bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Perspective of Moral and Financial Rights of Intellectual Property in Islam
Authors: Melhem Basem , Haloosh Hitham , Mahafzah Qais Ali 
Published: October 2009

AbstractDuring the Islamic era, Muslims were pioneers in preserving intellectual property rights. Nowadays, however, according to Halāl and Harām, Islamic scholars view intellectual property rights differently, depending on the perspective taken during consideration. As a consequence, one may question whether there is any basis for the concept 'intellectual property rights' in Islamic rules, values, or thoughts, and whether violation of such rights would constitute a sin, similar to violation of any other tangible property. This study on intellectual property rights presents diverging opinions encountered in Islam and concludes that issuing a verdict of Harām or Halāl would be unsuitable for the violation of intellectual property rights, which is a secular issue. The concept 'Intellectual Property' existed in Islam centuries ago in the dress of moral rights. While financial rights, on the other hand, are an arguable issue, intellectual property rights shall be protected and affected as well.
Cyclic Testing of 3 All-Inside Meniscal Repair Devices
Authors: Mehta Vishal M. , Terry Michael A. 
Published: October 2009

Background Despite the growing popularity of all-inside meniscal repair devices, concerns remain about their fixation strength. It is also unclear which of these devices have the most ideal biomechanical properties. Purpose To compare the biomechanical properties of 3 all-inside meniscal repair devices: the Meniscal Cinch, Ultra FAST-FIX, and MaxFire. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Twenty-seven human cadaveric menisci (3 groups of 9) were repaired using 3 different meniscal repair devices. The repaired menisci were then subjected to cyclic loading and load-to-failure testing. Gap formation and ultimate load to failure were measured. Results Six of the devices failed during cyclic testing, 4 in the MaxFire group (44%), 1 in the Ultra FAST-FIX group (11%), and 1 in the Meniscal Cinch group (11%). After 1 cycle, there was a trend toward larger gap formation in the MaxFire group (3.65 mm) compared with the Meniscal Cinch group (2.12 mm, P = .05). After 100 cycles, group differences were found in gap formation ( P = .03), with the MaxFire group exhibiting greater displacement (6.70 mm) than the Ultra FAST-FIX group (3.59 mm). After 500 cycles, group differences in gap formation (Meniscal Cinch, 5.94; Ultra FAST-FIX, 4.74 mm; Max Fire, 7.19 mm) did not reach statistical significance ( P = .20). A trend was found toward higher ultimate load to failure in the Ultra FAST-FIX (86.1 N) and Meniscal Cinch (85.3 N) groups compared with the MaxFire group (64.5 N, P = .06). Stiffness was also higher in the Ultra FAST-FIX (25.2 N/mm) and Meniscal Cinch (25.5 N/mm) groups than the MaxFire group (16.3 N/mm, P = .02). Conclusion The Meniscal Cinch and Ultra FAST-FIX devices have more desirable biomechanical properties than the MaxFire as demonstrated by higher stiffness and a lower failure rate during cyclic testing. Clinical Relevance The Meniscal Cinch and Ultra FAST-FIX devices may be more desirable implants for use during all-inside meniscal repair as they have superior biomechanical properties when compared with the MaxFire device.
Identification of a myeloid committed progenitor as the cancer-initiating cell in acute promyelocytic leukemia
Authors: Guibal Florence C. , Alberich-Jorda Meritxell , Hirai Hideyo , Ebralidze Alexander , Levantini Elena , Di Ruscio Annalisa , Zhang Pu , Santana-Lemos Barbara A. , Neuberg Donna , Wagers Amy J. , Rego Eduardo M. , Tenen Daniel G. 
Published: October 2009

Abstract
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a block in differentiation and accumulation of promyelocytes in the bone marrow and blood. The majority of APL patients harbor the t(15:17) translocation leading to expression of the fusion protein promyelocytic-retinoic acid receptor α. Treatment with retinoic acid leads to degradation of promyelocytic-retinoic acid receptor α protein and disappearance of leukemic cells; however, 30% of APL patients relapse after treatment. One potential mechanism for relapse is the persistence of cancer “stem” cells in hematopoietic organs after treatment. Using a novel sorting strategy we developed to isolate murine myeloid cells at distinct stages of differentiation, we identified a population of committed myeloid cells (CD34+, c-kit+, FcγRIII/II+, Gr1int) that accumulates in the spleen and bone marrow in a murine model of APL. We observed that these cells are capable of efficiently generating leukemia in recipient mice, demonstrating that this population represents the APL cancer–initiating cell. These cells down-regulate the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) possibly through a methylation-dependent mechanism, indicating that C/EBPα deregulation contributes to transformation of APL cancer–initiating cells. Our findings provide further understanding of the biology of APL by demonstrating that a committed transformed progenitor can initiate and propagate the disease.
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells from blood cells of healthy donors and patients with acquired blood disorders
Authors: Ye Zhaohui , Zhan Huichun , Mali Prashant , Dowey Sarah , Williams Donna M. , Jang Yoon-Young , Dang Chi V. , Spivak Jerry L. , Moliterno Alison R. , Cheng Linzhao 
Published: October 2009

Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from somatic cells hold promise to develop novel patient-specific cell therapies and research models for inherited and acquired diseases. We and others previously reprogrammed human adherent cells, such as postnatal fibroblasts to iPS cells, which resemble adherent embryonic stem cells. Here we report derivation of iPS cells from postnatal human blood cells and the potential of these pluripotent cells for disease modeling. Multiple human iPS cell lines were generated from previously frozen cord blood or adult CD34+ cells of healthy donors, and could be redirected to hematopoietic differentiation. Multiple iPS cell lines were also generated from peripheral blood CD34+ cells of 2 patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) who acquired the JAK2-V617F somatic mutation in their blood cells. The MPD-derived iPS cells containing the mutation appeared normal in phenotypes, karyotype, and pluripotency. After directed hematopoietic differentiation, the MPD-iPS cell-derived hematopoietic progenitor (CD34+CD45+) cells showed the increased erythropoiesis and gene expression of specific genes, recapitulating features of the primary CD34+ cells of the corresponding patient from whom the iPS cells were derived. These iPS cells provide a renewable cell source and a prospective hematopoiesis model for investigating MPD pathogenesis.
Neutrophil-specific deletion of Syk kinase results in reduced host defense to bacterial infection
Authors: Van Ziffle Jessica A. , Lowell Clifford A. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractLeukocyte-specific CD18 integrins are critical in mediating cell recruitment and activation during host defense responses to bacterial infection. The signaling pathways downstream of CD18 integrins are dependent on the spleen tyrosine kinase, Syk. To investigate the role integrin signaling plays in host defense, we examined the responses of Syk-deficient neutrophils to bacterial challenge with serum-opsonized Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Syk-conditional knockout mice lacking this kinase specifically in myeloid cells or just neutrophils were also used to investigate host responses in vivo. Syk-deficient neutrophils manifested impaired exocytosis of secondary and tertiary granules, reduced cytokine release, and very poor activation of the NADPH oxidase in response to serum-opsonized S aureus and E coli. These functional defects correlated with impaired activation of c-Cbl, Pyk2, Erk1/2, and p38 kinases. Bacterial phagocytosis, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, and killing were also reduced in Syk-deficient cells, with a more profound effect after S aureus challenge. In vivo, loss of Syk in myeloid cells or specifically in neutrophils resulted in reduced clearance of S aureus after subcutaneous or intraperitoneal infection, despite normal recruitment of inflammatory cells. These results indicate that loss of Syk kinase-mediated integrin signaling impairs leukocyte activation, leading to reduced host defense responses.
How I treat acute promyelocytic leukemia
Authors: Tallman Martin S. , Altman Jessica K. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAcute promyelocytic leukemia is the first malignant disease highly curable with targeted therapy directed at a unique molecular abnormality. The characteristic bleeding diathesis is the most notorious manifestation of the disease, which historically has accounted for a high mortality rate during induction. Acute promyelocytic leukemia is one of the few hematologic diseases that must be recognized under the microscope by the practicing hematologist because early institution of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) at the first suspicion of the disease before confirmation of the diagnosis and aggressive blood product support are critical to reduce early mortality. ATRA plus anthracycline-based chemotherapy for induction and consolidation followed by maintenance ATRA with low-dose chemotherapy is currently the standard of care. However, the combination of ATRA and arsenic trioxide, with minimal chemotherapy to control leukocytosis, is very effective therapy for newly diagnosed patients. This combination may replace conventional approaches for most, if not all, patients in the very near future. Acute promyelocytic leukemia should be considered in any patient with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia because the treatment is urgent and different from all other subtypes.
IL-21 preferentially enhances IL-15-mediated homeostatic proliferation of human CD28+ CD8 memory T cells throughout the adult age span
Authors: Nguyen Huy , Weng Nan-ping 
Published: October 2009

Abstract
IL-21 enhances IL-15-mediated proliferation of CD8 memory T cells, particularly CD28+ memory T cells, and also serves as an antagonist to the IL-15-induced increase of CD28− CD8 T cells.
An age-related decline in human immune response is marked by the accumulation of CD28– CD8 T cells, which is attributed to repeated antigenic stimulation and to homeostatic proliferation mediated by cytokines such as IL-15. However, the identity of the cytokines that are responsible for the maintenance of CD28 expression is less known. Here, we report the role of IL-21 in the regulation of IL-15-mediated growth and CD28 expression of CD8 memory T cells of young and old donors. We showed that IL-21 drives more IL-15-stimulated cells to enter cell division and to undergo apoptosis. Furthermore, IL-21 preferentially enhanced IL-15-induced proliferation of CD28+ CD8 memory T cells over their CD28– counterparts, as CD28+ cells expressed higher levels of IL-15R and IL-21R and greater pSTAT5 upon IL-15 and IL-21 stimulation. In addition, IL-21 reduced IL-15-induced CD28 down-regulation in CD8 memory T cells. Finally, the ability of proliferation and survival in response to homeostatic cytokines IL-15 and IL-21 of CD28+ CD8 memory T cells was well-maintained with age. Together, these findings suggest that IL-21 enhances IL-15-mediated proliferation of CD8 memory T cells, particularly CD28+ memory T cells, and also serves as an antagonist to the IL-15-induced increase of CD28– CD8 T cells.
Minimal cutsets-based reduction approach for the use of binary decision diagrams on probabilistic safety assessment fault tree models
Authors: Ibáñez-Llano C , Rauzy A , Meléndez E , Nieto F 
Published: October 2009

Binary decision diagrams (BDDs) are a well-known alternative to the minimal cutsets (MCS) approach to assess Boolean reliability models. While the application of fault tree analysis can be considered to be consolidated, its application to the event trees involved in the probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) studies of the nuclear industry require extended efforts. For many real PSA models the full conversion procedure remains out of reach in terms of computational resources owing to their size, non-coherency, redundancy, and complexity. A potential solution to improve the quality of assessment methods is to design hybrid algorithms that combine the information derived from the calculation of MCS with the BDD methodology. As a first step to develop this new approach, this paper explores various procedures and strategies based on this principle. First, a method is presented to reduce the fault tree model by considering only the domain of the most relevant MCS of the system prior to the BDD conversion and the impact on the final probability of the model is analysed. Second, several ordering heuristics derived from the MCS and the structural information of the model are proposed and compared, both in terms of their general performance and their sensitivity to the initial rewriting of the model. This preliminary study is applied on a set of fault tree models belonging to a real PSA study. The results obtained lead to some promising conclusions: it is shown that the topological information proves to be essential for the ordering and conversion procedures; it is also revealed that the rewriting strategies should be considered when designing variable ordering methods; and, finally, it is demonstrated that the reduction procedure provides a faster computation process without affecting the final probability. The long-term objective, which has motivated this work, is to apply this reduction procedure to quantify sequences of linked fault trees, both static and dynamic, a task for which further work is required.
Re-Admissions Following Hip Fracture Surgery
Authors: Hahnel James , Burdekin Hannah , Anand Sanjeev 
Published: October 2009

INTRODUCTION Hip fractures in the elderly are a growing problem with a predicted incidence of 117,000 cases per year by 2016. Re-admission following a healthcare episode is an important outcome measure, which reflects non-fatal adverse events and indicates the natural history of disease. The purpose of this observational, multicentre audit was to examine rates and reasons for re-admission following hip fracture, to identify areas in the index admission and rehabilitation care that could be improved to prevent re-admission. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 535 patients (> 65 years old) in two district general hospitals in the UK who underwent hip fracture surgery were recruited into the study. RESULTS Of the study cohort, 72 patients (13.5%) died during their index admission and 88 (19.0%) of 463 patients were re-admitted once within 3 months. Causes of re-admission were attributed to medical (54.8%), failure to rehabilitate (23.8%), orthopaedic (19.0%) and surgical (2.4%) reasons. Infection was the most common (31.0%) reason for re-admission and arguably the most treatable. During the 3-month postoperative period, the mortality rate was 21.3%, increasing in those re-admitted to 35.1% representing the frailty of this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS High rates of re-admission are seen following discharge in elderly patients with hip fractures. Re-admitted patients have high mortality rates. Understanding causes of re-admission may help to reduce this burden.
Laparoscopic Appendicectomy: Calculating the Cost
Authors: Needham PJ , Laughlan KA , Botterill ID , Ambrose NS 
Published: October 2009

INTRODUCTION Laparoscopic appendicectomy is a commonly performed procedure presenting a considerable cost burden. Given the additional operative costs of laparoscopic versus open appendicectomy, it is not clear whether the national tariffs are appropriate for laparoscopic appendicectomy. We conducted a study to establish the institutional costs, and to determine whether re-imbursement according to the national tariffs was sufficient. PATIENTS AND METHODS Data were collected prospectively on patients undergoing laparoscopic appendicectomy within Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. Theatre and bed costs were obtained. Cost analysis was performed, and costs were compared to the re-imbursement due. RESULTS Fifty laparoscopic appendicectomies were performed. Median operative time was 60 min. The median total operative cost of laparoscopic appendicectomy was £906. Median equipment cost for laparoscopically completed cases was £254. Median total in-patient cost was £1617 (range, £880–£3360). This compared with a mean re-imbursement of £1981 representing a cost benefit of £233 per case (P = 0.0009). CONCLUSIONS Despite a liberal use of disposable equipment, laparoscopic appendicectomy can still be performed within the confines of the national tariffs. There is a considerable variation in the cost of this procedure, and it may be possible to reduce costs by more stringent use of disposable equipment and standardising recovery protocols.
Improving Osteoporosis Assessment in the Fracture Clinic
Authors: Charalambous CP , Mosey C , Johnstone E , Akimau P , Gullett TK , Siddique I , Wilkes RA 
Published: October 2009

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of different ways of referring patients to an osteoporosis assessment service at an orthopaedic fracture clinic of a hospital in the UK. PATIENTS AND METHODS Three methods of identifying and referring to an osteoporosis assessment service were evaluated. RESULTS Relying on doctors for such a referral gave a catchment rate of only 1.6%. Involving patients themselves, asking them to self-refer, increased the catchment rate to 63% (P < 0.0001). Having a specialist osteoporosis and fracture liaison nurse present in clinic and reviewing the notes of patients checking in, to see if they match criteria for osteoporosis assessment, further increased catchment to 77% (P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS Simply having an osteoporosis assessment service and strict criteria to identify which patients should be referred to such a service will not necessarily increase catchment rate for osteoporosis patients. A nurse physically present in the clinic provided the best result, and supports the need of investing in an osteoporosis and fracture liaison nurse.
‘Nephrostomy-Free’ Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Experience in a UK District General Hospital
Authors: Yates DR , Safdar RK , Spencer PA , Parys BT 
Published: October 2009

INTRODUCTION Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the first-line treatment for large and complex renal calculi. Accepted UK practice is to insert a nephrostomy tube at the end of the procedure to drain the kidney and reduce potential complications. ‘Tubeless’ or ‘nephrostomy-free’ PCNL has been advocated in selected patients as it is thought to reduce length of hospital stay, analgesia requirements and pain experienced. We present our outcomes of a consecutive series (n = 101) of ‘nephrostomy-free’ PCNLs compared to standard PCNL over a 4-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between January 2004 and October 2006, we performed 55 standard (with nephrostomy tube) PCNLs (Group 1). From October 2006 onwards, we changed our technique and have performed 46 consecutive ‘nephrostomy-free’ PCNLs (JJ stent inserted), independent of patient and stone factors (Group 2). We have compared the two groups in terms of length of hospital stay (LOS), analgesia requirements, transfusion rates, haemoglobin (Hb) decrease and immediate, early and late complications. RESULTS ‘Nephrostomy-free’ PCNL significantly reduced the length of hospital stay (2.8 vs 5.1 days; P < 0.001), morphine-based analgesia requirements (23% no morphine required vs 2.8%; P < 0.001), transfusion rate (2.5% vs 7%; P < 0.01) and mean Hb decrease (1.89 g/dl vs 2.25 g/dl; P > 0.05). Overall, no patient experienced a serious complication. All attempted ‘nephrostomy-free’ PCNLs were completed (stone clearance 95%) and no patient needed an unplanned nephrostomy. Only 5% in Group 2 needed their ureteric JJ stent removing earlier than planned secondary to pain. Both groups were comparable in terms of immediate, early and late complications, though three patients in Group 1 developed chronic loin pain and one patient in the ‘nephrostomy-free’ group developed a delayed perirenal haematoma. CONCLUSIONS ‘Nephrostomy-free’ percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a safe, effective and feasible procedure independent of patient and stone factors. It decreases the length of hospital stay, the pain experienced and the need for morphine-based analgesia; we feel it should be the standard of care for patients undergoing a PCNL.
The Use of Examination Under Anaesthesia and Panendoscopy in Patients Presenting with Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Kerawala Cyrus J , Bisase Brian , Lee Jon 
Published: October 2009

INTRODUCTION Although examination under anaesthesia and panendoscopy (EUAP) has traditionally been used in the assessment of patients presenting with oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the era of modern medicine with its advanced imaging techniques has meant that the indications for this technique have potentially reduced. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In an attempt to quantify the current use of EUAP in the UK, a structured telephone questionnaire was undertaken of 50 maxillofacial units. Information was gathered regarding whether the technique was adopted on a routine or selective basis. Likewise perceived disadvantages were sought. RESULTS Twenty-two units (44%) carried out EUAP on all patients presenting with oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC. Of the remaining 28 units, all employed EUAP on a selective basis, the most commonly for the assessment of the primary tumour. The most common perceived disadvantage of carrying out EUAP routinely was its potential to increase the waiting time to definitive treatment. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest a gradual move towards the selective use of EUAP in patients presenting with oral cavity and oropharyngeal SCC.