bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modifiable risk factors remain significant causes of medium term mortality after first time Coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Kunadian Babu , Dunning Joel , Millner Russell W. J. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract

Background
Whilst there is much current data on early outcomes after Coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG), there is relatively little data on medium term outcomes in the current era. The purpose of this study is to present a single surgeon series comprising of all first time CABG patients operated on with the technique of cross clamp fibrillation from Feb-1996 to through to Jan-2003, and to seek risk factors for medium term mortality in these patients.

Methods
Data was collected from Hospital Episode Statistics and departmental patient administration and tracking systems and cross checked using database techniques. Patient outcomes were searched using the National Health Service strategic tracing service.

Results
Mean follow up was 5.3 years(0–9.4 years) and was complete for all patients. 30-day survival was 98.4%, 1-year survival 95% and 8-year survival 79%. Cox-regression analysis revealed that several modifiable pre-operative risk factors remain significant predictors of medium term mortality, including Diabetes(Hazard Ratio(HR) 1.73, 95%CI 1.21–2.45), Chromic obstructive pulmonary disease(HR 2.02, 95%CI 1.09–3.72), Peripheral vascular disease(HR 1.68, 95%CI 1.13–2.5), Body mass index>30(HR 1.54, 95%CI 1.08–2.20) and current smoker at operation(HR 1.67, 95%CI 1.03–2.72). However hypertension(HR 1.31, 95%CI 0.95–1.82) and Hypercholestrolaemia(HR 0.81, 95%CI 0.58–1.13) were not predictive which may reflect adequate post-operative control.

Conclusion
Coronary artery bypass surgery using cross clamp fibrillation is associated with a very low operative mortality. Medium term survival is also good but risk factors such as smoking at operation, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity and diabetes negatively impact this survival and should be aggressively treated in the years post-surgery.
Correlates of current cigarette smoking among in-school adolescents in the Kurdistan region of Iraq
Authors: Siziya Seter , Muula Adamson S , Rudatsikira Emmanuel 
Published: December 2007

Abstract

Background
Many adult cigarette smokers initiated the habit as adolescents. Adolescent tobacco use may be a marker of other unhealthy behaviours. There are limited data on the prevalence and correlates of cigarette smoking among in-school adolescents in Iraq. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of, and assess the socio-demographic correlates of current cigarette smoking among in-school adolescents in Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Methods
Secondary data analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, conducted in the region of Kurdistan, Iraq in 2006. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between current cigarette smoking and explanatory variables.

Results
One thousand nine hundred eighty-nine adolescents participated in the Kurdistan-Iraq Global Youth Tobacco Survey. Of these, 58.1% and 41.9% were boys and girls respectively. The overall prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 15.3%; 25.1% and 2.7% in boys and girls respectively. The factors associated with adolescent smoking were: parents' smoking, smoking in closest friends, male gender, having pocket money and perceptions that boys or girls who smoked were attractive.

Conclusion
We suggest that public health interventions aimed to curb adolescent cigarette smoking should be designed, implemented and evaluated with due recognition to the factors that are associated with the habit.
The proinflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-15 and IL-21 modulate the repertoire of mature human natural killer cell receptors
Authors: de Rham Casimir , Ferrari-Lacraz Sylvie , Jendly Sabrina , Schneiter Gregory , Dayer Jean-Michel , Villard Jean 
Published: December 2007

AbstractNatural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in the immune response to micro-organisms and tumours. Recent evidence suggests that NK cells also regulate the adaptive T-cell response and that it might be possible to exploit this ability to eliminate autoreactive T cells in autoimmune disease and alloreactive T cells in transplantation. Mature NK cells consist of a highly diverse population of cells that expresses different receptors to facilitate recognition of diseased cells and possibly pathogens themselves. Ex vivo culture of NK cells with cytokines such as IL-2 and IL-15 is an approach that permits significant expansion of the NK cell subpopulations, which are likely to have potent antitumour, antiviral, or immunomodulatory effects in autoimmunity. Our data indicate that the addition of IL-21 has a synergistic effect by increasing the numbers of NK cells on a large scale. IL-2 and IL-15 may induce the expression of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) in KIR-negative populations, the c-lectin receptor NKG2D and the natural cytotoxic receptor NKp44. The addition of IL-21 to IL-15 or IL-2 can modify the pattern of the KIR receptors and inhibit NKp44 expression by reducing the expression of the adaptor DAP-12. IL-21 also preserved the production of interferon-γ and enhanced the cytotoxic properties of NK cells. Our findings indicate that the proinflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-15 and IL-21 can modify the peripheral repertoire of NK cells. These properties may be used to endow subpopulations of NK cells with specific phenotypes, which may be used in ex vivo cellular immunotherapy strategies.
Combined Use of Clinical and Pathologic Staging Variables to Define Outcomes for Breast Cancer Patients Treated With Neoadjuvant Therapy
Authors: Jeruss Jacqueline S. , Mittendorf Elizabeth A. , Tucker Susan L. , Gonzalez-Angulo Ana M. , Buchholz Thomas A. , Sahin Aysegul A. , Cormier Janice N. , Buzdar Aman U. , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Hunt Kelly K. 
Published: December 2007

Purpose Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is being used with increasing frequency for operable breast cancer. We hypothesized that by using clinical and pathologic staging parameters, in conjunction with biologic tumor markers, a novel means of determining prognosis for patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy could be facilitated. Patients and Methods A prospective database of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy from 1997 to 2003 was reviewed, and 932 patients meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Clinical and pathologic tumor characteristics, treatment regimens, and patient outcomes were recorded. Cox proportional hazards models were used to create two prognostic scoring systems. American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) clinical and pathologic staging parameters and biologic tumor markers were investigated to devise the scoring systems. Results Median follow-up time was 5 years (range, 0.4 to 9.4 years). Five-year disease-specific survival rate was 96% for patients who experienced a pathologic complete response (pCR; n = 130) compared with 87% for patients who did not have a pCR (n = 802; P = .001). Two scoring systems, based on summing binary indicators for clinical substages ≥ IIB and ≥ IIIB, pathologic substages ≥ ypIIA and ≥ ypIIIC, negative estrogen receptor status, and grade 3 pathology, were devised to predict 5-year patient outcomes. These scoring systems facilitated separation of the study population into more refined subgroups by outcome than the current AJCC staging system. Conclusion The scoring systems derived in this work provide a novel means for evaluating prognosis after neoadjuvant therapy. Future work will focus on prospective validation of these scoring systems and refinement of the scoring systems through addition of new biologic markers.
Assessment of Children's Health-Related Quality of Life in the United States With a Multidimensional Index
Authors: Simon Alan E. , Chan Kitty S. , Forrest Christopher B. 
Published: December 2007

OBJECTIVE. Using nationally representative data, we examined biological, medical system, and sociodemographic factors that are associated with health-related quality of life as measured by a multidimensional index that accounts for a wide range of child health domains.METHODS. Children aged ≥6 years (N = 69031) were drawn from the 2003/2004 National Survey of Children's Health. A random 25% sample was used to create a 12-item index of health-related quality of life with a range of 0 to 100, based on the conceptual framework of the Child Health and Illness Profile. Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to identify the unadjusted and independent associations of key biological, medical system, and sociodemographic variables with health-related quality of life.RESULTS. The index mean was 72.3 (SD: 14.5), median value was 73.7, and range was 11.1 to 99.9. Only 0.2% of children had a score at the ceiling. In multivariable regression analysis, the following variables were independently associated with lower health-related quality of life: biological factors (greater disease burden, severe asthma, and overweight status); medical system factors (unmet medical needs, lack of a regular health care provider, Medicaid insurance, or being uninsured previously during the year); and sociodemographic factors (older age groups, lower family education, single-mother family, having a smoker in the household, black race, and poverty).CONCLUSIONS. Health-related quality of life in the United States is poorest for children and youth in lower socioeconomic status groups, those with access barriers, adolescents compared with children, and individuals with medical conditions. A multidimensional health-related quality-of-life index is an alternative to conventional measures (eg, mortality) for national monitoring of child health.
Prediction of Tread Pattern Wear by an Explicit Finite Element Model
Authors: Cho J. C. , Jung B. C. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Tread pattern wear is predicted by using an explicit finite element model (FEM) and compared with the indoor drum test results under a set of actual driving conditions. One pattern is used to determine the wear rate equation, which is composed of slip velocity and tangential stress under a single driving condition. Two other patterns with the same size (225/45ZR17) and profile are used to be simulated and compared with the indoor wear test results under the actual driving conditions. As a study on the rubber wear rate equation, trial wear rates are assumed by several constitutive equations and each trial wear rate is integrated along time to yield the total accumulated wear under a selected single cornering condition. The trial constitutive equations are defined by independently varying each exponent of slip velocity and tangential stress. The integrated results are compared with the indoor test results, and the best matching constitutive equation for wear is selected for the following wear simulation of two other patterns under actual driving conditions. Tens of thousands of driving conditions of a tire are categorized into a small number of simplified conditions by a suggested simplification procedure which considers the driving condition frequency and weighting function. Both of these simplified conditions and the original actual conditions are tested on the indoor drum test machines. The two results can be regarded to be in good agreement if the deviation that exists in the data is mainly due to the difference in the test velocity. Therefore, the simplification procedure is justified. By applying the selected wear rate equation and the simplified driving conditions to the explicit FEM simulation, the simulated wear results for the two patterns show good match with the actual indoor wear results.
Primary and secondary limb cellulitis in horses: 44 cases (2000–2006)
Authors: Adam Emma N. , Southwood Louise L. 
Published: December 2007

Abstract
Objective—To determine historical, physical, and microbiologic findings in horses with limb cellulitis and identify factors associated with short- and long-term outcome.
Design—Retrospective case series.
Animals—44 horses with limb cellulitis.
Procedures—Information obtained from medical records included use, history, affected limb, diagnostic procedures, treatment, and short-term outcome. Long-term follow-up information was obtained by means of a telephone survey.
Results—Twenty-four horses had primary cellulitis, and 18 of the 24 (75%) had a hind limb affected. Results of microbiologic culture were positive for all 20 horses with primary cellulitis from which specimens were obtained, with coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp recovered from 12 of the 20. Short-term survival rate was 67% (16/24) for horses with primary cellulitis; 7 of the 9 horses available for long-term follow-up were being used for their intended use, and 4 had had a recurrence. Results of microbiologic culture were positive for 13 of the 16 (81%) horses with secondary cellulitis from which specimens were obtained. Short-term survival rate for horses with secondary cellulitis was 90% (18/20). Eleven of the 17 horses available for long-term follow-up were being used for their intended use; 2 had had a recurrence.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that cellulitis can be a life-threatening condition in horses. Horses that were febrile at admission or that developed laminitis were significantly less likely to survive. The prognosis for return to function was guarded, and recurrence was a potential concern.
Die schönste falsche Theorie der Biochemie. Aus 4 mach' 20, oder 21, oder 22, oder ....
Authors: Roth Klaus 
Published: December 2007

AbstractDas Wettrennen bei der Entschlüsselung des genetischen Codes, also der Umwandlung eines mit vier verschiedenen Zeichen geschriebenen Endlostextes in einen aus 20 Zeichen, gipfelte schließlich in den brillanten kommafreien Code von Crick, Griffith und Orgel. Für manche war und ist es enttäuschend, dass Experimente zeigen, dass die Natur einen anderen, weniger elegant erscheinenden chemischen Weg einschlägt. Erst vor kurzem konnte gezeigt werden, dass der natürliche im Vergleich zu alternativen genetischen Codes viel fehlertoleranter ist. Die Natur strebt eben nicht nach Eleganz, Effizienz oder oberflächlicher Schönheit, sondern nach Zuverlässigkeit und erlaubt Änderungen mit der Chance zur Verbesserung durch Dazulernen.
Are the dysfunctional beliefs that predict worry different from those that predict obsessions?
Authors: Belloch Amparo , Morillo Carmen , García‐Soriano Gemma 
Published: December 2007

AbstractChronic worry present in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and obsessions characteristic of the Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are cognitive phenomena that share some features, but they also differ on others. Based on current cognitive approaches, dysfunctional meta‐cognitive beliefs underlie the development and/or maintenance of both GAD and OCD. However, to date, there has been little empirical evidence about the differences between the beliefs that predict the occurrence of obsessions and those that predict worry. This study focuses on the search for these differences and examines to what extent worry and obsessions are associated with a similar or different pattern of dysfunctional cognitive contents. One hundred and seventy‐five community subjects completed measures of worry and obsessional intrusive thoughts, as well as questionnaires assessing obsession‐related and worry‐related meta‐cognitive beliefs. Results showed that beliefs about uncontrollability and danger, as well as cognitive self‐consciousness, play a central role in predicting worry, whereas the beliefs concerning the importance of thoughts and Thought–Action Fusion probability are relevant in accounting for the frequency of obsessive intrusive thoughts. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bewehrungsanschlüsse mit nachträglich eingemörtelten Bewehrungsstäben
Authors: Feistel Georg 
Published: December 2007

AbstractAnschlüsse an bestehende Stahlbetonbauteile durch nachträglich eingemörtelte Bewehrungsstäbe kommen immer mehr zum Einsatz. Solche Bewehrungsanschlüsse können durch geeignete Injektionssysteme realisiert werden, wenn eine fachgerechte Verarbeitung auf der Baustelle erfolgt. Da für diese Anschlüsse keine allgemein anerkannten Bemessungsregeln in den Betonnormen DIN 1045 bzw. Eurocode 2 vorliegen, schreiben die Landesbauordnungen vor, dass die Anwendung über eine allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassung oder eine Zustimmung im Einzelfall zu regeln ist.Dieser Artikel informiert über die Grundlagen bei der Verwendung nachträglich eingemörtelter Bewehrungsstäbe.Es wird über die bestehenden allgemeinen bauaufsichtlichen Zulassungen für diesen Bereich berichtet und die erforderlichen Maßnahmen zur Qualifikation des Baustellenfachpersonals und der ausführenden Betriebe werden vorgestellt.Die Besonderheiten bei der Anwendung von solchen Systemen mit europäischer technischer Zulassung (ETA) werden dargestellt und es werden die Anwendungsregeln bei der Verwendung von Mörteln nach der europäischen Norm EN 1504‐6 zur Verankerung von Bewehrungsstäben erläutert.
Synthesis of Soluble and Size‐Controlled SnO2 and CeO2 Nanocrystals: Application of a General Concept for the Low‐Temperature, Hydrolytic Synthesis of Organically Capped Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Epifani Mauro , Arbiol Jordi , Andreu Teresa , Morante Joan R. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractMetal oxide (CeO2, SnO2) sols were prepared in such a way as to hinder the inorganic condensation reactions. Acetylacetone was added to cerium nitrate solutions before hydrolysis with ammonia solution, while solvolysis of anhydrous tin chloride with methanol was used for preparing SnO2 sols. The sols were then injected into dodecylamine at 160 °C, followed by heating at the resulting temperature for 1 h. A clear sol was obtained, from which the products were extracted by precipitation with methanol and dried. Analysis by X‐ray diffraction and TEM demonstrated the presence of CeO2 and SnO2 nanocrystals, whose size depended on the metal concentration in the starting sol, ranging from 2.6 to 3.5 nm for CeO2 and from 1 to 1.9 nm for SnO2. The nanocrystals were soluble after the synthesis and redispersable in organic solvents, forming stable suspensions. The process appears to be easily generalizable to systems having similar hydrolytic chemistry.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)
Determination of gentisin, isogentisin, and amarogentin in Gentiana lutea L. by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Citová Ivana , Ganzera Markus , Stuppner Hermann , Solich Petr 
Published: December 2007

AbstractA novel, fast, and simple capillary electrophoresis method has been developed for the analysis of gentisin, isogentisin, and amarogentin in roots of Gentiana lutea (yellow gentian), an herb traditionally used as gastric stimulant. Gentisin and isogentisin are xanthones showing potent inhibition of monoamine oxidase type A and B, amarogentin represents one of the bitter principles of Gentiana, responsible for its gastric‐roborant effects. Optimal CE‐separation conditions comprise a 100 mM sodium tetraborate buffer of pH 9.3, containing 10 mM β‐cyclodextrin as additive; optimum temperature and applied voltage were found to be 30°C and 25 kV, respectively. Direct diode array detection at 260 nm (gentisin, isogentisin) and 242 nm (amarogentin) was performed, and the required analysis time was only 11 min. The developed method was validated for linearity, sensitivity, precision, and accuracy, and utilized to assay several commercially available G. lutea samples. Quantitative data obtained with the developed CE method are compared with HPLC results, and the advantages of each approach are discussed.
Frontiers in population ecology of microtine rodents: A pluralistic approach to the study of population ecology
Authors: Stenseth Nils Chr , Saitoh Takashi , Yoccoz Nigel G. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractCurrent challenges for the study of population ecology of microtine rodents are reviewed. Comparisons with other taxonomic groups (other mammals, birds and insects) are given throughout. A major challenge is to link patterns and processes (i.e. mechanisms) better than is the case today. Other major challenges include the furthering of our understanding of the interaction between deterministic and stochastic processes, and as part thereof, the interaction between density‐dependent and density‐independent processes. The applicability of comparative studies on populations exhibiting different temporal dynamical patterns is, in this connection, emphasized. Understanding spatiotemporal dynamical patterns is another major challenge, not the least from a methodological point of view. Long‐term and large‐scale ecological data on population dynamics (in space and time) are critical for this purpose. Looking for consistency between hypothesized mechanisms and observed patterns is emphasized as a good platform for further empirical and theoretical work. The intellectual feedback process between different approaches to the study of microtine population ecology (observational studies, experimental manipulative studies, statistical modeling and mathematical modeling) are discussed. We recommend a pluralistic approach (involving both observational and experimental as well as theoretical studies) to the study of small rodent ecology.
The biology of the voleClethrionomys rufocanus: A review
Authors: Kaneko Yukibumi , Nakata Keisuke , Saitoh Takashi , Stenseth Nils Chr , Bjørnstad Ottar N. 
Published: December 2007

AbstractThe biology of the gray‐sided voleClethrionomys rufocanusin Hokkaido, concerning taxonomy, morphology, phylogeny, distribution, and natural history, is reviewed. Applied issues in forest management (damage, control and census) are also mentioned. AlthoughClethrionomys rufocanusof Hokkaido was originally identified as a distinct species,Evotomys(=nowClethrionomys) bedfordiaeThomas, 1905, current literature generally refers to the gray‐sided vole of Hokkaido asClethrionomys rufocanusor asC. rufocanus bedfordiae(vernacular name, the Bedford's red‐backed vole). The gray‐sided vole is the most common small mammal in Hokkaido. It inhabits open areas as well as forests, and mainly feeds on green plants. The gray‐sided vole has a high reproductive potential; litter size: 4–7; gestation period: 18–19 days; maturation age: 30–60 days old. Although spring‐born individuals usually attain sexual maturity in their summer/fall of birth, their maturation is sometimes suppressed under high densities. The breeding season is generally from April to October, but with some regional variation.Clethrionomys rufocanushas a rather specialized diet (folivorous), particularly during winter when it feeds on bamboo grass. Many predators specialize on the grey‐sided vole in Hokkaido; even the red fox, which is a typical generalist predator, selectively feeds on this vole. Damage by voles’ eating bark used to be sever on forest plantations in Hokkaido. Censuses of small rodents have been carried out for management purpose since 1954.
Social organization of the vole Clethrionomys rufocanus and its demographic and genetic consequences: A review
Authors: Ishibashi Yasuyuki , Saitoh Takashi , Kawata Masakado 
Published: December 2007

AbstractRecent findings on the relationship between social interaction and demographic process in the gray‐sided vole Clethrionomys rufocanus are reviewed with reference to the findings in other microtine rodents. Social behavior was particularly focused on spacing and dispersal, and their effects on population dynamics are discussed. Female territoriality can limit a population abundance as a density‐dependent factor, although its regulatory effect is controversial. Female philopatry and male‐biased dispersal should bring about the clumped distribution of female relatives and genetically random distribution of males during the breeding season. The sexual difference in dispersal patterns can contribute to the mating behavior of the vole; promiscuous mating and low frequency of incestuous mating. However, effects of social structure, including kinship, on reproduction and survival of individuals still remains to be clarified. Molecular markers may help to solve these issues and provide new field of population ecology in microtine rodents.