bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Evaluation of Human Umbilical Vein as Small-Caliber Arterial Substitute
Authors: Motta G. , Ratto G.B. , Sacco A.
Published: November 2007

Since 1977, 61 arterial reconstruc tions using glutaraldehyde-tanned human umbilical vein (HUV) grafts were carried out in 56 patients (51 males, 5 females) with unsuitable au togenous saphenous vein. Their mean age was 69 ± 14 years. Limb salvage was the primary indication for sur gery.

HUV grafts were used to perform 44 femoropopliteal, 4 composite aor topopliteal (with a direct end-to-end anastomosis between an aortofe moral Dacron graft and a femoropo pliteal HUV graft), 5 femorotibial, and 6 axillofemoral bypasses, and 1 femorofemoral and 1 iliopopliteal by pass. Ten-year cumulative patency rates were 31 % for all HUV recon structions, 36% for femoropopliteal bypasses, and 32% for femoropopli teal bypasses carried out for limb sal vage only. Four of the 5 femorotibial reconstructions failed during the first month following surgery. Two of the 6 axillofemoral and 3 of the 4 com posite aortopopliteal bypasses throm bosed within one and three years after surgery respectively. In conclu sion, the study evidenced long-term durability of HUV grafts, supporting their use for femorodistal reconstruc tions in patients with limb-threaten ing ischemia and inadequate autoge nous saphenous vein.
Venographic Changes Associated with Seeded and Nonseeded Vena Cava Grafting
Authors: Vo Nghia M. , Arbogast Loretta H. , Arbogast Bradley , Stanton Paul E. , McKamey Mike
Published: November 2007

Thirty-four mongrel dogs had their inferior vena cava replaced by a 10 cm porcine endothelial cell seeded or nonseeded polytetrafluroethylene graft. Graft patency at four days (documented by cavograms) was then correlated with that noted at the time of sacrifice (day 32). The overall day 32 patency rate was 32 %. Grafts seeded and treated with aspirin had the highest patency rate. Collaterals were noted on all cavograms showing clotted grafts and on none of the patent grafts. Large collaterals were seen in 25% of the subjects, and moderate and minimal collateralization occurred in 75% of the cases. No correlation was noted between graft occlusion and symptomatology.
Open-Heart Surgery in Patients Over Sixty Years of Age
Authors: Morishita Yasuo , Arikawa Kazuhiro , Yamashita Masafumi , Toyohira Hitoshi , Yuda Toshiyuki , Shimokawa Shinji , Saigenji Hideaki , Hashiguchi Masahiko , Taira Akira
Published: November 2007

One hundred five patients over sixty years of age underwent open-heart sur gery at Kagoshima University Hospital during the period 1978-1986. The over all operative mortality rate was 22.8% (early: 17.1%, late: 5.7%), much higher than that of 6.9% (early: 5.3%, late: 1.6%) in younger patients under sixty years of age who had this surgery during the same period. Those who under went valve replacements showed a particularly high mortality rate. The opera tive mortality was significantly influenced by such factors as preoperative degrees of heart failure according to the NYHA functional class, the incidence of postoperative complications, the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass proce dures, and the duration of ischemic arrest. Despite a high mortality rate in elderly patients, age per se should not be a contraindication since the majority of hospital survivors are active in their daily life and the operative mortality has been reduced every year.
How to Select and Operate on Patients with Deep Venous Insufficiency of the Lower Limb
Authors: Psathakis Dimitrios N. , Psathakis Nikolaos D.
Published: November 2007

Investigation of the deep venous system of the lower limb must mainly aim to elucidate its capabilities. Be cause deep venous incompetence is necessarily connected with a popliteal reflux accounted for by valvular in competence of the popliteal vein, its presence must be clarified. Only pa tients with popliteal reflux detected by Doppler ultrasound require a fur ther examination by venous pressure measurements and by phlebography. An operation in the deep veins is ad missible only when a popliteal reflux more than 40%, an ambulatory ve nous pressure more than 60 mmHg, a refilling time less than fifteen sec onds, a venous insufficiency more than 20%, and a patency or recanali zation of the deep veins more than 70% have been confirmed.

The substitute "valve" operation by Technique II designed to overcome reflux in the popliteal vein was per formed on 170 patients (190 limbs) with deep venous incompetence of the lower limbs, primary or postthrom botic. Results were assessed clini cally, by Doppler ultrasound, by venous pressure measurements, and partially by phlebography. Clinical improvement in 181 of 190 limbs was associated with reduction of ambula tory venous pressure and prolonga tion of refilling time with interrup tion of the popliteal reflux by Dop pler (168 limbs) and with phlebographic evidence of a valve- like effect of the silastic tendon.
Doppler Flow Waveform Analysis Aids in Early Detection of Late Graft Failure in Cases of Lower Extremity Arterial Reconstruction: Case Studies
Authors: Okadome Kenichiro , Eguchi Hiroshi , Yukizane Takashi , Mii Shinsuke , Muto Yoichi , Sugimachi Keizo
Published: November 2007

From 1977 through 1986, 221 patients undergoing arterial reconstructions of the lower extremities, including 78 aortofemoral, 121 femoral-distal, and 22 extraanatomic reconstructions, were followed up after discharge, by use of Doppler driven flow waveform analysis and the ankle pressure index. In 40 (18%) of 221 patients, deterioration in the flow waveform pattern was detected, 5 aortofemoral (6.4%), 31 femoral-distal (25.6%), and 4 extraanatomic (18.2%) reconstructions, respectively. In 37 patients, changes in the flow waveform pat tern were detected within two and a half years after the initial surgery, and in those with a type II flow waveform pattern at the time of discharge, there was a greater tendency toward deterioration of flow waveform pattern. In 32 patients, the ankle pressure index decreased in parallel with deterioration in the flow waveform pattern. The remaining 8 patients (20%) showed no decrease in the ankle pressure index, despite a deterioration in the flow waveform pattern. In the 26 patients who consented, immediate arteriography identified the cause of the hemodynamic failure as localized graft stenosis, including the anastomotic site in 10 patients, inadequate outflow in 7, poor inflow in 6, combined graft stenosis and poor outflow in 2, and combined poor inflow and outflow in 1. Reoperation was performed in 23 patients and was successful in correcting the hemodynamic failure. The results of this study suggest that Doppler driven flow waveform analysis is preferable to ankle pressure index assessment for detect ing early stenotic lesions of the reconstructed artery and that patients with the type II flow waveform pattern should be closely followed up.
Significance of Arteriovenous Shunting in the Pathogenesis of Primary Varicose Veins
Authors: Katsamouris Asterios N. , Christodoulou Zinon , Setzis Kostas , Christou Kostas , Lazarides Petros , Imprialos Petros , Karamanolis Sofoklis , Papazoglou Orthodoxos
Published: November 2007

This study assesses the hypothesis that arteriovenous shunts constitute an important factor in the develop ment of varicose veins of the lower extremities by analyzing and compar ing venous and arterial blood gases in a homogeneous study population group under standard and physio logic conditions. Twenty-five patients (pts) with primary varicose veins were entered into the study; 14 were men and 11 were women aged twenty-two to sixty-seven (median forty) years. The control group com prised the same number of healthy individuals of similar sex and age. Blood samples were collected from an antecubital vein and a limb varicosity in the pt group, along with an arterial blood sample drawn simultaneously from the radial artery. Blood samples were also drawn from an antecubital vein and a calf vein in the control group, along with an arterial blood sample. Blood sampling was per formed with the subjects in supine position, breathing room air at tem perature 21-23°C. The pH, pO2, total CO2, and hemoglobin saturation (Hbsat) were measured, and oxygen content (Co 2) and arteriovenous Co2 difference were calculated in all blood samples. Statistical compari sons of mean values were made in and between each group by using the t-test. A significant increase in nor mal and diseased limb venous pO2 (pvO2), Hbvsat, and Cvo 2, and de crease in limb arteriovenous Co2 dif ference was demonstrated in each group whereas no significant differ ences were found in those variables between the groups. It seems un likely, therefore, that an arterioven ous shunting is a general causal factor in the pathogenesis of primary varicose veins in the lower extremi ties.
Situs Inversus and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm — A Case Report
Authors: Ricci Michael A. , Deshmukh Narayan
Published: November 2007

Situs inversus is an uncommon condition that produces a "mirror-image" of the thoracic and abdominal viscera. The authors report a case of successful resection of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in a patient with situs inversus and briefly discuss technical pitfalls of the operation.
Laser-Induced Intravascular Coagulation: An Experimental Treatment for Vascular Lesions and Control of Hemorrhage
Authors: Aravot Dan J. , Vidne Bernardo A. , Banner Nicholas R. , Sagie Dan , Giler Shamai , Kaplan Issak
Published: November 2007

The ability to transmit a laser beam through an optical fiber per mitted use of a laser with a wave length of 2.1 microns in the field of interventional angiology. During ex periments on dogs its ability to pro duce coagulation within the blood stream had been impressive. This led the authors to test its ability to seal blood vessels without resorting to surgery. A model of patent ductus ar teriosus was created in anesthetised dogs by implanting a segment of the femoral artery between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. A cardiac catheter was introduced via the femo ral artery and guided under x-ray control into the "patent duct" and an optical fiber inserted through the catheter. The "patent duct" was oc cluded successfully in a consecutive series of 7 animals with a laser pulse at 2 watts without damage to the ad jacent pulmonary artery and aorta. Similar animal models of berry aneu rysm of the brain (5 dogs), varicose veins (8 dogs), and gastrointestinal bleeding (5 dogs) were also success fully treated by laser-induced intra vascular coagulation. The results of these preliminary experiments are encouraging. The laser may find clin ical application in a variety of vascu lar procedures where less invasive alternatives to open surgery have not yet been developed.
Venous Reconstruction in Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Authors: Taheri Syde A. , Cullen Julie , Wormer Thomas
Published: November 2007

Since 1980 the authors have oper ated on 160 patients with venous in sufficiency. Surgical results of vein valve transplantation have been grat ifying with 75% having excellent re sults. Venous bypass for obstructive lesions have been associated with a high incidence of thrombosis. It is ap parent that a temporary arteriove nous fistula followed by long-term anticoagulant is necessary to achieve satisfactory results from autogenous vein bypass.
Experimental Evaluation of a Retrievable Vena Cava Filter
Authors: Nakagawa Nobuo , Cragg Andrew H. , Smith Tony P. , Castaneda Flavio , De Jong Steve C. , Barnhart William H.
Published: November 2007

A new retrievable filter, consisting of a helical basket of ten stainless steel wires and a retrieval cable, was tested in 7 adult sheep. The filter was inserted into the infrarenal vena cava through a 9-F sheath and fixed subcutaneously by a stabilizing ball at the skin insertion site. An average of 15.6 days after the filter placement, a follow-up cavography and clot-trapping tests were performed. The filter was retrieved through a 9-F sheath. Although all of the filters were free of thrombi and all of the inferior venae cavae were patent with good flow, two caval stenoses were noted below the filter. All 4 x 30 mm clots were trapped by the filter. Five filters were retrieved successfully; however, two filters could not be retrieved. Although these initial animal studies have shown this basket-type filter to be less than ideal, the development of a filter than can be successfully retrieved is essential for expanding the application of vena cava filters.
Repair of Intraoperative Paravalvular Tears
Authors: Hill Ronald C.
Published: November 2007

Tears of the aortic annulus occur occasionally when the aortic valve prosthesis is seated into the annulus. If a Hall Medtronic valve or other disk-type valve is used, this tear can be visualized and repaired easily by use of a subannular suturing technique.
An Inflammatory Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Presenting with Acute Dissection of the Descending Thoracic Aorta
Authors: Ono Takuya , Endo Takao , Saitoh Hirokazu , Tomita Yoshifumi , Hayakawa Hirokazu , Ikeshita Masatoshi , Tanaka Shigeo
Published: November 2007

A sixty-five-year-old woman had an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm that was complicated by acute dissection of the descending thoracic aorta. The authors emphasize the diagnostic value of dynamic computed tomographic scanning in inflammatory aneurysms and discuss the possible mechanisms for the association of the two conditions.
Screening for Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms with Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Angiography
Authors: Narita Goro , Matubara Keiko , Inagaki Masafumi , Hayasi Hiroshi
Published: November 2007

Unruptured asymptomatic intracranial aneurysms bleed at a rate of not less than 3% per year, with a mortality rate exceeding 50% per hemorrhage. Three-dimensional magnetic resonance angiography (3D-MRA) is able to depict the intracranial artery noninvasively and without using contrast media. The authors used 3D-MRA in 20 patients, (10 women, 10 men) with nausea, vomiting, and headache with hypertension to rule out intracranial aneurysm at same time brain computed tomography (CT) was performed. In this study, cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) diagnosed by CT were excluded. Of 20 patients, only 1 was suspected to have intracranial aneurysm despite a normal-appearing CT, and this was confirmed by cerebral angiography. Two cases were suspected at the horizontal view of MRI; however, these were excluded by 3D-MRA. The authors began this study after finding the unruptured case, and are continuing it. The incidence thus is 5% so far. Discovering unruptured intracranial aneurysms is important for reducing the death rate from SAH, and 3D-MRA is useful for screening patients suspected of having aneurysm.
Abnormal Response of Ankle Pressure After Exercise in Seemingly Normal Subjects Living in Blackfoot Disease-Hyperendemic Villages in Taiwan
Authors: Tseng Chin-Hsiao , Chen Chien-Jen , Lin Boniface J. , Tai Tong-Yuan
Published: November 2007

Arsenic-related peripheral vascular disease has been reported in many countries, including Taiwan, where the disease was called blackfoot disease (BFD) after the dry gangrene at its terminal stages. Because the induction period of BFD is twenty to thirty years, the authors speculated that subclinical arterial insufficiency might be present. The purpose of this study was to detect possible minor arterial insufficiency in the seemingly normal subjects who had consumed the high-arsenic well water for more than thirty years. Twenty-three seemingly normal men living in BFD-hyperendemic villages and 28 age-sex-BMI-matched men from a nearby nonendemic area were recruited. All of them were not obese, had neither diabetes mellitus nor hypertension, did not smoke, and had normal Doppler ultrasound examination findings at rest. Brachial pressures on both arms and ankle pressures on both right and left dorsal pedal and posterior tibial arteries were measured before and after treadmill exercise (1.2 mph, 10% grade, ten minutes).

Before exercise, brachial pressures, ankle pressures, ankle-brachial index, and ankle- brachial gradients were similar in BFD area and nonBFD area groups. After exercise, ankle pressure increased in correspondence to increased brachial pressure in the nonBFD area group, maintaining ankle-brachial index and ankle-brachial gradient within normal limits. However, in the BFD area group, a paradoxical drop of ankle pressures led to a significant fall of ankle-brachial index and ankle-brachial gradient. Only 3 (10.7%) cases ( continued on next page) ( Abstract continued) with 4 (7.1%) limbs from the nonBFD area showed negative values of ankle-brachial gradients (-3 mmHg to -10 mmHg). However, there were 13 (56.5%) cases with 20 (43.5%) limbs showing negative gradients (-1 mmHg to -33 mmHg) in the BFD area group. The odds ratios of having minor arterial occlusive disease was about 10 times higher in the seemingly normal subjects living in BFD-hyperendemic villages with ankle- brachial gradients after exercise either < 0 mmHg or < -9 mmHg as a cutoff point.

The authors conclude that subclinical arterial insufficiency could be demonstrated in a high percentage of the seemingly normal subjects who had been chronically exposed to arsenic. For early detection of arterial disease and early intervention to prevent future amputation, they advocate the exercise test as a screening and monitoring method.
The Current Role of Profundaplasty in Complex Arterial Reconstruction
Authors: Jacobs Donald L. , Seabrook Gary R. , Freischlag Julie A. , Towne Jonathan B.
Published: November 2007

By use of direct surgical procedures, including endarterectomy and patch angioplasty, the reconstructed profunda femoris artery has been employed to treat symptoms of claudication from femoral-popliteal occlusive disease and to facilitate healing of ampu tations that spare the knee joint. As the techniques of distal arterial bypass have become more sophisticated with improved long-term patency, the role of profun daplasty has changed.

Sixty-eight reconstructions of the profunda femoris artery were reviewed for 51 patients with limb-threatening ischemia (69%), claudication (28%), or infected pros thetic vascular grafts (3%). Thirty-three (49%) of the limbs had undergone 73 prior arterial reconstructions. Forty-nine patients had inflow procedures performed at the time of the profundaplasty, and 13 had concomitant reconstruction of arterial outflow. In only 6 cases was the procedure an isolated profundaplasty. Successful profun daplasty was defined as primary patency of the vascular reconstruction.

By life table analysis, revascularizations utilizing profundaplasty had a primary patency of 81% at one year, 64% at two years, and 54% at four years. The series achieved a limb salvage rate of 96% at four years.

Isolated profundaplasty is seldom utilized to treat critical ischemia of the lower extremity. The current role of profundaplasty places the procedure as an important adjunct to achieve long-term limb salvage and patency of complex vascular reconstructions.
Anemia, Coagulopathy, and Acute Leg Ischemia: Unusual Complications of a Persistent Sciatic Artery Aneurysm
Authors: Avrahami Ram , Watemberg Shalom , Haddad Menashe , Neuman-Levin Margalit , Zelikovski Avigdor
Published: November 2007

In the event of a developmental abnormality of the vascular system of the lower limb in which the femoral system fails to develop or the axial artery fails to involute, the main vascular supply to the leg will be through a persistent sciatic artery (PSA). With an incidence of less than 0.04%, PSA can be asymptomatic, but in about half the cases an aneurysmal dilatation can ensue, and its symptomatology may include a painful gluteal mass. Cases have been reported of coagulopathy, anemia, or acute ischemia complicating PSA aneurysm. The case presented here is a clinical constellation of all three compo nents appearing together in a patient who had long been investigated for anemia and had been operated on for a bleeding duodenal ulcer (as a consequence of coagulopathy) in a different center. At hospitalization, the gluteal mass was noted on examination, and angiography showed a huge PSA aneurysm. The clinical presentation and management of this case are discussed in light of the current literature.
Aneurysmal Changes in an in Situ Saphenous Vein Bypass
Authors: Jacobovicz Claudio , Mohan Chittur R. , Hoballah Jamal J. , Kresowik Timothy F. , Sharp William J. , Corson John D.
Published: November 2007

The development of an aneurysm in an in situ bypass has not been reported to date in the major series of in situ bypasses. A review of the English literature did reveal one other report of an aneurysm developing following an in situ bypass. In this report, we describe a sixty-seven-year-old woman with a true aneurysm that developed in an in situ greater saphenous vein bypass six years after implantation.
Management of External Hemorrhage from Varicose Veins
Authors: Bergan John J.
Published: November 2007

In the thirty-six-month period after October 1, 1992, 20 patients were seen who experi enced profuse external hemorrhage from subcutaneous varicose veins or intracutaneous telangiectasias.

These were, for the most part, elderly, the 11 women averaging 68.9 years of age, and the 8 men (exclusive of a fourteen-year-old boy) averaging 58.6 years of age. None of the episodes of bleeding occurred in patients with venous ulcer, and trauma was not a factor in producing bleeding. The bleeding was characterized by high-pressure jet effect, which caused a fountain-like hemorrhage to occur. Hemorrhage was stopped by local pressure, and definitive treatment was by sclerotherapy, surgical removal of sources of venous hypertension, or combinations of these.

Continuous-wave Doppler evaluation assisted in selecting patients for surgery, and duplex ultrasound provided information that guided the surgical events.

A complete review of previously reported cases suggests this is a dangerous and not trivial complication of venous hypertension and varicosities. Suggested management is outlined.
Simplified Screening of Lower Extremity Arterial Bypasses
Authors: Sawchuk Alan P.
Published: November 2007

This study assessed a new technique comparing the width of the distal Doppler signal with that of the proximal Doppler signal in order to detect intervening bypass graft or anastomotic stenoses. The width of the Doppler signal was defined as the time from the initial Doppler signal upstroke until the time the signal returned to within 10% of its baseline. The width of the distal Doppler signal was compared with the width of the proximal Doppler signal for 11 normal bypasses and for 11 bypasses with a significant intervening stenosis.

The distal Doppler signal was at least 10% wider than the proximal Doppler signal in all bypasses with a significant intervening stenosis, unlike most bypasses without an intervening stenosis (P<0.001). This technique detected all the significant bypass graft stenoses while eliminating the need to do complete bypass graft duplex ultrasound studies on most normal bypasses.
Thoracic Outlet Vascular Injuries
Authors: Özçelik Cemal , Inci Ilhan , Nizam Özgür , Eren Nesimi , Özgen Gökalp
Published: November 2007

Management of vascular injuries at the thoracic outlet and neck continues to be a major problem to the trauma surgeon. Of 47 patients treated over an eighteen-year period, 45 were due to penetrating injuries (41 gunshot [87.2%], 4 stab wounds [8.5%]). In 16 patients shock was present at the time of admission. Five patients were operated on in comatose condition. In 37 patients immediate, and in 10 cases delayed, operation was performed. In 13 patients with arterial injuries, end-to-end anastomosis; in 24, saphenous vein graft; in 6, synthetic graft; in 2, lateral suture; and in 2, ligation were performed. Three subclavian arterial injuries repaired by saphenous vein graft occluded owing to thrombosis, requiring synthetic graft replacement. In 3 axillary arterial injuries, ligation was performed following the operation because of infection. One of these patients underwent amputation. Only 3 of 14 brachial plexus injuries (BPI) were primarily repaired. In only 1 of 3 repaired patients did complete function return. Overall mortality was 5 including 3 comatose patients with carotid injuries and 2 with axillary arterial injuries. In conclusion: (1) Subclavian and axillary artrial injuries may be overlooked by physical examination in the absence of critical ischemia. (2) We recommend ligation instead of revascularization in comatose carotid injury cases. (3) Synthetic grafts may be used, in cases of size discordance or in unstable patients, to end the operation as soon as possible. (4) In associated venous injuries, repair should be preferred to ligation. (5) In the presence of BPI due to gunshot wounds the results are not good in spite of nerve repair, and serious sequelae may remain.
Significance of Arterial Defects on Completion Arteriograms Following Infrainguinal Bypasses
Authors: Sugawara Yasuhiko , Sato Osamu , Miyata Tetsuro , Koyama Hiroyuki , Kimura Hideo , Makuuchi Masatoshi
Published: November 2007

Intraluminal filling defects of the runoff arteries, which were transient in most cases, are frequently observed on completion arteriograms after crural arterial reconstructive proce dures. However, the incidence, fate, and significance of these changes have yet to be clarified. Completion arteriograms of 108 bypasses were evaluated retrospectively. The incidence of intraluminal defects of runoff arteries was examined by measuring the internal diameter on completion arteriograms and its relationship to the distal anasto motic site, underlying disease, and time the artery was ischemic, and the results of intra operative magnetic flowmetry were analyzed. These changes were compared with those revealed by subsequent postoperative arteriography. The incidence of arterial defects was 46% (50/108) and was higher in bypasses to more distal arteries (P<0.0001) and Buerger's disease patients (P<0.0001). Ninety percent (45/50) were transient. Postreconstructive flowmetry reflected the severity of intraluminal defects of runoff arteries; however, the fates of these changes could not be predicted by use of completion arteriography or intraoperative magnetic flowmetry.
Prophylactic Strategy against Calf Vein Thrombosis Through an Intraoperative Lithotomic Position
Authors: Matsumoto Kenji , Shirasugi Nozomu , Nakagawa Motohito , Arisawa Yoshito , Aiura Koichi , Ishii Seiichiro , Noga Katsuhiko
Published: November 2007

The aim of this retrospective and prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of the authors' newly devised lithotomic position (NDLP) for use during surgery to prevent intraoperative calf vein thrombosis (CVT).

From their concern about development of CVT during rectal cancer surgery, they reviewed 84 patients who were operated on in a traditional lithotomic position (TLP) retrospectively and examined prospectively 102 patients operated on in an NDLP.

In the TLP group, 8 patients (9.5%) developed CVT; however, none of the NDLP group suffered from CVT, the difference being significant (P<0.01).

From this study, the effectiveness and usefulness of the NDLP are strongly empha sized to prevent intraoperative CVT during rectal cancer surgery.
Subcutaneous Transposition of Arterialized Upper Arm Veins for Hemodialysis Angioaccess: Optimal Alternative to Grafts
Authors: Salgado Octavio J. , Terán Nemesio A. , Garcia Rafael , Henríquez Carlos , Herrera José , Rodríguez-Iturbe Bernardo
Published: November 2007

The authors report 42 subcutaneous transpositions of arterialized deep upper arm veins for hemodialysis angioaccess: 37 basilic (BaF) and 5 brachial (BrF) fistulas, done in 38 patients, 18 of them diabetics, with local anesthesia. Indications for BaF and BrF creation were surgically exhausted forearm veins and/or severe arteriosclerotic changes of distal arteries. No neurologic or circulatory complications were seen. Cumulative patency rates for all fistulas was 100% at the first month and 82% one year after surgery. BaF and BrF are optimal autogenous alternatives to synthetic grafts.
Use of a Vascular Closure System for Bypass Grafting of Peripheral Arteries
Authors: Shibata Toshihiko , Suehiro Shigefumi , Sasaki Yasuyuki , Hattori Koji , Fujioka Munehiro , Kumano Hiroshi , Hosono Mitsuharu , Kinoshita Hiroaki
Published: November 2007

Vascular anastomosis is generally done by the needle-and-suture technique. Recently, a vascular closure system (VCS) with nonpenetrating clips was developed. Its use for patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans has not been reported yet. Sixteen anastomoses in seven consecutive patients were done with VCS clips. All anastomoses were end-to-side with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts. Use of the clips was abandoned intraoperatively at five anastomotic sites because the arterial walls were not pliable and because of thickness or calcification. These sites were anastomosed by the conventional needle-and-suture method. Anastomosis took a mean of 10 minutes. Anastomotic rupture, bleeding from the joined edge, and acute occlusion of the graft did not occur. The patency of all grafts was excellent 6 months after surgery. The system seemed to be useful and easy to handle.
Bare Life on Strike: Notes on the Biopolitics of Race and Gender
Authors: Ziarek Ewa Płonowska
Published: November 2007

In this essay, I argue that Giorgio Agamben's revision of biopolitics poses the pressing political question of whether bare life itself can be mobilized by emancipatory movements. Yet, in order to develop the possibilities of resistance, we need to reconsider first of all the way bare life is implicated in the gendered, class, colonial, and racist configurations of the political and, because of this implication, suffers different forms of violence. The central paradox bare life presents for political analysis is not only the erasure of political distinctions but also the negative differentiation, or privation, such erasure produces with respect to differences that used to characterize a form of life that was destroyed. In order to show how this paradox opens up new possibilities of resistance, I supplement Agamben's genealogies of bare life with two different political cases—the first one represented by Orlando Patterson's discussion of premodern and modern forms of slavery, and the second case being the hunger strikes of militant British suffragettes at the beginning of the twentieth century. At stake is not just a diversification of the genealogy of bare life but a new feminist reflection on the possibilities of political praxis in the age of biopolitics.
Kierkegaard and Genre
Authors: Pattison George
Published: November 2007

Noting the apparent chaos of Søren Kierkegaard's writing, the essay shows that Kierkegaard did, nevertheless, have a highly self-conscious relation to issues of genre, which was a central concern in the aesthetic theory of his critical role model, J. L. Heiberg. Salient features of Heiberg's aesthetics are discussed and their echoes in Kierkegaard's writing illustrated. Kierkegaard is also aware that Heiberg's schema of genres breaks down in the face of modernity and such modern art forms as the novel. Here Mikhail Bakhtin (a reader of Kierkegaard) can help us see a carnivalistic transgression of classical genre definitions at work in Kierkegaard's writing. This, in turn, can be shown to relate to Kierkegaard's fundamental religious concerns and to reflect the carnivalesque destabilization of social, cultural, and artistic forms enacted in the paradoxical figure of the God-man.
Cross-regulation ofNgn1andMath1coordinates the production of neurons and sensory hair cells during inner ear development
Authors: Raft Steven , Koundakjian Edmund J. , Quinones Herson , Jayasena Chathurani S. , Goodrich Lisa V. , Johnson Jane E. , Segil Neil , Groves Andrew K.
Published: November 2007

Temporal and spatial coordination of multiple cell fate decisions is essential for proper organogenesis. Here, we define gene interactions that transform the neurogenic epithelium of the developing inner ear into specialized mechanosensory receptors. By Cre-loxP fate mapping, we show that vestibular sensory hair cells derive from a previously neurogenic region of the inner ear. The related bHLH genes Ngn1 (Neurog1) and Math1 (Atoh1) are required, respectively, for neural and sensory epithelial development in this system. Our analysis of mouse mutants indicates that a mutual antagonism between Ngn1 and Math1regulates the transition from neurogenesis to sensory cell production during ear development. Furthermore, we provide evidence that the transition to sensory cell production involves distinct autoregulatory behaviors of Ngn1 (negative) and Math1 (positive). We propose that Ngn1, as well as promoting neurogenesis, maintains an uncommitted progenitor cell population through Notch-mediated lateral inhibition, and Math1 irreversibly commits these progenitors to a hair-cell fate.
The current legal framework associated with space debris mitigation
Authors: Wheeler J
Published: November 2007

This technical note summarizes and discusses briefly the extent to which some of the issues raised by space debris are dealt with in the current international, European, US, and UK legal framework. It continues by analysing some difficulties inherent in the legal regulation of space debris and comments briefly on measures now being considered to mitigate the problem more directly.
On-orbit risk reduction — collision avoidance
Authors: Klinkrad H
Published: November 2007

Since more than 10 years, the European Space Operations Centre has been monitoring close proximities of objects of the US Space Surveillance Network catalogue with operational European Space Agency (ESA) satellites in low-Earth orbits. In recent years, this activity has evolved into an operational service that is provided for the ERS-2 and Envisat remote sensing satellites. In the current article, the basic principles of ESA's catalogue-based conjunction event detection and collision risk estimation process are explained, associated orbit prediction uncertainties are addressed, operational collision avoidance procedures are outlined, avoidance manoeuvre criteria are explained, and examples of evasive manoeuvres are provided. The observed manoeuvre rate is compared with a statistical manoeuvre frequency assessment, based on collision flux predictions for catalogue-size objects by ESA's MASTER-2001 space debris environment model.
Analysis methodologies for assessing micro-meteoroids and orbital debris risk to spacecraft
Authors: Destefanis R
Published: November 2007

Every space system is exposed to the risk of collision with space debris and micro-meteoroids throughout its orbital life. Because of the large collision velocities, debris or meteoroids in the millimetre to centimetre range may cause significant damage to a spacecraft, which can result in potential generation of debris, loss of equipment and mission failure. The current paper deals with the probabilistic risk assessment of spacecraft survivability under micro-meteoroids and orbital debris (MMOD) impact. The typical process to calculate the MMOD induced risk is summarized and the main uncertainties and limitations affecting the assessment are discussed together with a simple example of a MMOD risk assessment performed for the European spaceship automated transfer vehicle. In order to increase the level of accuracy of MMOD risk assessments, improvements are necessary in the following critical areas: failure criteria analysis, project-dedicated hypervelocity impact testing and debris environment models.
Human Resources from an Organizational Behavior Perspective: Some Paradoxes Explained
Authors: Pfeffer Jeffrey
Published: November 2007

Workplaces in America and elsewhere show pervasive job dissatisfaction, distrust, and disengagement, with the evidence suggesting that these problems are getting worse and have a number of negative consequences for employers as well as employees. What follows is a necessarily selective exploration of human resource management in organizations, covering why it is often done so badly, what theory suggests about how to do it better, and why so little of what is known is actually implemented.
The Economics of Dowry and Brideprice
Authors: Anderson Siwan
Published: November 2007

Payments between families at the time of marriage have existed throughout the history of most developed countries and are currently pervasive in many areas of the developing world. These payments can be substantial enough to affect the welfare of women and a society's distribution of wealth. Recent estimates document transfers per marriage amounting to four to six times annual household income. This paper first establishes some basic facts about the prevalence and magnitude of marriage payments. It then discusses how such patterns vary across countries depending upon economic conditions, societal structures, institutions, and family characteristics. Marriage payments have evolved within societies over time: in some periods, payments have risen sharply; in some cases, payments have shifted from the grooms' side to the brides', and vice versa; sometimes, property rights over such payments shift between marrying partners and parental generations. The second part of this paper discusses the economic literature devoted to explaining these facts.
Bankruptcy Reform and Credit Cards
Authors: White Michelle J
Published: November 2007

From 1980 to 2004, the number of personal bankruptcy filings in the United States increased more than five-fold, from 288,000 to 1.5 million per year. By 2004, more Americans were filing for bankruptcy each year than were graduating from college, getting divorced, or being diagnosed with cancer. In 2005, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) became law. It made bankruptcy law much less debtor-friendly. Personal bankruptcy filings fell to 600,000 in 2006. This paper explores why personal bankruptcy rates rose, and will argue that the main reason is the growth of “revolving debt”—mainly credit card debt. It explains how the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) of 2005 altered the conditions of bankruptcy. Finally, this essay considers the balances that need to be struck in a bankruptcy system and how the U.S. bankruptcy system strikes these balances in comparison with other countries. I argue that a less debtor-friendly bankruptcy policy should be accompanied by changes in bank regulation and truth-in-lending rules, so that lenders have a greater chance of facing losses when they supply too much credit or charge excessively high interest rates and fees.
The Case for Forecast Targeting as a Monetary Policy Strategy
Authors: Woodford Michael
Published: November 2007

At central banks around the world, including the Bank of England, Sweden's Riksbank, Norway's Norges Bank, and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, policy is conducted on the basis of “inflation-forecast targeting”: the central bank constructs quantitative projections of the economy's expected future evolution based on the way in which it intends to control short-term interest rates, and public discussion of those projections plays a critical role in justifying the banks' conduct of monetary policy to the public. What accounts for the appeal of this approach? Should it be adopted more widely or more explicitly? I review the long-running debate between proponents of monetary rules and proponents of discretionary monetary policy and argue that inflation-forecast targeting represents a powerful synthesis of the two approaches. I explore some common questions that arise about inflation-forecast targeting and consider how the U.S. Federal Reserve might move toward an explicit policy of inflation-forecast targeting.
Patient-delivered partner medication in the UK: an unlawful but popular choice
Authors: Coyne Katherine M , Cohen C E , Smith N A , Mandalia S , Barton S
Published: November 2007

Current methods of contact tracing are only partially effective. Patient-delivered partner medication (PDPM), in which patients are dispensed antibiotics for their sexual partner(s), has been shown to reduce persistent and recurrent infections. We performed a questionnaire to canvass opinions of UK staff and patients about PDPM. The response rate was 72% (88/122) for staff and 90% (473/525) for patients. The majority of staff (81%) thought that PDPM would be acceptable to patients, and should be combined with written information and a recommendation to attend a clinic. Patients were mostly (59%) in favour of PDPM, 87% thought it would make it easier to abstain from sex during treatment, and 94% indicated that after being given antibiotics by a partner, they would attend a clinic for tests. Concerns expressed by staff and patients included drug allergies, potential lack of information provided to partners, management of complicated infection, pregnancy and medicolegal implications.
Binge drinking, sexual behaviour and sexually transmitted infection in the UK
Authors: Standerwick K , Davies C , Tucker L , Sheron Nick
Published: November 2007

Associations between sexual risk and alcohol consumption may be self-evident but have eluded detailed examination in the UK. A cohort of 520 genitourinary (GU) medicine clinic attenders in the south of England were given a detailed questionnaire and compared with a matched cohort from the General Household Survey (GHS). Clinic attenders binged heavily –a median of 13 units on a usual night and 26 on a 'heavy' night, compared with six units in the GHS cohort. In all, 86% of clinic attenders exceeded the UK government 'binge drinking' level of six units, and 32% of subjects thought that alcohol played a role in their clinic attendance. A total of 77% had been drinking before sex with a new partner; of these, 65% were usually or occasionally very drunk. Binge drinking was increased in the 29% diagnosed with a bacterial sexually transmitted infection ( P < 0.003). Of the women, 19% reported an unwanted pregnancy, with 28% drinking beforehand.
Pulmonary Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis in a Dog: Evidence of Immunophenotypic Diversity and Relationship to Human Pulmonary Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis and Pulmonary Hodgkin's Disease
Authors: Park H.-M. , Hwang D.-N. , Kang B.-T. , Jung D.-I. , Song G.-S. , Lee S.-J. , Yhee J.-Y. , Yu C.-H. , Doster A. R. , Sur J.-H.
Published: November 2007

We describe a 10-month-old, intact female American Cocker Spaniel with pulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis (PLG). On clinical examination, this dog presented with nonproductive dry cough, serous nasal discharge, dyspnea, and lack of appetite. Radiography showed a consolidated lesion in the left cranial lung lobe. Histopathologic examination showed a mixed population of atypical lymphoid cells that had infiltrated into the pulmonary blood vessels angiocentrically. The lymphocytes were CD3 positive, consistent with a pan-T-cell phenotype. The lymphoid cells in the lesion were also positive for CD20cy and CD79a, indicative of the presence of B cells. We also observed large Reed-Sternberg–like cells that were positive for CD15 and CD30, similar to observations in human pulmonary Hodgkin's disease (PHD). In conclusion, canine PLG in this Cocker Spaniel was associated with B and T cells, which is first identified in a case of canine PLG. It was histopathologically similar to human lymphomatoid granulomatosis and immunophenotypically similar to human PHD.
Mimosa tenuiflora as a Cause of Malformations in Ruminants in the Northeastern Brazilian Semiarid Rangelands
Authors: Pimentel L. A. , Correa F. Riet , Gardner D. , Panter K. E. , Dantas A. F. M. , Medeiros R. M. T. , Mota R. A. , Araujo J. A. S.
Published: November 2007

Craniofacial anomalies, eye malformations, and permanent flexures of the forelimbs are common malformations seen in ruminants grazing semiarid rangelands of Northeastern Brazil. To investigate the cause of these malformations, we fed 2 suspected plants, Mimosa tenuiflora or Prosopis juliflora, to groups of 4 pregnant goats each. Fresh green M. tenuiflora was collected daily and fed ad libitum to 4 goats in group 1 throughout pregnancy. This treatment group also received a supplemental feed concentrate equivalent to 1% body weight. Four goats in group 2 received a ration with 70% of P. juliflora pods and 30% hay throughout pregnancy. Four control goats were fed supplemental feed concentrate (1% body weight) and hay ad libitum throughout pregnancy. Goats treated with P. juliflora pods and the control goats delivered 9 normal kids. The four goats that were fed M. tenuiflora during pregnancy delivered 4 kids, 3 of which had abnormalities similar to those observed in field cases, including cleft lip, unilateral corneal opacity, ocular bilateral dermoids, buphthalmos with a cloudy brownish appearance of the anterior chamber due to an iridal cyst, and segmental stenosis of the colon. Malformations induced experimentally by M. tenuiflora were similar to those observed in field cases, suggesting that M. tenuiflora is a cause of the field cases observed in the Brazilian semiarid rangelands.
Computing Heritability and Selection Response From Unbalanced Plant Breeding Trials
Authors: Piepho Hans-Peter , Möhring Jens
Published: November 2007

Heritability is often used by plant breeders and geneticists as a measure of precision of a trial or a series of trials. Its main use is for computing the response to selection. Most formulas proposed for calculating heritability implicitly assume balanced data and independent genotypic effects. Both of these assumptions are often violated in plant breeding trials. This article proposes a simulation-based approach to tackle the problem. The key idea is to directly simulate the quantity of interest, e.g., response to selection, rather than trying to approximate it using some ad hoc measure of heritability. The approach is illustrated by three examples.
Drosophila G9a Is a Nonessential Gene
Authors: Seum Carole , Bontron Séverine , Reo Emanuela , Delattre Marion , Spierer Pierre
Published: November 2007

Mammalian G9a is a euchromatic histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase essential for development. Here, we characterize the Drosophila homolog of G9a, dG9a. We generated a dG9a deletion allele by homologous recombination. Analysis of this allele revealed that, in contrast to recent findings, dG9a is not required for fly viability.
Antimicrobial effects of Piper Guineense ‘Uziza’ and Phyllantus amarus ‘Ebe-Benizo’ on Candida albicans and Streptococcus faecalis
Authors: Okigbo R. , Igwe D.
Published: November 2007

Two pathogens were employed,
Streptococcus faecalis
and
Candida albicans
for the study of the antimicrobial effects of
Piper guineense
and
Phyllantus amarus
using agar-well diffusion and disc-diffusion methods. Phytochemical screening of ethanol, cold and hot water extracts detected the presence of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids and phlobatannins. Antimicrobial effect of the plant extracts showed that the organic solvent and aqueous solvents of
P. amarus
were inhibitory to
S. faecalis
while the extracts of
Phyllantus amarus
were not inhibitory to
Candida albicans
. Agar-well determined Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values ranged between 3.125 mg/ml and 6.25 mg/ml while the disc diffusion determined MIC values ranged between 6.25 mg/ml and 25.0 mg/ml. The agar-well determined MIC values for the ethanolic
P. amarus
extracts (3.12 mg/ml) were lower than the corresponding disc-diffusion MIC determined values (6.25 mg/ml −25.00 mg/ml). Bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic effect varied with, solvent type of extract, concentration of the plant extract and the method of the test adopted. The active components of the plant have no antifungal effect on the tested yeast
(Candida albicans)
. These findings are discussed in relation to plant chemicals as a means of disease control and also to the problem of microbial resistance to synthetic drugs.