, carbachol increased the levels of a prototypical phase II antioxidant enzyme, heme oxygenase‐1. Moreover, in a heterologous system, based on lentiviral expression of M1 receptor in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells, we found that M1 increased total and nuclear Nrf2 protein levels and heme oxygenase‐1 messenger RNA and protein levels. Luciferase reporter constructs for AREs and the use of two inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC), chelerythrine and 2‐aminoethyl diphenylborinate, or transfection with relevant expression vectors allowed us to identify Gαq, phospholipase C‐β and the classical PKC‐γ isoenzyme, as responsible for the regulation of Nrf2. A PKC‐insensitive Nrf2S40A single‐point mutant partially channeled M1 signaling to AREs, therefore suggesting the participation of additional intermediates. Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) augmented M1‐dependent activation of AREs while a PKC‐insensitive mutant of GSK‐3β (GSK‐3β‐Δ9) blocked this effect and prevented M1‐induced accumulation of Nrf2 in the nucleus. Our results demonstrate a previously unidentified role of the Gαq/phospholipase C‐β/PKC/GSK‐3β axis in regulation of Nrf2 by M1. Such role provides additional conceptual support for the use of cholinemimetics in the treatment of pathologies that, like Alzheimer’s disease, require a reinforcement of the cell antioxidant capacity.
Evidence for a dopaminergic innervation of the pedunculopontine nucleus in monkeys, and its drastic reduction after MPTP intoxication
Authors: Rolland Anne‐Sophie , Tandé Dominique , Herrero Maria‐Trinidad , Luquin Maria‐Rosario , Vazquez‐Claverie Marianne , Karachi Carine , Hirsch Etienne C , François Chantal 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe involvement of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) and the adjacent cuneiform nucleus (CuN), known as the mesencephalic locomotor area, in the pathophysiology of parkinsonian symptoms is receiving increasing attention. Taking into account the role of dopamine (DA) in motor control and its degeneration in Parkinson’s disease, this neurotransmitter could induce dysfunction in the PPN and CuN through a direct dopaminergic innervation of these brainstem structures. This study provides the first demonstration that the PPN and CuN are innervated by dopamine transporter‐bearing fibres in normal monkeys, which points to a novel dopaminergic system that targets the lower brainstem. Intoxication with MPTP induced a significant loss of dopamine transporter‐positive fibres in the PPN and CuN of young (3–5 years old) acutely or chronically intoxicated monkeys compared with control animals. The more severe DA depletion found after chronic intoxication may explain, at least in part, deficits that appear late in the evolution of Parkinson’s disease. A drastic loss of DA fibres was also observed in aged acutely intoxicated monkeys (about 30 years old) suggesting that age‐ and disease‐related loss of dopaminergic fibres might be responsible for symptoms, such as gait disorders, that are more severe in elderly parkinsonian patients.