bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The application of vestibular‐evoked myogenic potentials in otoneurosurgery
Authors: Ernst Arne , Todt Ingo , Seidl Rainer O. , Eisenschenk Andreas , Blödow Alexander , Basta Dietmar 
Published: August 2006

ObjectiveTo evaluate the applicability of vestibular‐evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) in the diagnostics, intraoperative monitoring, and postoperative follow‐up of patients in otoneurosurgery.Study DesignA prospective study of patients who underwent either cochlear implantation (CI, n = 18) or were diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma (AN, n = 9) or with neuro(micro)vascular compression of the VIIIth nerve (NVC, n = 27) in the period 2002 to 2004. The follow‐up was 1 year for all patients.SettingA tertiary‐referral unit.ResultsVEMPs could be recorded in 64% of all patients before CI and in 22% after surgery. The patients with AN had normal VEMPs in 22% of all cases when first diagnosed. Normal VEMPs were found in 37% of those patients with NVC. From the 5 AN patients who had to be operated, only 1 had intact VEMPs after surgery. In contrast, after microvascular decompression all patients (4) had normal VEMPs.ConclusionsVEMPs are helpful in diagnosing patients with vertigo to better identify saccular defects. They are highly sensitive in the early diagnosis of retrocochlear lesions.SignificanceVEMPs can help to reliably identify patients with a retrocochlerar lesion at an early stage and can be used in intraoperative, neurophysiological monitoring.EBM rating: C‐4
Aggressive maxillofacial disassembly in skull base surgery
Authors: Vladimir Zuzukin , Yadranko Ducic 
Published: August 2006

ObjectiveTo review our favorable experience with maxillofacial disassembly for exposure and resection of tumors of the skull base.Patients and MethodsThis is a retrospective review of 31 patients from 1997 to 2005 treated by maxillofacial disassembly and includes 22 patients with midface disassembly and 9 patients with mandible with or without midface disassembly.ResultsFollow‐up ranges from 2 weeks to 7 years: 23 of 31 patients are alive and disease free; 3 patients are alive with disease; 3 patients have died of distant metastasis. There were 14 complications in 12 (38.7%) patients; 13 of 14 complications were minor. One major complication (cardiovascular accident) resulted in the single postoperative mortality in this series.ConclusionOur technique of maxillofacial disassembly allows for tailored exposure of all regions of the anterolateral skull base with acceptable perioperative morbidity in appropriately selected patients.EBM rating: C‐4
Intradermal positivity after negative prick testing for inhalants
Authors: McKay Shawn P. , Meslemani Danny , Stachler Robert J. , Krouse John H. 
Published: August 2006

ObjectiveExamine the incidence of positive intradermal tests after a negative skin prick test for 24 inhalant antigens.Study Design and SettingRetrospective study. Charts from patients who underwent modified quantitative testing over a 3‐year period were reviewed. Patients were initially tested with Multi‐Test II. Subjects with negative wheals to a specific allergen were then tested with a 1:500 weight:volume intradermal injection of that allergen.ResultsOne hundred thirty‐three patients underwent MQT for 24 antigens. Allergens with the highest incidence of positive intradermal wheals after negative prick testing were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae at 26.67%. Allergens with elevated incidence of positive intradermals included fusarium, cockroach, cocklebur, rough marsh elder, and ragweed, all with incidences of 16% to 19%.ConclusionPositive intradermal responses after negative prick testing occur commonly. Future study is needed to determine the generalizability and clinical significance of these findings.EBM rating: C‐4
Reliable surgical landmarks for the identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve
Authors: Çakir Burak Ömür , Ercan Ibrahim , Şam Bülent , Turgut Suat 
Published: August 2006

ObjectiveTo obtain reliable landmarks for identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve in human larynges.Study Design and SettingThis is a prospective study, analyzing the laryngeal anatomic features. Structures easily palpable on the thyroid and cricoid cartilage (ie, the most prominent portion of the inferior cornu of the thyroid cartilage [IC], the inferior tubercle of the thyroid cartilage [ITT] and the most anterior portion of the arch of the cricoid cartilage [AC]) were accepted as landmarks and the distances of these structures to the entrance point of the RLN on the medial aspect of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle (cross point [CP]) were measured in 65 adult autopsies.ResultsWhen a straight line is drawn 11 to 12 millimeters (mm) from the IC, 22 to 24 mm from the ITT, and 26 to 28 mm from the AC, the point at which they intersect indicates the point at which the RLN enters the medial side of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle (ICM) and is easy to locate at this point. All of the RLN were seen to lie posterolateral to the Berry ligament. Thirty‐eight of 65 cases possessed extralaryngeal bifurcation of the RLN.ConclusionWith such constant mathematic values, these 3 landmarks are reliable markers for identification of RLN. This study is important in the fact that it states constant mathematic values regarding surgical landmarks used to expose the RLN.
Palatal and tongue base surgery for surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: A prospective study
Authors: Jacobowitz Ofer 
Published: August 2006

ObjectiveTo assess the effect of concurrent uvulopalatopha‐ryngoplasty and hypopharyngeal procedures in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with diffuse airway narrowing.Study Design and SettingForty‐eight patients were treated surgically by a single surgeon in private practice over 2 years. Symptoms, Epworth score, and polysomnographic outcome were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. The Friedman staging system was applied. UPPP with genioglossus advancement, hyoid suspension, or radiofrequency treatment was carried out.ResultsIn 37 patients with complete data, the average apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) was reduced from 46.5 ± 24.8 to 14.9 ± 16.8. The Epworth score was reduced from 12.1 ± 4.9 to 6.7 ± 3.7. Most patients reported improved sleep quality, alertness, memory, concentration, and mood.ConclusionSuccessful outcome, defined by symptom and AHI reduction, was achieved with multilevel surgery for most patients with advanced Friedman stages 2 and 3.SignificanceMultilevel surgery seems effective in treating severe OSA patients with diffuse airway narrowing.EBM rating: C‐4
DQA1 and DQB1 association and nasal polyposis
Authors: Fajardo‐Dolci Germán , Solorio‐Abreu Jesús , Romero‐Álvarez Julio César , Zavaleta‐Villa Beatríz , Cerezo‐Camacho Oscar , Jiménez‐Lucio Rocío , Olivo‐Díaz Angélica 
Published: August 2006

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the contribution of the human major histocompatibility complex (HLA)‐DQA1, ‐DQB1, and TNFΑ genes with simple nasal polyposis.Study Design and SettingA comparative case‐control study with 31 patients and 151 controls was performed. HLADQA1, ‐DQB1, and TNFΑ −238 promoter position loci were typed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOPs). TNFΑ ℒ308 promoter position was determined by PCR and digestion with NcoI restriction enzyme.ResultsThe allele HLA‐DQA1*0201 (Pc = 0.019) had an etiologic fraction (EF) of 17%, whereas 13% EF was found for the haplotype HLA‐DQA1*0201‐DQB1*0201 (P = 0.016). Analysis of ‐DQB1 and TNFΑ promoter did not show significant differences between cases and controls.ConclusionsHLA‐DQA1*0201‐DQB1*0201 haplotype is involved in susceptibility, conferring 5.53 times more risk of developing this disease.EBM rating: B−2b
Factors influencing publication of abstracts presented at the AAO‐HNS Annual Meeting
Authors: Peng Phyllis H. , Wasserman Jared M. , Rosenfeld Richard M. 
Published: August 2006

ObjectiveTo examine abstracts presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting and to identify factors associated with publication success.Study Design and SettingAll abstracts published in the August 1999 official program issue of the AAO‐HNS Journal were examined. MEDLINE searches were performed to assess publication success. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify factors related to successful publication.ResultsWe identified 473 abstracts, of which 260 (55%) were poster presentations. Median publication time was 16 months, with a publication rate of 50%. Multivariate analysis revealed oral presentation, statistical analysis, and number of authors to be the most significant predictive factors of publication success (odds ratios of 2.2, 1.9, and 1.2 respectively). Level of evidence did not correlate with publication success, even when case reports (n = 70) were excluded from the analysis. Publication rates in other disciplines ranged from 25% to 68%, with a mean of 47%.ConclusionsThe rate of publication from the AAO‐HNS Annual Meeting is similar to other disciplines. Oral presentations with inferential statistics in the abstract were most likely to be published. Conversely, level of evidence and direction of study inquiry were not significant predictors, suggesting that research design is a less important determinant of publication success.SignificanceOur investigation is one of the first to critically analyze the factors in presentations at annual meetings that predict successful publication.
In vitropharmacological characterization of AM1241: a protean agonist at the cannabinoid CB2receptor?
Authors: Yao B B , Mukherjee S , Fan Y , Garrison T R , Daza A V , Grayson G K , Hooker B A , Dart M J , Sullivan J P , Meyer M D 
Published: August 2006

Background and purpose:The CB2receptor has been proposed as a novel target for the treatment of pain, and CB2receptor agonists defined inin vitroassays have demonstrated analgesic activity in animal models. Based on itsin vivoanalgesic efficacy, AM1241 has been classified as a CB2‐selective agonist. However,in vitrocharacterization of AM1241 in functional assays has not been reported.Experimental approach:In this study, AM1241 was characterized across multiplein vitroassays employing heterologous recombinant receptor expression systems to assess its binding potencies at the human CB2and CB1receptors and its functional efficacies at the human CB2receptor.Key results:AM1241 exhibited distinct functional properties depending on the assay conditions employed, a unique profile in contrast to those of the agonist CP 55,940 and the inverse agonist SR144528. AM1241 displayed neutral antagonist activities in FLIPR and cyclase assays. However, when cyclase assays were performed using lower forskolin concentrations for stimulation, AM1241 exhibited partial agonist efficacy. In addition, it behaved as a partial agonist in ERK (or MAP) kinase assays.Conclusions and implications:The unusual phenomenon of inconsistent functional efficacies suggests that AM1241 is a protean agonist at the CB2receptor. We postulate that functional efficacies displayed by protean agonists in various assay systems may depend on the levels of receptor constitutive activities exhibited in the assay systems, and therefore, efficacies observed inin vitroassays may not predictin vivoactivities.British Journal of Pharmacology(2006)149, 145–154. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706838
MASQOT-GUI: spot quality assessment for the two-channel microarray platform
Authors: Bylesjö Max , Sjödin Andreas , Eriksson Daniel , Antti Henrik , Moritz Thomas , Jansson Stefan , Trygg Johan 
Published: August 2006

Abstract
Summary: MASQOT-GUI provides an open-source, platform-independent software pipeline for two-channel microarray spot quality control. This includes gridding, segmentation, quantification, quality assessment and data visualization. It hosts a set of independent applications, with interactions between the tools as well as import and export support for external software. The implementation of automated multivariate quality control assessment, which is a unique feature of MASQOT-GUI, is based on the previously documented and evaluated MASQOT methodology. Further abilities of the application are outlined and illustrated.
Availability: MASQOT-GUI is Java-based and licensed under the GNU LGPL. Source code and installation files are available for download at
Contact: max.bylesjo@chem.umu.se
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online
Naltrexone versus acamprosate in the treatment of alcohol dependence: a multi‐centre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Morley Kirsten C. , Teesson Maree , Reid Sophie C. , Sannibale Claudia , Thomson Clare , Phung Nghi , Weltman Martin , Bell James R. , Richardson Kylie , Haber Paul S. 
Published: August 2006

ABSTRACTAim  To compare the efficacy of acamprosate and naltrexone in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Design  A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Setting  Three treatment centres in Australia. Participants  A total of 169 alcohol dependent subjects were given naltrexone (50 mg/day), acamprosate (1998 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks.Intervention  All subjects were offered manualized compliance therapy, a brief intervention that targets problems that may affect treatment compliance such as ambivalence and misperceptions about medication.Measurements  Time to the first drink, time to first relapse, drinks per drinking day and cumulative abstinence.Findings  In intention‐to‐treat analyses, there were no differences between groups on outcome measures of drinking, craving or biochemical markers. Similarly, analyses of the 94 subjects that completed the study in full and demonstrated 80% compliance, revealed no significant treatment effects. Differential treatment effects were identified after stratification according to scores on the Alcohol Dependence Scale (ADS) and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS). A significant beneficial treatment effect on time to first relapse was revealed for subjects with ‘no depression’ allocated to naltrexone (n = 56; P < 0.01). In addition, a significant beneficial treatment effect was revealed in subjects with ‘low dependence’ allocated to naltrexone (n = 34; P < 0.05).Conclusions  The results of this study support the efficacy of naltrexone in the relapse prevention of alcoholism amongst those with low levels of clinical depression and alcohol dependence severity. No effect of acamprosate was found in our sample.
Identification of additional cytogenetic and molecular genetic abnormalities in acute myeloid leukaemia with t(8;21)/AML1‐ETO
Authors: Kuchenbauer F. , Schnittger S. , Look T. , Gilliland G. , Tenen D. , Haferlach T. , Hiddemann W. , Buske C. , Schoch C. 
Published: August 2006

Abstract AML1‐ETO collaborates with further genetic abnormalities to induce acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). We analysed 99 patients with an AML1‐ETO rearrangement for additional aberrations. Frequent genetic abnormalities were, loss of a sex chromosome (56/99, 56·5%) and del(9)(q22) (24/99, 24·2%). The most frequent molecular aberrations were mutations of KITD816 (3/23, 13%) and NRAS (8/89, 8·9%). Further molecular abnormalities were FLT3 mutations (3/87, 3·4%), AML1 (1/26, 3·8%) and PU1 (1/14, 7·1%). MLL‐PTD, KRAS and CEBPA mutations were not found. These clinical findings support the model that AML1‐ETO collaborates with other genetic alterations, such as mutations of receptor tyrosine kinases, to induce AML.
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
Authors: Kyle Robert A. , Vincent Rajkumar S. 
Published: August 2006

SummarySignificant advances have been made in our understanding of the natural history, pathogenesis, mechanisms of progression and prognosis of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Although the overall incidence of MGUS progression is 1 per year, it is now possible to more accurately predict the risk of progression based on a new risk‐stratification model. However, it is still hard to design chemopreventive trials given that the absolute risk of progression per year is low, even in the high‐risk group. Therefore, further improvements in estimating the risk of progression are needed. Roughly 50% of MGUS may originate from primary translocation events at the heavy‐chain immunoglobulin locus at chromosome 14q32. In most of the remaining MGUS patients, the initiating event is associated with genomic instability that results in hyperdiploidy of certain odd numbered chromosomes. Cytogenetically distinct subtypes of MGUS may carry significant differences in the risk of progression to malignancy. New markers, such as measures of bone marrow angiogenesis and circulating plasma cells may be additional prognostic factors. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the transition of normal plasma cells to the MGUS phenotype, and the transition of MGUS to myeloma or related malignancy, will help identify new risk factors for progression and new targets for chemopreventive interventions.
Assessment of European streams with diatoms, macrophytes, macroinvertebrates and fish: a comparative metric‐based analysis of organism response to stress
Authors: HERING DANIEL , JOHNSON RICHARD K. , KRAMM SANDRA , SCHMUTZ STEFAN , SZOSZKIEWICZ KRZYSZTOF , VERDONSCHOT PIET F. M. 
Published: August 2006

Summary1. Periphytic diatoms, macrophytes, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish were sampled with standard methods in 185 streams in nine European countries to compare their response to degradation. Streams were classified into two main stream type groups (i.e. lowland, mountain streams); in addition, the lowland streams were grouped into four more specific stream types.2. Principal components analysis with altogether 43 environmental parameters was used to construct complex stressor gradients for physical–chemical, hydromorphological and land use data. About 30 metrics were calculated for each sample and organism group. Metric responses to different stress types were analysed by Spearman Rank Correlation.3. All four organism groups showed significant response to eutrophication/organic pollution gradients. Generally, diatom metrics were most strongly correlated to eutrophication gradients (85% and 89% of the diatom metrics tested correlated significantly in mountain and lowland streams, respectively), followed by invertebrate metrics (91% and 59%).4. Responses of the four organism groups to other gradients were less strong; all organism groups responded to varying degrees to land use changes, hydromorphological degradation on the microhabitat scale and general degradation gradients, while the response to hydromorphological gradients on the reach scale was mainly limited to benthic macroinvertebrates (50% and 44% of the metrics tested correlated significantly in mountain and lowland streams, respectively) and fish (29% and 47%).5. Fish and macrophyte metrics generally showed a poor response to degradation gradients in mountain streams and a strong response in lowland streams.6. General recommendations on European bioassessment of streams were derived from the results.
Quantifying rotifer species richness in temperate lakes
Authors: MUIRHEAD JIM R. , EJSMONT‐KARABIN J. , MACISAAC HUGH J. 
Published: August 2006

Summary1. Biodiversity assessments of lakes depend on the ability to identify the complement of species present, although the degree of sampling required is often uncertain. We utilise long‐term data to predict rotifer species richness in three habitats in three Polish lakes using rarefaction sampling methods.2. Richness in littoral and psammon habitats did not saturate, even with up to 130 samples. Highest richness was observed in psammon habitat (119 species) in Lake Mikolajskie, followed by littoral habitat in Lakes Łuknajno (114 species) and Kuc (110 species). Littoral habitats in Lakes Łuknajno (56%) and Kuc (51%) had the most species not shared with other habitats in the same lake.3. Species richness (Chao2) estimates ranged between 44 for pelagic and 135 for psammon habitat in Lake Mikolajskie, to 100 for psammon and 137 for littoral habitat in Lake Kuc, and 65 for pelagic and 162 for littoral habitat in Lake Łuknajno. Whole lake estimates were 167, 205 and 171 species, respectively, for these lakes, higher than the 150 to 160 species predicted by Dumont and Segers (Hydrobiologia, 1996, 341, 125).4. Using standardised sampling, richness was significantly higher in littoral than either pelagic or psammon habitats. Contrasts of standardised rarefaction curves revealed that richness in Lakes Kuc and Mikolajskie was described as well by littoral‐only or psammon‐only samples, respectively, as by those randomly drawn from across all habitats in the lake.5. Species richness estimates for Lake Mikolajskie were highest in summer, followed by autumn and spring. Interannual estimates differed by up to 427%, nearly an order of magnitude greater than maximal seasonal variation of 70%.6. Results indicate that much higher sampling intensity is required to establish species richness than is presently carried out in most lakes. Because many species can be detected only with very intensive sampling, conservation programmes must consider sampling intensity when designing studies.
Contrasting effects of climate and CO2 on Amazonian ecosystems since the last glacial maximum
Authors: BEERLING DAVID J. , MAYLE FRANCIS E. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe nature of Amazonian ecosystem responses to the large‐scale environmental changes characterizing glacial–interglacial cycles is poorly understood. We investigated this issue with a series of transient, continuous 21 000‐year simulations using a dynamic process‐based ecosystem model. Our results indicate that the Amazon Basin has been dominated by evergreen rain forests since the last glacial maximum (LGM), demonstrating the resilience of this ecosystem to glacial–interglacial environmental change. We find that biome shifts in ecotonal areas since the LGM were driven predominantly by climate change, while coincident, increased ecosystem carbon storage throughout the Amazon Basin was driven largely by CO2. Our findings imply that recent observed biomass increases in contemporary rain forest plots might be part of a long‐term trend driven by the anthropogenic rise in CO2 over recent centuries.