bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Antimicrobial Peptide Thanatin Reduces Fungal Infections in Arabidopsis
Authors: Koch Aline , Khalifa Walaa , Langen Gregor , Vilcinskas Andreas , Kogel Karl‐Heinz , Imani Jafargholi 
Published: July 2012

AbstractWe explored the antifungal activity of thanatin, a 21 amino acid synthetic peptide from the hemipteran spined soldier bug Podisus maculiventris, against the mycotoxin‐producing plant pathogenic ascomycete Fusarium graminearum. In vitro germination assays showed complete inhibition of macroconidia germination and mycelia growth by >10 μm thanatin. Moreover, detached leaves of thanatin‐expressing Arabidopsis thaliana plants displayed enhanced resistance towards colonization with F. graminearum. Consistent with this, the plants showed also enhanced resistance of detached leaves to colonization with Botrytis cinerea. The results demonstrate a potential of thanatin for use in plant protection.
Catheter revision for the treatment of intractable exit site infection/tunnel infection in peritoneal dialysis patients: A single centre experience
Authors: CHO KYU‐HYANG , DO JUN‐YOUNG , PARK JONG‐WON , YOON KYUNG‐WOO 
Published: July 2012

ABSTRACT:Aim:  Catheter‐related infection is a major cause of catheter loss in peritoneal dialysis (PD). We evaluated the effect of catheter revision on the treatment of intractable exit site infection (ESI)/tunnel infection (TI) in PD patients who required catheter removal.Methods:  We reviewed the medical records of 764 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients from May 1995 to April 2011 at our hospital. One hundred and twenty six patients had more than one occurrence of ESI. Catheter revision was performed to treat intractable ESI/TI. Incidence of ESI, causative organisms and the outcomes of catheter revision were analyzed.Results:  The total PD duration of all patients was 32 581 months. Three hundred and twelve ESI episodes occurred in 126 patients and the incidence of ESI was 1/104 patient‐months (0.12/patient‐year). The most common causative organism was methicillin‐sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (98 episodes), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (63 episodes) and methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (28 episodes). Among these, catheter revision was required due to intractable ESI/TI in 36 patients. The most common causative organism was MSSA (14 episodes) followed by P. aeruginosa (10 episodes) and MRSA (six episodes) in catheter revision cases. The outcomes of catheter revision were as follows: ESI relapsed in 11 patients (30.6%) after catheter revision. Among them, five patients were treated with antibiotic treatment, two patients required secondary catheter revision, four patients required catheter removal due to ESI/TI accompanying peritonitis. The catheter survival rate after catheter revision was 89.7% in one year. There were no statistical differences in the rates of ESI relapse after catheter revision between ESI caused by P. aeruginosa (5/10, 50%) and ESI caused by S. aureus (6/21, 28.6%).Conclusion:  Catheter revision may be an alternative treatment option to treat intractable ESI/TI before catheter removal is considered in PD patients.
Comparison of endoscopic revision for failed primary external versus endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy
Authors: Paik Ji‐Sun , Cho Won‐Kyung , Yang Suk‐Woo 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackgound:  To compare differences in endoscopic revision after previously failed lacrimal surgery that involved either external or endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.Design:  Retrospective, comparative, nonrandomized clinical study.Participants:  We assessed 77 patients (82 surgeries) treated for recurrent nasolacrimal duct obstruction.Methods:  Electronic medical records for patients with recurrent epiphora who underwent endoscopic revisional dacryocystorhinostomy, after previous external or endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital from 2004 to 2010, were reviewed.Main Outcome Measures:  Data regarding the lacrimal drainage system, comprehensive eye examination, surgical outcome and preoperative/perioperative transnasal endoscopy were analysed.Results:  In total, 77 patients underwent 82 endoscopic revisional dacryocystorhinostomy procedures. A success rate of 84% was achieved for cases of previous external dacryocystorhinostomy and 80.7% for previous endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (P = 0.722). For preoperative nasal endoscopy, more of the patients who underwent previous external dacryocystorhinostomy exhibited a hypertrophic middle turbinate and severe septal deviation when compared with patients who underwent previous endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (P = 0.031, P = 0.001, respectively). For perioperative nasal endoscopy, more of the patients who underwent previous endoscopic DCR exhibited a smaller ostium when compared with patients who underwent previous external dacryocystorhinostomy (P = 0.031).Conclusions:  The success rate of revisional dacryocystorhinostomy in the previous external dacryocystorhinostomy group was slightly higher than that in the previous endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy group. Differences in preoperative and perioperative endoscopic findings were detected between the groups. Clarifying these differences in endoscopic revision will help improve the surgical outcomes of primary surgery involving either external or endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.
Near‐vision impairment and unresolved vision problems in Indigenous Australian adults
Authors: Arnold Anna‐Lena MR , Goujon Nicolas , Busija Lucy , Fox Sarah , Xie Jing , Dunn Ross A , Keeffe Jill E , Taylor Hugh R 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground:  To describe near‐vision impairment, self‐reported unresolved vision problems and barriers to having near‐vision correction in Indigenous Australians.Design:  A nationwide population‐based study designed to determine the causes and prevalence of vision loss and utilization of eye care services.Participants:  Indigenous Australians aged ≥40 years.Methods:  Using a multistage random cluster sampling methodology, 30 geographical areas stratified by remoteness were selected to obtain a representation of Indigenous Australians. Visual acuity was conducted using a standard E chart. A questionnaire collected data on eye health, eye care service utilization and vision‐related quality of life.Main Outcome Measures:  Near‐vision impairment defined as presenting binocular near visual acuity <N8. Self‐reported unresolved vision problems defined as anything considered an eye/vision problem by the participant, including distance and/or near‐vision impairments, not resolved after seeking care and quality‐of‐life scores.Results:  Being aged 50–59 years (reference group 40–49 years), speaking a language other than English at home and vision loss (distance vision impairment and blindness) increased the odds of near‐vision impairment. Of those with near‐vision impairment, 37% (175/468) reported not having near‐vision correction. Being aged 60–69 years, speaking a language other than English at home and having vision loss decreased the odds of having near‐vision correction. Longer time since last consultation was associated with unresolved vision problems and worse quality‐of‐life scores.Conclusion:  There remains a large unmet need in regard to near‐vision correction. Many Indigenous adults have unresolved vision problems that could be resolved with regular consultations with eye care services.
Central serous chorioretinopathy: a review of epidemiology and pathophysiology
Authors: Liew Gerald , Quin Godfrey , Gillies Mark , Fraser‐Bell Samantha 
Published: July 2012

AbstractCentral serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) is a common retinal cause of vision loss. This review surveys the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, natural history and pathophysiology of CSCR. Studies suggest an annual incidence rate of 10 per 100 000 in men, with CSCR occurring six times more commonly in men compared with women. Most acute CSCR cases resolve spontaneously within 2–3 months. Prognosis is highly dependent on presenting visual acuity; patients with initial visual acuities of 6/6 remain at that level, while patients with initial visual acuities of less than 6/9 recover on average two to three Snellen lines over the next few years. The main risk factors for CSCR are systemic corticosteroid use, type A personality, pregnancy and endogenous Cushing's syndrome. The pathophysiology of CSCR remains obscure, although disorders in both the choroidal circulation and retinal pigment epithelium are implicated.
Credentialing of surgeons: a systematic review across a number of jurisdictions
Authors: Gurgacz Stefanie L. , Smith Julian A. , Truskett Phil G. , Babidge Wendy J. , Maddern Guy J. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractBackground:  The purpose of credentialing is to ensure that clinicians provide safe, high‐quality health‐care services in accordance with good practice and legal requirements. This review assessed the institutional credentialing processes and governance structures required to support credentialing processes at an institutional, regional or health‐care system level.Methods:  Searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed were conducted. Additional grey literature searches were performed using the Google search engine and specific searches of government web sites were conducted. The inclusion criteria were developed a priori and standardized extraction of the information to appraise the research questions was conducted systematically.Results:  A total of 33 white papers were included in this systematic literature review: 18 were published in Australia, 1 in New Zealand, 10 in the United Kingdom, 2 in the United States of America and 2 in Canada. Four key principles were common throughout all studies included in this review: clear lines of responsibility for the credentialing process and supportive governance structures, clear standards for credentialing, a culture of continuous improvement and evaluation of credentialing process outcomes.Conclusions:  No data were available to evaluate the relationship between the credentialing process and the safety and quality of health‐care services or patient outcomes; and capturing such data is difficult because of the numerous factors that affect the relationship between credentialing, patient outcomes, and the safety and quality of health‐care services. Consequently, developing methods to measure the effectiveness of credentialing processes represents an area for further research.
Application technique: placement of a prostate–rectum spacer in men undergoing prostate radiation therapy
Authors: Hatiboglu Gencay , Pinkawa Michael , Vallée Jean‐Paul , Hadaschik Boris , Hohenfellner Markus 
Published: July 2012

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Different spacing agents have been tested to reduce incidential radiation exposure of the rectum during radiotherapy to the prostate. These agents all had certain drawbacks; either the created space was too small or the agents used did not stay in place during radiotherapy treatment.The study describes the transperineal injection technique of a spacing agent in detail. Furthermore it shows the safety and efficacy of the spacing hydrogel used and shows that it overcomes some of the drawbacks of the previously examined spacing agents.OBJECTIVE
To describe the technique used to apply a hydrogel spacer between the prostate and rectum so as to decrease the radiation dose to the rectum in patients with prostate cancer who are undergoing radiotherapy.
METHODS
A prospective study evaluating the safety and efficacy of prostate–rectum spacer injection was conducted in 29 male patients with prostate cancer scheduled for radiotherapy.
Spacing hydrogel was injected into the perirectal space using a transperineal approach under real‐time transrectal ultrasonography guidance.
With the needle tip positioned beyond the rectourethralis muscle, saline injection opened the space between Denonvilliers' fascia and the anterior rectal wall, allowing needle advancement to the mid‐prostate without rectal wall injury. Injection of hydrogel precursors further opened this space, which was then maintained as a result of hydrogel polymerization.
Procedure duration and adverse events were monitored. Computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging simulation scans were performed before and after injection. The hydrogel‐created space was measured and the reduction in percent volume of the rectum receiving at least 70 Gy (rectal V70) was determined.
RESULTS
Hydrogel injection resulted in mean (sd) additional prostate–rectum space relative to baseline of 9.87 (5.92) mm.
The mean (sd) procedure time, as measured by needle insertion and removal, was 6.3 (3.2) min.
The relative reduction in rectal V70 was 60.6%.
There were no unanticipated adverse events associated with the hydrogel procedure or the hydrogel.
CONCLUSIONS
Hydrogel spacer injection using hydrodissection is a fast and effective procedure to separate the rectal wall from the prostate in order to avoid rectal toxicity.
Hydrogel spacer injection resulted in the addition of ∼1 cm of space
Computed incidental radiation exposure, the rectal V70, was substantially reduced.
Agriculture and Trade Opportunities for Tanzania: Past Volatility and Future Climate Change
Authors: Ahmed Syud Amer , Diffenbaugh Noah S. , Hertel Thomas W. , Martin William J. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractGiven global heterogeneity in climate‐induced agricultural variability, Tanzania has the potential to substantially increase its maize exports to other countries. If global maize production is lower than usual owing to supply shocks in major exporting regions, Tanzania may be able to export more maize at higher prices, even if it also experiences below‐trend productivity. Diverse destinations for exports can allow for enhanced trading opportunities when negative supply shocks affect the partners' usual import sources. Future climate predictions suggest that some of Tanzania's trading partners will experience severe dry conditions that may reduce agricultural production in years when Tanzania is only mildly affected. Tanzania could thus export grain to countries as climate change increases the likelihood of severe precipitation deficits in other countries while simultaneously decreasing the likelihood of severe precipitation deficits in Tanzania. Trade restrictions, like export bans, prevent Tanzania from taking advantage of these opportunities, foregoing significant economic benefits.
Power Ahead: Meeting Ethiopia's Energy Needs Under a Changing Climate
Authors: Block Paul , Strzepek Kenneth 
Published: July 2012

AbstractEthiopia is powering ahead with an energy development strategy that is highly reliant on abundant hydropower potential. A changing climate may pose a challenge to meeting expected targets. Bridging the modeling gaps between climate, energy, and economics, and effectively transforming climate changes into economic measures, is an emerging interdisciplinary field as nations attempt to position themselves for an uncertain future. Such a framework is adopted here to assess energy production and adaptation costs for four climate change scenarios over 2010–2049. Scenarios that favor a drying trend countrywide may lead to losses of 130–200 terawatt‐hours over the 40‐year period, translating to adaptation costs of US$2–4 billion, compared with a no climate change scenario. Even given these potential losses, energy development utilizing hydropower appears economically reasonable from this deterministic, sector‐independent evaluation. This development is desperately needed, independent of future climate change trends, with the hope of appreciably reducing vulnerability to variability.
A Dynamic General Equilibrium Analysis of Adaptation to Climate Change in Ethiopia
Authors: Robinson Sherman , Willenbockel Dirk , Strzepek Kenneth 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThis study links a multisectoral, regionalized, dynamic, computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of Ethiopia with a system country‐specific hydrology, crop, road, and hydropower engineering models to simulate the economic impacts of climate change scenarios from global circulation models (GCMs) to 2050. In the absence of externally funded, policy‐driven adaptation investments, Ethiopia's GDP in 2050 will be up to 10% below the counterfactual no climate change (historical climate) baseline. Suitably designed adaptation investments could restore aggregate welfare to baseline levels at a cost that is substantially lower than the welfare losses as a result of climate change. Such investments, even if funded from domestic resources, have benefits that greatly exceed their costs, and are largely consistent with Ethiopia's long‐run development strategy.
Real Output of Bank Services: What Counts is What Banks Do, Not What They Own
Authors: Inklaar Robert , Wang J. Christina 
Published: July 2012

We argue that models of banks as processors of information and transactions imply a quantity measure of bank output based on transaction counts instead of balances of loans and deposits. Compiling new and comparable real output measures for the USA and a range of European countries, we show that counts‐based output series exhibit substantially different growth patterns than balances‐based output series. Since the US official statistics rely on counts while European statistics rely on balances, this implies that comparisons of bank output growth between Europe and the USA are biased.
Novel SPG10 mutation associated with dysautonomia, spinal cord atrophy, and skin biopsy abnormality
Authors: Collongues N. , Depienne C. , Boehm N. , Echaniz‐Laguna A. , Samama B. , Dürr A. , Stevanin G. , Leguern E. , Brice A. , Labauge P. , de Seze J. 
Published: July 2012

BackgroundSPG10 is a rare form of autosomic dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) caused by mutations in the KIF5A gene, which may be involved in axonal transport.MethodsWe report the characteristics of a French family with a novel missense mutation c.580 G>C in exon 7 of the KIF5A gene.ResultsThe proband and his sister presented with an adult onset HSP, a sensory spinal cord‐like syndrome, dysautonomia, and severe axonal polyneuropathy. Contrary to the proband, his sister presented a secondary improvement in spasticity and walking. In the proband, MRI findings consisted in spinal cord atrophy and symmetric cerebral demyelination, whereas the skin biopsy suggested a defect in the number of vesicles and synaptophysin density at the pre‐synaptic membrane.ConclusionThis study extends the phenotype of SPG10 and argues for abnormalities in the axonal vesicular transport.
Detection of intracranial circulatory arrest in brain death using cranial CT‐angiography
Authors: Welschehold S. , Kerz T. , Boor S. , Reuland K. , Thömke F. , Reuland A. , Beyer C. , Wagner W. , Müller‐Forell W. , Giese A. 
Published: July 2012

Background and purposeComputed tomographic‐angiography (CT‐A) is becoming more accepted in detecting intracranial circulatory arrest in brain death (BD). An international consensus about the use and the parameters of this technique is currently not established. We examined intracranial contrast enhancement in CT‐A after clinically confirmed BD, compared the results with electroencephalography (EEG) and Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonography (TCD) findings and developed a commonly applicable CT‐A protocol.MethodsProspective, monocentric study between April 2008 and October 2011. EEG, TCD and CT‐A were performed in 63 patients aged between 18 and 88 years (mean, 55 years) who fulfilled clinical criteria of BD. Evaluation of opacification of cerebral vascular territories in CT‐A was performed in arterial as well as in venous scanning series by a neuroradiologist and a neurointensivist/neurosurgeon together.ResultsCT‐A demonstrated a 95% sensitivity in detecting intracranial circulatory arrest when analysing arterial scanning series. We never observed venous blood return in internal cerebral veins. In three cases, BD confirmation by EEG failed because of artefacts. Confirmation of BD by TCD failed in two cases because of absent temporal window. In three cases, TCD demonstrated residual blood flow.ConclusionCT‐A is easily accessible in almost every hospital, offers a high spatio‐temporal resolution, is operator independent and inexpensive. The results of CT‐A are comparable to other established brain perfusion techniques in BD. An international consensus should be established to ascertain consistent parameters similar to fixed guidelines for other ancillary procedures to determine BD in order to prevent different scanning and evaluation protocols for detecting intracranial circulatory arrest.
Cerebral palsy, neurogenic bladder, and outcomes of lifetime care
Authors: MURPHY KEVIN P , BOUTIN SUSAN A , IDE KATHY R 
Published: July 2012

Aim  To determine the prevalence of symptomatic neurogenic bladder (SNB) and social and functional variables in a large sample of people with cerebral palsy (CP).Method  The medical records of 214 individuals (96 females, 118 males) with CP between the years 1990 and 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. Individuals with frequency, urgency, or incontinence were assigned Gross Motor Function Classification System levels and underwent cystometrogram/electromyelogram studies. Neurogenic bladders were classified according to the nomenclature of the International Continence Society.Results  Fifty‐two patients had hemiplegia, 42 diplegia, 117 quadriplegia, and three dyskinesia. Educational levels ranged from full special education to those with graduate degrees. Thirty‐five individuals in our group aged 5 to 66 years had SNB with a prevalence of 16.4%. The median age for the entire population was 9 years 7 months and for those with SNB 12 years 4 months (range 5–57y). Over 80% of individuals who underwent investigation were found to have spastic hyper‐reflexic type bladders. Ninety‐one percent obtained total continence or major improvement with conservative care. SNB was documented across the lifespan, educational spectrum, and functional level. Upper urinary tract pathology was infrequent.Interpretation  SNB is a common finding in individuals with CP. In most patients it is readily diagnosed and treated with conservative interventions.
Srp20 regulates TrkB pre‐mRNA splicing to generate TrkB‐Shc transcripts with implications for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wong Jenny , Garner Brett , Halliday Glenda M. , Kwok John B. J. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractPreviously, we reported elevated levels of the neuron‐specific tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) transcript, TrkB‐ sarc homology containing (Shc) in the hippocampus of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) brains. In this study, we determined how TrkB‐Shc transcripts are increased in AD. Utilizing a TrkB minigene transiently transfected into SHSY5Y cells, we found increased exon 19 inclusion in TrkB minigene transcripts (to generate TrkB‐Shc) following cellular exposure to amyloid beta 1–42 (Αβ42). As this suggested altered TrkB pre‐mRNA splicing in AD, we conducted an in silico screening for putative splice regulatory protein‐binding sites in the intron/exon splice regulatory regions of exons 18 and 19 of the TrkB gene and then assessed their gene expression profiles using a microarray database of control/AD post‐mortem human hippocampal brain tissue. We found significant changes in serine/arginine protein 20 (Srp20) gene expression in AD cases and confirmed this using a second cohort of control/AD. In vitro, we found increased Srp20 mRNA levels in SHSY5Y cells treated with Αβ42 fibrils. Moreover, Srp20 over‐expression was found to increase exon 19 inclusion in TrkB minigene transcripts and ratio of endogenous TrkB‐Shc:TrkB‐TK+ mRNA expression. Conversely, Srp20 expression knockdown produced the opposite effects. Our findings suggest that dysregulation of factors regulating TrkB pre‐mRNA splicing may contribute to gene expression changes that occur in AD.