bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Onychomycosis in children: a survey of 46 cases
Authors: Romano C. , Papini M. , Ghilardi A. , Gianni C.
Published: October 2005

This is a retrospective study of the agents, clinical aspects, sources of infection and therapy of onychomycosis in children. In the period 1989–2000, we observed 46 consecutive children, until 16 years of age with onychomycosis (29 boys, 17 girls, mean age 10.8 years). Dermatophytes were isolated in 30 cases (Trichophyton rubrum in 22 cases, Trichophyton mentagrophytes in five, Epidermophyton floccosum in two and Trichophyton violaceum in one) and Candida spp. in 16, associated with Trichophyton rubrum in two. Moulds were isolated in three children (Fusarium oxysporum in one, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in another and Aspergillus fumigatus associated with Trichophyton rubrum in a third). The commonest features were distal and distolateral subungual hyperkeratosis in dermatophyte infections (93%) and onychodystrophy and paronychia in Candida infections (56% and 50% respectively). Forty patients achieved clinical and mycological recovery. It is appropriate to suspect onychomycosis in children, perform microbiological diagnosis and undertake early treatment. An approach of this kind may help to prevent nail dystrophy and the spread of infection.
Subcutaneous alternariosis
Authors: Romano C. , Vanzi L. , Massi D. , Difonzo E. M.
Published: October 2005

A case of subcutaneous alternariosis caused by Alternaria alternata is reported in a 52‐year‐old male who underwent kidney transplantation 1 year earlier. The infection manifested as a vegetating mass about 7 cm in diameter on the right forearm. Histological examination with Grocott staining and periodic acid–Schiff diastase revealed fungal spores and hyphae with chronic granulomatous inflammation. Biopsy fragments inoculated on Sabouraud‐glucose agar with chloramphenicol produced colonies which were identified as Alternaria alternata on the basis of macroscopic and microscopic characters.
The serum levels of calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis during attack, remission and in healthy controls
Authors: Spacek Jiri , Jilek Petr , Buchta Vladimir , Főrstl Miroslav , Hronek Miloslav , Holeckova Magdalena
Published: October 2005

The real cause of recurrent vulvovaginal candidosis (RVVC) is concealed and the etiopathogenesis of this disease remains to be determined. In a cohort study, concentrations of metals in 44 patients with RVVC and 30 healthy age‐matched women were measured and compared. The concentrations of serum calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) were measured photometrically, the zinc (Zn) levels were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. For statistical analysis were used the Student's t‐tests (paired analysis for attack vs. remission; non‐paired analysis for patient vs. control). Although all measured metals were within normal ranges the patients with RVVC had in contrast to the healthy controls significantly lower levels of serum Ca, Mg and Zn and insignificantly higher levels of Fe. These relative changes may contribute to the development of attacks in patients with RVVC.
Hydrolytic enzymes as virulence factors of Candida albicans
Authors: Schaller Martin , Borelli Claudia , Korting Hans C. , Hube Bernhard
Published: October 2005

Candida albicans is a facultative pathogenic micro‐organism that has developed several virulence traits enabling invasion of host tissues and avoidance of host defence mechanisms. Virulence factors that contribute to this process are the hydrolytic enzymes. Most of them are extracellularly secreted by the fungus. The most discussed hydrolytic enzymes produced by C. albicans are secreted aspartic proteinases (Saps). The role of these Saps for C. albicans infections was carefully evaluated in numerous studies, whereas only little is known about the physiological role of the secreted phospholipases (PL) and almost nothing about the involvement of lipases (Lip) in virulence. They may play an important role in the pathogenicity of candidosis and their hydrolytic activity probably has a number of possible functions in addition to the simple role of digesting molecules for nutrition. Saps as the best‐studied member of this group of hydrolytic enzymes contribute to host tissue invasion by digesting or destroying cell membranes and by degrading host surface molecules. There is also some evidence that hydrolytic enzymes are able to attack cells and molecules of the host immune system to avoid or resist antimicrobial activity. High hydrolytic activity with broad substrate specificity has been found in several Candida species, most notably in C. albicans. This activity is attributed to multigene families with at least 10 members for Saps and Lips and several members for PL B. Distinct members of these gene families are differentially regulated in various Candida infections. In future, prevention and control of Candida infections might be achieved by pharmacological or immunological tools specifically modulated to inhibit virulence factors, e.g. the family of Saps.
Role of Chrysosporium keratinophillum in the parasitic evolution of dermatophytes
Authors: Gokulshankar S. , Ranjithsingh A. J. A. , Ranjith M. S. , Ranganathan S. , Palaniappan R.
Published: October 2005

Anti‐dermatophytic activity of Chrysosporium keratinophillum against species of the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton floccosum was tested in vitro. When C. keratinophillum and different species of dermatophytes were inoculated on Sabouraud's dextrose agar plates 2 cm apart, no antagonistic effect of C. keratinophillum on the mycelial growth of dermatophytes was observed. However, conidia production was not observed on the hyphae of Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans and E. floccosum grown near C. keratinophillum. The secretory substances released by C. keratinophillum inhibited the growth of T. rubrum, T. tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale and E. floccosum at a concentration of 2000 μg ml−1 when tested by broth dilution technique. No inhibition of the growth was observed for Microsporum gypseum and Microsporum nanum. The anti‐fungal activity of secretory substances released by C. keratinophillum was recorded to be heat stable. Results of the present study suggest that the anti‐dermatophytic activity of the secretory substances of C. keratinophillum on T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, T. tonsurans and E. floccosum may be responsible in part, for the absence of these dermatophyte species in soil. Considering the global prevalence of C. keratinophillum in soil one may speculate that the anti‐dermatophytic activity of C. keratinophillum is one of the early events for the evolutionary divergence of saprophytic archi‐dermatophytes to obligate parasitic dermatophyte species.
Cerebral zygomycosis
Authors: Sundaram C. , Mahadevan A. , Laxmi V. , Yasha T. C. , Santosh V. , Murthy J. M. K. , Purohit A. K. , Mohandas S. , Shankar S. K.
Published: October 2005

Fifty‐six patients with cerebral zygomycosis (mucormycosis) were seen during the period 1971–2001 in two tertiary care hospitals located in south India with tropical climate and catering to neurological diseases. Forty‐four patients had rhinocerebral and twelve patients had isolated central nervous system (CNS) zygomycosis. Of these, ten were culture proven (Rhizopus oryzae in eight and Mucor in two); 30 were diagnosed as probable and 16 were diagnosed possible; mixed infections were seen in three patients. Diabetes mellitus was the predisposing condition in a majority (31/44) of patients with the rhinocerebral form of zygomycosis. The tissue obtained at biopsy/autopsy in either form showed necrotic/infarcted tissue with neutrophilic infiltration with broad non‐septate hyphae showing irregular branching. The outcome was poor despite surgical excision and antifungal therapy. The high concentration of spores in a mouldy environment, the bird population and improper disposal of hospital waste may facilitate healthy hosts presenting with primary CNS disease.
Pituicytoma incidentally found at autopsy
Authors: Takei Hidehiro , Goodman J. Clay , Tanaka Shinya , Bhattacharjee Meenakshi B. , Bahrami Armita , Powell Suzanne Z.
Published: October 2005

Pituicytoma is a rare benign neoplasm, occurring in the sellar and suprasellar regions. Reported herein is a case of asymptomatic pituicytoma, discovered at autopsy, in a 54‐year‐old Japanese woman. This is the first case report of pituicytoma, found incidentally at autopsy (incidentaloma), in which whole‐mounted sections are available for histological and immunohistochemical studies. Grossly, the bisected pituitary gland revealed a round, white to light tan, 7 mm‐diameter nodule. Microscopically, whole‐mounted sections revealed a well‐circumscribed nodule with no fibrous capsule, located mainly in the neurohypophysis and partially compressing the adenohypophysis. The tumor was composed primarily of bipolar, occasionally unipolar, cells with syncytial fibrillary cytoplasm, arranged in short curvilinear fascicles and/or storiform patterns. Unusual histological features were seen, which included a few groups of large pleomorphic tumor cells with abundant, glassy, eosinophilic cytoplasm, occasionally associated with multinucleated giant tumor cells, and scattered Herring bodies within the tumor. Immunohistochemically, the tumor showed diffuse strong expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein, S‐100 protein, and vimentin. Epithelial membrane antigen immunoreactivity was focally observed, mainly in the large tumor cells. Distinction from other intrasellar tumors (granular cell tumor and pilocytic astrocytoma) is important. Because the immunohistochemical profiles of these tumors are similar, histological findings are crucial for distinction.
Cellular and stromal characteristics in the scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma: Comparison with hepatocellular carcinomas and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas
Authors: Okamura Nobuyoshi , Yoshida Muneki , Shibuya Akitaka , Sugiura Hitoshi , Okayasu Isao , Ohbu Makoto
Published: October 2005

Scirrhous hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC) is a rare variation of HCC, for which characteristics of tumor cells and the fibrotic stroma have not been clarified in detail. The present study was therefore carried out to elucidate cytological features of tumor and stromal cells and components of the stromal extracellular matrix in 15 SHCC patients undergoing hepatectomy without preoperative transarterial embolization. Diagnosis was on the basis of a scirrhous histological pattern exceeding 50% of the tumor area. Expression of cytoplasmic and extracellular matrix proteins was compared among SHCC, HCC and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) cases with immunohistochemical staining. The lesions could be histologically divided into radiating and sinusoidal types. Common stromal components of SHCC and ICC were collagen types I and III. There was no expression of laminin‐5 in the stroma of SHCC, but it was present in almost all ICC cases. Tenascin‐C expression was significantly lower in the SHCC cases and its distribution differed between SHCC and ICC. Matrix metalloproteinase‐7 (MMP‐7) expression was significantly higher in SHCC compared with HCC. Almost all stromal cells were α‐smooth muscle actin‐positive both in SHCC and ICC, whereas glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP)‐positive stromal cells were significantly more increased in ICC than in SHCC. SHCC clearly differed from HCC with respect to collagen types I, III and MMP‐7 expression, and from ICC with regard to stromal components including laminin‐5, tenascin‐C and GFAP+ stromal cells.
CD117 expression in diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas: Fact or fiction?
Authors: Vakiani Efsevia , Cattoretti Giorgio , Colovai Adriana I. , Murty Vundavalli V. , Alobeid Bachir , Bhagat Govind
Published: October 2005

CD117 (KIT) is expressed in a variety of hematopoietic neoplasms but there are a paucity of data regarding its expression in diffuse large B‐cell lymphomas (DLBCL). The purpose of the present paper was to describe the authors’ experience of two CD117+ DLBCL (one of follicle center‐cell origin and one nasal Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)– plasmablastic lymphoma associated with lytic bone lesions), as determined by tissue immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The CD117 expression in DLBCL was further evaluated using tissue microarrays and seven additional plasmablastic lymphomas, using two commercially available anti‐CD117 antibodies (Ab‐1, Oncogene and A4502, DakoCytomation). Membranous ± cytoplasmic staining was seen with Ab‐1 in 24/65 (37%) DLBCL, including 21/56 microarray DLBCL, two index cases, and 1/7 additional plasmablastic lymphomas, with persistent staining in 13% of microarray DLBCL despite preincubation with KIT peptide. However, A4502 had only membranous staining of the index cases and one additional EBV– plasmablastic lymphoma with medullary disease. The present study suggests that (i) CD117 expression can be detected sporadically in DLBCL of follicle center‐cell origin and a subset of plasmablastic lymphomas; (ii) staining for CD117 might help in identifying EBV– plasmablastic lymphomas associated with bone marrow involvement; and (iii) CD117 antibodies should be carefully validated prior to use, because non‐specific staining, as observed with Ab‐1, could lead to false‐positive results.
Computerized nuclear morphometry in thyroid follicular neoplasms
Authors: Wang Sheng‐Lan , Wu Ming‐Tsang , Yang Sheau‐Fang , Chan Hon‐Man , Chai Chee‐Yin
Published: October 2005

Differential diagnosis of follicular adenoma (FA) and follicular carcinoma (FC) of the thyroid can be challenging in the routine practice of surgical pathology because the diagnosis of FC is strictly defined and identification depends on the presence of invasion of the capsule or blood vessels. These features may be equivocally presented in the histological sections and interpreted subjectively by different pathologists, so an objective approach to solve this problem is essential. Computerized morphometry is a scientific tool to evaluate cellular changes and it can enhance the interpretation of morphological features by the transformation of pathological changes in cells to a qualitative form. The present study investigated the diagnostic role of objective computerized nuclear morphometry in follicular neoplasms. Thirty‐six cases of thyroid FC and 36 cases of FA from patients who were matched by age and sex were studied. Four nuclear parameters were selected and analyzed: mean nuclear area, mean nuclear perimeter, largest to smallest diameter ratio of the nuclei, and coefficient of variation of the nuclear area. The results indicate that all the chosen nuclear variables were significantly correlated with the FA and FC studied. In conclusion, computerized nuclear morphometry can be considered a helpful ancillary tool for differential diagnosis of FA and FC.
New genetic model rat for congenital cataracts due to a connexin 46 (Gja3 ) mutation
Authors: Yoshida Manabu , Harada Yuji , Kaidzu Sachiko , Ohira Akihiro , Masuda Junichi , Nabika Toru
Published: October 2005

A rat strain with congenital nuclear cataracts has been established. Segregation analyses indicated that this phenotype had an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, implying that a loss of function mutation of a single autosomal gene was responsible. The gene was mapped to the D15Rat6 locus on chromosome 15 through a linkage analysis using 93 backcrossed rats. The connexin 46 gene (Gja3) was found to be located close to the locus, and was regarded as a strong candidate because of its pivotal role in the lens fiber cells. Expression of the gene in the lens was comparable between the cataract and control rats when evaluated with immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. However, a non‐conservative missense mutation, Glu42Lys, was found in the gene of the cataract rats, which was likely to be responsible for the pathogenesis. This strain will be useful in pathophysiological studies on nuclear cataracts.
Hepatocellular carcinoma with mesothelioma‐like dissemination
Authors: Otsuki Yoshiro , Shimizu Shin‐ichi , Hosoda Yoshisuke , Nagasawa Masamichi , Sato Yoshihiko , Kobayashi Hiroshi
Published: October 2005

Reported herein is a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with unusual peritoneal dissemination masquerading as peritoneal mesothelioma. A 61‐year‐old man was clinically found to have multiple tumors in his abdominal cavity; peritonitis carcinomatosa was suspected. An autopsy revealed numerous tumors of various sizes in the abdominal serosa, omentum, and diaphragm. No signs of tumor, fibrosis, or cirrhosis were found in the liver, except for a small nodule in the hepatic triangular ligament. Histologically, the tumor cells proliferated in thick trabeculae or in sheets and formed a few canaliculi and tubules with homogenously brown contents in their lumina, which stained positively with Hall stain. Immunohistochemically, these tumors were positive for hepatocyte, α‐fetoprotein (AFP) and low‐molecular‐weight cytokeratin; were focally positive for pan‐cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA); and were negative for high‐molecular‐weight cytokeratin, vimentin, and calretinin. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) produced a bile canalicular immunohistochemical staining pattern. Thus, the tumor was diagnosed as an HCC (Edmondson II type) of the triangular ligament with massive peritoneal dissemination. The origin of this tumor and its differential diagnosis (malignant mesothelioma, hepatoid adenocarcinoma, and hepatoid yolk sac tumor) are discussed.
Transcription factor‐mediated proliferation and apoptosis in benign and malignant thyroid lesions
Authors: Letsas Konstantinos P. , Frangou‐Lazaridis Maria , Skyrlas Angelos , Tsatsoulis Agathocles , Malamou‐Mitsi Vasiliki
Published: October 2005

Transcription factors play an essential role in regulating both cell proliferation and programmed cell death. Proliferation and apoptosis‐related transcription factor immunoexpression patterns were concomitantly investigated in tissue sections of normal thyroid, goiters, follicular adenomas and well‐differentiated papillary and follicular carcinomas using antibodies against prothymosin α, E2F‐1, p53, Bcl2, and Bax proteins. Proliferation and apoptotic indices were determined by Ki‐67 immunoreactivity and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated deoxy uridine triphosphate nick‐end labeling technique, respectively. Prothymosin α and E2F‐1 immunoexpression levels were found to be significantly elevated in well‐differentiated carcinomas compared to adenomas, goiters and normal tissues (P < 0.05). Both proteins were directly correlated with the proliferation index (P < 0.05). E2F‐1 was additionally correlated with the apoptotic index (P < 0.05). The majority of cases were negative for p53 staining. Positive Bcl2 immunostaining was detected in all thyroid histotypes. None of the normal tissues showed Bax immunoreactivity, while positive accumulation differed significantly between hyperplastic and neoplastic histotypes. Direct correlations were observed between prothymosin α and Bcl2 as well as between E2F‐1 and Bax immunoexpression (P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that prothymosin α and E2F‐1 are strongly involved in the proliferation processes of thyroid neoplasias. Furthermore, prothymosin α may promote cell survival through the Bcl2 anti‐apoptotic pathway, while E2F‐1‐induced apoptosis via p53‐independent pathways may be associated with transcriptional activation of bax pro‐apoptotic gene.
Extraction of the generalized stress intensity factor in gross sliding complete contacts using a path‐independent integral*
Authors: FUENMAYOR F. J. , GINER E. , TUR M.
Published: October 2005

A new procedure to extract the generalized stress intensity factor (GSIF) in full sliding complete contact problems is proposed. It is based on a path‐independent integral derived from the reciprocal theorem of Maxwell‐Betti and on a specially conceived extraction field. This extraction field avoids the computation of path integrals along the contact plane that start from the singular point. The methodology presented here is also applicable to configurations with large relative displacements of the indenter (gross sliding). The procedure overcomes the problems that arise when extracting the GSIF via the stress extrapolation technique, because it does not need highly refined meshes, and it can be applied far from the singularity‐dominated zone and with much less user intervention. The robustness of the method has been verified with numerical examples, studying the effect of large displacements of the indenter and different discretizations.
Characterization of fatigue damage for paving asphaltic materials*
Authors: ARTAMENDI I. , KHALID H.
Published: October 2005

This study investigates the fatigue characteristics of typical bituminous materials used in road applications. Fatigue testing was performed in a four‐point bending beam test apparatus under controlled strain and stress conditions. Fatigue life was defined using the classical approach as the number of cycles, Nf, to 50% reduction in the initial stiffness modulus. It has also been defined in terms of macro‐crack initiation, N1. A different approach, based on the linear reduction in stiffness during a particular stage of a fatigue test, was introduced to define a damage parameter, and the evolution of this damage parameter with number of cycles was used to characterize fatigue life. Furthermore, refinements to the linear damage model were introduced to take into account the difference in the evolution of dissipated energy between controlled strain and stress testing modes. These modifications have enabled the identification of a unique fatigue damage rate for both controlled strain and stress test modes.
A review of deformation and fatigue of metals at small size scales
Authors: CONNOLLEY T. , MCHUGH P. E. , BRUZZI M.
Published: October 2005

Mechanical devices are being introduced whose size scale is well below that of conventional mechanical test specimens. The smallest devices have sizes in the nanometer range, though a good proportion of structural devices are of the micrometer scale. Development of these products raises the question of how their mechanical behaviour and reliability may be predicted. Conventional macroscopic test data can be used, but these are obtained using specimens whose size is much larger than the devices themselves. There is a risk that performance predictions will be inaccurate, due to the existence of size effects. This paper covers small size scale testing in metallic specimens and devices, concentrating on free‐standing specimens. To begin, some examples of micro‐scale devices are given. Fabrication methods for small metallic devices are then briefly described. This is followed by a review of experimental observations of mechanical properties in various metallic materials at the micro‐scale, highlighting the differences in results from different research groups and the gaps in our current knowledge. A section on computational and predictive modelling is included, in recognition of the role of modelling in device design and testing. Overall, the findings are that size effects are common, particularly in crystalline samples when the grain size is similar to one or more of the specimen dimensions. However, observations of size effects differ between studies and mechanical properties can vary widely, even for the same type of material. As a consequence, the relationships between specific device processing methods, specimen size and material properties must be adequately understood to ensure successful performance.
Fatigue of materials used in microscopic components
Authors: WIERSMA S. , TAYLOR D.
Published: October 2005

This paper discusses the fatigue behaviour of materials used in microscopic components, which are defined as components in which the section size is between one and ten grain diameters. Experimental data were obtained on microscopic and conventional (macroscopic) notched specimens of 316L stainless steel, which is used in many biomedical components including the cardiovascular stent. Microscopic specimens showed unusual behaviour: low threshold values and very flat stress‐life(S‐N) curves. The low threshold values were attributed to the extremely small thickness, which may be preventing closure; a secondary contribution may be coming from a change in the length of non‐propagating cracks. Good predictions could be achieved using the Smith–Miller approach and the theory of critical distances (TCD) if this reduced threshold was taken into account or if, alternatively, the critical distance was made equal to the grain size.
Smoking and other lifestyle factors in relation to erectile dysfunction
Authors: Polsky Jane Y. , Aronson Kristan J. , Heaton Jeremy P.W. , Adams Michael A.
Published: October 2005

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and various lifestyle and medical factors, including smoking and cardiovascular disease (CVD) medications, among men attending urology clinics in Kingston, Canada.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We conducted a case‐control study of men aged 50–80 years in Kingston, Ontario who agreed to participate at visits to urology clinics during 1997–99. We compared 101 men with clinically diagnosed ED and 234 controls with various benign urological conditions. All men completed a questionnaire on lifestyle and medical factors.

RESULTS

Men with ED were twice as likely to be former smokers (odds ratio 2.2, 95% confidence interval, 1.2–3.9), and cumulative smoking in pack‐years suggests a dose‐response pattern with the risk of ED. Having diabetes was associated with double the risk of ED, and increased alcohol intake appeared to increase the risk.

CONCLUSION

There was a greater risk of ED among former smokers, and the suggestion of a dose‐response relationship with cumulative smoking.
Lower urinary tract symptoms and male sexual dysfunction in Asia: a survey of ageing men from five Asian countries
Authors: Li Man‐Kay , Garcia Lester A. , Rosen Raymond
Published: October 2005

OBJECTIVE

To determine, using the Asian Survey of Aging Males (ASAM), the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and sexual disorders in Asian men aged 50–80 years, and to investigate the relationship between LUTS and sexual dysfunction, as community‐based studies have shown a relationship between LUTS and sexual dysfunction.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The ASAM survey was conducted in selected cities in five Asian countries, using a combination of face‐to‐face and mail‐survey methods. The survey evaluated demographics, urinary symptoms (using the International Prostate Symptom Score, IPSS, and bother score), functional problems (using the Danish Prostatic Symptoms Score, DAN‐PSS‐Sex, and International Index of Erectile Function, IIEF) and comorbidity factors. In all, 1155 men aged 50–80 years completed the survey.

RESULTS

The prevalence of LUTS varied among the countries, ranging from 14% in Singapore to 59% in the Philippines. Moderate to severe LUTS were reported by 36% of men aged 50–59 years, 50% aged 60–69 years and 60% aged 70–79 years. About three‐quarters of all respondents (72%) aged 50–80 years were sexually active. Erectile dysfunction was reported by 63% of men in the study, of whom 57% were bothered by their symptoms. Ejaculation disorders were present in 68% of respondents (52% reported bothersomeness) and pain on ejaculation was experienced by 19% of the men in the study (88% reported bothersomeness). Sexual disorders increased with age and increasing severity of their LUTS. Erectile and ejaculation problems were more common in subjects with diabetes or hypertension; these two groups showed the same relationship between LUTS severity and sexual disorders.

CONCLUSION

These results confirmed that sexual activity is common in Asian men aged 50–80 years, even at an advanced age. They also confirmed the correlation between LUTS and sexual dysfunction.
Histopathological evaluation of the uterosacral ligament: is this a dependable structure for pelvic reconstruction?
Authors: COLE EMILY E. , LEU PATRICK B. , GOMELSKY ALEX , REVELO PATRICIA , SHAPPELL HEIDI , SCARPERO HARRIETTE M. , DMOCHOWSKI ROGER R.
Published: October 2005

OBJECTIVE

To explore, by histological examination, whether the uterosacral ligament complex is an adequate support structure for vaginal vault suspension and other reconstructive procedures of the female pelvis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We dissected 14 fresh hemipelves from seven adult female cadavers. The uterosacral complexes were excised from the pelvic sidewall immediately beneath the uterosacral pedicle. The specimens were stained with connective tissue‐specific Movat stain and evaluated microscopically for the presence of collagen and/or elastin.

RESULTS

Uterosacral tissue similar to that identified during pelvic reconstructive surgery was obtained in all cases. Six of the women had had a hysterectomy. A ligamentous structure with clearly aligned collagen and interspersed elastin was identified in only three specimens, two from one cadaver of a young woman who had not had a hysterectomy. The other specimens had an attenuated, poorly organized layer of collagen immediately beneath the peritoneum.

CONCLUSION

We could not consistently identify normal ligamentous tissue in the uterosacral complexes. The overwhelming majority of specimens from women who had had a hysterectomy showed disorganized tissue with reduced cellularity. This reinforces doubts about the integrity of these tissues as structural supports in pelvic reconstructive surgery, particularly in elderly women who have had a hysterectomy.
Assessment of male sexual function by the Brief Sexual Function Inventory
Authors: MYKLETUN ARNSTEIN , DAHL ALV A. , O'LEARY MICHAEL P. , FOSSÅ SOPHIE D.
Published: October 2005

OBJECTIVE

To present normative data from Norway using the Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory (BSFI, the first patient self‐administered questionnaire to assess male sexuality, and used in the USA) in men aged 20–79 years, examine the psychometric properties of the BSFI, explore the impact of sexual function and other variables on overall sexual satisfaction, and compare American and Norwegian normative data.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

From public official address lists 3500 men aged 20–79 years were invited to take part in an anonymous questionnaire study, including the BSFI. Altogether 1185 (34%) responded, and the response rates varied with age.

RESULTS

There was increasingly reduced sexual function concerning drive, erection, ejaculation, and problem assessment with age, and most of the age‐effect started at >50 years old. Overall sexual satisfaction followed the same trend, but with a weaker association with age. Analyses of factor structure and internal consistency of the BSFI supported a one‐factor solution with good internal consistency. Drive, erection, ejaculation, and problem assessment explained 28% of the variance in overall sexual satisfaction. Being younger and having a sexual partner were also associated with high scores of overall sexual satisfaction. American and Norwegian normative data in the BSFI dimensions were markedly similar.

CONCLUSION

The BSFI is a short and discrete screening tool for sexual function, and for most clinical and research purposes we recommend using the BSFI as a one‐dimensional scale.
Reduction of moderate‐to‐large cystocele during urodynamic evaluation using a vaginal gauze pack: 8‐year experience
Authors: GILLERAN JASON P. , LEMACK GARY E. , ZIMMERN PHILIPPE E.
Published: October 2005

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of cystocele reduction by a vaginal gauze pack on urodynamic studies (UDS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

UDS from consecutive women with symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse were reviewed. The protocol included a ‘fill‐void’ study with a vaginal gauze pack, and then repeated without the pack. Tracings were categorized based on filling cystometrograms (CMGs) and pressure‐flow studies (PFS).

RESULTS

Of 202 women, 121 with a mean (sd) age of 67 (9.4) years contributed 221 interpretable ‘pack, then no‐pack’ UDS (111 CMGs and 110 PFS); 77 of the women had a moderate cystocele and 44 had a large cystocele. Eighty‐five women had urethral hypermobility (UH), and 36 had a well‐supported urethra (WSU). The pack unmasked stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in 6% of women, with a mean (sd, range) Valsalva leak‐point pressure of 54 (22, 23–90) cmH2O. SUI occurred more often in women with UH than WSU. Detrusor overactivity occurred similarly in pack (15%) and no‐pack (14%) tracings. Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) was relieved by the pack in 25 studies and caused by the pack in four. Women with WSU had BOO more often than those with UH (43% vs 22%, P < 0.05), regardless of the presence or absence of the pack.

CONCLUSION

Unmasked SUI by pack reduction was uncommon, presumably due to anterior vaginal wall stabilization, as the pack rarely caused BOO. Those with SUI had Valsalva leak‐point pressures suggestive of intrinsic sphincter deficiency. The pack did not significantly influence the presence of detrusor overactivity.
Gender‐associated differences in the psychosocial and developmental outcome in patients affected with the bladder exstrophy‐epispadias complex
Authors: LEE CELINE , REUTTER HEIKO M. , GRÄßER MELANIE F. , FISCH MARGIT , NOEKER MEINOLF
Published: October 2005

OBJECTIVE

To identify problems in the long‐term psychosocial and developmental outcome specific to patients with the bladder exstrophy‐epispadias complex (BEEC), using a self‐developed semi‐structured questionnaire, as there are various techniques of reconstruction to repair BEEC but to date neither patients nor surgeons have a clear answer about which type gives the most acceptable long‐term results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Increasingly many patients with BEEC reach adulthood and wish to have sexual relationships and families. To date, no studies have used disease‐specific psychological instruments to measure the psychosocial status of patients with BEEC. Thus we contacted 208 patients with BEEC, and 122 were enrolled, covering the complete spectrum of the BEEC. The data assessed included the surgical reconstruction, subjective assessment of continence, developmental milestones, school performance and career, overall satisfaction in life, disease‐specific fears and partnership experiences in patients aged >18 years. We compared affected females and males to assess gender‐associated differences in quality of life.

RESULTS

Affected females had more close friendships, fewer disadvantages in relation to healthy female peers and more partnerships than the males. Family planning seemed to be less of a problem in affected females. There were no gender differences in the adjustments within school and professional career, which was very good in general.

CONCLUSION

Future studies are needed to assess the disease‐specific anxieties, considering gender‐specific differences.
Intravesical instillation of human urine after oral administration of trospium, tolterodine and oxybutynin in a rat model of detrusor overactivity
Authors: KIM YONGTAE , YOSHIMURA NAOKI , MASUDA HITOSHI , MIGUEL FERNANDO de , CHANCELLOR MICHAEL B.
Published: October 2005

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of antimuscarinics excreted into human urine on normal bladder in a rat model of detrusor overactivity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two ‘normal’ adult volunteers collected voided urine after taking trospium (20 mg, twice daily), tolterodine LA (4 mg, four times daily), or oxybutynin XL (10 mg, four times daily). The drugs were taken in a random order for 5 days with a 7‐day washout period between the drugs. The urine collected from the two volunteers was mixed together and then blindly labelled and used for testing. Control human urine (no oral antimuscarinics) was also used. The effect of intravesical administration of human urine on carbachol‐induced bladder overactivity was studied in female Sprague‐Dawley rats anaesthetised with urethane. Cystometric variables during continuous infusion (0.04 mL/min) for >1 h each of saline, human urine, then a mixture of carbachol (30 µm) and human urine were compared in the four groups (control and the three different antimuscarinics tested; six rats per group).

RESULTS

Human urine, with or with no intake of antimuscarinic agents, had no effect on normal bladder function. Bladder capacity and intercontraction intervals were significantly decreased after adding carbachol to urine containing vehicle, tolterodine or oxybutynin. However, urine collected from the humans who had taken trospium prevented the carbachol‐induced reduction in bladder capacity and intercontraction intervals. Maximum voiding pressure and pressure threshold were not changed in any case.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report that the urine excreted after oral ingestion of trospium (20 mg, twice daily) has a significant inhibitory effect in a rat model of detrusor overactivity. This suggests that antimuscarinic agents have a local bladder effect during the bladder‐storage phase in addition to the smooth muscle‐mediated voiding phase.
Young children's rapid learning about artifacts
Authors: Casler Krista , Kelemen Deborah
Published: October 2005

Tool use is central to interdisciplinary debates about the evolution and distinctiveness of human intelligence, yet little is actually known about how human conceptions of artifacts develop. Results across these two studies show that even 2‐year‐olds approach artifacts in ways distinct from captive tool‐using monkeys. Contrary to adult intuition, children do not treat all objects with appropriate properties as equally good means to an end. Instead, they use social information to rapidly form enduring artifact categories. After only one exposure to an artifact's functional use, children will construe the tool as ‘for’ that particular purpose and, furthermore, avoid using it for another feasible purpose. This teleo‐functional tendency to categorize tools by intentional use represents a precursor to the design stance – the adult‐like tendency to understand objects in terms of intended function – and provides an early foundation for apparently distinctive human abilities in efficient long‐term tool use and design.
Foundations for self and other: a study in autism
Authors: Hobson R. Peter , Meyer Jessica A.
Published: October 2005

There is controversy over the basis for young children's experience of themselves and other people as separate yet related individuals, each with a mental perspective on the world – and over the nature of corresponding deficits in autism. Here we tested a form of self–other connectedness (identification) in children with and without autism, who were group‐matched according to CA (approximately 6 to 16 years) and verbal MA (approximatelyto 14 years), and therefore IQ. We gave two forms of a novel ‘sticker test’ in which children needed to communicate to another person where on her body she should place her sticker‐badge. Across the trials of Study 1, all of the non‐autistic children pointed to their own bodies at least once, but over half the children with autism failed to point to themselves at all, even though they communicated successfully in other ways. In Study 2, where a screen was introduced to hide the tester's body, group differences in the children's communicative self‐orientated gestures were most marked after the tester had ‘modelled’ a point‐to‐herself gesture in communicating to the child. Our interpretation is that autism involves a relative failure to adopt the bodily‐anchored psychological and communicative stance of another person. We suggest that this process of identification is essential to self–other relations and grounds young children's developing understanding of minds.
One‐year‐olds comprehend the communicative intentions behind gestures in a hiding game
Authors: Behne Tanya , Carpenter Malinda , Tomasello Michael
Published: October 2005

This study explored infants’ ability to infer communicative intent as expressed in non‐linguistic gestures. Sixty children aged 14, 18 and 24 months participated. In the context of a hiding game, an adult indicated for the child the location of a hidden toy by giving a communicative cue: either pointing or ostensive gazing toward the container containing the toy. To succeed in this task children had to do more than just follow the point or gaze to the target container. They also had to infer that the adult's behaviour was relevant to the situation at hand – she wanted to inform them that the toy was inside the container toward which she gestured. Children at all three ages successfully used both types of cues. We conclude that infants as young as 14 months of age can, in some situations, interpret an adult behaviour as a relevant communicative act done for them.
Sensitivity to social contingencies between 1 and 3 months of age
Authors: Striano Tricia , Henning Anne , Stahl Daniel
Published: October 2005

Infants’ sensitivity to social contingencies was assessed. In Study 1, 1‐month‐old infants and their mothers interacted face‐to‐face in three types of imperfect contingent interactions: Normal, Non‐Contingent and Imitation. One‐month‐old infants did not discriminate these conditions. In Study 2, 3‐month‐old infants were tested as in Study 1. At 3 months of age, infants gazed reliably longer in the Imitation condition and smiled reliably more in the Normal than in the Non‐Contingent and Imitation interactions. These findings suggest a developmental transition in the sensitivity to social contingencies between 1 and 3 months of age. The relationship between the developing sensitivity to social contingencies and social cognition is discussed.
How do parents respond to children's questions about the identity of artifacts?
Authors: Nelson Deborah G. Kemler , O'Neil Kelly
Published: October 2005

We investigated how parents respond to young children's questions about the identity of artifacts. Children's questions were predominantly ambiguous about whether they were inquiring about name or function, but when their questions were more specific, they were almost always about function. For unfamiliar objects, parents responded with functional information the majority of the time, alone or in addition to names. For atypical members of familiar categories, adults usually responded only with the category name. The results indicate that adults adjust their responses in a way that often provides the information about object kind, specifically functional information in the case of artifacts, that they believe their children are lacking. Such input may contribute to the development of children's concepts and word meanings.
Maturation of action monitoring from adolescence to adulthood: an ERP study
Authors: Hogan Alexandra M. , Vargha‐Khadem Faraneh , Kirkham Fenella J. , Baldeweg Torsten
Published: October 2005

This study investigated the development of the frontal lobe action‐monitoring system from late childhood and adolescence to early adulthood using ERP markers of error processing. Error negativity (ERN) and correct response negativity (CRN) potentials were recorded while adolescents and adults (aged 12–22 years, n = 23) performed two forced‐choice visual reaction time tasks of differing complexity. Significant age differences were seen for behavioural and ERP responses to complex (infrequent, incompatible) trials: adolescents elicited an error negativity of reduced magnitude compared with adults. Furthermore, in contrast to adults, adolescents showed a non‐significant differentiation between response‐locked ERP components elicited by correct (CRN) and error responses (ERN). Behaviourally, adolescents corrected fewer errors in incompatible trials, and with increasing age there was greater post‐error slowing. In conclusion, the neural systems underlying action‐monitoring continue to mature throughout the second decade of life, and are associated with increased efficiency for fast error detection and correction during complex tasks.
The development of gaze following and its relation to language
Authors: Brooks Rechele , Meltzoff Andrew N.
Published: October 2005

We examined the ontogeny of gaze following by testing infants at 9, 10 and 11 months of age. Infants (N = 96) watched as an adult turned her head toward a target with either open or closed eyes. The 10‐ and 11‐month‐olds followed adult turns significantly more often in the open‐eyes than the closed‐eyes condition, but the 9‐month‐olds did not respond differentially. Although 9‐month‐olds may view others as ‘body orienters’, older infants begin to register whether others are ‘visually connected’ to the external world and, hence, understand adult looking in a new way. Results also showed a strong positive correlation between gaze‐following behavior at 10–11 months and subsequent language scores at 18 months. Implications for social cognition are discussed in light of the developmental shift in gaze following between 9 and 11 months of age.
Beyond the distributional input? A developmental investigation of asymmetry in infants’ categorization of cats and dogs
Authors: Furrer Stephanie D. , Younger Barbara A.
Published: October 2005

Two experiments are reported using a visual familiarization categorization procedure. In both experiments, infants were familiarized with sets of stimuli previously shown to contain asymmetric feature distributions that support an asymmetry in young infants’ categorization of cats and dogs (i.e. infants’ cat category excludes dogs but their dog category includes cats). In Experiment 1, the asymmetry was replicated in 4‐month‐old infants. In contrast, 10‐month‐old infants demonstrated exclusive category representations for both cats and dogs. In Experiment 2, an additional group of 10‐month‐olds demonstrated exclusive representations for both cats and dogs under conditions of very limited within‐task category familiarization. Potential mechanisms underlying the shift from an asymmetric to a symmetric pattern of categorization in the first year are discussed.
Children's implicit knowledge of harmony in Western music
Authors: Schellenberg E. Glenn , Bigand Emmanuel , Poulin‐Charronnat Benedicte , Garnier Cécilia , Stevens Catherine
Published: October 2005

Three experiments examined children's knowledge of harmony in Western music. The children heard a series of chords followed by a final, target chord. In Experiment 1, French 6‐ and 11‐year‐olds judged whether the target was sung with the vowel /i/ or /u/. In Experiment 2, Australian 8‐ and 11‐year‐olds judged whether the target was played on a piano or a trumpet. In Experiment 3, Canadian 8‐ and 11‐year‐olds judged whether the target sounded good (i.e. consonant) or bad (dissonant). The target was either the most stable chord in the established musical key (i.e. the tonic, based ondo, the first note of the scale) or a less stable chord. Performance was faster (Experiments 1, 2 and 3) and more accurate (Experiment 3) when the target was the tonic chord. The findings confirm that children have implicit knowledge of syntactic functions that typify Western harmony.
Evidence against a maximum response model of exogenous visual orienting during early infancy and support for a dimensional switching model
Authors: Dannemiller James L.
Published: October 2005

Very young infants orient overtly with eye and head movements to salient events in their visual environments, but those events rarely occur in the absence of competing visual stimuli. Two different models of how this kind of orienting is related to number and distribution of elements in the stimulus field were tested with infants across the age range from 2 to 5 months in four experiments. A set size manipulation in Experiments 1–3 produced data that were mostly inconsistent with the Maximum Response model proposed by Dannemiller (1998), especially at ages over 3 months. Experiment 4 produced data from 3.5‐month‐olds that were consistent with an alternative Dimensional Switching model that assumed that there was switching across trials in the stimulus dimension that drove orienting. This Dimensional Switching model can explain the small to nonexistent set size effects observed in the first three experiments as well as data from previous experiments using this paradigm. Factors that could produce this kind of dimensional switching over time were considered and other implications of this model for understanding the development of overt visual orienting were discussed.