bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A global sense of migrant places: towards a place perspective in the study of migrant transnationalism
Authors: GIELIS RUBEN 
Published: March 2009

AbstractContemporary transnational migrants have complex social lives in that they live in a number of different cross‐border social networks at the same time. Most transmigration scholars try to grasp this social complexity of migrant transnationalism by using a network lens. In this article, I argue in favour of adding a place lens to the analytical tool kit of transmigration scholars. Although a network lens works well for studying the internal complexity of cross‐border social networks, a place lens is more useful for gaining an understanding of their external complexity, in other words the ways these networks interrelate. By drawing on geographical and anthropological literature on open and relational understandings of place, and especially on the work of Doreen Massey and Arjun Appadurai, I shall show that interrelating migrant networks are visible in place in two ways. On the one hand, migrant places are meeting places of social networks, and on the other hand they are sites (translocalities) where transmigrants can reach out to people in other places.
Effect of hyponatraemia on outcomes following orthotopic liver transplantation
Authors: Hackworth William A. , Heuman Douglas M. , Sanyal Arun J. , Fisher Robert A. , Sterling Richard K. , Luketic Velimir A. , Shiffman Mitchell L. , Maluf Daniel G. , Cotterell Adrian H. , Posner Marc P. , Stravitz Richard T. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground: Hyponatraemia increases risk of adverse outcomes following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), but it is unclear whether improvement of pretransplant hyponatraemia ameliorates post‐transplant complications.Aims: To assess impact of pretransplant hyponatraemia on post‐transplant outcomes.Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 213 patients with cirrhosis who underwent liver transplantation. Patients with serum sodium ≤130 mEq/L immediately before transplantation (‘hyponatraemia at OLT’; n=34) were compared with those who had experienced hyponatraemia but subsequently improved to a serum sodium >130 mEq/L at transplantation (‘resolved hyponatraemia’; n=56) and to those without history of hyponatraemia before transplantation (‘never hyponatraemic’; n=123). Primary endpoint was survival at 180 days post‐OLT. Secondary outcomes included time until discharge alive, complications during hospitalization, length of time ventilated and length of post‐transplant intensive care unit stay.Results: There was no survival difference at 180 days post‐OLT between groups. After transplantation, patients with either hyponatraemia at OLT or resolved hyponatraemia had longer time until discharge alive and had higher rates of delirium, acute renal failure, acute cellular rejection and infection than those who were never hyponatraemic. As compared with patients with hyponatraemia at OLT, those with resolved hyponatraemia were more likely to be discharged alive within 3 weeks, but other outcomes, including survival, did not differ significantly.Conclusions: We conclude that hyponatraemia at any time before liver transplantation is associated with adverse post‐transplant outcome, even when hyponatraemia has resolved.
Significance of antibodies to soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas: a large French study
Authors: Eyraud Violaine , Chazouilleres Olivier , Ballot Eric , Corpechot Christophe , Poupon Raoul , Johanet Catherine 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground: Antibodies to soluble liver antigen (SLA)/liver pancreas (LP) are generally considered as highly specific diagnostic markers of type 1 auto‐immune hepatitis (AIH‐1), and are particularly useful in patients without conventional antibodies. However, the presence of anti‐SLA/LP in type 2 auto‐immune hepatitis (AIH‐2), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and hepatitis C has recently been reported. The aim was thus to describe the characteristics of anti‐SLA/LP‐positive patients in the largest series reported to date.Methods: Sera were selected from the period between 1998 and 2005, based on the presence of antibodies to SLA/LP detected by two methods. The clinical status of patients was determined from their medical records.Results: Eighty‐one anti‐SLA/LP‐positive patients with available clinical data were included: 89% (72/81) had a diagnosis of AIH‐1, including 10 (12%) associated with cholestatic diseases (primary biliary cirrhosis in seven cases and PSC in three cases). Six patients (7%) suffered from another liver disease: hepatitis C (n=3) and drug‐induced hepatitis (n=3). No specific diagnosis was made in three patients.Conclusions: Antibodies to SLA/LP are of a major diagnostic value for AIH‐1, including paediatric forms and overlap syndromes with cholestatic diseases, but are not found in association with anti‐liver/kidney/microsome type 1 or antibodies to liver cytosol type 1. They are rarely present in other liver diseases such as hepatitis C and drug‐induced hepatitis.
Association between angiotensin II type 1 receptor polymorphisms and the occurrence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Yoneda Masato , Hotta Kikuko , Nozaki Yuichi , Endo Hiroki , Uchiyama Takashi , Mawatari Hironori , Iida Hiroshi , Kato Shingo , Fujita Koji , Takahashi Hirokazu , Kirikoshi Hiroyuki , Kobayashi Noritoshi , Inamori Masahiko , Abe Yasunobu , Kubota Kensuke , Saito Satoru , Maeyama Shiro , Wada Koichiro , Nakajima Atsushi 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground:Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver injury in many countries. Genetic factors are important for the development of NAFLD, as well as environmental factors. Recently an angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1) has been recognized as important in the aetiology of fibrosis in the liver.Objective:In this study we investigated the association between angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene polymorphism (ATGR1) and NAFLD.Methods:One hundred and sixty‐seven NAFLD patients [106 with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and 61 with simple steatosis] with a positive diagnosis by liver biopsy and 435 healthy control subjects were recruited in this study.Results:We investigated 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of theATGR1gene, among which rs3772622 showed the lowestP‐value of allele frequency model (P=0.0000012) with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.95 (1.49–2.55). Five SNPs (rs3772622, rs3772633, rs2276736, rs3772630 and rs3772627) were significantly associated with NAFLD, even when the most conservative Bonferroni's correction was applied. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed that SNP rs3772622 and another four SNPs (rs3772633, rs2276736, rs3772630 and rs3772627) were in the same block. We investigated the association between rs3772622 genotypes and the fibrosis index. The results of the analysis revealed an additive increase of the fibrosis index in the patients with the A allele of rs3772622.Conclusions:This is the first report to demonstrate the genetic variations inATGR1that may influence the risk of NAFLD and liver fibrosis in NAFLD.
Association of inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines with insulin resistance in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Hung Chao‐Hung , Lee Chuan‐Mo , Chen Chien‐Hung , Hu Tsung‐Hui , Jiang Shu‐Rong , Wang Jing‐Houng , Lu Sheng‐Nan , Wang Pei‐Wei 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground: The pathogenetic basis for the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and type‐2 diabetes remains uncertain. It has been reported that insulin resistance (IR) plays an essential role. We investigated the association of inflammatory [tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐6] and anti‐inflammatory cytokines (adiponectin and IL‐10) with IR in chronic HCV infection.Methods: Eighty‐one consecutive non‐diabetic chronic hepatitis C patients (37 men and 44 women, mean age of 51.9±12.2 years) and 40 age, sex and body mass index (BMI)‐matched healthy individuals were collected. IR was evaluated by the homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Serum levels of cytokines were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Patients with chronic hepatitis C have a higher HOMA‐IR, TNF‐α, IL‐6, adiponectin and IL‐10, as compared with controls. By multiple linear regression analysis, moderate/severe steatosis grade, total cholesterol level and adiponectin was significantly associated with HOMA‐IR, whereas, TNF‐α, IL‐6 and IL‐10 was not. Male gender, BMI and HOMA‐IR was inversely correlated with the serum adiponectin level. Serum adiponectin was positively correlated with TNF‐α level, which was significantly associated with higher degree of hepatic necroinflammation.Conclusion: Our data suggest that chronic HCV infection is associated with increased IR, which is correlated inversely with the serum adiponectin level. The complex role of adiponectin in the pathogenesis of IR and hepatic necroinflammation in chronic HCV infection merit further investigation.
Eradication of hepatitis C virus by interferon improves whole‐body insulin resistance and hyperinsulinaemia in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Kawaguchi Yasunori , Mizuta Toshihiko , Oza Noriko , Takahashi Hirokazu , Ario Keisuke , Yoshimura Toru , Eguchi Yuichiro , Ozaki Iwata , Hisatomi Akitaka , Fujimoto Kazuma 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground/Aims: To investigate whether eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by interferon (IFN) therapy influences systemic glucose metabolism.Methods: Seventy‐two patients with chronic hepatitis C were enrolled in this study. Patients received IFN therapy and were classified into two groups: sustained responders (n=48) and nonsustained responders (n=24). We analysed systemic glucose metabolism in terms of the following indices: homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) and β‐cell function (HOMA‐β), insulinogenic index (II), composite insulin sensitivity index (ISI composite) and the area under the curve of plasma glucose (PG‐AUC) and serum insulin (SI‐AUC) in oral glucose tolerance tests. In 28 sustained responders and 16 nonsustained responders, serum levels of soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2) were measured. Indices were determined before and 6 months after therapy.Results: In the sustained responders, HOMA‐β (P=0.0004) and SI‐AUC (P=0.002) were significantly decreased and the ISI composite was increased (P=0.009), although there were no significant changes in HOMA‐IR, II or PG‐AUC. Serum sTNFR2 levels decreased significantly after therapy in sustained responders (P=0.001). In the nonsustained responders, there were no changes in any index.Conclusions: Eradication of HCV by IFN therapy could improve whole‐body insulin resistance and insulin hypersecretion with reduced serum TNF‐α levels.
Antenatal screening practice for infectious diseases by general practitioners in Australia
Authors: GILES Michelle L. , PEDRANA Alisa , JONES Cheryl , GARLAND Suzanne , HELLARD Margaret , LEWIN Sharon R. 
Published: March 2009

Introduction:  This study aimed to assess self‐reported screening practice in the antenatal setting, factors associated with screening, barriers to universal testing for HIV and follow‐up for infants born to hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected women.Methods:  A total of 3100 general practitioners (GPs) were mailed the survey. The half from Victoria was randomised to receive their questionnaire by registered post or regular post. All GPs from New South Wales (NSW) received their questionnaire via regular post.Results:  The overall response rate was 70%. Registered post resulted in a higher cumulative response rate compared with regular post (86% vs. 67%P < 0.001). Greater than 90% of respondents always screened for syphilis, rubella and hepatitis B virus. Testing for HIV and HCV approached 66% in NSW. In Victoria more respondents always screen for HCV (72%) compared with HIV‐1 (64%). Respondents from NSW were less likely to screen for toxoplasmosis (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.64 (0.43, 0.94) P = 0.02) or HCV (AOR 0.75 (0.61, 0.92) P = 0.005) compared with Victoria. Older respondents were more likely to screen for toxoplasmosis (AOR 1.54 (1.05, 2.27) P = 0.03), cytomegalovirus (OR 1.5 (1.0, 2.1) P = 0.05) and chlamydia (AOR 1.88 (1.27, 2.77) P = 0.002). Of respondents who have managed a pregnant woman with HCV 25% inappropriately test infants for infection before one month of age.Conclusion:  This study highlights the need for more education and resources to increase HIV testing rates and to improve follow‐up of an HCV‐exposed infant.
Survey of surgical skills of RANZCOG trainees
Authors: OBERMAIR Andreas , TANG Amy , CHARTERS Deryck , WEAVER Edward , HAMMOND Ian 
Published: March 2009

Background: In Australia, the Integrated Training Program (ITP) of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) offers training in obstetrics and gynaecology. There is anecdotal concern among trainees and Fellows that the surgical component of training is inadequate, with new specialists lacking the confidence and competence to perform many ‘standard’ surgical procedures. These concerns have not previously been quantified in Australia and New Zealand.Aim: To determine trainees’ subjective competence and confidence with surgical procedures and trainees’ satisfaction with their surgical training.Methods: All 430 active RANZCOG trainees and 108 Fellows elevated within the previous two years were invited to complete a self‐administered questionnaire (65% response rate), which assessed details of procedures performed and confidence to perform them; satisfaction with the surgical training; and perceived teaching ability of the supervising consultants.Results: Those in ITP year 6 rated their confidence high (≥ 4 of 5) for procedures performed very frequently, but lower for other procedures. No procedure regarding the management of complications reached a confidence score of ≥ 4. Teaching abilities were rated best for obstetric procedures, with 54% rating their consultants’ teaching ability as ‘excellent’; but for laparoscopic procedures and procedures dealing with complications, 21.2% and 23.4% of respondents rated their consultants’ teaching ability as ‘poor’, respectively.Conclusions: Advanced trainees lacked confidence in a range of surgical procedures; and possible weaker areas were identified in the teaching experience of trainers. These limitations must be addressed by medical educators and training program coordinators.
HuR expression in the nucleus correlates with high histological grade and poor disease‐free survival in ovarian cancer
Authors: YI Xiaofang , ZHOU Yi , ZHENG Wenxin , CHAMBERS Setsuko K. 
Published: March 2009

Background: HuR, a nucleo‐cytoplasmic shuttling protein, plays an important role in mRNA stability as well as cellular differentiation. Recently, HuR expression, particularly in the cytoplasm, was thought to be associated with the prognosis of several cancers including ovarian cancer.Aims: To study the clinical significance of nuclear HuR expression in ovarian cancer.Methods: Primary epithelial ovarian carcinomas (102) and ovarian low malignant potential tumours (11) were assessed for HuR protein expression by immunohistochemistry. HuR scoring accounted for both intensity and percentage of cells stained, and ranged from 0 to 300.Results: HuR was found to be present predominantly in the nucleus, where it was expressed in 85.8% of cases. Nuclear HuR was associated with the invasive cancers (P = 0.004), high grade (P < 0.0001), large residual disease (P = 0.045) and poor disease‐free survival (P = 0.0009). Among those 91 specimens with high grade, 76.9% had a high nuclear HuR score, while in those 22 cases with low grade, only 31.8% had a high HuR score (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that nuclear HuR intensity was an independent prognostic factor for poor disease‐free survival (P = 0.0484). When the invasive cancers were analysed separately, only the association between nuclear HuR and high grade remained (P = 0.0089).Conclusions: Our results support the clinical significance of nuclear HuR in ovarian carcinoma and suggest that nuclear HuR may also play a role in the biology of ovarian cancer. These data suggest a more complex model for HuR in ovarian cancer than one limited to cytoplasmic localisation.
Selective fetoscopic laser ablation in 100 consecutive pregnancies with severe twin–twin transfusion syndrome
Authors: CINCOTTA Robert B. , GRAY Peter H. , GARDENER Glenn , SOONG Barbara , CHAN Fung Yee 
Published: March 2009

Aims: To report the perinatal outcomes of a large series of twin pregnancies with severe twin–twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) managed with laser ablation surgery in an Australian tertiary perinatal centre and to compare the outcome with other large cohorts.Methods: The outcomes of 100 consecutive pregnancies with severe TTTS managed with selective fetoscopic laser ablation from March 2002 to June 2007 were examined. Survival and neonatal morbidity were analysed. Comparisons were made with the results from other studies of laser surgery with at least 100 pregnancies.Results: There were 100 women with TTTS treated with laser ablation; 34 stage II, 44 stage III and 22 at stage IV. Median gestation at time of laser was 21 weeks (range 18–28) and median gestation at delivery was 31 weeks (range 20–39). Overall perinatal survival rate was 151 of 200 (75.5%). Eighty five per cent had one or more surviving twins. The survival rate for stage IV TTTS was 88.6%, significantly better than for stage II (69.1%) and stage III (73.9%) pregnancies. The perinatal mortality rate for donors (30%) was not significantly different from recipients (19%), but the fetal death rate for donors was significantly greater than that for recipients (P = 0.03). Severe cerebral abnormalities were present in only 2.8% of newborns. The overall survival rate was comparable to other large series.Conclusions: These results for the management of severe TTTS are comparable to the best reported international series. Long‐term follow‐up is required and more research needs to be undertaken to further improve these results.
The early pregnancy assessment project: The effect of cooperative care in the emergency department for management of early pregnancy complications
Authors: O’ROURKE David , WOOD Stephen 
Published: March 2009

Background: Early pregnancy assessment clinics (EPAC) have been introduced and accepted as the gold standard for management of early pregnancy problems (EPP). However, EPAC are not universally available and management of EPP within the emergency department (ED) can result in prolonged waiting times, inappropriate use of resources and no clear treatment or follow‐up plan being implemented.Aim: To assess the effect of an early pregnancy assessment protocol (EPAP) in the ED, designed to create a cultural change among doctors in relation to EPP in order to minimise use of resources, improve treatment times for patients and establish a clear management plan where dedicated EPAC services are not available.Methods: An intervention, the EPAP was introduced to the ED and retrospective and prospective audits of the patients were carried out to assess the effect.Results: Implementation of the EPAP decreased treatment time by 55%, representations by 48%, pathology blood tests by 56% and formal imaging services by 85%. Gynaecological consultation increased by 37% for each patient visit to the ED and by 9% for each EPP. Total direct cost saving was 63% per patient and no adverse outcomes were recorded.Conclusion: Introduction of the EPAP was successful in creating cultural change and delivering clinical and financial benefits to the hospital, patients and staff. Early gynaecological consultation and bedside ultrasound scanning within the ED were key factors. Similar benefits could be reproduced in other institutions and for other clinical scenarios where a need has been identified.
Prevalence of menopausal symptoms and quality of life after menopause in women from South India
Authors: BAIRY Laxminarayana , ADIGA Shalini , BHAT Parvathi , BHAT Rajeshwari 
Published: March 2009

Objectives: This study was carried out to establish the age at onset of menopause and the prevalence of menopause and menopausal symptoms in South Indian women.Materials and methods: Three hundred and fifty‐two postmenopausal women attending the outpatient clinics of obstetrics and gynaecology department of Dr TMA Pai Hospital, a tertiary care Hospital in South India, were included in the study. The Menopause‐Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire was used in the study. Data were presented as percentages for qualitative variable.Results: The mean age at menopause was 48.7 years. Most frequent menopausal symptoms were aching in muscle and joints, feeling tired, poor memory, lower backache and difficulty in sleeping. The vasomotor and sexual domains were less frequently complained when compared to physical and psychological domains.Conclusion: The age at onset of menopause in southern Karnataka (India) is 48.7 years which is four years more than the mean menopause age for Indian women. This could be attributed to better socioeconomic and health‐care facility in this region.
Where in the World Are We? Generalizing the Results of Status Epilepticus Trials
Authors: Herman Susan T. 
Published: March 2009

Comparison of Buccal Midazolam with Rectal Diazepam in the Treatment of Prolonged Seizures in Ugandan Children: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Mpimbaza A, Ndeezi G, Staedke S, Rosenthal PJ, Byarugaba J. Pediatrics 2008; 121(1):e58–64. Objective Our goal was to compare the efficacy and safety of buccal midazolam with rectal diazepam in the treatment of prolonged seizures in Ugandan children. Methods This was a single-blind, randomized clinical trial in which 330 patients were randomly assigned to receive buccal midazolam or rectal diazepam. The trial was conducted in the pediatric emergency unit of the national referral hospital of Uganda. Consecutive patients who were aged 3 months to 12 years and presented while convulsing or who experienced a seizure that lasted >5 minutes were randomly assigned to receive buccal midazolam plus rectal placebo or rectal diazepam plus buccal placebo. The primary outcome of this study was cessation of visible seizure activity within 10 minutes without recurrence in the subsequent hour. Results Treatment failures occurred in 71 (43.0%) of 165 patients who received rectal diazepam compared with 50 (30.3%) of 165 patients who received buccal midazolam. Malaria was the most common underlying diagnosis (67.3%), although the risk for failure of treatment for malaria-related seizures was similar: 35.8% for rectal diazepam compared with 31.8% for buccal midazolam. For children without malaria, buccal midazolam was superior (55.9% vs 26.5%). Respiratory depression occurred uncommonly in both of the treatment arms. Conclusion Buccal midazolam was as safe as and more effective than rectal diazepam for the treatment of seizures in Ugandan children, although benefits were limited to children without malaria.