bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis and medical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in adult men: applying specialist guidelines in clinical practice
Authors: Oelke Matthias , Burger Maximilian , Castro‐Diaz David , Chartier‐Kastler Emmanuel , Cidre Miguel A. Jimènez , McNicholas Tom , Radziszewski Piotr , Kirby Mike 
Published: December 2011

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Several sets of comprehensive treatment guidelines (national and international) exist for managing male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), but these are not widely adopted in primary and secondary care, and are not consistently applied across Europe.This paper will improve the consistency of treatment approaches for adult males with LUTS by providing a clear, concise summary of existing treatment guidelines that can be easily adopted by urologists and primary care specialists.OBJECTIVE
To review current treatment guidelines (international and national) on managing male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and to summarize them for easy application in clinical practice.
METHODS
A group of European urology specialists from primary and secondary care reviewed current treatment guidelines for male LUTS.
RESULTS
The most appropriate recommendations for managing male LUTS were identified from existing international and national guidelines, and were summarized and simplified for use as a quick reference guide for healthcare professionals managing LUTS in adult males.
CONCLUSIONS
Current guidelines for managing male LUTS were developed by urologists and are too complex for easy application in routine practice.
This brief summary of current guidance should help to achieve consistent adoption of recommendations for best practice, improve working relationships between primary care specialists and urologists and clarify which patients' treatments should be managed entirely by urology specialists.
Support for breaking the nexus between alcohol and community sports settings: Findings from the VicHealth Community Attitudes Survey in Australia
Authors: TOBIN CLAIRE L. , FITZGERALD JOHN L. , LIVINGSTONE CHARLES , THOMSON LISA , HARPER TODD A. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. This study describes levels and predictors of community attitudes towards alcohol, support for structural alterations to the drinking context, and intention to increase participation in community sports clubs.Design and Methods. Cross‐sectional data were obtained from the VicHealth Community Attitudes Survey on Healthy Sporting Environments, administered to a random sample of Victorian adults. Descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analysis was undertaken.Results. Very high support for removing alcohol sponsorship of community sport and for a levy on alcohol advertising was found. The groups most supportive of breaking the nexus between alcohol and community sport were female, older‐aged and non‐English‐speaking citizens and those not involved in sport clubs. If alcohol sales at community sports clubs were reduced, participation may increase among population groups currently identified as least engaged with community sport.Discussion and Conclusions. An optimal climate exists for policy reforms to make community sporting environments healthier by reducing the ties with alcohol. If implemented, these reforms may lead to an increase and diversification of participants in community sport.[Tobin CL, Fitzgerald JL, Livingstone C, Thomson L, Harper TA. Support for breaking the nexus between alcohol and community sports settings: Findings from the VicHealth Community Attitudes Survey in Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev 2012;31:413–421]
R&D EFFICIENCY AND THE NATIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM: AN INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON USING THE DISTANCE FUNCTION APPROACH
Authors: Hu Jin‐Li , Yang Chih‐Hai , Chen Chiang‐Ping 
Published: December 2011

ABSTRACTThis paper applies the distance function approach for stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to compare research and development (R&D) efficiency across 24 nations during 1998–2005. In this multiple input–output framework, R&D expenditure stock and R&D manpower were inputs, while patents, scientific journal articles, and royalties and licensing fees (RLF) were outputs. Intellectual property rights protection, technological cooperation among business sectors, knowledge transfer between business sectors and higher education institutions, agglomeration of R&D facilities, and involvement of the government sector in R&D activities significantly improve national R&D efficiency.
Microbial status and product labelling of 58 original tattoo inks
Authors: Høgsberg T. , Saunte D.M. , Frimodt‐Møller N. , Serup J. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground  European Council resolutions on tattoo ink introduce sterility and preservation of inks to protect customers. Inks used in Denmark are typically purchased over the internet from international suppliers and manufacturers from the US and the UK. In Denmark tattoo inks are regulated and labelled according to REACH as if they were plain chemicals.Objective  The objective of this study was to check the microbial product safety of unopened and opened tattoo ink stock bottles. Packaging, labelling, preservation, sterility and contamination with micro‐organisms were studied.Methods  Physical inspection and culture of bacteria and fungi.Results  Six of 58 unopened stock bottles (10%) were contaminated with bacteria and one of six samples (17%) of previously used stock bottles was contaminated. The bacterial species represented bacteria considered pathogenic in humans as well as non‐pathogenic environmental bacteria. Yeast or moulds were detected in none of the samples. A total of 31% of the manufacturers informed only about the brand name. No information about content, sterility, risks or expiry date was indicated on the label. A total of 42% claimed sterility of their inks. A total of 54% labelled a maximum period of durability of typically 2–3 years. The physical sealing was leaking in 28% of the products.Conclusions  The European Council resolutions regarding safety of tattoo inks are not effective. Stock bottles of tattoo ink may contain bacteria pathogenic to humans and environmental bacteria, and packaging, labelling and preservation of inks are of inadequate quality. Claim of sterility can be erroneous.
Metastatic melanoma: spontaneous occurrence of auto antibodies is a good prognosis factor in a prospective cohort
Authors: Maire C. , Vercambre‐Darras S. , Devos P. , D’Herbomez M. , Dubucquoi S. , Mortier L. 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackground  Melanoma is an immunogenic tumour type frequently associated with spontaneous auto‐immune manifestations such as spontaneous regression, vitiligo‐like reactions or auto‐immune retinopathy, which seem to be associated with better prognosis.Objectives  The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the correlation between spontaneous autoimmunity and survival in patients with stage IV melanoma.Methods  From 2007 to 2008, 103 patients were studied with antithyroid and antinuclear auto antibody assays performed every 6 months. Any detectable occurrence of a spontaneous self antibody (SpSA) at the upper detection limit, at least for one assay, was considered to be a biological marker of autoimmunity.Results  Univariate and multivariate analyses confirmed significantly longer survival in the absence of known primary melanoma (P = 0.044) and in the presence of marker of biologic autoimmunity, independently of previous immunotherapy (P = 0.045).Conclusions  This prospective and comparative study is, to our knowledge, the first to report the frequency of SpSA in stage IV melanoma. Our results suggest that spontaneous autoimmunity, through a rupture of self‐tolerance, is a good prognostic factor in a subgroup of patients with stage IV melanoma.
A specific multi‐nutrient formulation enhances M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor responses in vitro
Authors: Savelkoul Paul J. M. , Janickova Helena , Kuipers Almar A. M. , Hageman Robert J. J. , Kamphuis Patrick J. , Dolezal Vladimir , Broersen Laus M. 
Published: December 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 631–640.AbstractRecent evidence indicates that supplementation with a specific combination of nutrients may affect cell membrane synthesis and composition. To investigate whether such nutrients may also modify the physical properties of membranes, and affect membrane‐bound processes involved in signal transduction pathways, we studied the effects of nutrient supplementation on G protein‐coupled receptor activation in vitro. In particular, we investigated muscarinic receptors, which are important for the progression of memory deterioration and pathology of Alzheimer’s disease. Nerve growth factor differentiated pheochromocytoma cells that were supplemented with specific combinations of nutrients showed enhanced responses to muscarinic receptor agonists in a membrane potential assay. The largest effects were obtained with a combination of nutrients known as Fortasyn™ Connect, comprising docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, uridine monophosphate as a uridine source, choline, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, phospholipids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium. In subsequent experiments, it was shown that the effects of supplementation could not be attributed to single nutrients. In addition, it was shown that the agonist‐induced response and the supplement‐induced enhancement of the response were blocked with the muscarinic receptor antagonists atropine, telenzepine, and AF‐DX 384. In order to determine whether the effects of Fortasyn™ Connect supplementation were receptor subtype specific, we investigated binding properties and activation of human muscarinic M1, M2 and M4 receptors in stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells after supplementation. Multi‐nutrient supplementation did not change M1 receptor density in plasma membranes. However, M1 receptor‐mediated G protein activation was significantly enhanced. In contrast, supplementation of M2‐ or M4‐expressing cells did not affect receptor signaling. Taken together, these results indicate that a specific combination of nutrients acts synergistically in enhancing muscarinic M1 receptor responses, probably by facilitating receptor‐mediated G protein activation.
Nogo‐66 inhibits adhesion and migration of microglia via GTPase Rho pathway in vitro
Authors: Yan Jun , Zhou Xiao , Guo Jing‐Jing , Mao Lei , Wang Yi‐Jin , Sun Jing , Sun Li‐Xin , Zhang Lu‐Yong , Zhou Xin‐Fu , Liao Hong 
Published: December 2011

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 721–731.AbstractNogo‐66 is a 66‐amino‐acid‐residue extracellular domain of Nogo‐A, which plays a key role in inhibition neurite outgrowth of central nervous system through binding to the Nogo‐66 receptor (NgR) expressed on the neuron. Recent studies have confirmed that NgR is also expressed on the surface of macrophages/microglia in multiple sclerosis, but its biological effects remain unknown. In the present study, our results demonstrated that Nogo‐66 triggered microglia anti‐adhesion and inhibited their migration in vitro, which was mediated by NgR. We also assessed the roles of small GTP (glycosyl phosphatidylinositol)‐binding proteins of the Rho family as the downstream signal transducers on the microglia adhesion and mobility induced by Nogo‐66. The results showed that Nogo‐66 activated RhoA and reduced the activity of Cdc42 in the meanwhile, which further triggered the anti‐adhesion and migration inhibition effects to microglia. Nogo‐66 inhibited microglia polarization and membrane protrusion formation, thus might eventually contribute to the decreasing capability of cell mobility. Taken together, the Nogo‐66/NgR pathway may modulate neuroinflammation via mediating microglia adhesion and migration in addition to its role in neurons. Better understanding the relationship between Nogo‐66/NgR and neuroinflammation may help targeting NgR for treating central nervous system diseases related with inflammation.
Acute phase proteins in the diagnosis and prediction of cirrhosis associated bacterial infections
Authors: Papp Maria , Vitalis Zsuzsanna , Altorjay Istvan , Tornai Istvan , Udvardy Miklos , Harsfalvi Jolan , Vida Andras , Kappelmayer Janos , Lakatos Peter L. , Antal‐Szalmas Peter 
Published: December 2011

AbstractBackgroundBacterial infections are common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis. The early diagnosis of these infections is rather difficult.AimsTo assess the accuracy of acute phase proteins in the identification of bacterial infections.MethodsConcentration of C‐reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein (LBP), sCD14 and antimicrobial antibodies were measured in serum of 368 well‐characterized patients with cirrhosis of whom 139 had documented infection. Clinical data was gathered by reviewing the patients’ medical charts.ResultsSerum levels of CRP, PCT and LBP were significantly higher in patients with clinically overt infections. Among the markers, CRP – using a 10 mg/L cut‐off value– proved to be the most accurate in identifying patients with infection (AUC: 0.93). The accuracy of CRP, however, decreased in advanced stage of the disease, most probably because of the significantly elevated CRP levels in non‐infected patients. Combination of CRP and PCT increased the sensitivity and negative predictive value, compared with CRP on its own, by 10 and 5% respectively. During a 3‐month follow‐up period in patients without overt infections, Kaplan–Meier and proportional Cox‐regression analyses showed that a CRP value of >10 mg/L (P = 0.035) was independently associated with a shorter duration to progress to clinically significant bacterial infections. There was no correlation between acute phase protein levels and antimicrobial seroreactivity.ConclusionsC‐reactive protein on its own is a sensitive screening test for the presence of bacterial infections in cirrhosis and is also a useful marker to predict the likelihood of clinically significant bacterial infections in patients without overt infections.
Repair of Chondral Defects With Allogenous Chondrocyte‐Seeded Hyaluronan/Collagen II Microspheres in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Lin Li‐Chun , Chang Shwu Jen , Lin Chia Yun , Lin Yi Ting , Chuang Chin Wen , Yao Chun‐Hsu , Kuo Shyh Ming 
Published: December 2011

AbstractUsing a recently established method to prepare hyaluronan/collagen II (HA/Col II) microspheres for a novel biomaterial to couple with living cells/tissues, this animal model study evaluated the effects on a 4‐week healing process of chondral defects by the implantation of allogenous chondrocyte‐seeded HA/Col II microspheres that had been cultured in vitro for 7 days prior to implantation compared with unseeded HA/Col II microspheres or an untreated wound. Four weeks postsurgery, the untreated group's defect was filled with translucent soft tissue. At the same time, the edges and demarcation lines of the healing defects that were implanted with either HA/Col II microspheres or chondrocyte‐seeded HA/Col II microspheres were infused yet recognizable. Furthermore, the new tissues were well integrated into the surrounding articular cartilage. Less glycosaminoglycan (GAG) staining was observed in the defects implanted with HA/Col II microspheres, which indicated that most of the repair tissues were derived from fibrocartilage formation. Conversely, more GAG staining appeared in the defect implanted with chondrocyte‐seeded HA/Col II microspheres, which demonstrated a higher level of hyaline cartilage regeneration. Due to the short healing period assigned to this study, the repaired cartilage showed limited incorporation into the surrounding host cartilage and some loose connection to the subchondral bone.
Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) as a Biomarker of Alcohol Consumption in HIV‐Positive Patients in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Hahn Judith A. , Dobkin Loren M. , Mayanja Bernard , Emenyonu Nneka I. , Kigozi Isaac M. , Shiboski Stephen , Bangsberg David R. , Gnann Heike , Weinmann Wolfgang , Wurst Friedrich M. 
Published: December 2011

Background:  Alcohol is heavily consumed in sub‐Saharan Africa and affects HIV transmission and treatment and is difficult to measure. Our goal was to examine the test characteristics of a direct metabolite of alcohol consumption, phosphatidylethanol (PEth).Methods:  Persons infected with HIV were recruited from a large HIV clinic in southwestern Uganda. We conducted surveys and breath alcohol concentration (BRAC) testing at 21 daily home or drinking establishment visits, and blood was collected on day 21 (n = 77). PEth in whole blood was compared with prior 7‐, 14‐, and 21‐day alcohol consumption.Results:  (i) The receiver operator characteristic area under the curve (ROC‐AUC) was highest for PEth versus any consumption over the prior 21 days (0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.86 to 0.97). The sensitivity for any detectable PEth was 88.0% (95% CI: 76.0 to 95.6) and the specificity was 88.5% (95% CI: 69.8 to 97.6). (ii) The ROC‐AUC of PEth versus any 21‐day alcohol consumption did not vary with age, body mass index, CD4 cell count, hepatitis B virus infection, and antiretroviral therapy status, but was higher for men compared with women (p = 0.03). (iii) PEth measurements were correlated with several measures of alcohol consumption, including number of drinking days in the prior 21 days (Spearman r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and BRAC (r = 0.75, p < 0.001).Conclusions:  The data add support to the body of evidence for PEth as a useful marker of alcohol consumption with high ROC‐AUC, sensitivity, and specificity. Future studies should further address the period and level of alcohol consumption for which PEth is detectable.
Effects of the Triple Monoamine Uptake Inhibitor DOV 102,677 on Alcohol‐Motivated Responding and Antidepressant Activity in Alcohol‐Preferring (P) Rats
Authors: Yang Andrew R. S. T. , Yi Heon S. , Warnock Kaitlin T. , Mamczarz Jacek , June Harry L. , Mallick Nikhil , Krieter Philip A. , Tonelli Leonardo , Skolnick Phil , Basile Anthony S. , June Harry L. 
Published: December 2011

Background:  Concurrent inhibitors of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin uptake have been proposed as novel antidepressants. Given the high comorbidity between alcoholism and depression, we evaluated the activity of DOV 102,677 (DOV) on alcohol‐maintained responding and performance in the forced swim test (FST), a model of antidepressant (AD) activity, using alcohol‐preferring (P) rats.Methods:  Following training to lever press for either alcohol (10% v/v) or sucrose (3, 2%, w/v) on a fixed‐ratio 4 (FR4) schedule, DOV (1.56 to 50 mg/kg; PO) was given 25 minutes or 24 hours prior to evaluation. The effects of DOV (12.5 to 50 mg/kg; PO) in the FST were evaluated 25 minutes posttreatment.Results:  DOV (6.25 to 50 mg/kg) dose‐dependently reduced alcohol‐maintained responding by 59 to 88% at 25 minutes posttreatment, without significantly altering sucrose responding. The reduction in alcohol responding (44% at 50 mg/kg) was sustained for up to 120 hours after a single dose. Administration of a single dose of DOV (25, 50 mg/kg) 24 hours before testing suppressed alcohol responding for 48 hours by 59 to 62%. DOV (12.5 to 50 mg/kg) also dose‐dependently reduced immobility of P rats in the FST.Conclusions:  DOV produces both prolonged and selective reductions of alcohol‐motivated behaviors in P rats. The elimination kinetics of DOV suggests that its long duration of action may be due to an active metabolite. DOV also produced robust AD‐like effects in P rats. We propose that DOV may be useful in treating comorbid alcoholism and depression in humans.
Role of Novelty and Ethanol History in Locomotor Stimulation Induced by Binge‐Like Ethanol Intake
Authors: Linsenbardt David N. , Boehm Stephen L. 
Published: December 2011

Background:  The acute locomotor effects of voluntary ethanol (EtOH) intake in mice (stimulation/sedation) might be important behavioral indicators of an animals’ propensity to engage in EtOH consumption and/or EtOH seeking behaviors. Using a binge‐like EtOH intake model dubbed “Drinking‐in‐the‐Dark (DID),” we recently observed home cage locomotor stimulation in C57BL/6J mice during an acute EtOH intake session, but acute home cage locomotor sedation following repeated EtOH exposures. To determine the role of novelty and/or EtOH history on these previously described locomotor effects, and to determine the relationship between these variables on locomotor activity immediately following DID intake, we conducted 2 separate experiments.Methods:  In experiment 1, mice were given access to either EtOH or water, and locomotor activity was monitored immediately afterwards. In experiment 2, mice were given 13 days access to EtOH or water solution while home cage locomotor activity was monitored. On the 14th day, half of the water consuming animals received EtOH access for the first time. On the 15th day, all animals received EtOH access, and locomotion was assessed afterwards in locomotor activity testing chambers.Results:  In experiment 1, locomotor activity following DID was positively associated with EtOH intake and blood EtOH concentrations (BECs). In experiment 2, the group that received EtOH for the first time on the 14th day did not display locomotor stimulation. Locomotor activity following DID EtOH intake was positively associated with BECs in all groups regardless of EtOH history.Conclusions:  These results suggest that (i) DID‐induced locomotor stimulation in the home cage may involve relative familiarity with the DID procedures, and (ii) locomotor stimulation immediately following DID is directly related to the relative concentration of EtOH in blood; an effect that is not altered by prior EtOH history. These data add new evidence of the pharmacological actions of binge‐like EtOH intake, and provide a basis by which we may explore the motivation and consequences of such binge consumption.
Nanostructured Spark Plasma Sintered Ce‐TZP Ceramics
Authors: Cruz Sylvia A. , Poyato Rosalía , Cumbrera Francisco L. , Odriozola Jose A. 
Published: December 2011

In this work, spark plasma sintering (SPS) of 10 mol% CeO2‐doped ZrO2 nanocrystalline powders, obtained by a two‐step synthesis procedure, allows the preparation of fully densified nanostructured ceramics. The CeO2–ZrO2 powders with particle size below 100 nm are obtained after CeO2 deposition on hydrothermally synthesized ZrO2 particles by the impregnation method.Tetragonal CeO2–ZrO2 ceramics are obtained when sintering at 1200°C without holding time. A graded material containing tetragonal, monoclinic, and pyrochlore phases are obtained when sintering at 1200°C and for 5 min holding time. This is explained in terms of the gradual reduction of Ce4+ to Ce3+ species by carbon in the graphite environment during SPS. With the successful combination of the stabilizer coating technique and SPS, we achieve not only the stabilization of the tetragonal phase in the ceramics, but also good control of the grain size, by producing nanostructured ceramics with 40–70 nm grain sizes.