bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A modified sonographic technique for assessment of gastric emptying of liquid
Authors: Pedersen J. F. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose: Ultrasound scanning is replacing scintigraphy in studies of gastric emptying of liquid, but both have considerable day-to-day variability. This study describes a modified ultrasound technique for assessing gastric emptying of liquid, and evaluates the inter- and intraindividual variation in emptying time. Material and Methods: On different days, each of 12 healthy volunteers had meals of 350 ml broth. The antral area was measured at sonography 5 times before the meal as a baseline, and every 1–4 min after the meal. The time until the antral area had decreased to 150% of baseline (T150) was determined and used as surrogate expression of gastric emptying time. Results: The mean T150 for a broth meal was 12.6 min (range 5–21) and 13.5 min (6–23) (first and second meal, respectively). The standard deviation of the differences between the 12 pairs of repeated measurements was 3.1 min and the coefficient of variation was 24%. Conclusion: Ultrasound monitoring of antral size after a liquid meal is a well suited method for assessing gastric emptying of liquid.
Elective placement of covered stents in native coronary arteries
Authors: Søvik E. , Kløw N-E. , Brekke M. , Stavnes S. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose: To study the feasibility of placing a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stent graft into native coronary arteries and assess the complications and the restenosis rate. Material and Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with stable angina pectoris were included and the stent graft was placed into native coronary arteries. Clinical and angiographic follow-up were performed after 6 months. Results: The stent grafts were successfully placed in all patients. The mean reference diameter was 3.3 ± 0.6 mm. During follow-up the stent grafts occluded in patients after 1, 2 and 2.5 months and one more was occluded at 6 months. Three patients experienced myocardial infarction, 2 Q wave and one non-Q wave. After 6 months 42 (84%) patients had angina NYHA class 0 or 1. Target vessel revascularization was done in 11 cases for restenosis in the graft (n = 4), outside the graft (n = 3) and both (n = 4), giving a restenosis rate of 24%. The total major adverse coronary events at 6 months was 24%. Conclusion: The stent graft was deployed with a high success rate. The restenosis rate was not higher than expected for bare stents. However, this study showed that subacute occlusion may occur more frequently and we therefore recommend that ticlopidine or clopidogrel treatment should be prolonged to at least 3 months.
Morphologic and histopathologic changes in the bowel after super-selective transcatheter embolization for focal lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage
Authors: Horiguchi J. , Naito A. , Fukuda H. , Nakashige A. , Ito K. , Kiso T. , Mori M. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the safety of superselective arterial embolization therapy in the lower gastrointestinal tract. The sequelae on normal enteric tissue in lower gastrointestinal arterial embolization were retrospectively reviewed. Material and Methods: To control hemorrhage and tumor blood supply, 14 patients were treated by superselective transcatheter embolization at different levels of the colonic and small intestine vessels via the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries using microcoils and/or gelatin sponge. Normal enteric tissues in the embolized areas were analyzed for the occurrence of ischemic changes by clinical follow-up, colonoscopy, and surgery. Results: Normal bowel function was preserved in 13 patients. In 1 patient treated with numerous gelatin sponge particles delivered from the proximal arcade of the superior mesenteric artery, significant muscular fibrosis occurred. Conclusion: Superselective arterial embolization for lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage can be safely performed by minimizing the amount of embolic materials and delivering them as distally as possible.
Imaging of esophageal tuberculosis: A review of 23 cases
Authors: Nagi B. , Lal A. , Kochhar R. , Bhasin D. K. , Gulati M. , Suri S. , Singh K. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the various radiological abnormalities in patients with proven esophageal tuberculosis. Material and Methods: The case records of 23 patients with proven esophageal tuberculosis were evaluated retrospectively for various radiological abnormalities. Twenty-two patients had secondary involvement of esophagus in the form of direct extension of mediastinal and pulmonary tuberculosis or spinal tuberculosis. Only 1 patient had primary involvement of the esophagus with no evidence of disease elsewhere. The diagnosis was confirmed by endoscopic and CT-guided biopsy/aspiration cytology in 7 and 6 cases, respectively. Diagnosis was made on the basis of surgical biopsy of lymph node and autopsy in 1 patient each. In the remaining 8 patients the diagnosis was based on radiological and endoscopic findings and the response to antituberculous treatment. Results: Chest radiography (CXR) was abnormal in 65% patients. While the findings were non-conclusive for esophageal tuberculosis, characteristic lesions of tuberculosis in lungs or spine were suggestive of tuberculous etiology. In 15 patients, CT of the chest confirmed the corresponding CXR findings and also showed additional findings of mediastinal lymphadenopathy when CXR was normal. Fourteen patients showed mediastinal lymphadenopathy on CT of the chest. In all these patients, more than one group of lymph nodes was involved. The characteristic hypodense center of lymph nodes suggestive of tuberculosis was seen in 12 patients. Radiological abnormalities seen in barium swallow examination were extrinsic compression, traction diverticula, strictures, sinus/fistulous tracts, kinking and pseudotumor mass of esophagus in decreasing order of frequency. The middle third of the esophagus was found to be the most frequent site of involvement.
Altered response in renal blood flow and oxygen tension to contrast media in diabetic rats
Authors: Palm F. , Carlsson P.-O. , Hansell P. , Hellberg O. , Nygren A. , Liss P. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose: To investigate the effect of the contrast medium (CM) iopromide on renal microcirculation and oxygen tension in non-diabetic control and streptozotocin-diabetic Wistar Furth rats. Materials and Methods: Oxygen tension was measured with Clark-type microelectrodes and blood flow with laser-Doppler flow probes. In order to differentiate between an acutely increased blood glucose concentration and a long-term diabetic state, some of the non-diabetic control rats were intravenously infused with glucose. Results: CM decreased the medullary oxygen tension in control (non-diabetic normoglycemic) rats (∼35%) but not in diabetic rats. Medullary blood flow in control rats increased after CM administration and remained elevated, while it was unchanged in the diabetic rats. In response to CM, glucose-infused control rats responded similarly to control animals in medullary oxygen tension, but similarly to diabetic rats in medullary blood flow. Contrary to in control rats, medullary oxygen tension was unchanged in diabetic animals after CM administration. Conclusion: Streptozotocin-diabetic rats have an altered response to intravenous injection of the CM iopromide compared to non-diabetic rats. The unaltered medullary oxygen tension, seen in the diabetic group after injection of CM, suggests that non-hemodynamic mechanisms are responsible for the increased frequency of renal failure commonly seen among diabetic patients.
Book Reviews
Authors: Ekberg Olle , Kløw Nils-Einar 
Published: December 2009

Normal and Abnormal Swallowing. Imaging in Diagnosis and Therapy, 2nd Edn. Edited by B. Jones. Springer-Verlag 2003. ISBN 0-387-95194-6. Hardcover 287 pages, with 164 figures (4 in full color). Venous Catheters. A Practical Manual. Edited by P. C. Pieters, J. Tisnado and M. A. Mauro. Thieme Medical Publishers 2002. ISBN 3-13-124821-1. Price: €59.95.
Complications associated with percutaneous nephrolithotripsy: supra- versus subcostal access: A retrospective study
Authors: Radecka E. , Brehmer M. , Holmgren K. , Magnusson A. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose: Percutaneous nephrolithotripsy is an essential procedure for treating complex urinary calculi. To achieve optimal access to a large and complicated stone, an upper calyx puncture is often preferable. However, when performing a puncture above the 12th rib there is risk of an increased number of complications. In this retrospective study, we assessed the kind and frequency of complications after sub- and supracostal punctures of the collecting system of the kidney. Material and Methods: Between 1996 and 2001, 85 patients were treated with percutaneous nephrolithotripsy. In 63 patients a subcostal track, below the 12th rib was established. Puncture was performed under ultrasonic or fluoroscopic guidance in 61 patients and CT-guided in 2 patients. In 17 patients a supracostal puncture, above the 12th rib, was performed under CT guidance and in 5 patients with US or fluoroscopic guidance. Result: The main difference regarding preoperative complications was the number of patients complaining of respiratory correlated pain, 7 (32%) in the supracostal puncture group compared with 3 (5%) in the subcostal puncture group. No significant difference regarding peroperative complications was found. Postoperatively, there were 2 major bleedings, one in each group, which had to be treated with arterial embolization. In the supracostal puncture group there were 2 patients with pleural effusion and 2 patients with pneumothorax. Conclusion: The complication rate was slightly higher after supracostal puncture as compared with a subcostal approach, especially regarding respiratory correlated pain. When performing a supracostal puncture there is an increased risk that the track passes through the pleural space, which might explain the difference in the panorama of complications.
Dynamic MR imaging of the breast: Analysis of kinetic and morphologic diagnostic criteria
Authors: Szabó B. K. , Aspelin P. , Kristoffersen Wiberg M. , Boné B. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose: To assess the value of kinetic and architectural diagnostic criteria on dynamic MR breast imaging, and to construct a scoring system for lesion characterization. Material and Methods: A total of 92 women with 109 histopathologically verified breast lesions were included in this retrospective study. The patients were examined by a 1.5 T system using a dedicated double breast coil. A dynamic examination with one precontrast and seven postcontrast series was performed, using a T1-weighted 3D FLASH sequence. Thirty lesions (15 malignant and 15 benign) were randomly chosen for the validation set, and the remaining 79 lesions (62 malignant and 17 benign) formed the estimation set, in which multivariate analysis was performed in order to select the most important features. These parameters were then used for constructing the scoring system, which was tested on the validation set. The scoring system was compared with the routine standard evaluation that used all established diagnostic criteria. ROC curves were generated to assess the diagnostic accuracy of different approaches. Results: In the multivariate analysis of the 79 lesions, time-to-peak enhancement and the descriptor of margins were found to be the most important independent factors for distinguishing benign from malignant lesions, and formed the basis of the scoring system. The areas under the ROC curves for the standard evaluation, and the scoring system were 0.813 and 0.880 in the 30 lesions. Conclusion: Time-to-peak enhancement and the descriptor of margins appear to be the most important diagnostic criteria for mass lesions in dynamic breast MR imaging.
Cerebral hemodynamics in a healthy population measured by dynamic susceptibility contrast MR imaging
Authors: Helenius J. , Perkiö J. , Soinne L. , Østergaard L. , Carano R. A. D. , Salonen O. , Savolainen S. , Kaste M. , Aronen H. J. , Tatlisumak T. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose: To establish reference data and to study age-dependency for cerebral perfusion in various regions of the brain in a healthy population. Material and Methods: Eighty healthy subjects of both genders from 22 to 85 years of age were studied with spin echo echo-planar dynamic susceptibility contrast MR imaging (DSC MRI) at 1.5 T. Cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and contrast agent mean transit time (MTT) were calculated bilaterally for 20 distinct neuroanatomic structures. Results: In gray matter, the following values were found (mean ± SD): CBV (4.6 ± 1.0 ml/100 g), CBF (94.2 ± 23.0 ml/100 g/min), and MTT (3.0 ± 0.6 s), and in white matter: CBV (1.3 ± 0.4 ml/100 g), CBF (19.6 ± 5.8 ml/100 g/min), and MTT (4.3 ± 0.7 s). The perfusion parameters did not change with age, except for a tendency to an increase in gray matter MTT and CBV. Males exhibited higher MTT and CBV than females. No hemispheric difference was found in either gender. Conclusion: Cerebral hemodynamics can be assessed with DSC MRI. Age itself seems to have only a marginal effect on cerebral perfusion in healthy population.
Value of micro-CT as an investigative tool for osteochondritis dissecans: A preliminary study with comparison to histology
Authors: Mohr A. , Heiss C. , Bergmann I. , Schrader C. , Roemer F. W. , Lynch J. A. , Muhle C. , Genant H. K. , Heller M. 
Published: December 2009

Purpose: To evaluate micro computed tomography (micro-CT) for the assessment of osteochondritis dissecans in comparison with histology. Material and Methods: Osteochondritis dissecans lesions of 3 patients were evaluated using micro-CT (0.125 mA, 40 keV, 60 μm slice thickness, 60 μm isotropic resolution, entire sample) and light microscopy (toluidine blue, 3–5 μm slice thickness). The methods were compared regarding preparation time, detectability of tissue types and morphologic features of bone and cartilage. Results: Non-destructive micro-CT imaging of the entire sample was faster than histologic preparation of a single slice for light microscopy. Morphologic features of bone and cartilage could be imaged in a comparable way to histology. It was not possible to image cells or different tissue types of bone and cartilage with micro-CT. Conclusion: Micro-CT is a fast, non-destructive tool that may be a supplement or, if detailed histologic information is not necessary, an alternative to light microscopy for the investigation of osteochondritis dissecans.
Genistein synergizes with arsenic trioxide to suppress human hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Jiang Hongchi , Ma Yong , Chen Xiaoning , Pan Shangha , Sun Bei , Krissansen Geoffrey W. , Sun Xueying 
Published: December 2009

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is of limited therapeutic benefit for the treatment of solid tumors. Genistein exhibits anticancer and pro‐oxidant activities, making it a potential candidate to enhance the efficacy of ATO whose cytotoxicity is oxidation‐sensitive. This study sought to determine whether genistein synergizes with ATO to combat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Three human HCC cell lines, namely HepG2, Hep3B, and SK‐Hep‐1, were incubated with ATO, genistein, or ATO + genistein. The cells were also pretreated with antioxidant agents N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC) or butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Cell viability, apoptosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), expression of Bcl‐2, Bax, caspase‐9, and ‐3, and release of cytochromecinto the cytosol were examined. The synergistic effect of ATO and genistein was also assessed using HepG2 xenografts subcutaneously established in BALB/c nude mice. The results show that genistein synergized with ATO to reduce viability, induce apoptosis, and diminish the ΔΨm of cells. The combination therapy down‐regulated Bcl‐2 expression, up‐regulated Bax expression, enhanced the activation of caspase‐9 and ‐3, and increased the release of cytochromec. The synergistic effect of ATO and genistein was diminished by pretreatment with NAC or BHA. Genistein increased the production of intracellular ROS, while ATO had little effect. Genistein synergized with a low dose of ATO (2.5 mg/kg) to significantly inhibit the growth of HepG2 tumors, and suppress cell proliferation and induce apoptosisin situ. There were no obvious side effects, as seen with a high dose of ATO (5 mg/kg). Combining genistein with ATO warrants investigation as a therapeutic strategy to combat HCC.(Cancer Sci2010; 101: 975–983)
Effect of axitinib (AG‐013736) on fatigue, thyroid‐stimulating hormone, and biomarkers: A phase I study in Japanese patients
Authors: Mukohara Toru , Nakajima Hikaru , Mukai Hirofumi , Nagai Shunji , Itoh Kuniaki , Umeyama Yoshiko , Hashimoto Junichi , Minami Hironobu 
Published: December 2009

Axitinib is an oral, potent, and selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) 1, 2, and 3. This phase I study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, antitumor activity, and recommended starting dose of axitinib in patients with advanced solid tumors. Twelve patients received single‐dose axitinib 5 mg and were monitored for ≥48 h. Continuous 5 mg twice‐daily dosing was then initiated. One patient had dose‐limiting toxicity (grade 3 proteinuria and fatigue). Common treatment‐related adverse events were anorexia, fatigue, and diarrhea. Grade 3 treatment‐related adverse events were fatigue and hypertension. Maximum axitinib plasma concentration occurred 1–4 h after steady‐state dosing. Eleven patients experienced thyroid‐stimulating hormone elevation; time‐course change and fatigue onset appeared to be related in some patients. Significant correlation was observed between thyroid‐stimulating hormone change and area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC; r = 0.80, P = 0.005). Axitinib decreased plasma soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (s‐VEGFR2), with significant correlation between change in s‐VEGFR2 and AUC (r = −0.92, P < 0.0001). Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography revealed a substantial decrease in tumor metabolic activity associated with axitinib. Tumor size decreased in nine patients. The time‐course of thyroid‐stimulating hormone change appeared correlated with fatigue. There were significant correlations between thyroid‐stimulating hormone or s‐VEGFR2 and axitinib exposure. Axitinib 5 mg twice‐daily is the recommended starting dose for Japanese patients. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT00447005. (Cancer Sci 2010)(Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 963–968)
Heavy smoking history interacts with chemoradiotherapy for esophageal cancer prognosis: A retrospective study
Authors: Shitara Kohei , Matsuo Keitaro , Hatooka Shunzo , Ura Takashi , Takahari Daisuke , Yokota Tomoya , Abe Tetsuya , Kawai Hiroki , Tajika Masahiro , Kodaira Takeshi , Shinoda Masayuki , Tajima Kazuo , Muro Kei , Tanaka Hideo 
Published: December 2009

Smoking is a well‐known risk factor for esophageal cancer. However, there are few reports that directly evaluate smoking as a prognostic factor for esophageal cancer. Moreover, scarce evidence is available on whether smoking interacts with major treatment modalities of esophageal cancer. In this study we retrospectively analyzed 364 patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer who were treated between 2001 and 2005 at our institution. Background characteristics, including smoking history, were analyzed as potential prognostic factors. Of the 363 patients, 76 patients (20.9%) were non‐smokers or light smokers (non‐heavy), whereas 287 patients (79.1%) were heavy smokers. The 5‐year survival rate for non‐heavy smokers and heavy smokers was 61.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 49.1–72.2) vs 44.6% (95% CI: 38.2–50.9), respectively. In a multivariate Cox model (adjusted for age, gender, performance status, alcohol consumption, histology, tumor length, International Union Against Cancer [UICC] stage, and treatment), the hazard ratio for heavy smokers in comparison with non‐heavy smokers was 1.73 (95% CI: 1.12–2.68; P = 0.013). When we stratified by treatment method, heavy smoking was significantly associated with poor survival only in patients treated by chemoradiotherapy (hazard ratio, 2.43; 95% CI: 1.38–4.27; P = 0.002). More importantly, a statistically significant interaction between heavy smoking history and treatment modality was observed (P = 0.041). Our results indicated that smoking history is strongly associated with poor prognosis in patients with esophageal cancer, especially those treated by chemoradiotherapy. Further investigation is warranted to explain this different prognosis.(Cancer Sci 2010; 101: 1001–1006)
The acute hypoxic ventilatory response under halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane anaesthesia in rats*
Authors: Karanovic N. , Pecotic R. , Valic M. , Jeroncic A. , Carev M. , Karanovic S. , Ujevic A. , Dogas Z. 
Published: December 2009

SummaryThe relative order of potency of anaesthetic agents on the hypoxic ventilatory response has been tested in humans, but animal data are sparse. We examined the effects of 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0 MAC halothane, isoflurane, and sevoflurane on phrenic nerve activity in euoxia (baseline) and during acute normocapnic hypoxia (inspired oxygen fraction 0.09) in adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats. With halothane, all animals became apnoeic even in euoxia, and the hypoxic response was completely abolished at all anaesthetic levels. With isoflurane, 5 of 14 animals exhibited phrenic nerve activity in euoxia at 1.4 MAC and demonstrated a hypoxic response (302% of baseline activity), but all became apnoeic and lost the hypoxic response at higher doses. With sevoflurane, phrenic nerve activity and a hypoxic response was preserved in at least some animals at all doses (i.e. even the highest dose of 2.0 MAC). Similar to the rank order of potency previously observed in humans, the relative order of potency of depression of the hypoxic ventilatory response in rats was halothane (most depressive) > isoflurane > sevoflurane (p = 0.01 for differences between agents).