bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening for intracranial aneurysms in patients with isolated polycystic liver disease
Authors: Schievink Wouter I. , Spetzler Robert F.
Published: June 2009

Object. Isolated polycystic liver disease, that is, polycystic liver disease without kidney cysts, is an entity distinct from polycystic kidney disease. It is not known whether patients with isolated polycystic liver disease are at an increased risk for developing intracranial aneurysms, similar to patients with polycystic kidney disease. The authors screened individuals for intracranial aneurysms in a family in which isolated polycystic liver disease occurred to study the relationship between these two disorders.

Methods. Six siblings requested screening for intracranial aneurysms. Their father had died of a middle cerebral artery aneurysm. Isolated polycystic liver disease was found at autopsy. Their paternal aunt had died of a basilar artery aneurysm, but no autopsy had been performed in that case. Screening with magnetic resonance (MR) angiography and subsequent conventional angiography showed a 5-mm posterior communicating artery aneurysm in one sibling in whom abdominal ultrasound examination yielded normal findings and a posterior communicating artery infundibulum in another sibling in whom an ultrasound examination detected isolated polycystic liver disease. Screening did not detect aneurysms or polycystic liver disease in the other siblings. Thus, of the two patients with isolated polycystic liver disease in this family, one had a ruptured aneurysm and the other had an infundibulum.

Conclusions. Findings in this family suggest an association between isolated polycystic liver disease and intracranial aneurysms. However, because of the delay in onset of the appearance of liver cysts in individuals who carry the disease gene, abdominal ultrasonography is not a useful method to exclude those family members at risk for aneurysm development.
Teratomas of the central nervous system: treatment considerations based on 34 cases
Authors: Sawamura Yutaka , Kato Tsutomu , Ikeda Jun , Murata Jun-ichi , Tada Mitsuhiro , Shirato Hiroki
Published: June 2009

Object. The optimum clinical management of central nervous system (CNS) teratomas, particularly postsurgical adjuvant therapy, is still unclear, partly as a result of the tumors' low incidence. In this study the authors analyze 34 cases of CNS teratomas so that they may adequately indicate management of these lesions.

Methods. The median age of the 34 patients was 13 years. Twenty-seven patients treated between 1970 and 1991 were retrospectively reviewed. Four of these 27 patients died as a result of radical surgery; each of them had a teratoma involving the hypothalamus. After initial treatment, which included radiation therapy, 20 patients (48%) had died. In all seven cases of mature teratomas there was no recurrence. In two cases of immature teratomas in which there was complete surgical resection there was recurrence; however, salvage therapies were effective. Seven of eight patients with highly malignant teratomas died; for these patients salvage therapies, including repeated radiation and chemotherapy, failed. Seven patients who presented with CNS teratomas between 1992 and 1996 received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy according to a prospective study protocol. All seven patients were free from recurrence with a 70 to 100% Karnofsky Performance Scale score at a median follow-up period of 41 months. Patients with CNS teratomas rarely responded completely to chemotherapy or radiation therapy; an effective adjuvant therapy produced a partial response at best.

Conclusions. Because teratomas show various responses to adjuvant therapy, a misdiagnosis of their histological subtype will lead to inadequate therapy. A diverse therapeutic protocol based on histological diagnosis is necessary to plan appropriate management. Treatment recommendations are discussed in detail in the article.
Selective transvenous embolization of dural carotid—cavernous sinus fistulas with preservation of sylvian venous outflow
Authors: Nakamura Mitsugu , Tamaki Norihiko , Kawaguchi Tetsuro , Fujita Shigekiyo
Published: June 2009

✓ A transvenous embolization technique in which normal cerebral venous drainage can be spared is described. Of 26 dural carotid—cavernous fistulas treated by the authors, the affected cavernous sinus received not only the shunted flow but also the sylvian venous drainage in three cases. Two patients presented with an abducent nerve palsy, and one with an oculomotor nerve palsy. Selective transvenous embolization of the fistulous portions of the affected cavernous sinus was achieved, with preservation of the sylvian venous outflow. Postembolization angiograms revealed complete occlusion of the fistula in one patient and only a small amount of residual shunt in the other two. One of these two underwent subsequent transarterial embolization, and the other was followed without additional treatment. The patients' symptoms resolved between 1 and 2 months posttreatment. Follow-up angiograms revealed that the remnant shunt had disappeared and the sylvian venous pathway had been preserved. The authors conclude that selective transvenous embolization of fistulous compartments in an affected sinus can be used to treat dural arteriovenous fistulas involving a cavernous sinus that also receives the sylvian venous outflow.
Neuroradiological characteristics of ecchordosis physaliphora
Authors: Toda Hiroki , Kondo Akinori , Iwasaki Koichi
Published: June 2009

✓ An extremely rare case of ecchordosis physaliphora is presented in which the authors focus especially on its radiological characteristics. The patient complained of a headache with no other neurological abnormalities. A thorough radiological examination revealed a small intradural prepontine mass with no bone destruction of the clivus. Magnetic resonance imaging was very useful in visualizing this mass as a low signal intensity lesion on T1-weighted images and as a high signal intensity lesion on T2-weighted images without any contrast enhancing effects. At surgery, a cystic gelatinous nodule was found ventral to the pons; the nodule was connected to the dorsal wall of the clivus via a delicate stalk. Histological studies proved that this was an ecchordosis physaliphora. Review of the literature demonstrates that the reported cases of ecchordoses have many common radiological features that would suggest the diagnosis of this rare disease.
Chiari Type I malformation and syringomyelia in unrelated patients with blepharophimosis
Authors: Paquis Philippe , Lonjon Michel , Brunet Madeleine , Lambert Jean Claude , Grellier Patrick
Published: June 2009

✓ Syringomyelia is a rare, mainly sporadic disease of the spinal cord, which is associated with 80% of cases in which a Chiari Type I malformation is also present. A mendelian transmission of syringomyelia (autosomal dominant or recessive) has been proposed in approximately 2% of reported cases. The association of syringomyelia with hereditary diseases (Noonan's syndrome, phacomatoses) has been mentioned frequently in the literature.

The authors report the presence of a Chiari Type I malformation accompanied by syringomyelia in two unrelated patients affected by a familial Type II blepharophimosis—ptosis—epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES). The first patient was a 35-year-old woman who presented with a right C-8 root paresia. The second case involved a 20-year-old man who complained of cervical radicular pain. Both belong to families in which BPES was segregated in an autosomal dominant modality, but other family members had no known neurological symptoms. To the authors' knowledge, such a combination has never been described. Perhaps the possible involvement of a genetic component in some cases of Chiari Type I—associated syringomyelia will someday be debated.
Waterjet dissection of the brain: experimental and first clinical results
Authors: Piek Jürgen , Wille Christian , Warzok Rolf , Gaab Michael-Robert
Published: June 2009

✓ Control of bleeding during dissection is a problem that is still not completely resolved in neurosurgical procedures. To overcome this problem in some settings, the authors, in close collaboration with their institution, developed a new device for blunt dissection of brain tumors that is based on a waterjet technique. This report describes their first experimental and clinical experience with this new method. Numerous cutting experiments were performed in porcine cadaver brains. The best results were obtained using pressures from 4 to 6 bars with a 100-jxm tip, which produced very small, precise cuts. Histological evaluation showed no disruption or vacuolization of the surrounding tissue.

The authors have used the new device in nine patients (seven with gliomas and two undergoing temporal lobe resections for epilepsy), and no complications have been observed. The waterjet device allowed dissection of the brain tissue while even small exposed vessels were spared injury. The instrument was found to be easy to use. Future investigations will concentrate on adapting this new method to endoscopic surgery and evaluating fluids with low surface tension to avoid foaming and bubbling during open surgery.
A neurosurgical way of life
Authors: Laws Edward R.
Published: June 2009

✓ The author provides a review of the relationship between Harvey Cushing and William Osler. Dr. Osler's influence on Cushing's role as a leader in neurosurgery is examined. Some basic principles of a neurosurgical “Way of Life” are reviewed.
Apoptosis after traumatic human spinal cord injury
Authors: Emery Evelyne , Aldana Philipp , Bunge Mary Bartlett , Puckett William , Srinivasan Anu , Keane Robert W. , Bethea John , Levi Allan D. O.
Published: June 2009

Object. Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death seen in a variety of developmental and disease states, including traumatic injuries. The main objective of this study was to determine whether apoptosis is observed after human spinal cord injury (SCI). The spatial and temporal expression of apoptotic cells as well as the nature of the cells involved in programmed cell death were also investigated.

Methods. The authors examined the spinal cords of 15 patients who died between 3 hours and 2 months after a traumatic SCI. Apoptotic cells were found at the edges of the lesion epicenter and in the adjacent white matter, particularly in the ascending tracts, by using histological (cresyl violet, hematoxylin and eosin) and nuclear staining (Hoechst 33342). The presence of apoptotic cells was supported by staining with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridinetriphosphate nick-end labeling technique and confirmed by immunostaining for the processed form of caspase-3 (CPP-32), a member of the interleukin-1β-converting enzyme/Caenorhabditis elegans D 3 (ICE/CED-3) family of proteases that plays an essential role in programmed cell death. Apoptosis in this series of human SCIs was a prominent pathological finding in 14 of the 15 spinal cords examined when compared with five uninjured control spinal cords. To determine the type of cells undergoing apoptosis, the authors immunostained specimens with a variety of antibodies, including glial fibrillary acidic protein, 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase (CNPase), and CD45/68. Oligodendrocytes stained with CNPase and a number of apoptotic nuclei colocalized with positive staining for this antibody.

Conclusions. These results support the hypothesis that apoptosis occurs in human SCIs and is accompanied by the activation of caspase-3 of the cysteine protease family. This mechanism of cell death contributes to the secondary injury processes seen after human SCI and may have important clinical implications for the further development of protease inhibitors to prevent programmed cell death.
Localization of pituitary adenomas by using intraoperative ultrasoound pituitary in patients with Cushing's disease and no demonstrable tumor on magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Watson Joe C. , Shawker Thomas H. , Nieman Lynnette K. , DeVroom Hetty L. , Doppman John L. , Oldfield Edward H.
Published: June 2009

Object. Pituitary surgery has been reported to produce remission of Cushing's disease with preservation of pituitary function in only 60 to 70% of patients. The inability to identify an adenoma accounts for most failed sellar explorations. Most negative surgical explorations occur in patients in whom magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the pituitary demonstrates normal findings, which happens in at least 35 to 45% of patients with Cushing's disease.

Methods. To examine the usefulness of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) for identifying an adenoma in patients with no demonstrable tumor (negative findings) on pituitary MR imaging, we prospectively assessed the results of IOUS in 68 patients with a negative (59 patients) or equivocal (nine patients) MR image from a consecutive series of 107 patients with Cushing's disease (64%). We compared surgical findings and outcomes in these 68 patients with a group of 68 patients with Cushing's disease and negative findings on MR imaging in whom IOUS was not available.

Intraoperative ultrasonography localized a tumor in 47 (69%) of 68 patients with negative findings on MR imaging. Surprisingly, the size of the adenomas that were detected with IOUS compared with the size of those not detected did not differ (6.8 ± 3.4 mm compared with 6.1 ± 2.8 mm [mean ± standard deviation], respectively [p = 0.5]). In four patients, no adenoma was found at surgery or in the pathological specimen (“true negative”). In eight patients, nine abnormalities detected by IOUS that were suspected adenomas were negative on exploration (“false positive”). Thus, IOUS has a sensitivity of 73% and a positive predictive value of 84% for detecting pituitary adenomas in patients with Cushing's disease and negative findings on MR imaging. Compared with the 68 patients who did not undergo IOUS, remission after surgery was improved (61 patients [90%] compared with 57 patients [84%]), the number of tumors found on exploration was increased (61 tumors compared with 51 tumors; p = 0.02), and the number of hemihypophysectomies was decreased (five compared with 15; p = 0.02) with IOUS. When the groups were compared after excluding patients with prior pituitary surgery, tumors were found in 91% versus 72% (p = 0.008), and remission occurred in 95% versus 87% of patients, respectively, in the groups that had or did not have IOUS.

Conclusions. The IOUS is a sensitive imaging modality when used in patients with Cushing's disease in whom findings on pituitary MR imaging are negative. The improved ability to detect and localize these tumors by using IOUS positively affects surgical outcome.
Assessing disability after head injury: improved use of the Glasgow Outcome Scale
Authors: Pettigrew Laura E. L. , Wilson J. T. Lindsay , Teasdale Graham M.
Published: June 2009

Object. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) is widely used to assess outcome after head injury, but is recognized as having a number of shortcomings that are highlighted and investigated in this study. The authors pursued two goals: 1) investigating the practicality of using a standard set of questions as part of a structured interview to assign GOS scores, and 2) studying the role of preinjury problems in confounding postinjury assessment of disability.

Methods. Several of the major limitations of the GOS appear to arise from the use of a format that encourages impressionistic ratings. In the present study the authors examined the use of a standard interview for assessing the GOS covering five areas of social disability. Ratings were made for 80 head-injured patients. The results show that the rating based on the GOS provides an assessment of disability that is more complete than that given by an alternative scale of functional disability (Disability Rating Scale [DRS]) and much more complete than an assessment of physical disability (Barthel Activities of Daily Living [ADL] index). A measure of preinjury dependency was made revealing that, within this sample, 20% of patients required supervision in basic ADL before their injury.

Conclusions. Assignment of GOS scores based on information obtained using a structured interview format provides a more comprehensive assessment of disability than using the DRS or the ADL index. There is a need to standardize attitudes about preinjury dependency in assessing disability after head injury.
Erythrocytes and delayed brain edema formation following intracerebral hemorrhage in rats
Authors: Xi Guohua , Keep Richard F. , Hoff Julian T.
Published: June 2009

Object. The mechanisms of brain edema formation following spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are not well understood. In previous studies, no significant edema formation has been found 24 hours after infusion of packed red blood cells (RBCs) into the brain of a rat or pig; however, there is evidence that hemoglobin can be neurotoxic. In this study, the authors reexamined the role of RBCs and hemoglobin in edema formation after ICH.

Methods. The experiments involved infusion of whole blood, packed RBCs, lysed RBCs, rat hemoglobin, or thrombin into the right basal ganglia of Sprague—Dawley rats. The animals were killed at different time points and brain water and ion contents were measured. The results showed that lysed autologous erythrocytes, but not packed erythrocytes, produced marked brain edema 24 hours after infusion and that this edema formation could be mimicked by hemoglobin infusion. Although infusion of packed RBCs did not produce dramatic brain edema during the first 2 days, it did induce a marked increase in brain water content 3 days postinfusion. Edema formation following thrombin infusion peaked at 24 to 48 hours. This is earlier than the peak in edema formation that follows ICH, suggesting that there is a delayed, nonthrombin-mediated, edemogenic component of ICH.

Conclusions. These results demonstrate that RBCs play a potentially important role in delayed edema development after ICH and that RBC lysis and hemoglobin toxicity may be useful targets for therapeutic intervention.
Effects of erythrocyte lysate of different incubation times on intracellular free calcium in rat basilar artery smooth-muscle cells
Authors: Guan Yong-Yuan , Weir Bryce K. A. , Marton Linda S. , Macdonald R. Loch , Zhang He
Published: June 2009

Object. The purpose of this study was to characterize substance(s) in the erythrocytes that increase intracellular free Ca++ concentration ([Ca++]i) in smooth-muscle cells and that therefore may be involved in the pathogenesis of vasospasm.

Methods. Because vasospasm occurs days after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), the authors studied the effects of aged human erythrocyte hemolysate and its low-molecular-weight (LMW) and high-molecular-weight (HMW) fractions on [Ca++]i in freshly isolated rat basilar artery smooth-muscle cells. Fresh hemolysate (Day 0) produced a biphasic response consisting of a transient peak and a sustained plateau increase in [Ca++]i, whereas hemolysate prepared from cells incubated for 3, 7, or 14 days induced only a transient response without a sustained phase. The effect of hemolysate declined with increasing incubation time. The HMW fraction and purified human oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb) did not evoke a response. The LMW fraction from Days 3, 7, or 14 produced no response at low concentrations (<10%) and a transient response at high concentrations (> 20%), and the effect diminished with increasing incubation time. Unfractionated hemolysate or the LMW fraction of hemolysate incubated for 21 days produced no response. The combination of the 10% LMW fraction from Day 3 plus the 10% HMW fraction (Days 3, 7, 14, or 21) transiently increased [Ca++]i. However, [Ca++]i was not changed by the 10% LMW fraction from Day 14 plus the 10% HMW fraction from Day 3 or 14. In the presence of OxyHb, [Ca++]i was increased by the 10% LMW fraction on Days 3 and 7, but not by the LMW fraction from Days 14 or 21.

Conclusions. The decline over time in the effect of hemolysate on [Ca++]i indicates either that the time that substances are released from erythrocytes is important in the generation of vasospasm or that this experimental system as used is not representative of conditions present after SAH. The data indicate that the ability to elevate [Ca++]i in smooth-muscle cells with hemolysate is provided by multiple substances, including OxyHb. These substances may interact during specific times after incubation of erythrocytes in vitro.
Surgical treatment of superficial siderosis associated with a spinal arteriovenous malformation
Authors: Schievink Wouter I. , Apostolides Paul J. , Spetzler Robert F.
Published: June 2009

✓ In many patients with superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (CNS) no source of bleeding can be established, despite extensive examinations. The authors report a patient with superficial siderosis and a spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM) that was not visible on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging or myelography but was identified on angiographic studies.

This 71-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of progressive gait difficulties and hearing loss. Examination showed ataxia, hearing loss, and quadriparesis. On MR imaging superficial siderosis of the brain and spinal cord as seen; however, MR imaging of the CNS, as well as cerebral angiography and myelography studies, did not reveal the source of hemorrhage. Spinal angiography revealed a small slow-flow pial AVM at the C-5 level originating from the anterior spinal artery. A C-5 corpectomy was performed and the AVM was obliterated. The patient did well and reported no further progression of his symptoms during 3 months of follow up.

Spinal angiography is indicated to complete the evaluation of patients with superficial siderosis, even if results of spinal MR imaging and myelography studies are normal. Obliteration of spinal AVMs may successfully prevent the progression of superficial siderosis.
Successful surgical repair of progressive exophthalmos caused by a meningocele in a patient with neurofibromatosis Type 1
Authors: de Vries Joost , Freihofer Hans Peter M. , Menovsky Tomas , Cruysberg Johannes R. M.
Published: June 2009

✓ A case of surgical repair of progressive exophthalmos of the right eye in a 43-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is presented. Preoperatively, the patient's ocular movements and visual fields were intact. Visual acuity was 20/30 on the right side and 20/20 on the left. Computerized tomography scanning demonstrated complete absence of the superolateral orbital wall on the right side with a large meningocele protruding into the right orbit. Intraoperatively, a new superolateral wall was constructed using the inner table of the left frontal bone as a bone transplant. A free galeoperiosteum flap was used for water-tight dural reconstruction. A few weeks postoperatively the patient's exophthalmos showed remarkable resolution. Her ocular movements, visual acuity, and visual fields remained unchanged. In conclusion, reconstruction of the superolateral wall and repair of a meningocele in a patient with NF1 is worthwhile and can be followed by excellent cosmetic results. More important, the patient's visual functions remain preserved.
Spontaneous otogenic pneumocephalus
Authors: Dowd Gregory C. , Molony Timothy B. , Voorhies Rand M.
Published: June 2009

✓ Pneumocephalus is commonly seen in clinical neurosurgical practice. Typical causes include trauma, tumor, and infection. Pneumocephalus may also occur iatrogenically at the time of intracranial surgery; it is not pathological and may be seen routinely on postoperative neuroimaging. Pneumocephalus is rarely encountered in the absence of the aforementioned entities. The authors report on an elderly woman in whom spontaneous intraventricular pneumocephalus occurred because of a congenital defect in the left tegmen tympani. Eustachian tube closure and middle ear exclusion were used to obliterate the fistulous connection. This case illustrates both an unusual cause and a unique treatment for spontaneous otogenic pneumocephalus.
Manson's schistosomiasis presenting as a brain tumor
Authors: Mackenzie Ian R. A. , Guha Abhijit
Published: June 2009

✓ Neurological complications arising from schistosomiasis are uncommon, and reports of Manson's schistosomiasis presenting as an intracerebral mass lesion are particularly rare. The authors describe the case of a 26-year-old man with a 3-month history of headaches and visual abnormalities. He had immigrated to Canada from Brazil 4 years previously. The patient's general physical and neurological examinations were unremarkable. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed an enhancing lesion with surrounding edema and mild mass effect in the right occipital lobe. A stereotactic brain biopsy demonstrated intraparenchymal granulomas surrounding Schistosoma masoni eggs. The patient's symptoms resolved following treatment with praziquantel and steroid medications; follow-up MR imaging yielded normal findings. This case demonstrates that neuroschistosomiasis should be considered when an individual presenting with an intracerebral mass has lived in a region in which this disease is endemic.
Evidence for end-to-side sensory nerve regeneration in a human
Authors: Belzberg Allan J. , Campbell James N.
Published: June 2009

✓ Division of a peripheral nerve produces an axotomy leading to neurite outgrowth from the proximal stump and wallerian degeneration in the distal stump. Because there is no longer a connection between the distal stump and neuronal cell bodies in the anterior spinal cord or dorsal root ganglion, it is assumed that no neurites should exist in the distal stump. The authors present the case of a patient who unexpectedly had a neuroma on the proximal end of the distal segment of a previously severed nerve. The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve had been surgically severed. Innervated by the radial nerve, a neuroma subsequently formed in the distal segment. Our hypothesis is that the proximal end of the distal portion of a severed nerve may be innervated by collateral sprouts of axons that branch at points of more distal plexus formation. This invokes a similar pathophysiology to the controversial notion of end-to-side nerve sprouting. Neuromas that develop on the “wrong side” of a nerve become an additional potential source of pain in patients with injured nerves.
Guideline for treating hepatitis B virus infection in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Salimur , Al-Mahtab Mamun , Karim Md Fazal
Published: June 2009

Over 350 million people worldwide are infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and globally around 1 million die due to consequences of this infection annually. Bangladesh belongs to the intermediate prevalence region for HBV infection. Here the lifetime risk of acquiring HBV is between 20-60%. Studies from our as well as other groups have shown that HBV is responsible for 31.25% cases of acute hepatitis, 76.3% cases of chronic hepatitis, 61.15% cases of cirrhosis of liver and 33.3% cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Bangladesh.   doi: 10.3329/blj.v1i1.2619 Bangladesh Liver Journal Vol.1(1) 2009 p.6-12
Seroprevalence of anti-HEV and HEV RNA among volunteer blood donors and patients with Hepatitis B and C in Iran
Authors: Keyvani Hossein , Shamabadi Mahmood Shamsi , Najafifard Saeed , Hajibeigi Bashir , Fallahian Farahnaz , Alavian Seyed-Moayed
Published: June 2009

Aim: To assess seroprevalence of antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) in healthy blood donors and hepatitis B, C patients. Methods: 450 subjects consisted of 200 blood donors in Tehran blood transfusion center, 100 subjects with hepatitis C and 150 subjects with hepatitis B infection enrolled in this study. The A549 cell line was grown in mixed medium. Cells were infected with hepatitis E virus that was purified from stool sample of a patient confirmed for hepatitis E infection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Supernatant of infected cells was used as positive control in our RT- PCR assay. Results: In a total of 450 subjects, 33 (7.3%) had positive anti-HEV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti-HEV was seen in (9/200) 4.5%, (7/100) 7%, and (17/150) 11.3% of healthy blood donors, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B subjects, respectively. Difference between two groups was statistically significance (P = 0.028). Difference between frequency of anti-HEV in hepatitis B in relation to healthy blood donors was significant (P = 0.014). Conclusions: HEV infection is more common in subjects with hepatitis B. Keywords: Hepatitis E virus, Seroprevalence, Transmission, Iran   doi: 10.3329/blj.v1i1.2623 Bangladesh Liver Journal Vol.1(1) 2009 p.34-37
Dyslipidemia, C-reactive protein and leptin levels in non diabetic obese subjects
Authors: Lakshmi Sowbhagya , Ravichand DM
Published: June 2009

Introduction: The objective of the study is to find the relationship of obesity with dyslipidemia and Leptin levels. Material and Methods: The study was carried out in the Department of clinical Biochemistry, Bangalore Medical College. Cases and controls were chosen from the subjects attending the out patient department of Victoria hospital for their routine check up.The protocol of the study was to study and compare the linear relationship of obesity, dyslipidemia, CRP and Leptin levels is Non Diabetic obese persons to Non Diabetic persons with normal weight. The protocol was based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and is approved by local ethical committee Serum samples were stored at -200C for estimation of Leptin and CRP levels. The samples were thawed on one stretch for the estimation. Leptin was analyzed by DRG Leptin sand witch ELISA method by using kit from DRG Company. Results: About 8.0% of patients had elevated Total cholesterol in normal subjects when compared to 84.0% in Obese subjects, indicates that patients with obesity are 60.37 times more likely to have elevated Total cholesterol (>200 mg/dl) when compared to Normal. Patients with obesity (98.0%) are 46.23 times more likely to have elevated Triglycerides when compared to normal subjects (52.0%). Subjects in Obese groups, 76.0% had decreased HDL when compared to only 12.0% on Normal group, which 8.14 times more likely in obsess group. Subjects with obesity (80.0%) are 29.33 times more likely to have elevated LDL (>150 mg/dl) when compared to Normal subjects (12.0%). The elevated VLDL is 21.0 times more likely in obese subjects (84.0%) when compared to normal subjects (20.0%). Subjects in obese are 46.58 times more likely to have elevated LP (a) when compared to normal subjects. Conclusions: Present study has shown a strong link between obesity, dislipidemia and cardiovascular disease in accordance with other studies. The role of Leptin associated with cardiovascular disease is not well established, so prospective study should be carried out to elucidate the role of Leptin in cardio vascular disease and Diabetes to establish its role as, whether it is causative, additive risk factor or a protective factor. Leptin may play a role to prevent metabolic syndrome by its interaction with neuroendocrine systems to maintain metabolic homeostasis, similar to the role played by Insulin in homeostasis of blood sugar level.   doi: 10.3329/blj.v1i1.2625 Bangladesh Liver Journal Vol.1(1) 2009 p.41-50
Advances in Hydrogen, Carbon Dioxide, and Hydrocarbon Gas Sensor Technology Using GaN and ZnO-Based Devices
Authors: Anderson Travis , Ren Fan , Pearton Stephen , Kang Byoung Sam , Wang Hung-Ta , Chang Chih-Yang , Lin Jenshan
Published: June 2009

In this paper, we review our recent results in developing gas sensors for hydrogen using various device structures, including ZnO nanowires and GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors (HEMTs). ZnO nanowires are particularly interesting because they have a large surface area to volume ratio, which will improve sensitivity, and because they operate at low current levels, will have low power requirements in a sensor module. GaN-based devices offer the advantage of the HEMT structure, high temperature operation, and simple integration with existing fabrication technology and sensing systems. Improvements in sensitivity, recoverability, and reliability are presented. Also reported are demonstrations of detection of other gases, including CO2 and C2H4 using functionalized GaN HEMTs. This is critical for the development of lab-on-a-chip type systems and can provide a significant advance towards a market-ready sensor application.
Secure Cluster Head Sensor Elections Using Signal Strength Estimation and Ordered Transmissions
Authors: Wang Gicheol , Cho Gihwan
Published: June 2009

In clustered sensor networks, electing CHs (Cluster Heads) in a secure manner is very important because they collect data from sensors and send the aggregated data to the sink. If a compromised node is elected as a CH, it can illegally acquire data from all the members and even send forged data to the sink. Nevertheless, most of the existing CH election schemes have not treated the problem of the secure CH election. Recently, random value based protocols have been proposed to resolve the secure CH election problem. However, these schemes cannot prevent an attacker from suppressing its contribution for the change of CH election result and from selectively forwarding its contribution for the disagreement of CH election result. In this paper, we propose a modified random value scheme to prevent these disturbances. Our scheme dynamically adjusts the forwarding order of contributions and discards a received contribution when its signal strength is lower than the specified level to prevent these malicious actions. The simulation results have shown that our scheme effectively prevents attackers from changing and splitting an agreement of CH election result. Also, they have shown that our scheme is relatively energy-efficient than other schemes.
EVALUATION OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OVERHEAD COSTS
Authors: Šiškina Ala , Juodis Arvydas , Apanavičienė Rasa
Published: June 2009

The enhancement of the competitiveness of a construction company is one of the most important strategic objectives in construction industry. The company's management system, work organization and employment of available assets are some of the most important factors upon which overhead costs and the bidding price of a construction company depend directly. A statistical analysis of a homogenous group of construction companies reveals the company's overhead costs value distribution function, which can be used to evaluate the competitive advantages and disadvantages of a specific construction company. A detailed overhead costs categorization and the findings of a survey conducted among contractors influenced the selection of the principal parameters of the company's activity, on which the value of overhead costs depends; they are the number of company's head office employees and the area of company's facilities. The developed competitiveness evaluation methodology enables the construction managers to adequate and scientific position the company on the market of homogenous construction companies group, to estimate its activity as well as to evaluate the competitive advantages and disadvantages of bidding prices and certain costs in public tendering of construction operations and services. Santrauka Didinti statybos įmonės konkurencingumą yra vienas svarbiausių statybos verslo strateginių uždavinių. Įmonės valdymo struktūra, veiklos organizavimas, turimo turto naudojimas yra vieni iš svarbiausių veiksnių, nuo kurių tiesiogiai priklauso statybos įmonės pridėtinės išlaidos, kartu ir siūlomos statybos darbų kainos. Statistiškai tiriant homogeninę statybos įmonių grupę nustatyta statybos įmonių pridėtinių išlaidų reikšmių pasiskirstymo funkcija, pagal kurią gali būti įvertinti konkrečios statybos įmonės konkurenciniai pranašumai ar trūkumai. Išsamiai apibrėžta pridėtinių išlaidų struktūra ir statybos rangovų apklausos rezultatai darė įtaką pagrindinių įmonės veiksnių, nuo kurių priklauso pridėtinių išlaidų dydis, parinkimui – tai įmonės administracijos darbuotojų skaičius ir nekilnojamojo turto plotas. Sudarytas statybos įmonės valdymo sistemos ir infrastruktūros charakteristikų regresinis modelis yra patogus planavimo ir prognozavimo įrankis parenkant tinkamą įmonės veiklos pridėtinių išlaidų struktūrą ir pritaikant įmonės plėtrai reikalingą strategiją. Siūloma statybos įmonių konkurencingumo įvertinimo metodika leidžia statybos organizacijų vadovams adekvačiai ir moksliškai pagrįstai nustatyti įmonės padėtį homogeninės statybos įmonių grupės rinkoje, įvertinti jos veiklos efektyvumą ir nesunkiai nustatyti kainos, išlaidų konkurencinius pranašumus bei trūkumus dalyvaujant statybos darbų ir paslaugų viešuosiuose pirkimuose.
Creation and Development of Small and Medium Enterprise Policies in Post-War Japan
Authors: Matsushima Shigeru
Published: June 2009

Résumé Cet article étudie les débuts et l’évolution de la politique du gouvernement japonais en matière de PME depuis 1945. Il dégage trois étapes successives : la première est inaugurée en 1948 par la fondation de l’Agence pour les PME, la deuxième l’est par l’adoption de la loi fondamentale sur les PME (1963), la troisième l’est par le vote de la nouvelle loi fondamentale sur les PME (1999). En conclusion l’article évoque deux facteurs qui devraient être pris en compte dans l’avenir : l’un concerne la nature changeante des « agglomérations industrielles », l’autre porte sur la révision de la législation sur l’organisation des affaires.
Les PME de terroir : entre « géo » et « clio » stratégies
Authors: Marchesnay Michel
Published: June 2009

Résumé La stratégie de développement de produits de terroir résulte de la combinaison de trois données sur un territoire : le sol (géo), l’histoire (clio) et l’esprit d’entreprise (entrepreneuriat), individuel et collectif. En appliquant à deux cas – le piment d’Espelette et les vignobles d’Aniane – les modèles stratégiques récents (cognitifs, processuels, et entrepreneuriaux), on montre les conditions de réussite et d’échec de cette stratégie.
L'entreprise Amouroux Frères au début du siècle : paradoxes d'une gestion atypique
Authors: Amann Bruno , Saboly Michèle
Published: June 2009

Résumé Les entreprises familiales ont une importance économique incontestable en France comme dans toutes les économies du monde. À travers l’examen du cas d’une entreprise du sud-ouest inscrite dans le tournant du XIX e au XX e siècle, l’entreprise Amouroux, il est montré les paradoxes d’une gestion, par certains côtés innovative, inventive, par d’autres extrêmement conformiste. Une tentative d’explication à ce paradoxe est proposée à la lumière des analyses de la nouvelle sociologie économique et des travaux de Mark Granovetter.
Du projet Hermès à Transpac
Authors: Profit Alain , Picard Philippe
Published: June 2009

Résumé En situant leur témoignage dans le contexte de la crise du téléphone dans la France des années 1960, les ingénieurs des Télécommunications : Alain Profit, responsable des départements Téléinformatique du CNET et du CCETT, et Philippe Picard, responsable de la sous-direction Téléinformatique et réseaux spécialisés de la DGT, présentent les diverses solutions envisagées et/ou réalisées par l’opérateur national pour répondre à la demande en transmission de données autour de 1970. Les premières réactions de la DGT sont la mise en place d’une solution provisoire, le réseau Caducée, de technologie électromécanique traditionnelle mais permettant d’appréhender le marché naissant et les forces en présence, les réponses d’avenir sont pensées dans le cadre du projet Hermès, futur réseau numérique intégrant transport de la voix et des données. C’est en 1973 que, sous la pression du projet concurrent Cyclades et d’un groupe d’utilisateurs très actifs, le CIGREF, le directeur général des Télécommunications L.-J. Libois prendra la résolution de tourner les réponses de la DGT vers la solution préconisée par de jeunes ingénieurs du CCETT, dont Rémi Després, d’un réseau commuté de paquets. De la maquette de faisabilité appelée RCP sortira le projet Transpac basé sur la norme X25 avalisée par le CCITT en parallèle. Les auteurs terminent leur témoignage en explicitant la préparation commerciale et les conditions de réalisation industrielle permettant à la DGT, engluée dans une situation difficile du réseau téléphonique, d’ouvrir en 1978 l’un des premiers réseaux commerciaux de transmission de données par paquets au monde géré par une filiale de droit privé.
Capitalismes urbains : la montée des firmes d'infrastructures
Authors: Lorrain Dominique
Published: June 2009

Résumé À partir d’un travail de veille sur les entreprises « urbaines » cet article présente une radioscopie d’un nouveau capitalisme urbain mondial qui ne se réduit pas aux groupes de construction et aux promoteurs. Il en présente les principales familles et expose les mouvements d’expansion et de repli qui changent les frontières entre un cœur « urbain », ses fournisseurs, sa périphérie et du « non urbain ». L’idée centrale est que la grande ville s’est transformée matériellement, que les questions d’environnement prennent de l’importance et que ces phénomènes durables, internationaux portent des groupes privés ayant pour origine les infrastructures : exploitants et industriels. Ce faisant, la production urbaine se trouve plus articulée au capitalisme mondial. L’article propose une discussion des différentes formes de globalisation et en examine les conséquences sur la puissance publique.
La faillite d'Enron, un tournant dans la dérégulation des marchés
Authors: Defeuilley Christophe
Published: June 2009

Résumé La modification des règles d’encadrement des marchés électrique et gazier entraîne à la fois une forte accélération et un déplacement des dynamiques industrielles. Enron, firme américaine dont l’activité d’origine est le transport du gaz, en est un exemple marquant. La dérégulation impulse une nouvelle dynamique à cette entreprise, qui parie, de manière très audacieuse, sur le succès d’un modèle économique original, où le négoce de commodities remplace la détention et la gestion d’actifs « physiques » comme moteur de l’activité. Mais cette expérience tourne court. Après avoir longtemps caché, probablement de manière frauduleuse, les difficultés qu’il rencontre, le groupe est contraint à la faillite en décembre 2001. C’est un événement majeur, qui marque un tournant dans le processus de dérégulation en cours des industries de réseaux.
La régulation des services publics en réseaux, ou la lente émergence d'une innovation majeure
Authors: Matheu Michel
Published: June 2009

Résumé Partant du constat que les services en réseaux remplissent deux finalités différentes, facteurs de compétitivité économique et de solidarités sociales, cet article expose comment la résolution de ce problème a varié dans le temps et dans l’espace. Il présente d’abord les étapes historiques de la régulation en les reliant aux changements des structures industrielles et des technologies. Les institutions de régulations suivent et affectent la taille des entreprises et l’étendue de leur monopole. Trois étapes sont distinguées : la première expérience d’une régulation dans l’intérêt public, puis la phase de monopoles régulés et l’actuelle libéralisation. Cette fresque qui s’étend sur plus d’un siècle permet de faire un va et vient entre des questions contemporaines et celles qui se posaient à la fin du XIX e siècle aux États-Unis, lorsque les premières solutions et les principes initiaux furent établis. Puis l’article, nourri de la connaissance de nombreux travaux d’économie, présente plus en détail ces formes d’interventions nouvelles que sont les régulateurs indépendants. Il en présente les alternatives comme les choix pratiques et souligne l’innovation que représentent ces institutions dans le paysage de nombreux pays.
Les concessions des travaux publics en Méditerranée : incontestables succès de la Société de Construction des Batignolles
Authors: Park Rang-Ri
Published: June 2009

Résumé La Société de Construction des Batignolles, fondée en 1846 et devenue société anonyme en 1872, s’illustra à la fois dans les constructions mécaniques et métalliques et les grands travaux publics. En ce dernier domaine, l’obtention de concessions constitua l’un des moyens essentiels pour elle de parer aux aléas de la conjoncture. Si elle obtint dès 1880 la concession du port de Tunis, ses plus belles opérations furent ferroviaires : ligne Dakar-Saint-Louis et, surtout, réseau de la Compagnie de Bône-Guelma. À partir de son expérience coloniale, la SCB s’intéressa ensuite à l’étranger : toujours dans le cadre d’une concession de travaux publics, elle mit à son actif la grande ligne de chemin de fer du Pirée à Salonique. Ces concessions contribuèrent de façon indiscutable à l’implantation internationale des firmes françaises.
Problèmes et limites de la diffusion internationale d'un modèle de gestion des services publics urbains « à la française » : le cas de l'eau potable
Authors: Petitet Sylvain
Published: June 2009

Résumé Présenté par les grands groupes français de services urbains et par les grandes organisations internationales comme une solution universelle pour le développement et la gestion des services d’eau potable, en particulier dans les pays en développement, le « modèle français » de gestion de ces services constitue en fait une représentation incomplète et déformée de l’expérience française en la matière. Pour peu que l’on s’intéresse à sa construction historique et à son fonctionnement actuel dans son pays d’origine, on peut légitimement s’interroger sur sa capacité à apporter une réponse satisfaisante aux problèmes que connaissent les pays auxquels il est aujourd’hui imposé.
La Compagnie universelle du canal maritime de Suez en Égypte : concession rime-t-elle avec colonisation ou modernisation ?
Authors: Piquet Caroline
Published: June 2009

Résumé La concession de la compagnie du canal de Suez représente en Égypte, pendant près d’un siècle, un véritable domaine privé. Compagnie au statut juridique des plus flous, à la fois égyptienne et internationale, elle pose la question de la finalité de la concession dans le pays : modernisation des infrastructures et participation à l’économie nationale ou bien mise en place d’une succursale de l’économie européenne, au service des capitaux étrangers ? Les liens entretenus entre la compagnie et l’idéologie coloniale concourent à associer la concession à une domination politique et économique. Or cette concession du XIX e siècle accuse un décalage flagrant avec les nouvelles configurations de l’Égypte de la première moitié du XX e siècle. Les difficultés d’adaptation de la compagnie et ses frilosités face à un contexte de construction nationale permettent alors de mieux comprendre la fin brutale de cette concession avec la nationalisation du canal de Suez en 1956.
De la concession en Espagne et en Italie, XIXe-XXe siècles
Authors: Varaschin Denis
Published: June 2009

Résumé Cette analyse de la concession en Espagne et en Italie aux XIX e et XX e siècles prend appui sur quelques macrosystèmes complexes qui renvoient à des périodes différenciées de développement économique : le chemin de fer au milieu du XIX e siècle, l’électricité au tournant XIX e -XX e siècles, les autoroutes pour l’après Deuxième Guerre mondiale. De situations concrètes mouvantes et parfois obscures, il ressort que la concession a été peu ou prou un instrument efficace de transfert de technologies, de rationalisation des systèmes et d’impulsion du développement qui a profité aux producteurs-consommateurs-contribuables et aux collectivités publiques au moins autant qu’aux entreprises. Depuis quelques années, les institutions européennes font pression pour clarifier les bases de cette forme de gestion déléguée en privilégiant une plus grande concurrence pour l’adjudication de concessions aux durées plus limitées et aux renouvellements moins systématiques. Cette évolution va dans le sens d’une meilleure lisibilité et d’une plus grande stabilité du contrat, forme de laquelle se rapproche aujourd’hui la concession.