bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Prabhakar Sudesh , Marwaha Neelam , Lal Vivek , Sharma Ratti R. , Rajan Roopa , Khandelwal Niranjan 
Published: November 2012

Background:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder with no effective treatment. Stem cell therapy may be one of the promising treatment options for such patients.

Aim:
To assess the feasibility, efficacy and safety of autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells in patients of ALS. Settings and Design: We conducted an open-label pilot study of autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells in patients with ALS attending the Neurology Clinic of a tertiary care referral centre.

Materials and Methods:
Ten patients with ALS with mean revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) score of 30.2 (± 10.58) at baseline received intrathecal autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells. Primary end point was improvement in the ALSFRS-R score at 90, 180, 270 and 365 days post therapy. Secondary endpoints included ALSFRS-R subscores, time to 4-point deterioration, median survival and reported adverse events. Paired t-test was used to compare changes in ALSFRS-R from baseline and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used for survival calculations.

Results:
There was no significant deterioration in ALSFRS-R composite score from baseline at one-year follow-up (P=0.090). The median survival post procedure was 18.0 months and median time to 4-point deterioration was 16.7 months. No significant adverse events were reported.

Conclusion:
Autologous bone marrow-derived stem cell therapy is safe and feasible in patients of ALS. Short-term follow-up of ALSFRS-R scores suggests a trend towards stabilization of disease. However, the benefit needs to be confirmed in the long-term follow-up period.
Optic neuritis
Authors: Pandit Lekha , Shetty Rajesh , Misri Zulkifli , Bhat Subrahmanya , Amin Hrishikesh , Pai Vijay , Rao Rammohan 
Published: November 2012

Background:
Natural history of optic neuritis (OPN) has not been studied in India.

Aim:
To study consecutive patients with optic neuritis as the initial manifestation of the neurologic disease and with disease duration of 3 or more years registered in the Mangalore Demyelinating Disease Registry.

Materials and Methods:
The study included 59 patients with a primary diagnosis of optic neuritis (confirmed by either an ophthalmologist or a neurologist or both). All the patients were investigated and followed-up in the clinic.

Results:
During the follow-up of the 59 patients, 29 (49%) patients developed multiple sclerosis (MS); 3 (5%) patients neuromyelitis optica (NMO); and 13 (22%) patients chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuritis (CRION), while the remaining 14 (24%) did not either progress or relapse, monophasic OPN. An initial abnormal magnetic resonance imaging predicted conversion to MS in all 7 patients who had imaging at onset. Patients with NMO were left with significant residual visual loss distinguishing NMO from MS. In this large series of patients with CRION, nearly 50% of patients had deterioration in vision while steroids were being tapered. Long-term immunosuppression was essential for maintaining good visual outcome in both NMO and CRION.

Conclusions:
Optic neuritis in India appears similar to that in the West with nearly 50% developing MS in the long term.
Status of O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase [MGMT] gene promoter methylation among patients with glioblastomas from India
Authors: Nehru Gopal Arun , Pai Rekha , Samuel Prasanna , Chacko Ari G. , Chacko Geeta 
Published: November 2012

Background:
O 6 -methylguanine DNA methyltransferase [MGMT] gene promoter methylation has emerged as a promising marker in determining resistance to temozolomide, used in the treatment of patients with glioblastomas.

Aim:
To determine the frequency of MGMT promoter methylation among patients with glioblastomas using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and compare it to the results obtained by bisulfite sequencing of a subset of samples.

Materials and Methods:
DNA obtained from the frozen tissue of 27 samples of glioblastomas and three other gliomas, were analyzed for MGMT promoter methylation using a nested MSP assay. Sixteen samples were also subjected to bisulfite sequencing to determine the methylation status of 27 CpG sites within the sequenced region of the MGMT promoter. Data with respect to radiation, chemotherapy and survival outcome was also collected.

Results:

MGMT promoter methylation was seen in 67% of the cases included in the study using frozen tissues by MSP analysis, while 62% were methylated among glioblastomas alone. There was a 100% concordance between the results obtained by MSP analysis and bisulfite sequencing. Clinical outcome was known among 67% of cases and methylation was higher among those patients who had no recurrence, though it was not statistically significant [P=0.44].

Conclusion:
The frequency of methylation seen in this study concurs with that reported earlier from the country. MSP was easy to perform and interpret. However, the utility of this testing system in a routine diagnostic setting is still being debated.
An overview of the tobacco problem in India
Authors: Mishra Gauravi A , Pimple Sharmila A , Shastri Surendra S 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThis is a review paper comprehensively encompassing the different aspects of tobacco control with particular reference to the Indian scenario. The information on prevalent tobacco habits in India, health hazards and environmental hazards due to tobacco use, passive smoking and its impact, economics of tobacco, legislation to control tobacco in India, the tobacco cessation services and the way ahead for effective tobacco control are discussed. Tobacco is a leading preventable cause of death, killing nearly six million people worldwide each year. Reversing this entirely preventable manmade epidemic should be our top priority. This global tobacco epidemic kills more people than tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. This epidemic can be resolved by becoming aware of the devastating effects of tobacco, learning about the proven effective tobacco control measures, national programmes and legislation prevailing in the home country and then engaging completely to halt the epidemic to move toward a tobacco-free world. India is the second largest consumer of tobacco globally, and accounts for approximately one-sixth of the world′s tobacco-related deaths. The tobacco problem in India is peculiar, with consumption of variety of smokeless and smoking forms. Understanding the tobacco problem in India, focusing more efforts on what works and investigating the impact of sociocultural diversity and cost-effectiveness of various modalities of tobacco control should be our priority.
Pediatric glioblastoma multiforme: A single-institution experience
Authors: Ansari Mansour , Nasrolahi Hamid , Kani Amir-Abbas , Mohammadianpanah Mohammad , Ahmadloo Niloofar , Omidvari Shapour , Mosalaei Ahmad 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common astrocytoma in adults and has a poor prognosis, with a median survival of about 12 months. But, it is rare in children. We report our experience on the pediatric population (20 years or younger) with GBM. Patients and Methods: Twenty-three patients with GBM who were treated at our hospital during 1990-2008 were evaluated. Results: The mean age was 15.2 years, and the majority of them (14/23) were male. All had received radiotherapy and some had also received chemotherapy. The mean survival was 16.0 months. Two cases survived more than 5 years. Age, radiation dose and performance status were significantly related to survival. Conclusion: GBM in pediatric patients were not very common in our center, and prognosis was unfavorable.
Comparative study of effectiveness of Pap smear versus visual inspection with acetic acid and visual inspection with Lugol′s iodine for mass screening of premalignant and malignant lesion of cervix
Authors: Consul Shuchi , Agrawal Avinash , Sharma Hema , Bansal Anita , Gutch Manish , Jain Nirdesh 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Background and Objective: Cancer of the cervix is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Therefore, to curb the disease, there is a need to develop a screening test that has good sensitivity and specificity. The present study is aimed to compare the effectiveness of the Pap smear, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and visual inspection with Lugol′s iodine (VILI) for mass screening of premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervix; to evaluate the usefulness of VIA and VILI as an adjunct to improve sensitivity of cervical cytology; and to evaluate the role of VILI as a parallel screening method with VIA to enhance its test performance. Design and Setting: This was a prospective, analytical study in which 210 patients of the reproductive age group attending the gynecology OPD were enrolled. Patients and Methods: Patients were first subjected to Pap smear followed by VIA, VILI, colposcopy and biopsy for confirmation of lesion, if needed. Data was obtained and statistically analyzed. Results: Of the 210 patients, 34 (16.27%) had positive Pap test, 29 (13.87%) had positive VIA and 24 (11.43%) had positive VILI and 31 (14.75%) showed features of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) on colposcopy. Of the total of 48 patients in whom either of the screening tests was positive and had undergone cervical biopsy, one had CIN-3, three had CIN-2, 12 had CIN-1, three had carcinoma in situ CIS and 29 reported normal. In our study, 40 patients were picked up as positive by combination of these tests, of which 19 (47.50%) had CIN on biopsy. Conclusion: Our study showed that VIA and VILI had sensitivity comparable to Pap smear and can thus be a suitable potential alternative/adjunctive screening test not only in a resource-poor setting but in well-equipped centers also. And, use of a combination of tests (Pap+VIA+VILI) had 100% sensitivity but at cost of low specificity and more false-positive results.
Uterine smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential: A rare cause of multiple pulmonary nodules
Authors: Kotsopoulos Ioannis C , Barbetakis Nikolaos , Asteriou Christos G , Voutsas Markos 
Published: November 2012

AbstractSmooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) are mesenchymal uterine tumors lying between benign leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. Although lung metastases from uterine leiomyosarcoma are common, ′′STUMP′′ usually does not metastasize. A case of a 51-year-old woman with progressive dyspnea on exertion and multiple space-occupying lesions in both lungs is presented. She had a history of a total abdominal hysterectomy 3 years ago. Lung biopsy through video-assisted thoracic surgery was consistent with metastatic malignant smooth muscle cell tumor. She received multiple cycles of chemotherapy and died 11 months later. Cell necrosis, atypia and mitotic count are important criteria determining the malignant potential of a uterine smooth muscle tumor. The diagnosis and clinical course of STUMP are not totally and clearly known, and metastasis, especially pulmonary with pleural effusion, is not a common phenomenon. When this occurs, prognosis seems to be poor. Surveillance of these patients should be close and long term.
Unusual coexistence of a renal anomaly and germ cell tumor: An embryonal happenstance?
Authors: Nachankar Ankita , Krishnatry Rahul , Munshi Anusheel , Prabhash Kumar , Pradip Poladia Bhavesh , Pramesh C S , Agarwal Jai Prakash 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThe germ cell lines and kidney develop in close proximity in a similar embronic period. The extragonadal germ cell tumors and horseshoe kidney both are the result of abnormal migration of two germ line cells. Apart from origin, the combined incidence of mediastinal germ cell tumor with renal anomaly is a therapeutic challenge. This case review is an effort to address the various issues ranging from delima in origin to management and follow-up.
Successful treatment of vincristine induced ptosis and polyneuropathy with pyridoxine and pyridostigmine in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Bhat Kamalakshi G , Singhal Vikram , Borker Anupama S 
Published: November 2012

AbstractVincristine is used in the treatment of solid tumors, lymphoma and leukemia in children. The dose-limiting toxicity is its neurotoxicity. We describe a 2-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed vincristine-induced polyneuropathy with bilateral ptosis and recovered on treatment with pyridoxine and pyridostigmine.
Limnological Analysis of Laguna de Bay Lake at Binangonan Freshwater Station: Its Implication to Plankton Diversity
Authors: Delima Precila C. , Baldia Susan P. 
Published: November 2012

Geographically located southeast of Manila, Laguna Lake is used for multiple resources such as fishery, irrigation, power generation and navigation. Recently, the lake has been considered as a source of potable water for Metro Manila. A Limnological study of the Lake was conducted to assess its present status and potential. Three sampling sites were considered in the identification of the plankton community. Plankton samples were examined at the University of Santo Tomas Biological laboratory. Plankton species were identified using the taxonomic key of Needham and Needham. The physicochemical characteristics of the water at the different sites were assessed. Temperature and pH were measured using an analytical radiometer, dissolved oxygen (DO) was computed, transparency was determined sing the secchi disc with a diameter of 26 cm; chemical oxygen demand (COD) was computed using the standard method. The results showed that sampling site 2 had the highest DO and COD. The phytoplankton Cyanobacteria like Spirullina major and Lyngbya limnetica dominated the lake. The green algae Chlorella vulgaris and Pediastrum spp. Were found to be distinct in the lake. Copepods (Copepoda spp.) are the zooplanktons observed. Laguna Lake (Binangonan Freshwater Station) has slightly basic water still suitable for aquaculture, recreation and industrial use. The lake is eutrophic. Keywords - algae, copepods, Laguna lake, limnological study, Physicochemical analysis, phytoplanktons, zooplanktons
The Relationship of Handwriting Speed, Working Memory, Language Comprehension and Outlines to Lecture Note‐taking and Test‐taking among College Students
Authors: Peverly Stephen T. , Vekaria Pooja C. , Reddington Lindsay A. , Sumowski James F. , Johnson Kamauru R. , Ramsay Crystal M. 
Published: November 2012

SummaryA previous investigation of the cognitive processes underlying note‐taking found that handwriting speed was the only significant predictor of notes, and notes were the only significant predictor of test performance. This investigation sought to extend these results by evaluating the effects of handwriting speed, language comprehension, two measures of working memory (complex span and executive attention) and an outline on note‐taking and test performance (written summary). Participants were randomly assigned to an outline or not no‐outline group (Group) to determine the effect of an outline on handwriting speed. Results from a path analysis indicated that handwriting speed, language comprehension and Group were significantly related to notes. The relationship between the independent variables and the written summary was not completely mediated by notes as in the previous investigation. Notes, Group and language comprehension were related to the written summary. The implications of the findings are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
State estimation and simultaneous unknown input and measurement noise reconstruction based on associated observers
Authors: Yang Junqi , Zhu Fanglai , Sun Xiaojie 
Published: November 2012

SUMMARYThis paper considers the problems of the state estimation and the simultaneous unknown input and measurement noise reconstruction when the observer matching condition is not satisfied. A new augmented system is constructed by introducing a new augmented state vector. An auxiliary output vector is proposed to deal with the observer matching condition issues, and a high‐order sliding mode observer is considered to get the exact estimates of both the auxiliary outputs and their derivatives in a finite time. A reduced‐order observer is developed to asymptotically estimate the system states, and a kind of reconstruction method of the new system's unknown inputs is proposed to reach the goal of reconstructing the original system's unknown input and measurement noise. Finally, a numerical simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Active fault‐tolerant attitude control for flexible spacecraft with loss of actuator effectiveness
Authors: Xiao Bing , Hu Qinglei , Friswell Michael I. 
Published: November 2012

SUMMARYA theoretical framework for active fault‐tolerant attitude stabilization control is developed and applied to flexible spacecraft. The proposed scheme solves a difficult problem of fault‐tolerant controller design in the presence of severe partial loss of actuator effectiveness faults and external disturbances. This is accomplished by developing an observer‐based fault detection and diagnosis mechanism to reconstruct the actuator faults. Accordingly, a backstepping‐based fault‐tolerant control law is reconfigured using the reconstructed fault information. It is shown that the proposed design approach guarantees that all of the signals of the closed‐loop system are uniformly ultimately bounded. The closed‐loop performance of the proposed control strategy is evaluated extensively through numerical simulations. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Appropriating, Reclaiming and Inventing Identity Through Architecture
Authors: Derakhshani Farrokh 
Published: November 2012

AbstractLocal received knowledge once ensured buildings had a strong connection with their environment and the surrounding community. With rapid urbanisation and the professionalisation of design and construction, architects working internationally with a finely attuned sensibility to place and context have been able to take up the baton and take the opportunity to develop notions of locality and identity. For the last two decades, the Aga Khan Award for Architecture has been recognising the contribution of design teams that have been responsible for producing exceptional architecture for Islamic communities worldwide. Here, the award scheme's director, Farrokh Derakshani, defines some key treatments of identity in architecture.
A Reflexive Conversation: Bridge School and Liyuan Library
Authors: Xiaodong Li 
Published: November 2012

AbstractThrough his description of two projects in two very different regions of China, architect Li Xiaodong demonstrates how a reflexive approach that is responsive to local conditions results in buildings with contrasting personalities: the Bridge School in Fujian Province being dynamic and the Liyuan Library in Huairou County, on the outskirts of Beijing, being tranquil.
Earthworks
Authors: Mateo Josep Lluís 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIn historic towns and villages, topography layered by the detritus of previous structures mark out and continue to inform the identity and design of new buildings and streets. Spanish architect Josep Lluís Mateo describes two projects in his native Catalonia – one from the early 1980s for the redevelopment the medieval town of Ullastret, near Girona, and another from 2011 for a film theatre in Barcelona – that were influenced from the bottom up by the earth beneath his feet.
School in Gando, Burkina Faso
Authors: Kéré Diébédo Francis 
Published: November 2012

AbstractIn 2001, architect Diébédo Francis Kéré completed the design and construction of a primary school for his home village of Gando in Burkina Faso. Raising funds through an organisation in Berlin, he applied the knowledge gained through his architectural education and associates in Germany to design the school in local sustainable materials. For its realisation, he drew on valuable village resources, with the on‐site labour being undertaken by the hands of the men, women and children of Gando.
Peripatetic Infrastructure
Authors: Kirschenfeld Jonathan 
Published: November 2012

AbstractCreating public works of quality and delight in the current economic climate requires unstinting commitment and astuteness on the part of the architect. Jonathan Kirschenfeld describes how he landed the project of designing a floating public swimming baths for New York City through serendipity and then hauled it in through pure determination. Likewise, it was only through immersing himself in ‘the murky world of real estate’ and collecting vacant sites from brokers, while performing zoning analyses and schematic designs, that he put his practice in line for supportive housing commissions.
Common Artefacts
Authors: Lee Christopher CM 
Published: November 2012

AbstractWith offices in Beijing, Mumbai and London, Serie Architects is an international practice that spans Asia. Here, co‐founder and principal Christopher CM Lee looks beyond the superficial ‘exotic’ stereotypical image of ‘orientalism’ that was traditionally imposed on Asia by the West. With particular reference to Serie Architects' Tote, Mumbai, and Yan Zhenqing Museum in Linyi, China, he shifts the question of identity to what is common within the context of architectural production: what might imbue architecture with social and cultural validity? How might it be possible to attempt to create ‘common artefacts’ through the most typical elements – the ‘dominant types’.
The Problem of Scale
Authors: Godsell Sean 
Published: November 2012

AbstractSean Godsell has built an international reputation on designing finely crafted houses in southeast Australia for which he draws all the details by hand. Here he explains how landing the commission for the Design Hub, a new postgraduate design research centre for RMIT in Melbourne, required a shift in scale and also a change in working conditions as he encountered new production processes and levels of regulation. Maintaining the character of the building as something ‘made’ rather than produced was a sustained battle.
A Pivotal Point: On the Edge of History
Authors: Buchanan Peter 
Published: November 2012

AbstractArchitecture critic Peter Buchanan places the current impoverishment of the built environment squarely at the feet of modernity – the modernising impulse that has characterised the last half millennium. Where, however, does this leave globalism, as a culmination of the commercial drive of the modern era, with its roots in voracious colonialism? The relevant choice is not between local tradition and global modernity. Rather, today's pressing need is for an architecture that supports a sustainable planetary culture yet to come, which transcends and supersedes modernity.
A Nonvolatile Spintronic Memory Element with a Continuum of Resistance States
Authors: Fang Yeyu , Dumas R. K. , Nguyen T. N. Anh , Mohseni S. M. , Chung S. , Miller C. W. , Åkerman Johan 
Published: November 2012

AbstractA continuum of stable remanent resistance states is reported in perpendicularly magnetized pseudo spin valves with a graded anisotropy free layer. The resistance states can be systematically set by an externally applied magnetic field. The gradual reversal of the free layer with applied field and the field‐independent fixed layer leads to a range of stable and reproducible remanent resistance values, as determined by the giant magnetoresistance of the device. An analysis of first‐order reversal curves combined with magnetic force microscopy shows that the origin of the effect is the field‐dependent population of up and down domains in the free layer.