bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intensity of Care and better Outcomes among Hemodialysis Patients: A Role for the Medical Director
Authors: Lacson Eduardo , Maddux Franklin W. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe Medical Director is responsible for all levels of quality patient care in the facility as mandated by the 2008 revision of the Medicare Conditions for Coverage of dialysis facilities. He/she is the leader and primary individual tasked with ensuring that facility processes are in place to meet or exceed key quality goals or adopt new ones and prioritize them appropriately—all to drive improved facility performance, particularly the ultimate outcomes of morbidity and mortality rates. Management of vascular access, dialysis dose, mineral metabolism, acid‐base balance, sodium and fluid management, anemia, among other aspects of care, have representative intermediate clinical outcomes that are often called “surrogate” or “process” measures—because they may reflect the quality of care delivery while impacting “primary” outcomes such as death and hospitalization. The proportion of dialysis patients within a dialysis facility meeting a selected group among these goals has become the standard “care process” metric since the 1990s. Evidence supports its use, in that graded improvements in the facility patients’ primary outcomes have been documented as more patients in a facility achieved a greater number of these “process” goals. A caveat: these process measures do not represent overall quality by themselves because nonclinical processes also influence primary outcomes. Nevertheless, process improvement in meeting facility goals should be led by the Medical Director, particularly those with the strongest links to primary outcomes such as reduction of hemodialysis catheter exposure, forming the cornerstone of quality improvement efforts. Specific recommendations on how to effectively lead a care team to achieve these goals are discussed.
The extracellular space and epileptic activity in the adult brain: Explaining the antiepileptic effects of furosemide and bumetanide
Authors: Hochman Daryl W. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryTreatments that modulate the size of the extracellular space (ECS) also block epileptiform activity in adult brain tissue. This includes the loop diuretics furosemide and bumetanide, and alterations of the osmolarity of the ECS. These treatments block epileptiform activity in a variety of laboratory adult seizure models regardless of the underlying synaptic and physiologic mechanisms generating the seizure activity. Optical imaging studies on adult hippocampal slices show that the blockade of epileptiform activity by these treatments is concomitant with their blockade of activity‐driven changes of the ECS. Here we develop and analyze the hypothesis that activity‐driven changes in the size of the ECS are necessary for the maintenance of hypersynchronous epileptiform activity. In support of this hypothesis is an accumulation of data from a number of studies suggesting that furosemide and bumetanide mediate antiepileptic effects through their blockade of cell swelling, dependent on their antagonism of the glial Na+‐K‐2Cl cotransporter (NKCC1).
In vitro mechanical strain trauma alters neuronal calcium responses: Implications for posttraumatic epilepsy
Authors: Gurkoff Gene G. , Shahlaie Kiarash , Lyeth Bruce G. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is known to initiate a series of chemical cascades resulting in neuronal dysfunction and death. Epidemiology studies have found that a prior incidence of TBI is the most important cause of remote symptomatic epilepsy in young adults and children. TBI‐induced changes in neuronal sensitivity to stimulation may contribute to acute seizures and the eventual generation of epilepsy. This study examined TBI‐induced changes in neuronal sensitivity to stimulation by measuring intracellular calcium ([Ca++]i) responses in neurons during glutamate application in vitro. Initial experiments examined neuronal and glial cell death and determined that a 31% mechanical strain trauma to mixed neuronal‐astrocyte rat cortical cultures produced a trend, but no significant cell death at 48 h after injury. Subsequent experiments utilized this magnitude of trauma to examine the sensitivity of cortical neurons to changes in [Ca++]i in response to 100‐μm glutamate at five time points postinjury (1, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h). Traumatically strain‐injured neurons responded with a dynamic change in the accumulation of [Ca++]i, with a significant increase at 48 h and a significant decrease at 72 h as compared to uninjured cultures. These data highlight that TBI leads to abnormal responsiveness to stimulation, an indicator of neuronal dysfunction in surviving cells. Such changes in sensitivity to stimulation may also be associated with changes in excitability in the first hours to days after TBI, and may play a role in early posttraumatic seizures observed in patients with TBI. In addition, this study provides an in vitro paradigm for testing the function of surviving cells following treatment interventions targeted at reducing cell death and dysfunction.
New insights into the role of hilar ectopic granule cells in the dentate gyrus based on quantitative anatomic analysis and three‐dimensional reconstruction
Authors: Scharfman Helen E. , Pierce Joseph P. 
Published: May 2012

SummaryThe dentate gyrus is one of two main areas of the mammalian brain where neurons are born throughout adulthood, a phenomenon called postnatal neurogenesis. Most of the neurons that are generated are granule cells (GCs), the major principal cell type in the dentate gyrus. Some adult‐born granule cells develop in ectopic locations, such as the dentate hilus. The generation of hilar ectopic granule cells (HEGCs) is greatly increased in several animal models of epilepsy and has also been demonstrated in surgical specimens from patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Herein we review the results of our quantitative neuroanatomic analysis of HEGCs that were filled with Neurobiotin following electrophysiologic characterization in hippocampal slices. The data suggest that two types of HEGCs exist, based on a proximal or distal location of the cell body relative to the granule cell layer, and based on the location of most of the dendrites, in the molecular layer or hilus. Three‐dimensional reconstruction revealed that the dendrites of distal HEGCs can extend along the transverse and longitudinal axis of the hippocampus. Analysis of axons demonstrated that HEGCs have projections that contribute to the normal mossy fiber innervation of CA3 as well as the abnormal sprouted fibers in the inner molecular layer of epileptic rodents (mossy fiber sprouting). These data support the idea that HEGCs could function as a “hub” cell in the dentate gyrus and play a critical role in network excitability.
Abnormal dendrite and spine morphology in primary visual cortex in the CGG knock‐in mouse model of the fragile X premutation
Authors: Berman Robert F. , Murray Karl D. , Arque Gloria , Hunsaker Michael R. , Wenzel H. Jürgen 
Published: May 2012

SummaryThe fragile X mental retardation 1 gene (Fmr1) is polymorphic for CGG trinucleotide repeat number in the 5′‐untranslated region, with repeat lengths <45 associated with typical development and repeat lengths >200 resulting in hypermethylation and transcriptional silencing of the gene and mental retardation in the fragile X Syndrome (FXS). Individuals with CGG repeat expansions between 55 and 200 are carriers of the fragile X premutation (PM). PM carriers show a phenotype that can include anxiety, depression, social phobia, and memory deficits. They are also at risk for developing fragile X–associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), a late onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremor, ataxia, cognitive impairment, and neuropathologic features including intranuclear inclusions in neurons and astrocytes, loss of Purkinje cells, and white matter disease. However, very little is known about dendritic morphology in PM or in FXTAS. Therefore, we carried out a Golgi study of dendritic complexity and dendritic spine morphology in layer II/III pyramidal neurons in primary visual cortex in a knock‐in (KI) mouse model of the PM. These CGG KI mice carry an expanded CGG trinucleotide repeat on Fmr1, and model many features of the PM and FXTAS. Compared to wild‐type (WT) mice, CGG KI mice showed fewer dendritic branches proximal to the soma, reduced total dendritic length, and a higher frequency of longer dendritic spines. The distribution of morphologic spine types (e.g., stubby, mushroom, filopodial) did not differ between WT and KI mice. These findings demonstrate that synaptic circuitry is abnormal in visual cortex of mice used to model the PM, and suggest that such changes may underlie neurologic features found in individuals carrying the PM as well as in individuals with FXTAS.
Pharmacokinetics and drug interactions of eslicarbazepine acetate
Authors: Bialer Meir , Soares‐da‐Silva Patricio 
Published: May 2012

SummaryEslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) is a novel once‐daily antiepileptic drug (AED) approved in Europe since 2009 that was found to be efficacious and well tolerated in a phase III clinical program in adult patients with partial onset seizures previously not controlled with treatment with one to three AEDs, including carbamazepine (CBZ). ESL shares with CBZ and oxcarbazepine (OXC) the dibenzazepine nucleus bearing the 5‐carboxamide substitute, but is structurally different at the 10,11 position. This molecular variation results in differences in metabolism, preventing the formation of toxic epoxide metabolites such as carbamazepine‐10,11‐epoxide. Unlike OXC, which is metabolized to both eslicarbazepine and (R)‐licarbazepine, ESL is extensively converted to eslicarbazepine. The systemic exposure to eslicarbazepine after ESL oral administration is approximately 94% of the parent dose, with minimal exposure to (R)‐licarbazepine and OXC. After ESL oral administration, the effective half‐life (t1/2,eff) of eslicarbazepine was 20–24 h, which is approximately two times longer than its terminal half‐life (t1/2). At clinically relevant doses (400–1,600 mg/day) ESL has linear pharmacokinetics (PK) with no effects of gender or moderate liver impairment. However, because eslicarbazepine is eliminated primarily (66%) by renal excretion, dose adjustment is recommended for patients with renal impairment. Eslicarbazepine clearance is induced by phenobarbital, phenytoin, and CBZ and it dose‐dependently decreases plasma exposure of oral contraceptive and simvastatin.
The International Transmission of Bank Liquidity Shocks: Evidence from an Emerging Market
Authors: SCHNABL PHILIPP 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTI exploit the 1998 Russian default as a negative liquidity shock to international banks and analyze its transmission to Peru. I find that after the shock international banks reduce bank‐to‐bank lending to Peruvian banks and Peruvian banks reduce lending to Peruvian firms. The effect is strongest for domestically owned banks that borrow internationally, intermediate for foreign‐owned banks, and weakest for locally funded banks. I control for credit demand by examining firms that borrow from several banks. These results suggest that international banks transmit liquidity shocks across countries and that negative liquidity shocks reduce bank lending in affected countries.
Decoding Inside Information
Authors: COHEN LAUREN , MALLOY CHRISTOPHER , POMORSKI LUKASZ 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTExploiting the fact that insiders trade for a variety of reasons, we show that there is predictable, identifiable “routine” insider trading that is not informative about firms’ futures. A portfolio strategy that focuses solely on the remaining “opportunistic” traders yields value‐weighted abnormal returns of 82 basis points per month, while abnormal returns associated with routine traders are essentially zero. The most informed opportunistic traders are local, nonexecutive insiders from geographically concentrated, poorly governed firms. Opportunistic traders are significantly more likely to have SEC enforcement action taken against them, and reduce trading following waves of SEC insider trading enforcement.
MRS in Early and Presymptomatic Carriers of a Novel Octapeptide Repeat Insertion in the Prion Protein Gene
Authors: McDade Eric M , Boeve Bradley F. , Fields Julie A , Kumar Neeraj , Rademakers Rosa , Baker Matt C. , Knopman BSc, David S. , Petersen Ronald C. , Jack Clifford R. , Kantarci Kejal 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTTo evaluate the proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy (1H MRS) changes in carriers of a novel octapeptide repeat insertion in the prion protein gene (PRNP) and family history of frontotemporal dementia with ataxia. Four at‐risk mutation carriers and 13 controls were compared using single voxel, short TE, 1H MRS from the posterior cingulate gyrus. The mutation carriers had an increased choline/creatine, P= .003 and increased myoinositol/creatine ratio, P= .003. 1H MRS identified differences in markers of glial activity and choline metabolism in pre‐ and early‐symptomatic carriers of a novel PRNP gene octapeptide insertion. These findings expand the possible diagnostic utility of 1H MRS in familial prion disorders.
Long‐term Clinical and Angiographic Outcomes in Patients with Spontaneous Cervico‐Cranial Arterial Dissections Treated with Stent Placement
Authors: Hassan Ameer E. , Zacharatos Haralabos , Rodriguez Gustavo J. , Suri M. Fareed K. , Tariq Nauman , Vazquez Gabriela , Tummala Ramachandra P. , Qureshi Adnan I. 
Published: May 2012

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDLimited data exist regarding the long‐term clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients with spontaneous cervico‐cranial arterial dissection treated with stent placement.OBJECTIVETo report the immediate and long‐term clinical and angiographic outcomes of patients who received stent placement for spontaneous cervico‐cranial arterial dissection.MethodsWe reviewed clinical and angiographic data of consecutive patients with spontaneous, cervico‐cranial arterial dissection treated with stent placement. Patients with recurrent ischemic symptoms or severe hemodynamic compromise despite maximal medical therapy, or those with compressive symptoms due to expanding pseudoaneurysms were considered for stent placement. Follow‐up angiography and intravascular ultrasound (in select patients) was performed to detect in‐stent restenosis, intimal flap, thrombus, or persistent pseudoaneurysm.RESULTSA total of 14 patients were identified, with complete resolution of stenosis achieved in 10 patients immediately post‐procedure. Clinical follow‐up ranged from 26–900 days, during which there was 1 (7%) TIA, 1 (7%) minor ischemic stroke, and 1 (7%) in hospital death (unrelated to stent placement). Stroke‐free survival was 93% at both 1 month and 6 months after the procedure. Follow‐up angiography did not reveal any in‐stent restenosis.CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates the feasibility, safety, and intermediate term effectiveness of endovascular stent reconstruction of spontaneous, cervico‐cranial arterial dissection.
A novel mouse model of atopic dermatitis with epicutaneous allergen sensitization and the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Authors: Kim Ha‐Jung , Kim Young‐Joon , Kang Mi‐Jin , Seo Ju‐Hee , Kim Hyung‐Young , Jeong Se Kyoo , Lee Seung‐Hun , Kim Ji‐Min , Hong Soo‐Jong 
Published: May 2012

AbstractAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease, and the pathogenesis is not completely understood. Although there are some mouse models of AD, it is not easy to establish model to represent the natural AD development in human. In this study, we developed an AD model based on outside–inside theory and investigated the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lcr35), which have known as an immune modulator in allergic diseases. SKH‐1 hairless mice underwent three 1‐week exposures (separated by 2‐week intervals) to an ovalbumin (OVA) or saline (control) patch at the same site to develop the mouse model of AD. Lcr35 (1 × 109 CFU) was administered orally every day from 1 week before the first sensitization until the end of the study. The AD model induced erythematous and itchy skin, increasing TEWL and increasing skin inflammation as assessed by histology in the mice. Oral Lcr35 attenuated all disease parameters previously mentioned. OVA‐specific IgE and skin expression of interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) increased in AD mice, but were reduced in AD mice treated with Lcr35. Moreover, Lcr35 treatment led to an increase in CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes of AD mice. In conclusions, based on the ‘outside–inside’ theory, topical allergen may induce AD without skin injury. Oral application of Lcr35 prevented the development of AD in this model by suppressing production of the inflammatory cytokines, IL‐4 and TSLP in the skin via a mechanism that may involve CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg cells.
Assigning origins in a potentially mixed‐stock recreational sea trout (Salmo trutta) fishery
Authors: Veinott Geoff , Westley Peter A. H. , Warner Lucas , Purchase Craig F. 
Published: May 2012

AbstractThe anadromous, or sea‐going, life history form of brown trout, or sea trout (
Salmo trutta), may lead to potential mixing of populations while foraging at sea. In this article, we assess the potential that multiple populations are using common semi‐enclosed estuaries and quantify the potential levels of straying (i.e. dispersal) of foreign‐produced individuals into populations by using otolith chemical signatures as natural ‘tags’. To do so, we created a database of juvenile fish otolith chemistry (a marker of freshwater production) from four rivers and compared the chemistry of harvested fish in two estuaries important to anglers, the Renews River and Chance Cove Brook, to the database. A discriminant function analysis revealed significant differences in the otolith chemistry of juvenile fish inhabiting the four rivers with a 97% cross‐validated accuracy when classifying individual juveniles to their natal river, indicating our baseline was robust. When assigning adults caught over 3 years (2007–2009) in the recreational fishery in the Renews River estuary, it was determined that over 95% of the fish caught each year originated from Renews River. In contrast, harvested fish in Chance Cove during 2009 were disproportionately comprised of fish produced in Renews River, suggesting the potential for source‐sink population dynamics in Newfoundland. Taken as a whole, these results indicate limited population mixing in nearshore estuaries of this region, but also highlight the potential for some populations to subsidise the harvest by anglers in different areas.
Survival analysis of mandibular complete dentures with acrylic‐based resilient liners
Authors: Kimoto Suguru , Kimoto Katsuhiko , Murakami Hiroshi , Gunji Atsuko , Ito Nana , Kawai Yasuhiko 
Published: May 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00658.x

Survival analysis of mandibular complete dentures with acrylic‐based resilient liners
Objective:  The purpose of this long‐term randomised controlled trial was to compare the longevity of dentures constructed using a conventional acrylic resin (CAR) to that of dentures constructed using an acrylic‐based resilient liner (ARL).Materials and methods:  The follow‐up study was essentially carried out by annual telephone calls to each of the 67 participants. The Kaplan–Meier method and life‐table analysis were used for univariate analyses. The Cox proportional‐hazards test was used as a final model for statistically adjusting predictor variables such as sex, clinician type, mandibular denture type and age at denture delivery.Results:  The denture type was likely to affect the survival time of the dentures, while the sex and clinician type were not. The group using acrylic‐based resilient denture liners had twice the risk of having shorter denture‐survival times than those using conventional acrylic resin dentures. Younger participants were likely to have a reduced risk of having shorter denture‐survival times than older participants.Conclusion:  We conclude that mandibular complete dentures constructed using ARL are twice as likely as dentures constructed using CAR to have shorter denture survival times, mainly because of material deterioration.
Investigation of factor affecting health‐related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients
Authors: Morimata Jien , Otomaru Takafumi , Murase Mai , Haraguchi Mihoko , Sumita Yuka , Taniguchi Hisashi 
Published: May 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00662.x

Investigation of factor affecting health‐related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients
Objectives:  Head and neck cancer (HNC) patients have profound illness of physical, social and psychological factors that affects quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting HRQL in patients with intra‐oral prostheses.Background:  Some cross‐sectional studies have been performed to investigate HRQL in patients with HNC, but these studies did not report in detail how factors affect the HRQL of maxillectomy and mandibulectomy and/or glossectomy patients.Materials and Methods:  The University of Washington Quality of Life version 4 questionnaires (Japanese version) was administered to 50 maxillectomy and 50 mandibulectomy and/or glossectomy patients with intra‐oral prostheses who were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Gathered data were statistically analyzed to investigate how a number of factors, namely, age, sex, pathologic diagnosis, neck dissection, resection size, radiotherapy and dental condition affect HRQL.Results:  In the maxillectomy patients, there were no significant differences between malignant and benign tumor in pathological diagnosis or between dentate and edentulous in dental condition. Age, sex, neck dissection and radiotherapy affected HRQL. In the mandibulectomy and/or glossectomy patients, there was no significant difference between dentate and edentulous in dental condition. Age, sex, glossectomy, neck dissection and radiotherapy affected HRQL.Conclusions:  The factors affecting HRQL in the maxillectomy patients were different from those in the mandibulectomy and/or glossectomy patients. Though they wore stable prostheses; we were still able to show that resection size, radiotherapy and neck dissection affected HRQL.
Provision of dental care in aged care facilities, NSW, Australia – Part 1 as perceived by the Directors of Nursing (care providers)
Authors: Webb Bettine C. , Whittle Terry , Schwarz Eli 
Published: May 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00670.x

Provision of dental care in aged care facilities, NSW, Australia – Part 1 as perceived by the Directors of Nursing (care providers)
Objective:  To ascertain the Directors of Nursing (DONs) perception of the provision of dental care and the difficulties in oral health maintenance for residents in New South Wales (NSW) aged care facilities (ACFs).Background:  There were no specific figures relating to DONs’ perceptions of oral health needs and dental care nor obstructions to dental care of residents.Materials and methods:  A total of 414 questionnaires, encoded for confidentiality, were posted to all DONs of ACFs in NSW and the data analysed.Results:  Questionnaires were returned from 255 ACFs (response rate 61.6%) representing 16 861 residents with a male‐to‐female ratio of 1:3.45. Of these residents, 48% had a dental assessment on admission by qualified dental staff. In 74.2% of facilities, no regular visits by dental staff took place, and 58.6% considered the perceived unwillingness of dental professionals to visit residents a barrier to good oral health. DONs reported that 53.6% of residents had dentures only, while 18.3% had natural teeth only. The most frequent difficulties reported by staff were residents’ use of abusive language (78.2%) and residents refusing to open mouth (60.9%).Conclusion:  Lack of involvement of dental professionals in admission assessment and in ongoing programmes was of concern to DONs in ACFs.