bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Time to Send the Preemie Home? Additional Maturity at Discharge and Subsequent Health Care Costs and Outcomes
Authors: Silber Jeffrey H. , Lorch Scott A. , Rosenbaum Paul R. , Medoff‐Cooper Barbara , Bakewell‐Sachs Susan , Millman Andrea , Mi Lanyu , Even‐Shoshan Orit , Escobar Gabriel J. 
Published: January 2009

Objective.To determine whether longer stays of premature infants allowing for increased physical maturity result in subsequent postdischarge cost savings that help counterbalance increased inpatient costs.Data Sources.One thousand four hundred and two premature infants born in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program between 1998 and 2002.Study Design/Methods.Using multivariate matching with a time‐dependent propensity score we matched 701 “Early” babies to 701 “Late” babies (developmentally similar at the time the earlier baby was sent home but who were discharged on average 3 days later) and assessed subsequent costs and clinical outcomes.Principal Findings.Late babies accrued inpatient costs after the Early baby was already home, yet costs after discharge through 6 months were virtually identical across groups, as were clinical outcomes. Overall, after the Early baby went home, the Late–Early cost difference was $5,016 (p<.0001). A sensitivity analysis suggests our conclusions would not easily be altered by failure to match on some unmeasured covariate.Conclusions.In a large integrated health care system, if a baby is ready for discharge (as defined by the typical criteria), staying longer increased inpatient costs but did not reduce postdischarge costs nor improve postdischarge clinical outcomes.
Use of Prolonged Travel to Improve Pediatric Risk‐Adjustment Models
Authors: Lorch Scott A. , Silber Jeffrey H. , Even‐Shoshan Orit , Millman Andrea 
Published: January 2009

Objective. To determine whether travel variables could explain previously reported differences in lengths of stay (LOS), readmission, or death at children's hospitals versus other hospital types.Data Source. Hospital discharge data from Pennsylvania between 1996 and 1998.Study Design. A population cohort of children aged 1–17 years with one of 19 common pediatric conditions was created (N=51,855). Regression models were constructed to determine difference for LOS, readmission, or death between children's hospitals and other types of hospitals after including five types of additional illness severity variables to a traditional risk‐adjustment model.Principal Findings. With the traditional risk‐adjustment model, children traveling longer to children's or rural hospitals had longer adjusted LOS and higher readmission rates. Inclusion of either a geocoded travel time variable or a nongeocoded travel distance variable provided the largest reduction in adjusted LOS, adjusted readmission rates, and adjusted mortality rates for children's hospitals and rural hospitals compared with other types of hospitals.Conclusions. Adding a travel variable to traditional severity adjustment models may improve the assessment of an individual hospital's pediatric care by reducing systematic differences between different types of hospitals.
Incidence and risk factors for development of malignant neoplasia after feline renal transplantation and cyclosporine‐based immunosuppression
Authors: Schmiedt C. W. , Grimes J. A. , Holzman G. , McAnulty J. F. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThe objective of this retrospective study is to report and analyse the incidence of and risk factors for post‐transplant malignant neoplasia (PTMN) in feline renal transplant recipients (cases, n = 45) and compare incidence to a population of cats that did not receive a transplant (controls, n = 79). Information from the medical records of cases regarding signalment, blood work and concomitant disease, post operative cyclosporine concentrations, survival time (ST), and whether PTMN developed, the type of PTMN, time to occurrence (TTO), and ST after diagnosis was gathered. PTMN occurred in 11 of 45 (24%) cases, of which, four were lymphoma. Median TTO of all PTMN was 1020 days. Median TTO of lymphoma was 454 days. Median ST after diagnosis of PTMN was 15 days. No risk factors were identified. Compared with control cats, cases had more than six times higher odds of developing PTMN compared with control cats (P < 0.01).
Effects of Acute Alcohol Intoxication and Paroxetine on Aggression in Men
Authors: McCloskey Michael S. , Berman Mitchell E. , Echevarria David J. , Coccaro Emil F. 
Published: January 2009

Background:  The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the serotonin (5‐HT) system in alcohol‐related aggression.Methods:  Specifically, we experimentally examined the effects of 5‐HT augmentation on alcohol‐related aggression in men (n = 56). After consuming either alcohol (mean blood alcohol concentration of 0.10%) or a placebo (no alcohol) drink, and taking either 20 mg of paroxetine (Paxil®) or a placebo pill, participants were provided the opportunity to administer electric shock to a (faux) opponent during a task disguised as a reaction‐time game. Aggression was defined as the intensity of shock chosen and the frequency with which an extreme (clearly painful) shock was chosen. We predicted that 5‐HT augmentation would be associated with lower aggressive behavior overall, and also reduce the aggression facilitating effects of acute alcohol intoxication.Results:  The results indicated that alcohol intoxication increased aggression, particularly under low provocation. Paroxetine decreased aggression, particularly during high provocation. These effects, however, occurred independently of each other.Conclusions:  The effect of alcohol on extreme aggression was moderated by previous aggression history, with more aggressive individuals showing greater alcohol‐related increases in extreme aggression.
Dietary Zinc Supplementation Throughout Pregnancy Protects Against Fetal Dysmorphology and Improves Postnatal Survival After Prenatal Ethanol Exposure in Mice
Authors: Summers Brooke L. , Rofe Allan M. , Coyle Peter 
Published: January 2009

Background:  We have previously demonstrated that ethanol teratogenicity is associated with metallothionein‐induced fetal zinc (Zn) deficiency, and that maternal subcutaneous Zn treatment given with ethanol in early pregnancy prevents fetal abnormalities and spatial memory impairments in mice. Here we investigated whether dietary Zn supplementation throughout pregnancy can also prevent ethanol‐related dysmorphology.Methods:  Pregnant mice were injected with saline or 25% ethanol (0.015 ml/g intraperitoneally at 0 and 4 hours) on gestational day (GD) 8 and fed either a control (35 mg Zn/kg) or a Zn‐supplemented diet (200 mg Zn/kg) from GD 0 to 18. Fetuses from the saline, saline + Zn, ethanol and ethanol + Zn groups were assessed for external birth abnormalities on GD 18. In a separate cohort of mice, postnatal growth and survival of offspring from these treatment groups were examined from birth until postnatal day 60.Results:  Fetuses from dams treated with ethanol alone in early pregnancy had a significantly greater incidence of physical abnormalities (26%) compared to those from the saline (10%), saline + Zn (9%), or ethanol + Zn (12%) groups. The incidence of abnormalities in ethanol + Zn‐supplemented fetuses was not different from saline‐treated fetuses. While ethanol exposure did not affect the number of fetal resorptions or pre‐ or postnatal weight, there were more stillbirths with ethanol alone, and cumulative postnatal mortality was significantly higher in offspring exposed to ethanol alone (35% deaths) compared to all other treatment groups (13.5 to 20.5% deaths). Mice supplemented with Zn throughout pregnancy had higher plasma Zn concentrations than those in un‐supplemented groups.Conclusions:  These findings demonstrate that dietary Zn supplementation throughout pregnancy ameliorates dysmorphology and postnatal mortality caused by ethanol exposure in early pregnancy.
Long‐Term Behavioral Changes in Response to Early Developmental Exposure to Ethanol in Zebrafish
Authors: Fernandes Yohaan , Gerlai Robert 
Published: January 2009

Background:  Zebrafish is becoming an important research tool for the analysis of brain function and behavior. It has been proposed to model human alcoholism as well as fetal alcohol syndrome. Previous studies investigating the consequences of exposure to ethanol during early development of zebrafish employed robust dosing regimens (high ethanol concentration and long exposure) that may model a rare situation in the human clinic. These studies found major structural abnormalities developing in the exposed fish.Methods: Here we hope to avoid such gross changes and administer only low doses of ethanol (0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 vol/vol %) at 24‐hour postfertilization and for only a short period of time (for 2 hours). We analyze the behavior of exposed fish at adult stage using computerized stimulus presentation and automated videotracking response quantification.Results: Despite the short ethanol exposure period and the modest concentrations, significant behavioral alterations were found: fish exposed to higher doses of ethanol swam at an increased distance from a computer‐animated zebrafish shoal while their activity levels did not change.Conclusions: Although the interpretation of and the mechanisms underlying this finding will require further investigation, the results suggest that zebrafish will be an appropriate model organism for the analysis of the effects of moderate to mild prenatal ethanol exposure.
Alcohol Stimulates Ciliary Motility of Isolated Airway Axonemes Through a Nitric Oxide, Cyclase, and Cyclic Nucleotide‐Dependent Kinase Mechanism
Authors: Sisson Joseph H. , Pavlik Jacqueline A. , Wyatt Todd A. 
Published: January 2009

Background:  Lung mucociliary clearance provides the first line of defense from lung infections and is impaired in individuals who consume heavy amounts of alcohol. Previous studies have demonstrated that this alcohol‐induced ciliary dysfunction occurs through impairment of nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic nucleotide‐dependent kinase‐signaling pathways in lung airway ciliated epithelial cells. Recent studies have established that all key elements of this alcohol‐driven signaling pathway co‐localize to the apical surface of the ciliated cells with the basal bodies. These findings led us to hypothesize that alcohol activates the cilia stimulation pathway at the organelle level. To test this hypothesis we performed experiments exposing isolated demembranated cilia (isolated axonemes) to alcohol and studied the effect of alcohol‐stimulated ciliary motility on the pathways involved with isolated axoneme activation.Methods:  Isolated demembranated cilia were prepared from bovine trachea and activated with adenosine triphosphate. Ciliary beat frequency, NO production, adenylyl and guanylyl cyclase activities, cAMP‐ and cGMP‐dependent kinase activities were measured following exposure to biologically relevant concentrations of alcohol.Results:  Alcohol rapidly stimulated axoneme beating 40% above baseline at very low concentrations of alcohol (1 to 10 mM). This activation was specific to ethanol, required the synthesis of NO, the activation of soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), and the activation of both cAMP‐ and cGMP‐dependent kinases (PKA and PKG), all of which were present in the isolated organelle preparation.Conclusions:  Alcohol rapidly and sequentially activates the eNOS→NO→GC→cGMP→PKG and sAC→cAMP→ PKA dual signaling pathways in isolated airway axonemes. These findings indicate a direct effect of alcohol on airway cilia organelle function and fully recapitulate the alcohol‐driven activation of cilia known to exist in vivo and in intact lung ciliated cells in vitro following brief moderate alcohol exposure. Furthermore, these findings indicate that airway cilia are exquisitely sensitive to the effects of alcohol and substantiate a key role for alcohol in the alterations of mucociliary clearance associated with even low levels of alcohol intake. We speculate that this same axoneme‐based alcohol activation pathway is down regulated following long‐term high alcohol exposure and that the isolated axoneme preparation provides an excellent model for studying the mechanism of alcohol‐mediated cilia dysfunction.
Adverse Drinking‐Related Consequences Among Lower Income, Racial, and Ethnic Minority Drinkers: Cross‐Sectional Results
Authors: Vilamovska Anna‐Marie , Brown Taylor Didra , Bluthenthal Ricky N. 
Published: January 2009

Objective:  To examine factors associated with adverse consequences of alcohol consumption among a community sample of drinkers in a low‐income, racial, and ethnic minority community.Methods:  A sample of 329 drinkers was recruited from 17 randomly selected off‐sell alcohol outlets in South Los Angeles. Respondents were interviewed by trained research personnel on their demographic characteristics, income, drinking patterns and preferences, and alcohol‐related adverse consequences (using the Drinkers Inventory of Consequences—DrInC), among other items. We developed logistic regression models predicting high scores on DrInC total score and subscales (impulse control, interpersonal, intrapersonal, physical, and social responsibility).Results:  In this sample, we found drinking patterns—bingeing, drinking outdoors, drinking in the morning—to be significantly associated with total DrInC scores and some subscales. Malt liquor beverage (MLB) use was significantly associated with total DrInC score and interpersonal and social responsibility subscales. Previous alcohol treatment predicted all but 1 DrInC subscale and total score.Conclusions:  A diverse array of factors predicted high DrInC total and subscale scores. More research on the association between MLB use and consequences is required. In addition, studies with community samples are likely to further enrich our understanding of the interactions between drinking patterns and preferences, settings, and negative consequences.
A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of rosiglitazone for clozapine‐induced glucose metabolism impairment in patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Henderson D. C. , Fan X. , Sharma B. , Copeland P. M. , Borba C. P. , Boxill R. , Freudenreich O. , Cather C. , Eden Evins A. , Goff D. C. 
Published: January 2009

Objective:  The primary purpose of this 8‐week double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of rosiglitazone 4 mg/day was to examine its effect on insulin sensitivity index (SI) and glucose utilization (SG) in clozapine‐treated subjects with schizophrenia with insulin resistance.Method:  Eighteen subjects were randomized and accessed with a Frequently Sampled Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test (FSIVGTT) at baseline and at week 8 to estimate SG and SI.Results:  Controlling for the baseline, comparing the rosiglitazone group with placebo group, there was a non‐significant improvement in SG (0.016 ± 0.006–0.018 ± 0.008, effect size = 0.23, P = 0.05) with a trend of improvement in SI in the rosiglitazone group (4.6 ± 2.8–7.8 ± 6.7, effect size = 0.18, P = 0.08). There was a significant reduction in small low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) particle number (987 ± 443–694 ± 415, effect size = 0.30, P = 0.04).Conclusion:  Rosiglitazone may have a role in addressing insulin resistance and lipid abnormalities associated with clozapine.
Which comes first: atypical antipsychotic treatment or cardiometabolic risk?
Authors: Stahl S. M. , Mignon L. , Meyer J. M. 
Published: January 2009

Objective:  To provide an overview for practicing clinicians on the pharmacological basis of cardiometabolic risk induced by antipsychotic drugs in patients with serious mental illness, to propose hypotheses to explain these risks and to give tips for managing cardiometabolic risk during antipsychotic treatment.Method:  A MEDLINE search using terms for atypical antipsychotics (including individual drug names), metabolic, cardiovascular, weight gain and insulin resistance, cross‐referenced with schizophrenia was performed on articles published between 1990 and May 2008.Results:  Strong evidence exists for significant cardiometabolic risk differences among several antipsychotic agents. Histamine H1 and serotonin 5HT2C antagonism are associated with risk of weight gain, but receptor targets for dyslipidemia and insulin resistance have not yet been identified. Convincing data indicate that hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance may occur in the absence of weight gain with certain antipsychotics.Conclusion:  Although lifestyle and genetics may contribute independent risks of cardiometabolic dysfunction in schizophrenia and other serious mental illness, antipsychotic treatment also represents an important contributor to risk of cardiometabolic dysfunction, particularly for certain drugs and for vulnerable patients. Mental health professionals must learn to recognize the clinical signposts indicating antipsychotic‐related cardiometabolic problems to forestall progression to type II diabetes, cardiovascular events and premature death.
Predictors of response to Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving (STEPPS) for borderline personality disorder: an exploratory study
Authors: Black D. W. , Allen J. , St. John D. , Pfohl B. , McCormick B. , Blum N. 
Published: January 2009

Objective:  Few predictors of treatment outcome or early discontinuation have been identified in persons with borderline personality disorder (BPD).Aim:  The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between baseline clinical variables and treatment response and early discontinuation in a randomized controlled trial of System Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving, a new cognitive group treatment.Method:  Improvement was rated using the Zanarini Rating Scale for BPD, the Clinical Global Impression Scale, the Global Assessment Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. Subjects were assessed during the 20 week trial and a 1‐year follow‐up.Results:  Higher baseline severity was associated with greater improvement in global functioning and BPD‐related symptoms. Higher impulsivity was predictive of early discontinuation. Optimal improvement was associated with attending ≥15 sessions.Conclusion:  Subjects likely to improve have the more severe BPD symptoms at baseline, while high levels of impulsivity are associated with early discontinuation.
Atypical depression is associated with suicide attempt in bipolar disorder
Authors: Sánchez‐Gistau V. , Colom F. , Mané A. , Romero S. , Sugranyes G. , Vieta E. 
Published: January 2009

Objective:  There is a dearth of research focusing on factors associated with suicide attempts. High rates of atypical depression have been reported in studies including unipolar and bipolar II patients. In this study, the association between suicide attempt and atypical depression, in addition to other major risk factors, was evaluated in 390 bipolar I and II out‐patients.Method:  Variables were defined according to DSM‐IV criteria, and assessed with a Structured Interview for DSM‐IV (axis I and II). History of suicide attempt was obtained through interviews with patients and relatives. Attempters and non‐attempters were compared using univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:  Attempters showed significantly higher rates of atypical depression, family history of completed suicide, depression at index episode and cluster B personality disorder.Conclusion:  Our results highlight the relevance of atypical depression in bipolar disorder. A more accurate identification of potential attempters may contribute to the development of effective preventive treatment strategies.
REVIEW ARTICLE: Control of Interferon‐Tau Expression During Early Pregnancy in Ruminants
Authors: Ealy Alan D. , Yang Qi En 
Published: January 2009

Problem  A type I interferon (IFN), termed IFN‐tau (τ), is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of early pregnancy in cattle and sheep. The control of IFNτ gene (IFNT) expression is not completely understood.Method of study  This article will provide an overview of recent progress made in understanding the dynamic expression pattern of IFNT during pre‐ and peri‐attachment conceptus development.Results  Several ubiquitous transcriptional regulators (Ets2 and AP1) and at least two trophectoderm factors (Cdx2 and Dlx3) control IFNT transcription during early pregnancy. Co‐activators (CBP/p300) are also involved in this process. At least two uterine‐derived factors (GM‐CSF and FGF2) stimulate IFN‐τ production in bovine trophectoderm, and multiple signaling pathways are functionally linked with IFNT expression.Conclusion  Although understanding the regulation of IFNT expression is far from complete, considerable progress has been made in uncovering how uterine‐derived factors and key placental‐specific transcriptional regulators control IFNT expression.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Changes in the Subpopulation of CD25+ CD4+ and FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells in Decidua with Respect to the Progression of Labor at Term and the Lack of Analogical Changes in the Subpopulation of Suppressive B7‐H4+ Macrophages – A Preliminary Report
Authors: Galazka Krystyna , Wicherek Lukasz , Pitynski Kazimierz , Kijowski Jacek , Zajac Kszysztof , Bednarek Wieslawa , Dutsch‐Wicherek Magdalena , Rytlewski Krzysztof , Kalinka Jaroslaw , Basta Antoni , Majka Marcin 
Published: January 2009

Problem  The initiation of labor is accompanied by alterations in the level of maternal immune tolerance toward fetal antigens. It is a complex molecular response leading to a brief activation of the maternal immune system with an accompanying capacity to restrict this same activation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the subpopulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and B7‐H4 macrophages in the decidua basalis during cesarean sections performed on patients in various stages of labor.Method of study  The decidual tissue samples evaluated in our study were obtained from 23 pregnant women who underwent cesarean sections at term. Moreover, the patients were divided into three subgroups according to the progression of labor at the time of the cesarean. The presence of Treg cells and B7‐H4 positive macrophages were analysed by fluorescence‐activated cell sorter.Results  The percentages of FOXP3+ cells in the subpopulation of CD25+ CD4+ T lymphocytes found in the deciduas of patients decreased with the successive stages of labor, while the percentages of B7‐H4 positive cells in the macrophage subpopulation remained almost constant.Conclusion  These changes in the Treg cell subpopulation in the decidua would seem to be related to a brief activation of the maternal immune system as labor begins and lack of analogical changes in the subpopulation of decidual suppressive B7‐H4+ macrophages that enable the restriction of this same activation as labor progresses.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: In situ Reconstruction of Humoral Immune Response Against Sperm: Comparison of SCID and NOD/SCID Mouse Models
Authors: Grygielska Beata , Kamieniczna Marzena , Wiland Ewa , Kurpisz Maciej 
Published: January 2009

Problem  Comparison of two types of immunocompromised mouse strains (SCID and NOD/SCID) for production of human antisperm antibodies (AsA).Method of study  Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were grafted to mouse peritoneal cavity and sensitized with natively glycosylated and N‐deglycosylated sperm extracts.Results and conclusion  NOD/SCID mice inoculated with hu‐PBLs exhibited higher AsA titres with a tendency for greater sperm agglutination than human AsA raised in SCID mouse model. A comparison between ‘native’ and deglycosylated sperm extracts revealed higher agglutination titres by sera induced with the latter ones. Inhibitory effect of human polyclonal AsA in sperm penetration assay, however, produced opposite results to that for agglutination. Western immunoblotting was used to evaluate reactive sperm antigens prior to and after in situ sensitization showing multiple bands different from positive reactions brought by original sera of in vivo primed AsA‐positive males. It seems that in situ generated AsA recognized sperm entities different from those revealed by blood donor’s sera samples.