bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
uPA is upregulated by high dose celecoxib in women at increased risk of developing breast cancer
Authors: Qin Wenyi , Zhu Weizhu , Hewett John E , Rottinghaus George , Chen Yin-Chieh , Flynn John T , Kliethermes Beth , Mannello Ferdinando , Sauter Edward R 
Published: October 2008

AbstractBackgroundWhile increased urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) expression in breast cancer tissue is directly associated with poor prognosis, recent evidence suggests that uPA overexpression may suppress tumor growth and prolong survival. Celecoxib has been shown to have antiangiogenic and antiproliferative properties. We sought to determine if uPA, PA inhibitor (PAI)-1 and prostaglandin (PG)E2expression in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and uPA and PGE2expression in plasma were altered by celecoxib dose and concentration in women at increased breast cancer risk.MethodsNAF and plasma samples were collected in women at increased breast cancer risk before and 2 weeks after taking celecoxib 200 or 400 mg twice daily (bid). uPA, PAI-1 and PGE2were measured before and after intervention.ResultsCelecoxib concentrations trended higher in women taking 400 mg (median 1025.0 ng/mL) compared to 200 mg bid (median 227.3 ng/mL), and in post- (534.6 ng/mL) compared to premenopausal (227.3 ng/mL) women. In postmenopausal women treated with the higher (400 mg bid) celecoxib dose, uPA concentrations increased, while PAI-1 and PGE2decreased. In women taking the higher dose, both PAI-1 (r = -.97, p = .0048) and PGE2(r = -.69, p = .019) in NAF and uPA in plasma (r = .45, p = .023) were correlated with celecoxib concentrations.ConclusionCelecoxib concentrations after treatment correlate inversely with the change in PAI-1 and PGE2in the breast and directly with the change in uPA in the circulation. uPA upregulation, in concert with PAI-1 and PGE2downregulation, may have a cancer preventive effect.
Stressful life events and current psychological distress are associated with self-reported hypertension but not with true hypertension: results from a cross-sectional population-based study
Authors: Sparrenberger Felipe , Fuchs Sandra C , Moreira Leila B , Fuchs Flávio D 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
The evidence linking stress to hypertension has been scarcely documented in population-based studies.

Methods
Participants were selected through a multi-stage probability sampling and interviewed at home, being submitted to measures of demographics, anthropometrics, blood pressure (BP), and risk factors for hypertension. Hypertension was defined as BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg or use of BP-lowering drugs or as self-reported hypertension. Stressful life events were investigated through an inventory of nine major life events occurring in the year preceding the interview. Psychological distress was evaluated through a facial scale of expression of emotion in the last month.

Results
In the total, 1,484 adult individuals were investigated. Prevalence of hypertension was lower in individuals who reported any stressful life event in comparison with individuals who did not reported an event (34.3 versus 44.2%, P < 0.01), such as relative or friend death, loss of job, divorce, violence and migration. There was a trend for higher prevalence of hypertension in individuals with higher psychological distress in the last month, which was not longer significant after adjustment for confounding. In contrast, individuals who self-reported hypertension, but actually had normal blood pressure and were not using antihypertensive medication, reported higher numbers of stressful events.

Conclusion
Recent stressful life events and current psychological distress are not associated with hypertension. Associations between stress events and distress with self-reported hypertension are not intermediated by effects of stress on blood pressure, and may be ascribed to negative feeling about disease and not to the disease itself.
Lack of association of two common polymorphisms on 9p21 with risk of coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction; results from a prospective cohort study
Authors: Dehghan Abbas , van Hoek Mandy , Sijbrands Eric JG , Oostra Ben A , Hofman Albert , van Duijn Cornelia M , Witteman Jacqueline CM 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
Recent genome wide association (GWA) studies identified two Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) (rs10757278 and rs10757274) in the region of the CDK2NA and CDK2NB genes to be consistently associated with the risks of coronary heart disease (CHD) and myocardial infarction (MI). We examined the SNPs in relation to the risk of CHD and MI in a large population based study of elderly population.

Methods
The Rotterdam Study is a population-based, prospective cohort study among 7983 participants aged 55 years and older. Associations of the polymorphisms with CHD and MI were assessed by use of Cox proportional hazards analyses.

Results
In an additive model, the age and sex adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence interval) for CHD and MI were 1.03 (0.90, 1.18) and 0.94 (0.82, 1.08) per copy of the G allele of rs10757274. The corresponding HRs were 1.03 (0.90, 1.18) and 0.93 (0.81, 1.06) for the G allele of rs10757278. The association of the SNPs with CHD and MI was not significant in any of the subgroups of CHD risk factors.

Conclusion
we were not able to show an association of the studied SNPs with risks of CHD and MI. This may be due to differences in genes involved in the occurrence of CHD in young and older people.
Inter- and intra-observer variability in Sonographic measurements of the cross-sectional diameters and area of the umbilical cord and its vessels during pregnancy
Authors: Barbieri Cristiane , Cecatti Jose G , Souza Carla E , Marussi Emilio F , Costa Jose V 
Published: October 2008

Abstract

Background
The purpose of the study was to evaluate inter- and intra-observer variability in sonographic measurements of the cross-sectional area of the umbilical cord and the diameters of its vessels in low-risk pregnancies of 12 to 40 weeks of gestation.

Methods
A prospective cross sectional study was performed in 221 pregnant women at different gestational ages. Measurements were carried out also by a second observer to evaluate inter-observer variability and repeated once again by the first observer to assess intra-observer variability. The linear correlation between the measurements (Spearman's coefficient of correlation) and their reliability through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the limits of agreement proposed by Bland and Altman were evaluated.

Results
The results showed that inter-observer and intra-observer variability did not show any significant difference between examiners. A good linear correlation between the measurements and reliability was obtained, with values of R, ICC and Cronbach's alpha all above the standard limits.

Conclusion
It is possible to conclude that inter- and intra-observer variability in the measurements of the umbilical cord and its vessels was small; their reliability and agreement were good.
Early reporting for cancer screening trials
Authors: Baker Stuart G , Kramer Barnett S , Prorok Philip C 
Published: October 2008

Objective Many cancer screening trials involve a screening programme of one or more screenings with follow-up after the last screening. Usually a maximum follow-up time is selected in advance. However, during the follow-up period there is an opportunity to report the results of the trial sooner than planned. Early reporting of results from a randomized screening trial is important because obtaining a valid result sooner translates into health benefits reaching the general population sooner. The health benefits are reduction in cancer deaths if screening is found to be beneficial and more screening is recommended, or avoidance of unnecessary biopsies, work-ups and morbidity if screening is not found to be beneficial and the rate of screening drops. Methods Our proposed method for deciding if results from a cancer screening trial should be reported earlier in the follow-up period is based on considerations involving postscreening noise. Postscreening noise (sometimes called dilution) refers to cancer deaths in the follow-up period that could not have been prevented by screening: (1) cancer deaths in the screened group that occurred after the last screening in subjects whose cancers were not detected during the screening program and (2) cancer deaths in the control group that occurred after the time of the last screening and whose cancers would not have been detected during the screening programme had they been randomized to screening (the number of which is unobserved). Because postscreening noise increases with follow-up after the last screening, we propose early reporting at the time during the follow-up period when postscreening noise first starts to overwhelm the estimated effect of screening as measured by a z-statistic. This leads to a confidence interval, adjusted for postscreening noise, that would not change substantially with additional follow-up. Details of the early reporting rule were refined by simulation, which also accounts for multiple looks. Results For the re-analysis of the Health Insurance Plan trial for breast cancer screening and the Mayo Lung Project for lung cancer screening, estimates and confidence intervals for the effect of screening on cancer mortality were similar on early reporting and later. Conclusion The proposed early reporting rule for a cancer screening trial with post-screening follow-up is a promising method for making results from the trial available sooner, which translates into health benefits (reduction in cancer deaths or avoidance of unnecessary morbidity) reaching the population sooner.
French colorectal cancer screening pilot programme: results of the first round
Authors: Goulard Hélène , Boussac-Zarebska Marjorie , Ancelle-Park Rosemary , Bloch Juliette 
Published: October 2008

Objectives In France, a national pilot population-based screening programme on colorectal cancer was set up in 2002. In 2006, 23 French districts were included, targeting a population of more than five million people. This programme offers biennial screening using the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) to average risk subjects aged between 50 and 74 years. People receive a letter inviting them to consult their GPs, who in turn provide the FOBT. People with a positive test result are proposed a full colonoscopy. The results of the programme's first-round performance indicators are presented. Methods The monitoring centre collected data from GPs and gastroenterologists on follow-up and colonoscopy results for people who were screened positive. Data were transferred to the French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS) for the analysis. Results The overall participation rate for the 19 districts having completed a first screening round reached 42%. The overall positive test rate was 2.7%. In the eight districts with comprehensive follow-up data for the first round, 86% of colonoscopies were completed after a positive test. A total of 1615 people were diagnosed with cancer, and 4612 people with adenoma. The cancer detection rate reached 2.3%, it was higher in men than in women (3.4% versus 1.4%), and increased with age. Forty-three percent of invasive detected cancers were stage I, 24% stage II, 23% had lymph node involvement and 10% presented with distant metastasis. Conclusion These results suggest that indicators are consistent with international references. During 2007–2008, the programme coverage will be progressively extended, and all 99 French districts should be actively involved in its implementation.
Low-dose lung computed tomography screening before age 55: estimates of the mortality reduction required to outweigh the radiation-induced cancer risk
Authors: Berrington de González Amy , Kim Kwang Pyo , Berg Christine D 
Published: October 2008

Objectives To estimate the risk of radiation-induced lung cancer mortality from three annual low-dose lung computed tomography (CT) screens before age 55 years (starting at age 30, 40 or 50) and the mortality reduction from screening (i.e. the efficacy) needed to outweigh these risks for never and current-smokers. The risk of radiation-induced breast cancer was also estimated for women. Methods The Biological Effectiveness of Ionizing Radiation VII committee's risk models were used to estimate radiation risk. Lung cancer mortality rates (based on the Bach model for current and the Cancer Prevention Study for never-smokers) were used to estimate the mortality reduction needed to outweigh this risk. Results For never-smokers, the estimated excess lifetime risk of radiation-induced lung cancer mortality from annual screening aged 40–42 was 1/10,000 (90% credibility interval: 0.4–3) for men and 3/10,000 (2–6) for women. For current-smokers, the estimated risks were approximately two-fold higher, with wider credibility intervals. Risks from screening age 30–32 or 50–52 years were of similar magnitude. The mortality reduction required to outweigh these risks was, for female never-smokers: 125% (40–300%) age 30–32 years, 70% (30–190%) age 40–42 years and 25% (10–70%) age 50–52 years, and for male current-smokers: 70% (20–120%) age 30–32 years, 10% (3–20%) age 40–42 years and 2% (1–4%) age 50–52 years. These figures were two to three times higher for females because of the higher radiation risks. The risk of radiation-induced breast cancer was in the range of three to six cases/10,000 females screened. Conclusion Before age 50, the mortality reduction from lung CT screening that is required to outweigh the radiation risk may be substantial, and in some cases unattainable (i.e. >100%).
Integrating the theory of planned behaviour and self‐determination theory in health behaviour: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Hagger Martin S. , Chatzisarantis Nikos L. D. 
Published: October 2008

Purpose A meta‐analysis of studies integrating the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and self‐determination theory (SDT) in health contexts is presented. The analysis aimed to provide cumulative empirical support for a motivational sequence in which self‐determined motivation from SDT predicts the proximal predictors of intentions and behaviour from the TPB.Methods A literature search identified 36 integrated studies providing 45 tests of effects between TPB and SDT variables. Hunter and Schmidt's (1994) methods of meta‐analysis were used to correct the effect sizes across the studies for statistical artifacts. Age (old versus young), publication status (published versus unpublished), study design (correlational versus experimental/intervention), and behaviour type (physical activity versus other health‐related behaviours) were evaluated as moderators of the effects. A path‐analysis using the meta‐analytically derived correlations was conducted to examine the proposed motivational sequence.Results Statistically significant corrected correlations were evident among the perceived autonomy support and self‐determined motivation constructs from SDT and the attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, intention, and health‐related behaviour constructs from the TPB. Only six of the 28 effect sizes were moderated by the proposed moderators. Path analysis revealed that the significant effects of self‐determined motivation on intentions and behaviour were partially mediated by the proximal predictors from the TPB.Conclusions Evidence from this synthesis supported the theoretical integration and proposed motivational sequence. Results are discussed with reference to the complementary aspects of the TPB and SDT and the need for integrated experimental or intervention studies on a broader range of health behaviours.
Enhancement and Local Regulation of Metal Quenching Using Atomized Sprays
Authors: Alam Umair , Krol Jacek , Specht Eckehard , Schmidt Jürgen 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
In atomized spray quenching, the spraying water is atomized into fine droplets of the size of about 20 μm by compressed air and sprayed onto a hot surface. Only single droplets touch the surface, become deformed, and transfer heat. The drops partially evaporate and then move away from the superposed airflow. Thus, the vapor film is avoided as it is the case for other quenching techniques. It is demonstrated that the unintended collapses of the vapor film (Leidenfrost problem) at edges, corners, roughness peaks, etc., is eliminated by this technique. In this way, mass lumped regions of work pieces can be cooled more intensively than the edges. Consequently, a uniform temperature distribution with reduced thermal stresses can be obtained. The heat transfer was measured by infrared thermography. One side of the metallic sheet of 3 mm thickness was quenched by atomized spray and the surface temperature was measured on other side by an IR camera. The heat transfer coefficient is mainly determined by the impingement density. Heat transfer coefficient of 10,000 W/m2/K can be achieved within film boiling regime. This value is about three times higher than that of conventional spray quenching.
Determination of Surface Heat Transfer Coefficients of Cr12MoV Steel Cylinder during High-Speed Gas Quenching at Atmospheric Pressure
Authors: Heming Cheng , Jianyun Li , Ziliang Li , Lijun Hou , Jie Hou 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
In the numerical simulation of quenching processes, establishment of the boundary conditions for the temperature field and stress field are very important. However, determination of the boundary conditions of the temperature field is very complicated. In order to simulate the thermal strain, thermal stress, residual stress, and microstructure of the steel during high-speed gas quenching at atmospheric pressure using a numerical method, it is necessary to obtain an accurate boundary condition of temperature field. The surface heat transfer coefficient is a key parameter. The explicit finite difference method, nonlinear estimate method, and the experimental relationship between temperature and time during quenching have been used to solve the inverse problem of heat conduction during gas quenching. The relationships between surface temperature and surface heat transfer coefficient of a solid cylinder are provided here. In addition, it is shown that this technique can determine the effective surface heat transfer coefficients during high-speed gas quenching.
The Polymorphism Frequency Spectrum of Finitely Many Sites Under Selection
Authors: Desai Michael M , Plotkin Joshua B 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
The distribution of genetic polymorphisms in a population contains information about evolutionary processes. The Poisson random field (PRF) model uses the polymorphism frequency spectrum to infer the mutation rate and the strength of directional selection. The PRF model relies on an infinite-sites approximation that is reasonable for most eukaryotic populations, but that becomes problematic when θ is large (θ ≳ 0.05). Here, we show that at large mutation rates characteristic of microbes and viruses the infinite-sites approximation of the PRF model induces systematic biases that lead it to underestimate negative selection pressures and mutation rates and erroneously infer positive selection. We introduce two new methods that extend our ability to infer selection pressures and mutation rates at large θ: a finite-site modification of the PRF model and a new technique based on diffusion theory. Our methods can be used to infer not only a “weighted average” of selection pressures acting on a gene sequence, but also the distribution of selection pressures across sites. We evaluate the accuracy of our methods, as well that of the original PRF approach, by comparison with Wright–Fisher simulations.
Endometrial hyperplasia
Authors: Palmer Julia E , Perunovic Branko , Tidy John A 
Published: October 2008

The most common presenting symptom of endometrial hyperplasia is abnormal uterine bleeding.
In the UK, hysteroscopy remains the gold standard of investigations for abnormal uterine bleeding.
The clinical importance of endometrial hyperplasia largely relates to the risk of progression to endometrial carcinoma.
Progestin therapy is appropriate for most women with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia.
The risk of endometrial carcinoma in the presence of cytological atypia deems hysterectomy an appropriate management.

Learning objectives:

To learn about the aetiology and pathology of endometrial hyperplasia.
To be able to select appropriate investigations and treatment.

Ethical issues:

When is it appropriate to perform hysterectomy for the treatment of endometrial hyperplasias?

Please cite this article as: Palmer JE, Perunovic B, Tidy JA. Endometrial hyperplasia. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2008;10:211–216.
Helping the helpers: debriefing following an adverse incident
Authors: Vaithilingam Nirmala , Jain Smita , Davies David 
Published: October 2008

A significant proportion of healthcare workers will experience some degree of critical incident stress following adverse events.
Individuals’ responses range from common, uncomplicated stress‐related reactions to the more complex post‐traumatic stress disorder.
Under‐reporting of clinical incidents results mainly from fear of litigation and disciplinary action.
Debriefing should be an essential component of critical incident stress management.

Learning objectives:

To be aware of how healthcare staff can be supported effectively following an adverse incident.
To learn about the seven phases of the Mitchell debriefing model.

Ethical issues:

Disclosure of adverse events all too often results in disciplinary action: this ‘blame culture’ is to the detriment of patients and staff.

Please cite this article as: Vaithilingam N, Jain S, Davies D. Helping the helpers: debriefing following an adverse incident. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2008;10:251–256.
The Effect of Habitat Exposure and Ontogeny on the Survival Skills of Hatchery Red Drum
Authors: Beck Jessica L , Rooker Jay R 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
We examined the influence of prerelease exposure to natural vegetation on the survival skills of a marine finfish, the red drum Sciaenops ocellatus. Red drum larvae at 18 d posthatch (10–12 mm standard length [SL]) were collected from a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hatchery and reared with and without smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora, for either 10 or 20 d. High-speed video was then used to quantify a suite of prey capture and antipredator performance variables at days 28 (∼23 mm SL) and 38 (∼32 mm SL). Repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated that the timing and distance of key variables (e.g., maximum gape, time to maximum gape, gape cycle duration) increased significantly in older fish, while reaction distance and time to maximum velocity decreased with age. The time to reach maximum velocity was less for individuals reared in vegetation, yet these fish also had a shorter reaction distance to predatory stimuli and took longer to capture prey. Additionally, interindividual variability (as measured by the coefficient of variation) ranged from 0.0% to 101.3% and from 3.4% to 110.1% for the prey capture and antipredator variables, respectively, indicating that performance varied substantially among individuals. Our results indicate that while prerelease exposure to smooth cordgrass habitat does not afford any obvious survival benefits to red drum, ontogeny appears to have a direct effect on the development of key survival skills in this species.