bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interobserver Repeatability of Measurements on Computed Tomography Images of Lax Canine Hip Joints from Youth to Maturity
Authors: LOPEZ MANDI J. , DAVIS KECHIA M. , JEFFREY‐BORGER SUSAN L. , MARKEL MARK D. , RETTENMUND CHRISTY 
Published: December 2009

Objectives—To determine interobserver repeatability of measurements on computed tomography (CT) images of lax canine hip joints at different ages and in the presence of degenerative joint disease at maturity.Study Design—Longitudinal observational investigation.Animals—Sibling crossbreed hounds.Methods—Pelvic CT was performed at 20, 24, 32, 48, 68, and 104 weeks of age. Measures were performed on 3 contiguous two‐dimensional (2D) transverse CT images of both hips at each time point by 3 investigators. Center‐edge angle (CEA), horizontal toit externe angle (HTEA), ventral (VASA), dorsal (DASA), and horizontal (HASA) acetabular sector angles, acetabular index (AI), and percent femoral head coverage (CPC) were measured. Interobserver repeatability was quantified with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Satisfactory repeatability was considered when ICC≥0.75.Results—DASA, CEA, and CPC were repeatable in all age groups. HASA and HTEA were repeatable for all but 1 time point. At 20 weeks of age, all measures but AI were repeatable, and at 104 weeks of age, DASA, CEA, CPC, and HASA were repeatable. Measures were repeatable in hips with and without degenerative changes with the exceptions of AI and HASA in normal hips and VASA and HTEA in osteoarthritic hips.Conclusions—Most 2D CT measurements examined were repeatable regardless of age or joint disease.Clinical Relevance—Two‐dimensional CT measures may augment current techniques for assessing joint changes in lax canine hips.
Bilateral Iliopsoas Muscle Contracture and Spinous Process Impingement in a German Shepherd Dog
Authors: RAGETLY GUILLAUME R. , GRIFFON DOMINIQUE J. , JOHNSON ANN L. , BLEVINS WILLIAM E. , VALLI VICTOR E. 
Published: December 2009

Objective—To report diagnosis and treatment of bilateral iliopsoas muscle contracture in a dog with spinous process impingement.Study design—Case report.Animals—German Shepherd dog.Methods—A dog with chronic progressive lameness, flexion contracture of the coxofemoral joints, severe pain, and decreased femoral reflexes had severe spondylosis bridging the vertebral bodies from L1 to L4 and enlarged dorsal spinous processes from T8 to L6 with impingement and bony proliferation. Ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were consistent with fibrosis, mineralization, and atrophy of the iliopsoas muscles bilaterally which was treated by staged tenectomy of the insertions of the iliopsoas muscles.Results—Because of severe perivascular fibrosis, the femoral vessels required ligation. Bilateral iliopsoas muscle tenectomy improved gait and provided pain relief. Histologic findings were consistent with fibrotic myopathy.Conclusions—Slow progression of severe clinical signs observed bilaterally in this dog differs from previous reports of iliopsoas myopathy. Findings were similar to the fibrotic myopathy of the gracilis or semitendinosus muscles described in dogs.Clinical Relevance—Iliopsoas muscle abnormalities should be considered in dogs with limited hip extension and pain. MRI is useful for diagnosing muscle fibrosis. Iliopsoas tenectomy may improve clinical function in dogs with fibrotic myopathy.
A Laparoscopic‐Sutured Gastropexy Technique In Dogs: Mechanical and Functional Evaluation
Authors: MATHON DIDIER H. , DOSSIN OLIVIER , PALIERNE SOPHIE , CREMOUX MATTHIEU , RODRIGUEZ HERIBERTO , MEYNAUD‐COLLARD PATRICIA , STEINER JOERG M. , SUCHODOLSKI JAN S. , LEFEBVRE HERVE P. , AUTEFAGE ANDRE 
Published: December 2009

Objective—To describe a laparoscopic‐sutured gastropexy technique in dogs and evaluate the tensile strength of the adhesion and effects on gastric function.Study Design—Experimental study.Animals—Female beagle dogs (n=7).Methods—A laparoscopic‐sutured gastropexy technique was evaluated by ex vivo tensile distraction tests 10 weeks after surgery. The effect of the adhesion on gastric emptying, mucosal permeability, and systemic inflammation were evaluated by monitoring the C‐reactive protein (CRP) and sucrose permeability, and by radiographic evaluation of gastric emptying 2 weeks before and 10 weeks after surgery.Results—Mean (±SD) tensile force to disrupt adhesions was 51.1±16.4 N. There was no significant postoperative increase in CRP concentration or change in sucrose permeability. The area under the curve representing the postprandial decrease in gastric radiographic area increased by 11% after gastropexy.Conclusions—This laparoscopic gastropexy technique had appropriate mechanical and functional characteristics with limited morbidity.Clinical Relevance—This laparoscopic‐sutured gastropexy provides adhesion strength comparable with other gastropexy techniques tested at 10 weeks postoperatively. Only minor changes in gastric emptying were observed 10 weeks after surgery.
Inguinal Herniation of the Ascending Colon in a 6‐month‐old Standardbred Colt
Authors: ROBINSON EMILY , CARMALT JAMES L. 
Published: December 2009

Objective— To report inguinal herniation of the ascending colon in a Standardbred colt.Study Design— Case report.Animals— A 6‐month‐old Standardbred colt.Methods— The colt underwent surgical exploration of the hernia with large colon resection and anastomosis.Results— A successful large colon resection and anastomosis was completed, however, the colt was euthanatized at the end of surgery upon owner request.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance— Although uncommon, indirect inguinal herniation of the ascending colon can occur in young horses.
The MERC at CORD Scholars Program in Medical Education Research: A Novel Faculty Development Opportunity for Emergency Physicians
Authors: Love Jeffrey N. , Coates Wendy C. , Santen Sally A. , Hobgood Cherri D. , Mavis Brian E. , Farrell Susan E. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractMedical educators are increasingly charged with the development of outcomes‐based “best practices” in medical student and resident education and patient care. To fulfill this mission, a cadre of well‐trained, experienced medical education researchers is required. The experienced medical educator is in a prime position to fill this need but often lacks the training needed to successfully contribute to such a goal. Towards this end, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Educational Affairs developed a series of content‐based workshops that have resulted in Medical Education Research Certification (MERC), promoting skills development and a better understanding of research by educators. Subsequently, the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD) partnered with the AAMC to take MERC a step further, in the MERC at CORD Scholars Program (MCSP). This venture integrates a novel, mentored, specialty‐specific research project with the traditional MERC workshops. Collaborative groups, based on a common area of interest, each develop a multi‐institutional project by exploring and applying the concepts learned through the MERC workshops. Participants in the inaugural MCSP have completed three MERC workshops and initiated a project. Upon program completion, each will have completed MERC certification (six workshops) and gained experience as a contributing author on a mentored education research project. Not only does this program serve as a multi‐dimensional faculty development opportunity, it is also intended to act as a catalyst in developing a network of education scholars and infrastructure for educational research within the specialty of emergency medicine.
Conference Attendance Does Not Correlate With Emergency Medicine Residency In‐Training Examination Scores
Authors: Gene Hern Jr H. , Wills Charlotte , Alter Harrison , Bowman Steven H. , Katz Eric , Shayne Philip , Vahidnia Farnaz 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjectives:  The residency review committee for emergency medicine (EM) requires residents to have greater than 70% attendance of educational conferences during residency training, but it is unknown whether attendance improves clinical competence or scores on the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) in‐training examination (ITE). This study examined the relationship between conference attendance and ITE scores. The hypothesis was that greater attendance would correlate to a higher examination score.Methods:  This was a multi‐center retrospective cohort study using conference attendance data and examination results from residents in four large county EM residency training programs. Longitudinal multi‐level models, adjusting for training site, U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 score, and sex were used to explore the relationship between conference attendance and in‐training examination scores according to year of training. Each year of training was studied, as well as the overall effect of mean attendance as it related to examination score.Results:  Four training sites reported data on 405 residents during 2002 to 2008; 386 residents had sufficient data to analyze. In the multi‐level longitudinal models, attendance at conference was not a significant predictor of in‐training percentile score (coefficient = 0.005, 95% confidence interval [CI] = –0.053 to 0.063, p = 0.87). Score on the USMLE Step 1 examination was a strong predictor of ITE score (coefficient = 0.186, 95% CI = 0.155 to 0.217; p < 0.001), as was female sex (coefficient = 2.117, 95% CI = 0.987 to 3.25; p < 0.001).Conclusions:  Greater conference attendance does not correlate with performance on an individual’s ITE scores. Conference attendance may represent an important part of EM residency training but perhaps not of ITE performance.
Evaluation of a Web‐based Asynchronous Pediatric Emergency Medicine Learning Tool for Residents and Medical Students
Authors: Burnette Kreg , Ramundo Maria , Stevenson Michelle , Beeson Michael S. 
Published: December 2009

AbstractObjectives:  To examine the effectiveness of an asynchronous learning tool consisting of web‐based lectures for trainees covering major topics pertinent to pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) and to assess resident and student evaluation of this mode of education.Methods:  PEM faculty and fellows created a 21‐lecture, web‐based curriculum. These 20‐minute online lectures used Microsoft PowerPoint with the voice‐over feature. A 75‐question test was created to assess the effectiveness of the web‐based learning model, administered online before and after the rotation in the pediatric emergency department (PED). All fourth‐year medical students and residents (across all specialties) rotating through the PED were required to complete 10 of the 21 lectures during their 1‐month rotation. The main outcome variable was difference in score between pre‐ and post‐rotation tests of participants who viewed no lectures and those who viewed at least one lecture. Evaluation of the program was assessed by anonymous survey using 5‐point discrete visual analog scales. Responses of 4 or 5 were considered positive for analysis.Results:  One hundred eleven residents and fourth‐year medical students participated in the program. An initial 32 completed testing before implementation of the on‐line lectures (March 2007–August 2007), and another five did not complete the on‐line lectures after implementation (September 2007–February 2008). Seventy‐one completed testing and on‐line lectures, and all but three completed at least 10 on‐line lectures during their rotation. Fourteen of 111 trainees did not complete the pre‐ or post‐test (including two who viewed the lectures). The mean change in score was a 1% improvement from pre‐test to post‐test for trainees who viewed no lectures and a 6.2% improvement for those who viewed the lectures (mean difference = 5.2%, 95% confidence interval = 2.5% to 7.9%). In the linear regression model, the estimate of the coefficient was 0.43 (p < 0.001), meaning that, for each lecture viewed, post‐test score rose by 0.43%. Sixty‐nine of 75 test items (92%) had a point biserial correlation greater than 0.15. Thirty of the 72 trainees who completed the online lectures and testing (42%) returned surveys. All were comfortable using the Internet, and 87% (26/30) found the web‐site easy to use. All felt that their educational goals were met, and 100% felt that the format would be useful in other areas of education.Conclusions:  Although not a replacement for traditional bedside teaching, the use of web‐based lectures as an asynchronous learning tool has a positive effect on medical knowledge test scores. Trainees were able to view online lectures on their own schedules, in the location of their choice. This is helpful in a field with shift work, in which trainees rarely work together, making it difficult to synchronously provide lectures to all trainees.
Functional characterization of T cells differentiated in vitro from bone marrow‐derived CD34+ cells of psoriatic patients with family history
Authors: Zhang Kaiming , Li Xinhua , Yin Guohua , Liu Yufeng , Tang Xuyuan 
Published: December 2009

Please cite this paper as: Functional characterization of T cells differentiated in vitro from bone marrow‐derived CD34+ cells of psoriatic patients with family history. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: e128–e135.AbstractBackground:  The strong but complex genetic background suggests that inherent and intrinsic rather than exogenous factors have a key role in immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. It is reasonable to speculate that the dysfunctional activity of psoriatic T cells may partly originate from the abnormal haematopoietic cells.Objectives:  To test if T cells originated from haematopoietic progenitor cells in psoriasis patients display functional alternations similar to previously reported abnormalities of circulating T cells.Methods:  Bone marrow CD34+ haematopoietic cells were isolated from psoriatic patients with family history and healthy subjects, and differentiated into T cells in vitro in the thymic stromal co‐culture system. These cells were further subjected to functional comparisons such as in vitro proliferation, secretion of cytokines such as IL‐4, IL‐8 and IFN–γ, and inducing the production of C‐myc, Bcl‐xL, and Ki67 proteins in human keratinocytes.Results:  While bone marrow‐derived CD34+ cells from both patients and healthy volunteers developed into mature T cells within weeks in the thymic environment in vitro, the differentiated T cells from psoriatic patients showed higher proliferation and stronger capacity to secret TH1 cytokines in response to streptococcal superantigen. The differentiated T cells from psoriatic patients, but not from normal controls, induced overexpression of C‐myc and Ki67, but not Bcl‐XL, in keratinocytes.Conclusions:  T cells differentiated from CD34+ cells of psoriatic patients, but not normal controls, are functionally similar to psoriatic circulating T cells, suggesting that the dysfunctional activity of T cells in psoriatic patients can be traced back to the early development of haematopoietic cells.
Bilateral absence of patella
Authors: Bilgic Serkan , Kilincoglu Volkan , Unay Koray , Yurttas Yuksel , Toker Serdar 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTA 20‐year‐old man with bilateral absence of patella, thinness of the left femoral neck, femoral and tibial shaft was reported. This clinical presentation has not been reported in the English language literature. We propose that the unusual association observed in our patient may represent a distinguishing clinical presentation from previously reported aplastic patella syndromes.
Improved learning in microencephalic rats
Authors: Ueda Shuichi , Yoshimoto Kanji , Kadowaki Taro , Hirata Koichi , Sakakibara Shin‐ichi 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTEnvironmental enrichment (EE) facilitates recovery from behavioral abnormalities and spatial memory disabilities in several neurological disease models. Exposure to EE improves spatial memory acquisition and enhances the survival of newly generated cells in the dentate gyri of adult rodents. However, the effects of EE on spatial learning and neurogenesis in the methylazoxymethanol acetate‐induced microencephalic rat have not been investigated. Depletion of serotonin in the rat hippocampus is known to influence spatial memory and adult neurogenesis, suggesting a role for serotonin in these processes. To confirm this hypothesis, male methylazoxymethanol acetate‐induced microencephalic rats were exposed to EE or conventional housing after weaning; half of these rats further received intracisternal 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine on postnatal day 3, to induce long‐lasting depletion of serotonin. As adults, these microencephalic rats were observed using the Morris water maze test and examined for hippocampal neurogenesis. EE alleviated the impairment of spatial memory acquisition and enhanced neurogenesis in the dentate gyri of adult microencephalic rats. Injection of 5,7‐dihydroxytryptamine during the neonatal period caused pronounced reductions in hippocampal serotonin levels in these rats. Long‐lasting depletion of serotonin eliminated the EE‐induced alleviation of spatial memory acquisition and neurogenesis impairment in microencephalic rats. The present results suggest that EE alleviates spatial memory performance deficits in microencephalic rats and further indicate that serotonin might be involved in the underlying mechanisms through increased hippocampal neurogenesis. These data provide new insights into therapeutic interventions for individuals with human migration disorders associated with learning disabilities.
REHYDRATION KINETICS OF PEAR AS AFFECTED BY OSMOTIC PRETREATMENT AND TEMPERATURE
Authors: CHÁFER M. , GONZÁLEZ‐MARTÍNEZ C. , PASTOR C. , XUE K. , CHIRALT A. 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACT The effect of osmotic pretreatments was analyzed as a way to optimize the quality loss of pear slices (cv. Blanquilla) during dried and/or rehydration processes. Pear slices, osmotically pretreated and non‐treated were dried at 45C, until about 10% final moisture, and rehydrated at 45, 55 and 65C in water. The rehydration kinetics of air‐dried pear slices were analyzed by means of Peleg and Fick's models. Kinetics parameters obtained for both models can adequately predict the sample's behavior during rehydration process. Osmotic treatment seemed to slow down the kinetics of dried pear rehydration in terms of water gain and solute loss, with no significant effect on the final solute concentration of the fruit liquid phase. This could be related with the greater viscosity of the fruit liquid phase associated with the sugar gain during the osmotic step and the total loss of this sugar during rehydration. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSRehydration is a complex process and its main purpose consists of restoring the properties of the dry raw material. The capacity of the dry material to be rehydrated depends on certain intrinsic properties of the vegetal tissue and also, on how the rehydration process is carried out (process conditions) and on the previous pretreatments applied to the product. These pretreatments are usually used to obtain a better quality of the final product (i.e., better preserved from undesirable changes) and in this sense, applying an osmotic dehydration step prior to the rehydration process could be interesting. Thus, the process optimization of pretreated products, rehydrated under several conditions and pretreatments, is a desirable and useful tool to reformulate and obtain high‐quality products.
CONTAMINATED PROCESS WATER AND ACCUMULATED ENTHALPY IN SEMI‐PRODUCT CAUSED SEVERE DETERIORATION OF READY‐TO‐EAT FLOUR MILO‐FLAKES
Authors: PENG CHIUNG‐HUEI , LIN LI‐YUN , HSIEH CHIU‐LAN , PENG CHIUNG‐CHI , PENG ROBERT Y. 
Published: December 2009

ABSTRACTInappropriate cooling and heating treatments in food bioprocesses may cause immediate decay or a time‐dependent spoilage during storage. We encountered frequently the deterioration problems during the hot sale season of the product commercially branded “Maternal Milk Substitute,” a wheat flour milo‐flake product. The claimed products were always characterized with chocolate color, off‐odor, high peroxide values, increased total ferric ion content in both the claimed product and the process water. In addition, an unusual enthalpy increase in the stored semi‐product were observed. The synergistic effect of these parameters obviously would have exerted a very strong activating effect on the oxidative enzymes. In order to eliminate such an effect, we propose to recruit the treatment facilities of process water, and at the same time to install a built‐in cooling system to reinforce the cooling efficiency for the stored semi‐products.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSCereal products are very thermal labile. In rushing for manufacturing enthalpy sensitive goods such products, the enthalpy increase and duration of which persisting in the storage tank would be the main determinant factor for the outcome of oxidative spoilages. To avoid such oxidative problems, installation of a reinforced cooling system and recruitment of the process water treatment facilities would be simultaneously required in this regards.
Effect of Dietary Astaxanthin on Growth, Survival, and Stress Tolerance of Postlarval Shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Niu Jin , Tian Li‐Xia , Liu Yong‐Jian , Yang Hui‐Jun , Ye Chao‐Xia , Gao Wen , Mai Kang‐Sen 
Published: December 2009

Abstract The effect of dietary astaxanthin on growth, survival, and stress tolerance was determined in postlarval Litopenaeus vannamei. An experiment was performed with postlarval shrimp (mean initial wet weight 1.2 mg) fed four isoenergic and isonitrogenous diets containing four supplemented levels of astaxanthin (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg diet, respectively). Shrimp fed diets containing 100, 200, and 400 mg astaxanthin/kg diet for 30 d showed higher weight gain (WG, %) and survival compared to the control (without supplementation of astaxanthin). Specific growth rate (SGR, %/day) and final body wet weight (FBW, mg) showed the same pattern as WG. There were no significant differences in growth performance (FBW, WG, and SGR) among the groups fed the diets with astaxanthin supplementation at the termination of feeding trial. Survival of shrimp in the control and 100 mg/kg diet treatments was significantly lower than that of shrimp in the treatments with 200 and 400 mg/kg diet. After 9 d of a stress tolerance test, survival of shrimp in the 200 and 400 mg astaxanthin/kg treatments was significantly higher than that of shrimp in the 0 and 100 mg astaxanthin/kg treatments (P < 0.05). We concluded from this experiment that astaxanthin was a necessary ingredient for the development of larval L. vannamei. Considering the effect of astaxanthin on both, growth performance and survival of postlarval L. vannamei, the level of astaxanthin supplemented in the diet should be between 100 mg and 200 mg/kg of diet.