bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gadolinium-chitosan nanoparticles as a novel contrast agent for potential use in clinical bowel-targeted MRI: a feasibility study in healthy rats
Authors: Cheng Jie-Jun , Zhu Jun , Liu Xiao-Sheng , He Dan-Nong , Xu Jian-Rong , Wu Lian-Ming , Zhou Juan , Feng Qi 
Published: August 2012

Background MRI is of increasing importance in the diagnostic evaluation of gastrointestinal diseases, with depiction of mucosal enhancement obtained with conventional intravenous contrast. Routine clinical use of contrast agents has been carried out using intravenous injection for mucosal imaging. Contrast agents that specifically target the intestinal mucosa are therefore needed to improve clinical imaging of the mucosal surface. Purpose To synthesize a novel contrast agent for gadopentetic acid (Gd-DTPA)-loaded chitosan nanoparticles and observe the absorption of the nanoparticles in the colon wall of healthy rats by MR imaging in vivo. Material and Methods A contrast agent was successfully synthesized by a modified emulsion coalescence method, and the resulting agents were characterized in detail by dynamic light-scattering spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of Gd-chitosan nanoparticles was evaluated by an MTT assay. Gadolinium-chitosan (Gd@chitosan) nanoparticles were administered to the colon mucosa of healthy rats by rectal administration, and MRI scans in vivo were carried out with a 3.0 T imaging scanner at various time points. Results The prepared Gd@chitosan nanoparticles were ∼420 nm in diameter with a 74.4% Gd-DTPA content. The MTT assay indicated little cytotoxicity. MRI results showed that nanoparticles can be retained in both the stratum submucosum and epithelial cells of the colon for almost 80 min. Transmission electron microscopy images further revealed that Gd@chitosan nanoparticles were localized inside the mucosal cells or intercellular space, while tissue from Gd-DTPA aqueous solution administration showed nothing. Due to the infusion of Gd@chitosan nanoparticles, the MR signal intensity of colon mucosa increased from about 6% to 35%, and the contrast enhancement was highest at 20 min after administration. Conclusion Gd@chitosan nanoparticles with high Gd-DTPA content were successfully prepared for use as a novel MRI contrast agent. All results indicated that rectally administered Gd@chitosan nanoparticles have the potential for MRI diagnosis of colon mucosal disease.
Organ dose calculation in CT based on scout image data and automatic image registration
Authors: Kortesniemi Mika , Salli Eero , Seuri Raija 
Published: August 2012

Background Computed tomography (CT) has become the main contributor of the cumulative radiation exposure in radiology. Information on cumulative exposure history of the patient should be available for efficient management of radiation exposures and for radiological justification. Purpose To develop and evaluate automatic image registration for organ dose calculation in CT. Material and Methods Planning radiograph (scout) image data describing CT scan ranges from 15 thoracic CT examinations (9 men and 6 women) and 10 abdominal CT examinations (6 men and 4 women) were co-registered with the reference trunk CT scout image. 2-D affine transformation and normalized correlation metric was used for image registration. Longitudinal (z-axis) scan range coordinates on the reference scout image were converted into slice locations on the CT-Expo anthropomorphic male and female models, following organ and effective dose calculations. Results The average deviation of z-location of studied patient images from the corresponding location in the reference scout image was 6.2 mm. The ranges of organ and effective doses with constant exposure parameters were from 0 to 28.0 mGy and from 7.3 to 14.5 mSv, respectively. The mean deviation of the doses for fully irradiated organs (inside the scan range), partially irradiated organs and non-irradiated organs (outside the scan range) was 1%, 5%, and 22%, respectively, due to image registration. Conclusion The automated image processing method to registrate individual chest and abdominal CT scout radiograph with the reference scout radiograph is feasible. It can be used to determine the individual scan range coordinates in z-direction to calculate the organ dose values. The presented method could be utilized in automatic organ dose calculation in CT for radiation exposure tracking of the patients.
Multiple sclerosis, an unlikely cause of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency: retrospective analysis of catheter venography
Authors: Simka Marian , Ludyga Tomasz , Kazibudzki Marek , Latacz Paweł , Świerad Marcin 
Published: August 2012

Objectives It is unknown if a relationship exists between multiple sclerosis and chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and if this venous pathology is a causal factor for multiple sclerosis or is a product of a neurological disease. Even so, one should expect that if multiple sclerosis were the cause for venous lesions, then patients with an extended history of the disease would present with a more severe venous pathology. Design Retrospective analysis of catheter venography of the azygous and internal jugularveins, and duration of clinical history of the disease in multiple sclerosis patients. Setting Mono-profile specialist hospital. Participants 353 multiple sclerosis patients, with duration of the disease: 0.5–41 years (median: 10 years). Main outcome measures We performed statistical analysis of the correlations between the duration of multiple sclerosis and the degree and number of venous lesions revealed using catheter venography. Results We observed weak, statistically insignificant correlations between the severity of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and the duration of multiple sclerosis. For the cumulated scores of venous lesions, Spearman and Kendall's tau correlation coefficients were 0.03 and 0.02, respectively; for maximal scores of venous lesions, coefficients were 0.06 and 0.05, while for the number of diseased veins they were 0.007 and 0.006, respectively. Consequently, this analysis did not yield any data supporting the idea that MS is the cause of venous lesions. Conclusion The results of our survey indicated that venous malformations are most likely congenital, and multiple sclerosis had no significant impact on the development of venous pathology.
Myofascial-entheseal dysfunction in chronic whiplash injury: an observational study
Authors: Bismil Qmk , Bismil Msk 
Published: August 2012

Objectives To document any consistent clinical findings in a large cohort of patients with whiplash associated disorder. Design Four-year observational study. Setting Large orthopaedic medicolegal practice in the UK. Participants 1025 consecutive cases of chronic whiplash associated disorder. Main outcome measures Observational study of the clinical features of whiplash associated disorder: detailed examination Results Three consistent clinical features: neck pain; reduced cervical spine range of motion; and myofascial-entheseal dysfunction. With regards to the myofascial-entheseal dysfunction there were trigger points in the upper, middle or lower trapezius; with or without enthesopathy in the lower or middle trapezius. Conclusions On the basis of this large observational experience we propose a clinically-based definition of chronic whiplash associated disorder: a painful syndrome following acceleration-deceleration injury with neck stiffness; and myofascial-entheseal dysfunction.
Long-term analysis of the efficacy and tolerability of sorafenib in advanced radio-iodine refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma: final results of a phase II trial
Authors: Schneider T C , Abdulrahman R M , Corssmit E P , Morreau H , Smit J W A , Kapiteijn E 
Published: August 2012

ObjectiveWe conducted a prospective phase II clinical trial to determine the efficacy of sorafenib in patients with advanced radio-iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. In this article, the long-term results are presented.Patients and methodsThirty-one patients with progressive metastatic or locally advanced radioactive iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer received sorafenib 400 mg orally twice daily. The study end points included response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), best response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria 1.0, and toxicity.ResultsMedian PFS was 18 months (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 7–29 months) and median OS was 34.5 months (95% CI: 19–50 months). Eight patients (31%) achieved a partial response and 11 patients (42%) showed stable disease after a median follow-up of 25 months (range 3.5–39 months). Toxicity mostly included hand foot syndrome, weight loss, diarrhea, and rash.ConclusionSorafenib has clinically relevant antitumor activity in patients with progressive metastatic or locally advanced radio-iodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. Sorafenib can nowadays be considered as the standard option in these patients.
Growth differentiation factor 15 predicts future insulin resistance and impaired glucose control in obese nondiabetic individuals: results from the XENDOS trial
Authors: Kempf Tibor , Guba-Quint Anja , Torgerson Jarl , Magnone Maria Chiara , Haefliger Carolina , Bobadilla Maria , Wollert Kai C 
Published: August 2012

Objective
Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a stress-responsive cytokine that is increased in obesity and established type 2 diabetes. We assessed whether GDF-15 can predict future insulin resistance and impaired glucose control in obese nondiabetic individuals.

Design and methods
Plasma GDF-15 concentrations were measured with an automated electrochemiluminescent immunoassay at baseline and after 4 years in 496 obese nondiabetic individuals (52% men, median age 48 years, median body mass index (BMI) 37.6 kg/m2) enrolled in the XENical in the prevention of Diabetes in Obese subjects (XENDOS) trial.

Results
The median GDF-15 concentration at baseline was 869 ng/l (interquartile range 723–1064 ng/l). GDF-15 was related to body weight, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)) (all P<0.01). Changes in GDF-15 from baseline to 4 years were related to changes in body weight, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and HOMA-IR (all P<0.05). Baseline GDF-15 was associated with the risk to have prediabetes or diabetes at 4 years by univariate analysis (odds ratio (OR) for 1 unit increase in ln GDF-15, 3.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.7–6.1; P<0.001), and after multivariate adjustment for age, gender, treatment allocation (orlistat vs placebo), BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and glucose control at baseline (OR 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1–4.7; P=0.026). Similarly, baseline GDF-15 was independently associated with HOMA-IR at 4 years (P=0.024).

Conclusions
This first longitudinal study of GDF-15 in a large cohort of obese individuals indicates that GDF-15 is related to abdominal obesity and insulin resistance and independently associated with future insulin resistance and abnormal glucose control.
Transformation of carbon onions under high pressure and shear deformation in diamond anvil cell
Authors: Kirichenko A.N. , Aseev A.K. , Denisov V.N. , Perezhogin I. , Kulnitskiy B.A. , Nuzhdin A.A. , Blank V.D. 
Published: August 2012

ABSTRACTThe carbon onions have been treated in a shear diamond anvil cell under pressure up to 43 GPa and shear deformation up to 2000. The recovered samples have been investigated by the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and the UV and visible Raman spectroscopy. The carbon onions was stable at pressure up to 30 GPa and 400 shear. Bigger shear deformation at pressures exceeding 30 GPa leads to the amorphous carbon. At 43 GPa shear deformation leads to transformation of onions to DLC.
Are Short Dental Implants (<10 mm) Effective? A Meta‐Analysis on Prospective Clinical Trials
Authors: Monje Alberto , Chan Hsun‐Liang , Fu Jia‐Hui , Suarez Fernando , Galindo‐Moreno Pablo , Wang Hom‐Lay 
Published: August 2012

Background: This study aims to compare the survival rate of short (<10 mm) and standard (≥10 mm) rough‐surface dental implants under functional loading.Methods: An electronic literature search using PubMed and Medline databases was conducted. Prospective clinical human trials, published in English from January 1997 to July 2011, that examined dental implants of <10 mm with a 12‐month follow‐up were included in this meta‐analysis. The following data were retrieved from the included articles: the number of implants, implant dimensions, implant locations, types of prostheses, follow‐up periods, and implant survival rates. Kaplan‐Meier survival estimates and the hazard rates were analyzed and compared between short and standard implants.Results: Thirteen studies were selected, examining 1,955 dental implants, of which 914 were short implants. Short dental implants had an estimated survival rate of 88.1% at 168 months, when standard dental implants had a similar estimated survival rate of 86.7% (P = 0.254). The peak failure rate of short dental implants was found to occur between 4 and 6 years of function. This occurred at an earlier time point compared with standard dental implants, where the peak failure rate occurred between 6 and 8 years of function.Conclusions: This study shows that in the long term, implants of <10 mm are as predictable as longer implants. However, they fail at an earlier stage compared with standard implants.
Retrieval of Radiology Reports Citing Critical Findings with Disease-Specific Customization
Authors: Lacson Ronilda , Sugarbaker Nathanael , Prevedello Luciano M , Ivan IP , Mar Wendy , Andriole Katherine P , Khorasani Ramin 
Published: August 2012

Background:
Communication of critical results from diagnostic procedures between caregivers is a Joint Commission national patient safety goal. Evaluating critical result communication often requires manual analysis of voluminous data, especially when reviewing unstructured textual results of radiologic findings. Information retrieval (IR) tools can facilitate this process by enabling automated retrieval of radiology reports that cite critical imaging findings. However, IR tools that have been developed for one disease or imaging modality often need substantial reconfiguration before they can be utilized for another disease entity.

Purpose:
This paper: 1) describes the process of customizing two Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Information Retrieval/Extraction applications – an open-source toolkit, A Nearly New Information Extraction system (ANNIE); and an application developed in-house, Information for Searching Content with an Ontology-Utilizing Toolkit (iSCOUT) – to illustrate the varying levels of customization required for different disease entities and; 2) evaluates each application’s performance in identifying and retrieving radiology reports citing critical imaging findings for three distinct diseases, pulmonary nodule, pneumothorax, and pulmonary embolus.

Results:
Both applications can be utilized for retrieval. iSCOUT and ANNIE had precision values between 0.90-0.98 and recall values between 0.79 and 0.94. ANNIE had consistently higher precision but required more customization.

Conclusion:
Understanding the customizations involved in utilizing NLP applications for various diseases will enable users to select the most suitable tool for specific tasks.
Physical Exercise, Fasting Glucose, and Renal Hyperfiltration in the General Population
Authors: Melsom Toralf , Mathisen Ulla Dorte , Eilertsen Britt-Ann Winther , Ingebretsen Ole C. , Jenssen Trond , Njølstad Inger , Solbu Marit D. , Toft Ingrid , Eriksen Bjørn O. 
Published: August 2012

Summary

Background and objectives
Abnormally elevated GFR, or hyperfiltration, is a proposed mechanism for kidney injury in diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity. This study investigated whether lack of physical exercise is associated with hyperfiltration and whether exercise modifies the positive association between fasting glucose and measured GFR.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
The Renal Iohexol Clearance Survey in Tromsø 6 measured GFR as single-sample plasma iohexol clearance in 1506 members of the general population (age 50–62 years) without diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or kidney disease. Leisure-time physical exercise was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Hyperfiltration was defined as GFR above the 90th percentile after adjustment for sex, age, weight, height, and use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors.

Results
High-intensity exercise was associated with lower adjusted odds of hyperfiltration in men (odds ratio [OR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28–0.80) but not in women (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.60–1.72). In both sexes, high-intensity exercise modified the association between fasting glucose and GFR. A fasting glucose level 1 mmol/L higher was associated with a GFR that was 7.3 (95% CI, 4.0–10.6) and 6.2 (95% CI, 3.4–9.0) ml/min per 1.73 m2 higher in men and women who never exercised or exercised with low intensity. There was no association between fasting glucose and GFR in men and women who exercised with high intensity (interaction, P<0.001).

Conclusions
High-intensity exercise was associated with lower odds of hyperfiltration in men and modified the association between glucose and GFR of both sexes in a population without diabetes.
Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Lenz Oliver , Waheed Ahmed A. , Baig Abdur , Pop Alexander , Contreras Gabriel 
Published: August 2012

Summary
Lupus nephritis (LN) increases the morbidity and mortality of patients with SLE. This review compares the randomized, controlled trials that examined various maintenance regimens available to treat LN. Currently, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and azathioprine (AZA) are the most popular therapeutic agents used for long-term maintenance of LN. Long-term maintenance with MMF is recommended as the first choice after achieving remission with cyclophosphamide or MMF induction. MMF is effective in consolidating remission and preventing relapse and CKD in patients of diverse races and ethnicities. Long-term maintenance with AZA is the recommended second choice, especially when patients develop intolerance of or contraindications to MMF. Azathioprine is particularly effective in consolidating remission and preventing relapse and CKD in patients who receive an induction regimen of cyclophosphamide. To date, there are no data on how rapidly maintenance therapies can be withdrawn; however, it is recommended that the immunosuppressive therapy be maintained indefinitely, unless it is contraindicated, in patients at high risk for progression to CKD.
Association of Smoking with Cardiovascular and Infection-Related Morbidity and Mortality in Chronic Hemodialysis
Authors: Mc Causland Finnian R. , Brunelli Steven M. , Waikar Sushrut S. 
Published: August 2012

Summary

Background and objectives
Smoking is common in the hemodialysis population and is associated with increased all-cause mortality and development of cardiovascular disease. Cause-specific outcomes have not yet been examined in detail. This study investigated the association of baseline smoking status with all-cause, cardiovascular, and infection-related morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Post hoc analysis of the HEMO Study in patients with available comorbidity, clinical, and nutritional data. Cox proportional hazards regression models were fit to estimate the association of smoking status with mortality. Poisson and negative binomial regression models were fit to estimate the association of smoking status with hospitalization rate.

Results
Complete data were available for 1842 individuals (44% male, 63% black, 45% diabetic). Mean age was 58±14 years. At baseline, 17% were current smokers and 32% were former smokers. After case-mix adjustment, compared with never smoking, current smoking was associated with greater infection-related mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 2.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32–3.10) and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.16–1.79) and greater cardiovascular (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.22–1.82), infection-related (IRR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.11–1.64) and all-cause (IRR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.24–1.65) hospitalization rates. The population attributable fraction (i.e., fraction of observed deaths that may have been avoided) was 5.3% for current smokers versus never-smokers and 2.1% for current versus former smokers.

Conclusions
Active smoking is prevalent in the chronic hemodialysis population and is associated with greater all-cause, cardiovascular, and infection-related morbidity and mortality.
Visibility of Artificial Buccal Recurrent Caries Under Restorations Using Different Radiographic Techniques
Authors: Murat S , Kamburoğlu K , İsayev A , Kurşun S , Yüksel S 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYThe aim of the present study was to assess intraoral images and two cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) systems for detection of artificial buccal recurrent caries under restorations. Class V cavities were made for composite (30 teeth) and amalgam (30 teeth). Full restorations with thermoplastic polymer (30 teeth) and nickel-chromium metal crown (30 teeth) were constructed. In 60 teeth, artificial buccal recurrent caries were simulated; 60 other teeth served as controls. Intraoral film, intraoral digital, Veraviewepocs 3D, and Kodak 9000 images were scored twice. κ Coefficients were calculated and Az values were compared using Z-tests, with a significance level of α=0.05. Higher interobserver agreement was obtained from the CBCT images compared with the intraoral images. The Az values of both readings of all three observers were highest for the Veraviewepocs 3D followed by Kodak 9000 except for the second reading of the third observer. CBCT outperformed intraoral radiography in detection of artificial buccal recurrent caries under restorations.