bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of tumour volume on surgical and pathological outcomes after robot‐assisted radical cystectomy
Authors: Yuh Bertram , Padalino Joe , Butt Zubair M. , Tan Wei , Wilding Gregory E. , Kim Hyung L. , Mohler James L. , Guru Khurshid A. 
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVETo report on the influence that bladder tumour volume has on operative and pathological outcomes after robotic‐assisted radical cystectomy (RARC, a minimally invasive alternative to open cystectomy for treating bladder cancer), as with the lack of tactile feedback in RARC tumour volume might compromise the outcome.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween 2005 and 2007, 54 consecutive patients had RARC at one institution. CT urograms were obtained in all patients for staging purposes and to evaluate hydronephrosis. Patients were separated into two groups based on pathological tumour dimensions. Once selected into two‐dimensional (2D, flat) or 3D (bulky) tumour groups the patients were compared for operative and pathological variables.RESULTSThe mean age of all patients was 67 years; 19 had tumours classified as 2D and 35 as 3D. There were no statistical differences in age, sex, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, previous surgery, mean hospital stay, or estimated blood loss between the groups. The difference in operative duration for bladder removal was almost statistically significant (P = 0.077). Intraoperative transfusion was more common in the 3D group (P = 0.044); 43% of patients in the 3D group had hydronephrosis, vs only 16% in the 2D group. 3D tumours were more likely to be higher stage (P = 0.051). All positive margins in the patient were in the 3D group (P = 0.04); no patients with ≤T2 disease had a positive surgical margin.CONCLUSIONSBulky tumours removed with RARC might be associated with an increased rate of intraoperative transfusion, higher stage disease, and higher rate of margin positivity. In patients with large‐volume tumours on preoperative assessment, wider dissection of perivesical tissue might decrease the margin‐positive rates.
Bladder botulinum toxin A injection can benefit patients with radiation and chemical cystitis
Authors: Chuang Yao‐Chi , Kim Dae Kyung , Chiang Po‐Hui , Chancellor Michael B. 
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential utility of botulinum toxin A (BoNT‐A) bladder injections in patients with radiation cystitis and bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG)‐induced chemical cystitis.PATIENTS AND METHODSIn all, six patients with refractory radiation cystitis were treated with 200 U bladder BoNT‐A injections and two patients with refractory cystitis after intravesical BCG therapy were treated with 100 U bladder BoNT‐A injections. All the patients were refractory to anticholinergic agents. Under sedation or local anaesthesia, BoNT‐A was injected through a cystoscope into 20 sites submucosally in the trigone and floor of the bladder.RESULTSThere were no side‐effects or retention after BoNT‐A injection. In five of the six patients with radiation cystitis there was a moderate to significant improvement; the mean (sd) bladder capacity increased from 105 (25) mL to 250 (35) mL and the urinary frequency decreased from 14 (2) to 11 (1) episodes per day. In the two patients with BCG cystitis both reported significant symptomatic improvement; the mean (sd) bladder capacity increased from 110 (23) to 230 (23) mL, the urinary frequency decreased from 16 (1) to 12 (1) episodes per day, and using a 10‐point visual analogue pain scoring system, the perceived pain score decreased from 8 to 2. Microscopically, the bladder tissue at 1 month after BCG injection showed marked acute and chronic inflammation with eosinophilic infiltration and focal granulomatous formation. At 2 months after BoNT‐A injection, there was only a mild degree of chronic inflammation with few eosinophils.CONCLUSIONThese preliminary results suggest that BoNT‐A injected into the bladder is a promising treatment for patients with refractory radiation and BCG cystitis.
Ureteroscopic management of lower ureteric calculi: a 15‐year single‐centre experience
Authors: Elashry Osama M. , Elgamasy Abdelnaser K. , Sabaa Magdy A. , Abo‐Elenien Mohamed , Omar Mohamed Adel , Eltatawy Hassan H. , El‐Abd Shawky A. 
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVETo review our 15‐year experience with ureteroscopic treatment of distal ureteric calculi and to determine the impact of improved technology and techniques on the efficacy, success and complications of the procedure.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 4512 patients who underwent 5133 ureteroscopic procedures for the treatment of distal ureteric calculi at our institution from January 1991 to December 2005. The patient and stone characteristics, treatment variables and clinical outcomes were assessed. Factors such as type of ureteroscope, procedure duration, procedure success, complication rate and hospital stay were evaluated. Data obtained from a cohort of patients that underwent the procedure from 1991 to 1995 (group 1) were statistical compared with those obtained from a cohort of patients from 1996 to 2005 (group 2). Logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors with the major complications of ureteroscopy.RESULTSOverall, the stone‐free rate after the procedure was 94.6%, the mean (sd; range) operative duration was 43 (15.0; 25–120) min, the intraoperative complication rate was 6.67%, the postoperative complication rate was 9.9%, and the mean (sd) hospital stay was 1.7 (1.1) days. The clinical and radiological follow‐up (mean 36.8 months) for 71.3% of eligible patients detected only 12 ureteric strictures (0.23%). On comparing group 1 with group 2, the overall success of ureteroscopic stone extraction improved from 85.7% to 97.3% (P < 0.001), significant ureteric perforation decreased from 3.3% to 0.5% (P = 0.05), ureteric avulsion decreased from 1.3 to 0.1% (P < 0.05), ureteric stricture decreased from 0.7% to 0.1% (P < 0.007), the mean (sd) procedure time significantly decreased from 75 (42.9) min to 36.5 (12.5) min (P < 0.001), and the mean hospital stay significantly decreased from 2.5 (1.6) days to 0.5 (1.2) days, with a trend toward outpatient treatment. Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of the major ureteroscopic complications with increased operative duration, type of ureteroscope used, stone impaction, stone size and surgeon experience.CONCLUSIONThe present series shows the high success rate, with minor complications, that can be achieved with ureteroscopic treatment of distal ureteric calculi. Improvements in ureteroscope design, accessories, technique and experience have led to a significant increase in the success rate and decrease in the complication rate.
Clinical significance of lymphovascular invasion in upper urinary tract urothelial cancer
Authors: Akao Jumpei , Matsuyama Hideyasu , Yamamoto Yoshiaki , Hara Tomohiko , Kawai Yoshihisa , Sakano Shigeru , Ohmi Chietaka , Gondo Toshikazu , Naito Katsusuke 
Published: May 2008

OBJECTIVESTo clarify the significance of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in patients with pT3N0M0 upper urinary tract (UUT) urothelial carcinoma (UC) relative to prognosis in terms of disease‐specific survival, as LVI, which implies both blood vessel and lymph vessel involvement, is reportedly a poor prognostic factor in patients with UUT‐UC.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe clinical records of 90 patients who had surgery for UUT‐UC were reviewed retrospectively. The median patient age was 71 years and the median follow‐up was 42 months. The prognostic significances of LVI (with vs without), T stage (<1 vs 2–4), grade (1–2 vs 3), N stage (0 vs 1–2), age (≤70 vs >70 years), gender and tumour location (renal pelvis vs ureter) for survival time were evaluated.RESULTSLVI of UUT‐UC was found in 34 patients (37.8%). There were significantly higher frequencies of LVI with advancing stage and lymph node metastasis. Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed that LVI was strongly associated with disease‐specific survival in all patients (P < 0.001) and in patients with pT3N0M0 disease (P < 0.001). Univariate analyses showed that LVI, T stage, N stage and tumour grade were significantly related to disease‐specific survival in all patients (P < 0.001, <0.001, 0.003 and 0.007, respectively). Multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards model showed that LVI was the only prognostic factor with independent significance for disease‐specific survival (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSLVI appears to be an important and independent prognostic factor for UUT‐UC in patients treated by nephroureterectomy. Our data suggest that the LVI status might be a predictive marker for disease‐specific survival in patients with T3N0M0 UTT‐UC.
Frontotemporal dementia linked to chromosome 3 (FTD‐3) – current concepts and the detection of a previously unknown branch of the Danish FTD‐3 family
Authors: Lindquist S. G. , Brændgaard H. , Svenstrup K. , Isaacs A. M. , Nielsen J. E. ,   on behalf of the FReJA Consortium
Published: May 2008

Background:  Among patients with onset of dementia below the age of 65 years, frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most prevalent cause, secondary only to Alzheimer’s disease. Recent advances in understanding the heterogeneous genetic background for different clinical and neuropathological entities of FTD have involved identification of several new causative genes.Methods and results:  We report the finding of a truncating mutation in the CHMP2B gene (c.532‐1G>C) in a patient with early onset dementia. The patient was previously not known to be related to the single Danish pedigree known to have this specific mutation. Subsequently he has turned out to represent a new branch of the family with several affected individuals.Discussion:  Our findings highlight the need for awareness of the CHMP2B mutation and associated clinical phenotype for neurological assessment in Denmark. Further, we discuss recent advances and current concepts in the understanding of CHMP2B‐related dementia.
Monitoring of CBFV and time characteristics of oxygen‐induced acute CNS toxicity in humans
Authors: Koch A. E. , Kähler W. , Wegner‐Bröse H. , Weyer D. , Kuhtz‐Buschbeck J. , Deuschl G. , Eschenfelder C. C. 
Published: May 2008

Background:  Hyperbaric oxygen can cause central nervous system (CNS) toxicity with seizures. We tested the hypothesis that CNS toxicity could be predictable by cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) monitoring.Method:  We monitored 369 mandatory oxygen tolerance tests (30 min, 280 kPa O2) by video‐documentation and since May 2005 by additional CBFV registration (n = 61).Results:  The onset of early manifestations of CNS toxicity was documented in 11 of 369 tests within 22 ± 3 min. These included twitches and/or agitation, 6 of 11 and tonic–clonic seizures in 5 of 11 cases. In both cases with CBFV monitoring, an increase in CBFV preceded symptom onset, once followed by seizure, once without seizure after timely oxygen reduction.Conclusions:  During exposure to 280 kPa oxygen at rest a constant delay of approximately 20 min precedes the onset of central nervous oxygen toxicity. An increase in CBFV may indicate the impending seizure.
Immunophenotyping in Tourette syndrome – a pilot study
Authors: Möller J. C. , Tackenberg B. , Heinzel‐Gutenbrunner M. , Burmester R. , Oertel W. H. , Bandmann O. , Müller‐Vahl K. R. 
Published: May 2008

Background and purpose:  The cause of Tourette syndrome (TS) is not precisely known, although several lines of evidence point at an involvement of the immune system in its pathogenesis.Results:  Here, we report the results of a pilot study investigating frequently analysed lymphocyte surface markers in 20 adult patients with TS (16 males; 37.3 ± 15.8 years) and 20 matched controls (16 males; 37.5 ± 15.3 years). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences for the investigated lymphocyte surface markers. The difference in CD69+/CD22+‐B cells (23.0 ± 10.5% vs. 13.1 ± 6.1%; P = 0.001) and in CD95+/CD4+‐T cells (41.5 ± 12.1% vs. 24.6 ± 10.0%; P = 0.0001) was still significant after Bonferroni–Holm correction.Conclusion:  Our preliminary data indicate that TS may be associated with an increased peripheral immune activity.
Cardiovagal modulation upon postural change is altered in Huntington’s disease
Authors: Bär K. J. , Boettger M. K. , Andrich J. , Epplen J. T. , Fischer F. , Cordes J. , Koschke M. , Agelink M. W. 
Published: May 2008

Background:  Cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction in Huntington’s disease (HD) might affect both the sympathetic and parasympathetic branch of the ANS.Results and Conclusions:  The pattern of linear heart rate variability we found in mid stage HD patients points towards a predominately reduced cardiovagal modulation compared with healthy subjects, which might influence HD patients’ susceptibility for cardiovascular complications such as syncopes and cardiac arrhythmias.
Food consumption and political agency: on concerns and practices among Danish consumers
Authors: Halkier Bente , Holm Lotte 
Published: May 2008

AbstractIncreasingly ordinary individual consumers are expected to perform some kind of societal or political agency. In the debates about political consumption it is a recurrent topic to what degree consumption practices can be seen as political practices and how many consumers perform such practices. The aim of this article is to empirically qualify the demarcation of the political in individual consumer activities by integrating the concept of political agency in the definition of political consumption. On the basis of empirical results from a representative survey among food consumers in Denmark, the article suggests that by supplementing the criteria of consumers performing specific consumption activities with a criteria of consumers expressing political agency, a more precise empirical delimitation of political consumption can be achieved. Three groups of food consumers are identified: those who perform political consumption practices; those who perform politicized consumption practices; and those who vocalize the discourse of political consumerism.
Role of GSK‐3β activation and α7 nAChRs in Aβ1–42‐induced tau phosphorylation in PC12 cells
Authors: Hu Min , Waring Jeffrey F. , Gopalakrishnan Murali , Li Jinhe 
Published: May 2008

Abstractβ‐amyloid peptide 1–42 (Aβ1–42) and hyperphosphorylated tau are associated with neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. Emerging evidence indicates that Aβ1–42 can potentiate hyperphosphorylation of tau in cell lines and in transgenic mice, but the underlying mechanism(s) remains unclear. In this study, Aβ1–42‐induced tau phosphorylation was investigated in differentiated PC12 cells. Treatment of cells with Aβ1–42 increased phosphorylation of tau at serine‐202 as detected by AT8 antibody. This Aβ1–42‐induced tau phosphorylation paralleled phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) at tyrosine‐216 (GSK‐3β‐pY216), which was partially inhibited by the GSK‐3β inhibitor, CHIR98023. Aβ1–42‐induced tau phosphorylation and increase in GSK‐3β‐pY216 phosphorylation were also partially attenuated by α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) selective ligands including agonist A‐582941 and antagonists methyllycaconitine and α‐bungarotoxin. The α7 nAChR agonist and the GSK‐3β inhibitor had no additive effect. These observations suggest that α7 nAChR modulation can influence Aβ1–42‐induced tau phosphorylation, possibly involving GSK‐3β. This study provides evidence of nAChR mechanisms underlying Aβ1–42 toxicity and tau phosphorylation, which, if translated in vivo, could provide additional basis for the utility of α7 nAChR ligands in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Long‐lasting depression‐like behavior and epigenetic changes of BDNF gene expression induced by perinatal exposure to methylmercury
Authors: Onishchenko Natalia , Karpova Nina , Sabri Farideh , Castrén Eero , Ceccatelli Sandra 
Published: May 2008

AbstractSubstantial evidence indicates that predisposition to diseases can be acquired during early stages of development and interactions between environmental and genetic factors may be implicated in the onset of many pathological conditions. Data collected over several decades have shown that chemicals are among the relevant factors that can endanger CNS. We previously showed that perinatal exposure to methylmercury (MeHg) causes persistent changes in learning and motivational behavior in mice. In this study, we report that the depression‐like behavior in MeHg‐exposed male mice is reversed by chronic treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine. Behavioral alterations are associated with a decrease in brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and fluoxetine treatment restores BDNF mRNA expression. We also show that MeHg‐exposure induces long‐lasting repressive state of the chromatin structure at the BDNF promoter region, in particular DNA hypermethylation, an increase in histone H3‐K27 tri‐methylation and a decrease in H3 acetylation at the promoter IV. While fluoxetine treatment does not alter hypermethylation of H3‐K27, it significantly up‐regulates H3 acetylation at the BDNF promoter IV in MeHg‐exposed mice. Our study shows that developmental exposure to low levels of MeHg predisposes mice to depression and induces epigenetic suppression of BDNF gene expression in the hippocampus.
The Yin and Yang of YY1 in the nervous system
Authors: He Ye , Casaccia‐Bonnefil Patrizia 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a multifunctional protein that can activate or repress gene expression depending on the cellular context. YY1 is ubiquitously expressed and highly conserved between species. However, its role varies in diverse cell types and includes proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. This review will focus on the function of YY1 in the nervous system including its role in neural development, neuronal function, developmental myelination, and neurological disease. The multiple functions of YY1 in distinct cell types are reviewed and the possible mechanisms underlying the cell specificity for these functions are discussed.
Regulatory role of neuron‐restrictive silencing factor in the specific expression of cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript gene
Authors: Li Yanhua , Liu Qingbin , Yang Yinxiang , Lv Yang , Chen Lin , Bai Cixian , Nan Xue , Wang Yunfang , Pei Xuetao 
Published: May 2008

AbstractCocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript (CART) peptide is an endogenous peptide which is widely expressed in the CNS and PNS as well as in endocrine cells. Despite the functional knowledge about CART, the mechanisms that regulate CART gene transcription are poorly characterized. Here, we showed that neuron‐restrictive silencer factor (NRSF) functions as a negative regulator of CART gene expression in neuroendocrine cells. A putative neuron‐restrictive silencer element (NRSE) conserved between the rodent and human CART promoter was identified and demonstrated to bind to NRSF in sequence‐specific manner by the electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Ectopic expression of NRSF in pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) and insulin‐secreting cells (INS‐1) induced a marked reduction in the level of CART mRNA and the activity of CART promoter or NRSE reporter. The CART promoter showed very low activity in endogenous NRSF‐expressing HeLa cells. When expression of NRSF was down‐regulated in HeLa cells using a RNA interfering technique, the transcriptional activity of the CART promoter or a NRSE reporter was significantly increased. Taken together, our data suggested that CART gene expression in neuroendocrine cells is strictly controlled by NRSF, via a mechanism dependent upon the CART NRSE.
Current and future therapy in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Van Marum Robert J. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractDementia is increasingly being recognized as one of the most important medical problems in the elderly. As most pharmacological research within the field of dementia is focused on Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), this review will focus on pharmacological interventions in AD. Most disease‐modifying therapies are based on the amyloid hypothesis. In this hypothesis, the pathological accumulation of Aβ in the brain leads to oxidative stress, neuronal destruction and finally the clinical syndrome of AD. Following this hypothesis, secondary prevention of AD can be made by: decreasing the production of Aβ, stimulation of clearance of Aβ formed or prevention of aggregation of Aβ into amyloid plaques. First a short overview on current approved therapies for AD is given. The main part of the review will focus on potential disease‐modifying therapies for AD that are currently being studied in phase I to phase III trials.
Effects of hyperthermia on pharmacokinetics of ertapenem in rats
Authors: Boulamery Audrey , Marouani Hafedh , Guilhaumou Romain , Rocher Emmanuelle , Simon Nicolas , Bruguerolle Bernard 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe aim of this study was to document the influence of hyperthermia on the pharmacokinetics of ertapenem. Two groups of Wistar rats, normothermic (n = 6) and hyperthermic (n = 8), were injected a single intravenous bolus of ertapenem (15 mg/kg of body weight). Hyperthermia‐induced animals were placed in a water‐bath at 47 °C and control group animals were kept in a water‐bath at 25 °C to obtain a stable mean core temperature of 39.8 and 36.9 °C respectively. Hyperthermia induced significant higher plasma concentrations and exposure, whereas total apparent clearance and volume of distribution were significantly decreased. If confirmed in humans, these results will be of interest to take into account such modifications in hyperthermic clinical situations.
Differential effects of jasmonic acid treatment of Brassica nigra on the attraction of pollinators, parasitoids, and butterflies
Authors: Bruinsma Maaike , IJdema Harm , Van Loon Joop J.A. , Dicke Marcel 
Published: May 2008

AbstractHerbivore‐induced plant defences influence the behaviour of herbivores as well as that of their natural enemies. Jasmonic acid is one of the key hormones involved in both these direct and indirect induced defences. Jasmonic acid treatment of plants changes the composition of defence chemicals in the plants, induces volatile emission, and increases the production of extrafloral nectar. However, few studies have addressed the potential influence of induced defences on flower nectar chemistry and pollinator behaviour. These have shown that herbivore damage can affect pollination rates and plant fitness. Here, we have investigated the effect of jasmonic acid treatment on floral nectar production and the attraction of pollinators, as well as the effect on the behaviour of an herbivore and its natural enemy. The study system consisted of black mustard plants, Brassica nigra L. (Brassicaceae), pollinators of Brassica nigra (i.e., honeybees and syrphid flies), a specialist herbivore, Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), and a parasitoid wasp that uses Pieris larvae as hosts, Cotesia glomerata L. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We show that different trophic levels are differentially affected by jasmonic acid‐induced changes. While the herbivore prefers control leaves over jasmonic acid‐treated leaves for oviposition, the parasitoid C. glomerata is more attracted to jasmonic acid‐treated plants than to control plants. We did not observe differences in pollinator preference, the rates of flower visitation by honeybees and syrphid flies were similar for control and jasmonic acid‐treated plants. Plants treated with jasmonic acid secreted less nectar than control plants and the concentrations of glucose and fructose tended to be lower than in nectar from control plants. Jasmonic acid treatment resulted in a lower nectar production than actual feeding damage by P. rapae caterpillars.