bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of smoking status at diagnosis on disease recurrence and death in upper tract urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Ehdaie Behfar , Furberg Helena , Zabor Emily Craig , Ostroff Jamie S. , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Bochner Bernard H. , Coleman Jonathan A. , Dalbagni Guido 
Published: May 2012

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of urothelial carcinoma; however, the impact of smoking on outcomes after surgery for upper tract urothelial carcinoma is unknown. One study suggests that patients with a smoking history have an increased risk of recurrence in the bladder compared with never smokers but these patients did not differ with respect to time to pelvic recurrence or distant metastasis.
We subdivided smokers into current and former smokers and performed multivariate analyses that showed that smoking status was not an independent predictor of recurrence when traditional prognostic factors were taken into account. In addition, competing risks analyses showed that although current smoking did not increase the risk of recurrence, it imparted a significant risk of dying compared with former and never smoking.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of smoking exposure on oncological outcomes in patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU).
Materials and Methods
Patient and disease characteristics from 288 patients with UTUC treated with RNU between 1995 and 2008 were collected from a prospectively maintained database at the Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center.
Disease recurrence was defined as distant metastases, or local failure in the operative site or regional nodes.
Factors associated with recurrence and death were determined.
Results
The prevalence of current, former and never smoking at diagnosis was 19.1%, 55.2%, and 25.7%, respectively.
71.0% of patients reported a ≥20 pack‐year smoking history.
With a median follow‐up of 4.02 years, disease recurrence occurred in 27% (n = 79) of patients and 41% (n = 117) died during follow‐up.
While age at diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, advanced stage, nodal involvement and high grade adversely affected recurrence‐free survival, smoking status was not associated with risk of recurrence or death in multivariate analysis (P = 0.60).
Multivariate competing risks regression showed that current smokers faced a significantly higher risk of death than never smokers (hazard ratio 3.64, 95% confidence interval 1.59–8.34).
Conclusions
While smoking status at diagnosis and cumulative smoking exposure were not associated with UTUC recurrence, our findings highlight the substantial risk of death in patients with UTUC who are active smokers.
Treatment plans to promote smoking cessation are recommended for these patients.
Endothelial dysfunction, increased inflammation, and activated coagulation in HIV‐infected patients improve after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Arildsen H , Sørensen KE , Ingerslev JM , Østergaard LJ , Laursen AL 
Published: May 2012

ObjectivesEndothelial dysfunction and inflammation have been demonstrated to be markers of cardiovascular risk. We investigated the effects of HIV infection per se and the antiretroviral treatment prescribed on the levels of risk factors of cardiovascular disease.MethodsThis was a prospective study of 20 treatment‐naïve, nonsmoking, HIV‐positive patients examined before and after 3 months of treatment with a protease inhibitor (PI)‐containing regimen followed by 3 months of treatment with nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)‐containing therapy. Parameters of inflammation, endothelial function and coagulation were examined. The results were compared with those for an age‐ and gender‐matched, nonsmoking, healthy control group.ResultsCompared with controls, treatment‐naïve HIV‐infected patients exhibited endothelial dysfunction [flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) 108 vs. 111% for HIV‐infected vs. control groups, respectively; P < 0.05] and activation [von Willebrand factor 2.0 vs. 0.9 U/l; soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM) 313 vs. 211 ng/L, respectively; P < 0.01]. Inflammation [C‐reactive protein (CRP) 24 vs. 8.6 nmol/L; fibrinogen 9.4 vs. 8.6 μmol/L, respectively; P < 0.05] and coagulation/fibrinolysis (D‐dimers 0.55 vs. 0.23 μg/mL, respectively; P < 0.01) were increased. Initiating therapy resulted in normalization of FMD and a significant decrease in endothelial activation and CRP.ConclusionEndothelial dysfunction together with increased inflammation and coagulation were more prevalent in untreated HIV‐infected patients compared with controls. These cardiovascular risk factors improved with treatment, although not all parameters normalized after 6 months.
Impact of a weight loss program on migraine in obese adolescents
Authors: Verrotti A. , Agostinelli S. , D'Egidio C. , Di Fonzo A. , Carotenuto M. , Parisi P. , Esposito M. , Tozzi E. , Belcastro V. , Mohn A. , Battistella P. A. 
Published: May 2012

Background and purposeIncreased headache frequency and severity have been observed in obese populations, but the real impact of a weight loss treatment on headache has not been studied. We investigated this issue in a sample of obese adolescents.MethodsIn all, 135 migraineurs, aged 14–18 years, with body mass index (BMI) ≥97th percentile, participating in a 12‐month‐long program, were studied before and after treatment. The program included dietary education, specific physical training, and behavioral treatment.ResultsDecreases in weight (P < 0.01), BMI (P < 0.01), waist circumference (P < 0.01), headache frequency (P < 0.01) and intensity (P < 0.01), use of acute medications (P < 0.05), and disability (P < 0.05) were observed at the end of the first 6‐month period and were maintained through the second 6 months. Both lower baseline BMI and excess change in BMI were significantly associated with better migraine outcomes 12 months after the intervention program.ConclusionsSignificant improvements in both adiposity and headache data were observed in obese adolescents with migraine who participated in a 12‐month‐long interdisciplinary intervention program for weight loss. Initial body weight and amount of weight loss may be useful for clinicians to predict migraine outcomes.
Depressive traits in essential tremor: impact on disability, quality of life, and medication adherence
Authors: Louis E. D. , Huey E. D. , Gerbin M. , Viner A. S. 
Published: May 2012

BackgroundThere is growing study of the psychiatric features of essential tremor. Depressive symptoms occur in a considerable number of patients. Yet their impact, as a primary factor, has received almost no attention. We assessed whether, independent of tremor severity, patients with more depressive symptoms have more perceived tremor‐related disability, lower tremor‐related quality of life, and poorer compliance with tremor medication.MethodsOn the basis of their Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale score, we stratified 70 essential tremor patients into three groups: 41 with minimal depressive symptoms, 24 with moderate depressive symptoms, and five with severe depressive symptoms. Importantly, the three groups had similar tremor severity on neurological examination. We assessed self‐reported tremor‐related disability, tremor‐related quality of life (Quality of Life in Essential Tremor) (QUEST) score, and medication compliance.ResultsCases with minimal depressive symptoms had the lowest QUEST scores (i.e., highest quality of life), cases with moderate depressive symptoms had intermediate scores, and those with severe depressive symptoms had the highest QUEST scores (i.e., lowest quality of life) (P < 0.001). Depressive symptoms were a stronger predictor of tremor‐related quality of life than was the main motor feature of essential tremor (ET) itself (tremor). Self‐reported medication compliance was lowest in cases with severe depressive symptoms and highest in cases with minimal depressive symptoms.ConclusionsThe physical disability caused by the tremor of ET has traditionally been regarded as the most important feature of the disease that causes distress, and it has received the most attention in the management of patients with this disease. Our data indicate that this may not be the case.
Diagnostic role of microRNA expression profile in the serum of pregnant women with fetuses with neural tube defects
Authors: Gu Hui , Li Hui , Zhang Li , Luan Hong , Huang Tianchu , Wang Lili , Fan Yang , Zhang Yi , Liu Xiaomei , Wang Weilin , Yuan Zhengwei 
Published: May 2012

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 641–649.AbstractThe discovery of placental microRNAs (miRNAs) in maternal serum has opened up new possibilities for non‐invasive prenatal diagnosis. However, the expression of miRNAs in the serum of pregnant women with fetuses with neural tube defects (NTDs) has not been characterized. In this article, we explored serum miRNAs as potential biomarkers in the serum of pregnant women with NTD fetuses. By using a miRNA microarray that covers 887 human miRNAs, we revealed 17 miRNAs with significant change in expression in serum of pregnant women with NTD fetuses and women with normal pregnancies. Quantitative reverse‐transcription PCR (qRT‐PCR) analysis validated that the expression for six miRNAs (miR‐142‐3p, miR‐144, miR‐720, miR‐575, miR‐765, and miR‐1182) was up‐regulated and that for miR‐1275 was down‐regulated. To determine whether these miRNAs were related to pregnancy, we compared the miRNA levels in pre‐ and post‐delivery maternal serum samples. Six of these miRNAs were rapidly reduced in post‐delivery serum (p < 0.05). Moreover, by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of combining these six miRNAs was 0.803 (p < 0.001). Thus, we reveal six pregnancy‐associated miRNAs that are deregulated in the serum of pregnant women with NTD fetuses and highlight the clinical potential of serum miRNAs as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognostication of fetal NTDs.
Fundamentals of randomized clinical trials in wound care: Design and conduct
Authors: Eskes Anne M. , Brölmann Fleur E. , Sumpio Bauer E. , Mayer Dieter , Moore Zena , Ågren Magnus S. , Hermans Michel , Cutting Keith , Legemate Dink A. , Ubbink Dirk T. , Vermeulen Hester 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe care for chronic and acute wounds is a substantial problem around the world. This has led to a plethora of products to accelerate healing. Unfortunately, the quality of studies evaluating the efficacy of such wound care products is frequently low. Randomized clinical trials are universally acknowledged as the study design of choice for comparing treatment effects, as they eliminate several sources of bias. We propose a framework for the design and conduct of future randomized clinical trials that will offer strong scientific evidence for the effectiveness of wound care interventions. While randomization is a necessary feature of a robust comparative study, it is not sufficient to ensure a study at low risk of bias. Randomized clinical trials should also ensure adequate allocation concealment and blinding of outcome assessors, apply intention‐to‐treat analysis, and use patient‐oriented outcomes. This article proposes strategies for improving the evidence base for wound care decision making.
Novel models for bacterial colonization and infection of full‐thickness wounds in rats
Authors: Asada Mayumi , Nakagami Gojiro , Minematsu Takeo , Nagase Takashi , Akase Tomoko , Huang Lijuan , Yoshimura Kotaro , Sanada Hiromi 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAn animal model is needed to study the pathophysiology of wound infections; however, an animal model that is reproducible and clinically relevant has not previously been available. In addition, an animal model of wound colonization generated in a manner similar to the wound infection model would be useful. Here, we describe new animal models of the wound infection continuum for the characterization of essential host–pathogen relationships. We determined the conditions needed to establish rat models of stable wound colonization and infection, without the use of disturbing factors (e.g., foreign bodies or induction of diabetes mellitus). We found that the age of the rats, bacterial inoculum size, and wound location were important elements in generating reproducible, obvious, spreading wound infections. We inoculated approximately 6‐month‐old rats with 2.06 × 109 or 4.12 × 109 colony‐forming units of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to generate the wound colonization and wound infection models, respectively. Wounds were made 2 cm cranial to the greater trochanter. These clinically relevant and highly reproducible animal models can be used to investigate the mechanisms of wound infection and monitor the effect of therapeutic agents in vivo.
Manganese‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging detects mossy fiber sprouting in the pilocarpine model of epilepsy
Authors: Malheiros Jackeline M. , Polli Roberson S. , Paiva Fernando F. , Longo Beatriz M. , Mello Luiz E. , Silva Afonso C. , Tannús Alberto , Covolan Luciene 
Published: May 2012

SummaryPurpose:  Mossy fiber sprouting (MFS) is a frequent finding following status epilepticus (SE). The present study aimed to test the feasibility of using manganese‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) to detect MFS in the chronic phase of the well‐established pilocarpine (Pilo) rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).Methods:  To modulate MFS, cycloheximide (CHX), a protein synthesis inhibitor, was coadministered with Pilo in a subgroup of animals. In vivo MEMRI was performed 3 months after induction of SE and compared to the neo‐Timm histologic labeling of zinc mossy fiber terminals in the dentate gyrus (DG).Key Findings:  Chronically epileptic rats displaying MFS as detected by neo‐Timm histology had a hyperintense MEMRI signal in the DG, whereas chronically epileptic animals that did not display MFS had minimal MEMRI signal enhancement compared to nonepileptic control animals. A strong correlation (r = 0.81, p < 0.001) was found between MEMRI signal enhancement and MFS.Significance:  This study shows that MEMRI is an attractive noninvasive method for detection of mossy fiber sprouting in vivo and can be used as an evaluation tool in testing therapeutic approaches to manage chronic epilepsy.
Distance Coursework and Coaching to Improve Nursing Home Incontinence Care: Lessons Learned
Authors: Rahman Anna N. , Schnelle John F. , Applebaum Robert , Lindabury Kate , Simmons Sandra 
Published: May 2012

ObjectivesTo determine whether a distance coaching course on improving nursing home incontinence care could be replicated and brought to scale with a larger group of nursing homes without sacrificing outcomes.DesignThe study collected descriptive and comparative data.SettingFourteen nursing homes in the original course and 34 in the replication course.ParticipantsParticipants in the study were supervisors and staff from enrolled nursing homes who completed the distance coaching courses on incontinence management.MeasurementsData for both courses were collected using a resident assessment form to evaluate implementation of new practices, pre‐ and posttraining quizzes, a course evaluation survey, and a supervisor's report.ResultsThere were few significant differences between the course groups with respect to course participation, knowledge transfer, and training program preferences. Although Course 1 nursing homes reported assessing more residents on average than Course 2 homes (22 vs 12), this difference is probably an artifact of differences in the reporting methodologies for the two courses.ConclusionThis study found qualified support for using a distance coaching course to facilitate adoption of evidence‐based incontinence care practices in nursing homes. The findings also underscore the challenges associated with designing dissemination and implementation programs that are effective and feasible to implement with nursing homes. Nursing home educators should consider this study's findings when designing new training programs. Outcomes may improve if some dissemination resources are diverted to distance coaching activities that support nursing home improvement efforts over extended periods.
Pension Portfolio Choice and Peer Envy
Authors: Wise Jacqueline Volkman 
Published: May 2012

AbstractI examine the effect of envy on the portfolio allocation of workers in a defined contribution (DC) pension plan. If a worker’s DC plan performs better than his co‐worker’s, he may gloat; on the other hand, if his DC plan performs worse, he may feel envy. I model anticipated envy when workers make portfolio allocations, and find that in equilibrium, workers will mimic their co‐worker’s allocation to eliminate the disutility from envy. This portfolio allocation is riskier than that of a worker who does not exhibit envy.
Immunofluorescence Microscopy to Assess Enzymes Controlling Nitric Oxide Availability and Microvascular Blood Flow in Muscle
Authors: COCKS MATTHEW , SHEPHERD SAM O. , SHAW CHRISTOPHER S. , ACHTEN JUUL , COSTA MATTHEW L. , WAGENMAKERS ANTON J.M. 
Published: May 2012

Please cite this paper as: Cocks M, Shepherd SO, Shaw CS, Achten J, Costa ML, Wagenmakers AJM. Immunofluorescence microscopy to assess enzymes controlling nitric oxide availability and microvascular blood flow in muscle. Microcirculation 19: 642–651, 2012.AbstractObjective:  The net production of NO by the muscle microvascular endothelium is a key regulator of muscle microvascular blood flow. Here, we describe the development of a method to quantify the protein content and phosphorylation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS content and eNOS ser1177 phosphorylation) and NAD(P)H oxidase expression.Methods:  Human muscle cryosections were stained using antibodies targeting eNOS, p‐eNOS ser1177 and NOX2 in combination with markers of the endothelium and the sarcolemma. Quantitation was achieved by analyzing fluorescence intensity within the area stained positive for the microvascular endothelium. Analysis was performed in duplicate and repeated five times to investigate CV. In addition, eight healthy males (age 21 ± 1 year, BMI 24.4 ± 1.0 kg/m2) completed one hour of cycling exercise at ∼65%VO2max. Muscle biopsies were taken from the m. vastus lateralis before and immediately after exercise and analyzed using the new methods.Results:  The CV of all methods was between 6.5 and 9.5%. Acute exercise increased eNOS serine1177 phosphorylation (fold change 1.29 ± 0.05, p < 0.05).Conclusions:  These novel methodologies will allow direct investigations of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the microvascular responses to insulin and exercise, the impairments that occur in sedentary, obese and elderly individuals and the effect of lifestyle interventions.
Expression of insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck
Authors: Clauditz T. S. , Wang C.‐J. , Gontarewicz A. , Blessmann M. , Tennstedt P. , Borgmann K. , Tribius S. , Sauter G. , Dalchow C. , Knecht R. , Münscher A. , Wilczak W. 
Published: May 2012

J Oral Pathol Med (2013)42: 125–132Background:  Insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 (IMP3) was found overexpressed in various cancer types suggesting its possible role in carcinogenesis. Analysis of IMP3 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) is rare so that we evaluated it using tissue microarray method.Method:  Immunohistochemical analysis of IMP3 was performed on samples from over 400 patients. The expression was measured semiquantitative, subsequently divided into four categories (negative, weak, medium, or strong) and correlated with several available clinicopathologic parameters.Results:  For HNSCC, positive IMP3 expression was observed in patients with all tumor stages (pT1–4) and nodal stages (pN0–3), showing also significant statistical correlation (P = 0.023 and P = 0.0013, respectively). No further correlations were found. Separate analysis according to tumor localization (oral cavity, oropharyngeal, and laryngeal) showed a significant correlation of positive IMP3 expression and overall survival (P = 0.038) only in patients with tumors of the oral cavity. Multivariate analysis showed IMP3 as an independent predictive marker for oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC).Conclusion:  Insulin‐like growth factor II mRNA‐binding protein 3 (IMP3) expression might be used as an independent prognostic factor in the subgroup of OSCC.
Geographical and ecological differentiation of Fagus forest vegetation in SE Europe
Authors: Marinšek A. , Šilc U. , Čarni A. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractQuestionsWhat is the main syntaxonomical pattern within beech forests in SE Europe? What macroecological and ecological factors distinguish these forests?LocationSE Europe: Balkan Peninsula, from the SE Alps in Slovenia, through Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia to N and NE Greece and Bulgaria, covering ca. 400 000 km2 over a length of 1000 km.MethodsWith a view to differentiating beech and beech–fir forests, a data set of 5952 published and unpublished phytosociological relevés were surveyed. After stratification, 997 relevés remained. Cluster analysis of the data set was used to calculate diagnostic species for each cluster. Ecological indicator values (EIV) were used to estimate ecological conditions. Average EIV, altitude, latitude and longitude for relevés of each cluster were plotted in a detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) diagram for ecological interpretation of clusters and relationships between clusters. Correlations between DCA relevé scores and explanatory variables (EIV, portion of life forms and chorotypes, altitude, latitude and longitude) were subsequently calculated.ResultsCluster analysis divided mesophilous beech forests of SE Europe into two major clusters. Beech forests can therefore be classified into two alliances, Aremonio‐Fagion and Fagion moesiacae. Further division revealed seven beech and beech–fir forest types, which we interpreted geographically and ecologically. A significant increase in the proportion of chamaephytes, hemicryptophytes and therophytes was detected along the main macroecological gradient towards the S and E. At the same time, the proportion of geophytes and phanerophytes significantly decreased in the same direction. There was also a significant increase in the proportion of Stenomediterranean, Eurymediterranean, Mediterranean‐Montane, and Eurasian species, while Boreal species, as expected, decreased toward the southeast. The main differentiation of beech forests in SE Europe is due to macroecological factors (macro‐climatic and historical development of vegetation), whereas local ecological factors (particularly temperature and moisture) are reflected in the differentiation of sub‐alliances.ConclusionsOur study confirmed two major groups of beech forests in the research area, which could be classified into two alliances. It also revealed that there is not just an altitudinal distribution of beech forests in the SE part of the research area, but also structural and functional changes of communities as a result of the altitudinal limitation of beech forests and changed macroclimatic factors.