bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prostate‐specific antigen failure within 2 years of radical prostatectomy predicts overall survival
Authors: HACHIYA TAKAHIKO , ICHINOSE TAKETO , HIRAKATA HITOSHI , KAWATA NOZOMU , OKADA KIYOKI , TAKIMOTO YUKIE 
Published: May 2006

Objective:  This study attempts to determine whether prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) failure following radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) affects patients’ long‐term overall survival.Methods:  This study examined 155 men diagnosed as clinical stages T1b–T3a who received RRP as primary therapy. To evaluate whether PSA failure following RRP affects overall survival, the patients were grouped into those who experienced PSA failure within 2 years and those who did not. Clinical failure‐free survival, prostate cancer‐specific survival and overall survival were used as endpoints. Comparisons of survival curves were performed using the log–rank test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the variable most predictive of PSA failure within 2 years of surgery.Results:  At 10 years, the PSA failure‐free survival rate, clinical failure‐free survival rate, prostate cancer specific survival rate and overall survival rate of the 155 patients were 40.1%, 83.1%, 94.9% and 84.2%, respectively. The overall survival curve for patients with PSA failure within 2 years of surgery was significantly lower than for patients with no PSA failure within 2 years of surgery (P = 0.042). The multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that PSA greater than 20 ng/mL and poor differentiation of the tumor were significant independent predictors of PSA failure within 2 years of surgery.Conclusion:  These results imply that prospective studies should be conducted to detect patients at high risk for PSA recurrence in whom metastasis may occur early and to investigate postoperative treatments for these high‐risk patients to improve overall survival.
Prevalence of erectile dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome
Authors: DEMIR TEVFIK 
Published: May 2006

Aim:  We wished to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction (ED).Materials and methods:  A total of 268 patients were included in this study. All of the patients were asked to fill in an International Index for Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. The presence of metabolic syndrome was determined when any three or more of the five risk factors were present according to the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel (ATP)‐III. The relationship between risk factor for metabolic syndrome and ED status was determined according to logistic regression analysis.Results:  Eighty‐nine patients (33%) constituted the metabolic syndrome group. IIEF‐EF domain scores of patients with and without metabolic syndrome were 17.7 ± 7.9 and 21.7 ± 7.5, respectively (P < 0.001). Seventy‐four percent of patients with metabolic syndrome and 50% of patients without metabolic syndrome had ED (P < 0.001; odds ratio 2.9; 95% CI 1.7–5.0). Erectile function domain scores significantly decreased as the number of metabolic risk factors increased (P < 0.001). Patients with the risk factor of fasting blood glucose (FBG), waist circumference (WC), or hypertension (HT) had lower erectile function domain scores than the patients with other metabolic risk factors. Logistic regression analysis revealed that FBG and WC were the most important criteria for ED.Conclusions:  Metabolic syndrome seems to be a potential risk factor for ED. We recommend patients with metabolic syndrome should be questioned about ED, and WC measurement might take part in the evaluation of ED.
Urodynamic evaluation of a suspension technique for rapid recovery of continence after radical retropubic prostatectomy
Authors: NOGUCHI MASANORI , SHIMADA AKIHIKO , NAKASHIMA OSAMU , KOJIRO MASAMICHI , MATSUOKA KEI 
Published: May 2006

Background:  We investigated urodynamic findings involved in the rapid recovery of urinary continence after radical retropubic prostatectomy with a suspension technique.Methods:  A total of 45 consecutive patients (mean age 67.6 years) who had undergone radical retropubic prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer were evaluated with multichannel urodynamics including the maximal urethral pressure (MUP), functional urethral length (FUL), maximal cystometric capacity (MCC) and abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) at base line, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. The suspension of vesicourethral anastomosis preserving anterior attachments of puboprostatic ligaments to pubic bone was performed in 33 patients. Twelve patients did not undergo the suspension technique.Results:  The continence rates at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after radical prostatectomy in the suspension group were significantly higher than those in the non‐suspension group: 67% versus 0% at 1 week (P < 0.001), 82% versus 25% at 1 month (P < 0.001), and 91% versus 50% at 3 months (P < 0.01), respectively. Postoperative ALPP at all points of measurement was significantly higher in the suspension group than in the non‐suspension group (P < 0.0002). There was no difference in MUP, FUL or MCC at each point following radical prostatectomy between the two groups.Conclusions:  These observations suggest that preserving anterior attachments of puboprostatic ligaments to pubic bone and fixation of urethral hyper‐mobility by the suspension of vesicourethral anastomosis promotes rapid recovery of urinary continence after radical retropubic prostatectomy.
Cystoscopy in women with recurrent urinary tract infection
Authors: LAWRENTSCHUK NATHAN , OOI JASON , PANG ANNA , NAIDU KRISHANT S , BOLTON DAMIEN M 
Published: May 2006

Objective:  To investigate if women with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) warrant cystoscopy to exclude an abnormality of the lower urinary tract. This is particularly relevant given that non‐invasive imaging has often been performed to exclude abnormality. Our further aims were to correlate imaging and risk factors with cystoscopic findings to determine their predictive value in finding pathology.Patients and methods:  A database of women undergoing cystoscopy with recurrent UTI has been maintained at our institution for 10 years. We retrospectively examined this and patient records for patient demographics, and investigative and operative data.Results:  A total of 118 patients (mean 55 years) having recurrent UTI (mean 4.7 infections/year) were available. There were nine patients (8%) with significant abnormalities at cystoscopy: urethral stricture (six), bladder calculus (one), bladder diverticulum (one) and colovesical fistula (one). The negative predictive value (NPV) of imaging was 99% and significant (P < 0.01). Women with no risk factors for UTI had a NPV of 93% for normal cystoscopy (P > 0.05). The positive predictive value was low for imaging and risk factors in predicting cystoscopy findings.Conclusions:  In our study, 8% of women had significant abnormalities detected during cystoscopy with most over 50 years. Women without risk factors for recurrent UTI and with normal imaging could have a cystoscopy omitted. Younger women are less likely to have pathology and this must be factored into decisions to perform cystoscopy.
The influence of biotic interactions on soil biodiversity
Authors: Wardle David A. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBelowground communities usually support a much greater diversity of organisms than do corresponding aboveground ones, and while the factors that regulate their diversity are far less well understood, a growing number of recent studies have presented data relevant to understanding how these factors operate. This review considers how biotic factors influence community diversity within major groups of soil organisms across a broad spectrum of spatial scales, and addresses the mechanisms involved. At the most local scale, soil biodiversity may potentially be affected by interactions within trophic levels or by direct trophic interactions. Within the soil, larger bodied invertebrates can also influence diversity of smaller sized organisms by promoting dispersal and through modification of the soil habitat. At larger scales, individual plant species effects, vegetation composition, plant species diversity, mixing of plant litter types, and aboveground trophic interactions, all impact on soil biodiversity. Further, at the landscape scale, soil diversity also responds to vegetation change and succession. This review also considers how a conceptual understanding of the biotic drivers of soil biodiversity may assist our knowledge of key topics in community and ecosystem ecology, such as aboveground–belowground interactions, and the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. It is concluded that an improved understanding of what drives the diversity of life in the soil, incorporated within appropriate conceptual frameworks, should significantly aid our understanding of the structure and functioning of terrestrial communities.
Interactions between resource availability and enemy release in plant invasion
Authors: Blumenthal Dana M. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractUnderstanding why some exotic species become invasive is essential to controlling their populations. This review discusses the possibility that two mechanisms of invasion, release from natural enemies and increased resource availability, may interact. When plants invade new continents, they leave many herbivores and pathogens behind. Species most regulated by enemies in their native range have the most potential for enemy release, and enemy regulation may be strongest for high‐resource species. High resource availability is associated with low defence investment, high nutritional value, high enemy damage and consequently strong enemy regulation. Therefore, invasive plant species adapted to high resource availability may also gain most from enemy release. Strong release of high‐resource species would predict that: (i) both enemy release and resources may underlie plant invasion, leading to potential interactions among control measures; (ii) increases in resource availability due to disturbance or eutrophication may increase the advantage of exotic over native species; (iii) exotic species will tend to have high‐resource traits relative to coexisting native species; and (iv) although high‐resource plants may experience strong enemy release in ecological time, well‐defended low‐resource plants may have stronger evolutionary responses to the absence of enemies.
The benefits of oestrogens on postprandial lipid metabolism are lost in post‐menopausal women with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Masding M. G. , Stears A. J. , Burdge G. C. , Wootton S. A. , Sandeman D. D. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractAims  Women with Type 2 diabetes appear to lose the protection against cardiovascular disease (CVD) afforded by oestrogens. We examined the effects of oestrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on postprandial clearance of dietary fat in non‐diabetic and diabetic post‐menopausal women.Methods  In a cross‐sectional study, fasting subjects [HRT+ and HRT– control and diabetic women; Type 2 diabetes (DM) HRT+n = 8, DM HRT–n = 14, control HRT+n = 7, control HRT–n = 11] consumed a meal containing the stable isotope 1,1,1–[13]C‐tripalmitin, with blood and breath sampled for 6 and 24 h, respectively, in the postprandial period.Results  In diabetic women, there were no differences between the HRT+ and HRT– groups for any of these parameters. In contrast, in HRT+ compared with HRT– control women, the triglyceride (TG) area under the curve was lower [AUC; HRT+ median (range) 7.7 (4.1, 12.8) mmol/l per 6 h, HRT– 9.7 (3.9, 18.5) mmol/l per 6 h, P < 0.05] and [13]C‐palmitic acid in the TG fraction was also lower [HRT+ 23.2 (10.3, 41.3) ng/ml per 6 h, HRT– 47.7 (12.6, 77.2) ng/ml per 6 h, P < 0.05], suggesting the lower postprandial triglyceridaemia associated with HRT in non‐diabetic women is because of better chylomicron clearance.Conclusions  The oestrogen‐associated advantage in clearance of dietary lipid we observed in non‐diabetic post‐menopausal women is not seen in post‐menopausal diabetic women. This is likely to promote an atherogenic lipoprotein profile and may contribute to the loss of CVD protection seen in diabetic women.
Social consumption of alcohol in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes is associated with increased glucose lability, but not hypoglycaemia
Authors: Ismail D. , Gebert R. , Vuillermin P. J. , Fraser L. , McDonnell C. M. , Donath S. M. , Cameron F. J. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractAims  To determine the effects of social consumption of alcohol by diabetic adolescents on glycaemic control.Methods  Fourteen (five male) patients aged > 16 years were recruited from the diabetes clinic at the Royal Children's Hospital. The continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) was attached at a weekend when alcohol consumption was planned for one night only. For each patient, the 12‐h period from 18.00 h to 06.00 h for the night with alcohol consumption (study period) was compared with the same period with non‐alcohol consumption (control period) either 24 h before or after the alcohol study night. Thus, each subject was his/her own control. Glycaemic outcomes calculated from continuous glucose monitoring included mean blood glucose (MBG), percentage of time spent at low glucose levels (CGMS < 4.0 mmol/l), normal glucose levels (CGMS 4.0–10.0 mmol/l) and high glucose levels (> 10.0 mmol/l) and continuous overall net glycaemic action (CONGA).Results  The mean number of standard alcohol drinks consumed during the study period was 9.0 for males and 6.3 for females. There was no difference in percentage of time at high and normal glucose levels in the study and control periods. During the control period, there was a higher percentage of time with low glucose levels compared with the study period (P < 0.05). There was an increased level of glycaemic variation during the study time when compared with the control period.Conclusions  In an uncontrolled, social context, moderately heavy alcohol consumption by adolescents with Type 1 diabetes appears to be associated with increased glycaemic variation, but not with low glucose levels.
Alcohol consumption is inversely associated with adherence to diabetes self‐care behaviours
Authors: Ahmed A. T. , Karter A. J. , Liu J. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractAims  Our aim was to examine the associations of alcohol consumption with six diabetes self‐care behaviours.Methods  We determined levels of alcohol consumption and examined associations between alcohol consumption and six self‐care behaviours in 65 996 adults with diabetes who received care through Kaiser Permanente Northern California and who responded to a 1994–1997 survey. Adherence with recommendations for self monitoring of blood glucose, HbA1c testing, and diabetes medications were determined from electronic records; smoking and use of diet and exercise to treat diabetes were self reported. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the associations between alcohol consumption (average number of drinks/day in the past year) and the probability of adherence to each self‐care behaviour.Results  Current alcohol consumption was reported by 50.8% of adults with diabetes. In adjusted models, we observed a gradient of increasing risk for poor adherence to diabetes self‐care behaviours with increasing alcohol consumption, starting with those who consume even one drink a day. Former drinkers had the greatest compliance with each self‐care behaviour, except for current smoking.Conclusions  Alcohol consumption is a marker for poorer adherence to diabetes self‐care behaviours. These findings highlight the importance of routine assessment of alcohol intake in people with diabetes, particularly as half of adults with diabetes consume alcohol. Given extant evidence that moderate alcohol intake may have cardiovascular benefits for patients with diabetes, examination of the trade‐offs between cardiovascular benefits vs. potential risk of lower adherence with self‐care behaviours deserves study.
Eating behaviour and adherence to diet in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Van De Laar F. A. , Van De Lisdonk E. H. , Lucassen P. L. B. J. , Stafleu A. , Mulder J. , Van Den Hoogen H. J. M. , Rutten G. E. H. M. , Van Weel C. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractAims  To assess restrained, emotional and external eating behaviour in patients newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes compared with the general population, and to assess the relationship of eating behaviour to changes in fat and energy.Methods  We assessed emotional, external, and restrained eating behaviour and measured fat and energy intake in a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Data from a comparable sample of the general population served as reference figures. We calculated correlation coefficients of the three different types of eating behaviour at diagnosis between: (i) energy and fat intake at diagnosis and (ii) changes in energy and fat intake between diagnosis and both 8 weeks and 4 years later. In addition, we used a stepwise multiple regression model with energy and fat intake or changes in energy and fat intake as dependent variables.Results  The distribution of the three types of eating behaviour was similar in patients with Type 2 diabetes and the general population. Emotional and external eating was associated with increased intake of energy and fat. Conversely, restrained eating showed an inverse correlation with energy and fat intake. External eating, but not emotional eating, showed a statistically significant relation with a decrease in energy intake in women. We found no statistically significant correlations between eating behaviour (measured at diagnosis) and changes in energy and fat intake between diagnosis and 4 years.Conclusions  Patients newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes have similar eating behaviour compared with the general population. At diagnosis, external eating behaviour and emotional eating behaviour are associated with high‐energy intake and restrained eating behaviour with low‐energy intake. Women with high scores for emotional eating behaviour seem to be less able to make initial dietary changes after being diagnosed and having received dietary advice.
The visfatin gene is associated with glucose and lipid metabolism in a Chinese population
Authors: Jian W.‐X. , Luo T.‐H. , Gu Y.‐Y. , Zhang H.‐L. , Zheng S. , Dai M. , Han J.‐F. , Zhao Y. , Li G. , Luo M. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractAims  Visfatin is a newly discovered adipokine found in abundance in visceral fat. It lowers plasma glucose in humans and mice. In this study, we explored the relationships between the plasma level of visfatin and genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and anthropometric and metabolic parameters in Chinese subjects.Methods  Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and biochemical assays for plasma insulin, lipid profiles and serum visfatin were performed in 241 newly diagnosed T2DM patients, subjects with impaired glucose regulation (IGR), and normal glucose tolerant subjects more than 40 years of age. Genotyping for three SNP loci: −1535C/T, rs2058539 and rs10953502 were performed using the allele‐specific real‐time PCR method.Results  Visfatin levels were similar in T2DM patients, IGR and normal glucose tolerant subjects. However, visfatin levels were significantly lower in obese than normal‐weight subjects (13.66 ± 0.87 vs. 15.46 ± 0.47 ng/ml, P = 0.03). There was suggestively significant correlation between visfatin level and body mass index (r = –0.17 P = 0.07) and waist–hip ratio (r = 0.16 P = 0.08) in male subjects, but not in female subjects. Allele and common haplotype frequencies of the three SNP loci were similar in T2DM patients, IGR and normal glucose tolerant subjects. However, significant associations were found between these three SNP loci and plasma glucose concentration at 0 and 120 min during OGTT, the area under the response curve for plasma glucose, and triglyceride and total cholesterol levels.Conclusions  Serum visfatin levels may be related to visceral obesity in men, and the visfatin gene may account for variation of glucose and lipid parameters in Chinese subjects.
Financial Capital and Taxation Policy*
Authors: Wood Richard 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThis paper suggests a relatively simple analytical framework for taxing all financial arrangements. The debt/equity distinction is determined by the contingency principle. The accruals/realisation distinction is determined separately by the volatility principle. The capital/revenue character distinction is effectively removed directly or by a character hedging regime. Hybrids, synthetics, hedging arrangements and other portfolios are tax‐assessed on an aggregate, rather than a bifurcated, basis. The framework could be applied to both classical and dividend‐imputation‐based business tax systems.
The Impact of Second Homes on Local Taxes*
Authors: Torres Emilio , Domínguez‐Menchero J. Santos 
Published: May 2006

AbstractA methodology to estimate the influence of second homes on municipal taxes is developed in this paper. Assuming that a larger floating population implies an increase in public expenditure, our aim is to develop a model of the relationship between the local taxes paid and the number of second dwellings in a village. As an applied example, the results for two of the most touristy regions of the Mediterranean – the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca, in Spain – are shown in this paper. As we will see, there are only three different levels of local taxes, regardless of the number of second homes. The main factors behind high local tax burdens are seaside location and the presence of foreign owners.
Differential findings for CD14‐positive hepatic monocytes/macrophages in primary biliary cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis C and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Leicester Katherine L. , Olynyk John K. , Brunt Elizabeth M. , Britton Robert S. , Bacon Bruce R. 
Published: May 2006

Abstract: Background and aims: Endotoxin‐responsive monocytes/macrophages (CD14‐positive) are potential sources of profibrogenic factors. The aims of this study were to determine (1) whether hepatic CD14‐positive cells are present in various forms of chronic liver disease, and (2) the relationship between CD14‐positive cells, myofibroblasts, and fibrosis in these diseases.Methods: Liver specimens from control subjects (n=12) and those with primary biliary cirrhosis (n=18), chronic hepatitis C (n=13), or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (n=13) were immunostained for CD14, CD68, and α‐smooth muscle actin (SMA) and the number of cells expressing these antigens was determined. Fibrosis and inflammation were also assessed.Results: The total number of hepatic CD68‐positive cells was similar in diseased and control livers. The number of CD14‐positive cells was increased in advanced fibrosis in primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis C but not in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The number of CD14‐positive cells was also increased in hepatitis C specimens with high inflammatory activity. CD14‐positive cells were often associated with α‐SMA‐positive myofibroblasts in fibrous septa.Conclusions: The number of hepatic CD14‐positive cells is increased in advanced fibrosis in subjects with primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis C but not in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. In primary biliary cirrhosis and hepatitis C, CD14‐positive macrophages are found in close proximity to fibrous septa and myofibroblasts. In hepatitis C, an increased number of CD14‐positive cells are associated with high inflammatory activity.