bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self-rated health in Pakistan: results of a national health survey
Authors: Ahmad Khabir , Jafar Tazeen H , Chaturvedi Nish 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Background
Self-rated health (SRH) is a robust predictor of mortality. In UK, migrants of South Asian descent, compared to native Caucasian populations, have substantially poorer SRH. Despite its validation among migrant South Asian populations and its popularity in developed countries as a useful public health tool, the SRH scale has not been used at a population level in countries in South Asia. We determined the prevalence of and risk factors for poor/fair SRH among individuals aged ≥15 years in Pakistan (n = 9442).

Methods
The National Health Survey of Pakistan was a cross-sectional population-based survey, conducted between 1990 and 1994, of 18 135 individuals aged 6 months and above; 9442 of them were aged ≥15 years. Our main outcome was SRH which was assessed using the question: "Would you say your health in general is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?" SRH was dichotomized into poor/fair, and good (excellent, very good, or good).

Results
Overall 65.1% respondents – 51.3 % men vs. 77.2 % women – rated their health as poor/fair. We found a significant interaction between sex and age (p < 0.0001). The interaction was due to the gender differences only in the ages 15–19 years, whereas poor/fair SRH at all older ages was more prevalent among women and increased at the same rate as it did among men. We also found province of dwelling, low or middle SES, literacy, rural dwelling and current tobacco use to be independently associated with poor/fair SRH.

Conclusion
This is the first study reporting on poor/fair SRH at a population-level in a South Asian country. The prevalence of poor/fair health in Pakistan, especially amongst women, is one of the worst ever reported, warranting immediate attention. Further research is needed to explain why women in Pakistan have, at all ages, poorer SRH than men.
Is the routine drainage after surgery for thyroid necessary? - A prospective randomized clinical study [ISRCTN63623153]
Authors: Khanna Jotinder , Mohil RS , Chintamani  , Bhatnagar Dinesh , Mittal MK , Sahoo M , Mehrotra Magan 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Background
Drains are usually left after thyroid surgery to prevent formation of hematoma and seroma in the thyroid bed. This is done to reduce complications and hospital stay. Objective evaluation of the amount collected in the thyroid bed by ultrasonography (USG) can help in assessing the role of drains.

Methods
A randomized prospective control study was conducted on 94 patients undergoing 102 thyroid surgeries, over a period of fifteen months. Patients included in the study were randomly allocated to drain and non-drain group on the basis of computer generated random number table. The surgeon was informed of the group just before the closure of the wound Postoperatively USG neck was done on first and seventh postoperative day by the same ultrasonologist each time. Any swelling, change in voice, tetany and tingling sensation were also recorded. The data was analyzed using two-sample t-test for calculating unequal variance.

Results
Both groups were evenly balanced according to age, sex, and size of tumor, type of procedure performed and histopathological diagnosis. There was no significant difference in collection of thyroid bed assessed by USG on D1 & D7 in the two groups (p = 0.313) but the hospital stay was significantly reduced in the non-drain group (p = 0.007). One patient in the drain group required needle aspiration for collection in thyroid bed. No patient in either group required re-operation for bleeding or haematoma.

Conclusion
Routine drainage of thyroid bed following thyroid surgery may not be necessary. Not draining the wound results in lesser morbidity and decreased hospital stay.
Investigation of non-uniform airflow signal oscillation during high frequency chest compression
Authors: Sohn Kiwon , Warwick Warren J , Lee Yong W , Lee Jongwon , Holte James E 
Published: May 2005

Abstract

Background
High frequency chest compression (HFCC) is a useful and popular therapy for clearing bronchial airways of excessive or thicker mucus. Our observation of respiratory airflow of a subject during use of HFCC showed the airflow oscillation by HFCC was strongly influenced by the nonlinearity of the respiratory system. We used a computational model-based approach to analyse the respiratory airflow during use of HFCC.

Methods
The computational model, which is based on previous physiological studies and represented by an electrical circuit analogue, was used for simulation of in vivo protocol that shows the nonlinearity of the respiratory system. Besides, airflow was measured during use of HFCC. We compared the simulation results to either the measured data or the previous research, to understand and explain the observations.

Results and discussion
We could observe two important phenomena during respiration pertaining to the airflow signal oscillation generated by HFCC. The amplitudes of HFCC airflow signals varied depending on spontaneous airflow signals. We used the simulation results to investigate how the nonlinearity of airway resistance, lung capacitance, and inertance of air characterized the respiratory airflow. The simulation results indicated that lung capacitance or the inertance of air is also not a factor in the non-uniformity of HFCC airflow signals. Although not perfect, our circuit analogue model allows us to effectively simulate the nonlinear characteristics of the respiratory system.

Conclusion
We found that the amplitudes of HFCC airflow signals behave as a function of spontaneous airflow signals. This is due to the nonlinearity of the respiratory system, particularly variations in airway resistance.
Comparison between swallowing and chewing of garlic on levels of serum lipids, cyclosporine, creatinine and lipid peroxidation in Renal Transplant Recipients
Authors: Jabbari Abbas , Argani Hassan , Ghorbanihaghjo Amir , Mahdavi Reza 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Abstract Hyperlipidemia and increased degree of oxidative stress are among the important risk factors for Atherosclerosis in renal transplant recipients (RTR). The Medical treatment of hyperlipidemia in RTR because of drugs side effects has been problematic, therefore alternative methods such as using of Garlic as an effective material in cholesterol lowering and inhibition of LDL Oxidation has been noted. For evaluation of garlic effect on RTR, 50 renal transplant patients with stable renal function were selected and divided into 2 groups. They took one clove of garlic (1 gr) by chewing or swallowing for two months, after one month wash-out period, they took garlic by the other route. Results indicated that although lipid profile, BUN, Cr, serum levels of cyclosporine and diastolic blood pressure did not change, Systolic blood pressure decreased from138.2 to 132.8 mmHg (p=0.001) and Malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased from 2.4 to1.7 nmol/ml (p=0.009) by swallowing route, Cholesterol decreased from 205.1 to 195.3 mg/dl (p=0.03), triglyceride decreased from 195.7 to 174.8 mg/dl (p=0.008), MDA decreased from 2.5 to 1.6 nmol/ml (p=0.001), systolic blood pressure decreased from 137.5 to 129.8 mmHg (p=0.001), diastolic blood pressure decreased from 84.6 to 77.6 mmHg (p=0.001) and Cr decreased from 1.51 to 1.44 mg/dl (p=0.03) by chewing route too. However HDL, LDL and cyclosporine serum levels had no significant differences by both of swallowing and chewing routes. We conclude that undamaged garlic (swallowed) had no lowering effect on lipid level of serum. But Crushed garlic (chewed) reduces cholesterol, triglyceride, MDA and blood pressure. Additionally creatinine reduced without notable decrease in cyclosporine serum levels may be due to cyclosporine nephrotoxicity ameliorating effect of garlic.
The anti-tumor effect of Apo2L/TRAIL on patient pancreatic adenocarcinomas grown as xenografts in SCID mice
Authors: Hylander Bonnie L , Pitoniak Rose , Penetrante Remedios B , Gibbs John F , Oktay Dilek , Cheng Jinrong , Repasky Elizabeth A 
Published: May 2005

Abstract

Background
Apo2L/TRAIL has considerable promise for cancer therapy based on the fact that this member of the tumor necrosis factor family induces apoptosis in the majority of malignant cells, while normal cells are more resistant. Furthermore, in many cells, when Apo2L/TRAIL is combined with chemotherapy, the effect is synergistic. The majority of this work has been carried out using cell lines. Therefore, investigation of how patient tumors respond to Apo2L/TRAIL can validate and/or complement information obtained from cell lines and prove valuable in the design of future clinical trials.

Methods
We have investigated the Apo2L/TRAIL sensitivity of patient derived pancreatic tumors using a patient tumor xenograft/ SCID mouse model. Mice bearing engrafted tumors were treated with Apo2L/TRAIL, gemcitabine or a combination of both therapies.

Results
Patient tumors grown as xenografts exhibited a spectrum of sensitivity to Apo2L/TRAIL. Both Apo2L/TRAIL sensitive and resistant pancreatic tumors were found, as well as tumors that showed heterogeneity of response. Changes in apoptotic signaling molecules in a sensitive tumor were analyzed by Western blot following Apo2L/TRAIL treatment; loss of procaspase 8, Bid and procaspase 3 was observed and correlated with inhibition of tumor growth. However, in a tumor that was highly resistant to killing by Apo2L/TRAIL, although there was a partial loss of procaspase 8 and Bid in response to Apo2L/TRAIL treatment, loss of procaspase 3 was negligible. This resistant tumor also expressed a high level of the anti-apoptotic molecule Bcl-XL that, in comparison, was not detected in a sensitive tumor. Importantly, in the majority of these tumors, addition of gemcitabine to Apo2L/TRAIL resulted in a greater anti-tumor effect than either therapy used alone.

Conclusion
These data suggest that in a clinical setting we will see heterogeneity in the response of patients' tumors to Apo2L/TRAIL, including tumors that are highly sensitive as well as those that are resistant. While much more work is needed to understand the molecular basis for this heterogeneity, it is very encouraging, that Apo2L/TRAIL in combination with gemcitabine increased therapeutic efficacy in almost every case and therefore may be a highly effective strategy for controlling human pancreatic cancer validating and expanding upon what has been reported for cell lines.
APOBEC3G targets human T-cell leukemia virus type 1
Authors: Sasada Amane , Takaori-Kondo Akifumi , Shirakawa Kotaro , Kobayashi Masayuki , Abudu Aierkin , Hishizawa Masakatsu , Imada Kazunori , Tanaka Yuetsu , Uchiyama Takashi 
Published: May 2005

Abstract

Background
Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme-catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G) is a host cellular protein with a broad antiviral activity. It inhibits infectivitiy of a wide variety of retroviruses by deaminating deoxycytidine (dC) into deoxyuridine (dU) in newly synthesized minus strand DNA, resulting in G-to-A hypermutation of the viral plus strand DNA. To clarify the mechanism of its function, we have examined the antiviral activity of APOBEC3G on human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the first identified human retrovirus.

Results
In this study, we have demonstrated that overexpressed as well as endogenous APOBEC3G were incorporated into HTLV-1 virions and that APOBEC3G inhibited the infection of HTLV-1. Interestingly, several inactive mutants of APOBEC3G also inhibited HTLV-1 and no G-to-A hypermutation was induced by APOBEC3G in HTLV-1 genome. Furthermore, we introduced the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vif gene into HTLV-1 producing cell line, MT-2, to antagonize APOBEC3G by reducing its intracellular expression and virion incorporation, which resulted in upregulation of the infectivity of produced viruses.

Conclusion
APOBEC3G is incorporated into HTLV-1 virions and inhibits the infection of HTLV-1 without exerting its cytidine deaminase activity. These results suggest that APOBEC3G might act on HTLV-1 through different mechanisms from that on HIV-1 and contribute to the unique features of HTLV-1 infection and transmission.
Re-interpreting the data on the cost and effectiveness of population screening for colorectal cancer in Australia
Authors: Graves Nicholas , McKinnon Loretta , Leggett Barbara , Newman Beth 
Published: May 2005

AbstractThree studies report estimates of the cost and effectiveness of alternate strategies for screening the average-risk Australian population for colorectal cancer. The options considered are faecal occult blood testing, double contrast barium enema, sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy. At present, there is no consensus over which screening method is optimal by the economic criterion. Also, the existing studies report a mixture of average and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios derived from data collected between 1994 and 2002. We suggestaveragecost-effectiveness ratios are not useful for decision-making and illustrate how they differ from the preferredincrementalcost-effectiveness ratio. We then update the cost data reported in the three studies to 2002 prices and calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios where not previously available. Our re-analysis of one study contradicts the conclusions drawn by the authors, who had only calculated average cost-effectiveness ratios. In particular, we find their recommendation of population screening with colonoscopy would cause, annually, between 33 and 1,322 years of life to be lost and between $M17 and $M87 to be wasted. Based on updated cost data and the incremental analysis, our findings indicate that population screening using biennial faecal occult blood testing ($39,459 per life-year gained), annual faecal occult blood testing ($30,556 per life-year gained) and colonoscopy ($26,587 per life-year gained) are cost-effective. Hence, the decision over which method of screening is optimal remains ambiguous across the three studies. We recommend policy-makers choose the study they believe produces the most accurate estimates of cost and health effect, identify their willingness to pay for health benefits and consider other issues relevant to the decision.
Menopausal hormone therapy after breast cancer: a meta-analysis and critical appraisal of the evidence
Authors: Col Nananda F , Kim Jung A , Chlebowski Rowan T 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Introduction
Menopausal hormone therapy (HT) is typically withheld from breast cancer survivors because of concerns about risk for recurrence. Our objectives were to estimate the effects of HT on recurrence in breast cancer survivors and to examine the reliability of these estimates.

Methods
In a systematic review of the literature we identified all reports of HT use in breast cancer survivors that included comparison groups. Study design features that might affect selection of participants, detection of recurrence, and manuscript publication were assessed. The relative risks for breast cancer recurrence associated with HT were combined with random effects models.

Results
Two randomized and eight observational studies included 1,316 breast cancer survivors who used HT and 2,839 nonusers. In the observational studies, HT users were younger and more commonly node negative; only two reported balanced restaging for HT and control groups. Randomized trials suggest that HT increased the risk for recurrence (relative risk 3.41, 95% confidence interval 1.59–7.33), whereas observational studies suggest that HT decreased this risk (relative risk 0.64, 95% confidence interval 0.50–0.82).

Conclusion
Results from observational studies of HT conducted in breast cancer survivors are discrepant with results from randomized trials. Observational studies of HT use in breast cancer survivors have design limitations that cannot be controlled for using standard statistical methods. Therefore, the randomized clinical trial data provide the only reliable estimates of the effect of HT use on recurrence risks in breast cancer survivors.
Effect of Sn in Pt–Ru–Sn Ternary Catalysts for CO/H2 and Methanol Electrooxidation
Authors: Kim Taeyoon , Kobayashi Koichi , Takahashi Masashi , Nagai Masayuki 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
The activity for methanol oxidation of Pt3Ru2Sn/C was significantly higher than that of Pt/C or PtRu/C catalyst by improving CO tolerance. The higher CO tolerance property of Pt3Ru2Sn/C was caused by the synergic effects of Ru as a water activator and Sn as an electronic modifier of Pt. In ternary alloy catalyst including the efficient water activator, the Pt–CO bond strength could become important factor.
A Synthetic Bifunctional Enzyme Model with Superoxide Dismutase and Glutathione Peroxidase Activities
Authors: Dong Zeyuan , Huang Xin , Mao Shizhong , Liu Junqiu , Luo Guimin , Shen Jiacong 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
The synthetic bifunctional enzyme model manganese(III) meso-tetrakis[4-(3-allylselenopropyl)oxycarbonylphenyl]porphyrin (Se-Mn(III)-TCPP) demonstrates both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities.
Nano-architecture on Carbon Nanotube Surface by Biomimetic Coating
Authors: Akasaka Tsukasa , Watari Fumio 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Calcium phosphate (Ca-P) coating on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was done with a biomimetic coating method. The multi-walled CNTs (MWNTs) were immersed for 2 weeks in the simulated body fluid. Observation by scanning electron microscopy showed that needle shape of Ca-P crystallites at nano-scale levels were massively grown on MWNTs. Thus the nano-architecture of crystalline Ca-P on MWNT surface could be produced by simple method and the MWNT may be acting as core for initial crystallization.
LPFML: A W3C XML Schema for Linear and Integer Programming
Authors: Fourer Robert , Lopes Leo , Martin Kipp 
Published: May 2005

There are numerous modeling systems for generating linear programs and numerous solvers for optimizing them. However, it is often impossible for modelers to combine their preferred modeling system with their preferred solver. Current modeling systems use their own proprietary model-instance formats that various solvers have been adapted to recognize. The existence of all of these formats suggests that one way to encourage modeling-system and solver compatibility is to use a standard representation of a problem instance. Such a standard must be simple to manipulate and validate, be able to express instance-specific and vendor-specific information, and promote the integration of optimization software with other software. In this paper we present LPFML, an XML Schema for representing linear-programming (LP) instances. In addition, we provide open-source C++ libraries that simplify the exchange of problem-instance and solution information between modeling systems and solvers. We show how our system is used to enable previously unavailable language-solver connections and how our design improves on the state of the art under three different scenarios relevant to communication between solvers and modeling systems.
Third-Party Product Review and Firm Marketing Strategy
Authors: Chen Yubo , Xie Jinhong 
Published: May 2005

Product reviews by third parties are growing in popularity. This paper examines when and how a manufacturing firm should adapt its marketing strategies to such reviews. For example, should a firm receiving an unfavorable review reduce its price or adjust its advertising? Should a winning product of a product review (e.g., “editor’s choice”) boost its advertising expenditure to spread the good news? How should firms’ strategic responses to product reviews differ across different types of product reviews (description vs. recommendation) and different advertising media (the reviewer’s publication vs. other media)? We develop a theory to address these issues and derive firms’ optimal responses to product reviews under different product/market/review/media conditions. We show that firms should choose advertising rather than price as a strategic variable in response to product reviews when enough consumers value horizontal product attributes. Surprisingly, we find that using a review-endorsed advertising format (i.e., advertisements containing third-party award logos) to broadcast its victory can hurt the winning product of a product review. Also, it is not necessarily wise for the winning products to boost advertising expenditures to spread the good news. Data from two industries—printers and running shoes—are used to illustrate some of our findings.
“Counting Your Customers” the Easy Way: An Alternative to the Pareto/NBD Model
Authors: Fader Peter S. , Hardie Bruce G. S. , Lee Ka Lok 
Published: May 2005

Today’s managers are very interested in predicting the future purchasing patterns of their customers, which can then serve as an input into “lifetime value” calculations. Among the models that provide such capabilities, the Pareto/NBD “counting your customers” framework proposed by Schmittlein et al. (1987) is highly regarded. However, despite the respect it has earned, it has proven to be a difficult model to implement, particularly because of computational challenges associated with parameter estimation. We develop a new model, the beta-geometric/NBD (BG/NBD), which represents a slight variation in the behavioral “story” associated with the Pareto/NBD but is vastly easier to implement. We show, for instance, how its parameters can be obtained quite easily in Microsoft Excel. The two models yield very similar results in a wide variety of purchasing environments, leading us to suggest that the BG/NBD could be viewed as an attractive alternative to the Pareto/NBD in most applications.
Computational studies of nonadiabatic effects in gas—surface encounters
Authors: Corriol Cécile , Darling George R. , Holloway Stephen 
Published: May 2005

AbstractModel studies are presented, each of which employs a different approach to solving the problem of nonadiabatic dynamics occurring at a solid surface. The jumping wave packet‐type approach involving dynamics on two potential energy surfaces punctuated by Franck—Condon transitions was applied to the dynamics of CO desorbed from Ru following energetic electron bombardment. Classical dynamics was also employed in this system to gain a more detailed understanding of the factors important to the final molecular state distribution. To study charge transfer from an alkali‐halide surface to a scattering atom, we have used full multi‐surface quantum dynamics. A simple, but effective, analysis method was used to make a more detailed connection between the potential energy surfaces and the dynamics. To study the fate of the transferred electron and to model how this depends on substrate and projectile species, we have used a four‐dimensional wave packet implementation in which two of the dimensions explicitly account for the electron dynamics. Finally, we consider the famous electron—hole pair excitation problem, from a density functional theory perspective. Spin nonadiabaticity is found to be a new important feature in gas—metal surface interactions.