bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantification of trends in radiation oncology infrastructure in Pakistan, 2004–2009
Authors: BEGUM Naseem , NASREEN Shahida , SHAH Abdul Saeed 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAim:  To provide objective estimates of radiation oncology infrastructure in Pakistan for the years 2004 and 2009 in order to quantify trends in radiotherapy facilities, patient load and to identify the future needs.Methods:  Nationwide surveys using structured questionnaires were conducted in 2005 and 2010 by the Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar, to assess the status of radiation oncology infrastructure in 2004 and 2009. The data were analyzed to observe the trends.Results:  Megavoltage teletherapy machines increased from 37 in 2004 to 41 in 2009. New patients registered in all radiotherapy centers were 33 369 in 2004 and 46 114 in 2009. Conventional simulators used for tumour localization increased from 15 to 21 and computerized tomography simulators from 0 to 07. Radiation treatment planning systems for dose calculations of tumors and vital organs increased from 15 to 26 and brachytherapy units from 12 to 13. There were 725 patients per medical physicist in 2004 versus 632 in 2009. Patients per radiation oncologist were 439 in 2004 versus 549 in 2009. Number of radiotherapy technologists/shift/machine was 1.69 in 2004 versus 1.90 in 2009. Repair maintenance personnel improved from 2.11/2 megavoltage units in 2004 to 2.49 in 2009.Conclusion:  While there was an increase in number of radiotherapy centers, equipment and human resources available, this was insufficient to comply with international guidelines. An adequate enhancement in radiation oncology infrastructure is needed to cope with the predicted rise in cancer incidence.
Epidemiological survey of biomarkers of hepatitis virus in patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas
Authors: QU Zhenliang , CUI Naiqiang , QIN Mingfang , WU Xianzhong 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAim:  Hepatitis virus B and C (HBV and HCV) are suggested to be risk factors for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), but whether they are risk factors for extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) is disputed. To test the biomarkers in patients with ECC and further elucidate the relationship of HBV or HCV infection with ECC risk, we conducted a retrospective survey on hepatitis virus markers in patients with ECC.Methods:  A hospital‐based case‐control study was conducted to review prior infection with hepatitis virus and the seroprevalence of hepatitis virus markers in the patients with ECC or with benign biliary disease (BBD). HBV X antigen (HBxAg) was detected in the tissues by immunohistochemical staining.Results:  A total of 305 patients with ECC and 480 with BBD were enrolled in this study. Compared with BBD patients, ECC patients had a higher prevalence of prior infection with HBV (6.2 vs 2.3%) and chronic HBV infection (9 vs 1.9%). The overall seropositive rate for HBV markers in the two groups was 22.6 versus 6% (P < 0.01) and for HBxAg detection it was 75 versus 26% (P < 0.001). The seroprevalence of anti‐HCV was 4.3% in the EEC patients and 5.6% in BBD patients with no significant difference between them.Conclusion:  The high prevalence of HBV biomarkers in ECC strongly supports the notion that HBV infection may be a risk factor for ECC. The high frequency of HBxAg expression suggests its important role in the pathogenesis of bile duct neoplasm.
Evaluation of the safety and feasibility of rapid rituximab infusion
Authors: LANG Dora , PROUSE Janette , BARRY Fiona , CATHERWOOD Amanda , CHAPLIN Kylie , ELLIOTT Lisa , GRECO Kim , MCGAHEY Wendy , NILSEN Jill , SINGHAL Nimit 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAim:  To assess safety of rapid infusion by measuring infusion‐related side effects and toxicities.Methods:  Participants received the first rituximab infusion according to the manufacturers' recommendations. If well‐tolerated, they then received the second and subsequent infusions at a rate of 20% of the dose over the first 30 min and the remaining 80% over the next hour. Premedication was administered for all the infusions.Results:  A total of 243 infusions in 65 consecutive participants were evaluated. Six experienced a grade 1 reaction and one a grade 3 transfusion‐related adverse event. Three of these participants were withdrawn from the rapid infusion study. The other four participants (grade 1 only participants) were re‐challenged. The same premedication was used as in the first rapid infusion. On experiencing a grade 1 reaction, promethazine 12.5 mg i.v. was administered and infusion recommenced at 50% of the previous rate upon the resolution of symptoms. Three patients developed a grade 1 adverse event and one patient experienced no adverse reaction. The three patients who did not tolerate the second rapid infusion were withdrawn from this study.Conclusion:  A rituximab infusion over 90‐min was safe and feasible for participants who seek treatment at ambulatory cancer centre. The new regimen has been adopted as a standard practice with better resource utilization.
Surgical treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis: Experience from a single institution in China
Authors: YAN Zhongshu , LIAO Guoqing , PEI Haiping 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAim:  Surgical options for familiar adenomatous polyposis (FAP) have been standardized in developed countries but are still controversial in China. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the results of patients with FAP treated in a university hospital.Methods:  In all 42 consecutive patients with FAP were operated on between May 1988 and June 2008. Median follow up was 7.2 years (2.2–20 years). Of these 33 patients were treated by proctocolectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis. A total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis was undertaken in six and a proctocolectomy with ileostomy in three patients who had invasive rectal cancer.Results:  Postoperative morbidity was insignificant. There were five wound infections, one intestinal obstruction, one anastomotic leakage, one anastomotic stenosis and one refractory pouchitis. One patient died from stroke. Five died from FAP‐related disorders, namely, abdominal desmoids, liver metastases and advanced rectal cancer. Desmoid tumor occurred in five patients. Periampullary adenoma and carcinoma developed in four patients. In those with pouch procedure the 24‐h bowel movement was 7.14 ± 1.28 (range 5–11) and their 10‐year overall survival was 87.5%.Conclusion:  A proctocolectomy with ileal pouch anal anastomosis maybe the best choice for FAP patients in China. Surgical expertise, good teamwork and careful long‐term follow up are mandatory.
Long‐term yield and performance of 15 different Miscanthus genotypes in southwest Germany
Authors: Gauder M. , Graeff‐Hönninger S. , Lewandowski I. , Claupein W. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractA field experiment with 15 Miscanthus genotypes including M. × giganteus, M. sacchariflorus, M. sinensis and M. sinensis hybrids was conducted for 14 years at the experimental Ihinger Hof station of the University of Hohenheim in southwest Germany to evaluate interannual yield performance stability over 14 years of harvests of the different genotypes. In this article, a simple formula is presented which could be used to forecast late winter yields using morphological traits in autumn. The data obtained indicated a shorter establishment period to reach a yield plateau of M. × giganteus and M. sacchariflorus than M. sinensis hybrids and M. sinensis genotypes. The best performing genotype was M. × giganteus (Gig‐2, No. 16.21) with a mean spring harvestable yield of 14.1 t DM ha−1 year−1. A correlation analysis with climatic parameters revealed precipitation during the growing period as the key factor for high yields at this site. Likewise, but to a lesser degree, heat sum during the growing period was positively correlated with yields. It could be shown that precipitation/snow during the winter correlated with yield losses, until the harvest date in February/March. Phenological measurements indicated that a high yield potential of the tested genotypes is associated with either an absence of flowering or late flowering. Also, height of the plants and shoot diameter were indicators for high yield potential. Shoot density and plant height at senescence were found to be solid parameters to estimate harvestable biomass in late winter. Yield approximations with a mean accuracy of 80.9% for M.× giganteus genotypes were obtained using the newly developed equation. Yields of M. sinensis hybrid (Sin‐H7) were projected most accurately with this simple formula, resulting in a mean accuracy of 84.5%.
Sexual Initiation, Parent Practices, and Acculturation in Hispanic Seventh Graders
Authors: Morales‐Campos Daisy Y. , Markham Christine , Peskin Melissa Fleschler , Fernandez Maria E. 
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND: Hispanic youths have high rates of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancies, yet little research has targeted multiple protective/risk factors for early sexual initiation in this group. This study examined two main factors—parenting practices and acculturation—on early sexual initiation among Hispanic middle school students in Texas.METHODS: Using data from Hispanic seventh graders (N = 655) in 15 urban middle schools in southeast Texas, we examined the association between parental monitoring/parent‐child communication about sexual health and sexual initiation.RESULTS: After controlling for age, gender, parent/guardian education, family structure, acculturation level, and intervention status, the likelihood of ever having sex decreased 50% for every 1‐point increase in the parental monitoring score (AOR = 0.50;95%CI = 0.34,0.75). No association was found between ever having sex and parent‐child communication scores (AOR = 1.29;95%CI = 0.76,2.18). Furthermore, parental monitoring differed significantly between acculturation levels, 1‐way analysis of variance F(2,652) = 5.07, p < 0.007. This finding was unrelated to the parental monitoring‐initiation association in the multivariable model.CONCLUSION: Parental monitoring may delay sexual initiation among Hispanic middle school students. Parental monitoring differs by acculturation levels, warranting further investigation. These findings can inform school‐based, parent‐involved interventions designed to delay sexual initiation among Hispanic youth.
The Effect of Nutrient‐Based Standards on Competitive Foods in 3 Schools: Potential Savings in Kilocalories and Grams of Fat*
Authors: Snelling Anastasia M. , Yezek Jennifer 
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND: The study investigated how nutrient standards affected the number of kilocalories and grams of fat and saturated fat in competitive foods offered and sold in 3 high schools.METHODS: The study is a quasi‐experimental design with 3 schools serving as the units of assignment and analysis. The effect of the nutrient standards was measured by the change in kilocalories and grams of fat and saturated fat in offerings and purchases of competitive foods pre‐ and postimplementation of the standards. A paired sample t‐test was used to compare kilocalories and grams of fat and saturated fat pre‐ and postimplementation of nutrition standards.RESULTS: After the implementation of the nutrition standards, students in 3 high schools purchased significantly smaller numbers of kilocalories and grams of fat and saturated fat, during the postpolicy school year of 2007‐2008 than during the prepolicy school year of 2004‐2005.CONCLUSION: Using nutrient standards to guide the selection of competitive foods offered in school cafeterias may positively affect intake of kilocalories, total grams of fat, and total saturated fat of those foods. The quantitative assessment is novel and demonstrates the reduction in kilocalories and fat in both the competitive food offerings and purchases as a result of nutrient standards.
A descriptive study of ‘non‐cases’ and referral rates to an early intervention for psychosis service
Authors: O'Donoghue Brian , Lyne John , Renwick Laoise , Madigan Kevin , Kinsella Anthony , Clarke Mary , Turner Niall , O'Callaghan Eadbhard 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAim: Despite there being approximately 200 early intervention services for psychosis worldwide, little is known about the referral rates to these services, the diagnoses and needs of individuals found not to have a first episode of psychosis (FEP). Firstly, we aimed to describe the diagnoses for individuals who were found not to have a FEP (non‐cases) following an assessment using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (SCID). We then aimed to examine the referral rates of cases and non‐cases to an early intervention service.Methods: All individuals referred to the early intervention service underwent a clinical assessment using the SCID.Results: In a 4‐year period, there were 632 referrals to the early intervention service for psychosis, and of these, 53% (n = 338) were found to have a FEP, 5% (n = 34) were found to have an at‐risk mental state for psychosis and 41% (n = 260) were found to be ‘non‐cases’. This represents a ratio of 1.9:1 of referrals to cases, or approximately 2:1. Of the non‐cases, 27% (n = 62) satisfied criteria for a mood disorder, with major depressive disorder the commonest diagnosis. A further 18% (n = 42) of non‐cases satisfied criteria for an anxiety disorder and nearly half of these were diagnosed with social phobia. The ratio of referrals to cases was not consistent over time and rose from 1.3:1 in the first year to 2:1 in the fourth year.Conclusion: A large proportion of individuals referred to an early intervention for psychosis service were found not to have psychotic disorder, however they still have significant needs regarding their mental health.
Fistula to the native esophagus after pharyngogastrostomy for malignant disease: A rare phenomenon in esophageal surgery
Authors: Hernández Hernández Juan Ramón , Navarro Barlés Gonzalo , López‐Tomassetti Fernández Eudaldo M. , Vega Benítez Victor , Núñez Jorge Valentín 
Published: January 2012

AbstractThis article features the case study of a 32‐year‐old female patient who had undergone surgery to remove a cervical spine tumor and who later developed cervical esophagus necrosis secondary to the erosion caused by an osteosynthesis 13 years after her prosthetic cervical surgery.Barium swallow did not show anything abnormal, but after an emergency spiral computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, a paravertebral abscess was found, along with displacement of the fixation plate and the disappearance of the esophageal silhouette on coronal sections. The patient underwent surgery to drain the abscess, extract the osteosynthesis materials and the stabilization plates, and to perform a temporary esophageal exclusion.Two months after this surgery the esophagus was reconstructed by performing a retrosternal pharyngogastrostomy without resection of the remaining cervicothoracic esophagus due to severe fibrosis and the absence of local recurrence.During the immediate post operatory period the patient developed a cervical fistula and after a month of conservative treatment, severe dysphagia was observed. Imaging tests showed a spontaneous fistula from the pharynx to the native esophagus, which prompted extraordinary treatment. Therefore, a jejunal loop was taken to the esophagus in the hiatus with a Roux‐en‐Y anastomosis to resolve this condition.
Dangerous dads? Ecological and longitudinal analyses of paternity leave and risk for child injury
Authors: Laflamme Lucie , Månsdotter Anna , Lundberg Michael , Magnusson Cecilia 
Published: January 2012

BackgroundIn 1974, Sweden became the first country to permit fathers to take paid parental leave. Other countries are currently following suit issuing similar laws. While this reform supports the principles of the United Nations convention of the right for children to be with both parents and enshrines the ethos of gender equality, there has been little systematic examination of its potential impact on child health. Instead, there is uninformed debate that fathers may expose their children to greater risks of injury than mothers. In this Swedish national study, the authors therefore assess whether fathers' parental leave can be regarded as a more serious risk factor for child injuries than that of mothers.MethodsNationwide register-based ecological and longitudinal studies of hospitalisation due to injury (and intoxication) in early childhood, involving the Swedish population in 1973–2009 (ecological design), and children born in 1988 and 1989 (n=118 278) (longitudinal design).ResultsAn increase in fathers' share of parental leave over time was parallelled by a downward trend in child injury rates (age 0–4 years). At the individual level, the crude incidence of child injury (age 0–2 years) was lower during paternity as compared with maternity leave. This association was, however, explained by parental socio-demographic characteristics (multivariate HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.74 to 1.2).ConclusionThere is no support for the notion that paternity leave increases the risk of child injury.
Educational inequalities in blood pressure and cholesterol screening in nine European countries
Authors: Rodin Danielle , Stirbu Irina , Ekholm Ola , Dzurova Dagmar , Costa Giuseppe , Mackenbach Johan P , Kunst Anton E 
Published: January 2012

BackgroundTo perform the first European overview of educational inequalities in the use of blood pressure and cholesterol screening.MethodsData were obtained on the use of screening services according to educational level from nationally representative cross-sectional surveys in Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Latvia and Lithuania. Screening rates were examined in the preceding 12 months and 5 years, for respondents 35+ years (45+ for women). ORs comparing low- to high-educated respondents were estimated using logistic regression controlling for age.ResultsInequalities in cholesterol screening favouring higher socioeconomic groups were demonstrated with statistical significance among men in four countries, whereby men with higher education were more likely to receive screening, with 1.22 as the highest OR. Among women, a similar pattern was found. Inequalities in blood pressure screening were even smaller and less often statistically significant. Hungary was the only country with higher rates of both types of screening in the low-educated group. In other countries, pro-high inequalities were slightly increased after controlling for self-rated health.ConclusionsAll European countries in this study had small educational inequalities in the utilisation of blood pressure and cholesterol screening. These inequalities are smaller than those previously observed in the USA. Further comparative studies need to distinguish between screening for preventive purposes and screening for treatment and control.
LOCAL ANALYTIC CONJUGACY OF SEMI-HYPERBOLIC MAPPINGS IN TWO VARIABLES, IN THE NON-ARCHIMEDEAN SETTING
Authors: JENKINS ADRIAN , SPALLONE STEVEN 
Published: January 2012

In this note, we consider locally invertible analytic mappings of a two-dimensional space over a non-archimedean field. Such a map is called semi-hyperbolic if its Jacobian has eigenvalues λ1 and λ2 so that λ1 = 1 and |λ2| ≠ 1. We prove that two analytic semi-hyperbolic maps are analytically equivalent if and only if they are formally equivalent, applying a generalized version of an estimation scheme from our earlier work [A. Jenkins and S. Spallone, A p-adic approach to local dynamics: Analytic flows and analytic maps tangent to the identity, Ann. Fac. Sci. Toulouse Math. (6) 18(3) (2009) 611–634].
LIMITS OF MULTIPOLE PLURICOMPLEX GREEN FUNCTIONS
Authors: MAGNÚSSON JÓN I. , RASHKOVSKII ALEXANDER , SIGURDSSON RAGNAR , THOMAS PASCAL J. 
Published: January 2012

Let Ω be a bounded hyperconvex domain in ℂn, 0 ∈ Ω, and Sε a family of N poles in Ω, all tending to 0 as ε tends to 0. To each Sε we associate its vanishing ideal [Formula: see text] and pluricomplex Green function [Formula: see text]. Suppose that, as ε tends to 0, [Formula: see text] converges to [Formula: see text] (local uniform convergence), and that (Gε)ε converges to G, locally uniformly away from 0; then [Formula: see text]. If the Hilbert–Samuel multiplicity of [Formula: see text] is strictly larger than its length (codimension, equal to N here), then (Gε)ε cannot converge to [Formula: see text]. Conversely, if [Formula: see text] is a complete intersection ideal, then (Gε)ε converges to [Formula: see text]. We work out the case of three poles.
High-Risk Ovarian Cancer Based on 126-Gene Expression Signature Is Uniquely Characterized by Downregulation of Antigen Presentation Pathway
Authors: Yoshihara Kosuke , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko , Shigemizu Daichi , Fujiwara Hiroyuki , Hatae Masayuki , Fujiwara Hisaya , Masuzaki Hideaki , Katabuchi Hidetaka , Kawakami Yosuke , Okamoto Aikou , Nogawa Takayoshi , Matsumura Noriomi , Udagawa Yasuhiro , Saito Tsuyoshi , Itamochi Hiroaki , Takano Masashi , Miyagi Etsuko , Sudo Tamotsu , Ushijima Kimio , Iwase Haruko , Seki Hiroyuki , Terao Yasuhisa , Enomoto Takayuki , Mikami Mikio , Akazawa Kohei , Tsuda Hitoshi , Moriya Takuya , Tajima Atsushi , Inoue Ituro , Tanaka Kenichi 
Published: January 2012

AbstractPurpose: High-grade serous ovarian cancers are heterogeneous not only in terms of clinical outcome but also at the molecular level. Our aim was to establish a novel risk classification system based on a gene expression signature for predicting overall survival, leading to suggesting novel therapeutic strategies for high-risk patients.Experimental Design: In this large-scale cross-platform study of six microarray data sets consisting of 1,054 ovarian cancer patients, we developed a gene expression signature for predicting overall survival by applying elastic net and 10-fold cross-validation to a Japanese data set A (n = 260) and evaluated the signature in five other data sets. Subsequently, we investigated differences in the biological characteristics between high- and low-risk ovarian cancer groups.Results: An elastic net analysis identified a 126-gene expression signature for predicting overall survival in patients with ovarian cancer using the Japanese data set A (multivariate analysis, P = 4 × 10−20). We validated its predictive ability with five other data sets using multivariate analysis (Tothill's data set, P = 1 × 10−5; Bonome's data set, P = 0.0033; Dressman's data set, P = 0.0016; TCGA data set, P = 0.0027; Japanese data set B, P = 0.021). Through gene ontology and pathway analyses, we identified a significant reduction in expression of immune-response–related genes, especially on the antigen presentation pathway, in high-risk ovarian cancer patients.Conclusions: This risk classification based on the 126-gene expression signature is an accurate predictor of clinical outcome in patients with advanced stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer and has the potential to develop new therapeutic strategies for high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients. Clin Cancer Res; 18(5); 1374–85. ©2012 AACR.