bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection and prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a cardiovascular clinic: Evaluation using a hand held FEV1/FEV6 meter and questionnaire
Authors: WADA Hiroshi , NAKANO Yasutaka , NAGAO Taishi , OSAWA Makoto , YAMADA Hideto , SAKAGUCHI Chikara , MATSUMOTO Tetsuya , TSUTAMOTO Takayoshi , ITO Makoto , HORIE Minoru 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  COPD is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its prevalence continues to increase. Although spirometry is indispensable for the diagnosis of COPD, other simple and reliable tools are necessary for screening of COPD because spirometry is not widely available. This study investigated the usefulness of a combination of an electronic FEV1/FEV6 meter (PiKo‐6) with a COPD questionnaire as a screening method in patients with cardiovascular diseases.Methods:  The PiKo‐6 and the COPD questionnaire of the International Primary Care Airways Group were used to screen patients attending a cardiovascular outpatient clinic. Patients with FEV1/FEV6 < 70% were defined as having airflow limitation. Patients diagnosed with airflow limitation underwent spirometry. Using data from the PiKo‐6 and the COPD questionnaire, patients were assigned to a COPD group or a non‐COPD group. The relationship between PiKo‐6 measurements and spirometry was also evaluated.Results:  Among 753 patients, 82 (10.9%) showed airflow limitation when assessed with the PiKo‐6. Of these patients, 79 (10.5%) were assigned to the COPD group. FEV1, FEV6 and FEV1/FEV6, as measured with the PiKo‐6, correlated significantly with FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC, respectively, as measured by spirometry (r = 0.865, 0.751 and 0.57). Among the cardiovascular comorbidities, heart failure and ischaemic heart disease showed slightly stronger associations with airflow limitation (13.8% and 12.5%, respectively).Conclusions:  Combination of the PiKo‐6 with a COPD questionnaire may be a useful and feasible method of identifying undiagnosed COPD patients attending a cardiovascular outpatient clinic.
Tracheal aspirate Gram stain has limited sensitivity and specificity for detecting Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: TETENTA Sodienye , METERSKY Mark L. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTBackground and objective:  The increasing incidence of respiratory infections due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus has resulted in increased empirical use of antibiotics active against this pathogen. There are limited data available as to whether the Gram stain of respiratory tract secretions accurately predicts growth of S. aureus. We theorized that the distinctive morphology of S. aureus would allow rapid, accurate identification of the organism in respiratory secretions.Methods:  The authors reviewed all available Gram stains of tracheal aspirates sent to our hospital's microbiology laboratory between 1 April 2008 and 31 October 2008, while blinded to the culture result, and recorded the presence or absence of organisms with a morphology consistent with S. aureus. These results were correlated with the semiquantitative culture result.Results:  Among 136 tracheal aspirates studied, 50 (37%) grew S. aureus. The Gram stain was read as positive for organisms consistent with S. aureus in 34 of these. Among 86 samples that did not grow S. aureus, the Gram stain was read as negative in 62. Therefore, the Gram stain had a sensitivity of 68%, a specificity of 72%, a negative predictive value of 80% and a positive predictive value of 59% for culture of S. aureus. False negative Gram stains were more likely when the culture revealed only rare or small growth of S. aureus (P = 0.01).Conclusions:  In this study, the tracheal aspirate Gram stain read by an experienced clinician who was not a microbiologist, was not accurate enough to reliably predict the growth of S. aureus.
Real‐time Virtual Sonography for navigation during targeted prostate biopsy using magnetic resonance imaging data
Authors: Miyagawa Tomoaki , Ishikawa Satoru , Kimura Tomokazu , Suetomi Takahiro , Tsutsumi Masakazu , Irie Toshiyuki , Kondoh Masanao , Mitake Tsuyoshi 
Published: August 2010

Objectives:  To evaluate the effectiveness of the medical navigation technique, namely, Real‐time Virtual Sonography (RVS), for targeted prostate biopsy.Methods:  Eighty‐five patients with suspected prostate cancer lesions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included in this study. All selected patients had at least one negative result on the previous transrectal biopsies. The acquired MRI volume data were loaded onto a personal computer installed with RVS software, which registers the volumes between MRI and real‐time ultrasound data for real‐time display. The registered MRI images were displayed adjacent to the ultrasonographic sagittal image on the same computer monitor. The suspected lesions on T2‐weighted images were marked with a red circle. At first suspected lesions were biopsied transperineally under real‐time navigation with RVS and then followed by the conventional transrectal and transperineal biopsy under spinal anesthesia.Results:  The median age of the patients was 69 years (56–84 years), and the prostate‐specific antigen level and prostate volume were 9.9 ng/mL (4.0–34.2) and 37.2 mL (18–141), respectively. Prostate cancer was detected in 52 patients (61%). The biopsy specimens obtained using RVS revealed 45/52 patients (87%) positive for prostate cancer. A total of 192 biopsy cores were obtained using RVS. Sixty‐two of these (32%) were positive for prostate cancer, whereas conventional random biopsy revealed cancer only in 75/833 (9%) cores (P < 0.01).Conclusions:  Targeted prostate biopsy with RVS is very effective to diagnose lesions detected with MRI. This technique only requires additional computer and RVS software and thus is cost‐effective. Therefore, RVS‐guided prostate biopsy has great potential for better management of prostate cancer patients.
Diversity of virus–host systems in hypersaline Lake Retba, Senegal
Authors: Sime‐Ngando Télesphore , Lucas Soizick , Robin Agnès , Tucker Kimberly Pause , Colombet Jonathan , Bettarel Yvan , Desmond Elie , Gribaldo Simonetta , Forterre Patrick , Breitbart Mya , Prangishvili David 
Published: August 2010

SummaryRemarkable morphological diversity of virus‐like particles was observed by transmission electron microscopy in a hypersaline water sample from Lake Retba, Senegal. The majority of particles morphologically resembled hyperthermophilic archaeal DNA viruses isolated from extreme geothermal environments. Some hypersaline viral morphotypes have not been previously observed in nature, and less than 1% of observed particles had a head‐and‐tail morphology, which is typical for bacterial DNA viruses. Culture‐independent analysis of the microbial diversity in the sample suggested the dominance of extremely halophilic archaea. Few of the 16S sequences corresponded to known archeal genera (Haloquadratum, Halorubrum and Natronomonas), whereas the majority represented novel archaeal clades. Three sequences corresponded to a new basal lineage of the haloarchaea. Bacteria belonged to four major phyla, consistent with the known diversity in saline environments. Metagenomic sequencing of DNA from the purified virus‐like particles revealed very few similarities to the NCBI non‐redundant database at either the nucleotide or amino acid level. Some of the identifiable virus sequences were most similar to previously described haloarchaeal viruses, but no sequence similarities were found to archaeal viruses from extreme geothermal environments. A large proportion of the sequences had similarity to previously sequenced viral metagenomes from solar salterns.
Evolutionary and functional diversity of thePseudomonastype IVa pilin island
Authors: Giltner Carmen L. , Rana Navpreet , Lunardo Michael N. , Hussain Anne Q. , Burrows Lori L. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryInPseudomonas aeruginosa,most proteins involved in type IVa pilus (T4aP) biogenesis are highly conserved except for the major pilin PilA and the minor pilins involved in pilus assembly. Here we show that each of the five major pilin alleles is associated with a specific set of minor pilins, and unrelated strains with the same major pilin type have identical minor pilin genes. The sequences of the minor pilin genes of strains with group III and V pilins are identical, suggesting that these groups diverged recently through further evolution of the major pilin cluster. Both gene clusters are localized on a single ‘pilin island’ containing putative tRNA recombinational hotspots, and a similar organization of pilin genes was identified in otherPseudomonasspecies. To address the biological significance of group‐specific differences, cross‐complementation studies using group II (PAO1) and group III (PA14) minor pilins were performed. Heterologous minor pilins complemented twitching motility to various extents except in the case of PilX, which was non‐functional in non‐native backgrounds. A recombinant PA14 strain expressing the PAO1 minor pilins regained motility only upon co‐introduction of the PA14pilXgene. Comparison of PilX and PilQ secretin sequences from group II, III and V genomes revealed discrete regions of sequence that co‐varied between groups. Our data suggest that changes in PilX sequence have led to compensatory changes in the PilQ secretin monomer such that heterologous PilX proteins are no longer able to promote opening of the secretin to allow pili to appear on the cell surface.
Tunica‐sparing ossified Peyronie’s plaque excision
Authors: Eisenberg Michael L. , Smith James F. , Shindel Alan W. , Lue Tom F. 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Diagnostic (non‐consecutive series) Level of Evidence 3b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Peyronie’s disease with heterotopic, ossified plaques require surgical removal. While conventional tunical excision techniques risk erectile and sensory compromise, we describe a tunical‐sparing technique which maintains potency with durable results.OBJECTIVEOssified Peyronie’s plaques may require surgical excision because of the palpable problems and penile curvature that result. As tunical excision can result in impotence and decrease penile sensation, we describe a novel method of tunical preserving excision of such lesions.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe evaluated 12 men with dorsal penile curvature between 10° and 90°. Penile plaque size ranged from 1 to 5 cm. 80% had painful erections. An artificial erection was induced with intracavernous injection of papaverine to assess penile deformity. Via a circumcising or ventral incision, plication sutures were placed to correct penile curvature. A lateral longitudinal corporotomy was made and the calcified/ossified portion was dissected free from the tunica albuginea/plaque of the corpora cavernosa. Watertight tunical closure was then performed.RESULTSPostoperatively, 80% of men reported erections always adequate for intercourse and normal sensation with a mean follow‐up of 7 months (range 2.1–14.5 months). All patients required simultaneous penile plication to ensure a straight phallus. Pathologic evaluation of plaque specimens all showed bone fragments.CONCLUSIONTunica‐sparing excision of the ossified/calcified portion of Peyronie’s plaques shows a durable benefit for large, ossified lesions and maintains potency and penile sensation.
Application of simplified Fuhrman grading system in clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Hong Sung K. , Jeong Chang W. , Park Ji H. , Kim Hyung S. , Kwak Cheol , Choe Gheeyoung , Kim Hyeon H. , Lee Sang E. 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Prognosis (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Previously, some have suggested that the four‐tiered conventional Fuhrman grading system for clear cell renal cell carcinoma is unnecessarily complex. To ease the process of grading, simplified (two‐ or three‐tiered) versions of conventional Fuhrman grading system have been proposed in the literature.Our results showed that the three‐tiered Fuhrman grading system can be considered as an appropriate option in the application of a nuclear grading system to the prognostication of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of simplified (two‐ or three‐tiered) Fuhrman grading systems as prognostic indicators in clear‐cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC).PATIENTS AND METHODSBy reviewing records, various clinicopathological factors were assessed in 431 patients who received surgical management for clear‐cell RCC. A conventional four‐tiered Fuhrman grading system was compared with a modified two‐tiered grading system (Fuhrman grades I and II were combined as one class, and grades III and IV as another) and also with a three‐tiered grading system (only grades I and II were combined).Efficacies of grading systems were assessed via univariate analyses and multivariate models for prediction of cancer‐specific survival.RESULTSIn univariate analysis, the four‐tiered and three‐tiered grading systems showed similar accuracies (76.5 vs 76.2%, P = 0.614) for predicting cancer‐specific survival, which were greater than that of the two‐tiered system (72.5%; both P < 0.05).Of the three grading systems, only the three‐tiered system was an independent predictor of cancer‐specific survival in multivariate analysis (P = 0.046).When receiver operating characteristic‐derived areas under the curve (AUCs) of multivariate models for predicting cancer‐specific survivals were assessed, AUCs for models including the three‐tiered Fuhrman grading system and the conventional four‐tiered Fuhrman grading system were the same (95.3%), followed by that of a model incorporating the two‐tiered grading system (95.1%).CONCLUSIONA modified, three‐tiered Fuhrman grading system can be considered an appropriate option in the application of a nuclear grading system to the prognostication of clear‐cell RCC in both univariate analysis and multivariate model setting.
Five year Expanded Prostate cancer Index Composite‐based quality of life outcomes after prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer
Authors: Parker Walter R. , Wang Rou , He Chang , Wood Jr David P. 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Therapy (outcomes research) Level of Evidence 2c What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Previous studies typically assessed early outcomes (≤2 years) after prostatectomy often without individual pre‐operative scores for comparison. Our study followed patients and provides long term results, five years post‐operatively, and compared results to patients own baseline scores across all domains within EPIC.OBJECTIVETo document the Expanded Prostate cancer Index Composite (EPIC) results for men followed for 5 years after radical prostatectomy.PATIENTS AND METHODSEPIC and demographic information were prospectively obtained from 434 patients who received questionnaires preoperatively and 1, 4, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months postoperatively. Paired t‐tests compared scores at individual time points. Percentage return to baseline was calculated at all postoperative time points and multivariate analyses evaluated postoperative trends.RESULTSThe mean age of patients was 63.4 years. Mean urinary function and incontinence worsen after prostatectomy, with recovery stable 12 months after surgery. Mean urinary bother returned to baseline by 4 months post‐prostatectomy. Some 55.8% and 77.5% of patients return to their urinary function and bother baselines, respectively, 1 year after surgery. Mean sexual function and bother both declined after surgery, with new stable baselines achieved by 24 and 36 months post‐prostatectomy, respectively. Of the patients, 24.2% returned to their sexual function baseline by 24 months. No postoperative improvement was noted in mean sexual bother until the 12 months post‐prostatectomy. Of the patients, 36.8% returned to their sexual bother baseline by 36 months. Minimal change was noted in the bowel and hormonal domains.CONCLUSIONSMean urinary function and incontinence did not recover to preoperative baseline after prostatectomy, although it did not add distress because mean urinary bother returned to pre‐prostatectomy levels. Mean sexual function declined post‐prostatectomy, with continued recovery up to 24 months. Sexual bother recovered later but, once it reached a new baseline, the distress does not lessen with time, probably indicating an inability to adjust to their functional loss.
Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase suppresses referred hyperalgesia induced by bladder inflammation
Authors: Merriam Fabiola Voznika , Wang Zun‐Yi , Hillard Cecilia J. , Stuhr Kara L. , Bjorling Dale E. 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Aetiology (case series)Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVE• To determine (i) the presence of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in the urinary bladder; (ii) whether or not endogenous fatty acid ethanolamides are synthesized by the bladder; (iii) the effects of FAAH inhibition on referred hyperalgesia associated with acute bladder inflammation in rats.MATERIALS AND METHODS• Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were performed to detect FAAH in the bladder. Acrolein (1 mM, 400 µL) was instilled into bladders of female Wistar rats to induce cystitis. Referred mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed by application of Von Frey monofilaments to the hind paws.• Animals were killed 4, 24, 48 and 72 h after acrolein instillation, and the fatty acid ethanolamide content of bladders was measured using isotope‐dilution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.• Other rats were treated with the FAAH inhibitor URB597 (0.3 mg/kg, i.p.) after the induction of cystitis, and the mechanical sensitivity of the hind paws was determined.RESULTS• Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting showed the presence of FAAH in the bladder, with greatest abundance in the urothelium.• Acrolein‐induced cystitis increased fatty acid ethanolamide content (including anandamide) in the bladder in a time‐dependent manner. Inhibition of FAAH diminished referred hyperalgesia associated with acute bladder inflammation.CONCLUSIONS• The results obtained in the present study indicate that (i) FAAH is present in the urinary bladder; (ii) fatty acid ethanolamides are increased during bladder inflammation; (iii) inhibition of FAAH could be an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of bladder pain.• These results raise the possibility that inhibitors of enzymes responsible for metabolism of fatty acid ethanolamides could inhibit pain associated with bladder inflammation.
Surgical management after active surveillance for low‐risk prostate cancer: pathological outcomes compared with men undergoing immediate treatment
Authors: Dall’Era Marc A. , Cowan Janet E. , Simko Jeffrey , Shinohara Katsuto , Davies Benjamin , Konety Badrinath R , Meng Maxwell V. , Perez Nannette , Greene Kirsten , Carroll Peter R. 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case control) Level of Evidence 3b What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? The risks of delayed radical prostatectomy for men who progress on active surveillance are largely unknown. Two series have reported that prostatectomy after active surveillance has similar results to immediate therapy. Our data add to this growing body of evidence that appropriately selected men with prostate cancer can undergo active surveillance with delayed prostatectomy without added risk of missing an opportunity for cure as the majority of tumours remain organ confined.OBJECTIVE• To compare the pathological outcomes of men undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) after a period of active surveillance (AS) with those of a similar risk group undergoing immediate surgery.PATIENTS AND METHODS• We identified men through our institutional database who underwent RP within 6 months of diagnosis or after a period of AS. The primary outcome of the present study was Gleason upgrade to ≥7 after prostatectomy.• Pathological stage and positive surgical margin rate were assessed as secondary outcomes. Binomial logistic regression models were used to determine associations of treatment subgroups with pathological upgrade, upstage and positive margins.RESULTS• Thirty‐three men with initially low‐risk cancer features underwent RP after a median (range) of 18 (7–76) months of AS. A total of 278 men with low‐risk disease features underwent immediate RP within 6 months of diagnosis. Rates of Gleason upgrading to ≥7, pathological category pT3 and positive surgical margins did not differ significantly from the immediate RP group.• On multivariate analysis of low‐risk patients, adjusting for baseline pathological features, treatment group (AS followed by prostatectomy vs immediate prostatectomy) was not associated with Gleason upgrading (odds ratio, OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.12–1.04), non‐organ‐confined disease (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 0.32–8.65) or positive surgical margins at prostatectomy (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.16–5.76).CONCLUSION• The present analysis did not show an association between RP after a period of AS and adverse pathological features for men with low‐risk disease.
Correlation between expression of α1‐adrenoceptor subtype mRNA and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms or bladder outlet obstruction in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients
Authors: Kojima Yoshiyuki , Sasaki Shoichi , Imura Makoto , Kubota Yasue , Hayashi Yutaro , Kohri Kenjiro 
Published: August 2010

Study Type – Aetiology (case control) Level of Evidence 3b What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Although there are several reports about distribution and localization of α1‐adrenoceptor (AR) subtypes in the prostate, there has been no report to demonstrate the correlation with the clinical findings of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients.OBJECTIVE

To examine whether the direct correlation between the expression of α1‐adrenoceptor (AR) subtype mRNA and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) or bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in the prostate exists in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Sixty‐eight patients with LUTS and BOO secondary to BPH were enrolled. Four prostate needle biopsy specimens were obtained from the transition zone to examine the expression level of α1‐AR subtypes by Taqman reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction.
The correlation and regression between each expression level of α1‐AR subtype and clinical findings such as patient age, prostate volume, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) index, maximum flow rate in uroflowmetry (Qmax) and post‐void residual urine volume (PVR) were assessed by stepwise multiple regression analysis.
The correlation and regression between this expression level and individual symptoms of IPSS were assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analyses.

RESULTS

Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the expression levels of α1a‐AR, α1b‐AR, α1d‐AR and total α1‐AR mRNA showed a significant regression with patient age, but not with prostate volume, IPSS, QOL index, Qmax and PVR.
Pearson’s correlation coefficient and multiple regression analyses demonstrated no correlation and regression between each α1‐AR subtype mRNA expression level and individual symptoms of IPSS.

CONCLUSIONS

There was no direct correlation between the expression of α1‐AR subtype mRNA in the prostate and severity of LUTS or BOO in BPH patients, although the significant regression of this expression with patient age existed.
LUTS and BOO may be associated with multiple factors and several other conditions may contribute to LUTS and BOO.