bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy in ectopic pelvic kidneys
Authors: Mousavi‐Bahar Seyed Habibollah , Amir‐Zargar Mohammad Ali , Gholamrezaie Hamid Reza 
Published: February 2008

Abstract:  Three patients underwent laparoscopic assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL). A kidneys, ureter and bladder (KUB), and intravenous pyelogram (IVP) of the first patient showed a 3 cm calculus in a right side ectopic pelvic kidney overlying on the sacrum. The second patient had bilateral ectopic kidneys. The right kidney was located in the true pelvis without calculi and the left kidney was located in the iliac cavity with a 2.5 cm calculus in the renal pelvis. The third one had a 4 cm stone in the infundibulum of the upper calyx of the left pelvic ectopic kidney. All of them had a history of failed shock wave lithotripsy after two sessions.Then the patients were scheduled for laparoscopic assisted percutaneous removal of calculi. Under fluoroscopic control the best access route was located and the kidney was punctured. A 24F nephroscope was introduced and all calculi were disintegrated and removed. Operating time was 150, 120 and 110 min in cases 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Complete stone clearance was documented with a plain X‐ray KUB film and ultrasonography.Finally the patients underwent IVP three months following the operation. They were all well and there were no early or late complications.
Hypoglycaemia in Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Amiel S. A. , Dixon T. , Mann R. , Jameson K. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractThe primary cause of hypoglycaemia in Type 2 diabetes is diabetes medication—in particular, those which raise insulin levels independently of blood glucose, such as sulphonylureas (SUs) and exogenous insulin. The risk of hypoglycaemia is increased in older patients, those with longer diabetes duration, lesser insulin reserve and perhaps in the drive for strict glycaemic control. Differing definitions, data collection methods, drug type/regimen and patient populations make comparing rates of hypoglycaemia difficult. It is clear that patients taking insulin have the highest rates of self‐reported severe hypoglycaemia (25% in patients who have been taking insulin for > 5 years). SUs are associated with significantly lower rates of severe hypoglycaemia. However, large numbers of patients take SUs in the UK, and it is estimated that each year > 5000 patients will experience a severe event caused by their SU therapy which will require emergency intervention. Hypoglycaemia has substantial clinical impact, in terms of mortality, morbidity and quality of life. The cost implications of severe episodes—both direct hospital costs and indirect costs—are considerable: it is estimated that each hospital admission for severe hypoglycaemia costs around £1000. Hypoglycaemia and fear of hypoglycaemia limit the ability of current diabetes medications to achieve and maintain optimal levels of glycaemic control. Newer therapies, which focus on the incretin axis, may carry a lower risk of hypoglycaemia. Their use, and more prudent use of older therapies with low risk of hypoglycaemia, may help patients achieve improved glucose control for longer, and reduce the risk of diabetic complications.
Blood pressure means rather than nocturnal dipping pattern are related to complications in Type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Leitão C. B. , Canani L. H. , Kramer C. K. , Moehlecke M. , Pinto L. C. , Ricardo E. D. , Pinotti A. F. , Gross J. L. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAim  To determine whether systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) means, during ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), are more strongly correlated with microvascular complications and echocardiographic structural alterations than night‐time/daytime (N/D) BP ratio.Methods  A cross‐sectional study was conducted in 270 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) outpatients who underwent clinical and laboratory investigations, urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) determination, echocardiography, office and 24‐h ABPM (Spacelabs 90207).Results  UAER, after multivariate adjustments, was associated with office BP (systolic: R2a 0.162, P < 0.001; diastolic: R2a 0.124, P < 0.001) and ABPM (24‐h systolic: R2a 0.195, P < 0.001; 24‐h diastolic: R2a 0.197, P < 0.001) but not with N/D BP ratios (systolic: R2a 0.062, P = 0.080; diastolic: R2a 0.063, P = 0.069). Similar results were observed for echocardiographic parameters. The presence of retinopathy was associated only with night‐time BP values [systolic means: odds ratio (OR) 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.24 and diastolic means: OR 1.21, CI 1.04–1.40 and N/D diastolic BP ratio > 0.90, OR 3.21, CI 1.65–6.25].Conclusions  UAER and echocardiographic structural alterations had more consistent correlations of a greater magnitude with systolic BP means than with N/D BP ratios. The nocturnal BP values appear to be more relevant for diabetic retinopathy. BP measurement in patients with Type 2 DM should take into account the 24‐h period rather than focusing on a specific time span of BP homeostasis.
Genome‐wide linkage scans for renal function and albuminuria in Type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Diabetes Heart Study
Authors: Freedman B. I. , Bowden D. W. , Rich S. S. , Xu J. , Wagenknecht L. E. , Ziegler J. , Hicks P. J. , Langefeld C. D. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAims/hypothesis  Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), end‐stage renal disease and albuminuria are highly heritable. We performed a genome‐wide linkage scan in 416 Diabetes Heart Study (DHS) families to detect loci that contributed to renal function and albuminuria.Materials and methods  A total of 1067 individuals (900 with Type 2 diabetes mellitus) from 348 European American and 68 African American DHS families had measures of urine albumin : creatinine ratio (ACR), serum creatinine concentration and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease estimated GFR (eGFR). Variance components quantitative trait linkage analysis (using SOLAR) was computed.Results  Participants had mean ± sd age 61.4 ± 9.4 years; diabetes duration 10.5 ± 7.4 years; eGFR 1.15 ± 0.32 ml/sec; and urine ACR 15.8 ± 67.2 mmol/l (median 1.4). In all families, significant evidence for linkage of GFR was observed on chromosome 2p16 (log of the odds; LOD = 4.31 at 72.0 cM, ATA47C04P/D2S1352) and 1p36 (LOD = 3.81 at 45.0 cM, D1S3669/D1S3720), with suggestive evidence on 7q21 (LOD = 2.42 at 99.0 cM, D7S820/D7S821) and 13q13 (LOD = 2.28 at 28.0 cM, D13S1493/D13S894). The evidence for linkage to ACR was far weaker, on 13q21‐q22 (LOD = 1.84 at 50 cM, D13S1807/D13S800), 3p24‐p23 (LOD = 1.81 at 58 cM, D3S3038/D3S2432) and 10p11 (LOD = 1.78 at 71.0 cM, D10S1208/D10S1221).Conclusions/interpretations  The eGFR linkage peaks on 2p16, 7q21 and 13q13 closely overlap with nephropathy peaks identified in family studies enriched for severe kidney disease. These diabetes‐enriched families provide an opportunity to map genes regulating renal function, potentially leading to the identification of genes producing nephropathy susceptibility in subjects with Type 2 diabetes.
Preserved heart rate variability in first‐degree relatives of subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus without metabolic disorders
Authors: Neves F. J. , Bousquet‐Santos K. , Silva B. M. , Soares P. P. S. , Nóbrega A. C. L. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAims  To investigate the influence of a family history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on resting heart rate variability in the absence of concomitant metabolic disorders.Methods  We studied 55 first‐degree relatives (FDRs) of subjects with T2DM and 36 control subjects without any known family history of diabetes. FDRs were recruited from a University Hospital out‐patient diabetes clinic. The protocol included: oral glucose tolerance test (30, 60, 90 and 120 min after ingestion of 75 g glucose) blood glucose, plasma insulin, cholesterol and subfractions, triglycerides, leptin and C‐reactive protein. Heart rate variability (HRV) at rest was determined by spectral analysis of interbeat intervals recorded during 10 min in the supine position.Results  HRV was lower in FDRs compared with control subjects (P < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis identified cholesterol (P = 0.014) and triglycerides (P = 0.014) as significant independent predictors (model r = 0.40; P < 0.001) of HRV. Since FDRs had higher values for anthropometric and metabolic variables known to alter HRV, we performed an ancova adjusted for cholesterol and triglycerides and also another analysis in which the groups were comparable for anthropometric and metabolic characteristics. Comparison of FDRs and comparable control subjects revealed no significant difference in HRV (P > 0.05).Conclusions  A family history of T2DM, in the absence of concomitant metabolic disorders, does not impair heart rate variability.
In Type 1 diabetic patients with good glycaemic control, blood glucose variability is lower during continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion than during multiple daily injections with insulin glargine
Authors: Bruttomesso D. , Crazzolara D. , Maran A. , Costa S. , Dal Pos M. , Girelli A. , Lepore G. , Aragona M. , Iori E. , Valentini U. , Del Prato S. , Tiengo A. , Buhr A. , Trevisan R. , Baritussio A. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAims  The superiority of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) over multiple daily injections (MDI) with glargine is uncertain. In this randomized cross‐over study, we compared CSII and MDI with glargine in patients with Type 1 diabetes well controlled with CSII. The primary end‐point was glucose variability.Methods  Thirty‐nine patients [38.1 ± 9.3 years old (mean ± sd), diabetes duration 16.6 ± 8.2 years, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.6 ± 0.8%], already on CSII for at least 6 months, were randomly assigned to CSII with lispro or MDI with lispro and glargine. After 4 months they were switched to the alternative treatment. During the last month of each treatment blood glucose variability was analysed using glucose standard deviation, mean amplitude of glycaemic excursions (MAGE), lability index and average daily risk range (ADRR). As secondary end‐points we analysed blood glucose profile, HbA1c, number of episodes of hypo‐ and hyperglycaemia, lipid profile, free fatty acids (FFA), growth hormone and treatment satisfaction.Results  During CSII, glucose variability was 5–12% lower than during MDI with glargine. The difference was significant only before breakfast considering glucose standard deviation (P = 0.011), significant overall using MAGE (P = 0.016) and lability index (P = 0.005) and not significant using ADRR. Although HbA1c was similar during both treatments, during CSII blood glucose levels were significantly lower, hyperglycaemic episodes were fewer, daily insulin dose was less, FFA were lower and treatment satisfaction was greater than during MDI with glargine. The frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes was similar during both treatments.Conclusions  During CSII, glucose variability is lower, glycaemic control better and treatment satisfaction higher than during MDI with glargine.
Patient–provider perceptions of diabetes and its impact on self‐management: a comparison of African‐American and White patients
Authors: Tang T. S. , Stansfield R. B. , Oh M. , Anderson R. M. , Fitzgerald J. T. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAims  To compare patient–provider differences in diabetes‐related perceptions between African‐American and White patients and to examine its association with self‐care behaviours.Methods  One hundred and thirty patient–provider pairs were recruited from the greater Detroit area. Patients and providers completed a survey assessing perceptions about diabetes‐related concepts and demographic background. The Diabetes Semantic Differential Scale was used to measure diabetes‐related perceptions. Patients also reported the frequency of performing self‐care behaviours, including following a healthy eating plan, engaging in physical activity, blood glucose monitoring, and taking medication and/or insulin.Results  There were a greater number of patient–provider differences in diabetes‐related perceptions for the African‐American patients (nine of 18 concepts) compared with the White patients (four of 18 concepts). Stepwise regression analyses found patients’ semantic differential scores to be significantly associated with five self‐care behaviours for African‐American patients and two self‐care behaviours for White patients. Providers’ semantic differential scores emerged as predictors of self‐care behaviours for African‐American patients, but not for White patients.Conclusions  Our findings suggest that compared with White patients, African‐Americans differ in a greater number of diabetes‐related perceptions than their providers. Patients’ and providers’ perceptions of diabetes care concepts have a significant impact on a greater number of self‐care behaviours for African‐American patients than White patients.
Glycaemic control and body mass index in late‐adolescents and young adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus: a population‐based study
Authors: Acharya S. H. , Philip S. , Viswanath A. K. , Boroujerdi M. , Waugh N. R. , Pearson D. W. M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAims  Studies of children with diabetes up to the age of 15 years report deteriorating glycaemic control in the early teenage years. The aim was to investigate glycaemia and body mass index in older teenagers and young adults.Method  A Scottish, regional, population‐based, cross‐sectional study of 255 young people (117 female, 138 male) with Type 1 diabetes, aged 15–25 years (mean ±sd 19.8 ± 2.8 years, diabetes duration: 8.8 ± 5.4 years) registered on a diabetes database. Glycaemic control, body mass index (BMI) and insulin regimens were assessed in three age groups [group 1 (n = 96) 15–18 years; group 2 (n = 74) 18.1–22 years; and group 3 (n = 85) 22.1–25 years].Results  Subjects in the oldest age group had a significantly lower mean HbA1c than those in the youngest age group (8.8 ± 1.7 vs. 9.9 ± 1.9%; P < 0.001). Mean BMI was higher in group 3 (25.2 ± 3.4 kg/m2) compared with group 1 (23.9 ± 3.1 kg/m2; P < 0.001). HbA1c levels were higher in the younger subjects and women. Lower HbA1c levels were associated with a higher BMI (r = −0.324, P < 0.001) in men only. Overall, 74% took three or more injections a day, of whom 60% were on basal/bolus therapy. The proportion on basal/bolus insulin therapy increased with age and duration of diabetes.Conclusion  Compared with adolescents, young adults with Type 1 diabetes have better glycaemic control and higher BMI. This was associated with lower insulin requirements.
Beneficial effects of rosiglitazone on novel cardiovascular risk factors in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kadoglou N. P. E. , Iliadis F. , Angelopoulou N. , Perrea D. , Liapis C. D. , Alevizos M. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractAim  Impaired exercise capacity, adiponectin, MMPs and TIMPs have all been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of rosiglitazone on these factors in diabetic patients.Methods  Seventy individuals with Type 2 diabetes were assigned randomly to either a rosiglitazone group (8 mg/day, RG) or a control group (CG) for 6 months. All participants took gliclazide 160 mg plus metformin 1700 mg in stable dose. None of the individuals had diabetic complications or had previously participated in an exercise programme. Anthropometric parameters, VO2 peak, oxygen pulse, glycaemic indices, lipid profile, adiponectin, insulin resistance, blood pressure and serum MMP‐9, TIMP‐1, TIMP‐2 levels were assessed at baseline and at the end of the study. After Bonferroni adjustment, a P‐value < 0.017 was assumed to be statistically significant.Results  Rosiglitazone treatment significantly increased VO2 peak (P < 0.0001), the duration of the exercise test (P < 0.0001), oxygen pulse (P = 0.010) and TIMP‐2 levels (P = 0.008) in comparison with CG. Insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, diastolic blood pressure and MMP‐9 levels were also reduced (P < 0.017). Fat mass, lipid profile, TIMP‐1 levels and MMP9 : TIMP‐1 ratio were unaltered after rosiglitazone treatment. There were no significant changes in these parameters in control subjects. In univariate analysis, the rosiglitazone‐induced increment of VO2 peak was associated with alterations in plasma adiponectin (r = 0.691), HOMA‐IR (r = –0.782) and HbA1c (r = –0.676) (P < 0.017). These relationships retained significance after multiple regression analysis (P = 0.005).Conclusions  Rosiglitazone treatment increases cardiorespiratory fitness and modulates favourably serum adiponectin, MMP‐9 and TIMP‐2 levels. Whether these effects produce cardiovascular benefits in the long term requires further investigation.
Distance decay of similarity among European urban floras: the impact of anthropogenic activities on β diversity
Authors: La Sorte Frank A. , McKinney Michael L. , Pyšek Petr , Klotz Stefan , Rapson G.L. , Celesti‐Grapow Laura , Thompson Ken 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTAim  We examine how two categories of non‐native species (archaeophyte and neophyte, introduced before and after ad 1500, respectively) have had different impacts on β diversity across European urban floras. Our goal is to use the unique biological perspective provided by urban areas, and the contrasting historical and geographical perspectives provided by archaeophytes and neophytes, to infer how non‐native species will impact upon β diversity in the future.Location  Twenty‐two urban areas located in seven European countries.Methods  We used the β‐sim dissimilarity index to estimate the level of β diversity for 231 unique pair‐wise combinations of 22 urban floras. We examined bivariate plots of dissimilarity by geographical separation of city centres to evaluate distance decay of similarity for native species, archaeophytes and neophytes.Results  Based on average percentages, 52.8% (SD = 8.2%) of species in the urban floras were identified as non‐native with 28.3% (SD = 6.9%) classified as neophytes and 24.5% (SD = 4.9%) as archaeophytes. Relative to native species, across urban floras, archaeophytes were associated with higher compositional similarity and weaker distance decay patterns, whereas neophytes were associated with lower compositional similarity and stronger distance decay patterns.Main conclusions  Across European urban floras, archaeophytes and neophytes occurred in similar numbers but archaeophytes were consistently associated with lower β diversity and neophytes with higher β diversity. Thus, the impact of non‐native species on β diversity can be determined, at least in part, through their historical and geographical associations with anthropogenic activities. If archaeophytes represent the long‐term biogeographical outcome for human commensal species, neophytes could develop similar patterns. The consequences, however, are likely to be more substantial ecologically and geographically due to the increasing numbers of neophytes and their global anthropogenic associations. Nevertheless, at present, our findings suggest that, based on occurrence information, neophytes have not achieved this state with European urban floras retaining regionally distinct assemblages of neophytes.
Moral Knowledge and Moral Uncertainty1
Authors: Hanfling Oswald 
Published: February 2008

AbstractApplying a broadly Wittgensteinian view of knowledge and its relation to the conditions in which the word “know” is ordinarily used, the paper defends the claim that there can be knowledge (and thus also truth) in moral matters and rejects the idea that a cross‐culturally homogeneous moral language is a necessary condition for this. However, the fact that moral knowledge is available sometimes does not imply that it is available always. Taking issue in particular with Ronald Dworkin, the paper also argues that where moral questions are a matter of judgement, there may well be no right answer to them and, further, that this is a feature by no means unique to moral discourse.
What Is It to Make Clear the Working of Our Language?1
Authors: Dillard Peter Spotswood 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn The Logical Basis of Metaphysics, Dummett articulates and develops his “fundamental assumption” that the introduction rules for a logical constant determine its meaning. According to Dummett, logical laws in harmony with the introduction rules are justified, while logical laws not in harmony with the introduction rules are unjustified. This powerful picture enables Dummett to criticise certain aspects of our linguistic practice, such as the Law of Excluded Middle and the metaphysics of realism he believes it embodies, as not remaining responsible to the meanings of the logical constants.Against Dummett's fundamental assumption, I bring to bear what in the Tractatus Wittgenstein describes as his “fundamental thought” that the logical constants do not represent. Properly understood, Wittgenstein's point is that since the logical constants may be eliminated from the propositional signs of a fully precise logical notation, the constants do not express meanings to which our use of expressions containing the constants is responsible. I then apply Wittgenstein's fundamental thought to Dummett's proof‐theoretic notation to show that far from determining the meanings of the logical constants, the introduction rules merely allow the constants to be edited from certain inferences, leaving Dummett with no semantic kernel with which to criticise other sentences or inferences featuring the constants. Thus, his picture of what it is to make clear the working of our language collapses.
Toward a Perspicuous Presentation of “Perspicuous Presentation”1
Authors: Hutchinson Phil , Read Rupert 
Published: February 2008

AbstractGordon Baker in his last decade published a series of papers (now collected inBaker 2004), which are revolutionary in their proposals for understanding of later Wittgenstein. Taking our lead from the first of those papers, on “perspicuous presentations,” we offer new criticisms of ‘elucidatory’ readers of later Wittgenstein, such as Peter Hacker: we argue that their readings fail to connect with the radically therapeutic intent of the ‘perspicuous presentation’ concept, as an achievement‐term, rather than a kind of ‘objective’ mapping of a ‘conceptual landscape.’Baker's Wittgenstein, far from being a ‘language policeman’ of the kind that often fails to influence mainstream philosophy, offers an alternative to the latent scientism of Wittgenstein's influential ‘elucidatory’ readers.
Words from Nowhere – Limits of Criticism
Authors: Bøyum Steinar 
Published: February 2008

AbstractIn the present essay, I aim to accentuate an analogy between the patterns of thought articulated by Berkeley's Hylas and those of Nagel in his philosophy of bats and aliens. The comparison has a critical purpose, with Philonous playing a role similar to that of Wittgenstein. I argue that Nagel's central claim comes down to statements that are marked by a peculiar form of emptiness. Towards the end, though, I will concede that this kind of Wittgensteinian criticism runs up against certain limits. The fantasies produced by Hylas or Nagel have as counterparts genuine philosophical expressions of experience, which are not vulnerable to the charges levelled at their theoretical parallels.