bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Überlegungen zur Pathobiologie der Candidämie
Authors: Müller J. 
Published: February 2010

ZusammenfassungDie pathobiologische Grundsituation beim Candidämie‐Patienten wird diskutiert. Dazu wurde die im Blutkreislauf zirkulierende Zahl der Pilzzellen geschätzt und zirkulierende Candida‐Mannoprotein‐ und Candida‐Mannan‐Antigen‐Konzentrationen berechnet. Die kalkulierten Werte werden zu labordiagnostischen Befunden und zur Auslösung des Candidämie‐Fiebers in Beziehung gesetzt.
Preoperative staging of gastric cancer by endoscopic ultrasonography and multidetector‐row computed tomography
Authors: Hwang Sung Wook , Lee Dong Ho , Lee Sang Hyub , Park Young Soo , Hwang Jin Hyeok , Kim Jin Wook , Jung Sook Hyang , Kim Na Young , Kim Young Hoon , Lee Kyoung Ho , Kim Hyung‐Ho , Park Do Joong , Lee Hye Seung , Jung Hyun Chae , Song In Sung 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and multidetector‐row computed tomography (MDCT) for the locoregional staging of gastric cancer. EUS and computed tomography (CT) are valuable tools for the preoperative evaluation of gastric cancer. With the introduction of new therapeutic options and the recent improvements in CT technology, further evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of EUS and MDCT is needed.Methods:  In total, 277 patients who underwent EUS and MDCT, followed by gastrectomy or endoscopic resection at Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University, from July 2006 to April 2008, were analyzed. The results from the preoperative EUS and MDCT were compared to the postoperative pathological findings.Results:  Among the 277 patients, the overall accuracy of EUS and MDCT for T staging was 74.7% and 76.9%, respectively. Among the 141 patients with visualized primary lesions on MDCT, the overall accuracy of EUS and MDCT for T staging was 61.7% and 63.8%, respectively. The overall accuracy for N staging was 66% and 62.8%, respectively. The performance of EUS and MDCT for large lesions and lesions at the cardia and angle had significantly lower accuracy than that of other groups. For EUS, the early gastric cancer lesions with ulcerative changes had significantly lower accuracy than those without ulcerative changes.Conclusions:  For the preoperative assessment of individual T and N staging in patients with gastric cancer, the accuracy of MDCT was close to that of EUS. Both EUS and MDCT are useful complementary modalities for the locoregional staging of gastric cancer.
Change in cross‐sectional area of esophageal muscle does not correlate with the outcome of achalasia after pneumatic balloon dilatation
Authors: Sinn Dong Hyun , Choi Yong Sung , Kim Jeong Hwan , Kim Eun Ran , Son Hee Jung , Kim Jae J , Rhee Jong Chul , Rhee Poong‐Lyul 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Patients with achalasia have a thicker muscularis propria compared to normal patients. Because pneumatic balloon dilatation (PD) is an effective treatment for achalasia, the changes in the esophageal muscles after PD may predict treatment outcomes, if muscular change is of primary importance. In the present study, we aimed to observe the changes in esophageal muscle thickness following PD and assessed whether symptom relapse can be predicted on the basis of the esophageal muscle cross‐sectional area (CSA), as measured by high‐frequency intraluminal ultrasound (HFIUS).Methods:  Fifteen patients treated by PD were studied and followed up for a median of 3.6 years. An HFIUS was done before PD and 6 months after PD. The esophageal muscle CSA measured at the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and 3 and 6 cm above the LES, was used to see whether any association was present between symptom recurrence and the esophageal muscle CSA.Results:  A single PD resulted in a 2‐year remission rate of 66%. A significance variance in change (−65%–248%) was noticed in the muscle CSA after PD. The predilation muscle CSA, post‐dilation muscle CSA, and change in the muscle CSA after PD was not associated with symptom recurrence.Conclusion:  Our findings suggest that measuring the muscle CSA does not help to predict treatment outcome. Muscular changes in achalasia might be just reactive changes.
Factors affecting the efficacy of cyclosporin A therapy for refractory ulcerative colitis
Authors: Bamba Shigeki , Tsujikawa Tomoyuki , Inatomi Osamu , Nakahara Tamio , Koizumi Yusuke , Saitoh Yasuharu , Sasaki Masaya , Fujiyama Yoshihide , Andoh Akira 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aims:  Cyclosporin A (CSA), an immunosuppressive agent, is highly efficacious in patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). We retrospectively investigated patients with refractory UC treated with CSA therapy to elucidate the efficacy and the prognostic factors.Methods:  Forty‐one patients (26 men and 15 women) were enrolled. The efficacy of CSA was assessed at three time points: short‐ and mid‐term assessments took place 2 weeks and 1 year after CSA administration, respectively, and long‐term assessments at the end of the observation period.Results:  The short‐term response rate was 71%. Background analysis revealed risk factors for CSA unresponsiveness: (i) more than 10 000 mg of prednisolone used before CSA treatment; (ii) the presence of circulating (C7‐HRP); and (iii) disease duration more than 4 years. The mid‐term relapse‐free survival rate was 51.0%. The addition of azathioprine (AZA) after CSA treatment significantly suppressed the incidence of relapse at 1 year (72.5% vs 26.7%, P = 0.0237). The overall colectomy‐free survival rate was 46.4%, and the induction of AZA after CSA treatment significantly reduced the colectomy rate (66.7% vs 30.5%, P = 0.0419). Among CSA responders, AZA naïve patients had significant lower‐probabilities for colectomies compared to patients with prior AZA treatment (22.5% vs 56.7%, P = 0.0309). The administration of CSA was discontinued in five cases.Conclusion:  Our results revealed factors affecting the efficacy of CSA therapy for patients with refractory UC. AZA is an important agent that maintains disease quiescence once one responds to CSA. However, refractory patients despite AZA treatment are more likely to have consequent colectomies.
The Asia‐Pacific consensus on ulcerative colitis
Authors: Ooi Choon Jin , Fock Kwong Ming , Makharia Govind K , Goh Khean Lee , Ling Khoon Lin , Hilmi Ida , Lim Wee Chian , Kelvin Thia , Gibson Peter R , Gearry Richard B , Ouyang Qin , Sollano Jose , Manatsathit Sathaporn , Rerknimitr Rungsun , Wei Shu‐chen , Leung Wai Keung , De Silva H Janaka , Leong Rupert WL ,   for the Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE) Working Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Published: February 2010

AbstractInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing in many parts of the Asia‐Pacific region. There is a need to improve the awareness of IBD and develop diagnostic and management recommendations relevant to the region. This evidence‐based consensus focuses on the definition, epidemiology and management of ulcerative colitis (UC) in Asia.A multi‐disciplinary group developed the consensus statements, reviewed the relevant literature, and voted on them anonymously using the Delphi method. The finalized statements were reviewed to determine the level of consensus, evidence quality and strength of recommendation.Infectious colitis must be excluded prior to diagnosing UC. Typical histology and macroscopic extent of the disease seen in the West is found in the Asia‐Pacific region. Ulcerative colitis is increasing in many parts of Asia with gender distribution and age of diagnosis similar to the West. Extra‐intestinal manifestations including primary sclerosing cholangitis are rarer than in the West. Clinical stratification of disease severity guides management. In Japan, leukocytapheresis is a treatment option. Access to biologic agents remains limited due to high cost and concern over opportunistic infections. The high endemic rates of hepatitis B virus infection require stringent screening before initiating immune‐suppressive agents. Vaccination and prophylactic therapies should be initiated on a case‐by‐case basis and in accordance with local practice. Colorectal cancer complicates chronic colitis.A recent increase in UC is reported in the Asia‐Pacific region. These consensus statements aim to improve the recognition of UC and assist clinicians in its management with particular relevance to the region.
Environment for nursing scholarship and journal impact factors in Taiwan
Authors: Ketefian Shaké , Dai Yu‐Tzu 
Published: February 2010

AbstractUniversities are seeking objective measures to assess their faculty members' research output in order to improve their national and international standing. Despite concerns, many have adopted the impact factor of journals for this purpose. The objective of this study was to explore the conditions that have been created within Taiwan as a result of such national and institutional policies. A case study design was used. Information was sought from five senior faculty members, who responded to a questionnaire with items derived from the literature. A key participant provided context within the country. The data were summarized and described. The respondents confirmed the presence of governmental and university policies for publication in high‐impact factor journals; they saw some positive aspects, yet described the obstacles faced by many scholars, felt that the policies led to competition rather than cooperation, and viewed national, compared to international, publications in opposing terms. The findings are discussed within the context of current nursing literature. It is recommended that, where impact factors are used, they not be the only quality measure. A larger and more representative study is also recommended.
Skeletal‐related events in urological cancer patients with bone metastasis: A multicenter study in Japan
Authors: Yokomizo Akira , Koga Hirofumi , Shinohara Nobuo , Miyahara Tsukasa , Machida Noriko , Tsukino Hiromasa , Uozumi Jiro , Nishiyama Kenryu , Satoh Fuminori , Sakai Hideki , Naito Seiji 
Published: February 2010

Objective:  To investigate the incidence of skeletal‐related events (SRE) in urological cancer patients with bone metastases in Japan.Methods:  Five hundred eleven patients with urological cancer and documented bone metastases treated from January 2003 to April 2008 in ten Japanese institutions were included in a retrospective analysis. Type and incidence of SRE (fracture, radiotherapy, spinal cord compression, surgery, hypercalcemia, and bone pain) were determined from patient medical records.Results:  The overall incidence of SRE, including ‘pain’, was 61%. The most common event was radiotherapy for bone metastases, with an incidence of 31%. The overall incidence of events seemed to be similar among Japanese and Western patients with prostate cancer and renal cell carcinoma when comparing data with previously published reports. Nevertheless, a much lower incidence of fracture (19.1%) was observed in Japanese renal cell carcinoma patients.Conclusions:  The overall incidence of SRE in Japanese urological cancer patients with bone metastasis was similar to that in Western patients, but the incidence of fracture was lower in Japanese renal cancer patients.
Central Australian Ocular Health Study: design and baseline description of participants
Authors: Landers John , Henderson Tim , Craig Jamie 
Published: February 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To describe the design and demographic characteristics of a study to determine the prevalence of ocular morbidity among indigenous Australians living within remote central Australia.Methods:  1884 individuals aged 20 years or older, living in one of 30 remote communities within the statistical local area of ‘central Australia’ were recruited for this study. Participants were recruited as they presented to the eye clinic at each remote community. Patients underwent visual acuity testing and subjective refraction. Following this they had a comprehensive ocular assessment. A baseline description of the participants is presented.Results:  1884 participants were recruited including 689 (36.6%) males and 1195 (63.4%) females. This equates to 36% of those aged 20 years or older and 67% of those aged 40 years or older living in central Australia. 55% of participants were diabetic and 20% of participants were symptomatic of an eye condition, but the majority of these only had presbyopia. Combined, those who presented due to diabetes (regardless of symptoms), due to presbyopia, or without any symptoms made up 95% of the sample.Conclusion:  Despite being recruited through clinics, the majority of participants presented for a ‘check‐up’ because the clinic was available and not due to symptoms. Therefore, the data we collected may be used to establish the current prevalence of ocular morbidity within the indigenous community living in remote central Australia with particular reference to those aged 40 years or older. As such, this can help to determine the current and future needs of this population.
Prevalence and associations of diabetic retinopathy in indigenous Australians within central Australia: the Central Australian Ocular Health Study
Authors: Landers John , Henderson Tim , Abhary Sotoodeh , Craig Jamie 
Published: February 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To determine the prevalence and associations of diabetic retinopathy (DR) within the indigenous Australian population living in central Australia.Methods:  1884 individuals aged 20 years or older, living in one of 30 remote communities within the statistical local area of ‘central Australia’ were recruited for this study. This equated to 36% of those aged 20 years or older and 67% of those aged 40 years or older within this district. Participants were recruited as they presented to the eye clinic at each remote community. Following dilated slit‐lamp fundoscopy, the amount of DR in participants with diabetes mellitus (DM) was quantified using the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study criteria. The presence of any DR and vision‐threatening DR (clinically significant macular oedema and/or proliferative DR) in one or both eyes was presented.Results:  Of those with diabetes, 22.2% (25.4% of those aged 40 years or older) had any DR and 7.0% (8.4% of those aged 40 years or older) had vision‐threatening DR. Both the presence of any DR and vision‐threatening DR were associated with advancing age and HbA1c level, but neither subcategory was associated with sex or self‐reported hypertension.Conclusion:  Our study has shown similar prevalence rates for DR in indigenous Australians compared with non‐indigenous Australians. However, as DM is far more prevalent among indigenous Australians, the proportion of those affected by DR across the population should be considerably higher when compared with non‐indigenous Australians.
Prevalence and associations of cataract in indigenous Australians within central Australia: the Central Australian Ocular Health Study
Authors: Landers John , Henderson Tim , Craig Jamie 
Published: February 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To determine the prevalence and associations of cataract within the indigenous Australian population living in central Australia.Methods:  1884 individuals aged ≥20 years, living in one of 30 remote communities within the statistical local area of ‘central Australia’ were recruited for this study. This equated to 36% of those aged ≥20 years and 67% of those aged ≥40 years within this district. Slit‐lamp examination was performed. The degree and subtype of cataract was graded using the Lens Opacities Classification System III criteria. A cataract was defined as a nuclear opalescence ≥4.0, a cortical opacity ≥3.0, a posterior subcapsular opacity ≥2.0, a visual acuity worse than 6/12 or a visual acuity worse than 6/60 due to cataract. The prevalence of cataract in one or both eyes was presented for each of the definitions.Results:  Nuclear opalescence cataract was present in 13.5% (18.5% of those ≥40 years); cortical opacity cataract was present in 13.1% (17.7% of those ≥40 years); and posterior subcapsular cataract was present in 15.8% (21.0% of those ≥40 years). 12.6% of patients (17.3% of those ≥40 years) and 4.4% of patients (5.9% of those ≥40 years) had a cataract that resulted in a visual acuity of worse than 6/12 and worse than 6/60, respectively. All cataracts were associated with advancing age. Posterior subcapsular cataract was associated with self‐reported diabetes.Conclusion:  There is a higher prevalence of cataract among indigenous Australians living within remote central Australia compared with the non‐indigenous population. Services for this population need to be designed with this in mind when planning resource allocation.
Prevalence and associations of refractive error in indigenous Australians within central Australia: the Central Australian Ocular Health Study
Authors: Landers John , Henderson Tim , Craig Jamie 
Published: February 2010

AbstractPurpose:  To determine the prevalence and associations of refractive error within the indigenous Australian population living in central Australia.Methods:  1884 individuals aged 20 years or older, living in one of 30 remote communities within the statistical local area of ‘central Australia’ were recruited for this study. This equated to 36% of those aged 20 years or older and 67% of those aged 40 years or older within this district. Participants were recruited as they presented to the eye clinic at each remote community. Participants underwent subjective refraction to determine spherical equivalent and then had a slit‐lamp anterior segment examination. Participants were only included if they were phakic and only the right eye was considered. The prevalence of hypermetropia worse than +1.0 dioptres (D), myopia worse than −0.5 D and astigmatism worse than 1.0 D is presented.Results:  From those recruited, 15.2% were hypermetropic; 11.1% were myopic; and 6.2% had astigmatism. Participants became progressively more hypermetropic with increasing age until the age of 70 years, after which time they become more myopic. Furthermore, there was an increasing likelihood of myopia and a decreasing likelihood of hypermetropia with increasing nuclear opalescent cataract.Conclusion:  Our study has shown that indigenous Australians are less likely to be ametropic compared with non‐indigenous groups. Variations with age and nuclear opalescent cataract seen in other previous work have also been observed in our sample.
Catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia
Authors: Lim H. S. , Singleton C. B. , Alasady M. , McGavigan A. D. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractSudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmias remains the most common cause of death in developed nations. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators have been shown to improve mortality in high‐risk groups for ventricular tachyarrhythmias, but they are not curative, with the risk of arrhythmia recurrence remaining unaltered. It is also important to remember that ventricular tachycardia (VT) in the setting of a structurally normal heart is often not associated with an increased risk of sudden death and catheter ablation is a potentially curative procedure in this cohort. Recent advances in catheter ablation for VT have increased the efficacy in creating adequate lesions, accurate three‐dimensional maps and mapping haemodynamically unstable VT, all of which have increased the utility of this modality in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. In this article, we review the recent advances that have fuelled renewed interest in catheter ablation of VT, its clinical utility and who should be referred.
Pre‐hospital oxygen therapy in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Wijesinghe M. , Perrin K. , Healy B. , Hart K. , Clay J. , Weatherall M. , Beasley R. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground: High concentration oxygen is commonly administered during acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The aim of this study was to determine the association between oxygen, severity markers and poor outcomes in AECOPD.Methods: In an audit of patients with AECOPD arriving by ambulance to the Emergency Department of Wellington Hospital, details of oxygen administration, clinical outcomes and severity markers were documented. The main outcome measure was a composite of death, assisted ventilation, or respiratory failure. Associations between oxygen therapy, severity markers and poor clinical outcomes were assessed by logistic regression.Results: Of 250 patients 77 (31%) died, required assisted ventilation or were in respiratory failure. Increased oxygen flow was associated with increasing risk of death, assisted ventilation or respiratory failure with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.2 (95% CI 1.0–1.4) per 1 L/min oxygen flow. Increasing PaO2 was associated with a greater risk of a poor outcome with an OR of 1.1 (95% CI 1.0–1.3) per 10 mmHg higher PaO2. Home oxygen (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.5–5.1), previous respiratory failure (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.5–4.6), previous ventilation (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.7–5.9) and home nebulizer use (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4–4.3) were associated with an increased risk of a poor outcome.Conclusion: In AECOPD high flow oxygen in the ambulance is associated with poor clinical outcomes. A number of easily identified markers of chronic disease severity indicate an increased risk of a poor clinical outcome.
Cautionary tales in the interpretation of studies of tools for predicting risk and prognosis
Authors: Scott I. A. , Greenberg P. B. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractAssessing future risk or prognosis in individual subjects is an often difficult and humbling task for clinicians. In recent times numerous prediction tools have been developed to make the task more accurate and thereby render management decisions more appropriate. If these tools are to be used effectively, an understanding is needed of their method of development, performance characteristics, ease of use and applicability in clinical settings, and potential impact on clinical decision‐making. In this fourth article in a series on critical appraisal, we discuss questions that need to be asked of any new risk prediction tool.
Transient oxidative stress evokes early changes in the functional properties of neonatal rat hypoglossal motoneurons in vitro
Authors: Nani Francesca , Cifra Alessandra , Nistri Andrea 
Published: February 2010

AbstractOxidative stress of motoneurons is believed to be an important contributor to neurodegeneration underlying the familial (and perhaps even the sporadic) form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This concept has generated numerous rodent genetic models with inborn oxidative stress to mimic the clinical condition. ALS is, however, a predominantly sporadic disorder probably triggered by environmental causes. Thus, it is interesting to understand how wild‐type motoneurons react to strong oxidative stress as this response might cast light on the presymptomatic disease stage. The present study used, as a model, hypoglossal motoneurons from the rat brainstem slice to investigate how hydrogen peroxide could affect synaptic transmission and intrinsic motoneuron excitability in relation to their survival. Hydrogen peroxide (1 mm; 30 min) induced inward current or membrane depolarization accompanied by an increase in input resistance, enhanced firing and depressed spontaneous synaptic events. Despite enhanced intracellular oxidative processes, there was no death of motoneurons, although most cells were immunopositive for activating transcription factor 3, a stress‐related transcription factor. Voltage‐clamp experiments indicated increased frequency of excitatory or inhibitory miniature events, and reduced voltage‐gated persistent currents of motoneurons. The global effect of this transient oxidative challenge was to depress the input flow from the premotor interneurons to motoneurons that became more excitable due to a combination of enhanced input resistance and impaired spike afterhyperpolarization. Our data show previously unreported changes in motoneuron activity associated with cell distress caused by a transient oxidative insult.