bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How stereotactic core‐needle biopsy affected breast fine‐needle aspiration utilization: An 11‐year institutional review
Authors: Xie H. Bill , Salhadar Alia , Haara Amy , Gabram Sheryl , Selvaggi Suzanne M. , Wojcik Eva M.
Published: July 2004

To determine the effect of stereotactic core‐needle biopsy (SCNB) on the utilization of breast fine‐needle aspirate (FNA) biopsy, we retrospectively reviewed 1,568 cases of breast FNAs that were obtained from 1,188 patients between the years 1990 and 2000. There were 378 positive and atypical cases and 497 negative and unsatisfactory cases in the pre‐SCNB group (between 1990 and 1996; 7 years); and 225 positive and atypical cases and 468 negative and unsatisfactory cases in the post‐SCNB group (between 1997 and 2000; 4 years). The average number of cases per year in the pre‐ and post‐SCNB groups was 125 and 173, respectively. While the average positive/atypical cases per year in both groups remained relatively constant, the average negative/unsatisfactory cases per year were significantly increased in the post‐SCNB group (117 in the post‐SCNB vs. 71 in the pre‐SCNB). The increase in this group was due to a true increase in the negative diagnoses, since unsatisfactory rate decreased in the post‐SCNB group (12.6% in the post‐SCNB vs. 9.3% in the pre‐SCNB). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 90%, 79%, 92%, and 82% in the pre‐SCNB group and 93%, 86%, 91%, and 90% for the post‐SCNB group, respectively. In conclusion, the implementation of SCNB did not result in a decrease in the total number of breast FNAs; however, the distribution of cases changed. FNA is increasingly used to complete the triple test in clinically and radiographically negative cases. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;31:106–110. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Targeted insertion of an IRES Cre into the Hnf4α locus: Cre‐mediated recombination in the liver, kidney, and gut epithelium
Authors: Vincent Stéphane D. , Robertson Elizabeth J.
Published: July 2004

Summary: The Hnf4α gene belongs to a family of trancriptional regulators required for liver development and function. Hnf4α is also expressed in other tissues, including the newly formed visceral endoderm of the early postimplantation embryo, and later in embryogenesis in the gut epithelium and the kidney. The regulatory sequences involved in controlling expression of Hnf4α at these diverse sites are not clearly understood. Here we used homologous recombination to introduce Cre recombinase coding sequences into the endogenous Hnf4α locus. Crossing Hnf4αCreex2/+ mice with R26R partners allowed us to follow the pattern of Cre‐mediated recombination. Our results show that recombination of the reporter allele closely follows endogenous Hnf4α expression, but with a slight temporal delay. Thus, the Hnf4αCreex2 strain should prove useful for conditionally deleting gene activity in the liver, gut epithelium, or kidney. genesis 39:206–211, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Musical training‐induced functional reorganization of the adult brain: Functional magnetic resonance imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation study on amateur string players
Authors: Kim Dong‐Eog , Shin Min‐Jung , Lee Kyoung‐Min , Chu Kon , Woo Sung Ho , Kim Young Ro , Song Eun‐Cheol , Lee Jun‐Won , Park Seong‐Ho , Roh Jae‐Kyu
Published: July 2004

We used the combined technique of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to observe changes that occur in adult brains after the practice of stringed musical instruments. We carried out fMRI on eight volunteers (aged 20–22 years): five novices and three individuals who had discontinued practice for more than 5 years. The motor paradigm contained a repetitive lift‐abduction/fall‐adduction movement of the left/right little finger, carried out with maximum efforts without pacing. The sensory paradigm was to stimulate the same little finger using a string. In parallel to the fMRI acquisition, TMS motor maps for the little finger were obtained using a frameless stereotactic neuronavigation system. After the baseline study, each participant began to learn a stringed instrument. Newly developed fMRI activations for the left little finger were observed 6 months after practice at multiple brain regions including inferior parietal lobule, premotor area (PMA), left precuneus, right anterior superior temporal gyrus, and posterior middle temporal gyrus. In contrast, new activations were rarely observed for the right little finger. The TMS study revealed new motor representation sites for the left little finger in the PMA or supplementary motor area (SMA). Unexpectedly, TMS motor maps for the right little finger were reduced significantly. Among new fMRI activations for sensory stimuli of the left little finger, the cluster of highest activation was located in the SMA. Collectively, these data provide insight into orchestrated reorganization of the sensorimotor and temporal association cortices contributing to the skillful fingering and musical processing after the practice of playing stringed instruments. Hum. Brain Mapping 23:188–199, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Technically the king can do wrong in reorganizing insolvent corporations: evidence from Canada
Authors: Ben‐Ishai Stephanie
Published: July 2004

Taken together the international move from liquidation to reorganization‐based bankruptcy regimes and the international move to abolish Crown priority in bankruptcy provide Canada with an opportunity to rethink Crown priority in bankruptcy. This paper makes the case that abolishing Crown priority in bankruptcy in Canada is optimal given a revaluation of traditional normative claims surrounding Crown priority in the context of a bankruptcy system that favours reorganization when possible. While this paper focuses on Canada, it engages in a normative assessment that may be useful for possible reforms to Crown priority in the United States and in other jurisdictions that, like Canada, have been influenced, not only by the English model, but also by the American bankruptcy and reorganization system. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The development of an expert system for managerial evaluation of internal controls
Authors: Changchit Chuleeporn , Holsapple Clyde W.
Published: July 2004

Both practitioners and researchers have devoted signiﬁcant effort to the study of decision aids, especially expert systems, to assist auditors in internal control evaluations. In addition to being used as a decision aid, researchers have long contended that expert systems could be used to train non‐expert users. Even though the professional accounting literature makes it clear that responsibility for maintaining an effective internal control system rests with management rather than auditors, the focus to date has been on expert systems aimed at assisting/training auditors, not an organization's management. In contrast, this study focuses on management as users of an expert system for internal control evaluation. We describe the development process, explain how the resulting system was evaluated, and discuss results of that evaluation. These results suggest that such a system gives a new way to help managers increase effectiveness and efﬁciency of a critical organizational process: the evaluation of internal controls. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A knowledge‐based framework for incorporating investor's preference into portfolio decision‐making
Authors: Kim Chulsoo , Won Chaehwan
Published: July 2004

This paper describes a framework for the integration of a rule‐based system capable of identifying an investor's risk preference into a quantitative portfolio model based on risk and expected return. By inferring rules consisting of an investor's objective and subjective risk preferences, the integrated methodology provides the assets suitable for the preferences. Through investment in the portfolio composed of the assets, the investor is able to obtain the following beneﬁts: reduction of costs and time spent to determine target assets, and alleviation of anxiety from ‘out‐of‐favor’ assets.

The framework is applied to the development of a knowledge‐based portfolio system for constructing an investor's preference‐oriented portfolio. In the procedure of the system for ﬁnding an optimal portfolio, the system uses an artiﬁcial intelligence method of a case‐based reasoning to obtain preference thresholds for an investor when the investor's past investment records are available. Experimental results show that the framework contributes signiﬁcantly to the construction of a better portfolio from the perspective of an investor's beneﬁt/cost ratio than that produced by the existing portfolio models. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effect of impaired thyroid function during development on the mechanical properties of avian bone
Authors: Bonser R.H.C. , Deaton K.E. , Bishop C.M. , Butler P.J.
Published: July 2004

Thyroid hormones show fluctuating levels during the post‐hatching development of birds. In this paper we report the results of the first mechanical tests to quantify the effect of hypothyroidism, during post‐natal development, on the skeletal properties of a precocial bird, the barnacle goose, as determined by microhardness testing. The effect of hypothyroidism is tissue‐specific; bone from the femora of birds is not significantly affected by induced hypothyroidism, however, there is a strong positive relationship between the levels of circulating thyroid hormones and the mechanical properties of bone from humeri. In the barnacle goose the development of the wing skeleton and musculature depends on an increase in circulating thyroid hormones and our analysis shows that, in its absence, the mechanical competence of the bone mineral itself is reduced in addition to the decreased bone length and muscle development previously reported in the literature. J. Exp. Zool. 301A:636–641, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Contribution of the submentalis muscle to feeding mechanics in the leopard frog, Rana pipiens
Authors: Wolff J. Brock , Lee Martin J. , Anderson Curtis W.
Published: July 2004

This study investigated the functional contributions of the submentalis muscle to the coordination of feeding behavior in the leopard frog, Rana pipiens. Additionally, the anatomical origins of the motor neurons innervating this muscle are identified and described. The m. submentalis is a small muscle connecting the distal mandibular tips. Depending upon the anuran species studied, this muscle contributes to mandibular bending and the degree to which the tongue is protracted, or has little or no role in feeding biomechanics. High‐speed videography was used to quantify feeding attempts before versus after bilateral denervation of the m. submentalis. Additionally, the terminal branch of the trigeminal nerve prior to innervating the m. submentalis was retrogradely labeled to identify the origins of motor neurons innervating the muscle. For the kinematic analyses, denervation of the submentalis resulted in significant increases in the time to maximum tongue protrusion, and the duration of tongue protrusion. Neither mandibular bending, nor tongue length variables differed significantly between normal conditions and deafferented conditions. However, when unsuccessful feeding attempts were quantified following the denervation, failed attempts were nearly always due to the tongue not reaching the prey. None of the unsuccessful feedings prior to denervation were due to inadequate tongue protrusion. Anatomical data show a much larger rostral‐caudal distribution of the trigeminal motor neurons than previously described for anurans. These data suggest a larger role for the submentalis muscle in Rana than in previously studied anurans with long protrusible tongues, and suggests a feedback mechanism from the trigeminal nerve to the nerves coordinating tongue protraction and retraction. J. Exp. Zool. 301A:666–673, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The effects of opercular linkage disruption on prey‐capture kinematics in the teleost fish Sarotherodon melanotheron
Authors: Durie Christopher J. , Turingan Ralph G.
Published: July 2004

The kinematics of prey capture in blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron) subjected to three experimental treatments (control, anesthetization, and opercular linkage disruption) were analyzed using high‐speed video to explore the role of the opercular four‐bar linkage in depressing the lower jaw in teleost fishes. A series of two‐way mixed model analyses of variance (random effects=fish; fixed effects=treatment) revealed that maximum gape, lower jaw angle, gape cycle, and time to lower jaw depression differed among treatments. Tukey post‐hoc comparisons revealed that the opercular linkage disruption treatment differed from the control and anesthetization treatments, suggesting that severing the opercular linkage affected the ability of fish to depress the lower jaw. We hypothesize that although the opercular four‐bar linkage system may not be the only linkage mechanism involved in depressing the lower jaw, it plays a very important role in opening the mouth during feeding in teleost fishes. J. Exp. Zool. 301A:642–653. 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunolocalization of Na+/K+‐ATPase, carbonic anhydrase II, and vacuolar H+‐ATPase in the gills of freshwater adult lampreys, Geotria australis
Authors: Choe Keith P. , O'Brien Siobhan , Evans David H. , Toop Tes , Edwards Susan L.
Published: July 2004

As adults, anadromous lampreys migrate from seawater into freshwater rivers, where they require branchial ion (NaCl) absorption for osmoregulation. In teleosts and elasmobranchs, pharmological, immunohistochemical, and molecular data support roles for Na+/K+‐ATPase (NPPase), carbonic anhydrase II (CAII), and vacuolar H+‐ATPase (V‐ATPase) in two different models of branchial ion absorption. To our knowledge, these transport‐related proteins have not been studied in adult freshwater lampreys, and therefore it is not known if they are expressed, or have similar functions, in lampreys. The purpose of this study was to localize NPPase, CAII, and V‐ATPase in the gills of adult freshwater lampreys and determine if any of these transport‐related proteins are expressed in the same cells. Heterologous antibodies were used to localize the three proteins in gill tissue from pouched lamprey (Geotria australis). Immunoreactivity (IR) for all three proteins occurred between, and at the base of, lamellae in cells that match previous descriptions of mitochondrion‐rich‐cells (MRCs). NPPase‐IR was always on the basolateral side of cells that did not stain for CAII or V‐ATPase. In contrast, CAII‐IR was always on the apical side of cells that also contained diffuse V‐ATPase‐IR. Therefore, we have identified two types of MRC in adult freshwater lamprey gills based on immunohistochemical staining for three transport proteins. A model of ion transport, based on our results, is proposed for adult freshwater lampreys. J. Exp. Zool. 301A:654–665, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Comparative evaluation of [99mTc(H2O)3(CO)3]+ precursor synthesized by conventional method and by using carbonyl kit
Authors: Satpati Drishty , Mallia Madhav , Kothari Kanchan , Pillai M.R.A.
Published: July 2004

A comparison of the preparation of Tc carbonyl complexes of a few ligands of interest through the conventional method as well as by using the recently introduced carbonyl kit method is described. Synthesis of [99mTc(OH2)3(CO)3]+ precursor was carried out by the conventional method in which 99mTcO was reduced with sodium borohydride and carbonylated by purging CO gas. Tricarbonyl complexes of MIBI, TBI, isoniazid and mebrofenin were prepared using the above precursor under optimized conditions. [99mTc(OH2)3(CO)3]+ precursor was also synthesized by using the carbonyl kit and its utility for the synthesis of tricarbonyl complexes was studied by carrying out synthesis of complexes with the above ligands. For comparison, these complexes were first prepared under similar conditions optimized with conventional precursor in order to see the variation in the yields in the two different procedures. Characterization of the precursors as well as the respective tricarbonyl complexes was carried out by reverse phase HPLC using C18 column. It was observed that [99mTc(OH2)3(CO)3]+ precursor could be synthesized in high yields using the carbonyl kit, however, the reaction kinetics was found to be slow while using the kit precursor. In the case of TBI and MIBI, it was observed that increase in reaction time was essential to achieve good yields. A five‐fold increase in the ligand concentration was needed while using the carbonyl kit in order to get good complexation yields with isoniazid and mebrofenin. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Extent of hepatic resection does not correlate with toxicity following adjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Carlo Waldemar F. , Hummer Amanda J. , Schwartz Lawrence , Sullivan Deidre , Gonen Mithat , Jarnagin William , Fong Yuman , Kemeny Nancy
Published: July 2004

Background

In patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer, survival can be increased by hepatic resection. Treatment with hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) and systemic chemotherapy following resection may further increase survival and decrease recurrence, but may also result in hepatic and systemic toxicity. This article will address the question of whether large hepatic resections resulting in a greater loss of healthy liver predisposes patients to developing toxicity from the subsequent chemotherapeutic regimens.

Design

Retrospective analysis of 88 patients who underwent liver resection of colorectal metastases followed by adjuvant HAI and systemic chemotherapy and whose computerized tomography (CT) scans were done at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Liver volumes were calculated from CT scans and used to determine the percentage change in healthy liver volume between the pre‐ and post‐operative CT scans. Hepatic and systemic toxicities were defined according to the Common Toxicity Criteria of the National Cancer Institute.

Results

Patients experienced a mean percentage decrease in healthy liver tissue of 17% (range: 57% decrease to 32% increase) at an estimated 1 month after resection and at the initiation of chemotherapy. In a logistic regression model using percentage change in the healthy liver volume as a continuous variable, no significant association was revealed between percentage of healthy liver resected and diarrhea (P = 0.47), leukopenia (P = 0.37), neutropenia (P = 0.31), high bilirubin (P = 0.27), or alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.79).

Conclusions

A greater loss of healthy liver following resection of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer does not seem to predispose to the development of toxicity from adjuvant HAI and systemic chemotherapy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2004;87:85–90. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Esophageal cancer: Outcomes of surgery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and three‐dimension conformal radiotherapy
Authors: Fréchette Éric , Buck David A. , Kaplan Brian J. , Chung Theodore D. , Shaw James E. , Kachnic Lisa A. , Neifeld James P.
Published: July 2004

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation are being utilized with increasing frequency in the multimodal treatment of esophageal cancer, although their effects on morbidity, mortality, and survival remain unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the outcome of multimodal treatment in patients with localized esophageal cancer treated at a single institution. Between 1995 and 2002, 118 patients underwent treatment for localized esophageal cancer, utilizing surgery alone, chemoradiation alone, or surgery following neoadjuvant chemoradiation. There was no statistically significant difference in morbidity, mortality, or length of stay between the patients who received multimodal therapy when compared to surgery alone. A surgical resection after down‐staging was possible in 9 out of 28 patients (32%) with a clinically non‐resectable tumor (T4 or M1a). Forty‐seven percent of the patients who received neoadjuvant therapy had a complete pathologic response with a 3‐year survival of 59% as compared to only 20 months in those patients who did not achieve a complete response (P = 0.037). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy administered concomitantly with conformal radiotherapy can be performed safely in the treatment of esophageal cancer, without increasing the operative morbidity, mortality, or length of stay. The higher complete response rates to neoadjuvant treatment (as compared to other reports) may be due to the use of three‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy or the novel use of weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel. J. Surg. Oncol. 2004;87:68–74. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of fenoldopam to control renal dysfunction early after liver transplantation
Authors: Biancofiore Gianni , Rocca Giorgio Della , Bindi Lucia , Romanelli Anna , Esposito Massimo , Meacci Luca , Urbani Lucio , Filipponi Franco , Mosca Franco
Published: July 2004

With the aim of assessing whether fenoldopam can help to preserve renal function after liver transplantation, we randomized 140 consecutive recipients with comparable preoperative renal function to receive fenoldopam 0.1 μg/kg/minute (group F, 46 patients), dopamine 3 μg/kg/minute (group D, 48 patients), or placebo (group P, 46 patients) from the time of anesthesia induction to 96 hours postoperatively. There were no differences between the groups in intraoperative urinary output or furosemide administration (both P = .1). Daily recordings made during the first 4 postoperative days revealed no significant differences in urinary output (P = .1), serum creatinine (P = .5), the incidence of renal insufficiency (P = .7), the need for loop diuretics (P = .9) or vasoactive drugs (P = .8). In comparison with preoperative levels, creatinine clearance at the end of the study in the patients receiving fenoldopam remained substantially unchanged, whereas it decreased by 39 and 12.3%, respectively, in the subjects receiving placebo or dopamine (P < .001); blood cyclosporine A (CsA) levels were similar in the 3 groups (P = .1). Three subjects died in the intensive care unit (1 in each group, P = .9), 2 of them had renal failure. In conclusion, our results confirm the inefficacy of dopamine in preventing or limiting early renal dysfunction after liver transplantation, and suggest that fenoldopam may preserve creatinine clearance by counterbalancing the renal vasoconstrictive effect of CsA, as it has been reported in previous experimental studies. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:986-992.)
Use of CT cholangiography to evaluate the biliary tract after liver transplantation: Initial experience
Authors: Miller Gregg A. , Yeh Benjamin M. , Breiman Richard S. , Roberts John P. , Qayyum Aliya , Coakley Fergus V.
Published: July 2004

Evaluation of the biliary tract after liver transplantation, particularly when a Roux-en-Y hepatojejunostomy precludes endoscopic retrograde cholangiography, may be challenging. We present five cases of suspected biliary obstruction after liver transplantation in which multidetector-row computed tomography (CT) cholangiography was used. In conclusion, it was determined that multidetector-row CT cholangiography may be a useful modality for demonstrating patent biliary-enteric anastomoses and excluding flow-limiting biliary anastomotic strictures. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1065-1070.)
Immunoglobulin-G subclass antidonor reactivity in transplant recipients
Authors: Gao Zu-hua , McAlister Vivian C. , Wright James R. , McAlister Chloe C. , Peltekian Kevork , MacDonald Allan S.
Published: July 2004

Outcomes may differ after kidney transplantation compared to combined liver-kidney transplantation. In animal models, distinct patterns of antidonor immunoglobulin (Ig) G subclasses are associated with either rejection or transplant tolerance. Flow cytometry has increased the sensitivity of antidonor immunoglobulin detection. We compared antidonor IgG subclass responses in kidney transplant recipients to those in recipients of liver or multiorgan grafts. In this study of 19 organ (kidney, liver, pancreas) transplantations, recipient serum incubated with donor splenocytes was tested by flow cytometry for the presence of IgM, IgG, or IgG subclass 1-4. Sera before transplantation and 10 days and 100 days after transplantation were used. No differences were seen in antidonor IgM, IgG, or IgG subclass antibodies among recipients of kidney transplants and liver grafts or combination grafts, either before or after transplantation. IgG4 gradually but significantly increased after transplantation in all groups. High levels of antidonor IgG3 either before transplantation or produced after it were found in 3 kidney recipients who experienced acute rejection. No other patients experienced rejection, and no other increase in IgG3 was seen. In conclusion, antidonor IgG subclass profiles may be useful to distinguish populations at risk of rejection but they do not differentiate the immunological response after kidney transplantation from that after liver or combined transplantation. A late rise in antidonor IgG4 is consistent with decreased antidonor reactivity thought to occur late after transplantation. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1055-1059.)
Older age and liver transplantation: A review
Authors: Keswani Rajesh N. , Ahmed Aijaz , Keeffe Emmet B.
Published: July 2004

Patients older than 60 are undergoing transplantation with increasing frequency. Reports from several transplant centers document that overall short-term patient survival rates in seniors undergoing liver transplantation are comparable to survival rates of younger adults. However, specific subgroups of older patients may not fare as well. Seniors with far-advanced end-stage liver disease are high-risk for liver transplantation and have poor survival rates. In addition, seniors older than 65 have worse outcomes than those who are 60 to 65, and studies have shown increased mortality with increasing age as a continuous variable. On the other hand, the majority of seniors who survive liver transplantation have full or only minimally limited functional status. Preoperative evaluation of older patients for transplantation requires careful screening to exclude cardiopulmonary disease, malignancy, and other diseases of the aged. Paradoxically, seniors may benefit from a senescent immune system, which results in decreased requirements for immunosuppressive drugs, and possibly a lower rate of acute allograft rejection. Despite good overall short-term survival in the elderly, long-term survival may be worse because of an increased rate of long-term complications, such as malignancy and heart disease. In conclusion, although advanced age is a negative risk factor, advanced age alone should not exclude a patient from liver transplantation; however, it mandates thorough pretransplant evaluation and careful long-term follow-up with attention to usual health maintenance issues in the elderly. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:957-967.)
Liver transplant donor candidates: Associations between vascular and biliary anatomic variants
Authors: Lee Vivian S. , Morgan Glyn R. , Lin Jennifer C. , Nazzaro Carol A. , Chang Jerry S. , Teperman Lewis W. , Krinsky Glenn A.
Published: July 2004

Our objective was to investigate the coexistence of vascular and biliary anatomic variants, the latter of which are known to increase the risk of biliary complications in living liver donor transplantation. A total of 108 consecutive liver donor candidates were examined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging that included 2 MR cholangiography methods, T2-weighted MR cholangiography and mangofodipir-enhanced T1-weighted three-dimensional (3D) MR cholangiography, as well as gadoliniumenhanced MR angiography and venography of the liver. Images were interpreted by at least 2 investigators in consensus for definition of hepatic arterial, portal venous, and biliary anatomy. A subset of 51 subjects underwent laparotomy for right hepatectomy. Of the 108 subjects examined, 50 (46%) demonstrated normal hepatic artery, portal vein, and biliary anatomy. Variants of the hepatic artery were found in 27 of 108 (25%) subjects, of the portal vein in 12 of 108 (11%) subjects, and of the bile ducts in 30 of 108 (28%) subjects. Of the 27 subjects with hepatic arterial variants, 8 (30%) also had variant biliary anatomy. The association between hepatic arterial variants and biliary variants was not statistically significant (P > .5). However, of the 12 subjects with portal vein variants, 7 (58%) had biliary variants, and in 6 of 7 cases, the right posterior hepatic duct was anomalous. By chi-square analysis, the association between portal venous and biliary variants was significant (P = .012). In conclusion, over half of subjects with portal vein variants were found to have anomalous biliary anatomy, which always involved the hepatic ducts of the right lobe. The association between portal venous and biliary variants is statistically significant, while there is no significant association between hepatic arterial and biliary variants. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1049-1054.)
Volumetric and functional recovery of the liver after right hepatectomy for living donation
Authors: Nadalin Silvio , Testa Giuliano , Malagó Massimo , Beste Mechtild , Frilling Andrea , Schroeder Thobias , Jochum Christoph , Gerken Guido , Broelsch Christoph E.
Published: July 2004

Our objective was to study the kinetics of recovery of the liver volume and liver function after right hepatectomy (RH) for living donation, comparing conventional and quantitative liver function tests, i.e., galactose elimination capacity (GEC). A total of 27 donors underwent RH averaging 61% of the whole liver volume. The conventional and quantitative liver function tests, as well as magnetic resonance imaging volumetric studies, were performed preoperatively at postoperative day (POD) 10, 90, 180, and 360. Mean residual volume increased by 88% within 10 days from RH and thereafter did not show any significant variation. After 1 year, only 83% of the original volume was reached. GEC per milliliter of liver volume expressed in percent of initial value (GEC/mL) showed a decrease of 25% at POD10, an increase up to 125% at POD 180, and returned to normal values at POD 360. Liver biochemistries, International Normalized Ratio (INR), and bilirubin returned to normal in 10 days. Cholinesterase showed a similar course like GEC. In conclusion, within 10 days of 61% loss of its initial volume, the liver is capable of regenerating a volume necessary to its function, although it corresponds to only 74% of the initial one. It takes only 10 days to normalize liver biochemistries, while cholinesterase and albumin recover over 90 days. However, a direct measure of the cytosolic liver function obtained by GEC shows that functional recovery occurs much more gradually than the recovery of volume and liver biochemistries. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1024-1029.)
Heterogeneity in liver allocation
Authors: Freeman Richard
Published: July 2004

Context

The Model for Endstage Liver Disease (MELD) score serves as the basis for the distribution of deceased-donor (DD) livers and was developed in response to “the final rule” mandate, whose stated principle is to allocate livers according to a patient’s medical need, with less emphasis on keeping organs in the local procurement area. However, in selected areas of the United States, organs are kept in organ procurement organizations (OPOs) with small waiting lists and transplanted into less-sick patients instead of being allocated to sicker patients in nearby transplant centers in OPOs with large waiting lists.

Objective

To determine whether there is a difference in MELD scores for liver transplant recipients receiving transplants in small vs large OPOs.

Design and Setting

Retrospective review of the US Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients between February 28, 2002, and March 31, 2003. Transplant recipients (N = 4798) had end-stage liver disease and received DD livers.

Main Outcome Measures

MELD score distribution (range, 6-40), graft survival, and patient survival for liver transplant recipients in small (<100) and large (> or = 100 on the waiting list) OPOs.

Results

The distribution of MELD scores was the same in large and small OPOs; 92% had a MELD score of 18 or less, 7% had a MELD score between 19 and 24, and only 2% of listed patients had a MELD score higher than 24 (P = .85). The proportion of patients receiving transplants in small OPOs and with a MELD score higher than 24 was significantly lower than that in large OPOs (19% vs 49%; P < .001). Patient survival rates at 1 year after transplantation for small OPOs (86.4%) and large OPOs (86.6%) were not statistically different (P = .59), and neither were graft survival rates in small OPOs (80.1%) and large OPOs (81.3%) (P = .80).

Conclusions

There is a significant disparity in MELD scores in liver transplant recipients in small vs large OPOs; fewer transplant recipients in small OPOs have severe liver disease (MELD score >24). This disparity does not reflect the stated goals of the current allocation policy, which is to distribute livers according to a patient’s medical need, with less emphasis on keeping organs in the local procurement area. (JAMA 2004;291:1871-1874.)
Liver transplantation for acute liver failure from drug induced liver injury in the United States
Authors: Russo Mark W. , Galanko Joseph A. , Shrestha Roshan , Fried Michael W. , Watkins Paul
Published: July 2004

Studies of acute liver failure from drugs have included cases mostly attributed to acetaminophen (APAP) but have reported limited data on other drugs. We used the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) liver transplant database from 1990 to 2002 to identify recipients and estimate a U.S. population-based rate of liver transplantation due to acute liver failure from drugs. Patients were identified if their diagnosis was acute hepatic necrosis from an implicated drug at the time of transplant. Liver transplantation for drug hepatotoxicity accounted for 15% of liver transplants for acute liver failure over the study period. In our cohort (n = 270), 206 (76%) recipients were female. APAP alone, or in combination with another drug, accounted for 133 (49%) cases. In the non-acetaminophen (non-APAP) group (n = 137), the most frequently implicated drugs were: isoniazid, n = 24 (17.5%); propylthiouracil, n = 13 (9.5%); and phenytoin and valproate in 10 (7.3%) cases each. One-year patient and graft survival for the entire cohort was 77 and 71%, respectively. Among Caucasians (n = 206) and African-Americans (n = 48), APAP only was implicated in 110 (53%) patients and 12 (25%) patients, respectively, and non-APAP drugs were implicated in 96 (47%) patients and 36 (75%) patients, respectively (P = .0004). Among African-Americans in the non-APAP group, 28 (78%) were women. In conclusion four drugs were implicated in 42% of patients undergoing liver transplantation for acute liver failure due to drugs other than APAP. The increased frequency of African-American women undergoing liver transplantation for non-APAP drug induced liver injury warrants further study. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1018-1023.)
Waiting for a liver—Hidden costs of the organ shortage
Authors: Brand Donald A. , Viola Deborah , Rampersaud Pretam , Patrick Patricia A. , Rosenthal William S. , Wolf David C.
Published: July 2004

Discussion about the economics of end-stage liver disease has typically focused on the high cost of liver transplantation, but the management of complications in patients waiting for an organ can also be very expensive. Our research considered the hypothesis that an increase in the number of organ grafts would decrease health care costs in patients with liver disease by eliminating the cost of waiting for an organ. We examined treatment costs for a consecutive series of liver transplant candidates listed at our institution between November 1, 1996 and December 31, 1997. Costs were estimated for inpatient stays, outpatient visits, and posttransplant medications for 2 1/2 years from the date of listing. Of the 58 study patients, 26 (45%) received transplants, 7 of whom died within 2 1/2 years. A total of 11 patients (19%) died while waiting for an organ, and another 21 patients (36%) were still waiting after 2 1/2 years. Pretransplantation costs accounted for 41% of the total cost. Transplanting all 58 candidates without delay through a hypothetical increase in the supply of organs to meet demand would have more than doubled the number of transplantations while increasing costs in this cohort by only 37% (from $123,000 to $169,000 per patient). In conclusion, although an adequate supply of donor organs would not decrease total health care spending for patients with end-stage liver disease, so much money is currently spent on medical management during the waiting period that the savings achieved by transplanting all candidates without delay would offset a large portion of the cost of the additional transplants. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1001-1010.)
Cold preservation of isolated sinusoidal endothelial cells in MMP 9 knockout mice: Effect on morphology and platelet adhesion
Authors: Topp Stefan A. , Upadhya Gundumi A. , Strasberg Steven M.
Published: July 2004

Cold preservation of rat sinusoidal endothelial cells causes actin disassembly, cell rounding, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion, and platelet adhesiveness. Studies in rats suggest that gelatinases MMP2 and MMP9 are the key mediators of the injury. We created a model of cold preservation injury in mouse sinusoidal endothelial cell (MSEC) to examine the effect of cold on MSEC, specifically on MSEC from genetically deleted mice (MMP9/KO) mice. MSEC were isolated from wild-type and MMP9/KO mice and cold preserved for up to 24 hours. MMP activity was measured in culture supernatants and in effluents from preserved whole mouse livers. Cellular and actin morphology were studied by light and fluorescence microscopy. A platelet-MSEC adhesion assay was performed. Yield, growth, and appearance of MSEC were similar in wild-type and MMP9/KO mice. Cold-preserved wild-type MSEC exhibited actin disassembly and cell rounding as in the rat but at a much slower rate. These morphologic cell changes were attenuated in MSEC from MMP9/KO mice. Both MMP2 and MMP9 were present in liver effluents of wild-type mice, but MMP9 was absent in effluents from MMP9/KO mice. Total MMP activity in culture supernatants was greater after preservation in wild-type than in MMP9/KO mice. There was significantly more platelet adhesion to wild-type MSEC than to MSEC from MMP9/KO mice. In conclusion, MSEC is an excellent model system for the study of cold preservation injury. Injury is similar to rat sinusoidal endothelial cells but delayed. MMP9 is a key mediator of the cold preservation injury. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1041-1048.)
Synthesis, Characterization, and Mechanism of Polymerization of Poly(but‐2‐ene sulfide)
Authors: Sundarrajan Subramanian , Srinivasan Kalathur Sabdham Vangepuram
Published: July 2004

Summary: The effect of structural factors on polymer formation versus cyclization is reported. The reaction of sodium sulfide with either 1,4‐dibromobut‐2‐ene 1 or 1,4‐dibromobutane 2 has been carried out in presence of a phase transfer catalyst and it was observed that the former yields polymer, whereas the latter gives cyclic and linear products. Interestingly, trans/cis isomerization takes place during the polymer formation from 1 and a plausible mechanism has also been discussed.

The reaction mechanism for unsaturated compound 1 and saturated compound 2 is discussed here.

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The reaction mechanism for unsaturated compound 1 and saturated compound 2 is discussed here.
Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Star Polymers Having Nanosized Silica Cores
Authors: Liu Ying‐Ling , Li Shu‐Hsien
Published: July 2004

Summary: Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) star polymers having a nanosized silica particle as a core were prepared by reacting silica nanoparticles with monoglycidylether‐terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane). This star polymer was a hybrid material having an extremely high content of silica. The PDMS arms formed an organic domain to separate the silica particles and to prevent particle aggregation. The star polymers exhibited good thermal stability and high activation energy of their degradation reaction, in comparison to the linear PDMS polymer and the PDMS/silica blending materials. This star polymer can be used as a flame retardant for polymeric materials and this preparation technique can be applied to prepare other star polymers.

An SEM image of poly(dimethylsiloxane) star polymers having nanosized silica particles as a core.

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An SEM image of poly(dimethylsiloxane) star polymers having nanosized silica particles as a core.
Metallo‐Polymerization/‐Cyclization of a C16‐Bridged Di‐Terpyridine Ligand and Iron(II) Ions
Authors: Andres Philip R. , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: July 2004

Summary: The coordinative polymerization/cyclization of a flexible monodisperse di‐terpyridine ligand with iron(II) chloride is reported. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight (MALDI‐TOF) investigations showed the preferred formation of a [2 + 2] macrocycle, but also larger aggregates (cycles or linear oligomers) with up to 10 monomer units were found. Because of its C16‐spacer, the solubility is sufficient for performing viscosity experiments in CHCl3/MeOH solution. A viscosity titration revealed a maximum in viscosity at the 1‐to‐1 ratio of iron(II) ions to di‐terpyridine‐ligands, which indicates the formation of extended oligomers, polymers, catenanes and/or cycles at that ratio.

Schematic representation of intra‐ and intermolecular metallo‐macrocycles.

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Schematic representation of intra‐ and intermolecular metallo‐macrocycles.
Nonaggregated Zinc Phthalocyanine in Mesoporous Nanocrystalline TiO2 Thin Films
Authors: Wang Xinchen , Yu Jimmy C.
Published: July 2004

Summary: A simple sonochemical approach has been successfully developed to deposit poorly dissolved phthalocyanine dyes onto the surface of a highly‐ordered mesoporous nanostructured TiO2 thin film. The aggregation‐free phthalocyanines are effectively encapsulated and stabilized in the nanopore arrays of the zeolite‐like mesoporous nanocrystalline TiO2 thin film. Highly dispersed dye∥TiO2 heterojunction arrays with a large contact area can be obtained by using this interesting approach.

The incorporation of phthalocyanine dyes into the surface of a highly‐ordered mesoporous nanostructured TiO2 thin film, a potential photocatalyst.

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The incorporation of phthalocyanine dyes into the surface of a highly‐ordered mesoporous nanostructured TiO2 thin film, a potential photocatalyst.
Preparation and Properties of New Soluble π‐Conjugated Polymers Containing a Fumaronitrile Unit in the Main Chain
Authors: Fang Qiang , Jiang Biao , Xu Bing , Wang Wanjun , Yu Feng , Wu Xiaqin
Published: July 2004

Summary: A class of new, soluble, π‐conjugated polymers containing a fumaronitrile unit in the main chain were synthesized by the reaction between di(4‐bromophenyl)fumaronitrile and bis(2,2‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diyl)‐1,4‐dialkoxyphenylene‐2,5‐diborate employing palladium catalysts. All the polymers were photoluminescent and electrochemically active.

The new soluble π‐conjugated polymers 1a–d with photoluminescence and electrochemical activity synthesized here.

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The new soluble π‐conjugated polymers 1a–d with photoluminescence and electrochemical activity synthesized here.
RAFT‐Polymerization of Styrene up to High Pressure: Rate Enhancement and Improved Control
Authors: Arita Toshihiko , Buback Michael , Janssen Olaf , Vana Philipp
Published: July 2004

Summary: Application of high pressure, up to 2 500 bar, in cumyl dithiobenzoate‐mediated styrene reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations was found to be extremely advantageous with respect to both rate and control of polymerization. The overall rate of polymerization could be increased by a factor of approximately 3 with, e.g., at 23% conversion, concomitantly reducing the polydispersity indices from 1.35 to 1.10. No significant effect of increased pressure on the rate retardation effect was found.

SEC curves of polystyrene samples with identical peak molecular weights, generated by CDB‐mediated styrene bulk polymerization at 70 °C at 1 and at 2 000 bar.

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SEC curves of polystyrene samples with identical peak molecular weights, generated by CDB‐mediated styrene bulk polymerization at 70 °C at 1 and at 2 000 bar.
Low‐gain adaptive stabilization of semilinear second‐order hyperbolic systems
Authors: Kobayashi Toshihiro
Published: July 2004

In this paper low‐gain adaptive stabilization of undamped semilinear second‐order hyperbolic systems is considered in the case where the input and output operators are collocated. The linearized systems have an infinite number of poles and zeros on the imaginary axis. The adaptive stabilizer is constructed by a low‐gain adaptive velocity feedback. The closed‐loop system is governed by a non‐linear evolution equation. First, the well‐posedness of the closed‐loop system is shown. Next, an energy‐like function and a multiplier function are introduced and the exponential stability of the closed‐loop system is analysed. Some examples are given to illustrate the theory. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Control problem for a non‐linear thermoelasticity system
Authors: Pawłow Irena , Żochowski Antoni
Published: July 2004

The control problem for a three‐dimensional non‐linear thermoelasticity system is considered. The system may represent, among others, the dynamical model of shape memory materials. As controls we take distributed heat sources and body forces. The goal functional refers to the desired evolution of displacement, strain and temperature.

The continuity and differentiability of solutions with respect to controls is studied. The existence of optimal controls is proved and the necessary optimality conditions are formulated. The existence of adjoint state variables is proved under additional regularity of data. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatial behaviour of solutions of the dual‐phase‐lag heat equation
Authors: Horgan C. O. , Quintanilla R.
Published: July 2004

In this paper we study the spatial behaviour of solutions of some problems for the dual‐phase‐lag heat equation on a semi‐infinite cylinder. The theory of dual‐phase‐lag heat conduction leads to a hyperbolic partial differential equation with a third derivative with respect to time. First, we investigate the spatial evolution of solutions of an initial boundary‐value problem with zero boundary conditions on the lateral surface of the cylinder. Under a boundedness restriction on the initial data, an energy estimate is obtained. An upper bound for the amplitude term in this estimate in terms of the initial and boundary data is also established. For the case of zero initial conditions, a more explicit estimate is obtained which shows that solutions decay exponentially along certain spatial‐time lines. A class of non‐standard problems is also considered for which the temperature and its first two time derivatives at a fixed time T are assumed proportional to their initial values. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On blowup for gain‐term‐only classical and relativistic Boltzmann equations
Authors: Andréasson Håkan , Calogero Simone , Illner Reinhard
Published: July 2004

We show that deletion of the loss part of the collision term in all physically relevant versions of the Boltzmann equation, including the relativistic case, will in general lead to blowup in finite time of a solution and hence prevent global existence. Our result corrects an error in the proof given (Math. Meth. Appl. Sci. 1987; 9:251–259), where the result was announced for the classical hard sphere case; here we give a simpler proof which applies much more generally. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.