bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of operative complications related to laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
Authors: Tozawa Keiichi , Hashimoto Yoshihiro , Yasui Takahiro , Itoh Yasunori , Nagata Daisuke , Akita Hidetoshi , Kawai Noriyasu , Hayashi Yutaro , Kohri Kenjiro 
Published: February 2008

Objectives:  In this decade, there have emerged many alternatives for the therapy of localized prostate cancer, such as brachytherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, and retropubic radical prostatectomy. In this retrospective study, we reviewed cases of complications related to laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) from our institution only, and we evaluated whether this procedure was minimally invasive or not.Methods:  Between August 2000 and December 2006, a total of 160 patients in our institution underwent LRP as the definitive treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer. We analyzed not only the complications but also the operative time and blood loss to clarify the indications of LRP.Results:  Major complications were defined as those requiring surgical intervention including laparoscopic repair. A total of nine major complications (5.63%) occurred in six patients (3.75%). In a Cox regression analysis, the estimated blood loss (P = 0.0069) and neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (P = 0.0019) were significant predictors of long operative time (>6 h) of LRP.Conclusion:  The indication of LRP in this study was localized prostate cancer at the T1 or T2 stage for which neoadjuvant hormonal therapy had not been administered. We concluded that the operative and postoperative morbidities of LRP are low and that LRP can be routinely carried out by an experienced team.
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutation associated with a congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens
Authors: Sakamoto Hideo , Yajima Takatoshi , Suzuki Kohta , Ogawa Yoshio 
Published: February 2008

Abstract:  Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene mutations associated with cystic fibrosis have been reported to be rare in Japanese patients with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD).A 28‐year‐old Japanese male was referred for infertility. Vas deferens and epididymis were not palpable bilaterally. Semen analyses showed azoospermia with volumes below 2.0 ml. Serum follicle‐stimulating hormone value was slightly elevated. Seminal fructose concentration was also very low. Scrotal ultrasonography showed absence of the bodies and tails of the right and left epididymides. Imaging studies showed cystic dysplasia of the right seminal vesicle and agenesis of the left seminal vesicle. A CFTR gene mutation of I556V was found.Recent studies show that prevalence of CFTR gene mutation in Japanese CBAVD patients may be approximately equal to that of the Caucasian population. Genetic counselling may be recommended for any couple attempting assisted reproduction technology when the man has CBAVD.
GluR3 subunit regulates sleep, breathing and seizure generation
Authors: Steenland Hendrik W. , Kim Susan S. , Zhuo Min 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe functional role of GluR3 AMPA (α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid) receptor subunits has remained elusive. In vitro studies of genetic knockout mice have not yielded significant alterations in synaptic communication. However, behavioural approaches utilizing knockout mice have shown that the subunit may be involved in exploration and motor coordination, suggesting that in vivo methodologies may be more forthcoming. We tested the hypothesis that GluR3 subunits are involved in the modulation of neural network activity. We used a freely behaving mouse model to examine the effect of GluR3–/– on field potential recordings of electroencephalogram, vital functions (i.e. breathing and heart rate) and muscle tone across natural sleep and wakefulness states. We found that GluR3–/– mice virtually lack electroencephalographic signatures of NREM sleep (n = 9) as demonstrated by reduction in electroencephalogram power in the low‐frequency bands (δ1, δ2 and θ). In addition, three of nine GluR3–/– mice expressed seizure activity during wakefulness and sleep, suggesting that deletion of the GluR3 gene may predispose to seizure. GluR3 gene knockout also produced state‐dependent respiratory modulation, with a selective reduction in breathing rate during behavioural inactivity. These findings show that GluR3 subunits have diverse neurophysiological impact, modulating oscillatory networks for sleep, breathing and seizure generation. Finally, this is the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of direct diaphragm electromyogram recordings in freely behaving mice.
Amplitude modulation of oscillatory activity in the subthalamic nucleus during movement
Authors: Androulidakis Alexandros G. , Brücke Christof , Kempf Florian , Kupsch Andreas , Aziz Tipu , Ashkan Keyoumars , Kühn Andrea A. , Brown Peter 
Published: February 2008

AbstractDepth recordings in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have demonstrated exaggerated local field potential (LFP) activity at frequencies between 10 and 30 Hz in the subthalamic nucleus (STN). This activity is modulated prior to single phasic movements, possibly as part of the feedforward organization of incipient voluntary movement, and after single phasic movements, as a consequence of afferent feedback processes. Here we test the hypothesis that this activity is also modulated during repetitive movements, reflecting a role in ongoing performance. Accordingly, we recorded LFP activity from the contralateral STN of seven patients with PD withdrawn from anti‐parkinsonian medication while they performed repetitive index finger to thumb taps. Cross‐correlograms of LFP activity at different frequencies in the 10–30 Hz band with finger position showed that LFP activity was modulated in amplitude by finger tapping. The modulation was higher at the beginning of each recording when tapping performance was better, and diminished as tapping became more bradykinetic over time. The best modulations were seen over those frequencies that were maximal in the power spectrum of the corresponding LFP, and for a given side were most marked at the contact pair that exhibited the highest power at these frequencies. In conclusion, subthalamic activity in the 10–30‐Hz band is amplitude modulated during movement. This process fails as bradykinesia increases.
1‐Hz repetitive TMS over ipsilateral motor cortex influences the performance of sequential finger movements of different complexity
Authors: Avanzino Laura , Bove Marco , Trompetto Carlo , Tacchino Andrea , Ogliastro Carla , Abbruzzese Giovanni 
Published: February 2008

AbstractTo elucidate the role of ipsilateral motor cortex (M1) in the control of unilateral finger movements (UFMs) in humans we used a conditioning protocol of 1‐Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (1‐Hz rTMS) over M1 in 11 right‐handed healthy subjects. We analysed the effects of conditioning rTMS on UFMs of different complexity (simple vs sequential finger movements), and performed with a different modality (internally vs externally paced movements). UFMs were monitored with a sensor‐engineered glove, and a quantitative evaluation of the following parameters was performed: touch duration (TD); inter‐tapping interval (ITI); timing error (TE); and number of errors (NE). 1‐Hz rTMS over ipsilateral M1 was able to affect the performance of a sequence of finger opposition movements in a metronome‐paced condition, significantly increasing TD and reducing ITI without TE changes. The effects on motor behaviour had a different magnitude as a function of the sequence complexity. Further, we found a different effect of the ipsilateral 1‐Hz rTMS on externally paced movements with respect to an internally paced condition. All these findings indicate that ipsilateral M1 plays an important role in the execution of sequential UFMs. Interestingly, NE did not change in any experimental condition, suggesting that ipsilateral M1 influences only the temporal and not the spatial accuracy of UFMs. Finally, the duration (up to 30 min) of 1‐Hz rTMS effects on ipsilateral M1 can indicate its direct action on the mechanisms of cortical plasticity, suggesting that rTMS can be used to modulate the communication between the two hemispheres in rehabilitative protocols.
Differences in height explain gender differences in the response to the oral glucose tolerance test— the AusDiab study
Authors: Sicree R. A. , Zimmet P. Z. , Dunstan D. W. , Cameron A. J. , Welborn T. A. , Shaw J. E. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAim  To determine the extent of gender‐related differences in the prevalence of glucose intolerance for the Australian population and whether body size may explain such differences.Methods  Cross‐sectional data were collected from a national cohort of 11 247 Australians aged ≥ 25 years. Glucose tolerance status was assessed according to both fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2‐h plasma glucose (2hPG) levels following a 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Anthropometric and glycated haemoglobin measurements were also made.Results  Undiagnosed diabetes and non‐diabetic glucose abnormalities were more prevalent among men than women when based only on the FPG results (diabetes: men 2.2%, women 1.6%, P = 0.02; impaired fasting glycaemia: men 12.3%, women 6.6%, P < 0.001). In contrast 16.0% of women and 13.0% of men had a 2hPG abnormality (either diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, P = 0.14). Women had a mean FPG 0.3 mmol/l lower than men (P < 0.001), but 2hPG 0.3 mmol/l higher (P = 0.002) and FPG‐2hPG increment 0.5 mmol/l greater (P < 0.001). The gender difference in mean 2hPG and FPG‐2hPG increment disappeared following adjustment for height. For both genders, those in the shortest height quartile had 2hPG levels 0.5 mmol/l higher than the tallest quartile, but height showed almost no relationship with the FPG.Conclusions  Men and women had different glycaemic profiles; women had higher mean 2hPG levels, despite lower fasting levels. It appeared that the higher 2hPG levels for women related to lesser height and may be a consequence of using a fixed glucose load in the OGTT, irrespective of body size.
Determinants of adiponectin levels in young people with Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Barnes M. M. , Curran‐Everett D. , Hamman R. F. , Maahs D. , Mayer‐Davis E. J. , D’Agostino R. B. , West N. , Dabelea D. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAims  To determine whether adiponectin levels are higher in youth with Type 1 diabetes than in non‐diabetic controls, and explore potential determinants for this difference.Methods  Data are from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Case‐Control Study. A total of 440 youth with Type 1 diabetes and 191 non‐diabetic healthy controls age 10–22 years of non‐Hispanic White (NHW), African‐American (AA) and Hispanic (H) origin were included in this analysis. Mean adiponectin levels were compared between persons with diabetes and controls within each racial/ethnic group, sequentially adjusting for the following variables: demographic (age, sex, Tanner stage), kidney function (albumin: creatinin ratio: ACR), obesity (body mass index: BMI; waist circumference), behavioral (percent calories from fat, physical activity), and glucose control (hemoglobin A1c: HbA1c).Results  Mean adiponectin levels, adjusted for age, sex and Tanner stage, were higher in persons with Type 1 diabetes than in control subjects, among NHW (17.6 vs 13.0 µg/ml, P < 0.001) and H (17.2 vs 13.0, P = 0.01), and slightly higher but not significantly so among AA (14.5 vs 12.6, P = 0.1). The differences persisted after additionally adjusting for differences in ACR, BMI and waist circumference. We found a positive relationship between adiponectin and HbA1c in youth with Type 1 diabetes, even after adjustment for age, sex and race/ethnicity.Conclusions  Adiponectin is higher in an ethnically diverse group of youth with Type 1 diabetes than in control subjects. The relationship between glycemic control and adiponectin in Type 1 diabetes requires further exploration.
The mechanisms that underlie glucose sensing during hypoglycaemia in diabetes
Authors: McCrimmon R. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractHypoglycaemia is a frequent and greatly feared side‐effect of insulin therapy, and a major obstacle to achieving near‐normal glucose control. This review will focus on the more recent developments in our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie the sensing of hypoglycaemia in both non‐diabetic and diabetic individuals, and how this mechanism becomes impaired over time. The research focus of my own laboratory and many others is directed by three principal questions. Where does the body sense a falling glucose? How does the body detect a falling glucose? And why does this mechanism fail in Type 1 diabetes? Hypoglycaemia is sensed by specialized neurons found in the brain and periphery, and of these the ventromedial hypothalamus appears to play a major role. Neurons that react to fluctuations in glucose use mechanisms very similar to those that operate in pancreatic B‐ and A‐cells, in particular in their use of glucokinase and the KATP channel as key steps through which the metabolic signal is translated into altered neuronal firing rates. During hypoglycaemia, glucose‐inhibited (GI) neurons may be regulated by the activity of AMP‐activated protein kinase. This sensing mechanism is disturbed by recurrent hypoglycaemia, such that counter‐regulatory defence responses are triggered at a lower glucose level. Why this should occur is not yet known, but it may involve increased metabolism or fuel delivery to glucose‐sensing neurons or alterations in the mechanisms that regulate the stress response.
Investigating the determinants and age and gender differences in the acceptance of mobile learning
Authors: Wang Yi‐Shun , Wu Ming‐Cheng , Wang Hsiu‐Yuan 
Published: February 2008

AbstractWith the proliferation of mobile computing technology, mobile learning (m‐learning) will play a vital role in the rapidly growing electronic learning market. M‐learning is the delivery of learning to students anytime and anywhere through the use of wireless Internet and mobile devices. However, acceptance of m‐learning by individuals is critical to the successful implementation of m‐learning systems. Thus, there is a need to research the factors that affect user intention to use m‐learning. Based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), which integrates elements across eight models of information technology use, this study was to investigate the determinants of m‐learning acceptance and to discover if there exist either age or gender differences in the acceptance of m‐learning, or both. Data collected from 330 respondents in Taiwan were tested against the research model using the structural equation modelling approach. The results indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, perceived playfulness, and self‐management of learning were all significant determinants of behavioural intention to use m‐learning. We also found that age differences moderate the effects of effort expectancy and social influence on m‐learning use intention, and that gender differences moderate the effects of social influence and self‐management of learning on m‐learning use intention. These findings provide several important implications for m‐learning acceptance, in terms of both research and practice.
‘Southern‐style’ National Health Services? Recent Reforms and Trends in Spain and Greece
Authors: Petmesidou Maria , Guillén Ana M. 
Published: February 2008

Abstract This article analyses recent changes in the Greek and Spanish national health services. The aim is to assess how the period of austerity and further recovery during the 1990s and early 2000s impacted on them in terms of equity and efficiency. This is of interest because of the closeness in time between the universalizing reform laws and the arrival of the conditions for economic convergence established in the Maastricht Treaty. The analysis is also attractive because it deals with the transformation of already mature health insurance systems into national health services, a transformation that is novel in European welfare history. The article addresses the questions of whether austerity has hindered full implementation of the reform laws enacted in the early to mid‐1980s, examining reform trajectories and financing and expenditure trends. Furthermore, it considers the impact on access, understood in terms of population coverage, the array of services provided, waiting lists, and territorial inequalities. Finally, it discusses the introduction of new managerial formulas and attempts at enhancing efficiency. The concluding section states that divergent trajectories have occurred, thus rendering the definition of a ‘Southern model of health care’ difficult. It also provides explanations of the trajectories followed in both national cases and informs on prospects for the future.
Gender Pay Differentials in Portugal: Contributions to the Employment Policy Debate in the European Union
Authors: González Pilar , Santos Luis Delfim , Santos Maria Clementina 
Published: February 2008

Abstract Since the implementation of the European Employment Strategy in the 1990s, the issue of gender gaps in the European Union labour markets has been granted a high profile. The Portuguese labour market has performed well on various indicators relating to gender equality, namely, participation and employment rates. Nevertheless, a persistent pay gap remains despite the recent evolution of the labour market, especially concerning the average education level of workers. This article investigates the main factors explaining the gender pay gap across two decades and the way those factors perform along time. We also discuss the means of closing the gap in the context of the European Employment Strategy, considering the lessons from other member states. We used wage decomposition techniques to analyse the relative importance of differences in the productive characteristics of workers, differences in the way men and women are distributed among jobs and the relative importance of discrimination practices. Our findings suggest that most of the pay gap is due to discrimination practices. Individual action by economic agents is insufficient to solve the persistent pay gap. Social partners must incorporate this issue within collective bargaining in order to construct an adequate strategy for reducing the gap, which can only be done by engaging men and women, employees and employers.
Activation and Local Welfare in Italy: Trends and Issues
Authors: Bifulco Lavinia , Bricocoli Massimo , Monteleone Raffaele 
Published: February 2008

Abstract This article deals with the development of local welfare in Italy and is grounded on a research project focusing on activation as a main feature of change in Italian social policies. Along with decentralization processes, many Italian regions have been acting as policy laboratories, developing and testing very different approaches according to their political attitude. On the one hand this results in a fragmented policy landscape which is difficult to recompose, and, moreover, in growing inequalities in the Italian welfare system. On the other hand, it opens opportunities for experimentation on institutional and organizational structures on a regional scale, creating a variety of practices for research and policy analysis. In the article we first describe the main trends in national social policies, with a specific focus on the dynamics of change referring to activation. We will then focus on a pilot programme which is aiming at the promotion and implementation of innovative practices in health and social care services in Friuli‐Venezia Giulia, a region in which there is a significant orientation towards enhancing social citizenship and enforcing the central position of the public actor. We investigate how the dynamics of territorialization and personalization, implied by the programme, trigger specific logics and practices of activation. Finally, referring to this case study, we propose an analytical overview of some relevant issues in the development of ‘local active welfare’ in Italy.
On the Existence and Uniqueness of Pure‐Strategy Nash Equilibrium in Asymmetric Rent‐Seeking Contests
Authors: YAMAZAKI TAKESHI 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThere can be three types of heterogeneity among players in a rent‐seeking contest. First, effectiveness of player's effort on the winning probabilities may differ among players. Secondly, players may evaluate the rent or prize of the rent‐seeking contest differently. Thirdly, players may face different financial constraints. This article proves under standard assumptions in the literature that there exists a unique pure‐strategy Nash equilibrium in a general asymmetric rent‐seeking contest with these three types of heterogeneity among players.
Effects of Changes in Incomes and Practice Circumstances on Physicians' Decisions to Treat Charity and Medicaid Patients
Authors: CUNNINGHAM PETER J. , HADLEY JACK 
Published: February 2008

Context: The decline over the past decade in the percentage of physicians providing care to charity and Medicaid patients has been attributed to both financial pressure and the changing practice environment. Policymakers should be concerned about these trends, since private physicians are a major source of medical care for low‐income persons. This study examines how changes in physicians' practice income, ownership, and size affect their decisions to stop or start treating charity care and Medicaid patients. Methods: This study uses panel data from four rounds of the Community Tracking Study Physician Survey. The dependent variables are the likelihood of physicians' (1) dropping charity care, (2) starting to provide charity care, (3) no longer accepting new Medicaid patients, and (4) starting to accept new Medicaid patients. The primary independent variables are changes in physicians' practice income, ownership, and practice type/size. Multivariate analysis controls for the effects of other physician practice characteristics, health policies, and health care market factors. Findings: A decline in physicians' income increased the likelihood that a physician would stop accepting new Medicaid patients but had no effect on his or her decision to provide charity care. Those physicians who switched from being owners to employees or from small to larger practices were more likely to drop charity care and to start accepting Medicaid patients, and physicians who made the opposite practice changes did the reverse. Conclusions: Changes in their income and practice arrangements make physicians less willing to accept Medicaid and uninsured patients. Moreover, physicians moving into different practice arrangements treat charity and Medicaid patients as substitutes rather than as similar types of patients. To reverse these trends, policymakers should consider raising Medicaid reimbursement rates and subsidizing organizations that encourage private physicians to provide charity care.