bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Topography and Arterial Supply of the Thyroid and the Parathyroid Glands in Selected Species of Falconiformes
Authors: Radek T. , Piasecki T. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryBirds of two suborders, Accipitres and Falcones were the subjects of the study. The thyroids were always located asymmetrically. In Accipitridae the larger left gland was usually situated significantly more cranially than the right one. In common kestrel, the size of bilateral thyroids was similar while their mutual relationships were individually variable. The location of the parathyroid glands in common kestrel was relatively constant. Seven topographical patterns of the location of the parathyroid gland were noted in Accipitridae. In birds of both the suborders, the thyroid might be supplied by three (groups of) arteries: the cranial thyroid, the caudal thyroid and the middle thyroid arteries. The aforementioned vessels were derived from the common carotid and the oesophagotracheobronchial artery. In common kestrel, the thyroid vessels might also branch from the ascending oesophageal artery, which passes along the thyroid, while in common buzzard and other Accipitridae – from the common trunk of the comes nervi vagi and the ascending oesophageal artery. The parathyroid glands were supplied by one to three parathyroid arteries. The vessels for the cranial parathyroid gland mostly originated from the caudal thyroid artery, while for the caudal one – from the oesophagotracheobronchial artery. The average number of thyroid and parathyroid arteries in common buzzard was significantly higher than those in common kestrel.
Histology of Lamb Epididymal Development
Authors: Bielli A. , Genovese P. , Ungerfeld R. , Katz H. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryTo describe the distribution of the histological regions and their morphometry during epididymal development, 10 Corriedale lambs were castrated monthly from 90 to 180 days of age (n = 24), and their testes and epididymides were weighed. All animals were weighed monthly. Epididymides were divided into caput, corpus and cauda, and cut sagitally so that sections included all the length of the organ. The diameter of the epididymal duct, the smooth muscle depth and the epididymal epithelium height were measured. The quantitative histology of the ovine epididymal development was described. Epididymal development advanced from caput to cauda. The distribution of the histological regions varied according to epididymal weight. Transient histological regions were found during epididymal development. The present results indicate a new way of epididymal development in sheep, which courses from caput to cauda with transient histological regions appearing, varying in location and disappearing during ovine epididymis development.
Systematization and Distribution of the Middle Cerebral Artery on the Brain Surface in Pampas Fox (Pseudalopex gymnocercus)
Authors: Depedrini J. S. , Campos R. 
Published: June 2007

SummaryThe present study has analysed 30 pampas fox brains (Pseudalopex gymnocercus), injected with latex, aiming to systematize and describe the distribution and vascularization territories of the middle cerebral artery. After being originated from the rostral branch of the internal carotid artery this vessel formed the following collateral branches: rostral choroidal artery, rostral and caudal central branches and cortical branches. Before crossing the lateral rhinal sulcus, the common trunk of the middle cerebral artery frequently bifurcated in a rostral and a caudal branch. In a smaller amount, the common trunk did not show any bifurcation, ramifying in arborescence. The vascular territory of the pampas fox middle cerebral artery included the lateral cerebral fossa, the lateral third of the olfactory trigone, the two rostral thirds of the piriform lobe, the lateral olfactory tract and most of the convex surface of the cerebral hemisphere, except for the more rostromedial areas of the frontal lobe bordering the endomarginal sulcus in the parietal and occipital lobes as well as the transverse fissure at the caudal pole of the cerebral hemisphere.
Vehicles versus conservation of invertebrates on sandy beaches: mortalities inflicted by off‐road vehicles on ghost crabs
Authors: Schlacher Thomas A. , Thompson Luke , Price Sam 
Published: June 2007

AbstractSandy beaches face increasing anthropogenic pressures, with vehicle traffic being ecologically highly harmful. Ghost crabs (Fam. Ocypodidae) are conspicuous on many beaches, and they have been used as a bio‐monitoring tool to measure the ecological responses to human disturbance. However, the mechanisms causing declines in crab numbers are unknown, yet conservation must target the actual impact mechanisms. Therefore, we quantified the magnitude and mechanisms of off‐road vehicle (ORV) impacts on ghost crabs, addressing three key questions: (i) Does abundance of ghost crabs respond to traffic intensity?; (ii) Can burrows protect crabs from vehicles? and (iii) Can mortalities caused by vehicles contribute to population declines? ORV‐impacts were measured on North Stradbroke Island (Australia) for Ocypode cordimanus and Ocypode ceratophthalma. Crab densities were significantly lower in areas subjected to heavy beach traffic, suggesting direct crushing by vehicles. Burrows only partially protect crabs against cars: all individuals buried shallow (5 cm) are killed by 10 vehicle passes. Mortality declines with depth of burrows, but remains considerable (10–30% killed) at 20 cm and only those crabs buried at least 30 cm are not killed by ORVs: these ‘deep‐living’ crabs represent about half of the population. After crabs emerge at dusk they are killed in large numbers on the beach surface. A single vehicle can crush up to 0.75% of the intertidal population. While conservation measures should primarily regulate night traffic, our results also emphasise that the fossorial life habits of sandy beach animals cannot off‐set the impacts caused by ORVs.
Endoscopic diagnosis of early squamous neoplasia of the esophagus with iodine staining: High‐grade intra‐epithelial neoplasia turns pink within a few minutes
Authors: Shimizu Yuichi , Omori Tai , Yokoyama Akira , Yoshida Takeshi , Hirota Jojo , Ono Yuji , Yamamoto Junji , Kato Mototsugu , Asaka Masahiro 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The ability to detect early squamous neoplasia of the esophagus can be enhanced considerably by iodine staining during endoscopic examination; however, there has been no study on distinguishing high‐grade intra‐epithelial squamous neoplasia from low‐grade dysplasia by endoscopic examination. We assumed that high‐grade intra‐epithelial neoplasia could be identified as iodine‐unstained areas more distinct and reddish than low‐grade dysplasia after the brown color of iodine solution has faded, because there is almost no remaining glycogen‐containing epithelium in high‐grade intra‐epithelial neoplasia.Methods:  Seventy‐nine patients who were found to have demarcated iodine‐unstained areas (0.5 cm to 1.5 cm at widest part, 121 lesions in total) were studied. After a target lesion was found, the lesion was observed for about 3 min and its discoloration was evaluated. If a light‐pink part appeared in the iodine‐unstained area, the lesion was regarded as being positive for pink color. If no light‐pink part was observed in the lesion within 3 min, the lesion was regarded as being negative for pink color.Results:  Thirty‐four (87.2%) of the 39 lesions diagnosed as pink‐color positive were histologically confirmed to be high‐grade intra‐epithelial squamous neoplasia or squamous cell carcinoma, whereas only three (3.7%) of the 82 lesions diagnosed as negative for pink color were histologically confirmed to be high‐grade intra‐epithelial squamous neoplasia (P < 0.0001). Using the pink‐color sign as a diagnostic index for high‐grade intra‐epithelial squamous neoplasia and squamous cell carcinoma, sensitivity was 91.9% and specificity was 94.0%.Conclusion:  By using the pink‐color sign for endoscopic diagnosis, accurate diagnosis without endoscopic biopsy for iodine‐unstained areas was possible.
Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus Lcr35 in children with chronic constipation
Authors: BU LING‐NAN , CHANG MEI‐HWEI , NI YEN‐HSUAN , CHEN HUEY‐LING , CHENG CHIA‐CHI 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground: The purpose of the present paper was to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics (Lactobacillus casei rhamnosus, Lcr35) for treating children with chronic constipation and to compare its effect with magnesium oxide (MgO) and placebo.Methods: This double‐blind placebo‐controlled, randomized study enrolled 45 children under 10 years old with chronic constipation. They were randomly assigned to receive Lcr35 (8 × 108 c.f.u./day; n = 18), MgO (50 mg/kg/day; n = 18), or placebo (n = 9) orally twice daily for 4 weeks. Lactulose use (1 mL/kg per day) was allowed when no stool passage for 3 days was noted. Glycerin enema was used only when no defecation was noted for >5 days or abdominal pain was suffered due to stool impaction. Bacterial cultures of stool were performed before and after treatment to evaluate the change of intestinal flora. Comparisons of the frequency of defecation, consistency of stool and the use of lactulose or enema during the period of treatment were made among the three groups.Results: The patients who received MgO or probiotics had a higher defecation frequency (P = 0.03), higher percentage of treatment success (P = 0.01), less use of glycerin enema (P = 0.04) and less hard stool (P = 0.01) than the placebo group. There was no significant difference between MgO and probiotic groups in the aforementioned comparisons. The first effect of MgO (second week) on constipation was slightly earlier than that of probiotic (second to third week). Abdominal pain occurred less frequently in the probiotic group than in both the MgO and the placebo groups (P = 0.03). There was no statistically significant difference among the three groups in the use of lactulose, episodes of fecal soiling, and change of appetite. No adverse effect was noted in probiotic and placebo groups. Only one patient in the MgO group suffered from mild diarrhea.Conclusion: Lcr35 was effective in treating children with chronic constipation. There is no statistically significant difference in efficacy between MgO and Lcr35, but less abdominal pain occurred when using Lcr35. Study with larger case number and longer follow up is needed in the future.
ENDOSCOPIC MICROVASCULAR ARCHITECTURE OF THE PORTAL HYPERTENSIVE GASTRIC MUCOSA ON NARROW BAND IMAGING
Authors: Hayashi Seishu , Saeki Shunichi 
Published: June 2007

Background:  We evaluated the endoscopic microvascular architecture of the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension patients using the prototype of narrow band imaging (NBI).Material and Methods:  The study included 103 Helicobacter pylori‐negative patients with chronic liver disease (22 without portal hypertension (group 1), 81 with portal hypertension (group 2)).Results:  (i) Abnormality of collecting venules, reddening mucosa, red spots, a mosaic‐like pattern, and gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE) were observed on the gastric mucosa, and an obscure change in collecting venules (73% vs 14%; P < 0.001), reddening mucosa (49% vs 5%; P < 0.001), red spots (36% vs 5%; P < 0.01) and a mosaic‐like pattern (40% vs 5%; P < 0.01) were more frequently observed in group 2 than in group 1. (ii) On magnifying endoscopy with NBI, the mucosa with an obscure change in collecting venules was demonstrated as dilation of the capillaries surrounding the gastric pits in various degrees, and reddening mucosa was observed as extended and swollen gastric pits and various degrees of dilated and convoluted capillaries surrounding the gastric pits. Red spots were demonstrated as extended and swollen gastric pits, dilated and convoluted capillaries surrounding the gastric pits, and intramucosal hemorrhage around these capillaries. GAVE was recognized as partial and marked dilatation of the capillaries surrounding the gastric pits.Conclusion:  Abnormality of collecting venules, swelling of gastric pits, dilatation of capillaries surrounding the gastric pits, intramucosal hemorrhage around capillaries, and partial and marked dilatation of the capillaries were observed on the gastric mucosa in portal hypertension patients.
EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF PROPHYLACTIC PANCREATIC DUCT STENT (PIT‐STENT) PLACEMENT IN PATIENTS AT HIGH RISK OF POST‐ERCP PANCREATITIS
Authors: Ito Kei , Fujita Naotaka , Noda Yutaka , Kobayashi Go , Horaguchi Jun , Takasawa Osamu , Obana Takashi 
Published: June 2007

Background:  The usefulness of prophylactic pancreatic stent placement for preventing post‐endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis has been reported. We developed a new pancreatic duct stent, which was a 5 Fr, 4 cm‐long stent with a single duodenal pigtail (Pit‐stent).Patients and Methods:  Pancreatic duct stenting using a Pit‐stent was attempted in 76 patients (40 men, 36 women; mean age, 65 years; age range, 42–91 years) at high risk of post‐ERCP pancreatitis. The frequency of post‐ERCP pancreatitis and spontaneous passage of the stent were investigated.Results:  Pancreatic duct stent placement was successfully performed in 93% of the patients. One patient developed mild pancreatitis after ERCP (1.4%). Spontaneous passage of the stent was observed in 92%. There were no other complications or procedure‐related deaths in this group.Conclusions:  Pancreatic duct stent insertion may reduce the incidence of post‐ERCP pancreatitis in patients at high risk of post‐ERCP pancreatitis. Spontaneous migration of a pancreatic stent that contributes to a lessening of the need for additional ERCP can be expected with the use of a Pit‐stent.
Effect of treatment with biological agents for arthritis in Australia: the Australian Rheumatology Association Database
Authors: Buchbinder R. , March L. , Lassere M. , Briggs A. M. , Portek I. , Reid C. , Meehan A. , Henderson L. , Wengier L. , Van Den Haak R. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground: The Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD), a voluntary national registry, has been established to collect health information from Australian patients with inflammatory arthritis for the purpose of monitoring the benefits and safety of new treatments, in particular the biological disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). These drugs are proving to be very effective, yet little is known of their long‐term effectiveness or safety. Patient registries that systematically gather data on large cohorts of unselected patients are increasingly believed to be an essential means of answering questions of the long‐term effectiveness and safety of new drugs. The aim of this report is to describe the role, development and structure of ARAD and provide some preliminary data.Methods: As of 1 August 2006, 563 patients with rheumatoid arthritis prescribed a bDMARD have been enrolled in ARAD, involving 105 rheumatologists from across Australia.Results: The data collected will enable examination of multiple domains of patient responses to bDMARDs, including quality of life, health‐care utilization, incidence of adverse events and the effects of therapy switching.Conclusion: Evidence‐based information about the long‐term outcome of bDMARD therapy is essential for clinicians, consumers, policy‐makers, drug development companies and approval agencies, to enable better care and improved outcomes for patients with inflammatory arthritis.
Hypermethylation of the COX‐2 gene is a potential prognostic marker for cervical cancer
Authors: Jo Hoenil , Kang Sokbom , Kim Jae W. , Kang Gyeong H. , Park Noh H. , Song Yong S. , Park Sang Y. , Kang Soon B. , Lee Hyo P. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAim:  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the DNA hypermethylation profiles of 14 genes known to be associated with tumor behavior and their clinical significance in cervical cancer.Method:  The clinical features of 82 patients with stage IB cervical cancer were analyzed in terms of DNA hypermethylation of 14 genes (hMLH1, p16, COX‐2, CDH1, APC, DAPK, MGMT, p14, RASSF1A, RUNX3, TIMP3, FHIT, THBS1, and HLTF).Results:  Of 14 genes investigated, only hypermethylation of COX‐2 showed significant association with poor disease‐free survival (P = 0.001). To further investigate an alteration in COX‐2 expression by DNA hypermethylation, immunohistochemistry for COX‐2 protein was performed in the cervical cancer tissues. We found no significant association between hypermethylation and expression patterns of the COX‐2 gene.Conclusions:  The present results suggest that DNA hypermethylation of the COX‐2 gene may be a potential prognostic marker in early stage cervical cancer, the underlying mechanism of which is independent of gene silencing.
Expression of epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor‐2, and platelet‐derived growth factor‐A in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis
Authors: Lee Sa‐Ra , Kim Sung‐Hoon , Lee Young‐Jin , Hong Seok‐Ho , Chae Hee‐Dong , Kim Chung‐Hoon , Kang Byung‐Moon , Choi Young‐Min 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAim:  The objective of the present study was to compare the levels of expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2), and platelet‐derived growth factor‐A (PDGF‐A) mRNA in the eutopic endometrium of women with and without endometriosis.Methods:  Thirty‐five women with advanced stage endometriosis and 31 control women were recruited. Following isolation of total RNA from endometrial tissue and reverse transcription, cDNA samples were amplified to quantify the level of expression of EGF, FGF‐2, PDGF‐A.Results:  While the levels of mRNA of EGF and FGF‐2 were not different between the two groups, the PDGF‐A mRNA level was significantly lower in the endometriosis group than in the control group during the secretory phase (6.12 ± 0.51 vs 12.50 ± 0.99, mean ± SEM, P < 0.05).Conclusion:  The expression level of PDGF‐A, but not EGF and FGF‐2, might be decreased during the secretory phase in the eutopic endometrium of women with advanced stage endometriosis.
Tocolysis and delayed delivery versus emergency delivery in cases of non‐reassuring fetal status during labor
Authors: Briozzo Leonel , Martinez Alma , Nozar Maria , Fiol Veronica , Pons Jose , Alonso Justo 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAim:  To determine whether fetal intrauterine resuscitation using tocolysis and delayed delivery is better for the fetus than emergency delivery when fetal hypoxia is suspected because of a non‐reassuring fetal heart‐rate (FHR) pattern using conventional heart rate monitoring.Methods:  This was a prospective and randomized study, conducted between 2001 and 2004 at Pereira Rossell Hospital, Montevideo, Uruguay. The population consisted of 390 fetuses, in which intrauterine distress was diagnosed using electronic FHR monitoring. Of these, 197 were randomly assigned to the emergency delivery group and 193 to the fetal intrauterine resuscitation group. The inclusion criteria were: term singleton pregnancy, in labor, cephalic presentation, and no placental accidents.Results:  The time between randomization and birth was 16.9 ± 7.6 min (mean ± SD) for the emergency delivery group, and 34.5 ± 11.7 min (mean ± SD) for the resuscitation group. The relative risk (RR) of acidosis in the umbilical artery (pH < 7.1) in the emergency delivery group was 1.47 (0.95–2.27). The RR of base deficit ≤12 mEq/L in the emergency delivery group was higher than in the resuscitation group (RR = 1.48 [1.0–2.2], P = 0.04). When considering the need for admission to the neonatal care unit, the relative risk was higher in the emergency delivery group than in the resuscitation group (RR = 2.14 [1.23·3.74], P = 0.005). No maternal adverse effects were reported.Conclusion:  Tocolysis and delayed delivery renders better immediate neonatal results than emergency delivery when fetal distress is suspected because of a non‐reassuring fetal heart pattern. In addition, it may decrease the need for emergency delivery without increasing maternal and fetal adverse side‐effects.
Comparison of maternal and cord blood nucleated red blood cell count between pre‐eclamptic and healthy women
Authors: Aali Bibi Shahnaz , Malekpour Reza , Sedig Fatemeh , Safa Abbas 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAim:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of pre‐eclampsia on the cord and maternal nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) count.Methods:  Immediately after delivery, 1 mL of maternal venous blood and 1 mL of cord blood from 50 pre‐eclamptic and 150 healthy pregnant women were collected separately in tubes containing 1.5 mg ethylene diamine tetra‐acetic acid. Blood smears were prepared and stained using the Giemsa method. The number of NRBC per 100 leukocytes in maternal and cord blood was counted and compared between the two groups using SPSS software package for Windows. Any correlation of the NRBC count in maternal and umbilical cord blood was also evaluated. P‐values < 0.05 were considered significant.Results:  The mean (±SD) NRBC per 100 white blood cell (WBC) level in cord blood of newborns in the pre‐eclamptic group (18.2 ± 31.8, range 0–142) was significantly greater than in the control group (6.2 ± 8.1, range 0–36). Low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction showed a statistically significant relationship with abnormal NRBC count in pre‐eclamptic patients. A significant correlation was found between the maternal and cord blood NRBC count in the pre‐eclamptic group.Conclusion:  Fetal response to utero–placental insufficiency in pre‐eclampsia leads to elevated NRBC in the cord blood, particularly in the presence of low birth weight and intrauterine growth restriction. The positive correlation between maternal and cord blood NRBC counts in pre‐eclamptic patients indicates that maybe the hypoperfused placenta plays a role in the correlated alteration of the maternal and fetal NRBC count.
Why do mothers die in Dakahlia, Egypt?
Authors: Abdel‐Hady El‐Said , Mashaly Abdel‐Maguid , Sherief Lotfy S. , Hassan Mostafa , Al‐Gohary Alaa , Farag Mohamed K. , El‐Khoeriby Fouad 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAim:  To investigate the causes of maternal mortality in the Dakahlia Governorate in Egypt.Methods:  A confidential enquiry for each case of maternal mortality during the years 2004–2005 was carried out.Results:  One hundred and seventy‐nine maternal deaths were reported, giving a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 71.3/100 000 live births. 140 (78.2%) women died due to direct obstetric causes, 24 (13.4%) due to indirect causes and 15 (8.4%) due to accidental or unexplained causes. 44 (24.6%) women died during or following delivery by cesarean section and 91 (50.8%) during labor or within 24 h following delivery. Complications during cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage and hypertensive disorders were the leading causes of maternal mortality. Death due to substandard care was encountered in 85% of cases. Obstetricians were responsible for 51% of causes of avoidable maternal death.Conclusion:  Maternal mortality in Dakahlia, although declining, is still relatively high. To further reduce maternal mortality, deliveries should be conducted at well‐equipped hospitals.