bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Pregnant Pause to Consider Teratogenicity of Topiramate
Authors: Fountain Nathan B. 
Published: March 2009

Topiramate in Pregnancy: Preliminary Experience from the UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register. Hunt S, Russell A, Smithson WH, Parsons L, Robertson I, Waddell R, Irwin B, Morrison PJ, Morrow J, Craig J, UK Epilepsy and Pregnancy Register. Neurology 2008;71(4):272–276. Objectives Topiramate (Topamax®) is licensed to be used, either in monotherapy or as adjunctive treatment, for generalized tonic-clonic seizures or partial seizures with or without secondary generalization and for prevention of migraine. The safety of topiramate in human pregnancy is largely unknown. Here we report on our experience of pregnancies exposed to topiramate. Methods This study is part of a prospective, observational registration and follow-up study. Suitable cases are women with epilepsy who become pregnant while taking topiramate either singly or along with other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), and who are referred before outcome of the pregnancy is known. The main outcome measure is the major congenital malformation (MCM) rate. Secondary outcomes include risk of specific MCM, minor malformation rate, birthweight, and gestational age at delivery. Results Full outcome data are available on 203 pregnancies. Of these, 178 resulted in live birth; 16 had an MCM (9.0%; 95% CI 5.6–14.1%). Three MCMs were observed in 70 monotherapy exposures (4.8%; 95% CI 1.7–13.3%) and 13 in cases exposed to topiramate as part of a polytherapy regimen (11.2%; 95% CI 6.7–18.2%). Four of the MCMs were oral clefts (2.2%; 95% CI 0.9–5.6%). Four cases of hypospadias were reported (5.1%; 95% CI 0.2–10.1%) among 78 known live male births, of which two were classified as major malformations. Conclusions The number of outcomes of human pregnancies exposed to topiramate is low, but the MCM rate for topiramate polytherapy raises some concerns. Overall, the rate of oral clefts observed was 11 times the background rate. Although the present data provide new information, they should be interpreted with caution due to the sample size and wide confidence intervals.
Dietary Therapy for Epilepsy: The Advantage of Rapid Onset of Action
Authors: Abou-Khalil Bassel W. 
Published: March 2009

When Do Seizures Usually Improve with the Ketogenic Diet? Kossoff EH, Laux LC, Blackford R, Morrison PF, Pyzik PL, Hamdy RM, Turner Z, Nordli DR Jr. Epilepsia 2008;49:329–333. Purpose Parents often expect immediate seizure improvement after starting the ketogenic diet (KD) for their children. The purpose of this study was to determine the typical time to seizure reduction as well as the time after which it was unlikely to be helpful in those children started on the KD. Methods Records of all children started on the KD at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, ( n = 83) and Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, ( n = 35) from November 2003 to December 2006 were examined to determine the first day in which seizures were reportedly improved. Results Of the 118 children started on the KD, 99 (84%) had documented seizure reduction. The overall median time to first improvement was 5 days (range: 1–65 days). Seventy-five percent of children improved within 14 days. In those children who were fasted at KD onset, the time to improvement was quicker (median 5 vs 14 days, p < 0.01) with a higher percentage improving within 5 days (60% vs 31%, p = 0.01). No difference was identified between fasting and nonfasting in regards to long-term outcomes, however. Discussion The KD works quickly, when effective, typically within the first 1–2 weeks. Starting the KD after a fasting period may lead to a more rapid but equivalent long-term seizure reduction, confirming prior reports. If the KD has not led to seizure reduction after 2 months, it can probably be discontinued.
Fast Ripples: What Do New Data about Gap Junctions and Disrupted Spike Firing Reveal about Underlying Mechanisms?
Authors: Ben-Ari Yehezkel 
Published: March 2009

Gap Junctions on Hippocampal Mossy Fiber Axons Demonstrated by Thin-Section Electron Microscopy and Freeze Fracture Replica Immunogold Labeling. Hamzei-Sichani F, Kamasawa N, Janssen WG, Yasumura T, Davidson KG, Hof PR, Wearne SL, Stewart MG, Young SR, Whittington MA, Rash JE, Traub RD. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2007;104(30):12548–12553. Gap junctions have been postulated to exist between the axons of excitatory cortical neurons based on electrophysiological, modeling, and dye-coupling data. Here, we provide ultrastructural evidence for axoaxonic gap junctions in dentate granule cells. Using combined confocal laser scanning microscopy, thin-section transmission electron microscopy, and grid-mapped freeze–fracture replica immunogold labeling, 10 close appositions revealing axoaxonic gap junctions (30–70 nm in diameter) were found between pairs of mossy fiber axons (100–200 nm in diameter) in the stratum lucidum of the CA3b field of the rat ventral hippocampus, and one axonal gap junction (100 connexons) was found on a mossy fiber axon in the CA3c field of the rat dorsal hippocampus. Immunogold labeling with two sizes of gold beads revealed that connexin 36 was present in that axonal gap junction. These ultrastructural data support computer modeling and in vitro electrophysiological data suggesting that axoaxonic gap junctions play an important role in the generation of very fast (>70 Hz) network oscillations and in the hypersynchronous electrical activity of epilepsy. Reduced Spike-Timing Reliability Correlates with the Emergence of Fast Ripples in the Rat Epileptic Hippocampus. Foffani G, Uzcategui YG, Gal B, Menendez de la Prida L. Neuron 2007;55(6):930–941. Ripples are sharp-wave-associated field oscillations (100–300 Hz) recorded in the hippocampus during behavioral immobility and slow-wave sleep. In epileptic rats and humans, a different and faster oscillation (200–600 Hz), termed fast ripples, has been described. However, the basic mechanisms are unknown. Here, we propose that fast ripples emerge from a disorganized ripple pattern caused by unreliable firing in the epileptic hippocampus. Enhanced synaptic activity is responsible for the irregular bursting of CA3 pyramidal cells due to large membrane potential fluctuations. Lower field interactions and a reduced spike-timing reliability concur with decreased spatial synchronization and the emergence of fast ripples. Reducing synaptically driven membrane potential fluctuations improves both spike-timing reliability and spatial synchronization and restores ripples in the epileptic hippocampus. Conversely, a lower spike-timing reliability, with reduced potassium currents, is associated with ripple shuffling in normal hippocampus. Therefore, fast ripples may reflect a pathological desynchronization of the normal ripple pattern.
The Impact of Revenue‐Maximizing Priority Pricing on Customer Delay Costs
Authors: Gilland Wendell G. , Warsing Donald P. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTSpeed is an increasingly important determinant of which suppliers will be given customers' business and is defined as the time between when an order is placed by the customer and when the product is delivered, or as the amount of time customers must wait before they receive their desired service. In either case, the speed a customer experiences can be enhanced by giving priority to that particular customer. Such a prioritization scheme will necessarily reduce the speed experienced by lower‐priority customers, but this can lead to a better outcome when different customers place different values on speed. We model a single resource (e.g., a manufacturer) that processes jobs from customers who have heterogeneous waiting costs. We analyze the price that maximizes priority revenue for the resource owner (i.e., supplier, manufacturer) under different assumptions regarding customer behavior. We discover that a revenue‐maximizing supplier facing self‐interested customers (i.e., those that independently minimize their own expected costs) charges a price that also minimizes the expected total delay costs across all customers and that this outcome does not result when customers coordinate to submit priority orders at a level that seeks to minimize their aggregate costs of priority fees and delays. Thus, the customers are better off collectively (as is the supplier) when the supplier and customers act independently in their own best interests. Finally, as the number of priority classes increases, both the priority revenues and the overall customer delay costs improve, but at a decreasing rate.
Electronic Data Interchange: Research Review and Future Directions*
Authors: Narayanan Sriram , Marucheck Ann S. , Handfield Robert B. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTFor nearly two decades, electronic data interchange (EDI) has been widely viewed as a technology pivotal to supply chain management that has also provided benefits to firms on multiple levels. Despite a substantial body of literature, there are a number of conflicting and inconclusive research results in this field. In this study, we synthesize the diverse body of research in EDI by organizing the literature into an initial theoretical framework. Based on a meta‐analysis of results from the empirical literature, we seek to clarify conflicting results from the literature in order to develop a more unified theoretical framework of contextual variables associated with EDI adoption factors and outcomes. From a managerial standpoint, our literature‐based framework offers a set of guidelines for making successful EDI adoption and implementation decisions.
Using Buyer–Supplier Performance Frontiers to Manage Relationship Performance*
Authors: Ross Anthony D. , Buffa Frank P. , Droge Cornelia , Carrington Donald 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTThis article presents a consensus‐building methodology to implement dyadic performance measurement. It focuses on transmuting supplier performance and buyer performance metrics on several important attributes into actionable relationship management plans using Clark's (1996) theory of performance frontiers. Access to the supplier performance management program of a Fortune 100 corporation was granted to the research team. Direct observation of practice and in‐depth discussions with several managers provided a roadmap for investigating both the literature on quantitative evaluation methods and the empirically derived theory on buyer–supplier relationships from several perspectives. This study describes a multiphase, iterative framework that uses current methods and theory on dyadic buyer–supplier evaluation to consider: (i) evaluation criteria and their importance; (ii) whether the improvement focus should be on strengths, weaknesses, or both; and (iii) whether the referent role supplier should be the ideal supplier, best supplier, or best‐in‐strategic‐group supplier in the focal supply base. We illustrate a unifying approach by reporting results from a large buyer and 35 of its key suppliers. This research makes the case for managing supplier relationships through the dyadic performance lens. The outputs from this framework provide individual supplier improvement paths which are actionable prescriptions for each buyer–supplier dyad, as well as recommendations for strategic group formation.
An Empirical Examination of the Structural Dimensions of the Service Recovery System*
Authors: Smith Jeffery S. , Karwan Kirk R. , Markland Robert E. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTThis study identifies the structural dimensions that constitute a service recovery system. We employ a structured scale development process to introduce, define, and operationalize seven distinct first‐order constructs (i.e., structural dimensions) of service recovery. Potential constructs and their items are identified from the literature, experts and practitioners are employed to refine scales, and psychometric properties are tested using data from a sample of 158 service providers. Constructs such as those developed here should prove to be useful as researchers strive to incorporate operational notions into service recovery studies and to move toward systematic recovery prescriptions for service providers. Accordingly, the results presented herein can provide a springboard for future research on service recovery while also providing practicing managers with a diagnostic tool against which to benchmark existing recovery systems.
A systematic review of studies validating the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in antepartum and postpartum women
Authors: Gibson J. , McKenzie‐McHarg K. , Shakespeare J. , Price J. , Gray R. 
Published: March 2009

Objective:  The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the most widely used screening tool for postpartum depression (PPD). We systematically reviewed the published evidence on its validity in detecting PPD and antepartum depression (APD) up to July 2008.Method:  Systematic review of validation studies of the EPDS included 1987–2008. Cut‐off points of 9/10 for possible PPD, 12/13 for probable PPD and 14/15 for APD were used.Results:  Thirty‐seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Sensitivity and specificity of cut‐off points showed marked heterogeneity between different studies. Sensitivity results ranged from 34 to 100% and specificity from 44 to 100%. Positive likelihood ratios ranged from 1.61 to 78.Conclusion:  Heterogeneity among study findings may be due to differences in study methodology, language and diagnostic interview/criteria used. Therefore, the results of different studies may not be directly comparable and the EPDS may not be an equally valid screening tool across all settings and contexts.
Clinical and radiographic comparison of implants in regenerated or native bone: 5‐year results
Authors: Benić Goran I. , Jung Ronald E. , Siegenthaler David W. , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPurpose:The aim of this study was to test whether or not implants associated with bone regeneration show the same survival and success rates as implants placed in native bone in patients requiring both forms of therapy.Material and methods:Thirty‐four patients (median age of 60.3 years, range 18–77.7 years) had been treated 5 years before the follow‐up examination. Machined screw‐type implants were inserted following one of two surgical procedures: (1) simultaneously with a guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedure, which involved grafting with xenogenic bone substitute material, autogenous bone or a mixture of the two and defect covering with a bio‐absorbable collagen membrane (test) and (2) standard implantation procedure without bone regeneration (control). For data recording, one test and one control implant from each patient were assessed. Examination included measurements of plaque control record (PCR), probing pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP), width of keratinized mucosa (KM), frequency of situations with supra‐mucosal location of the crown margin, implant survival assessment and radiographic examination. Radiographs were digitized to assess the marginal bone level (MBL). Differences between groups were tested using the one‐samplet‐test. The estimation of survival rate was based on Kaplan–Meier analysis.Results:The follow‐up period of the 34 GBR and 34 control implants ranged from 49 to 70 months (median time 57 months). Cumulative survival rates reached 100% for the GBR group and 94.1% for the control group without statistical significance. No statistically significant differences for clinical and radiographic parameters were found between the two groups regarding PCR, BOP, PPD, KM and MBL.Conclusion:The present study showed that, clinically, implants placed with concomitant bone regeneration did not performed differently from implants placed into native bone with respect to implant survival, marginal bone height and peri‐implant soft tissue parameters.
Radiographic evaluation of marginal bone levels adjacent to parallel‐screw cylinder machined‐neck implants and rough‐surfaced microthreaded implants using digitized panoramic radiographs
Authors: Nickenig Hans‐Joachim , Wichmann Manfred , Schlegel Karl Andreas , Nkenke Emeka , Eitner Stephan 
Published: March 2009

AbstractObjective: The purpose of this split‐mouth study was to compare macro‐ and microstructure implant surfaces at the marginal bone level during a stress‐free healing period and under functional loading.Material and methods: From January to February 2006, 133 implants (70 rough‐surfaced microthreaded implants and 63 machined‐neck implants) were inserted in the mandible of 34 patients with Kennedy Class I residual dentitions and followed until February 2008. The marginal bone level was radiographically determined, using digitized panoramic radiographs, at four time points: at implant placement (baseline level), after the healing period, after 6 months of functional loading, and at the end of follow‐up.Results: The median follow‐up time was 1.9 (range: 1.9–2.1) years. The machined‐neck group had a mean crestal bone loss of 0.5 mm (range: 0–2.3) after the healing period, 0.8 mm after 6 months (range: 0–2.4), and 1.1 mm (range: 0–3) at the end of follow‐up. The rough‐surfaced microthreaded implant group had a mean bone loss of 0.1 mm (range: −0.4–2) after the healing period, 0.4 mm (range: 0–2.1) after 6 months, and 0.5 mm (range: 0–2.1) at the end of follow‐up. The two implant types showed significant differences in marginal bone levels (healing period: P=0.01; end of follow‐up: P<0.01).Conclusions: Radiographic evaluation of marginal bone levels adjacent to machined‐neck or rough‐surfaced microthreaded implants showed that implants with the microthreaded design caused minimal changes in crestal bone levels during healing (stress‐free) and under functional loading.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Changes in Endometrial Natural Killer Cell Expression of CD94, CD158a and CD158b are Associated with Infertility
Authors: McGrath Emma , Ryan Elizabeth J. , Lynch Lydia , Golden‐Mason Lucy , Mooney Eoghan , Eogan Maeve , O’Herlihy Colm , O’Farrelly Cliona 
Published: March 2009

Problem  Cycle‐dependent fluctuations in natural killer (NK) cell populations in endometrium and circulation may differ, contributing to unexplained infertility.Method of study  NK cell phenotypes were determined by flow cytometry in endometrial biopsies and matched blood samples.Results  While circulating and endometrial T cell populations remained constant throughout the menstrual cycle in fertile and infertile women, circulating NK cells in infertile women increased during the secretory phase. However, increased expression of CD94, CD158b (secretory phase), and CD158a (proliferative phase) by endometrial NK cells from infertile women was observed. These changes were not reflected in the circulation.Conclusion  In infertile women, changes in circulating NK cell percentages are found exclusively during the secretory phase and not in endometrium; cycle‐related changes in NK receptor expression are observed only in infertile endometrium. While having exciting implications for understanding NK cell function in fertility, our data emphasize the difficulty in attaching diagnostic or prognostic significance to NK cell analyses in individual patients.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Endometrial Osteopontin mRNA Expression and Plasma Osteopontin Levels are Increased in Patients with Endometriosis
Authors: Cho SiHyun , Ahn Young Sun , Choi Young Sik , Seo Seok Kyo , Nam Anna , Kim Hye Yeon , Kim Jae‐Hoon , Park Ki Hyun , Cho Dong Jae , Lee Byung Seok 
Published: March 2009

Problem  The aim of this study was to evaluate osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression in eutopic endometrium and plasma OPN levels in patients with endometriosis.Method of study  A total of 79 patients with histologically confirmed endometriosis and 43 patients without endometriosis participated in this study. OPN mRNA expression in endometrial tissues was measured by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and plasma concentrations of OPN were quantified using a specific commercial sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).Results  Osteopontin mRNA expression in endometrial tissue was significantly higher in women with endometriosis than in controls (P = 0.010). The mean plasma levels of OPN (mean ± S.E.M.) in patients with endometriosis and controls were 407.31 ± 37.80 ng/mL and 165.84 ± 19.29 ng/mL, respectively (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for plasma OPN revealed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.894, with a sensitivity of 93.0%, specificity of 72.4%, positive likelihood ratio of 3.37, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.1 using a cut‐off value of 167.68 ng/mL.Conclusion  Osteopontin may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and plasma OPN may be a useful non‐invasive marker for the diagnosis of endometriosis.
SHORT COMMUNICATION: Interleukin‐17 Increased Progesterone Secretion by JEG‐3 Human Choriocarcinoma Cells
Authors: Pongcharoen Sutatip , Supalap Kwansuda 
Published: March 2009

Problem  JEG‐3 choriocarcinoma cell line has previously been reported to express a receptor for interleukin (IL)‐17. The involvement of IL‐17 in the production of progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin by placental trophoblast has not been investigated.Method of study  The present study investigated the in vitro effect of IL‐17 on progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) secretion by JEG‐3 cells. Both hormones were quantified using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays.Results  The results showed that IL‐17 significantly increased progesterone secretion at 6 (P < 0.001) and 24 (P < 0.01) hr, while this cytokine had no effect on hCG secretion.Conclusion  Interleukin‐17 may regulate the function of JEG‐3 cells through increased progesterone secretion.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Regulation of Nod1 and Nod2 in First Trimester Trophoblast Cells
Authors: Mulla Melissa J. , Yu Andrew G. , Cardenas Ingrid , Guller Seth , Panda Britta , Abrahams Vikki M. 
Published: March 2009

Problem:  The cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptors, Nod1 and Nod2, are thought to be important for detecting intracellular bacteria. We have previously reported that first trimester trophoblast cells express Nod1 and Nod2, and that trophoblast Nod2 activation triggers an inflammatory response. The objectives of this study were to characterize the effects of Nod1 stimulation, and to determine the regulation of Nod1 and Nod2, in the trophoblast.Method of Study:  The effect of Nod1 activation on trophoblast cells was determined by analyzing the cytokine response following treatment with γ‐D‐glutamyl‐meso‐diaminopimelic acid (iE‐DAP). The regulation of Nod1 and Nod2 expression by trophoblast cells was evaluated by RT‐PCR.Results:  Treatment of trophoblast cells with iE‐DAP significantly increased their production of cytokines and chemokines. In addition, Nod1 and Nod2 mRNA expression was upregulated following treatment of trophoblast cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and this was significantly reduced by the presence of a NFκB inhibitor and a TLR4‐dominant negative (DN).Conclusion:  This study demonstrates that LPS, through TLR4, increases trophoblast expression of Nod1 and Nod2 via the NFκB pathway; and that Nod1 is functional in the trophoblast. These findings suggest that extracellular recognition of bacterial LPS by TLR4 may prime the trophoblast in preparation for its cytoplasmic recognition of, and response to, bacterial peptides through the Nod proteins.