bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hemostatic Step‐by‐Step Procedure to Control Presacral Bleeding During Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision
Authors: D’Ambra Luigi , Berti Stefano , Bonfante Pierfrancesco , Bianchi Claudio , Gianquinto Daniela , Falco Emilio 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBackgroundA new procedure of hemostasis during laparoscopic total mesorectal excision is described.MethodsIn our surgical department, from January 2004 to December 2007, 128 patients underwent laparoscopic total mesorectal excision. Among them, 47 patients underwent laparoscopic anterior resection after preoperative radiotherapy, 68 patients underwent laparoscopic anterior resection without preoperative radiotherapy, and 13 patients underwent laparoscopic abdominal perineal amputation.ResultsIn seven laparoscopic rectal surgery cases, we encountered unstoppable presacral bleeding, not amenable by conventional hemostatic solutions. In these cases we applied a simple staging hemostatic procedure. We first performed local compression: tamponing with a small gauze or absorbable fabric hemostat. If bleeding did not stop, we localized an epiploic or omental scrap and excised it by using bipolar forceps and use it as a plug on the tip of a grasping forceps. This plug is then put on the bleeding source and monopolar coagulation is applied by electrified dissecting forceps through the interposed grasping forceps. If bleeding did not stop, we used a little scrap of bovine pericardium graft and tacked it to the bleeding site using endoscopic helicoidal protack.ConclusionsOur experience suggests that this hemostatic step‐by‐step procedure is a valid option to control persistent presacral hemorrhages.
Gender and Elections: An Examination of the 2006 Canadian Federal Election
Authors: Rekkas Marie 
Published: December 2008

Abstract. The existing literature on gender effects in the electoral process offers little evidence of significant gender vote share differentials. In this paper it is shown that for the 2006 Canadian federal election, once candidate campaign spending is introduced into the model with appropriate flexibility in the vote share responsiveness across genders, significant differences are found to exist between male and female candidates. The findings suggest that, for equal levels of spending, male incumbents have a vote share advantage relative to female incumbents, though this vote share advantage is found to diminish with increased expenditures. Female non-incumbent candidates, on the other hand, have a vote share advantage over male non-incumbent candidates for higher levels of expenditure and this advantage was found to increase with increased expenditures.Résumé. Les écrits traitant des effets du genre dans le processus électoral offrent peu de preuves d'un écart significatif dans le pourcentage des voix selon le genre. Cet article montrera que, dans le contexte des élections fédérales canadiennes de 2006, une fois que les dépenses de campagne des candidats sont introduites dans le modèle avec la flexibilité adéquate sur la réceptivité du pourcentage des voix selon les genres, on découvre que des différences significatives existent entre les candidats masculins et féminins. Le résultat des recherches montre que pour des dépenses équivalentes, les titulaires masculins ont un avantage sur le pourcentage des voix par rapport aux titulaires de sexe féminin bien qu'il s'avère que cet avantage diminue lorsque les dépenses augmentent. D'autre part, les candidates féminines non-titulaires ont un avantage sur le pourcentage des voix par rapport aux candidats masculins non-titulaires quand les dépenses sont plus élevées et cet avantage s'avère augmenter lorsque les dépenses augmentent.
Association between the food retail environment surrounding schools and overweight in Canadian youth
Authors: Seliske Laura M , Pickett William , Boyce William F , Janssen Ian 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIntroductionThere is growing interest in how the physical environment influences obesity. Few studies have considered how the food retail environment surrounding schools influences overweight in students.ObjectiveTo determine whether there is a relationship between food retailers surrounding schools and overweight among Canadian youth.DesignCross-sectional study.Setting/methods/subjectsThe number of food retailers was obtained within a 1 km and 5 km radius around 178 schools in Canada. Retailers included full-service restaurants, fast-food restaurants, sub/sandwich retailers, doughnut/coffee shops, convenience stores and grocery stores. An index of total food retailer exposure was also created. Multilevel analyses were used to control for individual- and area-level covariates.ResultsNone of the individual food retailers was associated with an increased likelihood of overweight. The total food retailer index was most strongly related to overweight, but in the opposite direction to that hypothesized. At 1 km, students attending schools with at least one food retailer had a lower relative odds of overweight (OR = 0·70, 95 % CI 0·61, 0·81). At 5 km, students attending schools with the highest exposure to the total food retailer index had a lower relative odds of overweight (OR = 0·56, 95 % CI 0·47, 0·68) compared with students attending schools with no exposure.ConclusionsExposure to various types of food retailers in school neighbourhoods was not associated with an increased likelihood of overweight in Canadian school-aged youth. The opportunity to make healthy choices from a variety of options and the unique Canadian context may explain the findings.
Ethnic variance in iron status: is it related to dietary intake?
Authors: Wall Clare R , Brunt Deborah R , Grant Cameron C 
Published: December 2008

AbstractObjectiveIn New Zealand (NZ), Fe deficiency (ID) is present in 14 % of children aged <2 years. Prevalence varies with ethnicity (NZ European 7 %, Pacific 17 %, Maori 20 %). We describe dietary Fe intake, how this varies with ethnicity and whether intake predicts Fe status.DesignA random sample of children aged 6–23 months. Usual Fe intake and dietary sources were estimated from 2 d weighed food records. Associations were determined between adequacy of Fe intake, as measured by the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), and ID.SubjectsSampling was stratified by ethnicity. Dietary and blood analysis data were available for 247 children.ResultsThe median daily Fe intake was 8·3 mg (age 6–11 months) and 6·3 mg (age 12–23 months). Breast milk and milk formulas (median 58 %; age 6–11 months), and cereals (41 %) and fruit and vegetables (17 %; age 12–23 months), were the predominant dietary sources of Fe. Fe intake was below the EAR for 25 % of the children. Not meeting the EAR increased the risk of ID for children aged 6–11 months (relative risk = 18·45, 95 % CI 3·24, 100·00) and 12–23 months (relative risk = 4·95, 95 % CI 1·59, 15·41). In comparison with NZ European, Pacific children had a greater daily Fe intake (P= 0·04) and obtained a larger proportion of Fe from meat and meat dishes (P= 0·02).ConclusionsA significant proportion of young NZ children have inadequate dietary Fe intake. This inadequate intake increases the risk of ID. Ethnic differences in Fe intake do not explain the increased risk of ID for Pacific children.
GROUPS AND SEMIGROUPS WITH A ONE-COUNTER WORD PROBLEM
Authors: HOLT DEREK F. , OWENS MATTHEW D. , THOMAS RICHARD M. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractWe prove that a finitely generated semigroup whose word problem is a one-counter language has a linear growth function. This provides us with a very strong restriction on the structure of such a semigroup, which, in particular, yields an elementary proof of a result of Herbst, that a group with a one-counter word problem is virtually cyclic. We prove also that the word problem of a group is an intersection of finitely many one-counter languages if and only if the group is virtually abelian.
RECOGNITION OF SMALL DIMENSIONAL REPRESENTATIONS OF GENERAL LINEAR GROUPS
Authors: MAGAARD KAY , O’BRIEN E. A. , SERESS ÁKOS 
Published: December 2008

AbstractLetGbe isomorphic to a groupHsatisfying SL(d,q)≤H≤GL(d,q) and letWbe an irreducibleFqG-module of dimension at mostd2. We present a Las Vegas polynomial-time algorithm which takes as inputWand constructs ad-dimensional projective representation ofG.
A NOTE ON PERMUTATION GROUPS AND THEIR REGULAR SUBGROUPS
Authors: XU MING-YAO 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn this note we first prove that, for a positive integern>1 withn≠porp2wherepis a prime, there exists a transitive group of degreenwithout regular subgroups. Then we look at 2-closed transitive groups without regular subgroups, and pose two questions and a problem for further study.
The efficacy of conservative management after conization in patients with stage IA1 microinvasive cervical carcinoma
Authors: LEE SHIN WHA , KIM YONG‐MAN , SON WOO‐SEOK , YOU HANG‐JO , KIM DAE‐YEON , KIM JONG‐HYEOK , KIM YOUNG‐TAK , NAM JOO‐HYUN 
Published: December 2008

AbstractObjective. To investigate the efficacy of conization followed by conservative management for treating stage IA1 microinvasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Design/Setting. Retrospective study. Population. Seventy‐five patients treated for stage IA1 microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix. Patients underwent conization followed by hysterectomy (Group 1, 53 patients), or were followed by conservative management (Group 2, 22 patients). Methods. Medical and histopathological record review. Results. For Group 1, pathology results showed that 30 had no residual tumor, one had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, 11 had CIN III/cervical carcinoma in situ (CIS), nine had microinvasive carcinomas, and one had an invasive carcinoma (outcome for one patient not recorded). For Group 2, secondary procedures involved only cervical smears for 12 (48%) patients, of whom nine had normal cytology, one had low‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and two had high‐grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. For 13 (52%) patients in Group 2, secondary procedures involved repeat conization on whom six had no residual tumor, one had CIN II, four CIN III/CIS, and two microinvasive carcinoma and a negative resection margin. Therefore, conization followed by conservative management was an effective treatment for 90.9% (20/22) of Group 2. In neither group was recurrence recorded. There was no relation between lymphovascular invasion and follow‐up cytology or pathology results, or between resection margin status and follow‐up examination results. Conclusion. Conization alone with careful follow‐up appears to be an effective and safe treatment for patients with stage IA1 microinvasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix, regardless of resection margins status or lymphovascular invasion.
Predicting the binding preference of transcription factors to individual DNA k-mers
Authors: Alleyne Trevis M. , Peña-Castillo Lourdes , Badis Gwenael , Talukder Shaheynoor , Berger Michael F. , Gehrke Andrew R. , Philippakis Anthony A. , Bulyk Martha L. , Morris Quaid D. , Hughes Timothy R. 
Published: December 2008

Abstract
Motivation: Recognition of specific DNA sequences is a central mechanism by which transcription factors (TFs) control gene expression. Many TF-binding preferences, however, are unknown or poorly characterized, in part due to the difficulty associated with determining their specificity experimentally, and an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms governing sequence specificity. New techniques that estimate the affinity of TFs to all possible k-mers provide a new opportunity to study DNA–protein interaction mechanisms, and may facilitate inference of binding preferences for members of a given TF family when such information is available for other family members.
Results: We employed a new dataset consisting of the relative preferences of mouse homeodomains for all eight-base DNA sequences in order to ask how well we can predict the binding profiles of homeodomains when only their protein sequences are given. We evaluated a panel of standard statistical inference techniques, as well as variations of the protein features considered. Nearest neighbour among functionally important residues emerged among the most effective methods. Our results underscore the complexity of TF–DNA recognition, and suggest a rational approach for future analyses of TF families.
Contact: t.hughes@utorotno.ca
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Trends and Outcomes of Malignant Hyperthermia in the United States, 2000 to 2005
Authors: Rosero Eric B. , Adesanya Adebola O. , Timaran Carlos H. , Joshi Girish P. 
Published: December 2008

Background
Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a potentially fatal pharmacogenetic disorder with an estimated mortality of less than 5%. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current incidence of MH and the predictors associated with in-hospital mortality in the United States.

Methods
The Nationwide Inpatient Sample, which is the largest all-payer inpatient database in the United States, was used to identify patients discharged with a diagnosis of MH during the years 2000-2005. The weighted exact Cochrane-Armitage test and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess trends in the incidence and risk-adjusted mortality from MH, taking into account the complex survey design.

Results
From 2000 to 2005, the number of cases of MH increased from 372 to 521 per year. The occurrence of MH increased from 10.2 to 13.3 patients per million hospital discharges (P = 0.001). Mortality rates from MH ranged from 6.5% in 2005 to 16.9% in 2001 (P < 0.0001). The median age of patients with MH was 39 (interquartile range, 23-54 yr). Only 17.8% of the patients were children, who had lower mortality than adults (0.7% vs. 14.1%, P < 0.0001). Logistic regression analyses revealed that risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality was associated with increasing age, female sex, comorbidity burden, source of admission to hospital, and geographic region of the United States.

Conclusions
The incidence of MH in the United States has increased in recent years. The in-hospital mortality from MH remains elevated and higher than previously reported. The results of this study should enable the identification of areas requiring increased focus in MH-related education.
Activation of p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase in Spinal Microglia Contributes to Incision-induced Mechanical Allodynia
Authors: Wen Yeong-Ray , Suter Marc R. , Ji Ru-Rong , Yeh Geng-Chang , Wu Yen-Sheng , Wang Kuo-Ching , Kohno Tatsuro , Sun Wei-Zen , Wang Chia-Chuan 
Published: December 2008

Background
Recent studies have implicated the activation of stress-activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 in spinal microglial cells for development of neuropathic and inflammatory pain. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether phosphorylation of p38 (p-p38) also mediates mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia induced by plantar incision.

Methods
After rats received a plantar incision surgery, mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia were determined by von Frey filaments and radiant heat, respectively, and the number of p-p38 immunoreactive cells in the dorsal horn was quantified to determine p38 activation at different time points after incision. The p38 inhibitor FR167653 was administered intrathecally 30 min before hind paw plantar incision to determine the role of p38 in postoperative pain.

Results
A significant increase in number of p-p38 immunoreactive cells was observed in the ipsilateral L4-5 spinal dorsal horn from 1 h to 3 days after the incision. p-p38 was found predominantly in microglia. However, microglial activation (assessed by OX-42 upregulation) was not evident until 3 days after plantar incision. Intrathecal pretreatment of FR167653 attenuated incision-induced mechanical allodynia from 1 h to day 2 and significantly reduced activation of p38 in the dorsal horn 1 day after plantar incision. However, FR167653 only inhibited heat hyperalgesia at an early time point.

Conclusions
Plantar incision-induced mechanical allodynia can be prevented by the p38 inhibitor. Our results suggest that p38 activation in spinal microglia play a role in incision-induced mechanical allodynia in rats. Therefore, p38 inhibition may be useful in treating postsurgical pain.
Comparison of Continuous Infusion versus Automated Bolus for Postoperative Patient-controlled Analgesia with Popliteal Sciatic Nerve Catheters
Authors: Taboada Manuel , Rodríguez Jaime , Bermudez Maria , Amor Marcos , Ulloa Beatriz , Aneiros Francisco , Sebate Sergi , Cortés Joaquin , Alvarez Julian , Atanassoff Peter G. 
Published: December 2008

Background
This investigation was designed to compare a new methodology of automated regular bolus with a continuous infusion of local anesthetic for continuous popliteal sciatic block; both regimens were combined with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).

Methods
Fifty patients undergoing hallux valgus repair were randomly allocated to receive an infusion of 0.125% levobupivacaine administered through a popliteal catheter as an automated regular bolus (n = 25) or as a continuous infusion (n = 25), both combined with PCA. Postoperative pain scores, incremental doses delivered by the PCA, local anesthetic consumed per hour, and the need for rescue tramadol analgesia were recorded.

Results
Both dosing regimens provided similar postoperative analgesia. Consumption of local anesthetic (5.14 ml/h, 5-5.75 ml/h) and dose request from the PCA (1, 0-5.4) was lower in the automated bolus group as compared to the continuous infusion group (5.9 ml/h, 5.05-7.8 ml/h; doses by PCA: 6.5, 0-20.5; P < 0.05). The need for rescue tramadol was similar in the two groups.

Conclusion
In continuous popliteal sciatic block, local anesthetic administered as an automated regular bolus in conjunction with PCA provided similar pain relief as a continuous infusion technique combined with PCA; however, the new dosing regimen reduced the need for additional PCA and the overall consumption of local anesthetic.
ASYMMETRIC LEAVES2-LIKE19/LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN30andASL20/LBD18Regulate Tracheary Element Differentiation inArabidopsis
Authors: Soyano Takashi , Thitamadee Siripong , Machida Yasunori , Chua Nam-Hai 
Published: December 2008

AbstractASYMMETRIC LEAVES2 (AS2)/LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) family proteins are plant-specific nuclear proteins, and genes encoding several family members have been implicated in plant development. We investigated the function of two members of the Arabidopsis thaliana AS2/LBD family, AS2-LIKE19 (ASL19)/LBD30 and ASL20/LBD18, which encode homologous proteins. Both ASL19 and ASL20 were expressed in immature tracheary elements (TEs), and the expression was dependent on VASCULAR-RELATED NAC-DOMAIN PROTEIN6 (VND6) and VND7, which are transcription factors required for TE differentiation. Overexpression of ASL19 and ASL20 induced transdifferentiation of cells from nonvascular tissues into TE-like cells, similar to those induced upon VND6/7 overexpression. By contrast, aberrant TEs were formed when a cDNA encoding a fusion protein of ASL20 with an artificial repressor domain (ASL20-SRDX) was expressed from its native promoter. These results provide evidence that ASL proteins positively regulate TE differentiation. In transgenic plants overexpressing both ASL19 and ASL20, the xylem-deficient phenotype caused by the expression of dominant-negative versions of VND6/7 proteins was not rescued. However, ectopic expression of VND7 was detected in plants overexpressing ASL20. Moreover, VND genes and their downstream targets were downregulated in ASL20-SRDX plants. Therefore, ASL20 appears to be involved in a positive feedback loop for VND7 expression that regulates TE differentiation-related genes.
Association between CRHR1 polymorphism and improved lung function in response to inhaled corticosteroid in patients with COPD
Authors: KIM Woo J. , SHEEN Seung S. , KIM Tae‐Hyung , HUH Jin W. , LEE Ji‐Hyun , KIM Eun‐Kyung , LEE Jin H. , LEE Sang‐Min , LEE Sangyeub , LIM Seong Y. , SHIN Tae R. , YOON Ho I. , OH Yeon‐Mok , LEE Sang D. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Inhaled corticosteroids are used to treat COPD and asthma. An association between sequence variants in the corticotrophin‐releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) gene and improved lung function in asthmatics treated with inhaled corticosteroids was reported recently. This study investigated the association between the change in lung function in response to inhaled corticosteroids and single‐nucleotide CRHR1 polymorphisms in patients with COPD.Methods:  COPD patients (n = 87) with a positive smoking history were recruited from the pulmonary clinics of 11 hospitals in Korea. Patients were treated with fluticasone propionate and salmeterol for 12 weeks and lung function was measured at baseline and after the 12‐week treatment. Eighty‐four of the 87 subjects were successfully genotyped.Results:  Seventy‐one patients with the wild‐type GG genotype and 13 patients with the heterozygous GT genotype in rs242 941 were evaluated. After 12‐week treatment, the change in FEV1 was significantly higher in patients with wild‐type GG genotype (6.0 ± 0.8% of predicted FEV1) than in GT heterozygotes (−0.8 ± 1.8, P = 0.003).Conclusions:  Improved FEV1 following inhaled corticosteroid and a long‐acting β2‐agonist was associated with CRHR1 genetic polymorphism in patients with COPD.
Evaluation of transcutaneous CO2 responses following acute changes in PaCO2 in healthy subjects
Authors: FUKE Satoshi , MIYAMOTO Kenji , OHIRA Hiroshi , OHIRA Megumi , ODAJIMA Nao , NISHIMURA Masaharu 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  Transcutaneous blood gas‐monitoring systems with miniaturized SpO2 (peripheral blood oxygen saturation)/PCO2 combined sensors (TOSCATM) have been widely used. There are no reports of the inter‐ and intra‐individual variability in transcutaneous measurements of PaCO2 (PtcCO2) in response to acute progressive changes in PaCO2. This study examined inter‐ and intra‐individual variability of PtcCO2 measurements under semi‐steady‐state conditions, and characterized the behaviour of PtcCO2 in response to acute progressive changes in PaCO2.Methods:  Subjects breathed mixed gases through a mouthpiece connected to an automatic arterial blood gas controller. Using end‐tidal PCO2 and PO2 as guides, PaCO2 was controlled to increase and/or decrease between baseline and ≥ 60 mm Hg, in a stepwise (n = 9) or progressive fashion (n = 6). Arterial blood was sampled when needed.Results:  Intra‐individual correlation coefficients between PtcCO2 and PaCO2 were excellent in all subjects (0.971–0.989); however, the slope of the regression line varied among subjects (1.040–1.335). Bias and limits of agreement (± 2 SD from bias) between PtcCO2 and PaCO2 were −1.8 mm Hg and −7.7 to 4.1 mm Hg. Changes in PtcCO2 in response to acute progressive changes in PaCO2 also varied among subjects.Conclusion:  The PtcCO2 measurement system allows reliable estimation of PaCO2 in a given subject. However, caution is needed when comparing absolute values between subjects or when acute changes in PaCO2 occur.