bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Organization of Frequency Spectra of Atrial Fibrillation: Relevance to Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation
Authors: TAKAHASHI YOSHIHIDE , SANDERS PRASHANTHAN , JAÏS PIERRE , HOCINI MÉLÈZE , DUBOIS RÉMI , ROTTER MARTIN , ROSTOCK THOMAS , NALLIAH CHRISHAN J. , SACHER FRÉDÉRIC , CLÉMENTY JACQUES , HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL 
Published: February 2006

Introduction: We hypothesized that the frequency spectra of fibrillatory electrograms may reflect the complexity of activities perpetuating atrial fibrillation (AF). To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the frequency spectra in patients with paroxysmal AF in relation to catheter ablation. Methods and Results: This study comprised two protocols: 25 patients undergoing pulmonary vein (PV) isolation in protocol I, and 20 patients undergoing mitral isthmus linear ablation after PV isolation in protocol II. The mean of dominant frequency (DF) and organization index (the ratio of the area under the DF and its harmonics to the total power) were determined from 32‐second recordings in the coronary sinus. In protocol I, a PV was considered “driver” of AF if isolation of the PV resulted in termination or slowing of AF (decrease in DF by ≥0.25 Hz). Twenty‐one patients had AF termination during four PV isolation. Among these 21 patients, 13 patients with single driving PV showed significantly higher baseline organization index than eight patients with multiple driving PVs (0.45 ± 0.08 vs 0.35 ± 0.07, P = 0.009). Patients with multiple driving PVs showed a significant increase in the organization index to 0.45 ± 0.11 (P < 0.05) after isolation of the initial driving PVs. In protocol II, the baseline organization index was significantly higher in seven patients who had termination of AF during mitral isthmus ablation than 13 patients who did not (0.50 ± 0.10 vs 0.38 ± 0.07, P < 0.008). The baseline DF was not associated with outcomes of ablation in both protocols. Conclusions: A higher organization index of atrial electrograms is associated with termination of AF during limited ablation. This parameter may be useful to anticipate the extent of ablation.
Reentrant and Nonreentrant Forms of Atrio‐Ventricular Nodal Tachycardia Mimicking Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: DIXIT SANJAY , CALLANS DAVID J. , GERSTENFELD EDWARD P. , MARCHLINSKI FRANCIS E. 
Published: February 2006

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) manifests disorganized atrial activity and irregular R‐R intervals on electrocardiogram (ECG). Variation in R‐R intervals can also be seen with other supraventricular tacyhcardias that may mimic AF. Objective: We report our observations on three patients who were referred to our center to undergo pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for erroneously diagnosed AF in the setting of dual atrio‐ventricular (AV) nodal pathways manifesting as AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and/or double response during sinus rhythm. Methods and Results: These three subjects (two females) were derived from a group of 456 consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation at our center over a 3‐year period. All three patients had been symptomatic for over 2 years, having failed two or more antiarrhythmic medications. In each case AF was initially diagnosed on ECG and/or recordings from ambulatory monitoring. However, in all three cases the correct diagnosis was established during the invasive electrophysiologic study. In one patient during the stimulation protocol, two narrow complex tachycardias were serially induced (cycle lengths: 305 and 360 msecs; VA time: 60 and 240 msecs). The latter was confirmed to be atypical AVNRT and during this tachycardia, block in upper pathway was observed. In the other two patients, sinus rhythm with repetitive runs of double response and isolated junctional beats were observed in the absence of retrograde conduction. Successful slow pathway modification was performed in each subject and all three patients have remained arrhythmia free over a mean follow‐up of 31 ± 16 months off antiarrhythmic medications. Conclusions: AF can be erroneously diagnosed in patients with dual AV nodal pathways manifesting double response and/or AVNRT. Incorporating a stimulation protocol as a part of the AF ablation procedure may help in diagnosing these rare clinical presentations that can be cured by slow pathway modification alone.
Narrow, Slow‐Conducting Isthmus Dependent Left Atrial Reentry Developing After Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: ECG Characterization and Elimination by Focal RF Ablation
Authors: SHAH DIPEN , SUNTHORN HENRI , BURRI HARAN , GENTIL‐BARON PASCALE , PRUVOT ETIENNE , SCHLAEPFER JURG , FROMER MARTIN 
Published: February 2006

Introduction: The complete circuit of reentrant left atrial tachycardias (LATs) occurring after ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been well described. Identifying discrete isthmuses critical to these LATs may simplify their elimination by catheter ablation. Methods and Results: Fifteen patients (all male, 56 ± 8 years) with 15 reentrant LATs following AF ablation underwent activation and entrainment mapping. Eleven patients (11 LATs) had a single localized site with low amplitude (0.16 ± 0.05 mV), fractionated long duration (131 ± 23 msec) electrograms coinciding with an isoelectric interval of 106 ± 24 msec between flutter waves on all 12 ECG leads. Three‐dimensional mapping and entrainment revealed this site to be a narrow markedly slowly conducting isthmus adjacent to ablated left (n = 8) or right (n = 3) pulmonary vein (PV) ostia, and critical to nine small diameter (15 ± 3 mm) and two large diameter (49 ± 2 mm) circuits. One radiofrequency (RF) application on this isthmus eliminated LAT in all 11 patients. Four patients (four LATs) with large circuits around the mitral annulus and/or PV ostia lacked isoelectric ECG intervals and slow‐conducting isthmuses and required multiple RF applications across anatomically wide, rapidly conducting isthmuses. Conclusion: Focally ablatable narrow isthmuses of slow conduction are critical for the majority of reentrant LAT occurring after ablation for AF. The role and presence of these isthmuses can be anticipated by observing significant isoelectric intervals between flutter waves on all 12‐surface ECG leads. Their distinctive electrophysiological characteristics allow their identification and elimination by simple RF ablation.
Sirolimus‐ versus Paclitaxel‐Eluting Stents: A Comparison of Two Consecutive Series in Routine Clinical Practice
Authors: KATRITSIS DEMOSTHENES G. , KOROVESIS SOCRATES , KARABINOS ILIAS , GIAZITZOGLOU ELEFTHERIOS , THEODOROU SPYRIDOULA , KARVOUNI EVANGELIA , VORIDIS EUTYCHIOS 
Published: February 2006

Background: We compared two consecutive series of patients treated with sirolimus‐eluting stents (SES) or paclitaxel‐eluting stents (PES).
Methods: Two hundred and ninety‐five patients with 590 coronary lesions were treated with 274 SES and 379 PES. Patients with symptoms or positive dobutamine stress echocardiography were subjected to repeat coronary angiography.
Results: During a follow‐up of 13.3 ± 5.7 months, the incidence rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) was 4.1%, including, 1 death, 4 Q‐wave myocardial infarctions, 2 late angiographic stent thromboses, 3 subacute stent thromboses, and 11 target vessel revascularizations (TVR), and was not significantly different between SES (n = 5) and PES (n = 7).
Stent overlapping was found to be an independent predictor of both MACE (odds ratio = 0.078, P = 0.02) and TVR (odds ratio = 0.077, P = 0.02). Follow‐up symptoms‐ or ischemia‐driven angiography was performed in 45 patients. Only vessel size was a predictor of stent restenosis (P = 0.02), independent of stent type. Late loss was independently predicted by postdilatation of stent (beta =−0.24, P = 0.03), but not by type of stent (P = 0.14) or other parameters. Edge restenosis was seen in 8 patients subjected to lesion predilatation. The restenosis pattern after SES implantation was focal, but diffuse (n = 1) or proliferative (n = 1) restenosis, and in‐stent aneurysm formation (n = 1) was also seen with PES.
Conclusions: Despite a trend for a higher incidence of MACE with PES, no significant differences between the two stent types were detected. Diffuse restenosis was seen only with PES, and edge restenosis only in lesions with balloon predilatation before stent implantation. Stent overlapping was an independent predictor of both TVR and MACE.
Low Power Ultrasound Delivered Through a PTCA‐Like Guidewire: Preclinical Feasibility and Safety of a Novel Technology for Intracoronary Thrombolysis
Authors: CHOI SUNG W. , SALTZMAN ADAM J. , DABREO ALEXANDRA , SALOMON ROBERT N. , GRAY JONATHAN G. , SENSENEY‐MELLOR HEATHER , GOSNELL MARK R. , WAXMAN SERGIO 
Published: February 2006

Background: Low power ultrasound delivered through an angioplasty‐like guidewire may be effective for intracoronary thrombolysis. We evaluated the preclinical feasibility and safety of such wire.
Methods and Results: In 15 anesthetized Yucatan minipigs, the ultrasonic wire was advanced percutaneously into all three coronaries. Each coronary was randomized to long activation (6 minutes), short activation (3 minutes), or control (3 minutes indwelling, no activation). The energy delivered was 0.14 ± 0.01 W/cm of active length (20 kHz). No changes in heart rate, rhythm, or arterial pressure occurred during wire positioning or activation. Mean lumen diameter (MLD) by quantitative angiography was not significantly different pre‐ and postintervention (2.36 ± 0.12 mm vs 2.36 ± 0.11 mm for long activation, P = 0.96; 2.33 ± 0.15 mm vs 2.34 ± 0.14 mm for short activation, P = 0.54; 2.30 ± 0.12 mm vs 2.33 ± 0.12 mm for control, P = 0.21). There were no angiographic stenoses at 60 or 90 days follow‐up. Compared with baseline, MLD at follow‐up increased in all the three groups (2.40 ± 0.13 mm vs 2.53 ± 0.11 mm, P = 0.004 for long activation; 2.37 ± 0.17 mm vs 2.52 ± 0.14 mm, P = 0.023 for short activation; 2.20 ± 0.12 mm vs 2.33 ± 0.11 mm, P = 0.001 for the control group). By histology, there were no clinically significant pathologic changes in coronary morphology.
Conclusion: Use of a transverse cavitation therapeutic wire is feasible and well tolerated acutely in the normal porcine coronary. At 60 and 90 days, no angiographically apparent damage, no clinically significant pathologic changes, and no adverse events were seen. This technology may be safely used during percutaneous coronary intervention. Further studies are justified to evaluate its efficacy for intracoronary thrombus ablation.
An unholy alliance: substance abuse and social exclusion among assertive outreach patients
Authors: Fakhoury W. K. H. , Priebe S. ,   PLAO Study Group
Published: February 2006

Objective:  To investigate the relationship between social exclusion and outcomes of mentally ill patients with substance abuse problems receiving assertive outreach treatment in London.Method:  Analysis was conducted on data on 580 patients from the ‘Pan‐London Assertive Outreach Study (PLAO)’. Data were collected using clinician‐rated scales of alcohol and drug abuse in the last 6 months before baseline. Outcomes – hospitalization and compulsory hospitalization– were assessed over a 9‐month follow‐up period.Results:  The analysis identified a group of patients with substance abuse who suffer from social exclusion and forensic problems (n = 77, 15.8%), and had poorer outcomes than the rest of the patients in terms of hospitalization (52% vs. 36% respectively) and compulsory (39% vs. 22% respectively) hospitalization.Conclusion:  There is a distinct group of patients whose treatment requires social inclusion and forensic expertise. Future research into which model of service is suitable for these patients and in what setting is recommended.
Homelessness among patients with schizophrenia in rural China: a 10‐year cohort study
Authors: Ran M. S. , Chan C. L.W. , Chen E. Y.H. , Xiang M.Z. , Caine E. D. , Conwell Y. 
Published: February 2006

Objective:  To explore the frequency and risk factors of homelessness among a previously identified cohort of patients with schizophrenia in rural China.Method:  A 10‐year follow‐up investigation among a 1994 cohort (n = 510) of patients with schizophrenia was conducted in Xinjin County, Chengdu, China.Results:  Thirty‐nine patients (7.8%) experienced homelessness during the follow‐up period. The rate of homelessness was 0.9 per 100 person‐years during the 10‐year follow‐up period. Four significant predictors of homelessness remained in the final logistic regression model: living in shabby or unstable house or shelter, positive family history of mental disorders, without income of the patient, and unmarried, divorced, or separated. Risk of homelessness increased substantially with exposure to multiple risk factors.Conclusion:  Substantial numbers of homeless patients with schizophrenia are challenges for mental health care and public health. Appropriate community‐based services, especially housing services, should be crucial for prevention of homelessness in patients with schizophrenia.
Novel rinse assay for the quantification of oral neutrophils and the monitoring of chronic periodontal disease
Authors: Bender J. S. , Thang H. , Glogauer M. 
Published: February 2006

Background and Objectives:  The aim of this study was to develop a single, rapid, noninvasive oral rinse assay to enable the accurate quantification of oral neutrophils. Products released by neutrophils are partly responsible for the destruction observed in periodontitis. Quantification of oral neutrophil levels is important for understanding their role in periodontal diseases. Previous studies have relied on time‐consuming serial rinses and cumbersome counting techniques for the collection and quantification of oral neutrophils.Material and Methods:  Patients with chronic periodontal disease provided rinse samples before and after phase I periodontal treatment. Cells in the rinse samples were stained with acridine orange, and neutrophil counts were carried out using a fluorescence microscope and a hemocytometer.Results:  This assay allowed us to detect a significant difference in pretreatment oral neutrophil counts between periodontal disease and healthy control groups (p < 0.001). Patients who responded favorably to phase I therapy demonstrated a 43% reduction in oral neutrophil counts compared with their pretreatment levels (p = 0.019). Patients who did not respond to phase I periodontal treatment showed no significant difference in oral neutrophil levels (p = 0.39).Conclusion:  Oral neutrophil levels, as determined by a rapid oral rinse, reflect the severity of periodontal disease and treatment response. A single, rapid, oral rinse assay is an effective means of collecting and quantifying oral neutrophil levels and may serve as an excellent research tool for further study of the role of neutrophils in periodontal diseases.
Efficacy and Safety of Tadalafil Across Ethnic Groups and Various Risk Factors in Men with Erectile Dysfunction: Use of a Novel Noninferiority Study Design
Authors: Morgentaler Abraham , Barada James , Niederberger Craig , Donatucci Craig , Garcia Carmen S. , Natanegara Fanni , Ahuja Sanjeev , Wong David G. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

Aim
This U.S. multicenter open-label study used a noninferiority trial design to assess the efficacy of tadalafil 20 mg to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in the black American and Hispanic groups compared with a reference group of Caucasians. A secondary objective was to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of tadalafil 20 mg in various populations of men with ED.

Methods
A total of 1,911 patients with ED were enrolled into eight predefined groups: (1–3) Caucasian (Reference group), Black American, or Hispanic patients, ≤65 years of age with no diabetes mellitus or depression; (4) patients with depression, ≤65 years of age, no diabetes; (5) patients with diabetes, ≤65 years of age, no depression; (6) patients &gt;65 years of age, no diabetes or depression; (7) patients who met enrollment criteria but were not included in any other group; and (8) patients with ED due to traumatic spinal cord injury. The study had a 4-week run-in period, followed by a 12-week treatment period with tadalafil taken as needed, up to one dose/day, prior to sexual activity. Change from baseline to endpoint in the Erectile Function (EF) domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was used to determine noninferiority of groups 2 and 3 from group 1. Secondary efficacy measures included other IIEF domains and Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP).

Results
Noninferiority analyses based on the EF domain score showed that tadalafil was as efficacious in the Hispanic and Black American groups as in the Reference group. Patients in each of the eight groups had a significant change from baseline (P &lt; 0.001) in the IIEF EF domain score and positive responses to SEP Questions 1–5. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events reported by patients in all eight groups were headache, nasal congestion, dyspepsia, flushing, and back pain.

Conclusion
Tadalafil 20 mg was as efficacious in the Hispanic and black American groups as in the Caucasian/Reference group. Tadalafil was efficacious and well tolerated in each of the groups studied in this trial.
Vaginal Application of Testosterone: A Study on Pharmacokinetics and the Sexual Response in Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Apperloo Mirjam , Midden Marlies , Van Der Stege Jolande , Wouda Jan , Hoek Annemieke , Weijmar Schultz Willibrord 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Androgen substitution is advocated to improve sexual functioning in women with androgen insufficiency. Nevertheless, the role of androgens in female sexual functioning is not yet unraveled. Even less is known about changes in androgens and the female sexual response.

Aim
The aim of the study is to describe the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of vaginally applied testosterone. In addition, the study aims to gain more insight into the relation between acute changes in testosterone levels and the sexual response in women.

Methods
A randomized, double-blind, crossover study design was used to compare a single vaginal dose of testosterone propionate (2 mg) with placebo. Ten healthy premenopausal women participated. Serum levels of testosterone, free testosterone, and estradiol were measured. The sexual response was measured before application of medication and 4 and 8 hours after application. Erotic video fragments and erotic fantasies were used as stimuli. The genital sexual response was measured using vaginal plethysmography. The subjective sexual response was measured using a visual analog scale.

Results
Vaginal administration of testosterone propionate induced a significant rise in serum testosterone levels and free testosterone levels, but not in serum estradiol levels. Peak levels were reached after 5.5 hours (range 2–12 hours). Mean peak levels of testosterone were 7.71 nmol/L after testosterone propionate and 2.99 nmol/L after placebo (P &lt; 0.005). Mean peak levels of free testosterone were 0.12 nmol/L after testosterone propionate and 0.04 nmol/L after placebo (P &lt; 0.005). Despite marked elevated levels of androgens this study was unable to detect a direct effect on the genital or subjective sexual response.

Conclusions
A single dose of vaginally applied testosterone propionate elevates serum levels of testosterone and free testosterone within 6 hours. Nevertheless, this acute rise in androgens has no effects on the female sexual response.
A unified picture for gamma-ray burst prompt and X-ray afterglow emissions
Authors: Kumar P. , McMahon E. , Barthelmy S. D. , Burrows D. , Gehrels N. , Goad M. , Nousek J. , Tagliaferri G. 
Published: February 2006

Abstract
Data from the Swift satellite have enabled us for the first time to provide a complete picture of the gamma-ray (γ-ray) burst emission mechanism and its relationship with the early afterglow emissions. We show that γ-ray photons for two bursts, 050126 and 050219A, for which we have carried out detailed analysis were produced as a result of the synchrotron self-Compton process in the material ejected in the explosion when it was heated to a mildly relativistic temperature at a distance from the centre of explosion of order the deceleration radius. Both of these bursts exhibit rapidly declining early X-ray afterglow light curves; this emission is from the same source that produced the γ-ray burst. The technique that we exploit to determine this is very general and makes no assumption about any particular model for γ-ray generation except that the basic radiation mechanism is some combination of synchrotron and inverse Compton processes in a relativistic outflow. For GRB 050219A we can rule out the possibility that energy from the explosion is carried outward by magnetic fields, and that the dissipation of this field produced the γ-ray burst.
A RAPID BLADE‐CUTTING METHOD FOR THE EVALUATION OF OSMOTIC DEHYDRATION OF APPLES AND POTATOES
Authors: NUNAK N. , SCHLEINING G. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACT The mass transfer between a sugar solution and sample tissues of apples and potatoes was determined by evaluating the concentration profile of water and the force–distance curves obtained by a blade‐cutting method with a texture analyzer. The shape of the force–distance curves at various processing times was clearly different from that of fresh samples. First, the sample is compressed and the force increases to a “yield point” (YP) when the blade penetrates the surface. After that, the force decreases to a “minimum force point” (MFP) while cutting dehydrated tissue and increases again while cutting nonaffected tissue. The distance at the MFP showed a good correlation to the distance calculated from the concentration‐profile method and can be also used as a parameter to determine the depth of affected sample tissue at various processing time. The blade‐cutting method is much faster and easier to carry out than the concentration‐profile method. Under the used conditions of osmotic dehydration (66% w/w sugar solution, at 20 ± 2C under constant agitation and at atmospheric pressure, sample thickness = 10 mm), the time to dehydrate the samples down to the center was 6 and 3 h for apples and potatoes, respectively.
Japanese Contribution to Malaysian Economic Development: Lessons for Africa
Authors: Masaki Toyomu 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThis paper does not deal directly with the relations between Japan and Africa; instead it looks at Malaysia and Côte d'Ivoire with the objective of portraying Japanese contribution to Malaysian economic development and identifying some lessons that can be learnt by Africa from it. Both countries had a comparable macroeconomic outlook until 1980, with economies based on similar primary goods such as cocoa, coffee, palm oil, timber etc., which are typical of tropical climates. However, following the sharp decline in international prices since 1980, Malaysia registered a high economic growth and became successfully industrialized, Côte d'Ivoire suffered an economic crisis and a balance of payment deficit. Moreover, the latter is not a special case among African countries. The paper also seeks to advance some hypotheses in order to explain the phenomena.