bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ENDOSCOPIC SPHINCTEROTOMY PLUS ENDOPROSTHESES IN THE TREATMENT OF LARGE OR MULTIPLE COMMON BILE DUCT STONES
Authors: HONG WAN‐DONG , ZHU QI‐HUAI , HUANG QING‐KE 
Published: February 2011

Background and Aim:  Little information is available on the outcomes of endoscopic sphincterotomy plus biliary stent placement without stone extraction as primary therapy at initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the treatment of large or multiple common bile duct (CBD) stones. The aim of the present study was to study the effect of biliary stents and sphincterotomy as primary therapy for patients with choledocholithiasis.Methods:  Patients with large (≥20 mm) or multiple (≥3) CBD stones were retrospectively studied. The patients underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy and placement of plastic stents in the bile duct without stone extraction at the initial ERCP. Three or more months later, a second ERCP was carried out and stone removal was attempted. Differences in stone size and the largest CBD diameter before and after stenting were compared. Stone clearance and complications were also evaluated.Results:  52 patients were enrolled. After a median of 124 days of biliary plastic stent placement the mean maximal stone diameter decreased from 16.6 mm to 10.0 mm (P < 0.01). The mean CBD diameter also decreased from 15.3 mm to 11.5 mm (P < 0.01). The total stone clearance at second ERCP was 94.2%, only 5.7% of which needed mechanical lithotripsy. Complications: pancreatitis in one (1.9%) at initial ERCP, cholangitis in two (3.8%) after 52 days and 84 days of placement of stent. No complications were recorded at second ERCP.Conclusions:  Biliary plastic stents plus endoscopic sphincterotomy without stone extraction as primary therapy at initial ERCP is a safe and effective method in the management of large or multiple CBD stones.
Clinical results and issues of acute myeloid leukemia in elderly patients aged 75 years and older
Authors: Abe Shine , Kanaya Kiyoshi , Kikukawa Masayuki , Sakai Minoru , Akai Tomotaka , Takata Yusuke , Sakurai Hirofumi , Shin Kouichi , Mori Mayumi , Iwamoto Toshihiko 
Published: February 2011

Aim:  Clinical outcomes of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in elderly patients still remain unsatisfactory and the optimal treatment has yet to be clearly established. This report describes the results of a retrospective study of clinical outcomes and prognostic factors of AML in patients aged 75 years and older. In addition, we aimed to elucidate the situation of patients with AML accompanied by dementia, which has been largely ignored in previous studies.Methods:  The subjects consisted of 31 patients with untreated AML (including previous myelodysplastic syndrome: AML/MDS). All patients underwent chemotherapy, with 25 undergoing conventional therapy and six undergoing low‐intensity therapy.Results:  Complete remission was obtained in 16 of the 31 cases (51.6%), with a 3‐year survival rate of 11.5%. However, in seven cases, Alzheimer's disease (AD) was observed. Although we were able to perform induction therapy in each of these cases, consolidation therapy was difficult in cases of moderate AD.Conclusion:  The results of this study suggest that even very elderly patients can benefit from chemotherapy. However, it is thought that the treatment selection for cases which are complicated by moderate to severe dementia should be determined carefully while considering the patient's quality of life. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2011; 11: 290–296.
Increased use of laparoscopy in acute right iliac fossa pain – is it good for patients?
Authors: Jones G. E. , Kreckler S. , Shah A. , Stechman M. J. , Handa A. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractAim  The use of laparoscopy, with or without appendicectomy, is becoming more common in the management of acute right iliac fossa (RIF) pain, but little is known of the ‘unintended’ consequences of this change. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of increased use of laparoscopy on the number and type of patients treated surgically and on the rate of negative appendicectomy.Method  A prospective audit was carried out of admissions to a teaching hospital over two, 3‐month periods during 2007 and 2008. The management, investigations and outcome of patients presenting with RIF pain were studied.Results  Admissions were stable over the two time‐periods. There was a significant increase in the number of laparoscopic operations performed, from 22.5% (14/62) in 2007 to 85.7% (72/84) in 2008 (P < 0.0001), and the percentage of patients undergoing surgery rose from 55.4% (n = 62) in 2007 to 71.2% (n = 84) in 2008 (P < 0.01). In 2008, female patients were more likely to have surgery, an increase from 37.1% to 66.2% (P < 0.001), and were more likely to have a laparoscopic procedure, an increase from 50% to 98% (P < 0.0001). The rate of histologically confirmed appendicitis did not increase significantly (50/122 vs 57/118; P = 0.25), but the number of patients with a normal appendix either left in situ because it was macroscopically normal or found to be histologically normal following excision, increased significantly, from 9.01% in 2007 to 21.2% in 2008 (P < 0.01). The diagnostic value of pelvic ultrasound decreased from 75.6% of examinations in 2007 to 54.5% in 2008 (P = 0.039).Conclusion  An increase in laparoscopic procedures has resulted in more operations in women, an associated higher negative appendicectomy rate and decreased usefulness of pelvic ultrasound. Increased use of laparoscopy needs to be balanced against the diagnostic benefits of ‘negative’ laparoscopy.
History of foot ulcers increases mortality among patients with diabetes in Northern Thailand
Authors: Junrungsee S. , Kosachunhanun N. , Wongthanee A. , Rerkasem K. 
Published: February 2011

Diabet. Med. 28, 608–611 (2011)AbstractAims  Studies within the Caucasian population with diabetes showed an increased mortality in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. However, there were no such studies based on Asian populations. We therefore designed our study on the association of foot ulcer with mortality within the Asian population.Methods  Ninety‐seven Asian individuals with diabetes who had previously participated in the ‘Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Protocol’ between 2005 and 2007 at our centre were followed up in 2010 to ascertain their mortality rate. Cox proportional‐hazard regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios.Results  Forty‐seven patients had a history of foot ulcer (group 1), while 50 had none (group 2). The mean follow‐up was 43.74 months. Twenty‐one patients died during this period (21.65%). The mortality rates in group 1 and group 2 were 15 (31.92%) and six (12.00%), respectively. Patients with a history of foot ulcer had higher mortality rates than those without (hazard ratio 3.51, 95% CI 1.03–11.96, P = 0.04).Conclusions  Our study showed that history of foot ulcer increased mortality. This association appeared to be stronger in younger Asian patients than those in the Caucasian populations.
Agency Theory, Institutional Sensitivity, and Inductive Reasoning: Towards a Legal Perspective
Authors: Heracleous Loizos , Lan Luh Luh 
Published: February 2011

abstractMaking agency theory institutionally sensitive is a reasonable suggestion, as far as normal science stands. However, we argue that such a move has already been taking place, that it cannot address important problems with agency theory, and that the time is ripe for a critical re‐examination of this theory. We suggest that inductive studies can not only be more sensitive to institutional features than deductive studies, but they can also offer deeper understanding of governance practices in specific contexts, as well as the potential for analytical or moderatum generalizations. Drawing from legal theory, we offer an alternative conception of the principal, and of the role and status of the board of directors. We contend that this reformulated agency theory has a greater potential of being institutionally sensitive because it recognizes various stakeholders as team members, rather than just adding specific institutional features as variables to the dominant conception of agency theory.
Firms as Systems of Interdependent Choices
Authors: Siggelkow Nicolaj 
Published: February 2011

abstractManagers within firms have to make choices along a large number of dimensions; for instance, how to configure activities involving manufacturing and marketing, and which organizational design to employ. Since these choices interact with each other, firms can be conceived of as systems of interdependent choices. In this article, I discuss research that addresses three questions that naturally arise in this context. First, how do such systems evolve over time? Second, what role does organizational design play in whether a firm will arrive at a consistent and high‐performing set of choices? Third, what are the consequences of cognitive limitations by decision makers when faced with such complex systems? The article concludes by sketching out possible future directions of research in this domain.
Transgenic maize plants expressing the Totivirus antifungal protein, KP4, are highly resistant to corn smut
Authors: Allen Aron , Islamovic Emir , Kaur Jagdeep , Gold Scott , Shah Dilip , Smith Thomas J. 
Published: February 2011

SummaryThe corn smut fungus, Ustilago maydis, is a global pathogen responsible for extensive agricultural losses. Control of corn smut using traditional breeding has met with limited success because natural resistance to U. maydis is organ specific and involves numerous maize genes. Here, we present a transgenic approach by constitutively expressing the Totivirus antifungal protein KP4, in maize. Transgenic maize plants expressed high levels of KP4 with no apparent negative impact on plant development and displayed robust resistance to U. maydis challenges to both the stem and ear tissues in the greenhouse. More broadly, these results demonstrate that a high level of organ independent fungal resistance can be afforded by transgenic expression of this family of antifungal proteins.
DEPRESSION, LISTLESSNESS, AND MORAL MOTIVATION
Authors: Cholbi Michael 
Published: February 2011

AbstractMotivational internalism (MI) holds that, necessarily, if an agent judges that she is morally obligated to ø, then, that agent is, to at least some minimal extent, motivated to ø. Opponents of MI sometimes invoke depression as a counterexample on the grounds that depressed individuals appear to sincerely affirm moral judgments but are ‘listless’ and unmotivated by such judgments. Such listlessness is a credible counterexample to MI, I argue, only if the actual clinical disorder of depression, rather than a merely hypothetical example of such listlessness, is the source of this listlessness. However, empirical evidence concerning depression shows that, to the extent that the depressed are motivationally listless at all, they are abnormally listless only with respect to an important class of non‐moral judgments, namely, their prudential normative judgments (i.e., those concerning their own happiness and well‐being), not their moral judgments. Hence, depressed individuals do not constitute a counterexample to MI. This conclusion has important methodological implications concerning how supporters and opponents of MI can best defend their respective theses.
Moderated Paired Comparisons: A Generalized Bradley–Terry Model for Continuous Data Using a Discontinuous Penalized Likelihood Function
Authors: Stern Steven E. 
Published: February 2011

SummaryStandard paired comparison models are widely used in circumstances where a measure of preference is available on a sequence or collection of pairwise comparisons between a group of objects or treatments. Typically, the measure of preference observations takes the form of simple binary outcomes, indicating which of the two objects or treatments in a particular comparison is preferred. Common examples of such situations include models of choice behaviour in politics or marketing, comparisons of medical treatments or in the realm of sports rankings. We investigate situations where the observed measure of preference for the paired comparisons is instead a continuous outcome indicating not simply the direction of preference but the degree of preference as well; in particular, we present, as a motivating example, a ranking analysis of the top 12 international limited overs cricket teams, with an appropriately defined margin of victory in individual matches playing the role of the measure of preference. We propose a new method, which is termed moderated paired comparisons, that is based on fitting a penalized likelihood model to the observed margins of victory. Importantly, the structure of the penalty function chosen allows for the model to assign differential importance to the information that is contained solely in the dichotomous win–loss outcome of a match as against that contained in the actual margin of the victory.
Affinity Models for Career Sequences
Authors: Scott Marc A. 
Published: February 2011

SummaryWe develop an affinity model for longitudinal categorical data in which the number of categories is large and we apply the technique to 20 years of labour market data for a contemporary cohort of young adult workers in the USA. The method provides a representation of the underlying complexity of the labour market that can then be augmented to include covariate effects. These can be understood as effects net of transition patterns associated with labour market sorting. We include in our model pairwise affinities to relate nominal categories representing types of job. The affinities capture complex relationships between these types of job and how they change over time. We evaluate the role of gender and education to illustrate the different types of questions and answers that are addressed by this methodology.
Selection of Ordinally Scaled Independent Variables with Applications to International Classification of Functioning Core Sets
Authors: Gertheiss Jan , Hogger Sara , Oberhauser Cornelia , Tutz Gerhard 
Published: February 2011

SummaryOrdinal categorial variables arise commonly in regression modelling. Although the analysis of ordinal response variables has been well investigated, less work has been done concerning ordinal predictors. We consider so-called international classfication of functioning core sets for chronic widespread pain, in which many ordinal covariates are collected. The effect of specific international classification of functioning variables on a subjective measure of physical health is investigated, which requires strategies for variable selection. In this context, we propose methods for the selection of ordinally scaled independent variables in the classical linear model. The ordinal structure is taken into account by use of a difference penalty on adjacent dummy coefficients. It is shown how the group lasso can be used for the selection of ordinal predictors, and an alternative blockwise boosting procedure is proposed. Both methods are discussed in general, and applied to international classification of functioning core sets for chronic widespread pain.
Role of social welfare in European suicide prevention
Authors: Yur'yev Andriy , Värnik Airi , Värnik Peeter , Sisask Merike , Leppik Lauri 
Published: February 2011

Yur'yev A, Värnik A, Värnik P, Sisask M, Leppik L. Role of social welfare in European suicide preventionThe aims of this study were to assess the relationship between suicide mortality and social expenditure in 26 European countries, explore attitudes towards welfare systems and their relationship with suicide mortality, and compare attitudes towards welfare provision in Eastern and Western Europe. The World Health Organization suicide data and Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development social expenditure data for 1980–2005 were used. Data on attitudes towards welfare systems were taken from the European Social Survey. Differences between mean scores for attitudes in Western and Eastern European countries were calculated. Correlations between social expenditure and suicide trends were negative in most countries for both genders. Inverse correlations between attitudes towards welfare provision and suicide mortality rates were demonstrated for males only. Differences in attitudes were found between Eastern and Western European countries; for example, confidence in the welfare system was found to be stronger in Western Europe. Higher social expenditure and greater confidence in welfare provision appear to have suicide‐preventive effects.
Potentiation of acute morphine‐induced analgesia measured by a thermal test in bone cancer‐bearing mice
Authors: González‐Rodríguez Sara , Llames Sara , Hidalgo Agustín , Baamonde Ana , Menéndez Luis 
Published: February 2011

AbstractAgonists of μ‐opioid receptors are currently used in the management of cancer pain. However, several data suggest that the analgesic effect of morphine can diminish during the development of experimental tumors. By using a thermal test, we have studied whether the analgesic effect evoked by morphine is altered in mice bearing two painful bone tumors. The analgesic effect evoked by systemic morphine remained unaltered after the intratibial inoculation of B16‐F10 melanoma cells and was potentiated after the inoculation of NCTC 2472 osteosarcoma cells. Although the number of spinal μ‐opioid receptors measured by western blot studies was not augmented in osteosarcoma‐bearing mice, the analgesia evoked by intrathecal (i.t.) morphine was also enhanced. The analgesic response produced by the spinal administration of the Gi/o protein activator mastoparan was amplified, whereas the analgesic response evoked by the i.t. administration of the N‐type calcium channel blocker ω‐conotoxin remained unaltered. The efficacy of the GIRK channel blocker tertiapin‐Q to antagonize the analgesic effect produced by a maximal dose of morphine was also increased in osteosarcoma‐bearing mice. Our results seem to indicate that the analgesic effect of morphine on thermal nociception can be enhanced in response to the development of particular bone tumors in mice, being this potentiation probably related to a greater efficacy of the transduction system driven by Gi/o proteins and GIRK channels.
Modeling transfusion reactions and predicting in vivo cell survival with kodecytes
Authors: Oliver Caroline , Blake Deborah , Henry Stephen 
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND: The availability of suitable animal models is a limitation in research on transfusion reactions. KODE technology allows for the artificial attachment of incompatible blood group antigens, plus visualization and recovery constructs onto red blood cells (RBCs), making them potentially suitable to study both transfusion reactions and determine in vivo cell survival.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Function‐spacer‐lipid (FSL) constructs representing blood group A antigen (FSL‐A) and biotin (FSL‐biotin) together with FSL‐GB3 as a benign antigen were used to create a range of murine kodecytes. Compatible and incompatible kodecytes were transfused into naive or anti‐A hyperimmune mice. FSL‐biotin constructs simultaneously included in the same RBC were visualized with avidin Alexa Fluor 488 and fluorescence microscopy to determine circulating cell survival or to demonstrate recovery of kodecytes.RESULTS: Using fluorescence microscopy of blood films, biotin, and GB3 + biotin kodecyte transfusions, all showed similar survival and were present in the circulation at more than 72 hours in naive and anti‐A–immunized mice. A + biotin kodecytes were also present in the circulation at more than 72 hours in naive mice but were mostly cleared within 6 minutes in anti‐A–immunized mice. Avidin agarose beads in gel cards were used to demonstrate recovery of A + biotin kodecytes from blood samples.CONCLUSIONS: KODE technology not only enables the creation of artificial transfusion reactions in animal models, but also has the potential to be used clinically in man to determine 24‐hour cell survival. The ability to recover the kodecytes for further analysis has valuable research and diagnostic potential.
Distribution of parvovirus B19 DNA in blood compartments and persistence of virus in blood donors
Authors: Lee Tzong‐Hae , Kleinman Steven H. , Wen Li , Montalvo Lani , Todd Deborah S. , Wright David J. , Tobler Leslie H. , Busch Michael P. ,   for the NHLBI Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study‐II (REDS‐II)
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND: Because the receptor for parvovirus B19 (B19V) is on red blood cells (RBCs), we investigated B19V distribution in blood by in vitro spiking experiments and evaluated viral compartmentalization and persistence in natural infection.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Two whole blood (WB) protocols (ultracentrifugation and a rapid RBC lysis and removal protocol) were evaluated using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. WB was spiked with known concentrations of B19V and recovery in various blood fractions was determined. The rapid RBC lysis and removal protocol was then used to compare B19V concentrations in 104 paired WB and plasma samples collected longitudinally from 43 B19V‐infected donors with frozen specimens in the REDS Allogeneic Donor and Recipient Repository (RADAR).RESULTS: In B19V spiking experiments, approximately one‐third of viral DNA was recovered in plasma and two‐thirds was loosely bound to RBCs. In the immunoglobulin (Ig)M‐positive stage of infection in blood donors when plasma B19V DNA concentrations were greater than 100 IU/mL, median DNA concentrations were approximately 30‐fold higher in WB than in plasma. In contrast, when IgM was absent and when the B19V DNA concentration was lower, the median WB‐to‐plasma ratio was approximately 1. Analysis of longitudinal samples demonstrated persistent detection of B19V in WB but declining ratios of WB to plasma B19V with declining plasma viral load levels and loss of IgM reactivity.CONCLUSIONS: The WB‐to‐plasma B19V DNA ratio varies by stage of infection, with 30‐fold higher concentrations of B19V DNA in WB relative to plasma during the IgM‐positive stage of infection followed by comparable levels during persistent infection when only IgG is present. Further study is required to determine if this is related to the presence of circulating DNA‐positive RBCs derived from B19V‐infected erythroblasts, B19V‐specific IgM‐mediated binding of virus to cells, or other factors.
Effect on the quality of blood components after simulated blood transfusions using volumetric infusion pumps
Authors: Lieshout‐Krikke Ryanne W. , van der Meer Pieter F. , Koopman Maria M.W. , de Korte Dirk 
Published: February 2011

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether the use of volumetric infusion pumps for the transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) or platelet (PLT) concentrates (PCs) affects the quality of the blood components. We therefore investigated the in vitro quality of these components after use of infusion pumps.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Ten different volumetric infusion pumps were used to simulate transfusion with RBCs and PCs. To prevent donor‐dependent differences multiple units were pooled and divided into equal portions. The storage time of RBCs was 30 to 35 days (n = 10 experiments), and for PCs, either 2 (n = 5) or 7 days (n = 5). For RBCs an infusion rate of 100 or 300 mL/hr was used, and for PCs, 600 mL/hr. Transfusions without an infusion pump served as a reference.RESULTS: None of the infusion pumps induced an increase of free hemoglobin, annexin A5 binding, or formation of echinocytes in RBCs compared to reference units. In 2‐ and 7‐day‐old PCs no effect was shown on PLT concentration, annexin A5 binding, mean PLT volume, and morphology score compared to the reference. The CD62P expression of 2‐day‐old PCs was significantly lower after transfusion compared to the reference, that is, 11.7 ± 2.1% versus 8.1 ± 1.3% (p < 0.01).CONCLUSION: There was no adverse effect on the in vitro quality of RBCs or PCs after simulated transfusion using volumetric infusion pumps. A decrease in PLT activation was observed, which can probably be explained by capturing of activated or damaged PLTs in the 200‐µm filter present in the infusion system.