bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A modified technique for end‐to‐side pancreaticojejunostomy by purse‐string suture
Authors: Jiang Chunping , Wang Meng , Xu Qingxiang , Wu Xingyu , Yu Decai , Ding Yitao 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackgroudPancreatic fistula is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality after pancreaticoduodenectomy. We designed a modified technique, by which the pancreatic stump was invaginated into the jejunal loop by purse‐string suture.MethodsFrom June 2008, 18 cases of patients were performed with this modified technique, and the morbidity and mortality were calculated.ResultsAll cases recovered well from pancreaticoduodenectomy, and none of them occured pancreatic fistula. The complications included: hemorrhage, wound infection, pulmonary infection, and ascite.ConclusionsInvagination anatomosis by purse‐string suture could be performed safely and reduced the leakage rate of pancreaticojejunostomy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:852–856. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Extensive screening for primary tumor is redundant in melanoma of unknown primary
Authors: Tos Tina , Klyver Helle , Drzewiecki Krzysztof T. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractFor decades, patients in our institution with metastastic melanoma of unknown primary have been subjected to extensive examinations in search of the primary tumor. This retrospective study questions the results, and thus the feasibility of these examinations. Of 103 patients diagnosed with unknown primary tumor during the period 1986–2006, 39 (38%) presented primarily with a cutaneous or a subcutaneous metastasis, and 63 (61%) with a lymph node metastasis. One patient presented with a bone metastasis (1%). Eighty‐seven patients (84%) were examined by an ophthalmologist. A choroidal melanoma was suspected as the primary tumor in one patient. Eighty‐four patients (82%) were examined by an oto‐rhino‐laryngologist, whereby no primary tumor was found. Ninety‐five patients (92%) were examined by sigmoideoscopy/rectoscopy. No primary tumor was found. Of the 36 women, 32 had a gynecological examination (89%), revealing no primary tumor. We conclude, that only one possible (but not verified) primary tumor was disclosed by various specialists examinations of 103 patients referred with the diagnosis metastatic melanoma with no primary tumor. Special screenings can thus be considered as redundant. Thus, for patients referred with metastastic melanoma of unknown primary, we recommend that a detailed history is obtained, and a standard physical examination performed, in addition to a histopathological review and CT/PET for staging. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:724–727. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
More than one pulmonary resections or combined lung‐liver resection in 79 patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Jarabo Jose R. , Fernández Elena , Calatayud Joaquín , Gómez Ana M. , Fernández Cristina , Torres Antonio J. , Hernando Florentino 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe way to select patients who will benefit from surgical resection of pulmonary metastases of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains unclear.MethodsWe analyze overall survival and potential prognostic factors in 101 pulmonary resections of CRC metastases in 79 patients, focusing on cases with repeated pulmonary resection or with hepatic metastasectomy.ResultsNumber of pathological pulmonary metastases was higher than that of preoperatively suspected pulmonary nodules in 18% of the resections. Morbidity rate was 16.5%. There was no mortality. Five‐year survival rates from the resection of the CRC and from the first pulmonary metastasectomy were 74.6% and 53.3%, respectively. Prognosis did not decrease in patients with history of hepatic metastasectomy or in those in which repeated pulmonary resection was performed. Age ≥70, preoperative carcinoembrionary antigen (CEA) ≥5 ng/dl and mediastinal lymph node involvement entailed worse prognosis. Pathological lymph node involvement and age were shown as independent prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis.ConclusionsResection of pulmonary metastases of CRC is a safe procedure, with 5‐year survival rates over 50%. History of resected hepatic metastases or needs for more than one pulmonary resection do not seem to decrease survival rates. Only lymph node involvement and age seem to be clearly associated to worse prognosis. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:781–786. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Role of the Lymph node ratio in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Impact on patient stratification and prognosis
Authors: La Torre Marco , Cavallini Marco , Ramacciato Giovanni , Cosenza Giulia , del Monte Simone Rossi , Nigri Giuseppe , Ferri Mario , Mercantini Paolo , Ziparo Vincenzo 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackgroundSurvival after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is poor. Several prognostic factors such as the status of the resection margin, lymph node status, or tumor grading have been identified. Aim of the study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the lymph node ratio (LNR) for resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Materials and MethodsData were collected from 101 patients who had undergone pancreatoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Patients were divided into four groups according to the absolute LNR (0, 0–0.199, 0.2–0.399, >0.4). Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate the prognostic effect.ResultsThe actuarial 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates were 32 and 17%, respectively. The median survival was 19 months. Patients with LNR 0/0–0.199/0.2–0.399/>0.4 survived 40.2/30.5/18.1, and 13.6 months, respectively (P = 0.001). At the multivariate analysis, lymph node status was not found to be a significant prognostic factor; on the contrary LNR >0.2 (P = 0.007), positive resection margin (P = 0.001), and grading (P = 0.05) were significantly related to survival.ConclusionLNR is a more powerful predictor of survival than the lymph node status in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for ductal adenocarcinoma. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011; 104:629–633. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Determination of bisphenol‐A levels in human amniotic fluid samples by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry
Authors: Chen Mei , Edlow Andrea G. , Lin Tao , Smith Nicole A. , McElrath Thomas F. , Lu Chensheng 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBisphenol A (BPA) is one of the environmental endocrine‐disrupting chemicals used widely in common consumer products. There is an increasing concern about human exposure to BPA, particularly in fetuses, due to the potential adverse effects related to the estrogenic activity of BPA. In assessing environmental exposure to BPA, it is essential to have a sensitive, accurate, and specific analytical method, particularly for low BPA levels in complex sample matrices. In this study, we developed and validated an accurate, sensitive, and robust liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) method for determining the BPA concentrations in human amniotic fluid (AF). In this method, BPA and the internal standards 13C12‐BPA were extracted from 500 μL of human AF using solid‐phase extraction. Calibration curves were linear over a concentration range of 0.3–100 ng/mL for BPA. The analytes were quantitatively determined using LC‐MS operated in a negative electrospray ionization selected ion monitoring mode. This validated method has been used successfully in the clinical sample analysis of BPA in second‐trimester AF specimens.
Reproduction of northern spotted owls: The role of local weather and regional climate
Authors: Glenn Elizabeth M. , Anthony Robert G. , Forsman Eric D. , Olson Gail S. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractWe examined associations between annual reproduction and climate for 6 populations of individually marked northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in Washington and Oregon. We used an information‐theoretical approach and mixed models to evaluate statistical models representing a priori hypotheses about the effects of weather and climate on reproduction. Reproduction was higher for adult than subadult owls and declined as the proportion of spotted owl territories with barred owl (Strix varia) detections increased. Similar to other spotted owl studies, we found that reproduction was negatively associated with cold, wet winters and nesting seasons at 3 of 6 study areas. In addition, we identified new relationships between reproduction, annual precipitation, storms, and regional climate cycles. For 3 of 6 areas, we found a quadratic relation between precipitation (rain and snow) and reproduction, with the number of young fledged per pair per year declining as precipitation in the previous year deviated from average levels. A meta‐analysis conducted across all 6 areas indicated that reproduction at the regional level had a quadratic association with total winter snowfall in the preceding winter and was positively related to temperatures during the previous summer and fall. The amount of annual variation in reproduction accounted for by weather and climate varied widely across the 6 areas (4–79%), whereas variation in weather and climate across owl territories accounted for little of the spatial variation in reproduction (0–4%). Our results suggest that across the range of the species climate factors affecting prey abundance may have a greater effect on reproduction than direct effects of weather on nestlings. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Highly Selective Uptake and Release of Charged Molecules by pH‐Responsive Polydopamine Microcapsules
Authors: Liu Qinze , Yu Bo , Ye Weichun , Zhou Feng 
Published: June 2011

AbstractA systematic study of the permeation of small molecules through Pdop microcapsules is reported. The zwitterionic Pdop microcapsules are prepared by oxidative polymerization of dopamine on polystyrene microspheres followed by core removal with THF. Rhodamine 6G, methyl orange and alizarin red are chosen as differently charged probing dyes. The loading amount is affected by pH and dye concentration. Highly selective and unidirectional uptake and release of charged molecules through Pdop microcapsules can be achieved by controlling pH value: at low pH, the Pdop particles incorporate cationic dye (rhodamine 6G); at high pH, they incorporate anionic dyes (methyl orange and alizarin red). In each case, the uptake is highly selective. magnified image
Amphiphilic Block Copolymers from a Direct and One‐pot RAFT Synthesis in Water
Authors: Chaduc Isabelle , Zhang Wenjing , Rieger Jutta , Lansalot Muriel , D'Agosto Franck , Charleux Bernadette 
Published: June 2011

AbstractThe syntheses of amphiphilic block copolymers are successfully performed in water by chain extension of hydrophilic macromolecules with styrene at 80 °C. The employed strategy is a one‐pot procedure in which poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid) or poly(methacrylic acid‐co‐poly(ethylene oxide) methyl ether methacrylate) macroRAFTs are first formed in water using 4‐cyano‐4‐thiothiopropylsulfanyl pentanoic acid (CTPPA) as a chain transfer agent. The resulting macroRAFTs are then directly used without further purification for the RAFT polymerization of styrene in water in the same reactor. This simple and straightforward strategy leads to a very good control of the resulting amphiphilic block copolymers. magnified image
Epitaxial Growth of Crystalline Polyaniline on Reduced Graphene Oxide
Authors: Majumdar Dipanwita , Baskey Moni , Saha Shyamal K. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractDue to its unique electronic properties, graphene has already been identified as a promising material for future carbon based electronics. To develop graphene technology, the fabrication of a high quality P‐N junction is a great challenge. Here, we describe a general technique to grow single crystalline polyaniline (PANI) films on graphene sheets using in situ polymerization via the oxidation‐reduction of aniline monomer and graphene oxide, respectively, to fabricate a high quality P‐N junction, which shows diode‐like behavior with a remarkably low turn‐on voltage (60 mV) and high rectification ratio (1880:1) up to a voltage of 0.2 V. The origin of these superior electronic properties is the preferential growth of a highly crystalline PANI film as well as lattice matching between the d‐values [∼2.48 Å] of graphene and {120} planes of PANI. magnified image
Psychiatric disorders, myoclonus dystonia, and the epsilon‐sarcoglycan gene: A systematic review
Authors: Peall Kathryn J. , Waite Adrian J. , Blake Derek J. , Owen Mike J. , Morris Huw R. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractBackground:Mutations in the maternally imprinted epsilon‐sarcoglycan gene occur in 30%–50% of myoclonus‐dystonia cases. Psychiatric symptoms, particularly obsessive‐compulsive disorder, have been described in some patients.Methods:We systematically reviewed 22 reports of psychiatric symptoms in myoclonus‐dystonia, dividing individuals according to clinical and mutation status.Results:Clinically manifesting mutation carriers demonstrated an excess of psychiatric disorders compared with nonmutation carriers (P < .001). No differences were seen between non‐motor‐manifesting carriers and nonmutation carriers with the exception of alcohol excess/dependence, higher in non‐motor‐manifesting carriers.Conclusions:The results confirm the association of epsilon‐sarcoglycan gene mutations with psychiatric disease and suggest a possible separation of the motor and psychiatric effects. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Validation of digital spiral analysis as outcome parameter for clinical trials in essential tremor
Authors: Haubenberger Dietrich , Kalowitz Daniel , Nahab Fatta B. , Toro Camilo , Ippolito Dominic , Luckenbaugh David A. , Wittevrongel Loretta , Hallett Mark 
Published: June 2011

AbstractEssential tremor, one of the most prevalent movement disorders, is characterized by kinetic and postural tremor affecting activities of daily living. Spiral drawing is commonly used to visually rate tremor intensity, as part of the routine clinical assessment of tremor and as a tool in clinical trials. We present a strategy to quantify tremor severity from spirals drawn on a digitizing tablet. We validate our method against a well‐established visual spiral rating method and compare both methods on their capacity to capture a therapeutic effect, as defined by the change in clinical essential tremor rating scale after an ethanol challenge. Fifty‐four Archimedes spirals were drawn using a digitizing tablet by nine ethanol‐responsive patients with essential tremor before and at five consecutive time points after the administration of ethanol in a standardized treatment intervention. Quantitative spiral tremor severity was estimated from the velocity tremor peak amplitude after numerical derivation and Fourier transformation of pen‐tip positions. In randomly ordered sets, spirals were scored by seven trained raters, using Bain and Findley's 0 to 10 rating scale. Computerized scores correlated with visual ratings (P < 0.0001). The correlation was significant at each time point before and after ethanol (P < 0.005). Quantitative ratings provided better sensitivity than visual rating to capture the effects of an ethanol challenge (P < 0.05). Using a standardized treatment approach, we were able to demonstrate that spirography time‐series analysis is a valid, reliable method to document tremor intensity and a more sensitive measure for small effects than currently available visual spiral rating methods. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Psychopathology and psychogenic movement disorders
Authors: Kranick Sarah , Ekanayake Vindhya , Martinez Valeria , Ameli Rezvan , Hallett Mark , Voon Valerie 
Published: June 2011

AbstractPsychogenic movement disorder is defined as abnormal movements unrelated to a medical cause and presumed related to underlying psychological factors. Although psychological factors are of both clinical and pathophysiological relevance, very few studies to date have systematically assessed their role in psychogenic movement disorder. We sought to assess the role of previous life stress using validated quantitative measures in patients with psychogenic movement disorder compared with age‐ and sex‐matched healthy volunteers as well as a convenience sample of patients with focal hand dystonia. Sixty‐four patients with psychogenic movement disorder (72% female; mean age, 45.2 years [standard deviation, 15.2 years]), 38 healthy volunteers (74% female; mean age, 49 years [standard deviation, 13.7 years]), and 39 patients with focal hand dystonia (37% female; mean age, 48.7 years [standard deviation, 11.7 years]) were evaluated using a standardized psychological interview as well as validated quantitative scales to assess trauma and previous stressors, depression, anxiety, and personality traits. Patients with psychogenic movement disorder reported higher rates of childhood trauma, specifically greater emotional abuse and physical neglect, greater fear associated with traumatic events, and a greater number of traumatic episodes compared with healthy volunteers and patients with focal hand dystonia controlled for depressive symptoms and sex (Bonferroni corrected P < .005). There were no differences in categorical psychiatric diagnoses or scores on childhood physical or sexual abuse subscales, personality traits, or the dissociative experience scale. Our findings highlight a biopsychosocial approach toward the pathophysiology of psychogenic movement disorder, although the association with psychological issues is much less prominent than expected compared with the nonepileptic seizure population. A careful psychological assessment is indicated to optimize therapeutic modalities. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
High‐frequency deep brain stimulation of the putamen improves bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Montgomery Erwin B. , Huang He , Walker Harrison C. , Guthrie Barton L. , Watts Ray L. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractDeep brain stimulation is effective for a wide range of neurological disorders; however, its mechanisms of action remain unclear. With respect to Parkinson's disease, the existence of multiple effective targets suggests that putamen stimulation also may be effective and raises questions as to the mechanisms of action. Are there as many mechanisms of action as there are effective targets or some single or small set of mechanisms common to all effective targets? During the course of routine surgery of the globus pallidus interna in patients with Parkinson's disease, the deep brain stimulation lead was placed in the putamen en route to the globus pallidus interna. Recordings of hand opening and closing during high‐frequency and no stimulation were made. Speed of the movements, based on the amplitude and frequency of the repetitive hand movements as well as the decay in amplitude, were studied. Hand speed in 6 subjects was statistically significantly faster during active deep brain stimulation than the no‐stimulation condition. There were no statistically significant differences in decay in the amplitude of hand movements. High‐frequency deep brain stimulation of the putamen improves bradykinesia in a hand‐opening and ‐closing task in patients with Parkinson's disease. Consequently, high‐frequency deep brain stimulation of virtually every structure in the basal ganglia‐thalamic‐cortical system improves bradykinesia. These observations, together with microelectrode recordings reported in the literature, argue that deep brain stimulation effects may be system specific and not structure specific. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
Spatiotemporal analysis of meteorological drought variability in the Indian region using standardized precipitation index
Authors: Naresh Kumar M. , Murthy C. S. , Sesha Sai M. V. R. , Roy P. S. 
Published: June 2011

AbstractGrid (1° latitude × 1° longitude) level daily rainfall data over India from June to September for the years 1951–2007, generated by the India Meteorological Department, were analysed to build monthly time series of Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). Analysis of SPI was done to study the spatial and temporal patterns of drought occurrence in the country. Geographic spread of SPI‐derived Area under Dryness (AUD) in different years revealed the uniqueness of the 2002 drought, with widespread dryness in July. Mann–Kendall trend analysis and moving average based trends performed on the AUD indicated an increasing trend in July. The area under moderate drought frequency has increased in the most recent decade. Ranking of years based on Drought Persistency Score (DPS) indicated that 1987 was the most severe drought year in the country. The results of the study have revealed various aspects of drought climatology in India. A similar analysis with the SPI of finer spatial resolution and relating it to crop production would be useful in quantifying the impact of drought in economic terms. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Phytosterols can impair vitamin D intestinal absorption in vitro and in mice
Authors: Goncalves Aurélie , Gleize Béatrice , Bott Romain , Nowicki Marion , Amiot Marie‐Josèphe , Lairon Denis , Borel Patrick , Reboul Emmanuelle 
Published: June 2011

AbstractScope: Adequate vitamin D status is necessary and beneficial for health, although deficiency and insufficiency are very common. As cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) structure is close to cholesterol structure, we hypothesized that phytosterols, frequently used to decrease cholesterol, intestinal absorption and consequently to reduce hypercholesterolemia, may also interact with cholecalciferol absorption.Methods and results: β‐Sitosterol effect on cholecalciferol postprandial response was first assessed in mice. We then evaluated the effect of different sterols on (i) cholecalciferol micellar incorporation, (ii) cholecalciferol apical uptake and (iii) basolateral efflux in vitro or ex vivo. In mice, cholecalciferol bioavailability was 15‐fold lower in the presence of β‐sitosterol (p<0.05). This can partly be explained by the fact that phytosterols significantly impaired cholecalciferol incorporation into mixed micelles (from −16 to −36% depending on sterol micellar composition). This can also be due to the fact that in Caco‐2 cells and mouse intestinal explants, phytosterols significantly lowered cholecalciferol apical uptake (from −13 to −39%). Conversely, phytosterols had no effect on cholecalciferol secretion at the basolateral side of Caco‐2 cells.Conclusion: The present data suggest for the first time that phytosterols can interact with vitamin D3 intestinal absorption. This interaction can be explained by a competition for micellar incorporation and for apical uptake.
Enhancing the bioavailability of resveratrol by combining it with piperine
Authors: Johnson Jeremy J. , Nihal Minakshi , Siddiqui Imtiaz A. , Scarlett Cameron O. , Bailey Howard H. , Mukhtar Hasan , Ahmad Nihal 
Published: June 2011

AbstractScope: Resveratrol (3,5,4′‐trihydroxystilbene) is a phytoalexin shown to possess a multitude of health‐promoting properties in pre‐clinical studies. However, the poor in vivo bioavailability of resveratrol due to its rapid metabolism is being considered as a major obstacle in translating its effects in humans. In this study, we examined the hypothesis that piperine will enhance the pharmacokinetic parameters of resveratrol via inhibiting its glucuronidation, thereby slowing its elimination.Methods and results: Employing a standardized LC/MS assay, we determined the effect of piperine co‐administration with resveratrol on serum levels resveratrol and resveratrol‐3‐O‐β‐D‐glucuronide in C57BL mice. Mice were administered resveratrol (100 mg/kg; oral gavage) or resveratrol (100 mg/kg; oral gavage)+piperine (10 mg/kg; oral gavage), and the serum levels of resveratrol and resveratrol‐3‐O‐β‐D‐glucuronide were analyzed at different times. We found that the degree of exposure (i.e. AUC) to resveratrol was enhanced to 229% and the maximum serum concentration (Cmax) was increased to 1544% with the addition of piperine.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that piperine significantly improves the in vivo bioavailability of resveratrol. However, further detailed research is needed to study the mechanism of improved bioavailability of resveratrol via its combination with piperine as well as its effect on resveratrol metabolism.