bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers of lung injury after one‐lung ventilation for lung resection
Authors: BASTIN Anthony J. , SATO Hiroe , DAVIDSON Simon J. , QUINLAN Gregory J. , GRIFFITHS Mark J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Acute lung injury contributes to the mortality of patients after lung resection and one‐lung ventilation (OLV). The objective of this study was to characterise the effect of lung resection and OLV on proposed biomarkers of lung injury in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and plasma.Methods:  In adults undergoing lung resection, EBC was collected before and at 30‐min intervals during OLV. Inflammatory mediators were assayed in plasma samples taken preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and 24 h postoperatively.Results:  EBC pH decreased from 6.51 ± 0.43 preoperatively, to 6.17 ± 0.78 and 6.09 ± 0.83 at 30 and 60 min, respectively (mean ± SD, P = 0.034, n = 20). Plasma concentrations of the receptor for advanced glycation end‐products, von Willebrand factor and interleukin‐6 increased comparing preoperative and postoperative samples (all P < 0.001, n = 30). By contrast, levels of Krebs von den Lungen‐6 and surfactant protein‐D decreased (P < 0.001, n = 30), and correlated inversely with the extent of lung resected.Conclusions:  Lung resection and OLV was associated with a rapid reduction in EBC pH and differential changes in plasma biomarkers of lung injury. Further investigation of EBC pH as a marker of ventilator‐induced lung injury is warranted.
Pulmonary hypertension in sarcoidosis: A review
Authors: CORTE Tamera J. , WELLS Athol U. , NICHOLSON Andrew G. , HANSELL David M. , WORT Stephen J. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTPulmonary hypertension (PH) is a well‐recognized complication of sarcoidosis. Patients with sarcoidosis‐associated PH (SAPH) have poorer functional status and greater supplemental oxygen requirements than sarcoidosis patients without PH, and are more likely to be listed for lung transplantation. PH is an independent risk factor for mortality in sarcoidosis patients awaiting lung transplantation. The pathophysiology of SAPH is complex, with multiple mechanisms contributing to pathogenesis, including the fibrous destruction of the pulmonary vascular bed, extrinsic compression of the central pulmonary vessels and an intrinsic vasculopathy. Recognition of SAPH may be delayed as it can be masked by the clinical picture of underlying pulmonary sarcoidosis, and right heart catheter remains the gold‐standard for diagnosis. Management of SAPH is based on reversal of resting hypoxaemia, treatment of comorbidities and treatment of the underlying sarcoidosis. The use of corticosteroids in SAPH is controversial. Specific PH therapy is not routinely recommended in SAPH as there are no successful placebo‐controlled trials, although there is limited data to suggest that endothelin receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase‐5 inhibitors may be useful.
Diagnostic accuracy of dilatation and curettage for abnormal uterine bleeding
Authors: Yarandi Fariba , Izadi‐Mood Narges , Eftekhar Zahra , Shojaei Hadi , Sarmadi Soheila 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAim:  The objective of this study was to compare the histological findings of dilatation and curettage (D&C) with those on subsequent hysterectomy in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.Methods:  Between October 1998 and September 2003 a retrospective clinical study of 311 patients was conducted, including all patients who underwent D&C and within 2 months, hysterectomy because of histological findings on D&C or persistence of symptoms. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and accuracy of D&C were studied.Results:  The mean age of our patients was 46.6 years. In 164 of 311 patients (52.7%), D&C failed to detect intrauterine disorders subsequently found at hysterectomy. The sensitivity was 30.2%, the specificity was 72.3%, the positive predictive value was 77.1%, and the negative predictive value was 25.1%. The accuracy was 40.5% overall.Conclusion:  D&C is an inadequate diagnostic tool for uterine focal lesions, but the accuracy of D&C in the detection of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma is relatively high (92.1%).
Relationship between enlargement of the lateral ventricle and periventricular leukomalacia in infants
Authors: Kato Akihiko , Ibara Satoshi , Maruyama Yuko , Terahara Masahito 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAim:  To examine if we could predict periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) from the area of the lateral ventricle (LV).Methods:  Six neonates in whom cystic PVL could be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but not by ultrasound (US) were termed the ‘invisible group’. Six neonates in whom cystic PVL could be detected by MRI and US were termed the ‘visible group’. Eleven neonates in whom cystic PVL could not be detected by MRI or US were termed the ‘control group’. The ratio of LV to head circumference (HC) was calculated as the area of LV (cm2)/HC (cm) × 100. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was carried out to find the cutoff value.Result:  There were no significant differences among the three groups with respect to gestational age, birthweight, postnatal age and HC. The ratio of LV to HC in the control group was a median value of 0.38, it was 0.79 in the invisible group, and 0.96 in the visible group. The ratio was significantly higher in the visible group (P < 0.001) and in the invisible group (P < 0.05) than in the control group. This ratio was low in the two infants who had PVL only in the collateral trigone. The ROC curve suggested a cutoff value of 0.6 (sensitivity 79.17%, specificity 100%) to suspect PVL.Conclusion:  We may need to suspect PVL in infants whose lateral ventricle is enlarged even if cystic PVL is not detected by ultrasound. PVL present only in the collateral trigone needs to be evaluated using cerebral MRI.
Application of infrared thermography to study crack growth and fatigue life extension procedures
Authors: JONES R. , KRISHNAPILLAI M. , CAIRNS K. , MATTHEWS N. 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThis paper shows how Lock‐in thermography can be used to address problems associated with crack growth and fatigue life extension. To this end particular attention is paid to the question of plasticity induced crack tip closure, composite repairs to cracked metallic structural components and to the potential of supersonic particle deposition for reducing crack growth.
Differential distribution of KCC2 along the axo‐somato‐dendritic axis of hippocampal principal cells
Authors: Báldi Rita , Varga Csaba , Tamás Gábor 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe neuron‐specific potassium‐chloride cotransporter 2 (KCC2) plays a crucial role in adjusting intracellular Cl− concentrations. The lack of KCC2 in the plasma membrane of the axon initial segment (AIS) of pyramidal cells contributes to variable reversal potentials for perisomatic γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor‐mediated postsynaptic potentials, but the distribution of KCC2 in pyramidal dendrites remains to be established. We applied high‐resolution pre‐embedding immunolocalization to quantify KCC2 concentrations along dendritic, somatic and axonal regions of rat hippocampal principal cells. Confirming our results on neocortical pyramidal cells, membranes of AIS of CA1 pyramidal cells and dentate granule cells contained 6.4 ± 11.9% and 6.6 ± 14.1% of somatic KCC2 concentrations, respectively. Concentrations of KCC2 in basal dendritic shafts of stratum (str.) oriens were similar to somatic levels (109.2 ± 48.8%). Along apical dendritic shafts of CA1 pyramidal cells, the concentration of KCC2 showed a complex profile: normalized to somatic levels, the density of KCC2 was 124.5 ± 15.7%, 79 ± 12.4% and 98.2 ± 33.5% in the proximal and distal part of str. radiatum and in str. lacunosum moleculare, respectively. Dendritic spines of CA1 receiving excitatory inputs contained 39.9 ± 8.5% of KCC2 concentration measured in shafts of the same dendritic segments targeted by GABAergic inputs. Dendrites of dentate granule cells showed higher KCC2 concentration compared with the soma (148.9 ± 54%), but no concentration gradient was detected between proximal and distal dendrites. In conclusion, the density of KCC2 in hippocampal principal cells increases along the axo‐somato‐dendritic axis with cell type‐specific distribution profiles within the dendritic tree.
Personally familiar faces are perceived categorically in face‐selective regions other than the fusiform face area
Authors: Ramon Meike , Dricot Laurence , Rossion Bruno 
Published: September 2010

AbstractNeuroimaging studies of humans have provided inconsistent evidence with respect to the response properties of the fusiform face area (FFA). It has been claimed that neural populations within this region are sensitive to subtle differences between individual faces only when they are perceived as distinct identities [P. Rotshtein et al. (2005)Nature Neuroscience, 8, 107–113]. However, sensitivity to subtle changes of identity was found in previous studies using unfamiliar faces, for which categorical perception is less pronounced. Using functional magnetic resonance adaptation and morph continua of personally familiar faces, we investigated sensitivity to subtle changes between faces that were located either on the same or opposite sides of a categorical perceptual boundary. We found no evidence for categorical perception within the FFA, which exhibited reliable sensitivity to subtle changes of face identity whether these were perceived as distinct identities, or not. On the contrary, both the posterior superior temporal sulcus and prefrontal cortex exhibited categorical perception, as subtle changes between faces perceived as different identities yielded larger release from adaptation than those perceived as the same identity. These observations suggest that, whereas the FFA discriminates subtle physical changes of personally familiar faces, other regions encode faces in a categorical fashion.
Pediatric heart transplantation: demographics, outcomes, and anesthetic implications*
Authors: Schure Annette Y. , Kussman Barry D. 
Published: September 2010

SummaryThe evolving demographics, outcomes, and anesthetic management of pediatric heart transplant recipients are reviewed. As survival continues to improve, an increasing number of these patients will present to our operating rooms and sedation suites. It is therefore important that all anesthesiologists, not only those specialized in cardiac anesthesia, have a basic understanding of the physiologic changes in the transplanted heart and the anesthetic implications thereof.
A cell culture model for Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis allows new insights into the life cycle of these important honey bee‐pathogenic microsporidia
Authors: Gisder Sebastian , Möckel Nadine , Linde Andreas , Genersch Elke 
Published: September 2010

SummaryThe population of managed honey bees has been dramatically declining in the recent past in many regions of the world. Consensus now seems to be that pathogens and parasites (e.g. the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, the microsporidium Nosema ceranae and viruses) play a major role in this demise. However, little is known about host–pathogen interactions for bee pathogens and attempts to develop novel strategies to combat bee diseases have been hampered by this gap in our knowledge. One reason for this dire situation is the complete lack of cell cultures for the propagation and study of bee pathogens. Here we present a cell culture model for two honey bee‐pathogenic microsporidian species, Nosema apis and N. ceranae. Our cell culture system is based on a lepidopteran cell line, which proved to be susceptible to infection by both N. ceranae and N. apis and enabled us to illustrate the entire life cycle of these microsporidia. We observed hitherto undescribed spindle‐shaped meronts and confirmed our findings in infected bees. Our cell culture model provides a previously unavailable means to explore the nature of interactions between the honey bee and its pathogen complex at a mechanistic level and will allow the development of novel treatment strategies.
Analysis of sulfur‐related transcription by Roseobacter communities using a taxon‐specific functional gene microarray
Authors: Rinta‐Kanto Johanna M. , Bürgmann Helmut , Gifford Scott M. , Sun Shulei , Sharma Shalabh , del Valle Daniela A. , Kiene Ronald P. , Moran Mary Ann 
Published: September 2010

SummaryThe fraction of dissolved dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSPd) converted by marine bacterioplankton into the climate‐active gas dimethylsulfide (DMS) varies widely in the ocean, with the factors that determine this value still largely unknown. One current hypothesis is that the ratio of DMS formation : DMSP demethylation is determined by DMSP availability, with ‘availability’ in both an absolute sense (i.e. concentration in seawater) and in a relative sense (i.e. proportionally to other labile organic S compounds) proposed as the critical factor. We investigated these models during an experimentally induced phytoplankton bloom using a taxon‐specific microarray targeting DMSP‐related gene transcription in members of the Roseobacter clade, a group hypothesized to play an important role in the surface ocean sulfur cycle and well represented by genome sequences. The array consisted of 1578 probes to 431 genes and was designed to target diverse Roseobacter communities in natural seawater by using hierarchical probe design based on 13 genome sequences. The prevailing pattern of Roseobacter gene transcription showed relative depletion of DMSP‐related transcripts during the peak of the bloom, despite increasing absolute concentrations and flux of DMSP‐related compounds. DMSPd thus appeared to be assimilated by Roseobacter populations in proportion to its relative abundance in the organic matter pool (the ‘relative sense’ hypothesis), rather than assimilated in preference to other labile organic sulfur or carbon compounds produced during the bloom. The relative investment of the Roseobacter community in DMSP demethylation was not useful for predicting the formation of DMS, however, suggesting a complex regulatory process that may involve multiple taxa and alternative fates of DMSPd.
Early oncological outcomes for bladder urothelial carcinoma patients treated with robotic‐assisted radical cystectomy
Authors: Kauffman Eric C. , Ng Casey K. , Lee Ming Ming , Otto Brandon J. , Wang Gerald J. , Scherr Douglas S. 
Published: September 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVE

To determine oncological outcomes including early survival rates among unselected bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC) patients treated with robotic‐assisted radical cystectomy (RRC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinicopathologic and survival data were prospectively gathered for 85 consecutive BUC patients treated with RRC.
The decision to undergo a robotic rather than open approach was made without regard to tumor volume or surgical candidacy.
Kaplan–Meier survival rates were determined and stratified by tumor stage and LN positivity, and multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of survival.

RESULTS

Patients were relatively old (25% >80 years; median 73.5 years), with frequent comorbidities (46% with ASA class ≥3). Of these patients 28% had undergone previous pelvic radiation or pelvic surgery, and 20% had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Extended pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in 98% of patients, with on average 19.1 LN retrieved.
On final pathology, extravesical disease was common (36.5%).
Positive surgicalmargins were detected in five (6%) patients, all of whom had extravesical tumors with perineural and/or lymphovascular invasion, and most of whom were >80 years old.
At a mean postoperative interval of 18 months, 20 (24%) patients had developed recurrent disease, but only three (4%) patients had recurrence locally. Disease‐free, cancer‐specific and overall survival rates at 2 years were 74%, 85% and 79%, respectively. Patients with low‐stage/LN(−) cancers had significantly better survival than extravesical/LN(−) or any‐stage/LN(+) patients, with stage being the most important predictor on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

RRC can achieve adequately high LN yields with a low positive margin rate among unselected BUC patients.
Early survival outcomes are similar to those reported in contemporary open series, with an encouragingly low incidence of local recurrence, however long‐term follow‐up and head‐to‐head comparison with the open approach are still needed.
Lymphatic vessel density as a predictor of lymph node metastasis and its relationship with prognosis in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder
Authors: Zhou Mi , He Leye , Zu Xiongbing , Zhang Huihui , Zeng Huaide , Qi Lin 
Published: September 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? VEGF‐C has been found up‐regulated in some kind of tumour tissues. In this study, we found that the expression of VEGF‐C was also increased in bladder cancer. The increase of VEGF‐C may have an influence on lymphatic node metastasis of bladder cancer.OBJECTIVE• To determine the correlation of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) with lymph node metastasis (LNM), investigate the impact of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐C mRNA expression on LVD, and evaluate the impact of LVD on prognosis of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC).PATIENTS AND METHODS• In 56 samples of BUC, the lymphatic vessels were immunostained with polyclonal antibodies against VEGF receptor 3 (VEGFR‐3). LVD was evaluated in both intratumoural and peritumoural tissues.• The expression level of VEGF‐C mRNA was assessed by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction.• The correlation of LVD with VEGF‐C mRNA and other clinicopathological parameters was also investigated.RESULTS• VEGFR‐3 was expressed in lymphatic vessel endothelial cytoplasm. As the expression level of VEGF‐C became higher, the intratumoural and peritumoural LVD increased significantly (P < 0.05).• At the same time, increased intratumoural and peritumoural LVD also presented in patients with lymphatic vessel invasion and LNM of BUC (P < 0.05).• In addition, increased peritumoural LVD and LNM predicted a poor recurrence‐free survival (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONS• It is suggested that in BUC, VEGF‐C expression may contribute to lymphangiogenesis.• Patients with high peritumoural LVD and LNM tend to have a poor prognosis.• Inhibition of the blocking VEGF‐C/VEGFR‐3 pathway may attenuate lymphangiogenesis and represent a new target for investigational treatment of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.
Head‐to‐head comparison of two online nomograms for prostate biopsy outcome prediction
Authors: Oliveira Mário , Marques Vera , Carvalho António Pedro , Santos Américo 
Published: September 2010

Study Type – Diagnosis (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? In recent years, several nomograms were developed in an effort to decrease the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies. The European SWOP‐PRI and the North American PCPT are among the most popular. However, evidence on the relative predictive accuracy is lacking.A head‐to‐head comparison on the diagnostic accuracy of two previously validated prostate cancer risk predictors on biopsy confirmed the superiority of these tools over PSA alone. Moreover, in the studied population, the European SWOP‐PRI proved to be more accurate than the North American PCPT‐CRC.OBJECTIVE• To compare the diagnostic accuracy of two previously validated prostate cancer risk predictors on biopsy.PATIENTS AND METHODS• In total, 390 consecutive patients submitted to 10‐core systematic transrectal prostate biopsy at our institution were included in this retrospective study.• External validation of a European (European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer derived Prostate Risk Indicator; SWOP‐PRI) and a North American (Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial Cancer Risk Calculator; PCPT‐CRC) nomogram was performed.• The predictive accuracy of these online available nomograms was calculated based on the area under the curve derived from receiver–operator characteristic curves and then compared using the DeLong method.RESULTS• Both tools were confirmed to be superior to prostate‐specific antigen alone. Moreover, the SWOP‐PRI (77.9%) displays a 7.96% increase in the predictive accuracy compared to the PCPT‐CRC (69.9%) in a statistically significant fashion (P= 0.002).CONCLUSIONS• The results obtained in the present study confirm the utility of nomograms with respect to biopsy outcome prediction in patients with suspicion of prostate cancer.• In the current sample of patients, the European‐based nomogram appears to be more accurate than the North American nonogram, which lacks information regarding prostate volume and prostatic ultrasonographic lesions.• To our knowledge, this is the first study to compare the accuracy of these popular risk calculators in a specific population.
Everyday Mediation: The Politics of Public Service Delivery in Gujarat, India
Authors: Berenschot Ward 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTThis article follows a municipal councillor in Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) on his daily routine in order to explore the various ways in which politicians in India operate as mediators between state institutions and citizens. Political mediation is deeply entrenched in the procedures, policies and habits that guide the daily functioning of Gujarat's state institutions. This article argues that this institutionalization of political mediation is the outcome of a dialectic between the limited capacity of the state to provide public services and the strategies that local politicians employ to win elections.
Redefining ‘Aid’ in the China–Africa Context
Authors: Tan‐Mullins May , Mohan Giles , Power Marcus 
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACTDiscussions on the politics of Chinese engagement with African development have been marked by increasing concern over Chinese use of aid in exchange for preferential energy deals. Normative liberal discourse criticizes the Chinese for disbursing ‘rogue aid’ and undermining good governance in the African continent. These criticisms not only ignore the longer‐term motivations and modalities of Chinese aid and the historical diversity of Chinese relations with Africa, but also uncritically assume ‘Western’ aid to be morally ‘superior’ and ‘more effective’ in terms of development outcomes. This paper consists of three parts. First, it will discuss the debates surrounding Chinese engagement in Africa, especially around aid and development issues. Second, the paper maps the historical development of China–Africa engagement and investigates the impacts of the changing modalities of Chinese aid with reference to case studies of two countries: Angola and Ghana. It then offers a comparative analysis of the similarities and differences between these two cases. The principal argument is that Chinese and Western donors employ different ideologies and practices of governance to conceal their own interests and political discourses in the African continent.