bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Capecitabine/oxaliplatin as first‐line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhao G. , Gao P. , Yang K. H. , Tian J. H. , Ma B. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractObjective  A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) was carried out to determine the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX) or fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin (FUOX) as first‐line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC).Method  A literature search was conducted of the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register Databases, Medline, Embase, ISI databases and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database without exclusion of material published in any language. RCTs conducted between 1998 and 2008 of CAPOX compared with FUOX regimens were considered for inclusion. Statistical analyses were carried out using RevMan software.Results  Ten RCTs were included, involving 3208 patients. The meta‐analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences in tumour response rate (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.87–1.01; P = 0.09), progression‐free survival (PFS) (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.94–1.01; P = 0.19), and overall survival (OS) (RR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.97–1.07; P = 0.47) between CAPOX and FUOX regimen. However, symptoms of thrombocytopenia and hand‐foot syndrome (HFS) were increased in the CAPOX regimen (RR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.33–2.69; P = 0.0004 and RR, 3.40; 95% CI, 2.25–5.15; P < 0.00001 respectively), while neutropenia and leucopenia occurred more frequently in the FUOX regimen (RR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.15–0.55; P = 0.0002 and RR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.18–0.95; P = 0.04respectively).Conclusion  CAPOX was equivalent to FUOX in terms of tumour response rate, progression‐free survival (PFS), and OS in first‐line treatment for patients with MCRC, which may be considered as standard first‐line treatment in patients with MCRC.
Histological identification of epithelium in perianal fistulae: a prospective study
Authors: Van Koperen P. J. , Ten Kate F. J. W. , Bemelman W. A. , Slors J. F. M. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAim  A procedure often performed following fistulotomy and advancement flap is curettage of the fistula tract after fistulotomy or after closing the internal opening. Epithelialization of the fistula tract might prevent closure of the fistula tract. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and origin of epithelialization of the fistula tract in patients with perianal fistulae undergoing fistulotomy.Method  Only patients with low perianal fistulae that were surgically treated by fistulotomy were included. Surgical biopsies were taken from the fistula tract from three different locations; on the proximal side at the internal opening, in the middle of the fistula tract and near the distal end close to the external opening.Results  In the study period, 18 patients with low perianal fistulae were included. In 15 of the 18 patients, squamous epithelium was found at least in one of the biopsies taken from the fistula tract. Epithelium was predominantly found near the internal opening. There was no relation between the duration of fistula complaints and the amount of epithelialization (P = 0.301). The amount of epithelium was not related to the presence of a history of fistula surgery (P = 1.000).Conclusion  This study demonstrated epithelialization in the fistula tract in the majority of the patients surgically treated by fistulotomy for low perianal fistulae. Curettage of perianal fistulae must therefore be considered an essential step in the surgical treatment of perianal fistula.
Long‐term results of biofeedback treatment for faecal incontinence: a comparative study with untreated controls
Authors: Lacima G. , Pera M. , Amador A. , Escaramís G. , Piqué J. M. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAim  Long‐term results of biofeedback for faecal incontinence are controversial. Moreover, its value compared with standard care has been recently questioned. The study aimed to analyse the long‐term efficacy of biofeedback therapy for faecal incontinence to formed stool and to compare it with no treatment.Method  Seventy‐nine patients with faecal incontinence to solid stool were evaluated at baseline and 1, 6, 36 and 60 months after treatment. To compare the long‐term results with no treatment, 40 patients initially evaluated but not referred for therapy were used as controls.Results  More than 80% of patients recovered continence or had a reduction in the number of episodes of incontinence greater than 75% at 1, 6, 36 and 60 months, indicating that the success rate of biofeedback was maintained over time. At 60 months, 86% of patients treated with biofeedback were fully continent or had a > 75% reduction in the number of incontinent episodes compared to 26% of the untreated patients (P < 0.001).Conclusion  Biofeedback therapy is effective in patients with faecal incontinence to formed stool compared with no treatment. Overall, clinical improvement is maintained in the long term.
Open vs laparoscopic approach for reversal of Hartmann’s procedure: a systematic review
Authors: Siddiqui M. R. S. , Sajid M. S. , Baig M. K. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractAim  A meta‐analysis of published literature comparing open vs laparoscopic Hartmann’s reversal.Method  MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed and the Cochrane databases were searched from January 1993 to August 2008. The bibliography of selected trials was scrutinized and relevant references obtained. A systematic review was performed to obtain a summative outcome.Results  Eight comparative studies involving 450 patients were analysed. One hundred and ninety‐three patients were in the laparoscopic and 257 in the open group. Laparoscopic reversal has a significantly reduced complication rate (z = −2.92, P < 0.01), intra‐operative blood loss (z = −7.34, P < 0.001) and hospital stay (z = −3.16, P < 0.01) compared with the conventional approach. No difference in leak rates was found.Conclusion  Laparoscopic reversal of Hartmann’s procedure is safe, has fewer complications and shorter hospital stays. This approach may be considered for reversal, however, randomized controlled trials are required to strengthen the evidence.
Digital Distinction: Status‐Specific Types of Internet Usage*
Authors: Zillien Nicole , Hargittai Eszter 
Published: April 2009

Objective. Sociologists of technology propose that not only a technological artifact, as such, but also patterns of usage should be considered when studying the social implications of technologies. Accordingly, we explore how people's online activities are influenced by users' socioeconomic status and context of use.Methods. We analyze data from the Allensbacher Computer and Technology Analysis (ACTA) 2004 survey with uniquely detailed information about people's Internet uses and context of usage to explore this relationship.Results. Findings suggest that high‐status and low‐status individuals cultivate different forms of “Internet‐in‐practice.” High‐status users are much more likely to engage in so‐called capital‐enhancing activities online than are their less privileged counterparts.Conclusion. Results suggest differential payoffs from Internet use depending on a user's socioeconomic background. Digital inequalities might be mitigated by improving people's Internet equipment and digital experience, but they do not account for all the status differential in use.
Different Forms of Ventricular Tachycardia Involving the Left Anterior Fascicle in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: Critical Sites of the Reentrant Circuit in Low‐Voltage Areas
Authors: REITHMANN CHRISTOPHER , HAHNEFELD ANTON , ULBRICH MICHAEL , MATIS TOMAS , STEINBECK GERHARD 
Published: April 2009

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the reentrant circuit of ventricular tachycardias (VTs) involving the left anterior fascicle (LAF) in nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Methods and Results: Six patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy presented with VTs involving the LAF. Potentials in the diastolic or presystolic phase of the VT were identified close to the LAF in 3 patients and in the mid or inferior left ventricular (LV) septum in 3 patients. Superimposed on a CARTO or NavX 3‐dimensional voltage map, the diastolic and presystolic potentials were recorded within or at the border of a low‐voltage zone in the LV septum in all cases. In 2 patients, both left bundle fascicles participated in the reentrant circuit including a possible interfascicular VT in one case. Ablation targeting the diastolic or presystolic potentials near the LAF or in the midinferior LV septum eliminated the VTs in all patients with the occurrence of a left posterior fascicular block and the delayed occurrence of a complete atrioventricular block in each one patient. During the follow‐up of 23 ± 20 months after ablation, 4 patients were free of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Due to detoriation of heart failure, one patient died after 12 months and one patient underwent heart transplantation after 40 months. Conclusions: Slow conduction in diseased myocardium close to the LAF or in the middle and inferior aspects of the LV septum may represent the diastolic pathway of VT involving the LAF.
Not All hERG Pore Domain Mutations Have a Severe Phenotype: G584S Has an Inactivation Gating Defect with Mild Phenotype Compared to G572S, Which Has a Dominant Negative Trafficking Defect and a Severe Phenotype
Authors: ZHAO JING TING , HILL ADAM P. , VARGHESE ANTHONY , COOPER ANTONY A. , SWAN HEIKKI , LAITINEN‐FORSBLOM PÄIVI J. , REES MARK I. , SKINNER JONATHAN R. , CAMPBELL TERENCE J. , VANDENBERG JAMIE I. 
Published: April 2009

Introduction: Mutations in the pore domain of the human ether‐a‐go‐go‐related gene (hERG) potassium channel are associated with higher risk of sudden death. However, in many kindreds clinical presentation is variable, making it hard to predict risk. We hypothesized that in vitro phenotyping of the intrinsic severity of individual mutations can assist with risk stratification. Methods and Results: We analyzed 2 hERG pore domain mutations, G572S and G584S. Similar to 90% of hERG missense mutations, G572S‐hERG subunits did not traffic to the plasma membrane but could coassemble with WT subunits and resulted in a dominant negative suppression of hERG current density. The G584S‐hERG subunits traffic normally but have abnormal inactivation gating. Computer models of human ventricular myocyte action potentials (AP), incorporating Markov models of the hERG mutants, indicate that G572S‐hERG channels would cause more severe AP prolongation than that seen with G584S‐hERG channels. Conclusions: hERG‐G572S and ‐G584S are 2 pore domain mutations that involve the same change in sidechain but have very different in vitro phenotypes; G572S causes a dominant negative trafficking defect, whereas G584S is the first hERG missense mutation where the cause of disease can be exclusively attributed to enhanced inactivation. The G572S mutation is intrinsically more severe than the G584S mutation, consistent with the overall clinical presentation in the 2 small kindreds studied here. Further investigation, involving a larger number of cohorts, to test the hypothesis that in vitro phenotyping of the intrinsic severity of a given mutation will assist with risk stratification is therefore warranted.
Upgrading Pacemaker Patients with Right Ventricular Apical Pacing to Right Ventricular Septal Pacing Improves Left Ventricular Performance and Functional Capacity
Authors: TSE HUNG‐FAT , WONG KWONG‐KUEN , SIU CHUNG‐WAH , ZHANG XUE‐HUA , HO WAI‐YIN , LAU CHU‐PAK 
Published: April 2009

Background: Right ventricular (RV) apical pacing results in abnormal left ventricular (LV) electrical and mechanical activation and is associated with an increased risk of developing heart failure. Chronic RV septal pacing has been shown to be superior to RV apical pacing in newly implanted patients. However, whether RV septal pacing can reverse deleterious effects of RV apical pacing remain unclear. Methods: We evaluated the effects of RV septal pacing on LV performance and functional capacity before and at 18 months after device replacement in 12 patients with previously permanent RV apical pacing and in 12 control patients that continued RV apical pacing. All patients underwent radionuclide ventriculography and 6‐minute hallwalk (6‐MHW) test before replacement (baseline) and at 18 months afterward to determine changes in LV performance and functional capacity, respectively. Results: After RV septal upgraded, there was a significant decrease in paced QRS duration (171.2 ± 3.9 ms to 160.4 ± 3.5 ms, P = 0.0016), increase in LV ejection fraction (55.2 ± 2.6% vs 60.4 ± 2.9%, P = 0.0002), the peak ventricular filling rate (2.60 ± 0.13 s−1 vs 3.01 ± 0.14 s−1, P = 0.046), and 6‐MHW (308.2 ± 31.6 m vs 355.5 ± 34.2 m, P = 0.015) at 18 months compared with baseline. No changes in these parameters were observed in the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: RV septal pacing upgraded improves LV systolic and diastolic function and functional capacity in patients with previously permanent RV apical pacing. These findings suggest that RV septal pacing can reverse the deleterious effects of RV apical pacing in patients who required permanent ventricular pacing.
Distances to Emergency Department and to Primary Care Provider’s Office Affect Emergency Department Use in Children
Authors: Ludwick Annameika , Fu Rongwei , Warden Craig , Lowe Robert A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractObjectives:  Patients of all ages use emergency departments (EDs) for primary care. Several studies have evaluated patient and system characteristics that influence pediatric ED use. However, the issue of proximity as a predictor of ED use has not been well studied. The authors sought to determine whether ED use by pediatric Medicaid enrollees was associated with the distance to their primary care providers (PCPs), distance to the nearest ED, and distance to the nearest children’s hospital.Methods:  This historical cohort study included 26,038 children age 18 and under, assigned to 332 primary care practices affiliated with a Medicaid health maintenance organization (HMO). Predictor variables were distance from the child’s home to his or her PCP site, distance from home to the nearest ED, and distance from home to the nearest children’s hospital. The outcome variable was each child’s ED use. A negative binomial model was used to determine the association between distance variables and ED use, adjusted for age, sex, and race, plus medical and primary care site characteristics previously found to influence ED use. Distance variables were divided into quartiles to test for nonlinear associations.Results:  On average, children made 0.31 ED visits/person/year. In the multivariable model, children living greater than 1.19 miles from the nearest ED had 11% lower ED use than those living within 0.5 miles of the nearest ED (risk ratio [RR] = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.81 to 0.99). Children living between 1.54 and 3.13 miles from their PCPs had 13% greater ED use (RR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.24) than those who lived within 0.7 miles of their PCP.Conclusions:  Geographical variables play a significant role in ED utilization in children, confirming the importance of system‐level determinants of ED use and creating the opportunity for interventions to reduce geographical barriers to primary care.
Routine Packing of Simple Cutaneous Abscesses Is Painful and Probably Unnecessary
Authors: O’Malley Gerald F. , Dominici Paul , Giraldo Patricia , Aguilera Elizabeth , Verma Manisha , Lares Claudia , Burger Patricia , Williams Edwin 
Published: April 2009

AbstractObjectives:  The objective was to determine whether the routine packing of simple cutaneous abscesses after incision and drainage (I&D) confers any benefit over I&D alone.Methods:  In a prospective, randomized, single‐blinded trial, subjects with simple cutaneous abscesses (less than 5 cm largest diameter) underwent incision, drainage, irrigation, and standard abscess preparation in the usual manner. Subjects were then randomized to either packing or no‐packing. Visual analog scales (VAS; 100 mm) of pain were recorded in the emergency department (ED). All patients received trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (TMP‐SMX), ibuprofen, and narcotic prescriptions, recorded twice daily VAS pain scores, and returned in 48 hours at which time dressings and packing, if present, were removed and a physician blinded to the randomization and not part of the initial visit repeated measurements and determined the need for further intervention.Results:  Forty‐eight subjects were included in the final analysis. There were no significant differences in age, sex, abscess location, or initial pain scores between the two groups. There was no significant difference in need for a second intervention at the 48‐hour follow‐up between the packed (4 of 23 subjects) and nonpacked (5 of 25 subjects) groups (p = 0.72; relative risk = 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.4 to 4.2). Patients in the group that received packing reported higher pain scores immediately postprocedure (mean difference = 23.8 mm; p = 0.014, 95% CI = 5 to 42 mm) and at 48 hours postprocedure (mean difference = 16.4 mm; p = 0.03, 95% CI = 1.6 to 31.2 mm), as well as greater use of ibuprofen (mean difference = 0.32; p = 0.12, 95% CI = −1.4 to 2.0) and oxycodone/acetaminophen (mean difference = 2.19; p = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.2 to 4.1).Conclusion:  In this pilot study, not packing simple cutaneous abscesses did not result in any increased morbidity, and patients reported less pain and used fewer pain medications than packed patients.
Molecular identification and population dynamics of two species of Pemphigus (Homoptera: Pemphidae) on cabbage
Authors: Chen Naiqi , Liu Tong‐Xian , Sétamou Mamoudou , French J. Victor , Louzada Eliezer S. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe poplar petiole gall aphid, Pemphigus populitransversus Riley, has been one of the major pests on cruciferous vegetable in the Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas since the late 1940s. It normally migrates from poplar trees to cruciferous vegetables in the fall, and migrates back to the trees in early spring of the coming year. Some root‐feeding aphids were found on cruciferous vegetables in late spring and early summer in 1998 and the following years. Those aphids have been identified as Pemphigus obesinymphae Moran. This discovery completely changed the current knowledge about the root‐feeding aphids on cruciferous vegetables in the LRGV. Due to their small size, morphological and feeding similarities between P. populitransversus and P. obesinymphae, their identification and distinction are difficult. In this study, random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were used to distinguish these two species over a period of time when the two species occurred together, or separately, in cabbage fields. The two species occurred on cabbage at different times of the year, and overlapped from October to June. From May to October, both species migrated to their primary hosts. The apterous aphids found on cabbage in winter contained mainly P. obesinymphae, whereas in early spring more apterous P. populitransversus were recovered. The root‐feeding aphids would feed on cabbage plants as long as this host was available even during the hot, dry summer in the LRGV, although their populations were generally low. Both RAPD and AFLP techniques were efficient in discriminating the two species that showed obviously genetic variability. These molecular techniques confirmed the existence of the two aphid species in apterous samples collected from the soil in cabbage fields in the LRGV, and the results performed by RAPD were confirmed by AFLP. Furthermore, the results suggest that RAPD technique was a better choice despite its reproducibility problem, as it was less time‐consuming and required less technology, labor and expense than AFLP.
Presence of a cerebral factor showing summer‐morph‐producing hormone activity in the brain of the seasonal non‐polyphenic butterflies Vanessa cardui, V. indica and Nymphalis xanthomelas japonica (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
Authors: Tanaka Ayuki , Inoue Moeko , Endo Katsuhiko , Kitazawa Chisato , Yamanaka Akira 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThree species of nymphalid butterflies, Vanessa cardui, V. indica and Nymphalis xanthomelas japonica, do not exhibit seasonal polyphenism in wing coloration. To determine whether seasonal non‐polyphenic butterflies possess a cerebral factor affecting wing coloration, we used a Polygonia c‐aureum female short‐day pupal assay for detection of summer‐morph‐producing hormone (SMPH) activity in P. c‐aureum. When 2% NaCl extracts of 25 brain‐equivalents prepared from the pupal brains of V. cardui, V. indica or N. xanthomelas japonica were injected into Polygonia female short‐day pupae, all recipients developed into summer‐morph adults with dark‐yellow wings, and the average grade score (AGS) of summer morphs showing SMPH activity was 3.8, 3.7 and 4.0, respectively. In contrast, when acetone or 80% ethanol extracts prepared from pupal brains were injected into Polygonia pupae, all recipients developed into autumn‐morph adults with a dark‐brown coloration and each exhibited an AGS of less than 0.5. Our results indicate that a cerebral factor showing SMPH activity is present in the pupal brain of seasonal non‐polyphenic nymphalid butterflies, suggesting that a SMPH and cerebral factor showing SMPH activity occur widely among butterfly species. This finding will improve our understanding of the presence of cerebral factors showing interspecific actions of SHPH.
Kairomonal effect of sex pheromone components of two lepidopteran olive pests on Trichogramma wasps
Authors: Milonas Panos , Mazomenos Basilios E. , Konstantopoulou Maria A. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractEgg parasitoids are known to use a wide range of chemicals, emitted by plants, host eggs or adults, for host selection. The effect of the sex pheromone components of the lepidopteran olive pests Prays oleae (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) and Palpita unionalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was studied under laboratory conditions, on the foraging behaviour of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma oleae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). The response of T. oleae wasps to (Z)‐7‐tetradecenal and (E)‐11‐hexadecenal, major sex pheromone components of P. oleae and P. unionalis respectively, depended on the dose of the pheromone used in a Y‐tube olfactometer bioassay. (E)‐11‐hexadecenal elicited maximum attraction (70%) at a dose of 1 μg, while a dose of 100 μg (Z)‐7‐tetradecenal attracted 80% of the tested wasps. (E)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate, the second sex pheromone component of P. unionalis, and the binary blend of (E)‐11‐hexadecenyl acetate: (E)‐11‐hexadecenal (7:3) were not attractive at these doses. The results of this research are discussed in view that they may be considered as alternatives in the biological control of these pests.