bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Assessment of Esophagogastroduodenoscopy Tolerance a Prospective Study of 300 Cases
Authors: Farhadi Ashkan , Fields Jeremy Z. , Hoseini Seyed Hamid Bozorgnia
Published: August 2007

Background: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is useful in the diagnosis and evaluation of dyspepsia. We investigated factors that might be associated with self‐reported patient tolerance of EGD and therefore might serve as objective, reliable and useful surrogates for self‐reported patient tolerance. We also investigated factors that might influence EGD tolerance.

Study: We prospectively evaluated 300 cases prior, during and after an EGD procedure. None received sedation.

Results: Seventy‐nine percent of patients reported “good” tolerance of their EGD procedure. Other variables including (1) ease of intubation, (2) number and severity of retching episodes and (3) patient′s cooperation during the endoscopic procedure, associated positively and robustly with patient self‐reports of EGD tolerance. Evaluating the parameters that might predict EGD tolerance, only (4) age and (5) patient′s gagging during Lidocaine throat spraying correlated
closely with patient perception of EGD intolerance. Self‐reported EGD tolerance did not correlate with gender, education level, body habitus (obesity), prior EGD experience, fear or anxiety about the procedure, procedure type or procedure duration.

Conclusions: Several parameters might be used instead of or in addition to patient perception of EGD tolerance. Age and patient gagging during Lidocaine throat spraying, but
not patient fear and anxiety about the procedure can be used to predict EGD intolerance and used for selection of patients for sedation.
The Efficacy of the EUS for the Detection of Recurrent Disease in the Anastomosis of Colon
Authors: Nakajima Shunichi
Published: August 2007

Patients who underwent surgical resection of an advanced colorectal
cancer during the period from June 1982 to July 2001 were examined
for evidence of no anastomotic recurrence or recurrent lesions
through combination of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) with
endoscopy. Included in this study were 11 patients with
recurrence and 36 patients without recurrence, 47 patients in all.
Endoscopy revealed stenosis in 81.8% of patients with ana anastomotic recurrence,
erosion including cancer exposure in 81.8% and submucosal tumor‐like elevation in 45.5%. In the group of patients without recurrence it revealed stenosis in 13.9% of patients, erosion in 22.2%, and a scar‐like change in 77.8%. There was a significant difference between the two groups in each change. EUS, on the other hand, revealed localized hypertrophy of the region extending from the submucosa to the mp due to edema early in the
postoperative course. The rate of definitive diagnosis with EUS was 100%, compared to 90.1% for endoscopy. The results of this study indicate that EUS is helpful in detecting
anastomotic recurrence of colorectal cancer.
Percutaneous Transluminal Angioscopy During Coronary Intervention
Authors: Mizuno Kyoichi , Sakai Shunnta , Yokoyama Shinnya , Ohba Takayoshi , Uemura Ryuta , Seimiya Yasutsugu , Takano Masamitsu , Tanabe Jun , Tomimura Masato , Imaizumi Takahiro , Ma Shu Mei , Inami Shigenobu , Okamatsu Kentarou , Hata Noritake
Published: August 2007

To investigate the feasibility of angioscopic‐guided percutaneous
transluminal coronary angioplasty and to elucidate the mechanism
of efficacy of coronary stenting for acute myocardial infarction,
we performed coronary angioscopy in 102 patients with stable
angina or acute myocardial infarction. Thrombi and intimal flaps
were observed in most patients after coronary angioplasty. Large
intimal splits were seen in one third of patients. Stents were
inserted in 10 patients who were revealed to have a large flap or
protruding split to the inner lumen. Thrombolytic agents were
administered in 2 patients with large thrombi. Additional
treatments were required in 32% of patients. No acute
myocardial infarction or unstable angina occurred in patients
during hospitalization. Thus, angioscopy of the coronary lumen
enables clinicians to determine the most appropriate and least
risky coronary intervention strategy. In patients with acute
myocardial infarction, angioscopy revealed occlusive or protruding
thrombi in 34 of 35 patients. The protruding thrombi disappeared
after stenting. The frequency of large intimal flaps increased
after predilatation with balloon, but these disappeared after
stenting. The present angioscopic study demonstrates that the
coronary stent compresses the occlusive or protruding thrombi and
covers the ruptured thrombogenic plaque Consequently,
smooth‐surfaced and wide vessel lumen are obtained.
Diagnosis of Cancer Spread Using Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Cholangioscopy‐guided Ultrasonography for Malignant Bile Duct Stenosis
Authors: Inoue Hirokazu
Published: August 2007

The characteristics of sites of intramural cancer spread were examined by comparing the
intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) and wall thickening findings at sites of intramural cancer
spread and non‐spread, in patients with malignant bile duct stenosis who had undergone
percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD).

The subjects were ten patients with extrahepatic bile duct cancer, two with pancreatic
cancer, one with cancer of the gallbladder, and one with cancer of the papilla of Vater who
underwent preoperative IDUS. From these patients, 50 IDUS slices were examined with a
congruent relationship with the histologic section of resected tissue. The maximum
thickening, minimum thickening, maximum/minimum thickening ratio, and form factor of the
medial and lateral margins of the medial hypoechoic layer were determined using diagnostic
imaging, and the results were compared at sites of cancer spread and non‐spread.

Twelve slices were obtained from the site of stenosis, 14 from sites of cancer spread, and 24
from non‐spread sites. The maximum thickening, minimum thickening, and maximum/minimum
thickening ratio differed significantly between the sites of spread and the non‐spread.

The absolute values for wall thickening are useful for diagnosing the presence of intramural
spread in patients with malignant biliary duct stenosis.
Evaluation of Rectal Varices by Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Patients With Portal Hypertension
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroyuki
Published: August 2007

The usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the evaluation of rectal varices (RV)
was determined in 50 patients with portal hypertension (PH) and 25 PH‐free controls. F1 and
F2 varices and angiectasia were specific for the PH group as evaluated by endoscopy, but there
was no difference between the PH and the control groups with respect to the frequency of blue
vein. The detection rate of submucosal veins (SMV) with EUS was 88% for the PH group and
68% for the control group. The mean SMV diameter was significantly greater for the PH
group than for the control group, and no 2‐mm or larger SMV was detected in the control
group. Serum albumin and cholinesterase levels were significantly higher for the RV(+)
patients with SMV 2mm or more in diameter in the PH group than for the RV(–) patients.
The spleen index was also significantly higher for the former group. The frequency of RV was
significantly higher for advanced PH than for mild PH. RV(+) was detected in about 30% of
endoscopically normal patients in the PH group. The results of this study indicate that EUS is
useful in detecting RV and evaluating its pathological condition.
Detection of Photofrin Fluorescence From Malignant and Premalignant Lesions in the Bronchus using a Full‐color Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System
Authors: Ohsaki Yoshinobu , Takeyama Kaneyoshi , Nakao Shoko , Tanno Sachie , Toyoshima Eri , Nakanishi Kyoko , Nishigaki Yutaka , Ogasa Toshiyuki , Osanai Shinobu , Kikuchi Kenjiro , Nakajima Susumu
Published: August 2007

Study objectives: To detect invisible lung cancer and to determine field of laser radiation
during PDT we developed a full‐color fluorescence fiberscopic system. We tested the efficacy
of this system in patients with various bronchial malignancies.

System design: A fiber‐optic endoscope was attached to a camera box containing a color
ICCD camera which can detect from 400 to 700nm fluorescence in full‐color. Light of
average wavelength 405 nm was selected and radiated through the light channel of the
fiberscope from a 300W Xenon lamp.

Patients and methods: We examined nine consecutive patients with bronchial malignancy
admitted in our hospital to receive PDT. Sixteen lesions in these nine patients were observed
with white light and excitation light and the results were compared. Histological examinations
were done by taking biopsy specimens and samples for pathological and cytological
examination. After the diagnosis was confirmed, 2.0 mg/kg Photofrin was injected. Forty eight
hours after the administration of Photofrin, observation of the bronchial wall was made using
a full‐color endoscopic fluorescence imaging system just before PDT.

Results: Bright red fluorescence from Photofrin was Observed in 14/14 bronchial
malignancies: 3 squamous cell carcinoma, 9 squamous cell carcinoma in situ, 1 metastatic
breast cancer and 1 metastatic islet cell tumor. Bright red fluorescence was also detected in 2/2
squamous dysplasia. Green autofluorescence was observed in the normal part of the bronchus.

Conclusions: Results of the present study suggest that the full‐color endoscopic
fluorescence imaging system can be used to detect malignant and premalignant lesions as red
fluorescence against green autofluorescence with Photofrin administration, and this system has the potential to detect absence of autofluorescence in cancerous lesions.
Peroral Endoscopic Removal of a Regurgitated Giant Polisegmented Fibrovascular Polyp of the Esophagus
Authors: Paczona Robert , Ivan Laszlo , Jori Jozsef , Ivanyi Bela
Published: August 2007

Background: Giant fibrovascular polyps (FVP) are relatively rare benign neoplasm of the
upper esophagus and hypopharynx. Without previous history, their diagnosis might be
difficult as the endoscopic findings are sometimes misinterpreted

Materials and methods: The present report describes a case, in which the patient
regurgitated his giant polypoid mass into his mouth and captured it between his teeth and
buccal surface until the emergency endoscopic removal

Results: After one‐year of follow‐up, the patient is going well, without recurrence of his
polyp

Conclusion: Although the adequate therapy for these lesions is mainly the open surgical
resection, most often via cervical esophagotomy, in our case the polyp was removed
successfully by peroral endoscopic operation.
Percutaneous Dye Image Cardioscopy for Detection of Endocardial Lesions
Authors: Kanai Masahito , Sakurai Takeshi , Yoshinaga Kunio , Aoyagi Kaneyuki , Hitsumoto Takashi , Yoshinuma Masaki , Uchi Takashi , Noike Hirofumi , Ohsawa Hidefumi , Kawamura Kouhei , Tokuhiro Keiichi , Takahashi Makiko , Ebihara Tadashi , Tachihara Keiichi , Uchida Yasumi
Published: August 2007

Endocardial lesions are caused not only by inflammatory processes
but also by myocardial ischemia, resulting in endocardial
thrombosis and cerebral embolism. We deviced a method for direct
visualization of endocardial damages by a novel dye image
cardioscopy with Evans blue and examined its feasibility in
patients with heart disease. The dye was injected into the left
ventricle before and after endomyocardial biopsy. Endocardial
surface was stained in dark blue in 63% of patients with
angina pectoris before biopsy. After biopsy, the biopsied portions
were stained in blue in all. The results indicate that endocardium
is damaged even in apparently intact LV in patients with ischemic
heart disease and that endomyocardial biopsy causes severe
endocardial damages.
Strategies for Management of Bile Duct Injury During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Aoki Tatsuya , Tsuchida Akihiko , Saito Hitoshi , Nagakawa Yuichi , Kitamura Keiichi , Koyanagi Yasuhisa
Published: August 2007

We encountered 10 patients with bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Their causes were electrocautery in 2 patients, misjudgment in 2, mechanical injury in 3,
aberrant bile duct in 2, and weakness of the bile duct wall in one. The sites of injury were
cystic duct in 4 patients, common bile duct in 2, aberrant bile duct in 2, common hepatic
duct in one, and common bile duct plus right hepatic duct in one. Treatments for the injuries
discovered intraoperatively consisted of T‐tube drainage above in 2 patients, re‐ligation of
the cystic duct in one, ligation of an aberrant bile duct in one, simple suture and T‐tube in
one, and choledochojejunostomy in one. In the remaining 4 patients discovered postoperatively,
2 were conservatively treated by endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage. The duration
of hospitalization was 9–12 days in the 4 patients with simple suture or ligation, 10–21
days in 2 cases of bile drainage, and 34–43 days in 3 with T‐tube drainage. The patient with
choledochojejunostomy suffered repeated cholangitis, resulting in hepatic abscess with
hospitalization for 6 months. Since laparoscopic surgery should be minimally invasive,
meticulous attention is necessary before and during surgery to avoid bile duct injury.
A Case of Tracheobronchopathia Osteochondroplastica Diagnosed by Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy Upon Removal of an Aspirated Crown
Authors: Matsuba T. , Komori M. , Matsunaga R. , Andoh K. , Hirota N. , Hara N.
Published: August 2007

Tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica (TO) is a relatively
rare benign disease, around 300 and 130 cases have been reported
in English and Japanese literature, respectively. Most of the
cases have been diagnosed incidentally at autopsy. Due to the
widespread use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB), the number of
cases diagnosed upon examination is increasing. Here, we report a
case of a 72 year‐old man with a history of crown aspiration, who
was diagnosed as TO upon removal of a foreign body using FOB. The
diagnosis of TO and the removal of an aspirated crown by FOB are
discussed.
Angioscopic Observation After Coronary Angioplasty for Chronic Coronary Occlusion Comparison With Severe Stenotic Lesion
Authors: Adachi Takayoshi , Hirayama Atsushi , Asakura Masanori , Yamaguchi Osamu , Ueda Yasunori , Kuzuya Tsunehiko , Hori Masatsugu , Kodama Kazuhisa
Published: August 2007

Objectives To clarify the underlying mechanism for the high
restenosis rate after the coronary angioplasty for the chronic
total occlusion by using the coronary angioscope.

Background
Coronary angioplasty for the chronic total occlusion is associated
with higher restenosis rate than for highly stenotic lesion.
However, the difference in the restenosis rate has not been
discussed from the angioscopic observation.

Methods and Results The lesion morphology after coronary
intervention were classified into 4 grade (Grade 0 = no intimal flap; Grade 1 = intimal flap without protrusion; Grade 2 = Intimal flap with protrusion not occlusive; Grade 3
= protruding intimal flaps with occlusion of the vessel
lumen). Coronary angioscopic observation was performed in 46
patients with stable angina. Most of the lesion morphology after
angioplasty in 13 patients with chronic total occlusion was grade
3. On the other hand, none of grade 3 was observed in 36 patients
with severe coronary stenosis.

Conclusion The various protrusions into the lumen shown by the angioscope might be a
reason for higher restenosis and reocclusion rates compared with those after the angioplasty
for the severe stenotic lesion.
Endoscopic Resection of Zenker′s Diverticulum
Authors: Kataoka Hideyuki , Kitano Hiroya , Fujimura Masaki , Hirano Masamitsu , Kinoshita Takashi , Hanada Makoto , Kasuya Norikuni , Kitajima Kazutomo
Published: August 2007

We report an endoscopically assisted total diverticulectomy
for Zenker′s diverticulum. Skin incisions were made at the
anterior axillary line, the center of the sternum, and the neck as
portals for endoscopical instruments. The skin was retracted with
hooks which provided an excellent view of the working space. The
diverticulum was fully exposed and resected by using a multifire
endoscopic stapler. This approach is minimally invasive in
comparison with the conventional open cervical approach.
Adenomyosis: Difficult to Diagnose, and Difficult to Treat
Authors: Wood C.
Published: August 2007

Drug therapy may be effective in controlling symptoms but the
frequent coexistence of endometriosis and the lack of controlled
studies make their efficacy difficult to quantify. Danazol IUD has
been shown to reduce symptoms. Conservative surgery involving
endomyometrial ablation, laparoscopic myometrial
electrocoagulation or excision has proven to be effective in more
than 50% of patients, although follow up has been restricted
to three years. Arterial uterine artery embolization is a new
technique which may be tried before considering hysterectomy.
Hysterectomy may still be necessary in severe cases of
adenomyosis.
Advantages of Endoscopically Assisted Surgery for Attic Cholesteatoma
Authors: Aoki Kazuhiro
Published: August 2007

Combined use of an operating microscope and a middle ear endoscope
seems to be helpful for selecting an appropriate surgical
technique and for identifying more patients in whom cholesteatoma
can be removed by a trans‐canal approach alone. To investigate
whether attic cholesteatoma can be treated by a trans‐canal
approach alone, a review was performed of patients who had
undergone endoscopically assisted tympanoplasty and the outcome of
surgery was compared with the preoperative CT findings. Using a
rigid endoscope (3 mm in diameter and 6 cm in length with a
viewing angle of 30°), twenty eight patients were examined to
determine whether total resection of the cholesteatoma was
possible by trans‐canal atticotomy alone. According to the CT
findings, total resection of cholesteatoma was possible by
trans‐canal atticotomy combined with the use of a rigid endoscope
not only in 4 patients with the shadow localized in the
epitympanum on preoperative CT scans but also in 18 out of 24
patients with the shadow extending from the epitympanum to the
distal mastoid air cells. This study indicates that the
trans‐canal approach with endoscopic guidance is a useful
technique for the treatment of cholesteatoma.
The Collegiate Learning Assessment
Authors: Klein Stephen , Benjamin Roger , Shavelson Richard , Bolus Roger
Published: August 2007

The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) is a computer administered, open-ended (as opposed to multiple-choice) test of analytic reasoning, critical thinking, problem solving, and written communication skills. Because the CLA has been endorsed by several national higher education commissions, it has come under intense scrutiny by faculty members, college administrators, testing experts, legislators, and others. This article describes the CLA's measures and what they do and do not assess, how dependably they measure what they claim to measure, and how CLA scores differ from those on other direct and indirect measures of college student learning. For instance, analyses are conducted at the school rather than the student level and results are adjusted for input to assess whether the progress students are making at their school is better or worse than what would be expected given the progress of “similarly situated” students (in terms of incoming ability) at other colleges.
Welfare Reform and Child Care
Authors: Robins Philip K.
Published: August 2007

This article examines the employment and child care responses of families participating in 10 experimental welfare reform programs conducted in the United States between 1989 and 2002. For the programs analyzed, child care use increases by about the same amount as the increase in employment. Most of the increased child care comprises informal care by a relative, particularly care by a sibling or a grandparent. Although there are significant differences in the child care responses across the various programs tested, there are no significant differences in the impacts for persons leaving welfare versus persons staying on welfare.
A Critique and Impact Analysis of Decision Modeling Assumptions
Authors: Karnon Jonathan , Brennan Alan , Akehurst Ron
Published: August 2007

Background . Numerous guidelines have been published defining good practice for the conduct of economic evaluations in general and model-based evaluations in particular. The extent to which guidelines are accepted is unknown, and the impact of deviations from good practice is not generally recorded. The authors identified 4 specific issues in applied studies that may affect the accuracy and comparability of different evaluations. Methods . A descriptive analysis of 4 modeling issues (inclusion of incident cases over a model time horizon, appropriate time horizon, parsimonious model structure, and the handling of age-specific subgroups) is presented. A case study model is analyzed to illustrate the quantitative impact of 3 of the issues. Results . In the case study model, alternative specifications of the modeling framework are shown to alter the estimated cost-effectiveness by large percentages. The combined effect of including incident cases and reduced follow-up yielded the highest divergence from the reference case results, by between 20% and 40%, depending on the age group. Reference case results of an age-weighted population were almost 14% different from the middle single age cohort. Discussion . The identified issues are all generalizable to a wide range of treatment areas and are, or should be, addressed by evaluative guidelines. The authors call for the continued development, dissemination, and application of guidelines for the conduct of economic evaluation in general and model-based economic evaluations in particular.
Improving the Decision to Pursue a Phase 3 Clinical Trial by Adjusting for Patient-Specific Factors in Evaluating Phase 2 Treatment Efficacy Data
Authors: Heller Glenn , Kattan Michael W. , Scher Howard I.
Published: August 2007

Phase 2 clinical trials are undertaken to provide evidence of treatment efficacy and safety. A test statistic that accounts for individual patient risk in the patient population is proposed and applied to a phase 2 clinical trial for castrate metastatic prostate cancer. The test statistic is computed to compare, for each patient, the observed 2-year survival outcome to the predicted 2-year survival probability. A logistic regression model, developed using historical data in the same patient population, is used to adjust for patient risk in predicting the 2-year survival probability. Goodness-of-fit procedures are performed to ensure that a proper model is fit to the data. The test result is compared to the score test, the binomial exact test, and Fisher's exact test, all of which use the average 2-year survival probability in the population as the parameter of interest. The results demonstrate the benefit of risk adjustment in determining treatment efficacy in a single-arm phase 2 trial. By adjusting for patient risk, this method can provide a more precise assessment of phase 2 treatment efficacy, thereby improving the decision whether to proceed to a phase 3 clinical trial.
Molecular Functions of the SMN Complex
Authors: Kolb Stephen J. , Battle Daniel J. , Dreyfuss Gideon
Published: August 2007

The SMN complex is essential for the biogenesis of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins and likely functions in the assembly, metabolism, and transport of a diverse number of other ribonucleoproteins. Specifically, the SMN complex assembles 7 Sm proteins into a core structure around a highly conserved sequence of ribonucleic acid (RNA) found in small nuclear RNAs. The complex recognizes specific sequences and structural features of small nuclear RNAs and Sm proteins and assembles small nuclear ribonucleoproteins in a stepwise fashion. In addition to the SMN protein, the SMN complex contains 7 additional proteins known as Gemin2-8, each likely to play a role in ribonucleoprotein biogenesis. This review focuses on the current understanding of the mechanism of the role of the SMN complex in small nuclear ribonucleoprotein assembly and considers the relationship of this function to spinal muscular atrophy.
Animal Models of Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Authors: Schmid Aloicia , DiDonato Christine J.
Published: August 2007

Spinal muscular atrophy, a common autosomal recessive motor neuron disorder, is caused by the loss of the survival motor neuron gene ( SMN1). SMN2, a nearly identical copy gene, is present in all spinal muscular atrophy patients but differs by a critical nucleotide that alters exon 7 splicing efficiency. This results in low survival motor neuron protein levels, which are not enough to sustain motor neurons. SMN disruption has been undertaken in different organisms (yeast, nematode, fly, zebrafish, and mouse) in an attempt to model this disease and gain fundamental knowledge about the survival motor neuron protein. This review compares the various animal models generated to date and summarizes a research picture that reveals a pleiotropic role for survival motor neuron protein; this summary also points to unique requirements for survival motor neuron protein in motor neurons. It is hoped that these observations will aid in pointing towards complementary paths for therapeutic discovery research.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Diagnostics
Authors: Prior Thomas W.
Published: August 2007

Spinal muscular atrophy is a common autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron gene ( SMN), which exists in 2 nearly identical copies ( SMN1 and SMN2). Exon 7 of SMN1 is homozygously absent in about 95% of spinal muscular atrophy patients, whereas the loss of SMN2 does not cause spinal muscular atrophy. Small mutations are found in the other 5% of affected patients, and these mutations cluster in the 3′ end of SMN1, a region important for protein oligomerization. SMN1 dosage testing can be used to determine the SMN1 copy number and to detect spinal muscular atrophy carriers and affected compound heterozygotes. Dosage testing is compromised by the presence of 2 SMN1 copies per chromosome, which occurs in about 2% of carriers. Finally, although SMN2 produces less full-length transcript than SMN1, the number of SMN2 copies modulates the phenotype.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy: Clinical Classification and Disease Heterogeneity
Authors: Russman Barry S.
Published: August 2007

The clinical classification of spinal muscular atrophy, caused by deletion of the survival motor neuron 1 gene ( SMN1), is based on age at onset and maximum function achieved. Evidence suggests that maximum function achieved is more closely related to life expectancy than age at onset. Therefore, it is important to wait for a period before assigning a patient to 1 of 5 classes of the disorder. Several diseases result from degeneration of the anterior horn cell but are not caused by SMN1. The classification for these conditions is evolving. This article offers an attempt at organizing one's thinking about this disease group.
Athletic Participation After Acute Ischemic Childhood Stroke: A Survey of Pediatric Stroke Experts
Authors: Bernard Timothy J. , deVeber Gabrielle A. , Benke Timothy A.
Published: August 2007

Minimal evidence exists about the risk of recurrent childhood acute ischemic stroke in patients subjected to a subsequent head or neck injury. Recurrent or multiple dissections have been demonstrated in select cases. Minor head trauma has also been associated with acute ischemic stroke. The objective of this study was to survey pediatric stroke experts about participation of patients following acute ischemic stroke in high impact, medium impact, and low impact exercise. International Pediatric Stroke Study members were surveyed about athletic participation after stroke. Participants were asked about 2 scenarios: acute ischemic stroke with dissection, and acute ischemic stroke with a negative coagulation work-up and a negative angiogram. In these scenarios, most experts would eventually allow moderate impact sports, with some restrictions. Many experts would not allow high impact sports after a dissection, but disagree about recommendations after idiopathic acute ischemic stroke.
Questing for Internationalization of Universities in Asia: Critical Reflections
Authors: Ka Ho Mok
Published: August 2007

Globalization and the evolution of the knowledge-based economy have caused dramatic changes to the character and functions of higher education in most countries around the world. One major trend related to reforming and restructuring universities in Asia that has emerged is the adoption of strategies along the lines of the Anglo-Saxon paradigm in internationalizing universities in Asia with the intention to make the higher education systems more globally competitive. The principal goal of this article is to critically reflect on internationalization of universities in Asia. The first half of the article focuses on strategies in internationalizing universities in Asia, and the second half of the article discusses key issues related to the internationalization of universities in Asia, especially examining the implications for following the Anglo-Saxon paradigm in transforming and internationalizing the university systems in Asia.
Ranking the International Dimension of Top Research Universities in the United States
Authors: Horn Aaron S. , Hendel Darwin D. , Fry Gerald W.
Published: August 2007

This study presents an analysis of the relative internationalization of 77 research universities in the United States. Institutions enrolling undergraduate students were selected from the 2003 national report, The Top American Research Universities . Data were collected from publicly available sources for 19 indicators of internationalization pertaining to student characteristics, scholar characteristics, research orientation, curricular content, and organizational support. Data were standardized, weighted by a panel of experts, and summed to yield an overall internationalization index score for each institution. Index scores were then used to rank the 77 institutions. A sensitivity analysis yielded a significant positive correlation (.97, p < .001) between the ranking based on the weighted indicators and a ranking derived from unweighted indicators.
The Internationalization of Higher Education: Motivations and Realities
Authors: Altbach Philip G. , Knight Jane
Published: August 2007

Globalization and internationalization are related but not the same thing. Globalization is the context of economic and academic trends that are part of the reality of the 21st century. Internationalization includes the policies and practices undertaken by academic systems and institutions—and even individuals—to cope with the global academic environment. The motivations for internationalization include commercial advantage, knowledge and language acquisition, enhancing the curriculum with international content, and many others. Specific initiatives such as branch campuses, cross-border collaborative arrangements, programs for international students, establishing English-medium programs and degrees, and others have been put into place as part of internationalization. Efforts to monitor international initiatives and ensure quality are integral to the international higher education environment.
Challenges and Opportunities for the Internationalization of Higher Education in the Coming Decade: Planned and Opportunistic Initiatives in American Institutions
Authors: Edwards Jane
Published: August 2007

In recent years, education systems around the world have shown a tendency for convergence on the American educational model. This, together with an increase in the use of English globally, places American educational institutions in a position of great importance as actors in international exchange. For potential partner institutions in other countries the process of internationalization followed by a U.S. institution has important implications. This article explores the contrasting opportunistic and planned approaches followed by Harvard University and Yale University and discusses some of the implications of these two planning models for the nature of campus internationalization and for negotiation with institutions in other countries.
We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us: The Role of the Faculty in the Internationalization of Higher Education in the Coming Decade
Authors: Stohl Michael
Published: August 2007

This article argues that the chief challenge for developing and sustaining internationalization in the context of the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century is the engagement of the faculty. It argues that although higher education has been successful in providing mechanisms for student mobility because institutions have not successfully engaged the faculty that mobility is not as sizeable as it should be, but also, in and of itself, will not deliver the learning, discovery, and engagement that we seek through internationalization. To capture the faculty's interest in, and commitment to, internationalization, we need to move beyond the conceptualization of the internationalization or globalization of higher education in terms of how the different aspects of teaching, research, and service functions of the university are becoming more “internationalized” and examine how these activities encourage greater learning and discovery. Our challenge is to convince faculty that their scholarship and teaching will benefit from these efforts by considering the risk and reward structures within our institutions and faculty cultures.
The Development of International Education in Australia: A Framework for the Future
Authors: Adams Tony
Published: August 2007

In this essay, the author charts the development of a framework for international education in Australia and contrasts it to frameworks of Europe and elsewhere. The Australian experience is developed as a model for future trends in Europe and in terms of values that are now becoming of greater importance within Australia. The approach is a pragmatic one from the point of view of a practitioner in the field.
High Potentials: A CEO Perspective
Authors: Hermans Jeanine
Published: August 2007

Finding high potentials has been identified as one of the major challenges for society and for higher education. But how does one find the talented individuals who will design the future of society? Can and should universities cooperate or compete with business and industry for these talents? Three CEOs reflect on this worldwide competition for talent, providing a stakeholder perspective that may help rethinking the role of universities within the framework of the knowledge economy. Successful responses to the need of maximizing intellectual potential should not so much focus on competition for high potentials but on the nurturing and growing of talent. As a result of the changing needs of society, CEOs foresee major changes in the concept of the classical university. Whether high potentials actually develop the lifestyle fitting to the new concept of lifelong learning remains to be seen.
Physical Activity Influences in a Disadvantaged African American Community and the Communities' Proposed Solutions
Authors: Griffin Sarah F. , Wilson Dawn K. , Wilcox Sara , Buck Jacqueline , Ainsworth Barbara E.
Published: August 2007

The purpose of this assessment is to increase our understanding of how safety and environmental factors influence physical activity among African American residents living in a low-income, high-crime neighborhood and to get input from these residents about how to best design physical activity interventions for their neighborhood. Twenty-seven African American adult residents of a low-income, high-crime neighborhood in a suburban southeastern community participated in three focus groups. Participants were asked questions about perceptions of what would help them, their families, and their neighbors be more physically active. Two independent raters coded the responses into themes. Participants suggested three environmental approaches in an effort to increase physical activity: increasing law enforcement, community connectedness and social support, and structured programs. Findings suggest that safety issues are an important factor for residents living in disadvantaged conditions and that the residents know how they want to make their neighborhoods healthier.
Addressing Food Security Through Public Policy Action in a Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership
Authors: Breckwich Vásquez Victoria , Lanza Dana , Hennessey-Lavery Susana , Facente Shelley , Halpin Helen Ann , Minkler Meredith
Published: August 2007

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an increasingly utilized research approach that involves the affected community identifying a health-related problem, developing a research agenda, and planning an appropriate intervention to address the problem. This report on a CBPR partnership in San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood documents the rise of a community food security policy in response to youth-involved research that found poor access to quality food in an economically disadvantaged area of the city. To analyze the impact of the research on public policy, a framework of specific steps in the policy-making process is used to organize and better understand the partnership's objectives, activities, strategies, and successes. This community—health department partnership has been able to achieve an innovative and sustainable public policy solution, the Good Neighbor Program, by working closely with policy makers and local businesses to expand community accessibility to healthy food.
The Program Success Story: A Valuable Tool for Program Evaluation
Authors: Lavinghouze Rene , Webb Price Ann , Smith Kisha-Ann
Published: August 2007

Success stories are evaluation tools that have been used by professionals across disciplines for quite some time. They are also proving to be useful in promoting health programs and their accomplishments. The increasing popularity of success stories is due to the innovative and effective way that they increase a program's visibility, while engaging potential participants, partners, and funders in public health efforts. From the community level to the federal level, program administrators are using success stories as vehicles for celebrating achievements, sharing challenges, and communicating lessons learned. Success stories are an effective means to move beyond the numbers and connect to readers—with a cause they can relate to and want to join. This article defines success stories and provides an overview of several types of story formats, how success stories can be systematically collected, and how they are used to communicate program success.
FTY720 demonstrates promising preclinical activity for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma
Authors: Liu Qing , Zhao Xiaobin , Frissora Frank , Ma Yihui , Santhanam Ramasamy , Jarjoura David , Lehman Amy , Perrotti Danilo , Chen Ching-Shih , Dalton James T. , Muthusamy Natarajan , Byrd John C.
Published: August 2007

FTY720 is an immunosuppressant developed to prevent organ transplant rejection. Recent studies indicate an additional role for FTY720 in inducing cell apoptosis. We demonstrate here that FTY720 mediates toxic effects in cell lines representing different B-cell malignancies and primary B cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In contrast to previous reports in T-cell lines, FTY720-induced toxicity in the Raji cell line and primary CLL B cells is independent of activation of caspases or poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase processing. Further, pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk failed to rescue these cells from apoptosis mediated by FTY720. FTY720 induced down-regulation of Mcl-1 but not Bcl-2 in CLL B cells. Overexpression of Bcl-2 failed to protect transformed B cells from FTY720-induced apoptosis, suggesting a Bcl-2–independent mechanism. Interestingly, FTY720 induced protein phosphatase 2a (PP2a) activation and downstream dephosphorylation of ERK1/2, whereas okadaic acid at concentrations that inhibited the FTY720-induced PP2a activation also resulted in inhibition of FTY720-mediated apoptosis and restoration of baseline ERK1/2 phosphorylation in primary CLL cells, indicating a role for PP2a activation in FTY720-induced cytotoxicity. Further, FTY720 treatment resulted in significant prolonged survival in a xenograft severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse model of disseminated B-cell lymphoma/leukemia. These results provide the first evidence for the potential use of FTY720 as a therapeutic agent in a variety of B-cell malignancies, including CLL.
Smad1 and Smad5 differentially regulate embryonic hematopoiesis
Authors: McReynolds Lisa J. , Gupta Sunny , Figueroa Maria E. , Mullins Mary C. , Evans Todd
Published: August 2007

The bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway regulates multiple steps of hematopoiesis, mediated through receptor-regulated Smads, including Smad1 and Smad5. Here, we use loss-of-function approaches in zebrafish to compare the roles of Smad1 and Smad5 during embryonic hematopoiesis. We show that knockdown of Smad1 or Smad5 generates distinct and even opposite hematopoietic phenotypes. Embryos depleted for Smad1 have an increased number of primitive erythrocytes, but fail to produce mature embryonic macrophages. In contrast, Smad5-depleted embryos are defective in primitive erythropoiesis, yet have normal numbers of macrophages. Loss of either Smad1 or Smad5 causes a failure in the generation of definitive hematopoietic progenitors. To investigate the mechanism behind these phenotypes, we used rescue experiments and found that Smad5 is unable to rescue the Smad1 loss-of-function phenotype, indicating that the 2 highly related proteins have inherently distinct activities. Microarray experiments revealed that the 2 proteins redundantly regulate the key initiators of the hemato-vascular program, including scl, lmo2, and gfi1. However, each also regulates a remarkably distinct genetic program, with Smad5 uniquely regulating the BMP signaling pathway itself. Our results suggest that specificity of BMP signaling output, with respect to hematopoiesis, can be explained by differential functions of Smad1 and Smad5.
antiCODE: a natural sense-antisense transcripts database
Authors: Yin Yifei , Zhao Yi , Wang Jie , Liu Changning , Chen Shuguang , Chen Runsheng , Zhao Haitao
Published: August 2007

Background

Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are endogenous RNA molecules that exhibit partial or complete complementarity to other RNAs, and that may contribute to the regulation of molecular functions at various levels. In recent years, large-scale NAT screens in several model organisms have produced much data, but there is no database to assemble all these data. AntiCODE intends to function as an integrated NAT database for this purpose.

Results

This release of antiCODE contains more than 30,000 non-redundant natural sense-antisense transcript pairs from 12 eukaryotic model organisms. In order to provide an integrated NAT research platform, efficient browser, search and Blast functions have been included to enable users to easily access information through parameters such as species, accession number, overlapping patterns, coding potential etc. In addition to the collected information, antiCODE also introduces a simple classification system to facilitate the study of natural antisense transcripts.

Conclusion

Though a few similar databases also dealing with NATs have appeared lately, antiCODE is the most comprehensive among these, comprising almost all currently detected NAT pairs.
Apollo2Go: a web service adapter for the Apollo genome viewer to enable distributed genome annotation
Authors: Klee Kathrin , Ernst Rebecca , Spannagl Manuel , Mayer Klaus FX
Published: August 2007

Background

Apollo, a genome annotation viewer and editor, has become a widely used genome annotation and visualization tool for distributed genome annotation projects. When using Apollo for annotation, database updates are carried out by uploading intermediate annotation files into the respective database. This non-direct database upload is laborious and evokes problems of data synchronicity.

Results

To overcome these limitations we extended the Apollo data adapter with a generic, configurable web service client that is able to retrieve annotation data in a GAME-XML-formatted string and pass it on to Apollo's internal input routine.

Conclusion

This Apollo web service adapter, Apollo2Go, simplifies the data exchange in distributed projects and aims to render the annotation process more comfortable.

The Apollo2Go software is freely available from ftp://ftpmips.gsf.de/plants/apollo_webservice.
Transposable element distribution, abundance and role in genome size variation in the genus Oryza
Authors: Zuccolo Andrea , Sebastian Aswathy , Talag Jayson , Yu Yeisoo , Kim HyeRan , Collura Kristi , Kudrna Dave , Wing Rod A
Published: August 2007

Background

The genus Oryza is composed of 10 distinct genome types, 6 diploid and 4 polyploid, and includes the world's most important food crop – rice (Oryza sativa [AA]). Genome size variation in the Oryza is more than 3-fold and ranges from 357 Mbp in Oryza glaberrima [AA] to 1283 Mbp in the polyploid Oryza ridleyi [HHJJ]. Because repetitive elements are known to play a significant role in genome size variation, we constructed random sheared small insert genomic libraries from 12 representative Oryza species and conducted a comprehensive study of the repetitive element composition, distribution and phylogeny in this genus. Particular attention was paid to the role played by the most important classes of transposable elements (Long Terminal Repeats Retrotransposons, Long interspersed Nuclear Elements, helitrons, DNA transposable elements) in shaping these genomes and in their contributing to genome size variation.

Results

We identified the elements primarily responsible for the most strikingly genome size variation in Oryza. We demonstrated how Long Terminal Repeat retrotransposons belonging to the same families have proliferated to very different extents in various species. We also showed that the pool of Long Terminal Repeat Retrotransposons is substantially conserved and ubiquitous throughout the Oryza and so its origin is ancient and its existence predates the speciation events that originated the genus. Finally we described the peculiar behavior of repeats in the species Oryza coarctata [HHKK] whose placement in the Oryza genus is controversial.

Conclusion

Long Terminal Repeat retrotransposons are the major component of the Oryza genomes analyzed and, along with polyploidization, are the most important contributors to the genome size variation across the Oryza genus. Two families of Ty3-gypsy elements (RIRE2 and Atlantys) account for a significant portion of the genome size variations present in the Oryza genus.