bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The usefulness of ureterorenoscopic examination in evaluation of upper tract disease
Authors: MATSUMOTO AKIHIRO , TOBE TOYOFUSA , KAMIJIMA SHUUICHI , ARAKI KAZUHIRO , NAYA YUKIO , IGARASHI TATSUO , ICHIKAWA TOMOHIKO 
Published: June 2006

Aim:  The objective of the present study was to clarify the indications, usefulness and limitations of ureterorenoscopy.Material and methods:  From January 1998 to June 2004, 72 consecutive patients (48 men and 24 women) with a mean age of 66 years (range, 27–83 years) underwent ureterorenoscopy to diagnose upper urinary tract tumors (UUT). Median follow‐up was 24 months (range, 1–73 months). Patients were divided into four subgroups by voided urine cytology and preoperative radiographic findings. Group A (n = 11, 15.3%), positive voided urine cytology and positive preoperative radiographic findings; group B (n = 5, 6.9%), positive cytology and negative radiographic findings; group C (n = 48, 66.7%), negative cytology and positive radiographic findings and group D (n = 8, 11.1%), frank hematuria originating from the UUT but negative cytology and negative radiographic findings. We compared the findings of ureterorenoscopic examination and biopsy with the results of retrograde pyelography and cytology of upper tract urine. For each examination, the following diagnostic indices were assessed: sensitivity, specificity, positive‐predictive‐value (PPV) and negative‐predictive‐value (NPV) and accuracy. Statistical analysis was performed using McNemar’s test.Results:  For ureterorenoscopy, sensitivity was 94%, specificity 59%, PPV 72%, NPV 92% and accuracy 76%. For biopsy, sensitivity was 77%, specificity 100%, PPV 100%, NPV 80% and accuracy 88%. Accuracy of ureterorenoscopy tended to be superior to that of retrograde pyelography. Ureterorenoscopy was most useful in the group which consisted of 48 patients (66.7%) with negative voided urine cytology and positive preoperative radiographic findings. This group was the only group in which accuracy of ureterorenoscopic biopsy was superior to that of urine cytology, significantly (P = 0.03).Conclusion:  Results indicated that ureterorenoscopy is most suitable and gives superior accuracy in patients with positive radiographic findings and negative voiding cytology. Ureterorenoscopic biopsy of the upper urinary tract would provide useful information when considering therapeutic strategies, such as nephron‐sparing management.
Hardness evaluation of penile prostheses
Authors: WANG SHYH‐JEN , CHEN KUANG‐KUO , LIN ALEX TONG‐LONG , YOUNG SHUENN‐TSONG , CHANG LUKE S 
Published: June 2006

Aim:  This work investigates the hardness and buckling force of penile prostheses to further understand the rigidity of penile prostheses before and after implantation.Methods:  Evaluated herein are four prosthetic samples (three inflatable, one semi‐rigid), five real prostheses (one inflatable, four semi‐rigid), and one prosthesis after implantation. The hardness is measured with a Shore Durimeter by pressing the tester’s indentor to the surface of the specimen. A volunteer with inflatable prosthesis implantation is evaluated with respect to penile hardness versus various numbers of pumping. The buckling force of the prosthesis is also determined by a push‐pull gauge and a specially designed sampling table.Results:  Results in this study demonstrate that although the inflatable prosthesis could only be pumped to a certain amount of hardness, hardness and buckling force correlate well with each other. After reaching the hardness limit, prostheses can even be pumped a further few times. However, continuous pumping only puts more tension on the prosthetic material without increasing hardness and could induce mechanical failure of the prosthesis. Results also indicate that the buckling force decreases with increasing length of the semirigid prostheses, and increases when the prosthesis has a larger diameter.Conclusion:  This mechanical measurement of rigidity in penile prostheses could provide more information to clinicians about the penile prosthesis before surgical implantation, and to patients about prosthesis usage after implantation.
Encapsulated triamcinolone cyst after subtenon injection
Authors: Chan Carmen KM , Mohamed Shaheeda , Tang Emily WH , Shanmugam Mahesh P , Chan Nongnart R , Lam Dennis SC 
Published: June 2006

AbstractThe authors report the formation of a subtenon cyst following subtenon triamcinolone injection for chronic recurrent uveitis in Behçet’s disease. The steroid was inadvertently placed superficially in the anterior subtenon space and was encapsulated eventually to present as a subtenon cyst. The episode of uveitis recurrence, which did not regress, required treatment with a repeat posterior subtenon injection 2 months later. The cyst was removed 4.5 months after the initial subtenon injection, when the patient underwent a trabeculectomy for refractory glaucoma. Histological examination of the cyst revealed a fibrous encapsulated cavity filled with small birefringent crystals, consistent with an encapsulated triamcinolone collection. Fibrous encapsulation of triamcinolone crystals can arise after a superficially placed anterior subtenon injection and this may impede the absorption of the corticosteroid and hamper its effectiveness in treating ocular inflammatory diseases.
Optical imaging of medullary ventral respiratory network during eupnea and gasping In situ
Authors: Potts Jeffrey T. , Paton Julian F. R. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractIn severe hypoxia, respiratory rhythm is shifted from an eupneic, ramp‐like motor pattern to gasping characterized by a decrementing pattern of phrenic motor activity. However, it is not known whether hypoxia reconfigures the spatiotemporal organization of the central respiratory rhythm generator. Using the in situ arterially perfused juvenile rat preparation, we investigated whether the shift from eupnea to gasping was associated with a reconfiguration of the spatiotemporal pattern of respiratory neuronal activity in the ventral medullary respiratory network. Optical images of medullary respiratory network activity were obtained from male rats (4–6 weeks of age). Part of the medullary network was stained with a voltage‐sensitive dye (di‐2 ANEPEQ) centred both within, and adjacent to, the pre‐Bötzinger complex (Pre‐BötC). During eupnea, optical signals initially increased prior to the onset of phrenic activity and progressively intensified during the inspiratory phase peaking at the end of inspiration. During early expiration, fluorescence was also detected and slowly declined throughout this phase. In contrast, hypoxia shifted the respiratory motor pattern from eupnea to gasping and optical signals were restricted to inspiration only. Areas active during gasping showed fluorescence that was more intensive and covered a larger region of the rostral ventrolateral medulla compared to eupnea. Regions exhibiting peak inspiratory fluorescence did not coincide spatially during eupnea and gasping. Moreover, there was a recruitment of additional medullary regions during gasping that were not active during eupnea. These results provide novel evidence that the shift in respiratory motor pattern from eupnea to gasping appears to be associated with a reconfiguration of the central respiratory rhythm generator characterized by changes in its spatiotemporal organization.
Prokaryotic diversity and metabolically active microbial populations in sediments from an active mud volcano in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Martinez Robert J. , Mills Heath J. , Story Sandra , Sobecky Patricia A. 
Published: June 2006

SummaryIn this study, ribosomes and genomic DNA were extracted from three sediment depths (0–2, 6–8 and 10–12 cm) to determine the vertical changes in the microbial community composition and identify metabolically active microbial populations in sediments obtained from an active seafloor mud volcano site in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Domain‐specific Bacteria and Archaea 16S polymerase chain reaction primers were used to amplify 16S rDNA gene sequences from extracted DNA. Complementary 16S ribosomal DNA (crDNA) was obtained from rRNA extracted from each sediment depth that had been subjected to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction amplification. Twelve different 16S clone libraries, representing the three sediment depths, were constructed and a total of 154 rDNA (DNA‐derived) and 142 crDNA (RNA‐derived) Bacteria clones and 134 rDNA and 146 crDNA Archaea clones obtained. Analyses of the 576 clones revealed distinct differences in the composition and patterns of metabolically active microbial phylotypes relative to sediment depth. For example, ɛ‐Proteobacteria rDNA clones dominated the 0–2 cm clone library whereas γ‐Proteobacteria dominated the 0–2 cm crDNA library suggesting γ to be among the most active in situ populations detected at 0–2 cm. Some microbial lineages, although detected at a frequency as high as 9% or greater in the total DNA library (i.e. Actinobacteria, α‐Proteobacteria), were markedly absent from the RNA‐derived libraries suggesting a lack of in situ activity at any depth in the mud volcano sediments. This study is one of the first to report the composition of the microbial assemblages and physiologically active members of archaeal and bacterial populations extant in a Gulf of Mexico submarine mud volcano.
Transport of radiocaesium by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to Medicago truncatula under in vitro conditions
Authors: De Boulois Hervé Dupré , Voets Liesbeth , Delvaux Bruno , Jakobsen Iver , Declerck Stéphane 
Published: June 2006

SummaryThe capacity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to take up and translocate radiocaesium (Cs) to their host has been shown using the root‐organ culture (ROC) system. However, the absence of photosynthetic tissues, lack of a normal root hormonal balance and incomplete source–sink relationships may bias the bidirectional transfer of elements at the symbiotic interface and complicate transport studies. Accordingly, we developed a novel culture system [i.e. the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal‐Plant (AM‐P) in vitro culture system], where AM fungi and an autotrophic host plant develop under strict in vitro conditions. With this system, we unambiguously demonstrated the capacity of AM fungi to transport Cs. The extraradical fungal hyphae took up 21.0% of the initial supply of 134Cs. Translocation to the plant represented 83.6% of the 134Cs taken up. Distribution of 134Cs in the host plant was 89.8% in the mycorrhizal roots and 10.2% in the shoot. These results confirm that AM fungi can take up, translocate and accumulate Cs. They further demonstrate unambiguously and for the first time that Cs can be transferred from AM fungi to host tissues. These results suggest a potential involvement of AM fungi in Cs biogeochemical cycle and in plant Cs accumulation.
Treating stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumours with a single cycle of chemotherapy
Authors: GILBERT DUNCAN C. , NORMAN ANDREW R. , NICHOLL JUDITH , DEARNALEY DAVID P. , HORWICH ALAN , HUDDART ROBERT A. 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVETo estimate the rate of relapse in men with stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumours (NSGCT) of the testis treated with one cycle of chemotherapy instead of the usual two cycles.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween 1992 and 1996, 22 men with stage I NSGCT who had normalized tumour markers after orchidectomy and negative findings on computed tomography, and who were at moderate risk of relapse, were treated with one cycle of platinum‐containing chemotherapy (bleomycin and etoposide with either cisplatin or carboplatin).RESULTSAt a median follow‐up of 10.2 years, none of the patients have relapsed with malignant GCTs.CONCLUSIONSThe results after one cycle of chemotherapy are no worse than after two cycles. The present study needs to be replicated in a larger cohort of patients to define the relapse risk more accurately. This approach is soon to be tested in a large multicentre trial randomizing patients between one and two cycles
Assessment of aberrations on chromosome 8 in prostatic atrophy
Authors: YILDIZ‐SEZER SEVAL , VERDORFER IRMGARD , SCHÄFER GEORG , ROGATSCH HERMANN , BARTSCH GEORG , MIKUZ GREGOR 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVETo systematically examine the genetic alterations on chromosome 8 in prostate epithelia deriving from atrophic areas, and to compare these alterations with those of cells derived from prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and prostate cancer in the same organ.MATERIAL AND METHODSTissue microarrays were constructed from 50 patients with histologically different tissues, including normal, PIN, atrophy and cancer lesions. Control samples were obtained from 10 patients who died from causes other than prostate cancer. Multicolour DNA probes for 8p22, centromere 8 and 8q24 were used to detect genetic alterations by fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis.RESULTSChromosomal alterations were detected on chromosome 8 in all analysed tissues. Including all observed signal patterns, a gradual increase of nuclei with loss of 8p22 was detected in normal (16%), in atrophy (21%), in PIN (25%) and in cancer tissue (31%), and there was gain in 8q24 in normal tissue (10%), in atrophy lesions (19%), in PIN (21%) and in cancer (27%). Generally, in all three lesion types the percentage of cells with 8q24 gain was significantly lower than the percentage of cells with loss of 8p22.CONCLUSIONThis investigation confirms the presence of severe chromosomal aberrations in the epithelium of the atrophic glands of the prostate. The aberrations are the same those that can be found in PIN and in prostate cancer. These findings confirm the genetic instability of the cells in the atrophic areas of the prostate, which can be a target for further injuries, leading to prostate cancer.
Interstitial cells and phasic activity in the isolated mouse bladder
Authors: LAGOU MAGDALINI , DRAKE MARCUS J. , MARKERINK‐VAN ITTERSUM MARJANNE , DE VENTE JAN , GILLESPIE JAMES I. 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVETo describe the distribution of interstitial cells (ICs, defined as cells which show an increase in cGMP in response to nitric oxide, NO) in the isolated mouse bladder, and changes in phasic contractile activity after exposure to a NO donor.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe whole bladder was removed from 17 female mice, killed by cervical dislocation. For immunohistochemistry (six mice) the bladder was incubated in carboxygenated Krebs’ solution at 36 °C, containing 1 mm of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutyl‐methyl‐xanthine. Individual pieces of tissue were exposed to 100 µm of the NO donor diethylamine NONOate for 10 min; control tissues remained in Krebs’ solution. Tissues were then fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and processed for cGMP immunohistochemistry. Bladder pressure was measured in bladders from 11 mice; the bladders were cannulated via the urethra and suspended in a heated chamber containing carboxygenated Tyrode solution at 33–35 °C and intravesical pressure recorded. All drugs were added to the solution bathing the abluminal surface.RESULTSNO induced an increase in cGMP in cells in the outer layers of the bladder wall, forming two distinct types based on their location; cells lying on the surface of the muscle bundles (surface muscle ICs) and cells within the muscle bundles (intramuscular ICs). Cholinergic nerve fibres were identified by the expression of vesicular acetylcholine transporter and neuronal NO synthase (nNOS). Choline acetyltransferase‐ and nNOS‐positive nerves also had high cGMP levels in response to 100 µm diethylamine NONOate. In vitro exposure of an isolated whole unstimulated bladder to 100 µm diethylamine NONOate had no effect on resting bladder pressure. When whole bladders were exposed to muscarinic stimulation (30–100 nm arecaidine) there was an initial large transient rise in pressure followed by complex phasic changes in pressure. Adding 100 µm diethylamine NONOate abolished this phasic activity. Interestingly, the phasic activity was inhibited midway between the peak and trough of a phasic cycle. Such a pattern of inhibition might reflect the complexity of the phasic activity involving both excitatory and inhibitory components.CONCLUSIONSThese data show the presence of NO/cGMP‐sensitive ICs in the outer muscle layers of the mouse bladder. Activating these cells alters the pattern of muscarinic‐induced phasic activity. We suggest that the role of the ICs in the outer muscle layers is to generate and modulate phasic activity. If so, then this is the first report of a functional role for ICs in the bladder.
Can the kidney function as a lung? Systemic oxygenation and renal preservation during retrograde perfusion of the ischaemic kidney in rabbits
Authors: HUMPHREYS MITCHELL R. , ERETH MARK H. , SEBO THOMAS J. , SLEZAK JEFFREY M. , DONG YUE , BLUTE MICHAEL L. , GETTMAN MATTHEW T. 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVETo investigate renal preservation by a novel method of perfusion using an oxygenated perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsion via retrograde access to the kidney, as preserving renal function during urological surgery has been elusive, and the recognized technique of nephron‐sparing surgery has increased its application and practice in modern urology.MATERIALS AND METHODSAfter institutional review and approval, 30 New Zealand White rabbits were studied. In a solitary kidney model, each rabbit had the ureter catheterized before 40 min of renal artery occlusion. Each rabbit was randomized to one retrograde perfusion group, i.e. sham, normothermic PFC, chilled PFC, normothermic saline, and chilled saline. The rabbits were maintained for 2 weeks, during which renal function, urine output, systemic blood gases, weight and serum creatinine level were measured. After death, the kidneys were individually examined and graded by one renal pathologist unaware of the treatment.RESULTSThe rabbits treated with retrograde PFC perfusion (normothermic and chilled) had less change in their creatinine clearance, at 3.6 and 4.0 mL/min per kg, than the sham group, at 7.8 mL/min per kg, while also having significantly higher systemic venous oxygenation, at 26.3 and 10.0 mmHg, than the sham group, at 0.2 mmHg. Normothermic and chilled perfusion with PFC was also associated with less histological evidence of ischaemic damage, with mean (sd) scores of 13.0 (13.5) and 8.7 (4.5), respectively, than in the sham group, at 33.3 (16.8), while favourably matching the contralateral control kidney group, at 5.5 (2.3). The rabbits treated with saline retrograde perfusion also had better outcomes than the sham cohort. There were no adverse effects in any of the study arms or with the use of PFC.CONCLUSIONRetrograde oxygen delivery to the kidney through the urinary collecting system was successful in this pilot study. Renal function, laboratory and histological data indicate a trend towards renal preservation and even systemic oxygenation in the experimental groups compared with the sham rabbits, with no adverse effects attributed to this technique.
Effect of pioglitazone on insulin sensitivity, vascular function and cardiovascular inflammatory markers in insulin‐resistant non‐diabetic Asian Indians
Authors: Raji A. , Gerhard‐Herman M. D. , Williams J. S. , O’Connor M. E. , Simonson D. C. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractAims  To determine the effects of pioglitazone (30 mg once daily for 16 weeks) on insulin sensitivity, insulin‐mediated vasodilation, vascular inflammatory markers, fat distribution and lipids in Asian Indians and Caucasians of European ancestry.Methods  Cross‐sectional study. Eighteen non‐diabetic Asian Indians and 17 Caucasians of comparable age (34 ± 3 vs. 36 ± 3 years) and body mass index (26.0 ± 1.2 vs. 24.7 ± 1.0 kg/m2) had measurements of insulin sensitivity (M, insulin clamp at 6 pmol/kg per min), abdominal fat (computed tomographic scan at L4‐L5), endothelial‐dependent (reactive hyperaemia, RH) and ‐independent (0.4 mg sublingual nitroglycerin, TNG) vasodilation using brachial artery ultrasound before and after the 2‐h clamp at baseline and after pioglitazone therapy.Results  Asian Indians were insulin resistant compared with Causasians during the baseline clamp (M = 25.6 ± 1.7 vs. 41.1 ± 2.2 µmol/kg per min, P < 0.0001) and improved significantly after pioglitazone (to 33.9 ± 1.7 µmol/kg per min, P < 0.001). Vasodilatory responses to RH and TNG were similar in Asian Indians and Caucasians at baseline and did not change. Insulin‐mediated vasodilation improved after pioglitazone in Asian Indians, but not in Caucasians, and correlated with the change in insulin sensitivity (r = 0.52, P = 0.03). C‐reactive protein (CRP) was higher in Asian Indians vs. Caucasians (1.6 ± 0.4 vs. 0.9 ± 0.2 mg/l) and was negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity (r = −0.53, P = 0.02). In the Asian Indian group, CRP and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 decreased and adiponectin increased after pioglitazone, but there were no significant changes in total or visceral fat.Conclusions  These results demonstrate that insulin‐resistant Asian Indians respond favourably to an insulin sensitizer with improvements in insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular and inflammatory risk markers, and vascular responses to insulin. These agents may have a role in decreasing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this high‐risk population.
Effectiveness of community health workers in the care of persons with diabetes
Authors: Norris S. L. , Chowdhury F. M. , Van Le K. , Horsley T. , Brownstein J. N. , Zhang X. , Jack L. , Satterfield D. W. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractAims  The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of community health workers in supporting the care of persons with diabetes.Methods  Computerized searches were conducted of multiple electronic bibliographic dababases until March 2004. We identified studies in any language and of any design that examined the effectiveness of diabetes‐related interventions involving community health workers and reported outcomes in persons with diabetes. Results were synthesized narratively.Results  Eighteen studies were identified, including eight randomized controlled trials. Most studies focused on minority populations in the USA. The roles and duties of community health workers in diabetes care were varied, ranging from substantial involvement in patient care to providing instrumental assistance in education sessions taught by other health professionals. Participants were generally satisfied with their contacts with community health workers and participant knowledge increased. Improvements in physiological measures were noted for some interventions and positive changes in lifestyle and self‐care were noted in a number of studies. There were few data on economic outcomes, but several studies demonstrated a decrease in inappropriate health care utilization.Conclusions  Diabetes programmes include community health workers as team members in a variety of roles. There are some preliminary data demonstrating improvements in participant knowledge and behaviour. Much additional research, however, is needed to understand the incremental benefit of community health workers in multicomponent interventions and to identify appropriate settings and optimal roles for community health workers in the care of persons with diabetes.