bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of subthalamic and pallidal deep brain stimulation on postural responses in patients with Parkinson disease
Authors: St George Rebecca J. , Carlson-Kuhta Patricia , Burchiel Kim J. , Hogarth Penelope , Frank Nicholas , Horak Fay B. 
Published: March 2012

Object
The effect of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson disease (PD) on balance is unclear. The goal of this study was to investigate how automatic postural responses (APRs) were affected in patients randomized to either subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus internus (GPi) surgery.

Methods
The authors tested 24 patients with PD who underwent bilateral DBS, 9 control patients with PD who did not undergo DBS, and 17 age-matched control volunteers. The electrode placement site was randomized and blinded to the patients and to the experimenters. Kinematic, kinetic, and electromyographic recordings of postural responses to backward disequilibrium via forward translations of the standing surface were recorded in the week prior to surgery while the patients were off (OFF) and on (ON) antiparkinsonian medication (levodopa), and then 6 months after surgery in 4 conditions: 1) off medication with DBS switched off (OFF/OFF); 2) off medication with DBS on (DBS); 3) on medication with DBS off (DOPA); and 4) with both medication and DBS on (DBS+DOPA). Stability of the automatic postural response (APR) was measured as the difference between the displacement of the center of pressure and the projected location of the center of body mass.

Results
Patients with PD had worse APR stability than controls. Turning the DBS on at either site improved APR stability compared with the postoperative OFF condition by lengthening the tibialis response, whereas medication did not show an appreciable effect. The STN group had worse APR stability in their best functional state (DBS+DOPA) 6 months after the DBS procedure compared with their best functional state (ON levodopa) before the DBS procedure. In contrast, the GPi group and the PD control group showed no change over 6 months. The APR stability impairment in the STN group was associated with smaller tibialis response amplitudes, but there was no change in response latency or coactivation with gastrocnemius.

Conclusions
Turning the DBS current on improved APR stability for both STN and GPi sites. However, there was a detrimental DBS procedural effect for the STN group, and this effect was greater than the benefit of the stimulating current, making overall APR stability functionally worse after surgery for the STN group.
Osseous metastases of gastro- entero - pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours
Authors: Heinemann F. , Guhlke S. , Muckle M. , Willinek W. , Biersack H.-J. , Ahmadzadehfar H. , Sabet A. , Ezziddin S. 
Published: March 2012

SummaryAim: Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy with 177Lu-octreotate is an effective treatment option for metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP NET) and allows intratherapeutic imaging through a 177Lu-octreotate scan (LuS). The diagnostic value of this treatment scan is not yet established. This study aims to compare the sensitivity of LuS and bone scintigraphy (BS) regarding bone metastases and investigate potential implications of functional imaging results. Patients, methods: We retrospectively analyzed 29 consecutive GEP NET patients with bone metastases and baseline BS treated with 177Lu-octreotate. A semi-quantitative scoring system was used for the comparative evaluation. Treatment outcome (time-to-progression of bone metastases) was correlated with the intra-individual imaging discrepancy (Kaplan- Meyer curves, log-rank test, p < 0.05). Results: In 19 of 29 patients (65.5%) LuS was superior (LuS > BS), whereas in 10 patients (34.5%) both modalities were comparable. BS showed no additional (LuS-negative) metastatic bone lesions in our cohort. None of the investigated baseline characteristics was associated with Imaging discrepancy. On the other hand, functional imaging discrepancy had no impact on treatment response (p = 0.43) or time-to-progression (p = 0.92). Conclusions: Intra-therapeutic 177Lu-octreotate imaging is superior over bone scintigraphy for detection of bone metastases in GEP NET. BS may help to distinguish osseous from non-osseous localization. The presence of an osteoblastic correlate in BS seems to have no impact on therapeutic outcome
Rapid Decline of Viral RNA in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated Once Daily with IDX320: A Novel Macrocyclic HCV Protease Inhibitor
Authors: de Bruijne Joep , van Vliet Andre , Weegink Christine J , Mazur Włodzimierz , Wiercinska-Drapało Alicja , Simon Krzysztof , Cholewińska-Szymańska Grażyna , Kapocsi Judit , Várkonyi István , Zhou Xiao-Jian , Temam Marie-Francoise , Molles Jeffrey , Chen Jie , Pietropaolo Keith , McCarville Joseph F , Sullivan-Bólyai John Z , Mayers Douglas , Reesink Hendrik 
Published: March 2012

Background The addition of direct-acting antivirals to pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin for the treatment of chronic HCV infection can result in an increased sustained viral response rate and may permit reduction in treatment duration. IDX320 is a potent non-covalent macrocyclic inhibitor of the HCV NS3/4A protease. Methods This was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled single- and multiple-dose study to assess the safety, tolerability, antiviral activity and pharmacokinetics of IDX320 in healthy volunteers (HV) and patients with chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. HV ( n=48) received single or multiple ascending doses of IDX320. Two HCV-infected patients received a single dose of 200 mg IDX320. Dosages for other HCV-infected patients were as follows: placebo, 50, 100, 200 or 400 mg of IDX320 orally once daily for 3 days ( n=30) or placebo/200 mg of IDX320 twice-daily for 3 days ( n=8). Results In total, 48 HV and 40 HCV-infected patients were enrolled and all completed the study. There were no serious adverse events. The majority of adverse events were of mild or moderate intensity. Pharmacokinetics supported a once-daily dosing regimen. A rapid decline in plasma HCV RNA was observed in all patients. In the multiple-dose study, mean HCV RNA reductions were 2.6, 3.1, 3.1, 3.3 and 3.8 log10 IU/ml after 3 days in the IDX320 50, 100, 200, 400 mg once-daily and 200 mg twice-daily treatment groups, respectively. This compared to a mean HCV RNA reduction of 0.04 log10 in the placebo group. Conclusions Once-daily IDX320 dosing demonstrated potent dose-dependent antiviral activity in treatment-naive HCV genotype-1-infected patients.
Risk of Gastrointestinal Events in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis After Withdrawal of Rofecoxib
Authors: MARRA CARLO A. , LYND LARRY D. , COLLEY LINDSEY , HARVARD STEPHANIE S. , LACAILLE DIANE , SCHWENGER ERIN , ANIS ASLAM H. , ESDAILE JOHN M. 
Published: March 2012

Objective.To examine the incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after the removal of rofecoxib from the market.Methods.Residents of British Columbia with a diagnosis of RA who were chronic users of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitors or nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (nsNSAID) as of September 30, 2004, were included. We studied the risk of GI events using incidence rates and adjusted HR from Cox proportional hazards regression using time-dependent covariates.Results.The cohort comprised 4266 patients with a mean age of 60 years and over 72% women, of which 2034 (48%) were classified as COX-2 inhibitor users and 2232 (52%) as chronic nsNSAID users as of September 30, 2004. The 2 groups were well balanced on baseline covariates except for comorbid conditions. In the year following rofecoxib withdrawal, 174 patients (5.5%) experienced 1 or more GI events, defined as a GI-related physician visit or hospitalization. There was no statistically significant increase in the risk of a GI event between those classified as a COX-2 inhibitor or nsNSAID user at the time of withdrawal (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.69–1.54). Considering the drug exposure at the time of the event, there was no increased risk of GI events associated with the use of either COX-2 inhibitors or nsNSAID, or with the use of oral corticosteroids, low-dose aspirin, or clopidogrel, after adjustment for potential confounders.Conclusion.In this cohort, withdrawal of rofecoxib did not result in a significant increase in GI events among patients with RA.
Construct Validity of the Modified Numeric Rating Scale of Patient Global Assessment in Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: LEUNG YING-YING , HO KWOK-WAH , ZHU TRACY-YANNER , TAM LAI-SHAN , KUN EMILY WAILIN , LI EDMUND KWOK-MING 
Published: March 2012

Objective.The construct validity of the patient global health assessment (PGA) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has not been analyzed, despite its common use. We evaluated the construct validity of a numeric rating scale (NRS) of the PGA in PsA.Methods.Patients with PsA who fulfilled the ClASsification for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR) criteria were recruited at a tertiary referral center. Demographic data were collected and PGA data were determined from administration of an 11-point NRS (0 to 10 points representing best to worst status). Convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated by correlation between PGA and clinical variables. Patients were grouped as having severe disease based on Disease Activity Score 28-joint count (DAS28) > 5.1, Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) > 1.0, walking with aids, and social welfare-dependent. Patients were grouped as being in remission by DAS28 < 2.6 and the Minimal Disease Activity Criteria. Known-group validity of PGA was evaluated.Results.A total of 125 patients (52% men) were studied. Convergent validity revealed strong correlations of PGA with pain score, HAQ, and DAS28; and weak correlations with skin severity score, physician’s global assessment and morning stiffness. In multivariate analysis, PGA was associated with pain, physical function, mental function, and skin severity score. PGA distinguished different levels of severity well, as determined by comparison with different known groups with large effect sizes.Conclusion.Judged on an NRS, the PGA had good construct validity and satisfactorily distinguished all levels of severity in PsA.
Patient-reported Outcomes in Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Authors: MATTESON ERIC L. , MARADIT-KREMERS HILAL , CIMMINO MARCO A. , SCHMIDT WOLFGANG A. , SCHIRMER MICHAEL , SALVARANI CARLO , BACHTA ARTUR , DEJACO CHRISTIAN , DUFTNER CHRISTINA , SLOTT JENSEN HANNE , POÓR GYULA , KAPOSI NOVÁK PÁL , MANDL PETER , BALINT PETER V. , SCHMIDT ZSUZSA , IAGNOCCO ANNAMARIA , CANTINI FABRIZIO , NANNINI CARLOTTA , MACCHIONI PIERLUIGI , PIPITONE NICOLÒ , del AMO MONTSERRAT , ESPÍGOL-FRIGOLÉ GEORGINA , CID MARIA C. , MARTÍNEZ-TABOADA VÍCTOR M. , NORDBORG ELISABETH , DIRESKENELI HANER , AYDIN SIBEL ZEHRA , AHMED KHALID , HAZELMAN BRIAN , PEASE COLIN , WAKEFIELD RICHARD J. , LUQMANI RAASHID , ABRIL ANDY , MARCUS RALPH , GONTER NEIL J. , MAZ MEHRDAD , CROWSON CYNTHIA S. , DASGUPTA BHASKAR 
Published: March 2012

Objective.To prospectively evaluate the disease course and the performance of clinical, patient-reported outcome (PRO) and musculoskeletal ultrasound measures in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).Methods.The study population included 85 patients with new-onset PMR who were initially treated with prednisone equivalent dose of 15 mg daily tapered gradually, and followed for 26 weeks. Data collection included physical examination findings, laboratory measures of acute-phase reactants, and PRO measures. Ultrasound evaluation was performed at baseline and Week 26 to assess for features previously reported to be associated with PMR. Response to corticosteroid treatment was defined as 70% improvement in PMR on visual analog scale (VAS).Results.At baseline, 77% had hip pain in addition to shoulder pain and 100% had abnormal C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rate. On ultrasound, 84% had shoulder findings and 32% had both shoulder and hip findings. Response to corticosteroid treatment occurred in 73% of patients by Week 4 and was highly correlated with percentage improvement in other VAS measures. Presence of ultrasound findings at baseline predicted response to corticosteroids at 4 weeks. Factor analysis revealed 6 domains that sufficiently represented all the outcome measures: PMR-related pain and physical function, an elevated inflammatory marker, hip pain, global pain, mental function, and morning stiffness.Conclusion.PRO measures and inflammatory markers performed well in assessing disease activity in patients with PMR. A minimum set of outcome measures consisting of PRO measures of pain and function and an inflammatory marker should be used in practice and in clinical trials in PMR.
Hepatitis B Virus-associated Antigen Deposition in Renal Tissue from Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: WANG ZHUOLONG , LI MENGTAO , ZENG XIAOFENG , LIU XINJIAN 
Published: March 2012

Objective.To determine the significance of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated antigen deposition in renal tissue from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods.The medical records of 166 inpatients with lupus nephritis and 384 controls without SLE were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with SLE were classified as positive or negative depending on whether HBV-associated antigen deposition was detected in renal biopsies.Results.HBV-associated antigen deposition was mainly detected in renal tissue from patients with SLE (50.6%), primary renal glomerular disease (20.8%), and allergic purpura (21.7%). It was not detected in renal tissue from patients with diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephrosclerosis, thin basement membrane nephropathy, or Alport syndrome. Hepatitis B surface antigen and core antigen were deposited in the mesangial region and vascular loops. The positive group had a significantly higher frequency of IgG, IgA, and IgM deposition than the negative group (53.6% vs 30.5%; p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the types of lupus nephritis observed between the 2 groups.Conclusion.There was a high prevalence of HBV-associated antigen deposition in renal tissue of patients with SLE by indirect immunofluorescence, which may result mainly from the cross-reactivity with deposited immunoglobulins.
Independent Replication and Metaanalysis of Association Studies Establish TNFSF4 as a Susceptibility Gene Preferentially Associated with the Subset of Anticentromere-positive Patients with Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: COUSTET BAPTISTE , BOUAZIZ MATTHIEU , DIEUDÉ PHILIPPE , GUEDJ MICKAEL , BOSSINI-CASTILLO LARA , AGARWAL SANDEEP , RADSTAKE TIMOTHY , MARTIN JAVIER , GOURH PRAVITT , ELHAI MURIEL , KOUMAKIS EUGÉNIE , AVOUAC JÉRÔME , RUIZ BARBARA , MAYES MAUREEN , ARNETT FRANK , HACHULLA ERIC , DIOT ELISABETH , CRACOWSKI JEAN-LUC , TIEV KIET , SIBILIA JEAN , MOUTHON LUC , FRANCES CAMILLE , AMOURA ZAHIR , CARPENTIER PATRICK , COSNES ANNE , MEYER OLIVIER , KAHAN ANDRÉ , BOILEAU CATHERINE , CHIOCCHIA GILLES , ALLANORE YANNICK 
Published: March 2012

Objective.Independent replication with large cohorts and metaanalysis of genetic associations are necessary to validate genetic susceptibility factors. The known tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 4 gene (TNFSF4) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk locus has been found to be associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in 2 studies, but with discrepancies between them for genotype-phenotype correlation. Our objective was to validate TNFSF4 association with SSc and determine the subset with the higher risk.Methods.Known SLE and SSc TNFSF4 susceptibility variants (rs2205960, rs1234317, rs12039904, rs10912580, and rs844648) were genotyped in 1031 patients with SSc and 1014 controls of French white ancestry. Genotype-phenotype association analysis and metaanalysis of available data were performed, providing a population study of 4989 patients with SSc and 4661 controls, all of European white ancestry.Results.Allelic and genotypic associations were observed for the 5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with the subset of patients with SSc who are positive for anticentromere antibodies (ACA) and only a trend for association with SSc and limited cutaneous SSc. Rs2205960 exhibited the strongest allelic association in ACA+ patients with SSc [p = 0.0015; OR 1.37 (1.12–1.66)], with significant intra-cohort association when compared to patients with SSc positive for ACA. Metaanalysis confirmed overall association with SSc but also raised preferential association with the ACA+ subset and strongest effect with rs2205960 [T allele p = 0.00013; OR 1.33 (1.15–1.54) and TT genotype p = 0.00046; OR 2.02 (1.36–2.98)].Conclusion.We confirm TNFSF4 as an SSc susceptibility gene and rs2205960 as a putative causal variant with preferential association in the ACA+ SSc subphenotype.
Hepatic Steatosis and Disease Activity in Subjects with Psoriatic Arthritis Receiving Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Blockers
Authors: Di MINNO MATTEO NICOLA DARIO , IERVOLINO SALVATORE , PELUSO ROSARIO , RUSSOLILLO ANNA , LUPOLI ROBERTA , SCARPA RAFFAELE , Di MINNO GIOVANNI , TARANTINO GIOVANNI ,   the CaRRDS Study Group
Published: March 2012

Objective.Little is known about tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blockers, disease activity, and liver steatosis (hepatic steatosis; HS) in subjects with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We prospectively evaluated changes in HS during treatment with TNF-α blockers.Methods.In 48 patients with PsA who had evidence of HS before the beginning of TNF-α blocker treatment, an ultrasound followup examination was performed after a 12-month treatment period with TNF-α blockers. All subjects were stratified according to minimal disease activity (MDA) or not (n-MDA), during treatment with TNF-α blockers. Changes in grade of HS were evaluated in parallel in 42 controls with HS and without PsA.Results.At baseline, no significant difference in HS score was found between PsA subjects and controls (HS scores 1.46 ± 0.65 vs 1.62 ± 0.66, respectively; p = 0.249). At 12-month followup, a worsening HS score was found in 20 (41.7%) patients with PsA and in 6 (14.3%) controls (p = 0.005). Overall, the grade of HS worsening was higher in patients with PsA (0.37 ± 0.70) than in controls (0.09 ± 0.43; p = 0.028). A significantly lower prevalence of worsening HS was found among patients with PsA with MDA, compared with n-MDA subjects (16.7% vs 66.7%, respectively; p = 0.001). Laboratory measures of liver function behaved similarly. The risk of worsening HS in patients with PsA who had MDA was similar to that in controls (HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.34–4.33, p = 0.77), and higher in patients who did not have MDA (HR 4.46, 95% CI 1.73–11.47, p = 0.001, regression analysis).Conclusion.Compared with patients with MDA, those with active disease after 12-month treatment with TNF-α blockers exhibited significantly higher incidence of worsening liver steatosis.
Oil Abundance and Economic Growth—A Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Torres Nuno , Afonso Óscar , Soares Isabel 
Published: March 2012

Using panel estimation, this paper shows that higher oil abundance does not hinder crude producers’ growth. This sample controls for specificities of oil economies, but the usual cross-section ‘curse’ result is found—it disappears allowing for unobserved effects. The chosen model controls for a potential (but unconfirmed) oil curse working through institutions, and for other growth factors such as education, which is considered by deriving real wage growth as the dependent variable. We measure the oil growth-effects through labor and capital efficiency, and as a factor of production. They are all insignificant for oil production, but rig productivity benefits growth through capital efficiency. However, oil concentration only fosters growth (by reducing the capital necessary to oil exploration) significantly if there is fiscal responsibility, and in developing countries, where institutions are weaker and there is a broader scope for factor-efficiency and technological improvements arising from the oil sector. Keywords: Economic growth, Institutions, Oil curse, Panel data http://dx.doi.org/10.5547/01956574.33.2.6
Hydrogen Incorporation in III‐N‐V Semiconductors: From Macroscopic to Nanometer Control of the Materials’ Physical Properties
Authors: Trotta Rinaldo , Polimeni Antonio , Capizzi Mario 
Published: March 2012

AbstractThe effects of hydrogen incorporation in dilute nitride semiconductors, specifically GaAs1‐xNx, are discussed. The remarkable consequences of hydrogen irradiation include tuneable and reversible changes in the electronic, optical, structural, and electrical properties of these materials. The highly trapping‐limited diffusion of H atoms in dilute nitrides results in the formation of extremely sharp heterointerfaces between H‐containing and H‐free regions of the crystals. This, in turn, offers an unprecedented possibility to tailor the physical properties of a semiconductor chip in its growth plane with nanometer precision. A number of examples are presented and discussed.
Solution Processable Monosubstituted Hexa‐Peri‐Hexabenzocoronene Self‐Assembling Dyes
Authors: Ren Shijie , Yan Chao , Vak Doojin , Jones David J. , Holmes Andrew B. , Wong Wallace W. H. 
Published: March 2012

AbstractMolecular organization behavior and visible light absorption ability are important factors for organic materials to be used in efficient bulk heterojunction solar cells applications. In this context, a series of monosubstituted fluorenyl hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene (FHBC) are synthesized with the aim to combine the self‐association property of the FHBC unit with broadened light absorption of a small molecule organic dye, bisthienylbenzothiadiazole (TBT). Optical and electrochemical properties of the FHBC compounds vary according to their structures. Introduction of a TBT unit into the FHBC system broadens the absorption. All of the FHBC compounds show strong π–π intermolecular association in solution. X‐ray scattering measurements on thermally extruded filaments and thin films showed ordered alignment of these compounds in the solid state. In atomic force microscopy experiments, nanoscale phase separation is observed in thin films of FHBC and fullerene derivative blends. Solar cell devices with these compounds as donors are fabricated. FHBC compounds with the TBT unit show higher short circuit current while the high open circuit voltages are maintained. With C60 derivative as acceptor, power conversion efficiency of 1.12% is achieved in the unoptimized solar cell devices under simulated solar irradiation. The efficiency was further improved to 1.64% when C70 derivative was used as the acceptor.
Emerging Technologies for Assembly of Microscale Hydrogels
Authors: Gurkan Umut Atakan , Tasoglu Savas , Kavaz Doga , Demirel Melik C. , Demirci Utkan 
Published: March 2012

AbstractAssembly of cell encapsulating building blocks (i.e., microscale hydrogels) has significant applications in areas including regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and cell‐based in vitro assays for pharmaceutical research and drug discovery. Inspired by the repeating functional units observed in native tissues and biological systems (e.g., the lobule in liver, the nephron in kidney), assembly technologies aim to generate complex tissue structures by organizing microscale building blocks. Novel assembly technologies enable fabrication of engineered tissue constructs with controlled properties including tunable microarchitectural and predefined compositional features. Recent advances in micro‐ and nano‐scale technologies have enabled engineering of microgel based three dimensional (3D) constructs. There is a need for high‐throughput and scalable methods to assemble microscale units with a complex 3D micro‐architecture. Emerging assembly methods include novel technologies based on microfluidics, acoustic and magnetic fields, nanotextured surfaces, and surface tension. In this review, we survey emerging microscale hydrogel assembly methods offering rapid, scalable microgel assembly in 3D, and provide future perspectives and discuss potential applications.