bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Severity of initial stent angulation predicts reintervention after successful palliative enteral stenting for malignant luminal obstruction
Authors: Lee Eric Y T , Bourke Michael J , Williams Stephen J , Alrubaie Ahmad , Kwan Vu , Bailey Adam A , Lynch Paul M , Loh Sze M 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Recurrent stent obstruction necessitating reintervention is problematic and incompletely understood. The aim of the present study was to identify factor(s) predisposing to reintervention.Methods:  Retrospective review of patients (n = 117) referred to a single major endoscopic referral centre for palliative enteral stenting from 1999 to 2006. Twelve were excluded due to inadequate follow‐up data (n = 7) or initial radiographic documentation (n = 5). A total of 105 patients (gastroduodenal n = 57, colonic n = 48) were therefore analyzed. The primary outcome of interest was recurrent obstruction necessitating reintervention. Kaplan–Meier analysis of potential factors predisposing to reintervention, including stent angulation (mild [<15°], moderate [15°–90°], severe [>90°]) was completed for 98 patients (technically successful enteral stenting).Results:  Technical and clinical success were achieved in 98 of 105 (93.3%) and 92 of 98 (93.9%) cases, respectively. Post‐stenting median survival was 97.5 days (range 3–1054). Eighteen patients (18.4%) required reintervention for stent obstruction at a median time to reintervention of 85 days (range 7–481). Increased stent angulation (severe vs mild hazard ratio 6.73 (95% confidence interval 1.59–27.59), P = 0.009) was the only statistically significant factor in multivariate analysis predicting reintervention.Conclusions:  Despite its limitation as a retrospective review, this study found that reintervention for stent obstruction is necessary in almost one in five cases, and increasing severity of stent angulation is the most important risk factor.
Aberrant expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and its interaction with protein kinase C δ in inflammation associated neoplastic transformation of human esophageal epithelium in high risk populations
Authors: Parthasarathy Seshacharyulu , Dhayaparan Devaraj , Jayanthi Venkatraman , Devaraj Sivasitambaram Niranjali , Devaraj Halagowder 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Esophageal cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian males and is mostly associated with tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a member of Type I tyrosine kinases. Its activation causes the docking of various proteins in its cytosolic tail. In the present study we have analyzed the expression pattern of EGFR, protein kinase C δ (PKCδ), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and the interactions between EGFR and PKCδ in various pathological conditions.Methods:  Human esophageal biopsies were obtained from 93 patients with a past history of smoking and alcohol consumption: 20 showed normal mucosa, 40 with dysplasia and 33 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). These pathological conditions were analyzed immunohistochemically for the presence of EGFR expression and then subsequently analyzed using immunoblot and immunoprecipitation.Results:  A statistically significant difference of EGFR overexpression was found between low‐ and high‐grade dysplasia and carcinoma (χ2 = 3.3, χ2 = 3.42: P = 0.07, 0.33). A statistical significance was observed between dysplasia and SCC and in all histopathological types (χ2 = 4, χ2 = 4.9; P < 0.05, P = 0.18 and χ2 = 26.3, 26.6; P < 0.001). EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation and its association with PKCδ was significantly higher in all histopathological types with χ2 = 7.965; P < 0.05 and 4.0830; P = 0.2530.Conclusion:  Altogether, our findings reveal that the activation of EGFR and its subsequent interaction with PKCδ under inflammatory conditions might positively be attributed to the transformation of normal esophageal epithelia to SCC, which could explain ongoing inflammation in normal mucosa in a population prone to smoking and alcoholism.
Topographic differences in gastric micromucosal patterns observed by magnifying endoscopy with narrow band imaging
Authors: Kawamura Masashi , Abe Shu , Oikawa Keisuke , Terai Shiho , Saito Masahiro , Shibuya Daisuke , Kato Katsuaki , Shimada Takenobu , Uedo Noriya , Masuda Takayuki 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The distributions and grades of Helicobacter pylori induced gastritis are known to vary among H. pylori‐associated diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in distributions of gastric micromucosal structures observed by magnifying narrow band imaging (NBI) endoscopy among patients with different H. pylori‐associated diseases.Methods:  Ninety‐five patients with active duodenal ulcers (n = 24) and diffuse‐type (n = 24) and intestinal‐type (n = 47) early gastric cancers were enrolled. The magnified NBI findings were evaluated at the lesser and greater curvatures in the upper gastric corpus and were classified according to the modified A‐B classification system. Biopsy specimens were also evaluated.Results:  In a total of 190 areas observed with magnifying NBI, histological grading (inflammation, activity, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia) showed significant differences among the classified micromucosal patterns (P < 0.001). Types B‐1 and B‐2, with mild atrophic changes and few areas of intestinal metaplasia, were seen mostly in the duodenal ulcers group. Types B‐3 and A‐1, with moderate atrophic changes, were seen in the diffuse‐type early gastric cancers at the lesser curvature. Types A‐1 and A‐2, with severe atrophic change and a high frequency of intestinal metaplasia, were seen in the intestinal‐type early gastric cancers at the lesser curvature. The prevalence of micromucosal structures differed significantly among the three groups both at the lesser and greater curvatures (P < 0.001).Conclusions:  Magnifying NBI endoscopy clearly revealed detailed micromorphological differences corresponding to the histology and endoscopic findings among patients with different H. pylori‐associated diseases.
Current status of Barrett's esophagus research in Asia
Authors: Chang Chi‐Yang , Cook Michael B , Lee Yi‐Chia , Lin Jaw‐Town , Ando Takafumi , Bhatia Shobna , Chow Wong‐Ho , El‐Omar Emad M , Goto Hidemi , Li Yang‐Qing , McColl Kenneth , Reddy Nageshwar , Rhee Poong‐Lyul , Sharma Prateek , Sung Joseph J‐Y , Ghoshal Uday , Wong Jennie Y‐Y , Wu Justin C‐Y , Zhang Jun , Ho Khek‐Yu ,   the Asian Barrett's Consortium
Published: October 2010

AbstractIn Western countries, the epidemiology of esophageal cancer has changed considerably over the past decades with a rise in the ratio of adenocarcinoma to squamous cell carcinoma. Although the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux is increasing in Asia, the prevalences of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) have remained low in most Asian countries. The Asian Barrett's Consortium recently conducted a review of published studies on BE from Asia to assess the current status of BE research in Asia, and to recommend potential areas for future BE research in the region. Differences in study design, enrolled population, and endoscopic biopsy protocols used have led to substantial variability in the reported BE prevalence (0.06% to 19.9%) across Asia. In particular, some Japanese studies used diagnostic criteria that differed considerably from what was used in most Asian studies. As in Western countries, increased age, male sex, tobacco smoking, reflux symptoms, and erosive esophagitis have been found to be risk factors for BE in several case‐control studies from Asia. The Prague C and M criteria, developed to provide better interobserver reliability in diagnosis and grading of BE, are currently under extensive evaluation in the Asian population. There is a need for standardized protocols for endoscopic and histopathologic diagnosis before initiating collaborative projects to identify etiologic determinants of BE and its ensuing malignant transformation. At present, data regarding the management and long‐term outcome of BE are extremely limited in Asia. More studies of BE in this geographic area are warranted.
Double balloon enteroscopy and capsule endoscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: An updated meta‐analysis
Authors: Teshima Christopher W , Kuipers Ernst J , van Zanten Sander Veldhuyzen , Mensink Peter B F 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Uncertainty remains about the best test to evaluate patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). Previous meta‐analyses demonstrated similar diagnostic yields with capsule endoscopy (CE) and double balloon enteroscopy (DBE) but relied primarily on data from abstracts and were not limited to bleeding patients. Many studies have since been published. Therefore, we performed a new meta‐analysis comparing CE and DBE focused specifically on OGIB.Methods:  A comprehensive literature search was performed of comparative studies using both CE and DBE in patients with OGIB. Data were extracted and analyzed to determine the weighted pooled diagnostic yields of each method and the odds ratio for the successful localization of a bleeding source.Results:  Ten eligible studies were identified. The pooled diagnostic yield for CE was 62% (95% confidence interval [CI] 47.3–76.1) and for DBE was 56% (95% CI 48.9–62.1), with an odds ratio for CE compared with DBE of 1.39 (95% CI 0.88–2.20; P = 0.16). Subgroup analysis demonstrated the yield for DBE performed after a previously positive CE was 75.0% (95% CI 60.1–90.0), with the odds ratio for successful diagnosis with DBE after a positive CE compared with DBE in all patients of 1.79 (95% CI 1.09–2.96; P = 0.02). In contrast, the yield for DBE after a previously negative CE was only 27.5% (95% CI 16.7–37.8).Conclusions:  Capsule endoscopy and double balloon enteroscopy provide similar diagnostic yields in patients with OGIB. However, the diagnostic yield of DBE is significantly higher when performed in patients with a positive CE.
Changes in molecular composition of rat medial prefrontal cortex synapses during adolescent development
Authors: Counotte Danielle S. , Li Ka Wan , Wortel Joke , Gouwenberg Yvonne , Van Der Schors Roel C. , Smit August B. , Spijker Sabine 
Published: October 2010

AbstractPostnatal brain development continues throughout adolescence into young adulthood. In particular, synapse strengthening and elimination are prominent processes during adolescence. However, molecular data of this relatively late stage of synaptic development are sparse. In this study, we used iTRAQ (isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification)‐based proteomics and electron microscopy to investigate the molecular composition of a synaptic membrane fraction from adolescent postnatal day (P)34 and P44 and adult (P78) rat medial prefrontal cortex. Differential expression of proteins was most prominent between early adolescence and young adulthood (35%, P34–P78), with an over‐representation of cell‐membrane proteins during adolescent development (between P34 and P44), and synaptic vesicle proteins between late adolescence and young adulthood (P44–P78). Indicative of the critical period of development, we found that, between P34 and P44, a substantial number of proteins was differentially expressed (14%), much more than during the period after adolescence, i.e. between P44 and P78 (5%). A striking observation was the developmental non‐stoichiometric regulation of distinct classes of proteins from the synaptic vesicle and the presynaptic release machinery. Electron microscopy demonstrated a small change in the number of docked vesicles between P34 and P44, but not in the total number of synaptic vesicles and in the size of the vesicle cluster. We conclude that the molecular composition of synapses, and more specifically the synaptic release machinery, of the medial prefrontal cortex changes drastically during adolescent development.
Association of the T‐786C, G894T and 4a/4b polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction in Iranian subjects
Authors: Safarinejad Mohammad Reza , Khoshdel Alireza , Shekarchi Babak , Taghva Arsia , Safarinejad Shiva 
Published: October 2010

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? We know that nitric oxide (NO) plays a significant role in penile tumescence. NO is produced during enzymatic conversion of L‐arginine to L‐citrulline by three distinct isoforms of NO synthase (NOS), namely, inducible (iNOS), endothelial (eNOS) and neural (nNOS). The endothelial isoform of NOS (eNOS), encoded by the NOS3 gene, is the main source of NO.We determined all three eNOS gene polymorphisms in men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction. There was a significant difference between the group of men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction and normal healthy men when compared by genotype distribution.OBJECTIVE• To investigate the association of the T‐786C, G894T and variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) in intron 4 (a/b) polymorphisms of the eNOS gene in Iranian subjects with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED).PATIENTS AND METHODS• A total of 322 consecutive patients with vasculogenic ED were recruited. Patients with concomitant risk factors for ED were excluded.• Patients with ED were identified based on history‐taking, detailed physical examination, serum biochemistry, sex hormone measurements, application of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, and penile duplex Doppler ultrasonography after intracavernosal injection of 20 µg prostaglandin E1. The control group comprised 318 age‐matched healthy male volunteers.• Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism and the T‐786C, G894T and VNTR intron 4 polymorphisms of the eNOS gene were determined.RESULTS• After multivariate regression analysis, significant differences were seen in the frequencies of genotypes and alleles of the two T‐786C and G894T polymorphisms when patients with ED and normal controls were compared.• In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) of increased ED was strongly associated with the ‐786C allele [adjusted OR = 3.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.28–4.25; P= 0.001] and the 894T allele (adjusted OR = 3.87, 95% CI = 2.53–4.87; P= 0.001).• The data showed a higher prevalence of the T‐786C CC genotype (adjusted OR = 2.72, 95% CI = 1.88–3.65; P= 0.006), and the G894T GT (adjusted OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.24–2.83; P= 0.037) and G894T TT genotypes (adjusted OR = 3.42, 95% CI 2.42–4.26; P= 0.001) in patients with ED than in the controls.CONCLUSIONS• The findings of the present study suggest that the eNOS T‐786C and G894T polymorphisms are strong predictors of the predisposition to ED in addition to traditional risk factors, signifying a genetic influence for this multifactorial disease.• Further studies in different ethnic populations are needed to better elucidate the role of eNOS gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of ED.
Intra‐individual short‐term variability of prostate‐specific antigen and other kallikrein markers in a serial collection of blood from men under evaluation for prostate cancer
Authors: Christensson Anders , Bruun Laila , Björk Thomas , Cronin Angel M. , Vickers Andrew J. , Savage Caroline J. , Lilja Hans 
Published: October 2010

Study Type – Diagnostic (exploratory cohort) Level of Evidence 2bOBJECTIVE• To assess variation of total prostate‐specific antigen (tPSA), free PSA (fPSA), percent fPSA, human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2) and intact PSA measured three times within 2 weeks. Knowledge of the variation in an individual’s PSA level is important for clinical decision‐making.PATIENTS AND METHODS• Study participants were 149 patients referred for prostate biopsy, of which 97 had benign disease and 52 had prostate cancer.• Three blood samples were drawn with a median of 4 h between first and second samples and 12 days between first and third samples.• Variability was described by absolute differences, ratios and intra‐individual coefficients of variation. Total PSA, fPSA, hK2 and intact PSA were measured in anticoagulated blood plasma.RESULTS• At baseline, the median tPSA was 6.8 (interquartile range, 4.5–9.6) ng/mL. The intra‐individual variation was low for all biomarkers, and lowest for tPSA. For 80% of participants, the ratio between first and second time points for tPSA was in the range 0.91–1.09 and the ratio for percent fPSA was in the range 0.89–1.15.• Total coefficients of variation between time 1 and 2 for tPSA, fPSA, percent fPSA, hK2 and intact PSA were 4.0%, 6.6%, 6.0%, 9.2% and 9.5%, respectively.• The measurements taken several days apart varied more than those taken on the same day, although the variation between both time points was not large.CONCLUSIONS• The intra‐individual variation for all the kallikrein‐like markers studied was relatively small, especially for samples drawn the same day.• Few cases are reclassified between the time points. This indicates the high short‐term biological and technical reproducibility of the tests in clinical use.
Preliminary study with bicalutamide in heterosexual and homosexual patients with prostate cancer: a possible implication of androgens in male homosexual arousal
Authors: Motofei Ion G. , Rowland David L. , Popa Florian , Kreienkamp Drew , Paunica Stana 
Published: October 2010

Study Type – Symptom prevalence (case series)  Level of Evidence 4 What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? A recent published paper regarding sexual and cognitive duality presents that androgens act synergic with female sexual pheromones while estrogens would act synergic with male sexual pheromones in normal potent men.The same authors found in this study that bicalutamide disfavours sexual function predominantly in homosexual rather than heterosexual men suffering with prostate cancer. The results of this study are interpreted alone in this article, the similarities and differences with results corresponding to younger and normal potent men following to be discussed recently in a review regarding psychosexual dualism.OBJECTIVE• Not only has a precise characterization of libido and sexual arousal in men as a central neural process been lacking, but the interactive role of gonadal hormones and sexual orientation in such processes has never been investigated. We investigate the relationships among sexual hormones, sexual arousal, and sexual orientation in men by comparing the self‐reported sexual response of heterosexual and homosexual men with locally advanced prostate neoplasm, receiving the non‐steroidal anti‐androgen bicalutamide as monotherapy.PATIENTS AND METHODS• 29 Romanian men participated in this study: 17 heterosexual and 12 homosexual. Patients were undergoing treatment for prostate cancer consisting of a standard daily dose of 50 mg bicalutamide, a fast acting non‐steroidal anti‐androgen with action comparable to other anti‐androgen drugs but with reportedly fewer sexual side effects.• Patients retrospectively provided information regarding their sexual functioning measured by the IIEF prior to commencing bicalutamide treatment.• Then, about five weeks later, patients were asked to prospectively provide information regarding their current sexual functioning while undergoing bicalutamide treatment.RESULTS• Overall IIEF scores as well as the Erectile Function, Orgasmic Function, Sexual Desire, and Overall Satisfaction subscales showed group, treatment, and group by treatment effects.• The Intercourse Satisfaction subscale showed group and group by treatment effects.• On most subscales, homosexual men showed lower functioning than heterosexual men, primarily in response to treatment with bicalutamide.CONCLUSIONS• Treatment with an anti‐androgen in a clinical population of men undergoing therapy for prostate cancer affected homosexual men more than heterosexual men, although not all heterosexual men were unaffected.• These results are discussed in the context of dual sexual natures, a concept recently developed in the sexual literature.• Furthermore, these findings reiterate the importance of incorporating such variables as sexual orientation into studies investigating medical treatments on sexual response.
Mid‐term evaluation of the transobturator male sling for post‐prostatectomy incontinence: focus on prognostic factors
Authors: Cornu Jean‐Nicolas , Sèbe Philippe , Ciofu Calin , Peyrat Laurence , Cussenot Olivier , Haab Francois 
Published: October 2010

Study Type – Therapy (outcomes research)Level of Evidence 2bOBJECTIVE• To assess clinical outcomes at mid‐term follow‐up and determine preoperative factors associated with the failure of the AdvanceTM male sling for post‐prostatectomy incontinence (PPI).PATIENTS AND METHODS• A prospective evaluation was conducted of 136 consecutive patients implanted with the AdvanceTM male sling for mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence after prostatectomy.• Patients were preoperatively evaluated using medical history, ASA score, urodynamics, 24‐h pad test and pad usage.• The clinical outcome was evaluated according to pad use and the Patient Global Impression of Improvement scale and by assessment of side effects. ‘Cure’ was defined as no pad usage and ‘improvement’ as a decrease in pad use by >50%.• Factors related to functional outcome were studied by univariate and multivariate analysis.RESULTS• After a mean ± SD (range) follow‐up of 21 ± 6 (12–36) months, 62% of patients were cured, 16% improved and 22% not improved.• Failure (no cure or improvement) was associated with previous urethral stricture surgery (P= 0.013) and a 24‐h pad‐test >200 g/day (P= 0.026), and there was a trend for an association with previous radiation therapy (P= 0.053).• Age, learning curve and type of prostatectomy did not affect the results.• Immediate postoperative complications were limited to two cases of dysuria, one case of perineal haematoma and two cases of perineal paresthesia. During follow‐up, 10% of patients had perineal pain and 14% of patients had mild dysuria. None required surgical management.CONCLUSION• The results of the present study, with a follow‐up of up to 3 years, confirm that the AdvanceTM male sling is an efficient treatment for PPI. However, particular attention should be given to the preoperative data associated with failure.
Binary Orientation Trees for Volume and Surface Reconstruction from Unoriented Point Clouds
Authors: Chen Yi‐Ling , Chen Bing‐Yu , Lai Shang‐Hong , Nishita Tomoyuki 
Published: October 2010

AbstractGiven a complete unoriented point set, we propose a binary orientation tree (BOT) for volume and surface representation, which roughly splits the space into the interior and exterior regions with respect to the input point set. The BOTs are constructed by performing a traditional octree subdivision technique while the corners of each cell are associated with a tag indicating thein/outrelationship with respect to the input point set. Starting from the root cell, a growing stage is performed to efficiently assign tags to the connected empty sub‐cells. The unresolved tags of the remaining cell corners are determined by examining their visibility via the hidden point removal operator. We show that the outliers accompanying the input point set can be effectively detected during the construction of the BOTs. After removing the outliers and resolving thein/outtags, the BOTs are ready to support any volume or surface representation techniques. To represent the surfaces, we also present a modified MPU implicits algorithm enabled to reconstruct surfaces from the input unoriented point clouds by taking advantage of the BOTs.