bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Should beta‐blocker therapy be reduced or withdrawn after an episode of decompensated heart failure? Results from COMET
Authors: Metra Marco , Torp‐Pedersen Christian , Cleland John G.F. , Di Lenarda Andrea , Komajda Michel , Remme Willem J. , Cas Livio Dei , Spark Philip , Swedberg Karl , Poole‐Wilson Philip A. ,   for the COMET investigators
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground:It is unclear whether beta‐blocker therapy should be reduced or withdrawn in patients who develop acute decompensated heart failure (HF). We studied the relationship between changes in beta‐blocker dose and outcome in patients surviving a HF hospitalisation in COMET.Methods:Patients hospitalised for HF were subdivided on the basis of the beta‐blocker dose administered at the visit following hospitalisation, compared to that administered before.Results:In COMET, 752/3029 patients (25%, 361 carvedilol and 391 metoprolol) had a non‐fatal HF hospitalisation while on study treatment. Of these, 61 patients (8%) had beta‐blocker treatment withdrawn, 162 (22%) had a dose reduction and 529 (70%) were maintained on the same dose. One‐and two‐year cumulative mortality rates were 28.7% and 44.6% for patients withdrawn from study medication, 37.4% and 51.4% for those with a reduced dosage (n.s.) and 19.1% and 32.5% for those maintained on the same dose (HR,1.59; 95%CI, 1.28–1.98; p<0.001, compared to the others). The result remained significant in a multivariable model: (HR, 1.30; 95%CI, 1.02–1.66; p=0.0318). No interaction with the beneficial effects of carvedilol, compared to metoprolol, on outcome was observed (p=0.8436).Conclusions:HF hospitalisations are associated with a high subsequent mortality. The risk of death is higher in patients who discontinue beta‐blocker therapy or have their dose reduced. The increase in mortality is only partially explained by the worse prognostic profile of these patients.
β/A4‐Amyloid increases nerve growth factor production in rat primary hippocampal astrocyte cultures
Authors: Schulte‐Herbrüggen O. , Hamker U. , Meske V. , Danker‐Hopfe H. , Ohm T.G. , Hellweg R. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractNerve growth factor (NGF), a member of the neurotrophin family, is an essential mediator of neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCN). In processes of chronic degeneration of BFCN like in Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized among others by amyloid containing plaques, NGF has been shown to improve cognitive decline and rescue BFCN but also to reduce survival of hippocampal neurons via p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75). Little is known about the mechanisms of NGF regulation in glial cells under pathological conditions in AD. This study investigates the influence of amyloid administration on the NGF protein secretion in rat primary hippocampal astrocytes. Astrocytes were stimulated with “aged” β/A4‐Amyloid (1‐40), and NGF was measured in different fractions, such as supernatant, vesicles, and cytosol fraction. Treatment with amyloid at a final concentration of 10 μM for 72 h led to increased NGF protein levels up to 30‐fold increase compared to unstimulated controls. This observation may be an endogenous neuroprotective mechanism possibly contributing to a delay of amyloid‐dependent loss of cholinergic neurons or contribute to accelerated neuronal death by activation of p75 within Alzheimer pathology.
Placental tissue iodine level and blood magnesium concentration in pre‐eclamptic and normal pregnancy
Authors: Gulaboglu M. , Borekci B. , Halici Z. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractObjective: To assess iodine concentration in the placental tissue and magnesium concentration in the blood of women with severe pre‐eclampsia in northeast Anatolia and compare these values with those of healthy pregnant women from the same region. Methods: Placental tissue and blood specimens were obtained from 20 severely pre‐eclamptic and 15 healthy pregnant women. Iodine levels in placental tissue were determined by the Foss method based on the Sandell‐Kolthoff reaction. Results: Placental tissue iodine levels were lower in women with severe pre‐eclampsia than in healthy pregnant women (4.30 ± 1.36 ng of iodine/mg protein vs. 7.71 ± 2.84 ng of iodine/mg tissue protein; P < 0.001), as were blood magnesium levels (1.63 ± 0.05 mg/dL vs. 1.87 ± 0.05 mg/dL; P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between placental tissue iodine levels and blood magnesium levels in women with severe pre‐eclampsia (r = 0.55, P < 0.05), but no such correlation was observed in healthy pregnant women (r = 0.23, P = 0.41). Conclusion: Magnesium assimilation is known to be defective when iodine levels are insufficient. In northeast Anatolia, where iodine deficiency is common, clinical trials of iodine supplementation should be considered for pre‐eclamptic therapy.
Epstein‐Barr virus DNA detection in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Yap Yoke‐Yeow , Hassan Shahid , Chan Melissa , Choo Pua Kin , Ravichandran Manickam 
Published: June 2007

ObjectivesThis study examines the presence of EpsteinBarr virus (EBV) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)Study DesignEighty‐six postnasal biopsy samples and 71 fine‐needle aspirate samples of neck masses were obtained from patients who were clinically suspect for NPC. Genomic DNA was extracted from the samples, and EBNA1, EBNA2, and LMP genes of EBV were detected by PCR. PCR results were compared with NPC histopathology findings.ResultsThe sensitivity of PCR to detect EBNA1 (97.14%), EBNA2 (88.57%), and LMP (91.43%) genes of EBV in nasopharyngeal biopsy samples were higher than those in fine‐needle aspirate samples.ConclusionDetection of EBV by PCR in tissue obtained from nasopharyngeal biopsy and fine‐needle aspirate samples of neck masses is a relatively inexpensive, reliable, and accurate method of diagnosing NPC. Detection of EBV genes is on par with histopathological examination (HPE) and superior to fine‐needle aspirate cytology.SignificancePCR is an ideal tool for suggesting NPC and guiding the diagnostic workup in occult primary tumors, facilitating earlier diagnosis and reducing morbidity and mortality.© 2007 American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.
The large vestibular aqueduct: A new definition based on audiologic and computed tomography correlation
Authors: Boston Mark , Halsted Mark , Meinzen‐Derr Jareen , Bean Judy , Vijayasekaran Shyan , Arjmand Ellis , Choo Daniel , Benton Corning , Greinwald John 
Published: June 2007

ObjectiveThe study goal was to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of a large vestibular aqueduct (LVA) in children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).Study Design and SettingWe conducted a retrospective review of a pediatric SNHL database. One hundred seven children with SNHL were selected and their radiographic and audiometric studies were evaluated. Radiographic comparisons were made to a group of children without SNHL.ResultsA vestibular aqueduct (VA) larger than the 95th percentile of controls was present in 32% of children with SNHL. Progressive SNHL was more likely to occur in ears with an LVA and the rate of progressive hearing loss was greater than in ears without an LVA. The risk of progressive SNHL increased with increasing VA size as determined by logistic regression analysis.ConclusionsAn LVA is defined as one that is ≥2mm at the operculum and/or ≥1 mm at the midpoint in children with nonsyndromic SNHL. An LVA appears to be more common than previously reported in children with SNHL. A linear relationship is observed between VA width and progressive SNHL.SignificanceThe finding of an LVA in children with SNHL provides diagnostic as well as prognostic information. © 2007 American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.
Combined therapy after superselective arterial cisplatin infusion to treat maxillary squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Shiga Kiyoto , Yokoyama Junkichi , Hashimoto Sho , Saijo Shigeru , Tateda Masaru , Ogawa Takenori , Watanabe Mika , Kobayashi Toshimitsu 
Published: June 2007

ObjectiveWe sought to assess the efficacy of combined therapy after superselective arterial cisplatin infusion (SACI) therapy to treat the maxillary squamous cell carcinoma.Study DesignWe conducted a retrospective chart review of 50 patients. After completion of two courses of SACI, 25 of the patients were successively treated by concurrent SACI and radiotherapy (AR), while the other 25 patients were treated by surgery with postoperative radiotherapy (ASR).ResultsPatients with surgery (ASR) had an 88% local control rate with 75% disease‐free survival rate at 60 months by Kaplan‐Meier analysis, compared with 62% disease‐free survival rate for patients with AR treatment. A particularly good outcome was obtained in T4 cases of the ASR group (n = 8) whose 5‐year survival rate was 87% and local control rate was 100%.Conclusion/SignificanceCombined SACI therapy is very effective for the treatment of maxillary squamous cell carcinomas and contributes to the improving prognoses of patients and organ preservation rates.
Template‐based registration for image‐guided skull base surgery
Authors: Eggers Georg , M¨hling Joachim 
Published: June 2007

ObjectivesTo evaluate whether patient‐to‐image registration with the use of a maxillary template is sufficiently accurate for image guided skull base surgery.Study Design and SettingIn an experimental phantom study, pair‐point registration of a skull phantom to its CT image data was performed with 243 different configurations of a maxillary template with markers. Then artificial skull mounted target markers were located with an infrared tracking device as used in navigation systems.ResultsThe average target registration error was 1.57 mm in the anterior skull base (95% confidence interval, 1.53 to 1.61 mm), but 3.31 mm in the lateral skull base (95% confidence interval, 3.26 to 3.37 mm).ConclusionsFiducial marker registration based on a maxillary template is sufficiently accurate for image‐guided surgery in the anterior skull base, but not for the lateral skull base.SignificanceTemplate‐based registration is an accurate yet noninvasive registration method for frontal skull base surgery.
Type III cartilage “shield” tympanoplasty: An effective procedure for hearing improvement
Authors: Kyrodimos Efthymios , Sismanis Aristides , Santos Daniel 
Published: June 2007

ObjectiveTo report the hearing results following type III cartilage “shield” tympanoplasty.Study DesignRetrospective chart review at a tertiary referral center.MethodsConchal cartilage, shaped as a shield, was used to replace the entire tympanic membrane and reconstruct the ossicular chain in patients with an absent incus and diminished space between the stapes superstructure and malleolar manubrium.ResultsBetween January 1998 and June 2005, 52 patients were treated. The mean age was 32.4 years (range, 7 to 72 years). The mean follow‐up was 24 months (range, 12 to 36 months). Graft take was successful in all patients. The average hearing improvement was 11.22 dB (P < 0.0001). An air‐bone gap of 25 dB or less was achieved in 41 (78.8%) patients. Speech discrimination scores remained unchanged. No complications were identified.ConclusionType III cartilage “shield” tympanoplasty is an effective technique for hearing improvement in selected patients with chronic otitis media. The results of this procedure are similar to those obtained with partial ossicular replacement prosthesis.© 2007 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Inc. All rights reserved.
Surgical outcomes and safety of transnasal endoscopic resection for anterior skull tumors
Authors: Dave Sandeep P. , Bared Anthony , Casiano Roy R. 
Published: June 2007

ObjectiveTo report the surgical outcomes and safety of transnasal endoscopic resection (TER) for anterior skull base (ASB) tumors.Study Design and SettingA retrospective chart review to identify patients undergoing TER for ASB tumors at a tertiary care medical center between September 1997 and June 2006.ResultsNineteen patients underwent TER for ASB tumors without open craniotomy. There were 17 malignant and two benign lesions. Olfactory neuroblastoma was the most common pathology, occurring in 53 percent of patients. One patient recurred locally, resulting in an overall local control rate of 94.7 percent for all neoplasms and 94.1 percent for malignant disease. It should be noted that the tumor control rate may be premature given the small sample size and limited follow‐up. Overall, there were 16 complications, but only two of these, an orbital hematoma and a frontal lobe abscess, were considered major complications directly attributable to surgery.ConclusionsTER for ASB tumors appears to be safe in properly selected patients. In light of the small sample size and limited follow‐up, the major complication rate directly attributable to surgery was 11 percent, and the overall local control rate was 95 percent. A larger multi‐institutional series with longer follow‐up is warranted.
Prevalence and patterns of intraoperative nerve monitoring for thyroidectomy
Authors: Horne Stefanie K. , Gal Thomas J. , Brennan Joseph A. 
Published: June 2007

ObjectiveTo estimate the patterns of use of intraoperative recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN)‐monitoring devices during thyroid surgery by otolaryngologists in the United States.MethodsA questionnaire was mailed to 1685 randomly selected otolaryngologists, representing approximately half of all otolaryngologists currently practicing in the United States. Topics covered included training history and current practice setting, use and characteristics of use of RLN monitoring during thyroid surgery, as well as history of RLN injury and/or subsequent lawsuits. X2 test was used to examine associations between monitor usage and dependent variables, and odds ratios calculated by logistic regression were used to refine the magnitude of these associations. RESULTS: A total of 685 (40.7%) of questionnaires were returned, and 81 percent (555) of respondents reported performing thyroidectomy. Of those, only 28.6 percent (159) reported using intraoperative monitoring for all cases. Respondents were 3.14 times more likely to currently use intraoperative monitoring if they used it during their training. Surgeons currently using intraoperative RLN monitoring during thyroidectomy were 41 percent less likely to report a history of permanent RLN injury. Further information about surgeon background and rationale for decisions regarding RLN monitor usage are discussed.ConclusionsPresently, the majority of otolaryngologists in the United States do not report regular usage of RLN monitoring in their practices. Surgeon background and training, more so than surgical volume, significantly influenced the use of intraoperative RLN monitoring.
Local variability in metazoan parasites of the pelagic fish species, Engraulis ringens: implications for fish stock assessment using parasites as biological tags
Authors: Chavez Rosa A. , Valdivia Isabel M. , Oliva Marcelo E. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractParasites have been used successfully as biological tags in population studies, mainly in marine fishes, but also in marine mammals, crustaceans and molluscs. Almost all published information dealing with parasites as biological tags evaluates differences between localities. However, local variability in the component community has not been assessed. In this work, we examined whether local variation of the metazoan parasite fauna of Engraulis ringens, extracted from five independent samples from two nearby localities in northern Chile, can be a factor causing bias in stock identification. Our results show that local variability, as estimated by a single sample, may suffice to represent component community variability with no need for replicated data.
Parasites as fish population tags and pseudoreplication problems: the case of striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus in the Spanish Mediterranean
Authors: Ferrer-Castelló E. , Raga J.A. , Aznar F.J. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractStudies of parasites as fish population tags often apply a single round of sampling to identify potential stocks or predict harvest localities. However, the lack of replication generates pseudoreplication, implicitly assuming that infection levels are more similar between samples from the same locality than between samples from different localities. We evaluated this assumption in the case of the striped red mullet Mullus surmuletus in three localities of the Spanish Mediterranean separated by c. 300 km. Samples of 25 fish of similar size were collected in each locality in the summer and autumn of two consecutive years. Prevalence and abundance of three long-lived parasite taxa differed significantly among localities, indicating their potential as stock indicators. However, a cluster analysis (for prevalence) and a MANOVA (for abundance) indicated strong inter-sample variability, even within the same locality, with poor spatial segregation among samples. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) based on the abundance of 17 parasite taxa correctly assigned over 80% of fish to their locality, and 95% bootstrap confidence intervals of percent classified fish per locality were narrow, indicating good and stable predictive power. However, when a LDA based on data from the first year was used to predict the locality of fish from the second year, predictive power dropped drastically (46% of correct allocation). Overall, we interpret that parasite communities of mullets change at a much lower spatial scale than that adopted in this study. This finding strongly suggests the need for proper replication to make reliable inferences about stock structure in fish populations based on parasitological data.
Parasites of fingerling herringClupea harengusL.: ecology and fine morphology
Authors: Rahimian Hassan 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe parasite fauna of young-of-the-year herringClupea harengusL., off Gullmarsfjord and Brofjorden, west coast of Sweden, was studied between May and October for 4 years, from 1994 to 1997. Fifteen species of parasites were found: two Protozoa –Trichodina sp.andCeratomyxa auerbachi; one species of uncertain affinity –Ichthyophonus hoferi; two Monogenea –Gyrodactylus harengiandPseudanthocotyloides heterocotyle; five Digenea –Cryptocotyle linguametacercariae,Cercaria pythionikemetacercariae,Hemiurus luehei,Lecithaster confususandPseudobacciger harengulae; three Cestoda plerocercoids –Bothriocephalussp., an acrobothriid and a tetraphyllid; one Nematoda –Hysterothylacium aduncumlarva; and one Copepoda –Caligus elongatus. The number of species found in this study represents more than one-sixth of all parasites reported in herring worldwide and all parasites were acquired locally. The parasite fauna of herring from the west coast of Sweden is compared with that of herring from the Baltic Sea and other areas of the north-east Atlantic. The prevalence and intensity of parasites are presented and discussed. Morphological descriptions are based on both light and scanning electron microscopy and new features are described. Possible applications of this new information about the parasite fauna, in different areas of fisheries and fish biology studies, are discussed.
Do eel parasites reflect the local crustacean community? A case study from the Rhine river system
Authors: Thielen Frankie , Münderle Marcel , Taraschewski Horst , Sures Bernd 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn 2003, the parasite fauna of 197 European eelsAnguilla anguilla, captured at three different locations (Laufenburg, Karlsruhe and Beneeden Leeuwen) in the River Rhine, was analysed. The eels harboured a total of 18 species, among them the protozoa (Myxidium giardi, Myxobolus kotlaniandTrypanosoma granulosum), acanthocephalans (Acanthocephalus anguillae, Acanthocephalus lucii, Echinorhynchus truttae, Pomphorhynchus laevis), nematodes (Paraquimperia tenerrima, Pseudocapillaria tomentosa, Camallanus lacustris, Raphidascaris acus, Spinitectus inermisandAnguillicola crassus), cestodes (Bothriocephalus clavicepsandProteocephalus macrocephalus) and monogeneans (Pseudodactylogyrussp.). The parasite fauna at the different locations is discussed with respect to the crustacean fauna present at these locations. The investigation shows that changes in the composition of the crustacean fauna, due to the anthropogenic breakdown of a biogeographic barrier, are reflected in the composition of the intestinal eel parasite fauna.
Bayesian estimation of hepatitis E virus seroprevalence for populations with different exposure levels to swine in The Netherlands
Authors: BOUWKNEGT M. , ENGEL B. , HERREMANS M. M. P. T. , WIDDOWSON M. A. , WORM H. C. , KOOPMANS M. P. G. , FRANKENA K. , De RODA HUSMAN A. M. , De JONG M. C. M. , VAN DER POEL W. H. M. 
Published: June 2007

SUMMARYHepatitis E virus (HEV) is ubiquitous in pigs worldwide and may be zoonotic. Previous HEV seroprevalence estimates for groups of people working with swine were higher than for control groups. However, discordance among results of anti-HEV assays means that true seroprevalence estimates, i.e. seroprevalence due to previous exposure to HEV, depends on choice of seroassay. We tested blood samples from three subpopulations (49 swine veterinarians, 153 non-swine veterinarians and 644 randomly selected individuals from the general population) with one IgM and two IgG ELISAs, and subsets with IgG and/or IgM Western blots. A Bayesian stochastical model was used to combine results of all assays. The model accounted for imperfection of each assay by estimating sensitivity and specificity, and accounted for dependence between serological assays. As expected, discordance among assay results occurred. Applying the model yielded seroprevalence estimates of ~11% for swine veterinarians, ~6% for non-swine veterinarians and ~2% for the general population. By combining the results of five serological assays in a Bayesian stochastical model we confirmed that exposure to swine or their environment was associated with elevated HEV seroprevalence.
The challenge of the exploded planet hypothesis
Authors: Van Flandern Tom 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe hypothesis of the explosion of a number of planets and moons of our Solar System during its 4.6-billion-year history is in excellent accord with all known observational constraints, even without adjustable parameters orad hochelper hypotheses. Many of its boldest predictions have been fulfilled. In most instances, these predictions were judged highly unlikely by the current standard models. Moreover, in several cases, the entire exploded planet model was at risk of being falsified if the predictions failed. The successful predictions include: (1) satellites of asteroids; (2) satellites of comets; (3) salt water in meteorites; (4) ‘roll marks’ leading to boulders on asteroids; (5) the time and peak rate of the 1999 Leonid meteor storm; (6) explosion signatures for asteroids; (7) the strongly spiked energy parameter for new comets; (8) the distribution of black material on slowly rotating airless bodies; (9) splitting velocities of comets; (10) the asteroid-like nature ofDeep Impacttarget Comet Tempel 1; and (11) the presence of high-formation-temperature minerals in theStardustcomet dust sample return. In physics and astronomy, hypotheses are either falsified if their predictions fail, or proved to be of value if they succeed. By all existing evidence, the exploded planet hypothesis has proved far more useful than the half-dozen or so hypotheses it would replace. Among the many important corollaries are these. (a) Perhaps as many as six former planets of our Solar System have exploded over its 4.6-billion-year history. (b) In particular, Mars is not an original planet, but a former moon of an exploded planet. (c) As a major player in Solar System evolution, the exploded planet scenario must be considered as a likely propagation vehicle for the spread of biogenic organisms. We conclude with a brief mention of three possible planetary explosion mechanisms.