bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduction in paediatric burn admissions over 25 years, 1970-94
Authors: Streeton C , Nolan T 
Published: October 2008

Objective–To describe trends in burn admissions to a large paediatric burn centre, between 1970 and 1994.Methods–Hospital records of the Royal Children's Hospital burns unit were audited for the years 1970-94 (n=4992), statewide hospital admissions identified from the Victorian Inpatient Minimum Database for the period, 1987-94 (n=3353), and Victorian burn deaths ascertained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (n=163), 1970-94.Results–Between 1970 and 1994 there was a 66% reduction in the annual number of burn admissions to the Royal Children's Hospital, a similar reduction across the state, from 52.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): 48 to 57)/100 000 in 1987 to 34.5 (95% CI:31 to 38)/100 000 in 1994 (p<0.05), and over a 40% fall in the mortality rate. Reductions occurred for all types of burns: scalds 60%; flame burns 55%; and contact burns 70%, but at differing time periods corresponding to the introduction of product legislation, education programs, or changes in heating practices. There was no decline in beverage related scalds. The proportion of children admitted with severe burns increased over the 25 year period, probably reflecting changes in referral practice, while the average length of hospital stay steadily declined, independent of burn type or burn severity.Conclusions–We believe these reductions reflect the effects of mandatory changes in sleepwear standards and regulations, modifications in heating practices, legislated improvements in the safety of household products, and to a lesser extent the effect of burn education prevention campaigns in the media, especially those directed towards hot water burn injuries among younger children.
THEORETICAL STUDY OF THE ELECTRON TRANSPORT THROUGH THE CYSTEINE AMINO ACID NANOMOLECULAR WIRE
Authors: GANJI M. D. , AGHAIE H. , GHOLAMI M. R. 
Published: October 2008

In this paper, we study the electrical transport and Negative Differential Resistance (NDR) in a single molecular conductor consisting of a cysteine sandwiched between two Au (111) electrodes via the Density Functional Theory-based Nonequilibrium Green's Function (DFT-NEGF) method. We show that (surprisingly, despite their apparent simplicity, these Au /cysteine/ Au nanowires are shown to be a convenient NDR device) the smallest two-terminal molecular wire can exhibit NDR behavior to date. Experiments with a conventional or novel self-assembled monolayer (SAM) are proposed to test these predictions. The projected density of states (PDOSs) and transmission coefficients T(E) under various external voltage biases are analyzed, and it suggests that the variation of the coupling between the molecule and the electrodes with external bias leads to NDR.
On the Kondo Problem and Thermodynamics of Dilute Magnetic Alloys
Authors: Maćkowiak J. 
Published: October 2008

An argument is given showing that Coulomb attraction between conduction electrons and impurity ions in a dilute magnetic alloy (DMA) can be disregarded, provided the system's inverse temperature β is replaced by an effective inverse temperature t < β. This replacement allows one to remove the singularity in Kondo's expression for DMA impurity resistivity and to extend his theory to 0 K. The extended Kondo formula agrees with experimental data on resistivity of CuFe in the range of low temperatures and in the neighbourhood of the resistivity minimum. Using an asymptotic solution of the thermodynamics of a dilute s-d system at inverse temperature t, the impurity thermodynamic functions are derived and shown to provide good agreement with experimental data on CuFe , CuCr and ( LaCe ) Al 2 alloys in the low-temperature range. The magnitude of these functions agrees with experiment and does not require rescaling as in previous s-d theories. Nonlinear dependence of CuFe heat capacity on impurity concentration has been accounted for the first time.
An Implicit Iterative Scheme for an Infinite Countable Family of Asymptotically Nonexpansive Mappings in Banach Spaces
Authors: Wang Shenghua , Yu Lanxiang , Guo Baohua 
Published: October 2008

AbstractLet "Equation missing" be a nonempty closed convex subset of a reflexive Banach space "Equation missing" with a weakly continuous dual mapping, and let "Equation missing" be an infinite countable family of asymptotically nonexpansive mappings with the sequence "Equation missing" satisfying "Equation missing" for each "Equation missing", "Equation missing", and "Equation missing" for each "Equation missing". In this paper, we introduce a new implicit iterative scheme generated by "Equation missing" and prove that the scheme converges strongly to a common fixed point of "Equation missing", which solves some certain variational inequality.
Decreasing Cervical Cancer Mortality in Mexico: Effect of Papanicolaou Coverage, Birthrate, and the Importance of Diagnostic Validity of Cytology
Authors: Lazcano-Ponce Eduardo , Palacio-Mejia Lina Sofía , Allen-Leigh Betania , Yunes-Diaz Elsa , Alonso Patricia , Schiavon Raffaela , Hernandez-Avila Mauricio 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Background: The reduction in cervical cancer mortality in developed countries has been attributed to well-organized, population-based prevention and control programs that incorporate screening with the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear. In Mexico, there has been a decrease in cervical cancer mortality, but it is unclear what factors have prompted this reduction.
Methods: Using data from national indicators, we determined the correlation between cervical cancer mortality rates and Pap coverage, birthrate, and gross national product, using a linear regression model. We determined relative risk of dying of cervical cancer according to place of residence (rural/urban, region) using a Poisson model. We also estimated Pap smear coverage using national survey data and evaluated the validity and reproducibility of Pap smear diagnosis.
Results: An increase in Pap coverage (β = −0.069) and a decrease in birthrate (β = 0.054) correlate with decreasing cervical cancer mortality in Mexico. Self-reported Pap smear rates in the last 12 months vary from 27.4% to 48.1%. Women who live in the central (relative risk, 1.04) and especially the southern (relative risk, 1.47) parts of Mexico have a greater relative risk of dying of cervical cancer than those who live in the north. There is a high incidence of false negatives in cervical cytology laboratories in Mexico; the percentage of false negatives varies from 3.33% to 53.13%.
Conclusions: The decrease in cervical cancer mortality observed in Mexico is proportional to increasing Pap coverage and decreasing birthrate. Accreditation of cervical cytology laboratories is needed to improve diagnostic precision. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2808–17)
Diurnal, Weekly, and Long-Time Variation in Serum Concentrations of YKL-40 in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Johansen Julia S. , Lottenburger Tine , Nielsen Hans Jørgen , Jensen Jens Erik B. , Svendsen Mads N. , Kollerup Gine , Christensen Ib J. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Serum YKL-40 is a potential biomarker of prognosis in cancer patients, but assessment of serum YKL-40 requires knowledge of its normal variation. In this study, we evaluated diurnal, weekly, and long-term variation in serum YKL-40 in healthy subjects using a commercial ELISA. The intra-assay coefficient of variation was ≤5.0% and interassay ≤10.2%. Systematic changes in diurnal measurements of serum YKL-40 could not be shown. Physical exercise for 20 min had no effect on serum YKL-40. The within-subject coefficient of variation, including variation over time and interassay, was 28.8% and 30.2% over a period of 2 and 3 years, and the intraclass correlation coefficients were 72.4% and 72.2%, indicating reasonable reliability of serum YKL-40 measurements. The 95% confidence limits for the difference between two measurements (same subject), including interassay variation, were a 52% reduction and a 109% increase in serum YKL-40. These studies show that relatively small variation is found in serum YKL-40 in healthy subjects. However, a single measurement of serum YKL-40 from an individual may not have a prognostic value, and serum YKL-40 alone cannot be a good biomarker for cancer because serum YKL-40 can be elevated in patients with other diseases characterized by inflammation and tissue remodeling. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2603–8)
The Performance of Human Papillomavirus High-Risk DNA Testing in the Screening and Diagnostic Settings
Authors: Cárdenas-Turanzas Marylou , Nogueras-Gonzalez Graciela M. , Scheurer Michael E. , Adler-Storthz Karen , Benedet J.L. , Beck J. Robert , Follen Michele , Cantor Scott B. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Objective: We sought to evaluate the performance of the human papillomavirus high-risk DNA test in patients 30 years and older.
Materials and Methods: Screening (n = 835) and diagnosis (n = 518) groups were defined based on prior Papanicolaou smear results as part of a clinical trial for cervical cancer detection. We compared the Hybrid Capture II (HCII) test result with the worst histologic report. We used cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 or worse as the reference of disease. We calculated sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR−), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and areas under the ROC curves for the HCII test. We also considered alternative strategies, including Papanicolaou smear, a combination of Papanicolaou smear and the HCII test, a sequence of Papanicolaou smear followed by the HCII test, and a sequence of the HCII test followed by Papanicolaou smear.
Results: For the screening group, the sensitivity was 0.69 and the specificity was 0.93; the area under the ROC curve was 0.81. The LR+ and LR− were 10.24 and 0.34, respectively. For the diagnosis group, the sensitivity was 0.88 and the specificity was 0.78; the area under the ROC curve was 0.83. The LR+ and LR− were 4.06 and 0.14, respectively. Sequential testing showed little or no improvement over the combination testing.
Conclusions: The HCII test in the screening group had a greater LR+ for the detection of CIN 2/3 or worse. HCII testing may be an additional screening tool for cervical cancer in women 30 years and older. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2865–71)
Colorectal Cancer Is an Ambulatory Care Sensitive Condition
Authors: Sarfaty Mona , Yuen Elaine 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (ACSC) are conditions where the provision of ambulatory care may affect the probability of hospitalization or the severity of the disease at the time of hospitalization. Population-based measurement of ACSCs can focus attention on aspects of ambulatory care that merit strengthening to improve access, quality, or patient compliance to achieve better outcomes and reduce costs. If colorectal cancer was added to the list of ACSCs, it would highlight the continuum of care that starts in the ambulatory setting and includes risk assessment as well as access to colonoscopy, which is the only means of adenoma removal after a positive screen. Each link in the continuum of care can increase or reduce the rates of colorectal cancer incidence and mortality at the local and national levels. Employing colorectal cancer as an ACSC at the hospital level or state level can provoke policy makers and managers to examine these links for gaps and weaknesses that merit attention and may be addressed. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2531–5)
Breast Cancer Survival among Economically Disadvantaged Women: The Influences of Delayed Diagnosis and Treatment on Mortality
Authors: Smith Emily Rose , Adams Swann Arp , Das Irene Prabhu , Bottai Matteo , Fulton Jeanette , Hebert James R. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Breast cancer affects thousands each year in the United States, and disproportionately affects certain subgroups. For example, the incidence of breast cancer in South Carolina is lower in African American compared with European American women by ∼12% to 15%, but their mortality rate is twice as high as in European American women. The purpose of the study was to assess factors associated with breast cancer mortality between African American and European American women. Participants (n = 314) in South Carolina's Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (SCBCCEDP), which provides breast cancer screening and treatment services, during the years 1996-2004 were included in the study. Data, including tumor characteristics, delay intervals, and race, were examined using the χ2 test and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Cox regression modeling was used to assess the relationship between delay intervals and other factors. No racial differences were found in age at diagnosis, tumor characteristics, or delay intervals. Time delay intervals did not explain differences and mortality rates by race. Survival, however, was affected by prognostic factors as well as by a significant interaction between hormone-receptor status and race. Despite the excellent record of the SCBCCEDP in screening and diagnostic or treatment referrals, the racial disparities in breast cancer mortality continue to exist in South Carolina. These findings highlight the need for future research into the etiology of racial differences, and their impact on breast cancer survival. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2882–90)
Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane and Polychlorinated Biphenyls: Intraindividual Changes, Correlations, and Predictors in Healthy Women from the Southeastern United States
Authors: Vo Thao T. , Gladen Beth C. , Cooper Glinda S. , Baird Donna D. , Daniels Julie L. , Gammon Marilie D. , Richardson David B. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are widespread environmental contaminants that have been postulated to increase the risk of diseases such as non–Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer, as well as lead to early menopause. Studies assessing the effect of organochlorine exposure often can only measure organochlorine levels once, such as at study enrollment, which may not be an etiologically relevant time period. We assessed the temporal changes in DDE and PCBs and the predictors of those changes using interview data and DDE and PCB measures collected from 123 women who were enrolled in a baseline study from 1978 to 1982 and followed up in 2003 to 2004. Baseline and follow-up organochlorine levels were compared using Spearman correlations (rs), and predictors of the rate of change in log concentration were evaluated using linear regression models. Although serum concentrations dramatically declined (median follow-up to baseline concentration ratio was 16% for DDE and 45% for PCB), baseline and follow-up measures were strongly correlated for DDE (rs = 0.72) and moderately correlated for PCBs (rs = 0.43). Prediction of follow-up PCB levels was substantially improved (rs = 0.75) with data on initial concentration, length of lactation, baseline body mass index, and percent change in body fat, whereas DDE prediction improved slightly (rs = 0.83) with data on lactation and baseline body mass index. These findings suggest that a single organochlorine measure provides considerable information on relative ranking at distant times and that the predictive power can be improved, particularly for PCBs, with information on a few predictors. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2729–36)
Genetic Variation in Calcium-Sensing Receptor and Risk for Colon Cancer
Authors: Dong Linda M. , Ulrich Cornelia M. , Hsu Li , Duggan David J. , Benitez Debbie S. , White Emily , Slattery Martha L. , Caan Bette J. , Potter John D. , Peters Ulrike 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBackground: Experimental and epidemiologic studies have suggested that high calcium intake is associated with decreased colon cancer risk, yet very limited data are available for candidate genes in the calcium–vitamin D pathway and colon cancer risk. To address this, we evaluated whether calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) single-nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with colon cancer risk. We also examined interactions among CASR, calcium, and vitamin D intake and previously genotyped vitamin D–related genes.Methods: We conducted a large multicenter population-based case-control study of 1,600 cases and 1,949 controls. Seventeen tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms for CASR were selected from common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (minor allele frequency, ≥5%) based on resequencing data. Haplotypes were estimated and evaluated using HaploStats.Results: We did not observe an association between any CASR genotypes or haplotypes and colon cancer risk overall. However, when stratified by anatomic site, statistically significant associations were seen with risk for proximal colon cancer [rs10934578 TT: odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.01-1.81; rs12485716 AG/AA: odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71-1.00; rs4678174 CT/CC: odds ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70-0.98; rs2270916 CC: odds ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19-0.97]. Concordantly, we observed a suggested association for a CASR haplotype (rs4678174, rs2270916) with risk for proximal colon cancer (global P = 0.08). We did not observe any meaningful gene-environment (calcium and vitamin D) or gene-gene (CYP24A1, CYP27B1, and VDR) interactions with CASR genotypes and colon cancer risk.Conclusion: Our study does not provide evidence for an overall association between CASR single-nucleotide polymorphisms and colon cancer; however, results suggest a possible role of CASR on proximal colon cancer, and subsite differences are consistent with known calcium biology. Nonetheless, these findings require confirmation. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2755–65)
Androgen and Prostate Cancer: Is the Hypothesis Dead?
Authors: Hsing Ann W. , Chu Lisa W. , Stanczyk Frank Z. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Data from animal, clinical, and prevention studies support the role of androgen in prostate cancer growth, proliferation, and progression. However, results serum-based epidemiologic studies in humans have been inconclusive. Part of the inconsistency in these findings stems from differences in study population, assay accuracy, intraperson variation, and limited sample size. Recently, data from a large pooled analysis of 18 prospective studies (3,886 cases and 6,438 healthy controls) showed no association between serum androgen and prostate cancer risk. It is not surprising that the pooled analysis did not find a positive link between circulating levels of total testosterone and prostate cancer risk because, individually, few of the 18 studies included in the pooled analysis reported a substantial positive association. The null result, however, does not pronounce a death sentence for the androgen hypothesis; rather, it underscores the importance of a better understanding of androgen action within the prostate, including the relationship between tissue and serum levels of androgen. In this commentary, we explain why circulating levels of testosterone may not reflect androgen action in the prostate and why tissue levels of androgen, in particular dihydrotestosterone, and the androgen receptor and its coregulators are critical to androgen action in the prostate and should be incorporated in future studies. It is timely to integrate system thinking into our research and use an interdisciplinary approach that involves different disciplines, including epidemiology, endocrinology, pathology, and molecular biology, to help dissect the complex interplay between sex steroids and genetic and lifestyle factors in prostate cancer etiology. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2525–30)
Risk Factors for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis—Population-Based Case-Control Study in Denmark
Authors: Madsen Birgitte Schütt , van den Brule Adriaan J.C. , Jensen Helle Lone , Wohlfahrt Jan , Frisch Morten 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Few etiologic studies of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis have been carried out in populations where childhood circumcision is rare. A total of 71 patients with invasive (n = 53) or in situ (n = 18) penile SCC, 86 prostate cancer controls, and 103 population controls were interviewed in a population-based case-control study in Denmark. For 37 penile SCC patients, tissue samples were PCR examined for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. Overall, 65% of PCR-examined penile SCCs were high-risk HPV-positive, most of which (22 of 24; 92%) were due to HPV16. Penile SCC risk was positively associated with measures of early and high sexual activity, including lifetime number of female sex partners, number of female sex partners before age 20, age at first intercourse, penile-oral sex, a history of anogenital warts, and never having used condoms. Histories of phimosis and priapism at least 5 years before diagnosis were also significant risk factors, whereas alcohol abstinence was associated with reduced risk. Our study confirms sexually transmitted HPV16 infection and phimosis as major risk factors for penile SCC and suggests that penile-oral sex may be an important means of viral transmission. The association with priapism was unexpected and needs replication. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(10):2683–91)
Measurement and analysis of ambient air particulates and ionic species for composition and concentration studies at the western coast of central Taiwan
Authors: Chu CC , Fang GC , Lin IC , Chou TY 
Published: October 2008

Air-polluting aerosol samples consisting of total suspended particulates, coarse particulates (>2.5~10 μm in diameter), fine particulates (<2.5 μm in diameter), and ionic species were collected from March 2004 to January 2005 at the western coast of central Taiwan. Statistical methods such as nonparametric test and T statistical analysis were also employed to distinguish the variation difference for pollutants among four seasons in this study. Seasonal variation of ionic species SO42− in the total suspended particulates and fine particulates shows that higher composition was observed among four seasons. The results of T statistical analysis revealed that the concentrations of ionic species NO3− showed no significant changes in coarse and fine particulates among the four seasons. In addition, the results also revealed that the concentrations of ionic species Na+ showed no significant changes in coarse and fine particulates in the seasons of spring and autumn at the western coast of central Taiwan.