bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship between tumour size and expression of prognostic markers in benign and malignant canine mammary tumours
Authors: Ferreira E. , Bertagnolli A. C. , Cavalcanti M. F. , Schmitt F. C. , Cassali G. D. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractTumour size is considered one of the most important determinants of clinical staging in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to assess the value of tumour size as an indicator of the differentiation of mammary neoplasias in female dogs. The tumour, nodes metastates (TNM) system, based on primary lesion size, the extent of its dissemination to regional lymph nodes and the presence or absence of distant metastases, was applied to 120 female dogs diagnosed with mammary neoplasias. Paraffin blocks from 38 cases were selected and studied by immunohistochemical staining for prognostic and predictive markers of breast cancer. The Kaplan–Meier survival curve was estimated for 110 female dogs. Larger tumours (T3) were mostly malignant and showed lower expression of progesterone receptor and higher expression of cellular proliferation markers. Global survival time was shorter in female dogs with large tumour masses. This study highlights the importance of tumour size as a prognostic indicator of mammary neoplasias in female dogs.
Using botulinum toxin for pelvic indications in women
Authors: RAO Archana , ABBOTT Jason 
Published: July 2009

Background: Botulinum toxin (BoNT) is a potent neurotoxin. Its ability to cause muscle paralysis is increasingly being utilised for the management of a number of conditions of interest to the gynaecologist.Aims: This review aims to give the reader an overview of the use of BoNT for conditions presenting a management challenge for the gynaecologist, such as chronic pelvic pain and idiopathic detrusor overactivity.Methods: The literature was reviewed regarding the use, side‐effects and complications of BoNT in the pelvis, focussing on chronic pelvic pain, provoked vestibulodynia, conditions involving the lower gastrointestinal tract and detrusor overactivity.Results: In terms of pain caused by pelvic floor spasm, daily pelvic pain and dyspareunia are the symptoms most likely to be improved by BoNT. Limited data regarding use for provoked vestibulodynia indicate an improvement in pain scores. In the lower gastrointestinal tract, injection into puborectalis has been showed to objectively improve intravaginal pressures, though there are no randomised controlled trials (class I studies) validating its use in this setting. Class I studies demonstrate a role for BoNT in the management of idiopathic detrusor overactivity, though long‐term follow‐up data are lacking. Potential problems with BoNT injection include toxin reactions, urinary and faecal incontinence, urinary retention and secondary treatment failure due to antibody production.Conclusions: A single class I study supports the use of BoNT for refractory pelvic floor spasm; however, further adequately powered class I studies for this indication and for provoked vestibulodynia are warranted.
The outcomes of pregnancies following a prenatal diagnosis of fetal exomphalos in Western Australia
Authors: CALVERT Nick , DAMIANI Sara , SUNARIO Julian , BOWER Caroline , DICKINSON Jan E. 
Published: July 2009

Aims: To review the perinatal outcomes for prenatally diagnosed exomphalos from a single geographical region.Methods: Retrospective review of cases of prenatally identified exomphalos in the state of Western Australia in the ten‐year period 1998–2007 using the medical databases of the sole tertiary obstetric and paediatric hospitals.Results: Ninety‐four cases of prenatally identified exomphalos comprise this consecutive case series. Culture‐proven karyotypic abnormalities occurred in 40 (42.6%) fetuses. No karyotypically abnormal fetus survived the neonatal period, with 33 of 40 (82.5%) pregnancies interrupted, five of 40 (12.5%) resulting in fetal demise and two (5%) neonatal deaths. For the 49 (52.1%) fetuses with a normal karyotype, 26 (53.1%) had associated abnormalities with termination occurring in 22 (84.6%). Prenatally isolated exomphalos was present in 23 cases (24.5%), with live birth in 15 cases (30.6% of euploid fetuses). Fourteen (93.3%) of the liveborn prenatally isolated exomphalos cases survived with no postoperative deaths, although four (28.5%) had significant abnormalities detected postdelivery and most have experienced childhood morbidity.Conclusions: In the the majority of cases of prenatally detected exomphalos the pregnancy was interrupted secondary to chromosomal or structural abnormalities. In only 10.6% of prenatally recognised fetuses with exomphalos was the disorder truly isolated with neonatal survival occurring.
DP‐155, a Lecithin Derivative of Indomethacin, is a Novel Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drug for Analgesia and Alzheimer's Disease Therapy
Authors: Dvir Eran , Elman Anat , Simmons Danielle , Shapiro Israel , Duvdevani Revital , Dahan Arik , Hoffman Amnon , Friedman Jonathan E. 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTDP‐155 is a lipid prodrug of indomethacin that comprises the latter conjugated to lecithin at position sn‐2 via a 5‐carbon length linker. It is cleaved by phospholipase A2 (PLA)2 to a greater extent than similar compounds with linkers of 2, 3, and 4 carbons. Indomethacin is the principal metabolite of DP‐155 in rat serum and, after DP‐155 oral administration, the half‐life of the metabolite was 22 and 93 h in serum and brain, respectively, compared to 10 and 24 h following indomethacin administration. The brain to serum ratio was 3.5 times higher for DP‐155 than for indomethacin. In vitro studies demonstrated that DP‐155 is a selective cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 inhibitor. After it is cleaved, its indomethacin derivative nonselectively inhibits both COX‐1 and ‐2. DP‐155 showed a better toxicity profile probably due to the sustained, low serum levels and reduced maximal concentration of its indomethacin metabolite. DP‐155 did not produce gastric toxicity at the highest acute dose tested (0.28 mmol/kg), while indomethacin caused gastric ulcers at a dose 33‐fold lower. Furthermore, after repeated oral dosing, gastrointestinal and renal toxicity was lower (10‐ and 5‐fold, respectively) and delayed with DP‐155 compared to indomethacin. In addition to reduced toxicity, DP‐155 had similar ameliorative effects to indomethacin in antipyretic and analgesia models. Moreover, DP‐155 and indomethacin were equally efficacious in reducing levels of amyloid ß (Aß)42 in transgenic Alzheimer's disease mouse (Tg2576) brains as well as reducing Aß42 intracellular uptake, neurodegeneration, and inflammation in an in vitro AD model. The relatively high brain levels of indomethacin after DP‐155 administration explain the equal efficacy of DP‐155 despite its low systemic blood concentrations. Compared to indomethacin, the favored safety profile and equal efficacy of DP‐155 establish the compound as a potential candidate for chronic use to treat AD‐related pathology and for analgesia.
Carbon sequestration in peatland: patterns and mechanisms of response to climate change
Authors: Belyea Lisa R. , Malmer Nils 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe response of peatlands to changes in the climatic water budget is crucial to predicting potential feedbacks on the global carbon (C) cycle. To gain insight on the patterns and mechanisms of response, we linked a model of peat accumulation to a model of peatland hydrology, then applied these models to empirical data spanning the past 5000 years for the large mire Store Mosse in southern Sweden. We estimated parameters for C sequestration and height growth by fitting the peat accumulation model to two age profiles. Then, we used independent reconstruction of climate wetness and model reconstruction of bog height to examine changes in peatland hydrology. Reconstructions of C sequestration showed two distinct patterns of behaviour: abrupt increases associated with major transitions in vegetation and dominant Sphagnum species (fuscum, rubellum–fuscum and magellanicum stages), and gradual decreases associated with increasing humification of newly formed peat. Carbon sequestration rate ranged from a minimum of 14 to a maximum of 72 g m−2 yr−1, with the most rapid changes occurring in the past 1000 years. Vegetation transitions were associated with periods of increasing climate wetness during which the hydrological requirement for increased seepage loss was met by rise of the water table closer to the peatland surface, with the indirect result of enhancing peat formation. Gradual decline in C sequestration within each vegetation stage resulted from enhanced litter decay losses from the near‐surface layer. In the first two vegetation stages, peatland development (i.e., increasing surface gradient) and decreasing climate wetness drove a gradual increase in thickness of the unsaturated, near‐surface layer, reducing seepage water loss and peat formation. In the most recent vegetation stage, the surface diverged into a mosaic of wet and dry microsites. Despite a steady increase in climate wetness, C sequestration declined rapidly. The complexity of response to climate change cautions against use of past rates to estimate current or to predict future rates of peatland C sequestration. Understanding interactions among hydrology, surface structure and peat formation are essential to predicting potential feedback on the global C cycle.
Trends and scenarios of the carbon budget in postagricultural Puerto Rico (1936–2060)
Authors: Ricardo Grau H. , Mitchell Aide T. , Zimmerman Jess K. , Thomlinson John R. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractContrary to the general trend in the tropics, Puerto Rico underwent a process of agriculture abandonment during the second half of the 20th century as a consequence of socioeconomic changes toward urbanization and industrialization. Using data on land‐use change, biomass accumulation in secondary forests, and ratios between gross domestic product (GDP) and carbon emissions, we developed a model of the carbon budget for Puerto Rico between 1936 and 2060. As a consequence of land abandonment, forests have expanded rapidly since 1950, achieving the highest sequestration rates between 1980 and 1990. Regardless of future scenarios of demography and land use, sequestration rates will decrease in the future because biomass accumulation decreases with forest age and there is little agricultural land remaining to be abandoned. Due to high per‐capita consumption and population density, carbon emissions of Puerto Rico have increased dramatically and exceeded carbon sequestration during the second half of the 20th century. Although Puerto Rico had the highest percent of reforestation for a tropical country, emissions during the period 1950–2000 were approximately 3.5 times higher than sequestration, and current annual emission is almost nine times the rate of sequestration. Additionally, while sequestration will decrease over the next six decades, current socioeconomic trends suggest increasing emissions unless there are significant changes in energy technology or consumption patterns. In conclusion, socioeconomic changes leading to urbanization and industrialization in tropical countries may promote high rates of carbon sequestration during the decades following land abandonment. Initial high rates of carbon sequestration can balance emissions of developing countries with low emission/GDP ratio. In Puerto Rico, the socioeconomic changes that promoted reforestation also promoted high‐energy consumption, and resulted in a net increase in carbon emissions.
The Value to the Customer of RFID in Service Applications*
Authors: Heim Gregory R. , Wentworth Jr. William R. , Peng Xiaosong (David) 
Published: July 2009

ABSTRACTThis article examines how customer value may be affected by deploying radio frequency identification (RFID) technologies within service environments. Business articles promote operational cost savings and improved inventory management as key benefits of deploying RFID. In response, service firms are using RFID to reengineer service transactions and customer touchpoints. Customers may view these RFID applications to offer both benefits and drawbacks. This article demonstrates that individuals will recognize far more value from RFID service applications than just cost savings and inventory availability. The article analyzes qualitative survey responses on the value gained from RFID to identify a broad list of value objectives—benefits and drawbacks—associated with RFID service applications. The article contributes to academic literature by providing salient value dimensions for return on investment models of service RFID applications and for future empirical analyses of means‐ends and value‐profit chain models. Managers can use the list of dimensions to develop rich business cases for evaluating the benefits and costs from enhancing service operations with RFID. The identified drawbacks also provide managers with a resource for understanding potential risks of RFID applications.
Emergency department diagnosis of pulmonary embolism is associated with significantly reduced mortality: A linked data population study
Authors: Jelinek George A , Ingarfield Sharyn L , Mountain David , Gibson Nicholas P , Jacobs Ian G 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjectives:  We characterized patients admitted via ED with a principal hospital discharge diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) and compared mortality of those diagnosed in the ED with those diagnosed after admission.Methods:  Patients with a hospital discharge diagnosis ICD 10 I26 presenting to the ED in Perth, Western Australia between 1 July 2000 and 30 December 2006 had records from the Emergency Department Information System linked to the Western Australian Hospital Morbidity Data System and the death registry.Results:  Of 2250 patients (mean age 60.4), 1227 (54.5%) were female. Of 1931 patients with an ED diagnosis recorded, 1207 (62.5%) were diagnosed with PE in ED. Of these, 383 (17.0%) had presented to an ED within 28 days previously, 142 (37.1%) with either chest pain or breathing problems, with 207 (54.0%) admitted but not receiving a principal hospital discharge diagnosis of PE. There were 127 (5.6%) in‐hospital deaths. Controlling for age and comorbidity with logistic regression, patients diagnosed with PE in ED were less likely to die in hospital, within 7 and 30 days of ED arrival, than those diagnosed after admission (adjusted OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.20–0.47; adjusted OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.19–0.53; adjusted OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.20–0.44; respectively).Conclusion:  Making the diagnosis of PE in ED was associated with a substantial survival advantage that persisted after hospital discharge.
Factors influencing consistency of triage using the Australasian Triage Scale: Implications for guideline development
Authors: Gerdtz Marie F , Chu Matthew , Collins Marnie , Considine Julie , Crellin Dianne , Sands Natisha , Stewart Carmel , Pollock Wendy E 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective: To examine the influence of the nurse, the type of patient presentation and the level of hospital service on consistency of triage using the Australasian Triage Scale.Methods: A secondary analysis of survey data was conducted. The main study was undertaken to measure the reliability of 237 scenarios for inclusion in a national training programme. Nurses were recruited from a quota sample of Australian ED according to peer group. Analysis was performed to determine concordance: the percentage of responses in the modal triage category. Analysis of variance (anova) and Pearson correlations were used to investigate associations between the explanatory variables and concordance.Results: A total of 42/50 (84%) participants returned questionnaires, providing 9946 scenario responses for analysis. Significant differences in concordance were observed by variables describing the type of patient presentation and level of urgency. Mean scores for the comparison group (adult pain; 70.7%) were higher than the groups involving a mental health or pregnancy presentations (61.4%;P≤ 0.001; 65.0%;P= 0.02). Modal responses at the extreme ends of the scale were higher than in the middle categories (P≤ 0.001). There was a significant main effect on concordance by type of service according to peer group (P= 0.03). Of the nine variables that described nurse characteristics, age was the only factor to influence the outcome (P= 0.05).Conclusion: We identified significant problems with the consistency of triage for mental health and pregnancy presentations. Further research is needed to improve the guidelines on the implementation of the Australasian Triage Scale for these populations.
Confirmation of endotracheal intubation by combined ultrasonographic methods in the emergency department
Authors: Park Soon Chang , Ryu Ji Ho , Yeom Seok Ran , Jeong Jin Woo , Cho Suck Ju 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjectives:  The objective of the present study was to investigate whether the combined use of transcricothyroid membrane ultrasonography and ultrasonographic evaluation for pleural sliding is useful for verifying endotracheal intubation in the ED.Methods:  We performed a prospective clinical trial in the ED from January to July 2008. All patients enrolled in the present study had been admitted to the ED owing to severe airway problems. A linear probe was placed horizontally over the cricothyroid membrane (dynamic phase) during the intubation process. Endotracheal intubation was confirmed by ultrasonographic lung sliding. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.Results:  Thirty patients (17 men, 13 women; mean age 59.6 ± 16.7 [SD] years) were enrolled in the study. Of the 30, 7 had a history of trauma. Four trauma patients were diagnosed with haemopneumothorax. The ratio of initial oesophageal‐to‐endotracheal intubation was 3:27. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for endotracheal intubation were 96.3%, 100%, 100% and 75%, respectively. After verification by ultrasonographic lung sliding, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were each 100%.Conclusions:  The combination of transcricothyroid membrane ultrasonography and ultrasonographic lung‐sliding evaluation could be useful in confirming endotracheal intubation in the ED.
What is the nature of the emergence phenomenon when using intravenous or intramuscular ketamine for paediatric procedural sedation?
Authors: Treston Greg , Bell Anthony , Cardwell Rob , Fincher Gavin , Chand Dip , Cashion Geoff 
Published: July 2009

AbstractObjective:  Ketamine has become the drug most favoured by emergency physicians for sedation of children in the ED. Some emergency physicians do not use ketamine for paediatric procedural sedation (PPS) because of concern about emergence delirium on recovery. The present study set out to determine the true incidence and nature of this phenomenon.Methods:  Prospective data relating to any emergence agitation, crying, hallucinations, dreams, altered perceptions, delirium and necessary interventions were recorded in consecutive cases of ketamine PPS from March 2002 to June 2007, and analysed. Standard inclusion and exclusion criteria for the use of ketamine were followed.Results:  A total of 745 prospective data collection records were available for analysis over the 5 year period. Of all, 93 (12.5%) children cried on awakening when recovering from PPS, 291 (39%) experienced pleasant altered perceptions and 16 (2.1%) experienced what was called ‘emergence delirium’. None required any active treatment and all except one settled within 20 min. There was no evidence of an increased rate of nightmares on telephone follow up in the weeks post procedure.Conclusion:  The belief that ketamine, in the doses used for ED PPS, causes frequent emergence delirium is flawed. A pleasant emergence phenomenon is common, but is not distressing for the child, and has no long‐term (up to 30 days) negative sequelae. Rarely, there is anxiety or distress on awakening from ketamine sedation, which settles spontaneously. This should not deter emergency physicians from using ketamine for PPS.
Silicon: its manifold roles in plants
Authors: Epstein E. 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe title of this essay declares that silicon does have roles in plants and all participants in this conference know that that is so. This knowledge, however, is not shared by the general community of plant biologists, who largely ignore the element. This baffling contrast is based on two sets of experience. First, higher plants can grow to maturity in nutrient solutions formulated without silicon. That has led to the conventional wisdom that silicon is not an essential element, or nutrient, and thus can be disregarded. Second, the world's plants do not grow in the benign environment of solution culture in plant biological research establishments. They grow in the field, under conditions that are often anything but benign. It is there, in the real world with its manifold stressful features, that the silicon status of plants can make a huge difference in their performance. The stresses that silicon alleviates range all the way from biotic, including diseases and pests, to abiotic such as gravity and metal toxicities. Silicon performs its functions in two ways: by the polymerization of silicic acid leading to the formation of solid amorphous, hydrated silica, and by being instrumental in the formation of organic defence compounds through alteration of gene expression. The silicon nutrition of plants is not only scientifically intriguing but also important in a world where more food will have to be wrung from a finite area of land, for that will put crops under stress.
Acute Kidney Injury in Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy: Potential Role of Macroscopic Hematuria and Acute Tubulointerstitial Injury
Authors: Kveder Radoslav , Lindič Jelka , Aleš Andreja , Kovač Damjan , Vizjak Alenka , Ferluga Dušan 
Published: July 2009

AbstractThe aim of our retrospective study was to analyze the clinical course and outcome of patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy who presented with macroscopic hematuria and acute kidney injury (AKI). During the period from 1990 to 2005, seven out of 584 adult patients with IgA nephropathy (1.2%) fulfilled the criteria for macroscopic hematuria‐induced AKI. There was an equal gender distribution among our patients, and a rather high average age at presentation (55.7 ± 10.9 years). Four patients who were oliguric upon admission to hospital needed hemodialysis treatment. The average serum creatinine at the time of kidney biopsy was 429.8 ± 377 µmol/L (median value 378). The percutaneous kidney needle biopsies showed focal proliferative crescentic glomerulonephritis of subclass III, according to the Haas scheme, associated with prominent red blood cell tubular casts and acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. Four patients with the most prominent crescents and tubulointerstitial involvement were treated with methylprednisolone. All patients, treated and untreated, recovered their kidney function (the serum creatinine at a median follow‐up of 15 months was 111.7 ± 38 µmol/L). In conclusion, AKI in IgA nephropathy accompanied by macroscopic hematuria appears to have been a reversible condition in our series of patients. Regarding pathogenesis, the kidney biopsy study points to the important role of glomerular bleeding with consequent, widespread obstructive red blood cell tubular casts accompanied by tubular injury and interstitial nephritis.