bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nerve excitability testing: Technical pitfalls and threshold norms using absolute values
Authors: Gates George A. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractPercutaneous stimulation of the facial nerve is used widely in tests to judge the severity and prognosis of facial paralysis. Several test paradigms are used including nerve excitability threshold (NET), the maximum stimulation test (MST), and electroneuronography (EnoG). Consistent technique and careful control of variables are essential to achieve accurate test results. The sources of variability examined in this study were age, gender, body weight, and the use of electrode paste; the NET was used as the test method. The facial NET in 120 adults without a history of facial paralysis increased linearly with age (P = .0004) and with body weight (P < .0001) and was higher in men than in women adjusted for age and weight (P = .0001). The mean NET ± SD was 0.7 ± 0.27 mA in the upper division using the eyelid twitch as an end point, and 1.2 ± 0.40 mA in the lower division. There was no statistically significant difference in the results between sides. The NET was falsely elevated by the use of electrode paste, presumably due to current shunting away from the nerve.Based on the technique described herein, an absolute NET of ≥ 1.25 mA in the upper division or an absolute NET ≥ 2.0 mA in the lower division of the human facial nerve is statistically abnormal. These norms are not applicable to grossly obese patients or patients with facial edema or inflammation. Statistical norms allow the NET results to be reported on a continuous scale rather than the dichotomous scale used in the past. The predictive power of the NET will be greatly enhanced by basing test interpretation on both statistical and clinical significance.
Significance of tumor thickness in soft palate carcinoma
Authors: Baredes Soly , Leeman Daniel J. , Chen Thomas S. , Mohit‐Tabatabai Mirseyed A. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractTumor thickness is an important prognostic factor in tumors outside of the upper aerodigestive tract, such as cutaneous melanoma, colorectal carcinoma, and cervical carcinoma. Some studies have also suggested that tumor thickness may have similar prognostic value in the upper aerodigestive tract. This study examined the relationship between tumor thickness (measured with an ocular micrometer) and nodal disease and that between tumor thickness and survival in 44 patients with soft palate epidermoid carcinoma. There was a significant correlation between tumor thickness and nodal disease. None of the 24 lesions less than or equal to 2.86 mm had cervical adenopathy. All of the 15 lesions greater than or equal to 3.12 mm had palpable adenopathy. Tumor thickness correlated more directly with nodal disease than did T stage. Thicker lesions were associated with poorer survival. Tumor thickness is an important parameter in the head and neck and deserves further study.
The effects of cyclosporin a on transplanted rat allografts
Authors: Strome Marshall , Strome Scott , Darrell Judith , Wu Justin , Brodsky Gilbert 
Published: October 2009

AbstractSince 1983, Cyclosporin A (CsA) has been the most successful primary drug in preventing rejection of organ transplants. This study was designed to determine the efficacy and dose response of CsA in preventing rejection of LBNF‐1 rat allografts to Lewis recipients.Four groups of animals were studied. Group I served as the control, and groups II, III, and IV were given daily intramuscular doses of CsA for 1 month. The groups were given doses of 5 mg/kg, 7.5 mg/kg, and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Sixty‐eight animals were transplanted to get eight viable transplanted animals at 1 month in each CsA group. Laryngeal viability was assessed with both clinical and histological parameters. Groups II, III, and IV had representative clinically viable larynges. The histology varied and had some correlation with CsA dosage. Group II evidenced changes ranging from mild to severe rejection. Group III was more homogeneous with the most severe change being characterized as mild‐to‐moderate rejection. Group IV was the most uniform with all representative specimens showing only limited infiltration of inflammatory cells with intact mucosa and submucosal glands (mild rejection). None of the CsA groups evidenced the squamous metaplasia characteristic of the control group. CsA can prevent rejection of laryngeal allografts from LBNF‐1 donors to Lewis recipients.
Vascular decompression surgery for severe tinnitus: Selection criteria and results
Authors: Møller Margareta B. , Møller Aage R. , Jannetta Peter J. , Jho Hae Dong 
Published: October 2009

AbstractSeventy‐four patients were operated on within a period of 10 years to treat incapacitating tinnitus; 72 underwent microvascular decompression (MVD) of the intracranial portion of the auditory nerve, and 2 underwent section of the eighth nerve close to the brain stem. Of those who underwent MVD, 2 had no change in symptoms and later also underwent section of the eighth nerve near the brain stem. Two patients did not return for follow‐up. Of the 72 remaining patients, 13 (18.1%) experienced total relief from tinnitus, 16 (22.2%) showed marked improvement, 8 (11.1%) showed slight improvement, 33 (45.8%) had no improvement, and 2 (2.8%) became worse. The patients who experienced total relief and those who showed marked improvement had experienced their tinnitus for an average of 2.9 years and 2.7 years, respectively; those who showed slight improvement and those who had no improvement had experienced their tinnitus for a longer time before the operation (mean, 5.2 and 7.9 years, respectively). Of the 72 patients who were operated on and followed, 32 were women. Of these, 54.8% experienced total relief from tinnitus or marked improvement, while only 29.3% of the men showed such relief or improvement.Selection of the patients for operation was mainly based on patient history and, to some extent, on auditory test results (brainstem auditory evoked potentials [BAEP], acoustic middle ear reflexes, and audiometric data).
Atypical hearing loss in acoustic neuroma patients
Authors: Selesnick Samuel H. , Jackler Robert K. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAudiologic data from 126 patients treated at the University of California, San Francisco for newly diagnosed acoustic neuromas (ANs) from 1986 to 1990 were reviewed. Subjectively normal hearing was present in 15% of patients and was most frequent in patients with small (<1 cm) tumors. Only 4% had objectively normal hearing on the basis of speech reception threshold (SRT), speech discrimination score (SDS), and high‐frequency pure‐tone loss. This was most frequent in patients with <1 cm tumors. Abnormal but symmetrical hearing is usually not considered to be indicative of a unilateral AN. In the present series, 7% of patients with ANs possessed symmetrical hearing. High‐frequency asymmetry was a more sensitive indicator of the presence of an AN than differences in either SRT or SDS. The clinician must be aware of the relatively high incidence of atypical audiologic findings in acoustic tumor patients.
Facial neuroma of the cerebellopontine angle and the internal auditory canal
Authors: Fagan Paul A. , Misra Sanjay N. , Doust Bruce 
Published: October 2009

AbstractFour cases of facial neuroma confined to the cerebellopontine angle and internal auditory canal are presented. Prior to surgery, three of these were diagnosed as an acoustic tumor. At operation the true diagnosis of facial neuroma was made. The operative procedure was recorded on film and videotape. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans were reviewed retrospectively. In the first three cases the tumor was not centered on the axis of the internal auditory canal (IAC), as would be typical of an acoustic neuroma, but instead occupied a position eccentric to this axis. In one case, this eccentricity was marked. A similar appearance in the fourth case enabled the true diagnosis of facial neuroma to be made before surgery. The postoperative behavior of the tumors was unpredictable. The patient with the largest tumor, which was debulked at operation, did not develop a facial palsy. However, a patient with a small tumor which was not biopsied, developed a delayed but complete paralysis from which she subsequently recovered. This small series suggests that it may be possible, by use of the appropriate imaging technique, to diagnose, preoperatively, a cerebellopontine angle facial neuroma which is otherwise indistinguishable from an acoustic neuroma.
Resistance to respiratory airflow of the extrapulmonary airways
Authors: Cole Philip , Savard Patrick , Miljeteig Harald , Haight James S. J. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractResistances to respiratory airflow of nasal, pharyngeal, laryngeal, and tracheobronchial airway segments were determined by computer processing of digitized differential pressure and flow signals in four healthy, awake, male adults seated and breathing spontaneously at rest, exclusively through decongested noses. Resistances of the nasal and pharyngeal segments in Pa/cm3 per second averaged 0.139 (SD ± 0.044) and 0.081 (SD ± 0.051), respectively, with no resistive evidence of compliance with airflow pressures. The laryngeal segment exhibited the reciprocal of compliance, expiratory resistances exceeded those of inspiration, averaging 0.125 (SD ± 0.037) and 0.035 (SD ± 0.013), respectively (.005 < P < .01). Tracheobronchial resistances during spontaneous resting breathing were too small to record reliably at the calibration used, and values augmented by voluntary hyperventilation averaged only 0.012 (SD ± 0.004). Laryngeal expiratory resistance approximated one fifth of the sum total of respiratory airflow resistances (including the pulmonary airways) and the authors suggest that, in addition to contributing to expiratory airflow braking, partial laryngeal closure induces orifice flow. This nonlaminar flow regime promotes the mucosal contact and mixing that enables greater than 30% of heat and water to be recovered from expiratory air by the human pharynx and nose.
Advantages of mandibular reconstruction with the titanium hollow screw osseointegrating reconstruction plate (THORP)
Authors: Koch Wayne M. , Yoo George H. , Goodstein Matthew L. , Eisele David W. , Richtsmeier William J. , Price John C. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAlloplastic reconstruction following segmental mandibulectomy is a simple way to maintain mandibular segmental relationships, partially preserving form and function for many patients. This study is a retrospective review of 40 patients who had mandibular reconstruction with metal plates over a 6‐year period (April 1986 through August 1992). The results of reconstruction with titanium hollow‐screw osseointegrating reconstruction plates (THORP [n = 12]) and solid screw (SS) steel and titanium plates (n = 28) are compared. One THORP has been removed as compared to 14 SS plates. While the improved results with THORP may be attributable in part to its advanced design, the success of soft‐tissue reconstruction and tumor extirpation are important factors in the early outcome seen in this series. Longer follow‐up is needed to determine if THORP can serve as a permanent implant. THORP is the authors' method of choice for alloplastic mandibular reconstruction.
Surgical management of congenital aural atresia
Authors: Chang Sun O , Min Yang‐Gi , Kim Chong Sun , Koh Tae‐Yong 
Published: October 2009

AbstractCongenital aural atresia is a relatively common anomaly in otology. It requires an early assessment of hearing status and an early evaluation of the degree of atresia. Its surgical management is aimed at obtaining hearing gain and at establishing appropriate auditory canal status for the application of hearing aids.The authors analyzed the preoperative otologic findings, surgical findings, postoperative complications, and postoperative hearing results of 25 ears in 21 patients with congenital aural atresia. From January 1987 to February 1992, 24 of these ears were surgically corrected by anterior approach; the remaining 1 was corrected by transmastoid approach. Postoperative audiologic follow‐up ranged from 8 months to 4 years (N = 21).A new modification of anterior approach is introduced. The final average air‐bone gap was 30 dB, in contrast to preoperative 53 dB (N = 21). The final air‐bone gap was improved to a level within 30 dB in 52% of the patients. Meatal stenosis was the most frequent postoperative complication and was seen in 12 patients in primary operation (N = 25). There was no postoperative facial nerve palsy and no sensorineural hearing loss. There was little difference in postoperative hearing among the various types of congenital aural atresia and the type of tympanoplasty that had been performed.
Superior laryngeal nerve evoked potentials: An experimental study in the rabbit
Authors: Montalt J. , Basterra J. , Armengot M. , Barona R. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractAn experimental model is described for recording laryngeal evoked potentials at the brainstem level through electrical stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve. Rabbits were divided into two groups according to age: Group 1 consisted of 20 adults (over 6 months old), while group 2 was comprised of 1‐month‐old rabbits. Under general anesthesia, the superior laryngeal nerve was electrically stimulated and the corresponding evoked potentials were recorded by needle electrodes placed close to the dorsal and ventral aspects of the brain stem. Clear age‐related differences were observed for latency, amplitude, and morphology of the potentials. This fact suggests postnatal maturation of the nerve structures, both peripheral and central. Sectioning the superior laryngeal nerve abolished all responses. Adduction of both vocal cords was observed in conjunction with the use of stimulation.
Return on experience: A mind‐set for learning leadership at work
Authors: Yip Jeffrey 
Published: October 2009

AbstractStudies have shown that ongoing, on‐the‐job learning is an essential ingredient for long‐term leadership success. But to maximize the learning and development potential that hides within work experience, you need a plan. By adopting a return‐on‐experience mind‐set, you can actively seek out the three keys to learning from experience: mastery, versatility, and impact.
Berechnung der Wöhler‐Linie für Aluminium‐Gusslegierungen aus dem statischen Zugversuch und dem Dendritenarmabstand
Authors: Stroppe H. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractEs wird ein bruchmechanisches Materialermüdungsmodell entwickelt, mit dem die Wöhler‐Linie für Aluminium‐Gusslegierungen aus den Kenngrößen des statischen Zugversuchs 0,2 %‐Dehngrenze, Zugfestigkeit und Elastizitätsmodul sowie auch aus dem sekundären Dendritenarmabstand des Gussgefüges berechnet werden kann.
Study on laser‐tungsten inert gas hybrid welding of dissimilar Mg alloy and steel with Ni as interlayer
Authors: Liu L. M. , Shan Ch. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractDissimilar Mg alloy and Q235 steel lap joints are produced by Laser‐ tungsten inert gas (TIG) hybrid welding with Ni as an interlayer. Fe and Ni are joined together in the form of solid solution, while Mg alloy and Ni foil are joined together by intermetallic compound Mg2Ni. During tensile testing, the joints fail at the interface between Ni foil and Mg alloy. The shear strength of the Mg/Steel joints with Ni as interlayer is 170 MPa, which is higher than that without interlayer 120MPa.
J‐integral in the description of fatigue crack growth rate induced by different ratios of torsion to bending loading in AlCu4Mg1
Authors: Rozumek D. , Macha E. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe paper presents the results of tests on fatigue crack growth under proportional torsion with bending in AlCu4Mg1 aluminium alloy. Specimens with rectangular cross‐sections and stress concentrator in the form of external one‐sided sharp notch were used. The tests were performed under the different ratios of torsion to bending moments. The results of the experimental tests have been described by a nonlinear formula based on ΔJ‐integral range. The tests have shown that the change of ratio of torsion to bending moments from 0.58 to 1.73 caused an increase in crack growth rate. It has been shown that at the constant loading and the change of stress ratio (R) from ‐ 1 to 0, the fatigue crack growth rate also increases.
Automatic identification of functional kinematic bone features from MRT segmentation for gait analysis
Authors: Tang Z. , Pauli J. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractWe present a method for the segmentation of human leg bones and extraction of functional parameters of the femur using MRT images. The novelty consists in the use of dynamic models which will be adapted to the images of individual patients both globally to a whole leg bone and locally to individual parts of a bone. Thresholding and region growing procedures are applied for pre‐processing the images. For some parts of bones, for example the femur ball, we use a three dimensional VRML‐based (Virtual Reality Modelling Language) femur model as a reference in order to make the segmentation method more robust. Based on the segmentation and the 3D VRML model, we can extract functional (biomechanical) femur parameters which are needed for gait analysis.
Human dental follicle precursor cells of wisdom teeth: isolation and differentiation towards osteoblasts for implants with and without scaffolds
Authors: Haddouti E.‐M. , Skroch M. , Zippel N. , Müller C. , Birova B. , Pansky A. , Kleinfeld C. , Winter M. , Tobiasch E. 
Published: October 2009

AbstractThe human dental follicle is a developmental precursor for essential periodontal tissues such as periodontal ligament and root development. These cells can be expected to differentiate into several lineages, since they are derived from mesoderm. Especially the differentiation towards the osteogenic lineage could be interesting for tissue regeneration with or without growing on scaffold biomaterials in autologous transplantation for reconstruction of large bone defects and incorporation of teeth implants.Here we demonstrate a fast and efficient method to isolate stem cells out of the dental follicle of wisdom teeth and their more determined lineage specific commitment into the osteogenic direction.Typical markers confirmed the stem cell character of the isolated and differentiated cells and the successful differentiation has been verified in addition after lineage specific induction using corresponding stainings. In order to evaluate the quality of the cells microbiological investigations were performed and showed that all samples contained microbial species. Pre‐treatment of patients with antibiotics reduced the number of microorganisms to a minimum but did not suffice to eliminate all bacteria. The predominantly found species were gram‐positive cocci being either catalase‐positive and oxidase‐negative or catalase‐ and oxidase‐negative. Most microorganisms belonged to the families of Streptococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae. During cultivation of the stem cells, the contamination with microorganisms could be easily suppressed by usage of standard cell culture conditions with penicillin and streptomycin.
Gene expression changes in blood as a putative biomarker for Huntington's disease
Authors: Lovrecic Luca , Kastrin Andrej , Kobal Jan , Pirtosek Zvezdan , Krainc Dimitri , Peterlin Borut 
Published: October 2009

AbstractSeveral studies demonstrated alterations of gene expression in blood in various neurological disorders including Huntington's disease (HD). Using microarray technology, a recent study identified a large number of significantly altered mRNAs in HD blood, from which a 12‐gene set was selected as classifier for discriminating controls and HD patients. The aim of our study was to validate expression changes of these 12 genes in an independent cohort of HD patients and evaluate their sensitivity and specificity. Four different subject groups were included—patients with HD, Parkinson's disease (PD), acute ischemic stroke (AS) and healthy controls. Although the previous results were successfully validated, gene expression changes in HD blood partly overlapped with those observed in blood from PD and AS patients. Predictive value of the selected biomarker set for HD group was 78%, with 82% sensitivity and 53% specificity. Further gene expression analyses in longitudinal studies are needed to validate and refine possible transcriptomic blood biomarkers in HD. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Nigrostriatal dysfunction in homozygous and heterozygous parkin gene carriers: An 18F‐dopa PET progression study
Authors: Pavese Nicola , Khan Naheed L. , Scherfler Christoph , Cohen Lisa , Brooks David J. , Wood Nicholas W. , Bhatia Kailash P. , Quinn Niall P. , Lees Andrew J. , Piccini Paola 
Published: October 2009

AbstractLittle is known about the rate of progression of striatal dysfunction in subjects with parkin‐linked parkinsonism. Being a heterozygous parkin gene carrier may confer susceptibility to Parkinson's disease (PD). In a previous 18F‐dopa PET study, we reported that 69% of carriers of a single parkin mutation showed subclinical loss of putamen dopaminergic function. Using serial 18F‐dopa PET, the present longitudinal study addresses rates of progression of nigrostriatal dysfunction in both compound heterozygous (parkin‐linked parkinsonism) and single heterozygous parkin gene carriers. Three symptomatic patients who were compound heterozygotes for parkin gene mutations and six asymptomatic heterozygous carriers were clinically assessed and had 18F‐dopa PET at baseline and again after 5 years. The patients with symptomatic parkin showed a mean 0.5% annual reduction in putamen 18F‐dopa uptake over 5 years while caudate 18F‐dopa uptake declined by a mean annual rate of 2 %. The asymptomatic heterozygote gene carriers showed a mean 0.56% annual reduction in putamen and 0.62 % annual reduction in caudate 18F‐dopa uptake. Neurological examination at both baseline and follow‐up showed no evidence of parkinsonism. Loss of nigrostriatal dysfunction in parkin‐linked parkinsonism occurs at a very slow rate compared to the 9–12% annual loss of putamen 18F‐dopa uptake reported for idiopathic PD. Although subclinical reductions of striatal 18F‐dopa uptake are common in carriers of a single parkin mutation their slow rate of progression suggests that few if any of these will develop clinical parkinsonism. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society
Neck movement speed in cervical dystonia
Authors: De Beyl Diederik Zegers , Salvia Patrick 
Published: October 2009

AbstractClinical scales of patients with cervical dystonia do not rate neck movement velocity. We prospectively measured range of neck movements and movement velocities in 35 consecutive patients with cervical dystonia (CD) and 29 normal controls. Reduction of peak velocities in patients with CD was the most robust abnormality and was correlated to TWSTRS. Coupled movements out of attempted movement plane were increased in the patient group. Movement range was moderately though significantly reduced. We conclude that slowing of voluntary neck movements is a frequent and hitherto unrecognized feature in CD. © 2009 Movement Disorder Society