bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specific phage‐displayed peptides discriminate different forms of neurocysticercosis by antibody detection in the serum samples
Authors: MANHANI M. N. , RIBEIRO V. S. , CARDOSO R. , UEIRA‐VIEIRA C. , GOULART L. R. , COSTA‐CRUZ J. M.
Published: February 2011

Neurocysticercosis (NC), caused by Taenia solium metacestode, infects the central nervous system and is a devastating parasitic infection. Diagnosis is based on symptoms, imaging, serology and epidemiology. Current markers present variable sensitivity and specificity, frequent cross‐reactions and are not able to discriminate NC clinical forms. The aim of this study was to select mimotopes of T. solium metacestode antigens that may be used in NC immunodiagnosis, specifically to discriminate between active and inactive forms. A random peptide phage display library was screened against IgY from chickens immunized with total saline extract from T. solium metacestodes and validated against 110 serum samples, classified into active NC (18), inactive NC (22), cross‐reactive parasitic diseases (40) and healthy controls (30). We have successfully selected seven peptides with significant immunoreactivity to IgG of NC patients, with sensitivity ranging from 95·5% to 100% to detect the inactive form and specificity varied from 85·7% to 94·3%. One phage‐displayed peptide (Cc48) can be directly used as biomarker to distinguish inactive from active forms with an accuracy of 95·7%, and this novel mimotope may also be used as an auxiliary tool to neuroimaging tests and treatment follow‐up.
EXPERIENCES WITH PLANNING FOR NATURAL LANGUAGE GENERATION
Authors: Koller Alexander , Petrick Ronald P. A.
Published: February 2011

Natural language generation (NLG) is a major subfield of computational linguistics with a long tradition as an application area of automated planning systems. While current mainstream approaches have largely ignored the planning approach to NLG, several recent publications have sparked a renewed interest in this area. In this article, we investigate the extent to which these new NLG approaches profit from the advances in planner expressiveness and efficiency. Our findings are mixed. While modern planners can readily handle the search problems that arise in our NLG experiments, their overall runtime is often dominated by the grounding step they perform as preprocessing. Furthermore, small changes in the structure of a domain can significantly shift the balance between search and preprocessing. Overall, our experiments show that the off‐the‐shelf planners we tested are unusably slow for nontrivial NLG problem instances. As a result, we offer our domains and experiences as challenges for the planning community.
SUPPORTING CLINICAL PROCESSES AND DECISIONS BY HIERARCHICAL PLANNING AND SCHEDULING
Authors: Fdez‐Olivares Juan , Castillo Luis , Cózar Juan A. , García Pérez Oscar
Published: February 2011

This article is focused on how a general‐purpose hierarchical planning representation, based on the hierarchical task networks (HTN) paradigm, can be used to support the representation of oncology treatment protocols. The planning algorithm used is a temporally extended HTN planning process capable of interpreting such representation and generating oncology treatment plans that have been proven to support clinical decisions in the area of pediatrics oncology.
FEASIBILITY OF AUTONOMOUS DECISION MAKING ON BOARD AN AGILE EARTH‐OBSERVING SATELLITE
Authors: Beaumet Grégory , Verfaillie Gérard , Charmeau Marie‐Claire
Published: February 2011

In this article, we present the main results of the feasibility study we have carried out about autonomous decision making on board an Earth‐observing agile satellite, equipped with a cloud detection instrument. We explain the requirements in terms of autonomy. Then, we describe the online decision‐making problem to manage on board, the reactive/deliberative architecture we used, the decision rules used by the reactive part, and the iterated stochastic greedy search used by the deliberative part. At each step, we try to justify the design choices we made by comparing them with other possible choices. Finally, we present results of experiments performed on offline and online realistic scenarios.
Relaxation‐Based Point Feature Matching for Vector Map Conflation
Authors: Song Wenbo , Keller James M. , Haithcoat Timothy L. , Davis Curt H.
Published: February 2011

With the rapid advance of geospatial technologies, the availability of geospatial data from a wide variety of sources has increased dramatically. It is beneficial to integrate / conflate these multi‐source geospatial datasets, since the integration of multi‐source geospatial data can provide insights and capabilities not possible with individual datasets. However, multi‐source datasets over the same geographical area are often disparate. Accurately integrating geospatial data from different sources is a challenging task. Among the subtasks of integration/conflation, the most crucial one is feature matching, which identifies the features from different datasets as presentations of the same real‐world geographic entity. In this article we present a new relaxation‐based point feature matching approach to match the road intersections from two GIS vector road datasets. The relaxation labeling algorithm utilizes iterated local context updates to achieve a globally consistent result. The contextual constraints (relative distances between points) are incorporated into the compatibility function employed in each iteration's updates. The point‐to‐point matching confidence matrix is initialized using the road connectivity information at each point. Both the traditional proximity‐based approach and our relaxation‐based point matching approach are implemented and experiments are conducted over 18 test sites in rural and suburban areas of Columbia, MO. The test results show that our relaxation labeling approach has much better performance than the proximity matching approach in both simple and complex situations.
Identifying difficulties in rapeseed root penetration in farmers’ fields in northern European conditions
Authors: Peltonen‐Sainio P. , Jauhiainen L. , Laitinen P. , Salopelto J. , Saastamoinen M. , Hannukkala A.
Published: February 2011

Tap‐rooted rapeseed is generally considered sensitive to soil compaction. We examined 473 Finnish rapeseed fields sown in 2007 to 2009 to both spring turnip rape Brassica rapa L. (dominant crop) and oilseed rape Brassica napus L. Roots were rated late in the growing season according to penetration capacity. Roots in each field were rated from G1 (no problems with root penetration) to G5 (failure to penetrate deeper soil layers). There were significant effects of year, crop species, soil type, special soil properties and soil cultivation methods on frequency of G1 and G4+5 roots. Restricted root penetration was a common phenomenon. Typically, fields had <30% G3 and G4+5 roots, however, some fields had >70% G4+5 roots and were cases for serious concern. Yield loss was linearly related to the incidence of G4+5 plants in 2007, but there was no relationship with the other years. Oilseed rape had a greater proportion of G4+5 roots than turnip rape and twice the proportion of G4+5 roots occurred in direct‐drilled fields than in reduced or fully tilled fields. Rapeseed yield decline may at least partly be related to poor root penetration and it is a useful indicator crop to demonstrate the degree of soil compaction and should be cultivated in fields where sufficient root penetration is possible.
Do mucositis lesions around implants differ from gingivitis lesions around teeth?
Authors: Lang Niklaus P. , Bosshardt Dieter D. , Lulic Martina
Published: February 2011

Lang NP, Bosshardt DD, Lulic M. Do mucositis lesions around implants differ from gingivitis lesions around teeth? J Clin Periodontol 2011; 38 (Suppl. 11): 182–187. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐051X.2010.01667.x.

Background: The purpose of this review was to compare peri‐implant mucositis and gingivitis with respect to the pathogenesis aspects.

Search strategy: An electronic search was performed up to June 2010 based on the PubMed database of the National Library of Medicine and The Cochrane Library of the Cochrane Collaboration (CENTRAL). A hand search considered the bibliography of a recently published review on the same topic (Heitz‐Mayfield & Lang 2010).

Results: The host response to biofilms does not differ substantially at teeth or implants. The most obvious sign clinically is the development of an inflammatory lesion as a result of the bacterial challenge. Gingivitis at teeth or peri‐implant mucositis at implants are precursors for more detrimental lesions, and hence have to be diagnosed properly and prevented by applying anti‐infective therapy. Non‐surgical interventions are usually sufficient for the treatment of both gingivitis and mucositis.

Conclusions: Gingivitis and peri‐implant mucositis are not fundamentally different from pathogenesis and diagnosis points of view.
What can the periodontal community learn from the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis?
Authors: Culshaw Shauna , McInnes Iain B. , Liew Foo Y.
Published: February 2011

Culshaw S, McInnes IB, Liew FY: What can the periodontal community learn from the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis? J Clin Periodontol 2011; 38 (Suppl. 11): 106–113. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐051X.2010.01669.x

Aim: The aim of this paper is to provide a narrative review of the aetiopathogeneis and treatments of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), focusing on aspects that may share commonality with periodontitis.

Results: A myriad of cell types, cytokines and pathways have been investigated in both periodontitis and RA. Chronic inflammatory diseases, including RA, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and periodontitis are likely to share pathogenic mechanisms of inflammation‐mediated solid tissue destruction. The aetiopathogenesis of these diseases has been extensively researched over the last several decades and advances in understanding have revolutionized arthritis therapeutics.

Conclusion: The rational, targeted inhibition of mediators in RA has provided clinically useful therapeutics and shed light on mechanisms underpinning disease pathogenesis. RA should be considered a prototypic disease revealing how understanding disease pathogenesis may transform therapeutic options and patient outcomes.
Host‐derived diagnostic markers related to soft tissue destruction and bone degradation in periodontitis
Authors: Buduneli Nurcan , Kinane Denis F.
Published: February 2011

Buduneli N, Kinane DF: Host‐derived diagnostic markers related to soft tissue destruction and bone degradation in periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol 2011; 38 (Suppl. 11): 85–105. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐051X.2010.01670.x.

Background: A major challenge in clinical periodontics is to find a reliable molecular marker of periodontal tissue destruction with high sensitivity, specificity and utility.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate available literature on ‘the utility of molecular markers of soft and hard periodontal tissue destruction’.

Materials and Methods: Based on the focused question, ‘What is the utility of molecular markers of soft and hard periodontal tissue destruction’, an electronic and manual search was conducted for human studies presenting clinical data for the potential of molecular markers of tissue destruction in biofluids; gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), saliva, and serum.

Results: Papers fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected. All relevant data from the selected papers were extracted and recorded in separate tables for molecules in GCF, saliva, and serum.

Conclusion: Within the defined limits of the Problem/Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, the present analysis reveals that (a) no single or combination of markers exists that can disclose periodontal tissue destruction adequately; (b) while the most fruitful source of biomarkers for periodontal destruction appears to be in molecules tightly related to bone and soft tissue destruction, this remains to be objectively demonstrated. Currently, clinical measurements are still the most reliable.
How has research into cytokine interactions and their role in driving immune responses impacted our understanding of periodontitis?
Authors: Preshaw Philip M. , Taylor John J.
Published: February 2011

Preshaw PM, Taylor JJ. How has research into cytokine interactions and their role in driving immune responses impacted our understanding of periodontitis? J Clin Periodontol 2011; 38 (Suppl. 11): 60–84. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐051X.2010.01671.x.

Objective: To review current knowledge on cytokine interactions and the cytokine‐mediated links between innate and adaptive immunity that are relevant to the pathophysiology of periodontitis.

Materials and Methods: A structured review of the literature was undertaken to identify relevant research publications using a Medline search from 1950 to September 2010. The focus of the search was on the functional role of cytokines, i.e. their actions and responses relevant to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease rather than more descriptive studies of their expression in tissues and body fluids. It was not possible to conduct a traditional systematic review with a focussed question due to the heterogeneity of published research.

Results: There is enormous heterogeneity in the periodontal literature in terms of experimental approaches. We have the deepest understanding of the role of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines [e.g. interleukin (IL)‐1β, tumour necrosis factor‐α, IL‐6] with accumulating data on T‐cell regulatory cytokines (e.g. IL‐12, IL‐18), chemokines and cytokines which mediate bone cell development and function (e.g. receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand, osteoprotegerin). It is clear that there are multiple, overlapping and complex functional links between cytokines with regulatory control exerted at a number of levels and involving numerous cell types (both immune cells and resident cells in the periodontium).

Conclusion: Cytokines appear to interact functionally in networks in the periodontium and integrate aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. However, our understanding is far from complete, particularly how molecular and cellular pathways relate to disease pathogenesis. We should adopt consistent experimental approaches to gain better insight into the totality of cytokine networks and how they drive immune responses in the periodontium.
Are peri‐implantitis lesions different from periodontitis lesions?
Authors: Berglundh Tord , Zitzmann Nicola U. , Donati Mauro
Published: February 2011

Berglundh T, Zitzmann NU, Donati M. Are peri‐implantitis lesions different from periodontitis lesions? J Clin Periodontol 2011; 38 (Suppl. 11): 188–122. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐051X.2010.01672.x.

Aim: To compare histopathological characteristics of peri‐implantitis and periodontitis lesions.

Methods: A search was conducted on publications up to July 2010. Studies carried out on human biopsy material and animal experiments were considered.

Results: While comprehensive information exists regarding histopathological characteristics of human periodontitis lesions, few studies evaluated peri‐implantitis lesions in human biopsy material. Experimental peri‐implantitis lesions were evaluated in 10 studies and three of the studies included comparisons to experimental periodontitis. Human biopsy material: the apical extension of the inflammatory cell infiltrate (ICT) was more pronounced in peri‐implantitis than in periodontitis and was in most cases located apical of the pocket epithelium. Plasma cells and lymphocytes dominated among cells in both types of lesions, whereas neutrophil granulocytes and macrophages occurred in larger proportions in peri‐implantitis. Experimental studies: placement of ligatures together with plaque formation resulted in loss of supporting tissues and large ICTs around implants and teeth. Following ligature removal, a “self‐limiting” process occurred in the tissues around teeth with a connective tissue capsule that separated the ICT from bone, while in peri‐implant tissues the ICT extended to the bone crest.

Conclusion: Despite similarities regarding clinical features and aetiology of peri‐implantitis and periodontitis, critical histopathological differences exist between the two lesions.
Periimplant diseases: where are we now? – Consensus of the Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology
Authors: Lang Niklaus P. , Berglundh Tord ,   on Behalf of Working Group 4 of the Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology
Published: February 2011

Lang NP, Berglundh T on Behalf of Working Group 4 of the Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology: Periimplant diseases: where are we now? – Consensus of the Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology. J Clin Periodontol 2011; 38 (Suppl. 11): 178–181. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐051X.2010.01674.x.

Background: Peri‐implant diseases present in two forms – peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis.

Materials and Methods: The literature was systematically searched and critically reviewed. Four manuscripts were produced in specific topics identified as key areas to understand the microbial aetiology and the pathogenesis of peri‐implant diseases and how the implant surface structure may affect pathogenesis.

Results: While peri‐implant mucositis represents the host response of the peri‐implant tissues to the bacterial challenge that is not fundamentally different from gingivitis representing the host response to the bacterial challenge in the gingiva, peri‐implantitis may differ from periodontitis both in the extent and the composition of cells in the lesion as well as the progression rate. A self‐limiting process with a "protective" connective tissue capsule developing appears to dominate the periodontitis lesion while such a process may occasionally be lacking in peri‐implantitis lesions. Bacterial biofilm formation on implant surfaces does not differ from that on tooth surfaces, but may be influenced by surface roughness. Nevertheless there is no evidence that such differences may influence the development of peri‐implantitis.

Conclusion: It was agreed that clinical and radiographic data should routinely be obtained after prosthesis installation on implants in order to establish a baseline for the diagnosis of peri‐implantitis during maintenance of implant patients.
Biological approaches to the development of novel periodontal therapies – Consensus of the Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology
Authors: Tonetti Maurizio S. , Chapple Iain L. C. ,   on Behalf of Working Group 3 of the Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology
Published: February 2011

Background: Periodontitis remains a major public health issue and current management approaches have failed to impact upon the most high‐risk proportion of the population and those with the most severe disease. The objective of this session was to assess if and how, current understanding of periodontitis provides the opportunity to develop new preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Materials and Methods: Based on the current understanding of the pathophysiology of periodontal diseases, the Workshop discussed the potential of antimicrobial peptides, probiotics, pro‐resolving lipid mediators, and micronutritional approaches. Evidence‐based position papers and expert discussions formed the basis of deliberations.

Results and Discussion: Current preventive and treatment approaches are only partially effective, and this appears due to the therapeutic focus remaining primarily upon biofilm management rather than embracing a pivotal role for inflammation as a driver of biofilm composition as well as tissue damage. There is a need to develop new, more effective, and efficient preventive and treatment approaches for gingivitis and periodontitis, which embrace recent advances in understanding of host modulation and inflammation resolution, as well as direct management of the microbiota.
Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology of the European Academy of Periodontology at the Parador at La Granja, Segovia, Spain
Authors: Sanz Mariano , Lang Niklaus P. , Kinane Denis F. , Berglundh Tord , Chapple Iain , Tonetti Maurizio S.
Published: February 2011

Sanz M, Lang NP, Kinane DF, Berglundh T, Chapple I, Tonetti MS. Seventh European Workshop on Periodontology of the European Academy of Periodontology at the Parador at La Granja, Segovia, Spain. J Clin Periodontol 2011; 38 (Suppl. 11): 1–2. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐051X.2010.01692.x.
Recombinant Heptameric Coatomer Complexes: Novel Tools to Study Isoform‐Specific Functions
Authors: Sahlmüller Monika C. , Strating Jeroen R. P. M. , Beck Rainer , Eckert Priska , Popoff Vincent , Haag Mathias , Hellwig Andrea , Berger Imre , Brügger Britta , Wieland Felix T.
Published: February 2011

COPI (coat protein I)‐coated vesicles are implicated in various transport steps within the early secretory pathway. The major structural component of the COPI coat is the heptameric complex coatomer (CM). Recently, four isoforms of CM were discovered that may help explain various transport steps in which the complex has been reported to be involved. Biochemical studies of COPI vesicles currently use CM purified from animal tissue or cultured cells, a mixture of the isoforms, impeding functional and structural studies of individual complexes. Here we report the cloning into single baculoviruses of all CM subunits including their isoforms and their combination for expression of heptameric CM isoforms in insect cells. We show that all four isoforms of recombinant CM are fully functional in anin vitroCOPI vesicle biogenesis assay. These novel tools enable functional and structural studies on CM isoforms and their subcomplexes and allow studying mutants of CM.
Conventional vs. Extended-Cycle Oral Contraceptives on the Quality of Sexual Life: Comparison Between Two Regimens Containing 3 mg Drospirenone and 20 µg Ethinyl Estradiol
Authors: Caruso Salvatore , Iraci Sareri Marco , Agnello Carmela , Romano Mattea , Lo Presti Lucia , Malandrino Chiara , Cianci Antonio
Published: February 2011

Introduction

Women may use new oral contraceptives (OC) having flexible extended-cycle regimens with a reduced hormone-free interval.

Aim

To study the changes of the quality of sexual life in users of the traditional 21/7 or extended-cycle 24/4 OC regimens both containing 3 mg drospirenone and 20 µg ethinyl estradiol.

Methods

One hundred fifteen women (age range 18–37 years) were enrolled. Fifty-four women were randomly placed on traditional OC standard regimen, administered for 21 days, followed by a 7-day hormone-free interval (group A); and 61 women were placed on extended-cycle OC regimen covering 24 days of the cycle with a 4-day hormone-free interval (group B).

The Short Form-36 (SF-36) validate questionnaire to assess quality of life (QoL) and the Short Personal Experience Questionnaire (SPEQ) to measure the changes of sexual behavior were administered before starting OC intake and at the 3rd and 6th cycle follow-ups.

Main Outcome Measure

The SF-36 and the SPEQ questionnaires.

Results

Group A women reported QoL improvement during the 6th cycle on all the scales (P <0.05). Group B women reported QoL improvement during the 3rd and 6th cycle (P <0.05). Satisfaction with sexual activity, arousal, orgasm, and desire increased during the 3rd cycle in women on the group B (P <0.05). Group A women did not report any change in all SPEQ items. At the 6th cycle, group B women reported better sexual experience than baseline in all SPEQ items (P <0.05). All subjects who were affected by dyspareunia before OC intake reported decreased genital pain associated with intercourse at the 3rd and 6th cycle of both OC regimens (P <0.05).

Conclusion

Women could use OCs in a subjective flexible modality. The extended-cycle OC might produce positive effects on the quality of sexual life, enforcing the concept of tailoring an OC to a woman.
A Feasibility Study Comparing Pharmacist and Physician Recommendations for Sildenafil Treatment
Authors: Symonds Tara , Dean John D. , Carr Alison , Carlsson Martin , Marfatia Aditya , Schnetzler Gabriel
Published: February 2011

Introduction

In Europe, pharmacists may be an important first point of contact for men with erectile dysfunction (ED) asking for advice and treatment.

Aim

To determine if European community pharmacists could appropriately recommend suitability for supply of sildenafil 50 mg for the treatment of ED.

Methods

For this cross-sectional, observational study, the current Summary of Product Characteristics was adapted to create a study drug information sheet for use in a pharmacy setting in which, for certain patients, supply is not suitable and referral to a physician is recommended. After training and with use of a guidance questionnaire, pharmacists assessed the suitability of supply of sildenafil 50 mg for men presenting to their pharmacy. Men with self-reported ED who were not currently using a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor were recruited. Within 7 days of the pharmacist-patient interaction, a physician with experience in the management of ED telephoned the subject to assess suitability. If there was discordance between the pharmacist and physician recommendations, the case was independently reassessed by a physician specialist in sexual medicine.

Main Outcome Measures

The primary end point was the concordance rate (with 95% confidence intervals) between pharmacist and physician recommendations. Rates were weighted by country sample sizes.

Results

Concordance (95% confidence interval) was 0.70 (0.66–0.74) between pharmacist and physician recommendation, indicating agreement in 70% of cases, and was 0.90 (0.86–0.94) between pharmacist and physician specialist in sexual medicine. Furthermore, if the cases in which the pharmacist did not put subjects at risk (i.e., gave an acceptable recommendation) are assessed, the success rate is 83.5% (79.6–87.4%) and 92.8% (90.1–95.5%), respectively.

Conclusion

Pharmacists were accurate in providing suitable treatment recommendation, generally not recommending sildenafil for men without ED and recommending physician assessment when there was any question about cardiovascular health, other comorbidity, or co-medication.
International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) Scores Generated by Men or Female Partners Correlate Equally Well with Own Satisfaction (Sexual, Partnership, Life, and Mental Health)
Authors: Weiss Petr , Brody Stuart
Published: February 2011

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction has adverse implications for both men and their female partners. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) is a widely used self-report measure. It was unclear whether scores generated by women on behalf of men are comparable to self-reports, and how IIEF scores are associated with satisfaction for both sexes in both sexual and nonsexual realms (e.g., mental health).

Aims

To examine sex differences in IIEF-5 scores generated by both sexes, and to examine associations of IIEF-5 scores with satisfaction aspects (sexual, life, own mental health, partnership) and with women's vaginal orgasm consistency (VOC).

Methods

A representative sample of Czechs (787 men and 720 women not from the same couple) aged 35–65 years completed the IIEF-5, LiSat satisfaction scale items, and provided penile–vaginal intercourse (PVI) frequency, and for women, VOC.

Main Outcome Measures

Correlations between satisfaction measures and IIEF-5 scores separately by sex. To examine sex differences: t-test for IIEF-5 score and tests for difference of a correlation for associations of IIEF-5 with satisfaction measures. Analysis of covariance examined the association of IIEF-5 scores and VOC. Multiple regression calculated satisfaction scores from IIEF-5, PVI frequency, age, and for women: VOC.

Results

IIEF-5 scores generated by men and by women were similar, and similarly positively correlated with all satisfaction measures (r: 0.41–0.45 with sexual, 0.23–0.34 with other; all P <0.001). IIEF-5 correlated positively with VOC. Multivariate analyses indicated IIEF-5 scores; PVI frequency (and for women, VOC) make independent contributions to aspects of satisfaction for both sexes.

Conclusions

In this representative sample, women generated IIEF-5 scores similar to men-generated scores. For both sexes, greater IIEF-5 scores and PVI frequency (plus VOC for women) are associated with greater sexual and nonsexual satisfaction. Better erectile function was associated with greater VOC. Greater support for optimizing specifically PVI function, frequency, and quality is warranted.
Randomized Comparison Between Laparoscopic and Robot-Assisted Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Asimakopoulos Anastasios D. , Pereira Fraga Clovis T. , Annino Filippo , Pasqualetti Patrizio , Calado Adriano A. , Mugnier Camille
Published: February 2011

Introduction

Lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compare pure laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) with robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALRP) is an important gap of the literature related to the surgical treatment of the clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa).

Aim

To provide the first prospective randomized comparison on the functional and oncological outcomes of LRP and RALRP for the treatment of the clinically localized PCa.

Methods

Between 2007 and 2008, 128 consecutive male patients were randomized in two groups and treated by a single experienced surgeon with traditional LRP (Group I-64 patients) or RALRP (Group II-64 patients) in all cases with intent of bilateral intrafascial nerve sparing.

Main Outcome Measures

Primary end point was to compare the 12 months erectile function (EF) outcomes. Complication rates, continence outcomes, and oncological results were also compared. The sample size of our study was able, with an adequate power (1-beta > 0.90), to recognize as significant large differences (above 0.30) between incidence proportions of considered outcomes.

Results

No statistically significant differences were observed for operating time, estimated blood loss, transfusion rate, complications, rates of positive surgical margins, rates of biochemical recurrence, continence, and time to continence. However, the 12-month evaluation of capability for intercourse (with or without phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors) showed a clear and significant advantage of RALRP (32% vs. 77%, P  < 0.0001). Time to capability for intercourse was significantly shorter for RALRP. Rates of return to baseline International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-6) EF domain score questionnaires (questions 1–5 and 15) (25% vs. 58%) and to IIEF-6 > 17 (38% vs. 63%) were also significantly higher for RALRP (P  = 0.0002 and P  = 0.008, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study offers the first high-level evidence that RALRP provides significantly better EF recovery than LRP without hindering the oncologic radicality of the procedure. Larger RCTs are needed to confirm if a new gold-standard treatment in the field of RP has risen.
Update on Corpus Cavernosum Smooth Muscle Contractile Pathways in Erectile Function: A Role for Testosterone?
Authors: Zhang Xin-hua , Melman Arnold , DiSanto Michael E.
Published: February 2011

Introduction

Normal erectile function (EF) involves a coordinated relaxation of the arteries that supply the penis and the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle (CCSM), resulting in expansion of the sinusoids and increased intracavernous pressure. But the CCSM spends the majority of its time in the contracted state which is mediated by norepinephrine released from nerve endings and other vasoconstrictors like endothelins released from the endothelium. These agents cause smooth muscle myosin (SMM) phosphorylation by elevating intracellular calcium. When calcium returns to basal levels, the calcium sensitivity increases and prevents myosin dephosphorylation, which involves the RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROK) mechanism, thus maintaining force. Although mounting evidences demonstrate that androgens have a major influence on EF that is not just centrally mediated, this notion remains quite controversial.

Aim

To summarize the current knowledge on CCSM contractile pathways, the role they play in modulating EF, and the influence of androgens.

Methods

The article reviews the literature and contains some previously unpublished data on CCSM contraction signaling including the role that androgens are known to play in modulating these pathways.

Main Outcome Measures

Data from peer-reviewed publications and previously unpublished observations.

Results

In addition to downregulation of many pro-erectile molecular mechanisms, decreased testosterone (T) levels upregulate CCSM contractility, including hyperresponsiveness to α-adrenergic agonists, increased SMM phosphorylation, alteration of SMM isoform composition, activation of RhoA/ROK signaling and modulation of sphingosine-1-phosphate regulation of CCSM tone.

Conclusions

Decreased T levels upregulate CCSM contractile signaling. Meanwhile, it downregulates CCSM relaxation pathways synergizing to produce erectile dysfunction (ED). Although some urologists and researchers are still skeptical of the influence of androgens on penile erection, understanding these molecular control mechanisms as well as the influence that androgens have on these pathways should provide new evidence supporting the roles of androgens in EF and enhance the discovery of novel targets for drug development to treat ED.
Test–Retest Reliability during Fear Acquisition and Fear Extinction in Humans
Authors: Zeidan Mohamed A. , Lebron‐Milad Kelimer , Thompson‐Hollands Johanna , Im Jamie J.Y. , Dougherty Darin D. , Holt Daphne J. , Orr Scott P. , Milad Mohammed R.
Published: February 2011

Aims: Classical fear conditioning and extinction has been used to understand the neurobiology of fear learning and its inhibition. The recall of an extinction memory involves the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the amygdala, and patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been shown to exhibit deficits in this process. Furthermore, extinction forms the basis of exposure therapies commonly used to treat PTSD patients. It is possible that effective pharmacological and/or psychological treatment regimens could influence the activity of these regions, and thereby increase the ability to retain an extinction memory. However, to test this, a fear conditioning and extinction paradigm must demonstrate within‐subject reproducibility over time. We, therefore, sought to test the within‐subject reliability of a previously used 2‐day, classical fear conditioning and extinction paradigm. Methods: Eighteen healthy participants participated in a 2‐day paradigm on three occasions, each separated by at least 12 weeks. Conditioning and extinction took place on Day 1, and extinction recall and fear renewal were evaluated on Day 2 on each of the three occasions. The conditioned stimulus was a visual cue and the unconditioned stimulus was a mild electric shock to the fingers. Skin conductance was recorded throughout the experiment to measure conditioned responses. Results: We found that conditioning and extinction recall were not significantly different across time and were correlated within subjects. Conclusion: These data illustrate the reliability of this paradigm and its potential usefulness in evaluating the influence of a given treatment on the fear extinction network in longitudinal within‐subject designs.
Hallucinations in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Burghaus Lothar , Eggers Carsten , Timmermann Lars , Fink Gereon R. , Diederich Nico J.
Published: February 2011

Patients with neurodegenerative disease frequently experience hallucinations and illusionary perceptions. As early symptoms, hallucinations may even have diagnostic relevance (i.e., for the diagnosis of Lewy Body Dementia). In the later course of the disease, hallucinations may appear as characteristic symptoms and often constitute a particular challenge for therapeutic endeavors. Here, the distinction of disease‐inherent hallucinations from medication‐associated perceptual disturbances is particularly relevant. Synucleinopathies and tauopathies have different risk profiles for hallucinations. In synucleinopathies hallucinations are much more frequent and phenomenology is characterized by visual, short‐lived hallucinations, with insight preserved for a long time. A “double hit” theory proposes that dysfunctionality of both associative visual areas and changes of limbic areas or the ventral striatum are required. In contrast, in tauopathies the hallucinations are more rare and mostly embedded in confusional states with agitation and with poorly defined or rapidly changing paranoia. The occurrence of hallucinations has even been proposed as an exclusion criterion for tauopathies with Parkinsonian features such as progressive supranuclear palsy. To date, treatment remains largely empirical, except the use of clozapine and cholinesterase inhibitors in synucleinopathies, which is evidence‐based. The risk of increased neuroleptic sensitivity further restricts the treatment options in patients with Lewy Body Dementia. Coping Strategies and improvement of visual acuity and sleep quality may be useful therapeutic complements.
Anticholinergics for Overactive Bladder Therapy: Central Nervous System Effects
Authors: Chancellor Michael , Boone Timothy
Published: February 2011

The mainstay of pharmacological treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) is anticholinergic therapy using muscarinic receptor antagonists (tertiary or quaternary amines). Muscarinic receptors in the brain play an important role in cognitive function, and there is growing awareness that antimuscarinic OAB drugs may have adverse central nervous system (CNS) effects, ranging from headache to cognitive impairment and episodes of psychosis. This review discusses the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of OAB antimuscarinics that affect their propensity to cause adverse CNS effects, as observed in phase III clinical trials and in specific investigations on cognitive function and sleep architecture. PubMed/MEDLINE was searched for “OAB” plus “muscarinic antagonists” or “anticholinergic drug.” Additional relevant literature was identified by examining the reference lists of papers identified through the search. Preclinical and clinical trials in adults were assessed, focusing on the OAB antimuscarinics approved in the United States. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) plays a key role in protecting the CNS, but it is penetrable. The lipophilic tertiary amines, particularly oxybutynin, are more likely to cross the BBB than the hydrophilic quaternary amine trospium chloride, for which there are very few reports of adverse CNS effects. In fact, in 2008 the US product labels for oral oxybutynin were modified to include the potential for anticholinergic CNS events and a warning to monitor patients for adverse CNS effects. Even modest cognitive impairment in the elderly may negatively affect independence; therefore, selection of an antimuscarinic OAB drug with reduced potential for CNS effects is advisable.
53Mn‐53Cr ages of Kaidun carbonates
Authors: PETITAT M. , MARROCCHI Y. , McKEEGAN K. D. , MOSTEFAOUI S. , MEIBOM A. , ZOLENSKY M. E. , GOUNELLE M.
Published: February 2011

Abstract– We report the 53Mn‐53Cr systematics of three dolomite grains from two different CI1 clasts contained within the Kaidun meteorite breccia. Three internal isochrones result in initial 53Mn/55Mn ratios of (4.2 ± 0.4) × 10−6, (4.6 ± 1.3) × 10−6, and (5.2 ± 1.1) × 10−6. These initial values are consistent with those measured for dolomite in the Orgueil CI1 chondrite (Hoppe et al. 2007; Petitat et al. 2009) but significantly lower than the initial ratio determined by Hutcheon et al. (1999) from a combination of different carbonate types within various lithologies of the Kaidun meteorite. We construct an accretion scenario for the Kaidun breccia by comparing the mineralogy and formation time scales of carbonates in the Kaidun CI1 lithologies to the analogous ones of the CI1 chondrite Orgueil. In Orgueil, dolomite precipitation precedes the formation of the first bruennerite grains by a few million years (Hoppe et al. 2007; Petitat et al. 2009). As the CI1 clasts in Kaidun lack breunnerite grains, and considering that aqueous alteration occurred prior to reaccretion of the various clasts onto the Kaidun parent body (e.g., MacPherson et al. 2009), we hypothesize that after rapid accretion and early aqueous alteration occurring within the first approximately 4 Myr after solar system formation, impact disruption of several asteroids and their reassembly into the Kaidun parent asteroid was complete within an additional approximately 2 Myr. This confirms that aqueous alteration, impact, and reaccretion of material in the asteroid belt were early processes that began contemporaneously with chondrule formation.
Measurement and Simulation of Turbulent Mixing in a Jet in Crossflow
Authors: Galeazzo Flavio Cesar Cunha , Donnert Georg , Habisreuther Peter , Zarzalis Nikolaos , Valdes Richard J. , Krebs Werner
Published: February 2011

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has an important role in current research. While large eddy simulations (LES) are now common practice in academia, Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations are still very common in the industry. Using RANS allows faster simulations, however, the choice of the turbulence model has a bigger impact on the results. An important influence of the turbulence modeling is the description of turbulent mixing. Experience has shown that often inaccurate simulations of combustion processes originate from an inadequate description of the mixing field. A simple turbulent flow and mixing configuration of major theoretical and practical importance is the jet in crossflow (JIC). Due to its good fuel-air mixing capability over a small distance, JIC is favored by gas turbine manufacturers. As the design of the mixing process is the key to creating stable low NOx combustion systems, reliable predictive tools and detailed understanding of this basic system are still demanded. Therefore, the current study has re-investigated the JIC configuration under engine relevant conditions both experimentally and numerically using the most sophisticated tools available today. The combination of planar particle image velocimetry and laser induced fluorescence was used to measure the turbulent velocity and concentration fields as well as to determine the correlations of the Reynolds stress tensor ui′uj′¯ and the Reynolds flux vector ui′c′¯. Boundary conditions were determined using laser Doppler velocimetry. The comparisons between the measurements and simulation using RANS and LES showed that the mean velocity field was well described using the SST turbulence model. However, the Reynolds stresses and more so, the Reynolds fluxes deviate substantially from the measured data. The systematic variation of the turbulent Schmidt number reveals the limited influence of this parameter indicating that the basic modeling is amiss. The results of the LES simulation using the standard Smagorinsky model were found to provide much better agreement with the experiments also in the description of turbulent mixing.
Ultralow Carbon Dioxide Emission MCFC Based Power Plant
Authors: Chiappini Daniele , Andreassi Luca , Jannelli Elio , Ubertini Stefano
Published: February 2011

The application of high temperature fuel cells in stationary power generation seems to be one of the possible solutions to the problem related to the environment preservation and to the growing interest for distributed electric power generation. Great expectations have been placed on both simple and hybrid fuel cell plants, thus making necessary the evolution of analysis strategies to evaluate thermodynamic performance, design improvements, and acceleration of new developments. This paper investigates the thermodynamic potential of combining traditional internal combustion energy systems (i.e., gas turbine and internal combustion engine) with a molten carbonate fuel cell for medium- and low-scale electrical power productions with low CO2 emissions. The coupling is performed by placing the fuel cell at the exhaust of the thermal engine. As in molten carbonate fuel cells the oxygen-charge carrier in the electrolyte is the carbonate ion, part of the CO2 in the gas turbine flue gas is moved to the anode and then separated by steam condensation. Plant performance is evaluated in function of different parameters to identify optimal solutions. The results show that the proposed power system can be conveniently used as a source of power generation.
Quasi-Static Three-Point Bending of Carbon Fiber Sandwich Beams With Square Honeycomb Cores
Authors: Russell B. P. , Liu T. , Fleck N. A. , Deshpande V. S.
Published: February 2011

Sandwich beams comprising identical face sheets and a square honeycomb core were manufactured from carbon fiber composite sheets. Analytical expressions were derived for four competing collapse mechanisms of simply supported and clamped sandwich beams in three-point bending: core shear, face microbuckling, face wrinkling, and indentation. Selected geometries of sandwich beams were tested to illustrate these collapse modes, with good agreement between analytic predictions and measurements of the failure load. Finite element (FE) simulations of the three-point bending responses of these beams were also conducted by constructing a FE model by laying up unidirectional plies in appropriate orientations. The initiation and growth of damage in the laminates were included in the FE calculations. With this embellishment, the FE model was able to predict the measured load versus displacement response and the failure sequence in each of the composite beams.
A Closed-Form Solution for the Eshelby Tensor and the Elastic Field Outside an Elliptic Cylindrical Inclusion
Authors: Jin Xiaoqing , Keer Leon M. , Wang Qian
Published: February 2011

From the analytical formulation developed by Ju and Sun [1999, “A Novel Formulation for the Exterior-Point Eshelby’s Tensor of an Ellipsoidal Inclusion,” ASME Trans. J. Appl. Mech., 66, pp. 570–574], it is seen that the exterior point Eshelby tensor for an ellipsoid inclusion possesses a minor symmetry. The solution to an elliptic cylindrical inclusion may be obtained as a special case of Ju and Sun’s solution. It is noted that the closed-form expression for the exterior-point Eshelby tensor by Kim and Lee [2010, “Closed Form Solution of the Exterior-Point Eshelby Tensor for an Elliptic Cylindrical Inclusion,” ASME Trans. J. Appl. Mech., 77, p. 024503] violates the minor symmetry. Due to the importance of the solution in micromechanics-based analysis and plane-elasticity-related problems, in this work, the explicit analytical solution is rederived. Furthermore, the exterior-point Eshelby tensor is used to derive the explicit closed-form solution for the elastic field outside the inclusion, as well as to quantify the elastic field discontinuity across the interface. A benchmark problem is used to demonstrate a valuable application of the present solution in implementing the equivalent inclusion method.
A Tight-Binding for Calculating the Raman Spectra and the Hartree–Fock Method Treatment for C13 NMR Spectra of Fullerenes C60Br6
Authors: Nizam Rashid , Rizvi S. Mahdi A. , Azam Ameer
Published: February 2011

The structural Raman spectra and NMR of the fullerene derivative (C60Br6) were simulated at room temperature from the tight-binding method and the first-principles calculations, respectively. The calculated Raman spectra results are compared with available experimental fullerene derivative (C60Br6) data. The simulated Raman spectrum of C60Br6 obtained almost all frequencies that are observed in experimental data; besides, some other frequencies are also obtained, which are not observed in the experimental data. In addition to these frequencies, further simulation to give P-polarization and U-polarization more accuracy and the polarization of experimental sample acquired become a complicated task. Besides the spectroscopic characterization of fullerene derivative (C60Br6), it also includes the prediction of C13 NMR fullerene derivative (C60Br6).