bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantifying Surgical and Anesthetic Availability at Primary Health Facilities in Mongolia
Authors: Spiegel David A. , Choo Shelly , Cherian Meena , Orgoi Sergelen , Kehrer Beat , Price Raymond R. , Govind Salik 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackgroundSignificant barriers limit the safe and timely provision of surgical and anaesthetic care in low‐ and middle‐income countries. Nearly one‐half of Mongolia’s population resides in rural areas where the austere geography makes travel for adequate surgical care very difficult. Our goal was to characterize the availability of surgical and anaesthetic services, in terms of infrastructure capability, physical resources (supplies and equipment), and human resources for health at primary level health facilities in Mongolia.MethodsA situational analysis of the capacity to deliver emergency and essential surgical care (EESC) was performed in a nonrandom sample of 44 primary health facilities throughout Mongolia.ResultsSignificant shortfalls were noted in the capacity to deliver surgical and anesthetic services. Deficiencies in infrastructure and supplies were common, and there were no trained surgeons or anaesthesiologists at any of the health facilities sampled. Most procedures were performed by general doctors and paraprofessionals, and occasionally visiting surgeons from higher levels of the health system. While basic interventions such as suturing or abscess drainage were commonly performed, the availability of many essential interventions was absent at a significant number of facilities.ConclusionsThis situational analysis of the availability of essential surgical and anesthetic services identified significant deficiencies in infrastructure, supplies, and equipment, as well as a lack of human resources at the primary referral level facilities in Mongolia. Given the significant travel distances to secondary level facilities for the majority of the rural population, there is an urgent need to strengthen the delivery of essential surgical and anaesthetic services at the primary referral level (soum and intersoum). This will require a multidisciplinary, multi‐sectoral effort aimed to improve infrastructure, procure and maintain essential equipment and supplies, and train appropriate health professionals.
Clinical Benefits of Scarless Endoscopic Thyroidectomy: An Expert’s Experience
Authors: Jiang Zhi‐guo , Zhang Wei , Jiang Dao‐zhen , Zheng Xiang‐min , Shen Hong‐liang , Shan Cheng‐xiang , Liu Sheng , Qiu Ming 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackgroundBy comparison with the conventional surgical approach to thyroidectomy, scarless (in the neck) endoscopic thyroidectomy (SET) has a superior cosmetic result but a very long learning curve. The objective of the present study was to compare surgical outcomes of SET performed by an experienced surgeon with the outcomes of conventional thyroidectomy.MethodEnrolled in this study were 25 patients who underwent SET and 18 who underwent conventional surgery. Differences in size of tumor, length of incision, duration of operation, volume of blood loss, pathological findings, postoperative pain, complications, and cosmetic result were investigated.ResultsThe two groups were well matched. The total length of incisions and volume of blood loss of SET were significantly lower than those of conventional surgery. In addition to the superior cosmetic result, postoperative pain was significantly less severe and rates of hypesthesia or paresthesia and discomfort while swallowing were significantly lower in the endoscopy group.ConclusionsIn experienced hands, SET offers more benefits than the conventional approach, including less postoperative pain and discomfort and a better cosmetic outcome.
Influence of Bursectomy on Operative Morbidity and Mortality After Radical Gastrectomy for Gastric Cancer: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Imamura Hiroshi , Kurokawa Yukinori , Kawada Junji , Tsujinaka Toshimasa , Takiguchi Shuji , Fujiwara Yoshiyuki , Mori Masaki , Doki Yuichiro 
Published: December 2010

AbstractBackgroundBursectomy, a procedure dissecting the peritoneal lining covering the pancreas and the anterior plane of the transverse mesocolon, has been commonly performed with radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients. Although possibly improving the prognosis of gastric cancers, adverse events related to bursectomy should be evaluated in prospective studies.MethodsThis prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted by experienced surgeons in 11 Japanese institutions. Patients with T2 or T3 gastric adenocarcinoma were intraoperatively randomized to radical gastrectomy plus D2 lymphadenectomy either with or without bursectomy. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were compared between the two groups.ResultsA total of 210 patients were assigned to the bursectomy group (104 patients) and the nonbursectomy group (106 patients) between July 2002 and January 2007. Background characteristics were well balanced. Intraoperative blood loss was greater in the bursectomy group than in the nonbursectomy group (median 475 vs. 350 ml, p = 0.047), whereas other surgical factors did not vary significantly. The overall morbidity rate was 14.3% (30 patients), the same for the two groups. Likewise, the incidence of major postoperative complications, including pancreatic fistula, anastomotic leakage, abdominal abscess, bowel obstruction, hemorrhage, and pneumonia, were not significantly different between the two groups. The medians of the amylase level of the drainage fluid on postoperative day 1 were similar for the two groups (median 282 vs. 314 IU/L, p = 0.543). The hospital mortality rate was 0.95%: one patient per group.ConclusionsExperienced surgeons could safely perform a D2 gastrectomy with an additional bursectomy without increased major surgical complications.
Neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis associated with citrin deficiency (NICCD): a case series of 11 Malaysian patients
Authors: Chew Hui Bein , Ngu Lock Hock , Zabedah Md Yunus , Keng Wee Teik , Balasubramaniam Shanti , Hanifah Mohd Jamil M. , Kobayashi Keiko 
Published: December 2010

AbstractCitrin deficiency, aetiologically linked to mutations of SLC25A13 gene, has two clinical phenotypes, namely adult‐onset type II citrullinaemia (CTLN2) and neonatal/infantile intrahepatic cholestasis, caused by citrin deficiency (NICCD). Malaysian patients with NICCD, especially of Malay and East Malaysian indigenous descent, have never been reported in the literature. We present the clinical features, biochemical findings and results of molecular analysis in 11 Malaysian children with NICCD. In this case series, all patients manifested prolonged cholestatic jaundice and elevated citrulline levels. The other more variable features included failure to thrive, bleeding diathesis, hypoproteinaemia, abnormal liver enzymes, prolonged coagulation profile, hyperammonaemia, hypergalactosaemia, multiple aminoacidaemia, elevated α‐feto protein and urinary orotic acid as well as liver biopsies showing hepatitis and steatosis. DNA analysis of SLC25A13 revealed combinations of 851del4(Ex9), IVS16ins3kb and 1638ins23. Most of our patients recovered completely by the age of 22 months. However, one patient had ongoing symptoms at the time of reporting and one had died of liver failure. Since a small percentage of children with NICCD will develop CTLN2 and the mechanisms leading to this is yet to be defined, ongoing health surveillance into adulthood is essential.
Short Term Dietary Fish Oil Supplementation Improves Motor Deficiencies Related to Reserpine‐Induced Parkinsonism in Rats
Authors: Barcelos Raquel Cristine Silva , Benvegnú Dalila Moter , Boufleur Nardeli , Pase Camila , Teixeira Angélica Martelli , Reckziegel Patrícia , Emanuelli Tatiana , da Rocha João Batista T. , Bürger Marilise Escobar 
Published: December 2010

AbstractFish oil (FO) supplementation could cause an increase in the concentration of plasmatic free fatty acids and, consequently, could compete with pro‐inflammatory arachidonic acid (ARA) derived from brain biomembranes metabolism in the cerebrospinal fluid. Essential fatty acids (EFA) (n‐3) have been reported by their antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, and therefore the influence of the FO supplementation on the reserpine‐induced motor disorders was studied. Wistar rats were orally treated with FO solution for 5 days, and co‐treated with reserpine (R; 1 mg/kg/mL) or its vehicle for 3 days (every other day). Reserpine‐induced orofacial dyskinesia and catalepsy (P < 0.05) were prevented by FO (P < 0.05). Biochemical evaluations showed that reserpine treatment increased the lipid peroxidation in the cortex and striatum (P < 0.05), while the FO supplementation prevented this oxidative effect in both brain regions (P < 0.05). Our results showed the protective role of FO in the brain lipid membranes, reinforcing the beneficial effect of n‐3 fatty acids in the prevention of degenerative and motor disorders.
Of amyloid and inflammation: causes of chronic muscle disease
Authors: Schmidt J. 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Classic inflammatory diseases of the skel­etal muscle such as polymyositis and der­matomyositis often lead to rapid weaken­ing of the arm and leg muscles. Inflamma­tion in the muscle is caused primarily by im­mune cells and antibodies. Most patients re­spond well to standard immunosuppressive therapy. In sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM), similar pathomechanisms play a role, including cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, which at­tack and damage muscle fibers. At the same time, sIBM is characterized by an accumula­tion of aberrant molecules, particularly β-am­yloid, which play a role in neurodegenera­tive diseases. This degeneration with forma­tion of inclusion bodies and vacuoles may be the cause of the slow yet relentlessly progres­sive damage to the skeletal muscle and the lack of treatment efficacy of standard immu­nosuppression. Recent reports demonstrate that there is a specific interrelationship be­tween inflammation with generation of me­diators such as interleukin (IL)-1β and the amyloid-associated degeneration. The molec­ular mechanisms discussed here are impor­tant for the future design of better treatment strategies for chronic muscle inflammation. Furthermore, these mechanisms can contrib­ute to a better understanding of the patho­genesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
Rodent ultrasonic communication and its relevance for models of neuropsychiatric disorders
Authors: Wöhr M. , Schwarting R.K.W. 
Published: December 2010

Abstract
Mice and rats produce and perceive calls in the ultrasonic range (so-called ultrasonic vo­calizations, USV). Various USV types can be differentiated on the basis of distinct acous­tic features. Their occurrence is dependent on stage of development, affective state and so­cial context. When separated from nest and littermates, young mice and rats emit iso­lation-induced USV, which induce mater­nal search and retrieval behaviour. Isolation-induced USV are used as an early marker of anxiety. Adult rats emit fear-induced USV in aversive situations such as predator exposure. They fulfil an alarm function and induce anxi­ety-related behaviour in conspecifics. Fear-in­duced USV are also used in the field of anxi­ety research. Finally, juvenile and adult mice and rats emit interaction-induced USV in pre­sumably appetitive situations such as rough-and-tumble play or social investigation. As they can also be elicited by drugs of abuse, they are used in the field of addiction and de­pression research. They have an affiliative communicative function and induce social approach behaviour in the recipient. Focus­ing on the communicative function of inter­action-induced USV, they serve as a measure for deficits in social behaviour and communi­cation and hence are increasingly used in an­imal models for neurodevelopmental disor­ders such as autism.
Preliminary observations on the life history and movements of skates (Rajidae) around the Island of Jersey, western English Channel
Authors: Ellis J.R. , Morel G. , Burt G. , Bossy S. 
Published: December 2010

The most frequently caught skate species around Jersey include blonde rayRaja brachyura, undulate rayRaja undulata, small-eyed rayRaja microocellataand thornback rayRaja clavata. Between September 2006 and December 2008, a total of 814 individuals were tagged and released, of which 64% were small-eyed ray, 22.6% blonde ray and 12.4% undulate ray. The size distribution, sex-ratio and maturity of these samples are summarized. There were 138 reported recaptures (return rate = 17.1%), with most fish recaptured from the study area. Indeed, many of the tagged skates were recaptured within the same release area or within 20 km, indicating high site fidelity, with the longest distance travelled only 61 km. Thirteen fish were recaptured on multiple (2–4) occasions. To date the longest time at liberty has been 754 days. These results are discussed in relation to our current knowledge of the stock structure and exploitation of skates in the western English Channel.
Probabilistic network modelling of the impact of penicillin consumption on spread of pneumococci
Authors: KARLSSON D. 
Published: December 2010

SUMMARYThe worldwide increase of resistant S. pneumoniae is a growing clinical problem. In several countries, a more restrictive use of penicillin has been promoted in hope of slowing the rates of resistant pneumococci. However, the consequences of such an action on pneumococcal population dynamics are not fully understood. Thus, a network model was constructed to assess the impacts of penicillin consumption and between-strain competition on the spread of penicillin non-susceptible pneumococci. Model simulations suggest that the age distribution for carriage of penicillin non-susceptible pneumococci, in contrast to susceptible pneumococci, is affected by penicillin consumption. Furthermore, it appears extremely difficult to reduce the incidence of penicillin non-susceptible pneumococci by simply controlling penicillin consumption, assuming that reduced penicillin susceptibility does not confer a fitness cost for the organism. A more judicious use of penicillin together with control measures are in that case required to manage penicillin resistance in pneumococci.
Risk factors for dogs becoming rectal carriers of multidrug-resistantEscherichia coliduring hospitalization
Authors: GIBSON J. S. , MORTON J. M. , COBBOLD R. N. , FILIPPICH L. J. , TROTT D. J. 
Published: December 2010

SUMMARYThis study aimed to identify risk factors for dogs becoming rectal carriers of multidrug-resistant (MDR)Escherichia coliwhile hospitalized in a veterinary teaching hospital. Exposures to potential risk factors, including treatments, hospitalization, and interventions during a 42-day pre-admission period and hospitalization variables, were assessed for 90 cases and 93 controls in a retrospective, risk-based, case-control study. On multivariable analyses, hospitalization for >6 days [odds ratio (OR) 2·91–8·00], treatment with cephalosporins prior to admission (OR 5·04, 95% CI 1·25–20·27), treatment with cephalosporins for >1 day (OR 5·18, 95% CI 1·86–14·41), and treatment with metronidazole (OR 7·17, 95% CI 1·01–50·79) while hospitalized were associated with increased risk of rectal carriage of MDRE. coliduring hospitalization. The majority of rectal isolates obtained during the study period conformed to MDRE. coliclonal groups previously obtained from extraintestinal infections. These results can assist the development of improved infection control guidelines for the management of dogs in veterinary hospitals to prevent the occurrence of nosocomial clinical infections.
Experimental colonization of pigs with methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA): insights into the colonization and transmission of livestock-associated MRSA
Authors: MOODLEY A. , LATRONICO F. , GUARDABASSI L. 
Published: December 2010

SUMMARYTwo models were used for colonizing pigs under experimental conditions. In the first model, six 5-week old piglets were challenged by nasal and gastrointestinal inoculation with a mixture of four strains representing the most prevalent methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) sequence types (ST398, ST9) andspatypes (t08, t011, t034, t899) associated with pig farming. In the second model, the vagina of a pregnant sow was inoculated with the same MRSA mixture shortly before farrowing. While MRSA carriage was unstable following nasal-gastrointestinal inoculation of piglets, vaginal inoculation of the sow resulted in persistent carriage of t011-ST398 and t899-ST9 in all newborn piglets. The results from the two models provide evidence that livestock-associated MRSA can efficiently spread by vertical perinatal transmission and that direct colonization of weaned piglets is hampered by unknown host, bacterial or environmental factors. The vaginal inoculation model described in this study represents a useful tool for studying MRSA–host interactions in pigs having the same genetic background.
Developmental shifts in functional morphology of the retina in Atlantic tarpon,Megalops atlanticus(Elopomorpha: Teleostei) between four ecologically distinct life-history stages
Authors: TAYLOR SCOTT M. , LOEW ELLIS. R. , GRACE MICHAEL S. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractThe Atlantic tarpon,Megalops atlanticus, is a large piscivorous fish that supports economically important recreational fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, and Florida Atlantic coast.Megalops atlanticusundergoes ontogenetic shifts in morphology, hatching in the open ocean as larvae (less than 1 cm in length), moving into hypoxic turbid mangrove marshes as juveniles (around 10 cm in length), and then moving into coastal oceanic waters as adults (over 100 cm in length). In this study, photoreceptor distributions, opsin distributions, and photoreceptor absorbance characteristics were studied with light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, antiopsin immunofluorescence, and microspectrophotometry, respectively, at four ecologically distinct life-history stages—premetamorphic larva, settlement stage, juvenile, and adult. The purposes of this study were 1) to determine the extent to which the retina ofM. atlanticuschanges over the course of development and 2) to relate these retinal changes with ecological shifts between developmental stages. The new data presented here indicate that theM. atlanticusretina changes substantially in rod and cone distributions and absorbance characteristics over the course of development and that these changes correlate closely with those in habitat and behavior. We show thatM. atlanticushas a rod-dominated retina at the larval stage (which is unusual for teleost larvae) and that the scotopic visual system becomes far better developed with maturity, adding a substantial tapetum and high densities of small, bundled, and stacked rod cells. We also show that there are shifts in cone and rod spectral sensitivities and an increase in the diversity of spectrally distinct cone classes, including the addition of ultraviolet cones as fish mature into adults.
Characterization of a novel large-field cone bipolar cell type in the primate retina: Evidence for selective cone connections
Authors: JOO HANNAH R. , PETERSON BETH B. , HAUN TONI J. , DACEY DENNIS M. 
Published: December 2010

AbstractParallel processing of visual information begins at the first synapse in the retina between the photoreceptors and bipolar cells. Ten bipolar cell types have been previously described in the primate retina: one rod and nine cone bipolar types. In this paper, we describe an 11th type of bipolar cell identified in Golgi-stained macaque retinal whole mount and vertical section. Axonal stratification depth, in addition to dendritic and axonal morphology, distinguished the “giant” cell from all previously well-recognized bipolar cell types. The giant bipolar cell had a very large and sparsely branched dendritic tree and a relatively large axonal arbor that costratified with the DB4 bipolar cell near the center of the inner plexiform layer. The sparseness of the giant bipolar’s dendritic arbor indicates that, like the blue cone bipolar, it does not contact all the cones in its dendritic field. Giant cells contacting the same cones as midget bipolar cells, which are known to contact single long-wavelength (L) or medium-wavelength (M) cones, demonstrate that the giant cell does not exclusively contact short-wavelength (S) cones and, therefore, is not a variant of the previously described blue cone bipolar. This conclusion is further supported by measurement of the cone contact spacing for the giant bipolar. The giant cell contacts an average of about half the cones in its dendritic field (mean ± s.d. = 52 ± 17.6%; n = 6), with a range of 27–82%. The dendrites from single or neighboring giant cells that converge onto the same cones suggest that the giant cell may selectively target a subset of cones with a highly variable local density, such as the L or M cones.
Survey and alignment design for the Taiwan photon source
Authors: Lai W.-Y. , Lin C. J. , Ho H. C. , Tseng T. C. , Perng S. Y. , Wang H. S. , Hsu K. H. , Tsai Y. L. , Syu J. C. , Chen M. L. , Chen J. R. 
Published: December 2010

Taiwan Photon Source is a new 3-GeV ring with characteristics of great brightness and small emittance, at present under construction at National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC) site in Taiwan and due to be commissioned in 2013. The positioning of the magnets is highly sensitive to alignment errors, and the entire building will be constructed half underground at depth 12 m relative to Taiwan Light Source (TLS) for stability reasons; for these reasons the survey and alignment work is confined and difficult. To position magnets precisely and quickly, a highly accurate auto-tuning girder system combined with a survey network was designed to accomplish the alignment tasks. The survey network includes a preliminary Global Positioning System (GPS) network and a laser-tracking network. The position data from the survey network define a basis for the system of motorized girders to auto-tune and improve the accuracy. The detailed survey and alignment design, simulation and preliminary data are described in this paper.
Measurement and characterization of precision rotary axes at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
Authors: Nicola M. , van der Kleij H. P. 
Published: December 2010

For some beamlines, where the X-ray beam is focussed to less than 100 nm spot size, it is necessary to rotate the sample using very accurate rotary axes. The accuracy of these devices is defined in terms of radial, axial and tilt errors. At the Precision Engineering Laboratory of the ESRF, we are able to calibrate rotary stages and spindles in agreement with the ISO 230-7 and ASME B89.3.4 standards, in static mode (step by step, at given position increments) or in continuous motion. This type of measurement is possible through the use of non-contact capacitive sensors (with measuring resolution in the field of the nanometre) and reference spherical artefacts, working under controlled environmental conditions to minimize the influence of thermal instabilities. The setup includes a special granite stage with a gantry, supported by an active anti-vibration system. The presentation will illustrate the measurement principle and some examples of calibrations, including results obtained on a motorized air-bearing rotary stage for which the measured errors are about 20 nm.