bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of neurological and medical complications on 3‐month outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke
Authors: Hong K.‐S. , Kang D.‐W. , Koo J.‐S. , Yu K.‐H. , Han M.‐K. , Cho Y.‐J. , Park J.‐M. , Bae H.‐J. , Lee B.‐C. 
Published: October 2008

Objective:  To evaluate the impact of neurological and medical complications on 3‐month outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke patients.Methods:  We prospectively investigated complications for all the consecutive acute ischaemic stroke patients admitted within 7 days from onset in four university hospitals during a 1‐year period. Baseline data and 3‐month outcomes were collected. Poor outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score 3–6.Results:  A total of 1 254 patients were recruited: 264 (21.1%) and 303 (24.2%) patients experienced one or more neurological and medical complications, respectively. The most common complications were ischaemic stroke progression (17.1%) and pneumonia (12.0%). Of 1 233 patients with available 3‐month outcomes, 34.9% had a poor outcome. Multivariate analysis revealed that neurological (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval; 5.47, 3.63–8.24) and medical (3.47, 2.30–5.23) complications were independent predictors of the poor outcome. For the individual complications, ischaemic stroke progression (7.48, 4.73–11.84), symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation (3.57, 1.33–9.54), pneumonia (4.44, 2.20–8.99), extracranial bleeding (4.45, 1.88–10.53), and urinary tract infection (2.72, 1.32–5.60) were independently associated with the poor outcome.Conclusion:  Outcome after ischaemic stroke is adversely influenced by complications, especially ischaemic stroke progression, symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation, pneumonia, extracranial bleeding, and urinary tract infection. Interventions to prevent those complications might improve ischaemic stroke outcome.
The Economic Effects of the EU Budget: A VAR Analysis*
Authors: ASDRUBALI PIERFEDERICO , KIM SOYOUNG 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis article analyses the allocation, redistribution and stabilization role of the EU budget from 1976 to 2001. We use impulse responses from VAR models to infer the dynamic effect of a country's GNP on its disposable income – defined as GNP plus net EU budget transfers – both in the short run (stabilization) and in the long run (redistribution). In addition, we measure the allocation role of net budget transfers through their ‘dynamic multiplier’ effect on a country's GNP, circumventing the difficult task of estimating allocation via costs and benefits of trade flows. By disaggregating our data by sub‐period and by budget component, we discover how diverse the above effects can be in different decades, for different budget programmes and for different Member States. Finally, our framework allows us to establish some additional stylized facts that help derive relevant economic relations and useful policy conclusions.
US Outward Foreign Direct Investment in the European Union and the Implementation of the Single Market: Empirical Evidence from a Cohesive Framework
Authors: FILIPPAIOS FRAGKISKOS , PAPANASTASSIOU MARINA 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn this article we investigate the determinants of US outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the European Union for the period 1982–2002. The data set allowed us to discern differences in the pattern of US FDI between EU core and EU periphery countries, as well as over different time periods during the last two decades. The results indicate that the US FDI pattern varies among different groups of countries and that there was a restructuring in multinational firms' investment activity after the implementation of the single market plan. Agglomeration factors, market size, qualified and productive labour and cost efficiency of local production seem to dominate in the location choice of US investors.
Institutional Stimulation of Deliberative Decision‐Making: Division of Labour, Deliberative Legitimacy and Technical Regulation in the European Single Market
Authors: GEHRING THOMAS , KERLER MICHAEL 
Published: October 2008

AbstractInstitutions stimulate deliberative decision‐making if they hinder stakeholders from introducing bargaining power into the decision process. This article explores the conditions for, and limits of, the creation of deliberative legitimacy in single market regulation. An assessment of the standardization procedure demonstrates that legitimacy arises only from the combination of political and technical deliberation.
Regional Deals and the Global Imperative: The External Dimension of the European Union Savings Tax Directive
Authors: SHARMAN J.C. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis article examines how an internal deal to tax non‐resident EU savings came to depend on the co‐operation of non‐member jurisdictions. These efforts were both motivated and sabotaged by a policy narrative asserting that increased capital mobility poses a new global imperative for national and regional policy‐making.
Opposing Integration on Matters of Social and Normative Preferences: A New Dimension of Political Contestation in the EU
Authors: LECONTE CECILE 
Published: October 2008

AbstractWith the enlargement of the EU agenda, an increasing number of actors contest the legitimacy of EU‐level decisions in policy areas where ethical preferences are at stake. This discourse, which is articulated by mainstream political parties and civil society actors, represents a new type of political contestation in the Union.
The marine phycotoxin gymnodimine targets muscular and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes with high affinity
Authors: Kharrat Riadh , Servent Denis , Girard Emmanuelle , Ouanounou Gilles , Amar Muriel , Marrouchi Riadh , Benoit Evelyne , Molgó Jordi 
Published: October 2008

AbstractGymnodimines (GYMs) are phycotoxins exhibiting unusual structural features including a spirocyclic imine ring system and a trisubstituted tetrahydrofuran embedded within a 16‐membered macrocycle. The toxic potential and the mechanism of action of GYM‐A, highly purified from contaminated clams, have been assessed. GYM‐A in isolated mouse phrenic hemidiaphragm preparations produced a concentration‐ and time‐dependent block of twitch responses evoked by nerve stimulation, without affecting directly elicited muscle twitches, suggesting that it may block the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine (ACh) receptor (nAChR). This was confirmed by the blockade of miniature endplate potentials and the recording of subthreshold endplate potentials in GYM‐A paralyzed frog and mouse isolated neuromuscular preparations. Patch‐clamp recordings inXenopusskeletal myocytes revealed that nicotinic currents evoked by constant iontophoretical ACh pulses were blocked by GYM‐A in a reversible manner. GYM‐A also blocked, in a voltage‐independent manner, homomeric human α7 nAChR expressed inXenopusoocytes. Competition‐binding assays confirmed that GYM‐A is a powerful ligand interacting with muscle‐type nAChR, heteropentameric α3β2, α4β2, and chimeric α7‐5HT3neuronal nAChRs. Our data show for the first time that GYM‐A broadly targets nAChRs with high affinity explaining the basis of its neurotoxicity, and also pave the way for designing specific tests for accurate GYM‐A detection in shellfish samples.
Role of methionine 35 in the intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis dysregulation and Ca2+‐dependent apoptosis induced by amyloid β‐peptide in human neuroblastoma IMR32 cells
Authors: Piacentini Roberto , Ripoli Cristian , Leone Lucia , Misiti Francesco , Clementi Maria Elisabetta , D’Ascenzo Marcello , Giardina Bruno , Azzena Gian Battista , Grassi Claudio 
Published: October 2008

AbstractAmyloid β‐peptide (Aβ) plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. We recently reported that the redox state of the methionine residue in position 35 of amyloid β‐peptide (Aβ) 1–42 (Met35) strongly affects the peptide’s ability to trigger apoptosis and is thus a major determinant of its neurotoxicity. Dysregulation of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis resulting in the activation of pro‐apoptotic pathways has been proposed as a mechanism underlying Aβ toxicity. Therefore, we investigated correlations between the Met35 redox state, Aβ toxicity, and altered intracellular Ca2+ signaling in human neuroblastoma IMR32 cells. Cells incubated for 6–24 h with 10 μM Aβ1–42 exhibited significantly increased KCl‐induced Ca2+ transient amplitudes and resting free Ca2+ concentrations. Nifedipine‐sensitive Ca2+ current densities and Cav1 channel expression were markedly enhanced by Aβ1–42. None of these effects were observed when cells were exposed to Aβ containing oxidized Met35 (Aβ1–42Met35‐Ox). Cell pre‐treatment with the intracellular Ca2+ chelator 1,2‐bis(2‐aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N’,N’‐tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester (1 μM) or the Cav1 channel blocker nifedipine (5 μM) significantly attenuated Aβ1–42‐induced apoptosis but had no effect on Aβ1–42Met35‐Ox toxicity. Collectively, these data suggest that reduced Met35 plays a critical role in Aβ1–42 toxicity by rendering the peptide capable of disrupting intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and thereby provoking apoptotic cell death.
The Relationship Between Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and Obesity
Authors: Hannerz Jan , Ericson Kaj 
Published: October 2008

Objective.— Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is usually considered to result from deficient intracranial absorption of cerebrospinal fluid, but has also been suggested to be caused by decreased cranial venous flow because of increased intrathoracic pressure resulting from intra‐abdominal obesity. To test this hypothesis, cerebrospinal fluid pressure (Pcsf), extracranial venous pressure (Pvf), intracranial venous pressure, and body mass index (BMI) were studied in patients with IIH with papilledema compared with patients with chronic tension‐type headache (CTTH).Design and Subjects.— The Pcsf and the pressures in frontal veins without (Pvf) and with bilateral compression of the supraorbital branch of the frontal veins and the superficial facial veins (Pvfc), the latter considered to be about equal to Pvfc, were studied in 10 consecutive patients with IIH with papilledema. Ten consecutive CTTH patients were used for controls. Orbital phlebography was performed to confirm that the compression of facial veins other than the frontal veins resulted in adequate communication between the frontal vein used for the studies and the cavernous sinus.Results.— Cerebrospinal fluid pressure was between 200 and 250 mm water in 5 of the CTTH patients and above 350 mm water in all IIH patients.Body mass index was >25 in all CTTH patients and similar in the 2 groups.Cerebrospinal fluid pressure was similar to Pvfc in all 10 CTTH patients but significantly greater in 6 of the 10 IIH patients. Pvf was similar in the 2 groups and related to BMI.Conclusions.— Chronic tension‐type headache patients may be prone to have Pcsf > 200 mm water and BMI > 25. Papilledema because of intracranial hypertension occurred in the present study at Pcsf > 350 mm water. The findings of Pvfc and Pcsf being similar in all CTTH patients support the suggestion that the techniques used for measuring intracranial venous pressure are adequate. The findings of similar BMI in the CTTH and the IIH patients who differed significantly as to Pcsf refute the hypothesis that obesity precedes, and is the cause of, intracranial hypertension in IIH. The difference between Pcsf and Pvfc in 6 of the IIH patients also does not support such a hypothesis but may indicate that IIH is due to deficient intracranial cerebrospinal fluid absorption.Since a relationship between intracranial hypertension and obesity is established and obesity is not found to cause intracranial hypertension in IIH, intracranial hypertension may be suggested to be the primary cause of weight increase in IIH. Obesity, however, may secondarily increase the preexistent IIH.
Clinical Relevance of Efficacy Endpoints in OTC Headache Trials
Authors: Pageler Lutz , Diener Hans‐Christoph , Pfaffenrath Volker , Peil Hubertus , Aicher Bernhard 
Published: October 2008

Objective.—This analysis evaluates and ranks efficacy endpoints often used in headache trials concerning their clinical relevance in relation to the patient‐related criterion “global assessment of overall efficacy” based on data gained in a large trial investigating different over‐the‐counter drugs in the treatment of headache.Background.—The original study showed a significant superiority of the fixed combination of acetylsalicylic acid+ paracetamol+caffeine over the combination without caffeine, the single preparations, and placebo in the treatment of headache.Methods.—For 1734 patients included in the efficacy analysis we investigated the correlation of patient's global efficacy assessment with the endpoints “time to 50% pain relief” (primary endpoint), “time to be pain‐free,” pain intensity difference, sum of pain intensity difference, and extent of impairment of daily activities. Patients recorded pain intensity on a visual analog scale. Efficacy, tolerability, and extent of impairment of daily activity were assessed on verbal rating scales. A logistic regression, proportional odds model was adapted to the time to event data.Results.—The highest correlation with patient's global efficacy assessment was demonstrated for the primary endpoint time to 50% pain relief (r = 0.6727) and the sum of pain intensity difference (r = 0.7037). The frequency distribution of patient's global efficacy assessment depended primarily on the time to 50% pain relief and similarly, but to a somewhat lesser extent, on the reduction of pain intensity to 10 mm as assessed on the visual analog scale. More than 86% of the patients assessed efficacy as very good or good when their pain was reduced by 50% at least within 1 hour after drug intake. The patients accept a longer time span than 2 hours for reaching no pain to give a positive global evaluation of efficacy.Conclusions.—The time to 50% pain relief proved to be the best predictor for the global assessment of efficacy by the patient and is a useful endpoint for a univariate analysis.
Family History for Chronic Headache and Drug Overuse as a Risk Factor for Headache Chronification
Authors: Cevoli Sabina , Sancisi Elisa , Grimaldi Daniela , Pierangeli Giulia , Zanigni Stefano , Nicodemo Marianna , Cortelli Pietro , Montagna Pasquale 
Published: October 2008

Objectives.— To assess whether family history for chronic headache (CH) and drug overuse could represent a risk factor for headache chronification.Background.— Among factors investigated as risk factors for chronification of headache disorders, familial liability for CH and drug overuse has been rarely investigated.Patients and Methods.— A total of 105 consecutive patients with daily or nearly daily headache, and 102 consecutive patients with episodic headache matched by age, sex, and type of headache at onset, underwent a structured direct interview about family history for episodic headache, CH with and without medication overuse, substance abuse/dependence, and psychiatric disorders.Results.— In total, 80 out of 105 patients with CH received a diagnosis of medication overuse headache (MOH), 21 patients were classified as chronic migraine (CM), and 4 as chronic tension‐type headache (CTTH) without drug overuse. Some 38.1% of CH patients reported family history for CH vs only 13.7% of episodic headaches (P = .001). Familiality for CH with medication overuse was reported by 25.7% of cases vs 9.8% of controls (P = .0028). A familial history of substance abuse was reported by 20% of patients vs 5.9% of controls (P = .0026). In all, 28.7% of MOH patients reported family history for CH with medication overuse (P = .0014) and 21.2% for substance abuse (P = .002). Relatives of patients with MOH were more likely than control relatives to suffer from CH (OR = 4.19 [95% CI 2.05‐8.53]), drug overuse (OR = 3.7 [95% CI 1.66‐8.24]), and substance abuse (OR = 4.3 [95% CI 1.65‐11.19]). No differences regarding family history for episodic headache and for psychiatric disorders were found. No differences in family history for CH with drugs overuse and for substance abuse were found between CH patients without overuse and controls. Fifteen CH patients reported family history for alcohol abuse (P = .0003).Conclusions.— The significantly increased familial risk for CH, drug overuse, and substance abuse suggests that a genetic factor is involved in the process of headache chronification.
Persistent Trigeminal Artery Causing “Double” Neurovascular Conflict
Authors: Clerici Angelo Maurizio , Merlo Paola , Rognone Felice , Noce Monica , Rognone Elisa , Bono Giorgio 
Published: October 2008

We report the case of a 73‐year‐old woman who presented with right VI nerve palsy and homolateral atypical trigeminal neuralgia; standard neuroradiological investigation of orbital/retroorbital regions and intracranial arteries excluded the most commonly demonstrable underlying causes while brain magnetic resonance (T1‐weighted fat suppression; T2‐weighted thin‐section) and magnetic resonance angiography disclosed the evidence of “double” neurovascular conflict because of persistent trigeminal artery with aneurysmal dilation.A role of this almost rare vascular condition in causing painful ophthalmoplegia is discussed.
Migraine in Adolescents: Validation of a Screening Questionnaire
Authors: Valentinis Luca , Valent Francesca , Mucchiut Marco , Barbone Fabio , Bergonzi Paolo , Zanchin Giorgio 
Published: October 2008

Background.— Few studies in adolescents deal with the level of agreement between questionnaire and interview information in relation to headache symptoms.Objective.— To evaluate the validity of a self‐administered questionnaire on headache for use in epidemiological studies of Italian high school students.Methods.— The questionnaire incorporated all items required for diagnosing migraine according to the criteria from the 2004 International Classification of Headache Disorders. The migraine diagnoses obtained from questionnaires were validated against the gold standard diagnoses by a headache specialist.Results.— Out of 104 students answering the questionnaires, 93 (89.4%) participated in extensive semi‐structured interviews by a neurologist. The chance‐corrected agreement rate (kappa) was 0.66, which is considered good. The questionnaire‐based migraine diagnosis had a sensitivity of 67.3%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 73.3%.Conclusions.— The results indicate that our self‐administered questionnaire may be an acceptable instrument in determining the prevalence of migraine sufferers in the northeast Italy adolescent population, useful in identifying subjects with “definite” migraine.
The Presentation of Headache in Neuro‐Behçet's Disease: A Case‐Series
Authors: Kale Nilufer , Agaoglu Jale , Icen Murat , Yazici Isil , Tanik Osman 
Published: October 2008

Introduction.— Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing, multisystemic, inflammatory disorder with unknown etiology. Neurological involvement is observed in about 5% of the patients with BD and headache is a frequently reported symptom with or without neurological involvement. In this case‐series, we aim to demonstrate the secondary headaches associated with neuro‐Behçet's disease in consecutive BD patients who had been referred for neurologic evaluation.Methods.— The case‐series included 17 patients (11 males [65%]), mean age 41 ± 11.4, who met the criteria for BD established by the International Study Group for BD and developed headache during the disease course.Results.— Seventeen BD patients were identified, the neurologic presentations included in parenchymal involvement 12 (70%), extraparenchymal involvement/venous thrombosis in 5 (30%), seizure disorder in 2 (12%), and psychiatric problems/depression or anxiety in 5 (30%) patients, respectively. The characteristics of the headache according to the patients' reports included subacute, moderate to severe headache with unilateral localization and throbbing quality accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and aggravation upon awakening.Conclusion.— Because neurological involvement is one of the most devastating aspects of BD, the need to treat neurological involvement as early as possible, the possible role of headache onset as an early indicator for neurological involvement in this relatively uncommon disease should be kept in mind.
Clinical Significance of Brush Allodynia in Emergency Patients With Migraine
Authors: Friedman Benjamin , Bijur Polly , Greenwald Peter , Lipton Richard , Gallagher E. John 
Published: October 2008

Background.— Cutaneous brush allodynia may be a practical and readily assessable marker of progression of an acute migraine attack. We determined the relative frequency of this finding in emergency department (ED) patients with acute migraine and tested the hypothesis that the presence of cutaneous brush allodynia prior to initial treatment in the ED could predict poor 2‐hour and 24‐hour pain intensity outcomes.Methods.— As part of a multicenter ED‐based clinical trial testing the benefit of dexamethasone vs placebo for the adjuvant parenteral treatment of acute migraine, cutaneous brush allodynia was assessed prior to treatment using an established methodology. In addition to dexamethasone or placebo, all patients received intravenous metoclopramide + diphenhydramine as primary treatment for their migraine. Pain intensity outcomes were assessed in the ED 2 hours after medication administration and again by telephone 24 hours after medication administration.Results.— An assessment of cutaneous brush allodynia was performed in 182 migraineurs from 3 different EDs, of whom 26 (14%, 95% CI: 10‐20%) had cutaneous brush allodynia. A pain‐free state within 2 hours of medication administration was achieved by 46% of the allodynic patients and by 47% of the nonallodynic patients (P = .91). Median headache intensity over the 24 hours after ED discharge, as measured on a pain intensity scale from zero to 10, was 3 in the allodynic patients and 3 in the nonallodynic patients (P = .23).Conclusions.— Cutaneous brush allodynia is an uncommon finding in the ED, occurring in fewer than 1 in 5 migraineurs. It does not seem to have prognostic relevance for the ED‐based management of the acute migraine attack.
Response of Cluster Headache to Kudzu
Authors: Sewell R. Andrew 
Published: October 2008

Objective.— To describe the self‐treatment of cluster headache with kudzu.Background.— Many cluster headache patients take over‐the‐counter (OTC) kudzu extract in the belief that it helps their cluster attacks. Kudzu's actual efficacy has not been studied.Methods.— A database of cluster headache patients was questioned about their use of various alternative remedies to treat their cluster headache. Of 235 patients identified, 16 had used kudzu, consented to interviews, and provided medical records.Results.— In total, 11 (69%) experienced decreased intensity of attacks, 9 (56%) decreased frequency, and 5 (31%) decreased duration, with minimal side effects.Conclusion.— Anecdotal evidence suggests that a component in OTC products labeled as kudzu may prove useful in managing cluster headache. This hypothesis should be tested with a randomized clinical trial.
Industry Signals Relayed by Corporate Earnings Restatements
Authors: Akhigbe Aigbe , Madura Jeff 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis study finds that downward earnings restatements are associated with negative industry valuation effects. These effects are more pronounced when the valuation effects and the change in earnings of the firm restating its earnings are worse, when the restatement is initiated for reasons other than fraud, when the bubble was bursting, and when the restatement is subsequent to the publicity regarding Enron's fraud. The negative industry effects are more pronounced in industries that have a higher level of accruals and intangible assets, weaker sales growth, and a higher degree of stock volatility.