bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of circulating tumour cells in peripheral blood of patients with advanced non‐metastatic bladder cancer
Authors: Rink Michael , Chun Felix K.H. , Minner Sarah , Friedrich Martin , Mauermann Oliver , Heinzer Hans , Huland Hartwig , Fisch Margit , Pantel Klaus , Riethdorf Sabine 
Published: August 2010

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?Circulating tumour cells (CTC) have prognostic relevance for patients with different metastatic carcinomas. Detection of CTC using the CellSearch system has also been reported in bladder cancer, but mainly in patients with metastatic disease.This is the largest report demonstrating that detection of CTC in non‐metastatic bladder cancer patients is feasible using the CellSearch system. Presence of CTC may be predictive for early systemic disease.OBJECTIVE
To prospectively detect and evaluate the biological significance of circulating tumour cells (CTC) in patients with bladder cancer, especially in those patients with non‐metastatic, advanced bladder cancer (NMABC).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Between July 2007 and January 2009, blood samples of 50 consecutive patients with localized bladder cancer and five patients with metastatic disease scheduled for cystectomy were prospectively investigated for CTC. Peripheral blood (7.5 ml) was drawn before cystectomy.
Detection of CTC was performed using the USA Food and Drug Administration‐approved CellSearchTM system. Data were compared with the clinical and histopathological findings.
RESULTS
CTC were detected in 15 of 50 patients (30%) with non‐metastatic disease and five of five patients with metastatic disease. The overall mean number of CTC was 33.7 (range: 1–372; median: 2). In non‐metastatic patients, the mean number of CTC was 3.1 (range: 1–11; median: 1). Except for a univariate association between CTC with vessel infiltration (P= 0.047), all other common clinical and histopathological parameters did not reveal a significant correlation with CTC detection.
A median 1‐year follow up was available for 53 patients (96.4%). Ten out of 19 preoperatively CTC‐positive patients died as a result of cancer progression.
CTC‐positive patients showed significantly worse overall (P= 0.001), progression‐free (P < 0.001) and cancer specific survival (P < 0.001) compared to preoperatively CTC‐negative patients.
CONCLUSION
This is the largest study demonstrating that detection of CTC in NMABC patients is feasible using the CellSearchTM system. Our findings suggest that the presence of CTC may be predictive for early systemic disease.
Long‐term functional and morphological outcome after pyeloplasty for huge renal pelvis
Authors: Sarhan Osama , Helmy Tamer , Abou‐El Ghar Mohamed , Baky Mohamed A. , El‐Assmy Ahmed , Dawaba Mohamed 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVE• To evaluate the functional and morphological outcome after open pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) with huge renal pelvis.PATIENTS AND METHODS• A retrospective review of all cases who underwent pyeloplasty for huge renal pelvis was conducted.• Records were evaluated with respect to age at presentation, preoperative imaging, surgical details and postoperative course. Patients were followed up regularly for both functional and morphological outcome.• Success was defined as both symptomatic relief and radiographic resolution of obstruction at last follow‐up.RESULTS• Between 1998 and 2008, 526 cases of primary UPJO underwent open dismembered pyeloplasty at our centre.• Of these patients, 41 (8%) had UPJO with huge renal pelvis.• No perioperative complications were encountered in the study group. Mean (range) follow‐up was 34 (18–84) months and nine patients were lost to follow‐up. The overall success rate was 91%.• Two patients underwent redo pyeloplasty, whereas secondary nephrectomy was necessary in one.• Improvement of hydronephrosis was evident in all patients, except in three patients who underwent secondary procedures.• However, persistent obstruction on diuretic renography was seen in most cases (65%).CONCLUSIONS• Open pyeloplasty for huge pelvis UPJO is feasible with a high success rate.• Varying degrees of hydronephrosis and radiological obstruction after pyeloplasty are not uncommon.• Nephrectomy is rarely indicated in cases with severely deteriorated renal function.
Predictors of health‐related quality of life recovery following laparoscopic simple, radical and donor nephrectomy
Authors: Wiesenthal Joshua D. , Schuler Trevor D. , Honey R. John D’A. , Pace Kenneth T. 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Despite laparoscopy becoming the favoured approach for nephrectomy, there is very little research into the predictors of recovery following surgery and return of health‐related quality of life following laparoscopic nephrectomy. The current study demonstrates that patients who are younger, have lower BMI, have more active lifestyles and those who are not donating a kidney recover more quickly following surgery. Older, more obese, less active patients, and those donating a kidney take longer to recover from surgery.OBJECTIVESTo objectively quantify the recovery of health‐related quality of life (HRQL) in patients undergoing laparoscopic nephrectomy.To determine which factors are predictive of a more expedited recovery.MATERIALS AND METHODSPatient recovery was prospectively measured among patients undergoing laparoscopic simple (n= 12), radical (n= 42) and donor (n= 95) nephrectomy.All procedures were performed using a 3‐ or 4‐trocar, transperitoneal fully‐laparoscopic technique with intact specimen extraction using impermeable sacs for simple and radical nephrectomy, and hand extraction for donor nephrectomy.Postoperative recovery and quality of life were measured using the Postoperative Recovery Scale (PRS) administered preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and as an outpatient at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks postoperatively.ANOVA and Pearson’s χ2 tests were performed on demographic data. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios for factors predictive of recovery.RESULTSStatistically significant differences were found at baseline for age (P= 0.02), gender (P < 0.01), body mass index (BMI; P= 0.03), surgical side (P < 0.01) and activity‐based lifestyle (P= 0.04) across the three groups.Minimal adverse events were seen.Factors predictive of expedited recovery include age < 50 years (OR: 2.1, P < 0.01), body‐mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2 (OR: 1.7, P < 0.01), active lifestyles (OR: 1.3, P < 0.01) and those patients undergoing nephrectomy for benign or malignant indications rather than for organ donation (OR: 1.4, P < 0.01).There was a significant delay in the donor group vs the non‐donor group with respect to the median number of days both groups took to recover 75% and 90% of their baseline PRS scores (11 days, P= 0.02; 20 days, P= 0.02, respectively).CONCLUSIONSPredictive factors of recovery from laparoscopic nephrectomy include age, BMI, lifestyle and surgical indication.Differences between HRQL recovery following donor vs non‐donor laparoscopic nephrectomy are significant, and suggest the possible interplay of underlying psychological factors.
Statin use and decreased risk of benign prostatic enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms
Authors: St Sauver Jennifer L. , Jacobsen Steven J. , Jacobson Debra J. , McGree Michaela E. , Girman Cynthia J. , Nehra Ajay , Roger Veronique L. , Lieber Michael M. 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Prevention (individual cohort) Level of Evidence 2b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Statin medications reduce inflammation. Inflammation may be important in causing prostate enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms in aging men. Therefore, statin use may decrease inflammation and help prevent prostate enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms.Men who took statin medications were less likely to develop an enlarged prostate or lower urinary tract symptoms compared to men who did not take statins. Additionally, men who took statins for the longest period of time had the lowest risk of developing these urological problems. These results suggest that statin use may help prevent common urological problems in aging men.OBJECTIVE

To determine whether statin use is associated with a decreased risk of developing benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, population‐based cohort study of 2447 men, 40–79 years of age, residing in Olmsted County, MN, USA, in 1990, and followed these men biennially through 2007.
Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess associations between statin use and new onset of moderate/severe LUTS (American Urological Association Symptom Index score >7), a decreased maximum urinary flow rate (<12 mL/s) or BPE (prostate volume >30 mL).

RESULTS

Statin use was inversely associated with new onset of LUTS (Hazard ratio (HR) 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31–0.49), a decreased maximum flow rate (HR 0.53; 95% CI 0.34–0.82) and BPE (HR 0.40; 95% CI 0.23–0.69) after adjustment for baseline age and body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, smoking, alcohol use, activity level and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory use.
The longest duration of statin use was associated with the lowest risk of developing each outcome (all tests for trend: P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this study, statin use was associated with a 6.5‐ to 7‐year delay in the new onset of moderate/severe LUTS or BPE.
While men typically take statin medications to prevent coronary heart disease events and related outcomes, these data suggest that men who use statins may also receive urologic benefits.
Artificial urinary sphincter (AMS 800) implantation for women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency: a technique for insiders?
Authors: Chartier‐Kastler Emmanuel , Van Kerrebroeck Philip , Olianas Roberto , Cosson Michel , Mandron Eric , Delorme Emmanuel , Richard François 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series)  Level of Evidence 4Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation is one of several surgical options for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. It is indicated for women with both clinically and urodynamically defined intrinsic sphincter deficiency that significantly affects quality of life. The erosion/revision risk increases after several previous surgical interventions. Therefore, women believed to be candidates for AUS implantation should be rapidly (after the failure of a maximum of two previous surgical procedures) referred to specialized centres, where the knowledge and experience concerning the diagnosis, surgery and management of female stress urinary incontinence is concentrated. To refer correctly, non‐academic urologists/gynaecologists should also be well informed about AUS implantation. Only in this way can the patient weigh the high long‐term success rate and high quality of life improvement of AUS implantation against the greater complication/revision risk and take a well‐considered decision.
Follow the leader: fund managers trading in signal‐strength sequence*
Authors: Fong Kingsley Y. L. , Gallagher David R. , Gardner Peter A. , Swan Peter L. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractWhen fund managers trade sequentially in the same direction, the information confirmation hypothesis predicts the long‐term profitability of the leader trade to be increasing in the number of subsequent trades. The information cascade hypothesis predicts a non‐positive relationship. Using active equity funds’ daily trading data, we document a transition from information confirmation to information cascades as the number of followers increase. We find that highly disguised multiple‐broker packages exhibit higher market impact, higher long‐term returns and are associated with fewer followers. Our study also documents that lead fund managers face portfolio risk constraints in trading on private information.
Is auditory discrimination mature by middle childhood? A study using time‐frequency analysis of mismatch responses from 7 years to adulthood
Authors: Bishop Dorothy V.M. , Hardiman Mervyn J. , Barry Johanna G. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBehavioural and electrophysiological studies give differing impressions of when auditory discrimination is mature. Ability to discriminate frequency and speech contrasts reaches adult levels only around 12 years of age, yet an electrophysiological index of auditory discrimination, the mismatch negativity (MMN), is reported to be as large in children as in adults. Auditory ERPs were measured in 30 children (7 to 12 years), 23 teenagers (13 to 16 years) and 32 adults (35 to 56 years) in an oddball paradigm with tone or syllable stimuli. For each stimulus type, a standard stimulus (1000 Hz tone or syllable [ba]) occurred on 70% of trials, and one of two deviants (1030 or 1200 Hz tone, or syllables [da] or [bi]) equiprobably on the remaining trials. For the traditional MMN interval of 100–250 ms post‐onset, size of mismatch responses increased with age, whereas the opposite trend was seen for an interval from 300 to 550 ms post‐onset, corresponding to the late discriminative negativity (LDN). Time‐frequency analysis of single trials revealed that the MMN resulted from phase‐synchronization of oscillations in the theta (4–7 Hz) range, with greater synchronization in adults than children. Furthermore, the amount of synchronization was significantly correlated with frequency discrimination threshold. These results show that neurophysiological processes underlying auditory discrimination continue to develop through childhood and adolescence. Previous reports of adult‐like MMN amplitudes in children may be artefactual results of using peak measurements when comparing groups that differ in variance.
3D Surface Reconstruction Using a Generalized Distance Function
Authors: Poranne R. , Gotsman C. , Keren D. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract We define a generalized distance function on an unoriented 3D point set and describe how it may be used to reconstruct a surface approximating these points. This distance function is shown to be a Mahalanobis distance in a higher‐dimensional embedding space of the points, and the resulting reconstruction algorithm a natural extension of the classical Radial Basis Function (RBF) approach. Experimental results show the superiority of our reconstruction algorithm to RBF and other methods in a variety of practical scenarios.
High‐Quality Screen‐Space Ambient Occlusion using Temporal Coherence
Authors: Mattausch Oliver , Scherzer Daniel , Wimmer Michael 
Published: August 2010

Abstract Ambient occlusion is a cheap but effective approximation of global illumination. Recently, screen‐space ambient occlusion (SSAO) methods, which sample the frame buffer as a discretization of the scene geometry, have become very popular for real‐time rendering. We present temporal SSAO (TSSAO), a new algorithm which exploits temporal coherence to produce high‐quality ambient occlusion in real time. Compared to conventional SSAO, our method reduces both noise as well as blurring artefacts due to strong spatial filtering, faithfully representing fine‐grained geometric structures. Our algorithm caches and reuses previously computed SSAO samples, and adaptively applies more samples and spatial filtering only in regions that do not yet have enough information available from previous frames. The method works well for both static and dynamic scenes.
Hermite Radial Basis Functions Implicits
Authors: Macêdo I. , Gois J. P. , Velho L. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract The Hermite radial basis functions (HRBF) implicits reconstruct an implicit function which interpolates or approximates scattered multivariate Hermite data (i.e. unstructured points and their corresponding normals). Experiments suggest that HRBF implicits allow the reconstruction of surfaces rich in details and behave better than previous related methods under coarse and/or non‐uniform samplings, even in the presence of close sheets. HRBF implicits theory unifies a recently introduced class of surface reconstruction methods based on radial basis functions (RBF), which incorporate normals directly in their problem formulation. Such class has the advantage of not depending on manufactured offset‐points to ensure existence of a non‐trivial implicit surface RBF interpolant. In fact, we show that HRBF implicits constitute a particular case of Hermite–Birkhoff interpolation with radial basis functions, whose main results we present here. This framework not only allows us to show connections between the present method and others but also enable us to enhance the flexibility of our method by ensuring well‐posedness of an interesting combined interpolation/regularization approach.
Progressive Point‐Light‐Based Global Illumination
Authors: Dammertz H. , Keller A. , Lensch H. P. A. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract We present a physically based progressive global illumination system that is capable of simulating complex lighting situations robustly by efficiently using both light and eye paths. Specifically, we combine three distinct algorithms: point‐light‐based illumination which produces low‐noise approximations for diffuse inter‐reflections, specular gathering for glossy and singular effects and a caustic histogram method for the remaining light paths. The combined system efficiently renders low‐noise production quality images with indirect illumination from arbitrary light sources including inter‐reflections from caustics and allows for simulating depth of field and dispersion effects. Our system computes progressive approximations by continuously refining the solution using a constant memory footprint without the need of pre‐computations or optimizing parameters beforehand.
Fullsphere Irradiance Factorization for Real‐Time All‐Frequency Illumination for Dynamic Scenes
Authors: Michael D. , Chrysanthou Y. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract Computation of illumination with soft‐shadows from all‐frequency environment maps, is a computationally expensive process. Use of pre‐computation add the limitation that receiver's geometry must be known in advance, since Irradiance computation takes into account the receiver's normal direction. We propose a method that using a new notion that we introduce, the Fullsphere Irradiance, allows us to accumulate the contribution from all light sources in the scene, on a possible receiver without knowing the receiver's geometry. This expensive computation is done in a pre‐processing step. The pre‐computed value is used at run time to compute the Irradiance arriving at any receiver with known direction. We show how using this technique we compute soft‐shadows and self‐shadows in real‐time from all‐frequency environments, with only modest memory requirements. A GPU implementation of the method, yields high frame rates even for complex scenes with dozens of dynamic occluders and receivers.
Cutaneous metastasis of lung carcinoma: a retrospective study of 12 cases
Authors: Dhambri S , Zendah I , Ayadi‐Kaddour A , Adouni O , El Mezni F 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground  The skin is a rare site of metastasis of the internal malignancies. On the contrary, lung cancer is a common primary malignancy of skin metastasis. The latter is either synchronous with the primary lung tumour or can reveal it.Objective  To analyse the clinical findings and the outcome of cutaneous metastasis in patients with primary lung cancer.Methods  Retrospective study including 12 cases of cutaneous metastasis of lung cancer diagnosed in our institution during 6 years.Results  Our patients included three women and nine men with a median age of 59.83 years. The cutaneous metastases were unique in seven cases. They revealed the primary tumour in two cases, were discovered synchronously with the primary tumour in six cases and after the primary tumour in four cases. They appeared in patients presenting multiple metastases in 10 cases. Clinical appearance consisted on a firm nodule, sometimes ulcerated with a diameter ranging from 0.5 to 5.5 cm. The tumour was sited in the thorax, the back, the abdomen; or the upper or lower limbs. Pathological examination of bronchial biopsy revealed an adenocarcinoma in eight cases, a squamous cell carcinoma in two cases and a small cell carcinoma in two cases. In spite of lung cancer therapies, the patients with metastasis to other organs with a median follow‐up time of 4 months died.Conclusion  Cutaneous metastases of lung cancer are of poor prognosis. They are most of the time associated with an advanced neoplastic process with metastasis to other organs. Median survival after skin involvement does not exceed months.
In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy: automated diagnostic image analysis of melanocytic skin tumours
Authors: Koller S , Wiltgen M , Ahlgrimm‐Siess V , Weger W , Hofmann‐Wellenhof R , Richtig E , Smolle J , Gerger A 
Published: August 2010

AbstractBackground  In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) has been shown to be a valuable imaging tool in the diagnosis of melanocytic skin tumours. However, diagnostic image analysis performed by automated systems is to date quite rare.Objectives  In this study, we investigated the applicability of an automated image analysis system using a machine learning algorithm on diagnostic discrimination of benign and malignant melanocytic skin tumours in RCM.Methods  Overall, 16 269 RCM tumour images were evaluated. Image analysis was based on features of the wavelet transform. A learning set of 6147 images was used to establish a classification tree algorithm and an independent test set of 10 122 images was applied to validate the tree model (grouping method 1). Additionally, randomly generated ‘new’ learning and test sets, tumour images only and different skin layers were evaluated (grouping method 2, 3 and 4).Results  The classification tree analysis correctly classified 93.60% of the melanoma and 90.40% of the nevi images of the learning set. When the classification tree was applied to the independent test set 46.71 ± 19.97% (range 7.81–83.87%) of the tumour images in benign melanocytic skin lesions were classified as ‘malignant’, in contrast to 55.68 ± 14.58% (range 30.65–83.59%; t‐test: P < 0.036) in malignant melanocytic skin lesions (grouping method 1). Further investigations could not improve the results significantly (grouping method 2, 3 and 4).Conclusions  The automated RCM image analysis procedure holds promise for further investigations. However, to date our system cannot be applied to routine skin tumour screening.
Licensing Parents Revisited
Authors: LaFOLLETTE HUGH 
Published: August 2010

abstractAlthough systems for licensing professionals are far from perfect, and their problems and costs should not be ignored, they are justified as a necessary means of protecting innocent people's vital interests. Licensing defends patients from inept doctors, pharmacists, and physical therapists; it protects clients from unqualified lawyers. We should protect people who are highly vulnerable to those who are supposed to serve them, those with whom they have a special relationship. Requiring professionals to be licensed is the most plausible way of doing that. Given the overwhelming support for the licensing of these professionals, I find it odd that so many people categorically reject proposals to license parents. Although the relationship between a parent and her children is different in some respects, it is also relevantly similar to that between a professional and those she serves. To defend these claims, I show how and why the rationale for licensing parents parallels the rational for licensing professionals. I then ask whether such a program could be justifiably implemented. Finally, I describe and reject what I see as the flawed view of the relationship between parents and their children.