bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome due to arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Unek Ilkay Tugba , Birlik Merih , Cavdar Caner , Ersoy Rifki , Onen Fatos , Celik Ali , Camsari Taner 
Published: October 2005

AbstractA patient with end‐stage renal disease presented with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) on her left hand 1 month after arteriovenous fistula (AVF) surgery. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed steal syndrome at the AVF level. Bone scintigraphy revealed early‐stage RSDS. We considered that arterial insufficiency because of steal phenomenon following AVF surgery and underlying occlusive arterial disease triggered RSDS development.
The morbidity and cost implications of hemodialysis clinical performance measures
Authors: O'Connor Andrew S , Wish Jay B , Sehgal Ashwini R 
Published: October 2005

AbstractClinical performance measures, including dialysis dose, hemoglobin, albumin, and vascular access, are the focus of monitoring and quality improvement activities. However, little is known about the implications of clinical performance measures for hospital utilization and health care costs. We obtained clinical performance measures and hospitalization records for a national random sample of 10,650 hemodialysis patients and analyzed the relationship between changes in clinical performance measures and hospital utilization after adjustment for patient demographic and medical characteristics.Higher hemoglobin, higher albumin, and fistula or graft use were independently associated with fewer hospitalizations, fewer hospital days, and decreased Medicare inpatient reimbursement. For example, a 0.5 g/dL higher hemoglobin, a 0.25 g/dL higher albumin, fistula use, and graft use were associated with hospitalization rate ratios of 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.85, 0.96), 0.64 (0.53, 0.77), 0.60 (0.52, 0.69), and 0.79 (0.71, 0.89), respectively. Moreover, there was a 2–3‐fold variation in hospital utilization across end‐stage renal disease networks that was still evident after adjustment for patient characteristics and clinical performance measures. Clinical performance measures, especially albumin and vascular access, are strongly associated with hospital utilization and health care costs. These results highlight the importance of targeting nutrition and vascular access in quality improvement efforts. The marked variation in hospital utilization across networks deserves further examination.
Prevalence of transfusion‐transmitted virus infection in patients on maintenance hemodialysis from New Delhi, India
Authors: Chattopadhyay Saket , Rao Sunita , Das Bhudeb Chandra , Singh Narinder Pratap , Kar Premashis 
Published: October 2005

AbstractTransfusion‐transmitted virus (TTV) has been reported from a number of hemodialysis (HD) units from various countries throughout the world. TTV has been associated with liver diseases, viral hepatitis B, and C. Clinical details and information regarding TTV prevalence from India are insufficient. The prevalence and clinical significance of TTV infection were studied in New Delhi, India in HD patients. Serum samples were derived from 75 patients on maintenance HD, and 75 age‐ and sex‐matched voluntary blood donors were examined for TTV viremia by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers derived from UTR (A) region of the TTV genome. The prevalence of TTV DNA in patients on HD (83%) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than in blood donors (43%). Clinical background including the mean age, sex, mean duration of HD, and mean alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels did not differ significantly between TTV DNA‐positive and ‐negative HD patients. Fifty‐four (72%) TTV‐positive HD patients and 7 (56%) TTV‐negative HD patients had blood transfusion histories (p>0.05). Among TTV‐positive patients, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) co‐infection was present in 14.2% cases while hepatitis C virus (HCV) co‐infection was absent. Persistent elevation of ALT levels was observed in 7(9.3%) HD patients; 3 (43%) of them were TTV positive and 4 (57%) were TTV negative (p>0.05). All 3 TTV‐positive patients with elevated ALT levels were co‐infected with HBV. Patients with TTV infection alone showed normal ALT levels. Prevalence of TTV infection is high in North Indian patients on maintenance HD. Also, none of the exclusively TTV DNA‐positive patients had clinical or biochemical signs of liver disease. TTV seems to spread through parenteral routes. More often, TTV seems to be associated with parenterally transmitted virus HBV, indicating a parenteral mode of TTV transmission. The pathogenicity of TTV remains unclear from the present study.
Hyperphosphatemia among end‐stage renal disease patients in developing countries: A forgotten issue?
Authors: Afifi Adel , El‐Sayed Hesham , El‐Setouhi Maged , Ahmed Hayam , Khalifa Noha 
Published: October 2005

AbstractThe prevalence of hyperphosphatemia and increased calcium–phosphorus product has never been evaluated in a large multicenter study in a developing country. Our aim is to study the prevalence of hyperphosphatemia in 38 HD centers in Egypt (as an example of a developing country) and to correlate it with different co‐morbid conditions and the patient's demographic data. This is a cross‐sectional study conducted on 1005 chronic kidney disease stage 5 patients (CKD‐stage 5) on HD for a period of more than 1 year in 38 dialysis centers in Egypt. All patients were receiving calcium‐based salts as a phosphate binder. Hyperphosphatemia and increased calcium–phosphorus product were evaluated and correlated with different parameters including age, sex, knowledge by diet parameters, HD session duration, the frequency of HD per week, the type of dialysis membrane, the surface area of the dialyzer, dialyzer phosphorus clearance (phosphorus KoA), and the type of dialysate. Other co‐morbid medical conditions and evidence of IHD were also investigated. Hyperphosphatemia was present in 69.1% of cases and a high calcium–phosphorus product was present in 30.2%. A higher calcium–phosphorus product was found among males. 83.2% of those with a poor knowledge by diet parameters had hyperphosphatemia compared with 67.6% in patients with a satisfactory knowledge by diet parameters. 72.3% of patients using a membrane with low‐to‐medium clearance had hyperphosphatemia, compared with 67.2% using a membrane with a high clearance. Seventy‐two percent of patients with IHD were hyperphosphatemic compared with 67.6% of the non‐ischemic patients. Hyperphosphatemia is a major problem in dialysis patients in developing countries, reflecting differences from developed countries regarding dietary habits, ethnic factors, dialysis quality, types of dialysis membranes, as well as economic factors hampering the use of the more expensive phosphate binders. Extended dialysis hours may be a good alternative solution in developing countries.
Role of platelet factor 4–heparin complex antibody (HIT antibody) in the pathogenesis of thrombotic episodes in patients on hemodialysis
Authors: Nakamoto Hidetomo , Shimada Yoshihiro , Kanno Tatsuhiko , Wanaka Keiko , Matsuo Takefumi , Suzuki Hiromichi 
Published: October 2005

AbstractHeparin‐induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a severe complication in patients on hemodialysis (HD). It has been reported that platelet factor‐4 (PF‐4)–heparin complex antibody (HIT antibody) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this serious complication. In the present study, we investigated the role of HIT antibody in the pathogenesis of thrombotic complications including shunt failure, cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and atherosclerosis in patients on dialysis. Plasma concentration of HIT antibody in patients on HD was 0.143±0.008 (n=105). This was significantly higher in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD: 0.087±0.006, p=0.0008, n=22) and in non‐dialysis patients (0.113±0.011, p=0.0011, n=12). There was a significant negative correlation between HIT antibody and the duration of dialysis. However, no significant correlation was found between HIT antibody and other factors including age, dose of heparin, platelet count and hemoglobin. There was a significant correlation between the number of failed arteriovenous fistula and HIT antibody levels. In addition, in patients with a history of CVD, plasma concentrations of HIT antibody were significantly higher compared with patients without CVD (CVD(+): 0.200±0.029 vs. (−): 0.127±0.005, p<0.0001). It is possible that genetic factors may also play a role in the expression of HIT antibody. From these data, it appears possible that HIT antibody plays an important role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis in patients on HD. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of HIT antibody in the pathogenesis of thrombotic episodes in these patients.
Inhibitory effect of PPAR‐Gamma activator on IL‐6 and mPGES protein expression in PBMC induced by homocysteine
Authors: Peng Youming , Liu Hong , Liu Fuyou , Wang Haitao , Liu Yinghong , Duan Shaobin 
Published: October 2005

AbstractThe objective was to investigate the relationship between homocysteine (HCY), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPAR)‐γ and the expression of interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES) by peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture in vitro, as well as to look at the intervention with HCY and PPAR‐γ activators (troglitazone and rosiglitazone). PBMC were isolated from venous blood of normal volunteers and incubated with HCY and PPAR‐γ activator of varying concentrations for 24 hr. The supernatant of the culture medium was collected in order to determine the IL‐6 and mPGES levels by ELISA assay. The results show that the expression of IL‐6 and mPGES in the HCY experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). Additionally, the IL‐6 and mPGES levels rose with the increase of HCY in a dose‐dependent manner (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). PPAR‐γ activator could significantly inhibit the increase of IL‐6 and mPGES induced by 100 μmol/L HCY (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively). In conclusion, HCY can increase the expression of IL‐6 and mPGES, while PPAR‐γ activator can inhibit the increase of IL‐6 and mPGES induced by HCY.
Biochemical and imaging alterations of renal bone disease in newly detected predialysis and on maintenance dialysis patients
Authors: Mokarram Hossain Rana , Masud Iqbal Md , Enamul Hoque Md , Habibur Rahman Md , Ur Rashid Harun 
Published: October 2005

AbstractSkeletal involvement in chronic kidney disease manifests long before the initiation of dialysis. This study aimed at identifying the extent of renal bone disease among predialysis and on maintenance dialysis patients. Thirty‐two patients (Group 1) on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) for a variable period of time were compared with 20 newly detected irregularly treated advanced renal failure (immediately predialysis), patients (Group 2) for their clinical, biochemical and imaging features. The mean age of Group 1 and Group 2 patients was 45±14 vs. 34±15 years (p<0.05). Comparison of blood biochemistries between Groups 1 and 2 showed serum creatinine 9.9±2.9 vs. 13.4±4.4 mg/dL (p<0.01); calcium 10.1±1.8 vs. 7.8±1.2 mg/dL (p<0.001); phosphate 4.4±1.2 vs. 7.9±2.1 mg/dL (p<0.001); alkaline phosphatase 116.4±31.7 vs. 85.7±30.6 IU/L (p<0.05); and parathormone 71.7±48.2 vs. 146.9±92.1 pg/mL (p<0.05). Radiological changes present in the 2 groups were as follows: osteopenia 63% vs. 65% (ns); trabecular resorption 53% vs. 20% (p<0.05); soft tissue calcification 31% vs. 10% (p<0.05); bone cysts 16% vs. 26% (ns); and subperiosteal bone resorption 16% vs. 20% (ns). Technetium 99 methylene diphosphonate (Tc‐99 MDP) bone scans in both groups of patients showed similar increased uptake in wrist joint, tibia–fibula, costochondral junction, vertebral column, sternum, radius–ulna and mandible. X‐ray findings were positive for bone involvement in 59% of cases, and Tc‐99 scan was positive in 80% (p<0.05). It is concluded that newly detected, irregularly treated patients with advanced renal failure who are predialysis may present with deranged calcium homeostasis and a high prevalence of bone involvement similar to MHD patients.
Immunomodulating effects of vitamin D analogs in hemodialysis patients
Authors: Seibert Eric , Levin Nathan W , Kuhlmann Martin K 
Published: October 2005

AbstractApart from its well‐known functions in calcium homeostasis and parathyroid hormone regulation, 1,25‐(OH)2D3 and its synthetic analogs are being increasingly recognized for their potent antiproliferative, pro‐differentiative and immunomodulating activities. The effects of these drugs are exerted either via vitamin D receptor‐dependent genomic, or cell‐surface receptor‐mediated, non‐genomic pathways. Several vitamin D analogs with fewer hypercalcemic side effects have been developed for use in secondary hyperparathyroidism. These analogs may potentially improve treatment of autoimmune disorders and graft rejection, and in dialysis patients may open a new opportunity for amelioration of the chronic inflammatory status. It has recently been shown that hemodialysis (HD) patients treated with paricalcitol have lower total and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity rates and experience improved hospitalization outcomes compared with HD patients treated with calcitriol, suggesting a potential beneficial effect in chronic inflammation and the development of cardiovascular disease. Specific studies on the immunomodulating effects of vitamin D are needed in the HD population.
Impacts of prices and transactions costs on input usage in a liberalizing economy: evidence from Tanzanian coffee growers
Authors: Winter‐Nelson Alex , Temu Anna 
Published: October 2005

AbstractDespite improvements in production incentives, agricultural output in Africa remained sluggish through the 1990s. Low use of purchased inputs may be part of the cause of persistently low productivity in African agriculture. This article analyzes the roles of relative prices and transactions costs in explaining low use of chemical inputs among Tanzanian coffee growers. A sample selection model indicates that output prices exert great influence on input purchases and that both fixed and variable transactions costs affect input use decisions. Travel costs in input and output markets have distinct effects on input usage, implying distinct avenues for interventions to promote more intensive use of agricultural inputs.
Modeling weekly Canary tomato exports
Authors: Rodríguez Gloria Martín , Hernández José Juan Cáceres 
Published: October 2005

AbstractThe European tomato market is characterized by a constant process of dynamic adjustment towards equilibrium. Furthermore, Canary Island tomato exports cause a high seasonal impact on market prices in the winter period. In these circumstances, an adequate distribution of weekly shipments throughout the year could contribute to maximize producers' profits. Moreover, Canary export levels show some degree of instability, clearly related to the changes in the EU trade rules and there is a long period, in the summer, without exports. The aim of this article is to analyze the long‐term movements and, particularly, the seasonal pattern of Canary Island tomato exports throughout the last two decades. To observe more clearly the exporter's decisions, weekly data have been used. The instabilities in the long‐term behavior of the series and the specific nature of the seasonal pattern should be taken into account, to capture the performance of exports accurately. Thus, this analysis is carried out using the structural approach to time series analysis, and the usefulness of spline functions as a tool capable of modeling seasonal variations for which the period does not remain the same over time is shown.
Hired labor use decisions in cassava‐producing households of sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Enete Anselm A. , Nweke Felix I. , Tollens Eric 
Published: October 2005

AbstractSub‐Saharan Africa is the only developing region of the world where agricultural output has been trailing population growth for most of the last three decades. Farming systems in the region are inherently risky because they are fundamentally dependent on the vagaries of weather. In addition, it is a region of crises; poverty, civil strife, and HIV/AIDS. Attention must therefore be focused on improving the production of crops that could thrive under these circumstances. Because of its tolerance of extreme drought and low input use conditions, cassava is perhaps the best candidate in this regard. And cassava is a basic food staple and a major source of farm income for the people of the region. The use of hired labor is important for its production growth because cassava root yield responds positively to the application of hired labor. This article, based on farm‐level information collected from six major cassava‐producing countries of Africa, within the framework of the Collaborative Study of Cassava in Africa, identifies strategic variables affecting the hired labor use decisions of producing households. The characteristics of the household head (age and number of years of formal education), the size of the household farm, good market access, and population pressure are found to motivate households to apply hired labor in cassava production. These observations underscore the need for investing in people—education—and in infrastructure—market access—as possible tools for improving food production in the region. The positive effect of farm size also suggests that some kind of land reform, which would put more farmland at the disposal of farm households, could be favorable to improving cassava production.
Effects of subsidies in Russian dairy farming
Authors: Bezlepkina Irina V. , Lansink Alfons G. J. M. Oude , Oskam Arie J. 
Published: October 2005

AbstractThis study develops a microeconometric model of specialized dairy farms in the Moscow region using panel data over the period 1995–2001. The model is used to analyze the role of subsidies on profit as well as input and output allocation. Theoretical conditions for short‐term profit maximization are not rejected by the data. Differences between farms allow for a fixed‐effect specification. The dairy producers in the region demonstrate a low responsiveness to market signals, but technology change becomes important. Labor, land, and livestock had low shadow prices. Although subsidies have a distorting effect on the input–output mix, this study shows they relieve the credit constraints on dairy farms and have an important positive influence on farm profit.
How much of commodity price behavior can a rational expectations storage model explain?
Authors: Peterson Hikaru Hanawa , Tomek William G. 
Published: October 2005

AbstractA rational expectations competitive storage model was applied to the U.S. corn market, to assess the aptness of this framework in explaining monthly price behavior in an actual commodity market. Relative to previous models, extensive realism was added to the model, in terms of how production activities and storage costs are specified. By modeling convenience yield, “backwardation” in prices between crop years did not depend on the unrealistic assumption of zero ending stocks. Our model generated cash prices that were distributed with positive skewness and kurtosis, and mean and variance that increased over the storage season, comparable to the persistence and the occasional spikes observed in commodity prices. Futures prices were generated as conditional expectations of cash prices at contract maturity, and the variances of futures prices exhibited realistic time–to‐maturity and seasonal patterns. Model realizations of cash and futures prices over many “years” were used to demonstrate the wide variety of price behaviors that could be observed in an efficient market with a similar market structure, implying that economic and policy implications drawn from short, historical samples of prices could be misleading.
Lomé to Cotonou conventions: trade policy alternatives for the Senegalese groundnut sector
Authors: Bergtold Jason , Norton George , Brewster Charlene 
Published: October 2005

AbstractThe signing of the Cotonou Convention in June 2000 established a new trading relationship between the European Union and African, Caribbean, and Pacific States. Negotiations to establish new trading arrangements have already commenced and will lead to the establishment of economic partnership agreements or other viable alternatives. In this study, the economic impact on the Senegalese groundnut sector is assessed for the case in which Senegal enters into an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, or into an enhanced form of the Generalized System of Preferences. The preferred choice depends on whether Senegal's economic status classifies it as a least developed country (LDC) or not, as well as on other external trading arrangements. Findings indicate that as a non‐LDC, the best option for Senegal would be to enter into an economic partnership agreement. As a LDC, the best option would be to move to the enhanced generalized system of preferences, thereby allowing Senegal to retain Lomé‐style trade preferences. Furthermore, increased development funding under the Cotonou Convention could help shield the Senegalese groundnut sector from adverse economic impacts arising from either trading option.
Effects of management information from FADN on profitability of Dutch potted‐plant firms
Authors: Csajbok Ildiko , Oude Lansink Alfons , Huirne Ruud 
Published: October 2005

AbstractThe Dutch Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) provides managerial reports to participants of the network. This article analyzes the impact of this type of management information on the profitability of agricultural producers. A dual system of input demand and output supply equations is applied to measure the effect of management information. The approach is applied to a panel data set of Dutch potted‐plant firms over the period of 1975–1995. Management information provided by the FADN resulted in savings in materials and services and a more intensive use of energy. Shadow prices of structure, machinery, and labor increased as a result of management information. The results show that management information is more likely to have a positive effect on profitability of potted‐plant firms in the long run than in the short run. The results suggest that the availability of management information allows firms to operate on a larger scale in the long run.
Competition between farmed and wild salmon: the Japanese salmon market
Authors: Asche Frank , Guttormsen Atle G. , Sebulonsen Tom , Sissener Elin H. 
Published: October 2005

AbstractThis article examines the Japanese market for salmon. This market is of interest, since it is the largest and most diversified salmon market in the world with wild and farmed species, from Europe and South and North America, competing in the same market. In contrast to the European Union (EU)‐ and U.S.‐markets, there have been neither trade conflicts nor trade restrictions. The Japanese market can hence provide information about the impact of bringing substantial quantities of a new product into a market, and the effect of large‐scale aquaculture on traditional fisheries. In this article, market integration between wild and farmed salmon on the Japanese market is examined, using both bivariate and multivariate cointegration analysis. Tests for the Law of One Price are also conducted. The results indicate that the species are close substitutes on the market, and that the expansion of farmed salmon has resulted in price decreases for all salmon species.