bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cognitive rehabilitation combined with drug treatment in Alzheimer's disease patients: a pilot study
Authors: Bottino Cássio MC , Carvalho Isabel AM , Alvarez Ana Maria MA , Avila Renata , Zukauskas Patrícia R , Bustamante Sonia EZ , Andrade Flávia C , Hototian Sérgio R , Saffi Fabiana , Camargo Cãndida HP 
Published: October 2005

Objective: To study the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation combined with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChE-I) treatment in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease and their relatives. Method: Thirteen patients with mild Alzheimer's disease treated with rivastigmine 6-12 mg/day for more than two months started cognitive rehabilitation training. Before and after the cognitive rehabilitation training patients were assessed through cognitive tests, activities of daily living scale, neuropsychological battery and scales to evaluate caregivers' depressive and anxiety symptoms. Six patients were randomized to a combined treatment group (AChE-I plus cognitive rehabilitation and caregiver support) and seven patients to a control group (AChE-I only) and followed up for five months. Results: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores (p=0.047) and backward digit span scores (p=0.018) were significantly different between the groups on follow-up. The combined treatment group showed a better positive treatment effect on cognitive and neuropsychological tests applied to patients and reduction of psychiatric symptoms was observed in their caregivers (nonsignificant). Conclusion: Cognitive rehabilitation associated with AChE-I treatment can potentially be useful to stabilize or improve cognitive and functional performance of patients with mild Alzheimer's disease and can reduce caregivers' psychiatric symptoms.
The effect of cardiac rehabilitation on recovery of heart rate over one minute after exercise in patients with coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Authors: Tsai Sen-Wei , Lin Yi-Wen , Wu Shyi-Kuen 
Published: October 2005

Objective: To evaluate the effects of cardiac rehabilitation on the recovery of heart rate over 1 min after peak exercise of patients who received coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Design: Thirty subjects who received CABG surgery were randomly assigned to enter or not enter a cardiac rehabilitation exercise programme (cardiac rehabilitation n=15; control group n=15). Setting: Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation centre in a national medical hospital. Interventions: Patients assigned to the cardiac rehabilitation group received 36 sessions of the exercise programme, three times a week, with the intensity designed to achieve an individual 60-85% peak heart rate in cardiopulmonary exercise test. Patients assigned to the control group did not get further advice about a specific exercise programme. Main outcome measures: Resting heart rate and recovery of heart rate over 1 min after a peak exercise test at discharge and three months later were collected. The heart rates were analysed with computer-recorded electrocardiogram. Results: At follow-up, the 15 patients in the cardiac rehabilitation group had a significantly lower resting heart rate (77.469± 9.49 versus 92.319± 10.18 bpm; p B± 0.001) and a significantly higher recovery of heart rate over 1 min (16.389± 6.32 versus 11.389± 4.81 bpm; p ± 0.03) compared with the control group. There were also significant reductions in resting heart rates (cardiac rehabilitation p ± 0.001; control p=0.05) and improvements in recovery on heart rate over 1 min (cardiac rehabilitation p ± 0.001; control p= 0.001) compared with baseline measurements in both the cardiac rehabilitation and control groups. Conclusion: Cardiac rehabilitation had a positive effect on the improvement of recovery on heart rate over 1 min in patients with coronary artery disease who received CABG surgery.
Effects of whole-body vibration in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study
Authors: Schuhfried Othmar , Mittermaier Christian , Jovanovic Tatjana , Pieber Karin , Paternostro-Sluga Tatjana 
Published: October 2005

Objective: To examine whether a whole-body vibration (mechanical oscillations) in comparison to a placebo administration leads to better postural control, mobility and balance in patients with multiple sclerosis. Design: Double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Setting: Outpatient clinic of a university department of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Subjects: Twelve multiple sclerosis patients with moderate disability (Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale 2.5-5) were allocated either to the intervention group or to the placebo group. Interventions: In the intervention group a whole-body vibration at low frequency (2.0-4.4 Hz oscillations at 3-mm amplitude) in five series of 1 min each with a 1-min break between the series was applied. In the placebo group a Burst-transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) application on the nondominant forearm in five series of 1 min each with a 1-min break between the series was applied as well. Main outcome measures: Posturographic assessment using the Sensory Organization Test, the Timed Get Up and Go Test and the Functional Reach Test immediately preceding the application, 15 min, one week and two weeks after the application. The statistical analysis was applied to the change score from preapplication values to values 15 min, one week and two weeks post intervention. Results: Compared with the placebo group the intervention group showed advantages in terms of the Sensory Organization Test and the Timed Get Up and Go Test at each time point of measurement after the application. The effects were strongest one week after the intervention, where significant differences for the change score (p=0.041) were found for the Timed Get Up and Go Test with the mean score reducing from 9.2 s (preapplication) to 8.2 s one week after whole-body vibration and increasing from 9.5 s (preapplication) to 10.2 s one week after placebo application. The mean values of the posturographic assessment increased from 70.5 points (preapplication) to 77.5 points one week after whole body vibration and increased only from 67.2 points (preapplication) to 67.5 points one week after the placebo application. No differences were found for the Functional Reach Test. Conclusion: The results of this pilot study indicated that whole-body vibration may positively influence the postural control and mobility in multiple sclerosis patients.
A randomized clinical trial of TENS and exercise for patients with chronic neck pain
Authors: Chiu Thomas TW , Hui-Chan Christina WY , Cheing Gladys 
Published: October 2005

Objective: To investigate the effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on acupuncture points and neck exercise in chronic neck pain patients. Design: A randomized clinical trial. Setting: Hospital-based practice. Subjects: Two hundred and eighteen patients with chronic neck pain. Interventions: Subjects were randomized into three groups, receiving either (1) TENS over the acupuncture points plus infrared irradiation (TENS group); (2) exercise training plus infrared irradiation (exercise group); or (3) infrared irradiation alone (control); twice a week for six weeks. Outcome measures: The values of verbal numeric pain scale, Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire, and isometric neck muscle strength were assessed before, at the end of the six-week treatment, and at the six-month follow-up. Results: Results demonstrated that after the six-week treatment, significant improvement in the verbal numerical pain scale was found only in the TENS group (0.60±2.54, p=0.027) and the exercise group (1.57±2.67, p<0.001). Though significant reduction in Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire score was found in all three groups, post-hoc tests showed that both the TENS and the exercise group produced better improvement (0.38±0.60% and 0.39±0.62% respectively) than the control group (0.23±0.63%). Significant improvement (p = <0.001 to 0.03) in neck muscle strength was observed in all three groups, however, the improvement in the control group was not clinically significant and it could not be maintained at the six-month follow-up. Conclusions: After the six-week treatment, patients in the TENS and exercise group had a better and clinically relevant improvement in disability, isometric neck muscle strength, and pain. All the improvements in the intervention groups were maintained at the six-month follow-up.
Response of Retinoblastoma With Vitreous Tumor Seeding to Adenovirus-Mediated Delivery of Thymidine Kinase Followed by Ganciclovir
Authors: Chévez-Barrios Patricia , Chintagumpala Murali , Mieler William , Paysse Evelyn , Boniuk Milton , Kozinetz Claudia , Hurwitz Mary Y. , Hurwitz Richard L. 
Published: October 2005

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility and safety of adenovirus-mediated gene therapy as a treatment for tumor seeds in the vitreous of children with retinoblastoma. Patients and Methods An Institutional Biosafety Committee–, Institutional Review Board–, Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee–, and US Food and Drug Administration–approved phase I study used intrapatient dose escalation of adenoviral vector containing a herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene (AdV-TK) followed by systemic administration of ganciclovir to treat bilateral retinoblastoma with vitreous tumor seeding refractory to standard therapies. Vitreous tumor seeds were treated by intravitreous injection of AdV-TK adjacent to disease sites. Each injection was followed by ganciclovir delivered intravenously every 12 hours for 7 days. Results Eight patients with vitreous tumor seeds were enrolled. One patient who was treated with 108 viral particles (vp) had resolution of the tumor seeds around the injection site. The seven patients who were treated with doses ≥ 1010 vp had resolution of their vitreous tumor seeds documented by fundoscopy. Toxicity included mild inflammation at 1010 vp and moderate inflammation, corneal edema, and increased intraocular pressure at 1011 vp. One patient was free of active vitreous tumor seeds 38 months after therapy. There has been no evidence of extraocular spread of tumor along the needle tract in any patient. Conclusion AdV-TK followed by ganciclovir can be administered safely to children with retinoblastoma. Suicide gene therapy may contribute to the treatment of children with retinoblastoma tumor seeds in the vitreous, a resistant complication of retinoblastoma.
Recruiting African American Women to Participate in Hereditary Breast Cancer Research
Authors: Halbert Chanita Hughes , Brewster Kiyona , Collier Aliya , Smith ChaChira , Kessler Lisa , Weathers Benita , Stopfer Jill E. , Domchek Susan , Wileyto E. Paul 
Published: October 2005

PurposeThis study evaluated the process of recruiting African American women to participate in genetic counseling research for BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) mutations with respect to referral, study enrollment, and participation in genetic counseling.Patients and MethodsAfrican American women (n = 783) were referred for study enrollment.ResultsOf 783 referrals, 164 (21%) women were eligible for enrollment. Eligible women were most likely to be referred from oncology clinics (44%) and were least likely to be referred from general medical practices (11%; χ2= 96.80; P = .0001). Overall, 62% of eligible women enrolled onto the study and 50% of enrollees completed genetic counseling. Women with a stronger family history of cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 3.18; 95% CI, 1.36 to 7.44; P = .01) and those referred from oncology clinics and community oncology resources (OR = 2.97; 95% CI, 1.34 to 6.58; P = .01) were most likely to enroll onto the study. Referral from oncology clinics was associated significantly with participation in genetic counseling (OR = 5.46; 95% CI, 1.44 to 20.60; P = .01).ConclusionDespite receiving a large number of referrals, only a small subset of women were eligible for enrollment. Oncology settings were the most effective at identifying eligible African American women and general medical practices were the least effective. Factors associated with enrollment included having a stronger family history of cancer and being referred from oncology clinics and community oncology resources. Referral from oncology clinics was the only factor associated significantly with participation in genetic counseling. Education about hereditary breast cancer may be needed among primary care providers to enhance appropriate referral of African American women to genetic counseling for BRCA1/2 mutations.
Breast Cancer Trends Among Black and White Women in the United States
Authors: Jatoi Ismail , Anderson William F. , Rao Sowmya R. , Devesa Susan S. 
Published: October 2005

Purpose Overall US breast cancer mortality rates are higher among black women than white women, and the disparity is widening. To investigate this disparity, we examined incidence data and changes in mortality trends according to age, year of death (calendar period), and date of birth (birth cohort). Calendar period mortality trends reflect the effects of new medical interventions, whereas birth cohort mortality trends reflect alterations in risk factors. Patients and Methods Incidence data were obtained from the Connecticut and National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries and mortality data were obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics. Changes in age, period, and cohort mortality trends were analyzed with Poisson regression. Results For both races, breast cancer incidence rates for localized and regional disease diverged in the late 1970s. Almost concurrently, overall mortality rates diverged among blacks and whites. For both races, mortality increases with age, but blacks have higher mortality at age younger than 57. The calendar period curves revealed declining mortality for whites over the entire study period. For blacks, calendar period mortality declined until the late 1970s, and then sharply increased. After 1994, calendar period mortality declined for both. For women born between 1872 and 1950, trends in mortality were similar for blacks and whites. For women born after 1950, mortality decreased more rapidly for blacks. Conclusion The widening racial disparity in breast cancer mortality seems attributable to calendar period rather than birth cohort effects. Thus, differences in response or access to newer medical interventions may largely account for these trends.
Reversibility of Trastuzumab-Related Cardiotoxicity: New Insights Based on Clinical Course and Response to Medical Treatment
Authors: Ewer Michael S. , Vooletich Mary T. , Durand Jean-Bernard , Woods Myrshia L. , Davis Joseph R. , Valero Vicente , Lenihan Daniel J. 
Published: October 2005

Purpose Trastuzumab is an important biologic agent with significant activity in breast cancers that overexpress the HER2/neu marker. However, trastuzumab is associated with cardiotoxicity that has not yet been fully explored. We present our experience with patients who developed trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity. Patients and Methods Over a 4-year period, 38 patients with HER2/neu–positive breast cancer were referred for suspected trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity. All patients had previously received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Results After doxorubicin but before trastuzumab, the mean (± standard deviation) left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 0.61 ± 0.13, and the LVEF decreased to 0.43 ± 0.16 after trastuzumab (P < .0001). After withdrawal of trastuzumab, the LVEF increased to 0.56 ± 0.11. Mean time to recovery of LVEF was 1.5 months and was temporally associated with medical treatment in 32 (84%) of the 38 patients but occurred without treatment in six patients (16%). Increases in LVEF were noted in 37 of the 38 patients. Twenty-five of these patients were re-treated with trastuzumab; three patients had recurrent left ventricular dysfunction, but 22 patients (88%) did not. All re-treatment patients continued on their therapeutic regimen for heart failure when rechallenged with trastuzumab. Nine patients underwent endomyocardial biopsy. Ultrastructural changes were not seen. Conclusion Patients who develop cardiotoxicity while receiving trastuzumab therapy generally improve on removal of the agent. The mechanism of trastuzumab-related cardiac dysfunction is different from that of anthracycline cardiotoxicity, in part, demonstrated by the absence of anthracycline-like ultrastructural changes. Reintroducing trastuzumab may be appropriate for some individuals who previously have experienced trastuzumab-related cardiac dysfunction.
Form finding of revolution shells by analysing mechanical behaviour by means of the finite element method
Authors: Ortega N. F , Robles S. I 
Published: October 2005

A methodology suitable for finding optimal forms of shells of revolution by considering shell structural mechanics features is presented. In this case shells of revolution that compose the walls of reinforced concrete pressure vessels used to contain fluids are considered. In general, typical design objectives are to determine the shell stress, maximum load bearing capacity, minimum material needed, etc. The work here is limited to a study of the forms in which bending stresses are minimized. The proposed methodology, which enables approximately bending free forms to be obtained, is based on the mathematical optimization concept, which combines the use of geometrical modelling tools, structural analysis, and mathematical optimization. The optimization schemes are applied using a function called ‘volumetric flexure’ as an objective, and bounds the stresses to a certain limit. This objective function has been introduced with the intent of minimizing bending throughout the structure. It is to be noted that minimizing bending means minimizing the strain energy. In order to show the versatility of the model thus developed two different applications are presented. Both refer to reinforced concrete water storage facilities of important aesthetic value, but have a relatively complex geometry. By applying this technique the intent is to minimize flexure and/or tension acting on the shell inner surface, with the aim of reducing crack generation that would provoke containment loss of the vessel walls in order to obtain a reasonable useful life of the vessel. It needs to be mentioned that crack generation resulting from rheological phenomena that occur in concrete are unavoidable, but when the shell has a mechanical behaviour where compression prevails, these cracks tend to close and their propagation is more limited.
Interaction of the −308G/A Promoter Polymorphism of the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene with Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism 45 of the Adiponectin Gene: Effect on Serum Adiponectin Concentrations in a Spanish Population
Authors: González-Sánchez José L , Martínez-Calatrava María J , Martínez-Larrad María T , Zabena Carina , Fernández-Pérez Cristina , Laakso Markku , Serrano-Ríos Manuel 
Published: October 2005

Abstract
Background: We investigated whether interactions of the −308G/A polymorphism in the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) 45 and 276 of the adiponectin gene are associated with circulating adiponectin and soluble TNF-α receptor 2 (sTNFR2) concentrations in a Spanish population.
Methods: We performed anthropometric and physiologic measurements in 809 unrelated participants recruited with a simple random sampling approach from respondents to a cross-sectional population-based epidemiologic survey in the province of Segovia in central Spain (Castille).
Results: The 2-h postload glucose and serum insulin concentrations were higher in −308A allele carriers than in −308G/G individuals homozygous for the TNF-α gene. Plasma concentrations of sTNFR2 were positively correlated with body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and sagittal abdominal diameter among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Individuals with type 2 diabetes and the −308A allele had higher sTNFR2 and lower adiponectin concentrations than −308G homozygotes. Moreover, individuals carrying both the TNF-α −308A allele and the G allele of SNP 45 in the adiponectin gene had the highest prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance (adjusted odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.56; P = 0.038) and had lower adiponectin concentrations (β = −0.090; P = 0.005) than individuals without these genotypes.
Conclusions: Our findings are the first to indicate that a higher incidence of impaired glucose tolerance and low circulating adiponectin concentration may be associated with interaction between the −308G/A promoter polymorphism of the TNF-α gene and SNP 45 in the adiponectin gene.
Olig2 Overexpression Induces the In Vitro Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells into Mature Oligodendrocytes
Authors: Copray Sjef , Balasubramaniyan Veerakumar , Levenga Josien , de Bruijn Jorick , Liem Robert , Boddeke Erik 
Published: October 2005

AbstractDifferentiation induction of neural stem cells (NSCs) into oligodendrocytes during embryogenesis is the result of a complex interaction between local induction factors and intracellular transcription factors. At the early stage of differentiation, in particular, the helix-loop-helix transcription factors Olig1 and Olig2 have been shown to be essential for oligodendrocyte lineage determination. In view of the possible application of NSCs as a source for remyelinating cell transplants in demyelinating diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis), in vitro procedures need to be developed to drive the oligodendrocyte differentiation process. Mere culture in medium supplemented with major embryonic oligodendrogenic induction factors, such as Sonic hedgehog, results in oligodendrocyte differentiation of only about 10% of NSCs. We previously showed that induction of Olig1 expression by gene transfection could indeed initiate the first stage of oligodendrocyte differentiation in NSCs, but appeared to be unable to generate fully mature, functional oligodendrocytes. In this study, we transfected NSCs isolated from the embryonic mouse brain with the Olig2 gene and found that the introduced overexpression of Olig2 could induce the development of fully mature oligodendrocytes expressing the transcription factor Nkx2.2 and all major myelin-specific proteins. Moreover, Olig2-transfected NSCs, in contrast to nontransfected NSCs, developed into actively remyelinating oligodendrocytes after transplantation into the corpus callo-sum of long-term cuprizonefed mice, an animal model for demyelination. Our results show that transfection of genes encoding for oligodendrogenic transcription factors can be an efficient way to induce the differentiation of NSCs into functional oligodendrocytes.
Establishing Standards for the Characterization of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Lines
Authors: Loring Jeanne F. , Rao Mahendra S. 
Published: October 2005

Abstract
As of August 2005, 22 human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines listed on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) hESC Registry were being distributed to investigators. At a June 2005 meeting of NIH-supported hESC researchers, we proposed that a set of shared standards should be available in order to characterize the cells unambiguously in multiple laboratories. Here, we elaborate such a plan to identify a set of standard methods and to initiate collaborative efforts to validate the standards. The standard assays we propose should be comprehensive enough to ensure that hESC banks can provide a consistent and reliable product for NIH researchers, and inexpensive enough that individual laboratories can afford to use at least some of the methods routinely in their laboratories. We expect that as data accumulate and standards evolve, a core set of tests will become the norm for routine assessment of hESC cultures and that these tests will lay the groundwork for clinical applications of these cells.