bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The epidemiology of lymphangioleiomyomatosis in Japan: A nationwide cross‐sectional study of presenting features and prognostic factors
Authors: HAYASHIDA Mie , SEYAMA Kuniaki , INOUE Yoshikazu , FUJIMOTO Keisaku , KUBO Keishi ,   The Respiratory Failure Research Group of the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare
Published: June 2007

Background and objective:  To evaluate the characteristics and prognostic factors of Japanese patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).Methods:  A nationwide survey to identify patients with LAM was conducted by questionnaire. Survival probability was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and the prognostic factors were analysed by Cox regression.Results:  Data were collected on 173 patients with pulmonary LAM. The major presenting features were pneumothorax (43%) and exertional dyspnoea (37%). The survival probabilities for patients presenting with exertional dyspnoea (Group A) were 85%, 60% and 47% after 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively, and for patients presenting with pneumothorax (Group B) were 95%, 89% and 89%, respectively. Although the age at symptom onset was higher among patients in Group A than in Group B, Cox regression revealed that the presenting feature was a prognostic factor independent of age at symptom onset (Group A/B hazard ratio = 5.732, P < 0.01). In the subgroup of patients whose initial FEV1 was >1000 mL, or FEV1/FVC >40%, or %DLCO >40%, the rate of deterioration in these tests was greater in Group A than in Group B (P < 0.01 for FEV1, P < 0.05 for FEV1/FVC and %DLCO).Conclusions:  There are two possible subgroups of LAM patients. One subgroup that presented with pneumothorax, had onset of symptoms at a younger age and a more favourable prognosis; the other presented with exertional dyspnoea, had onset of symptoms at an older age and a poorer prognosis.
Pediatricians’ satisfaction with their abilities to care for children with developmental, behavioral and psychosocial problems
Authors: SENECKY YEHUDA , INBAR DOV , DIAMOND GARY , GROSSMAN ZACHI , APTER ALAN , KAHAN ERNESTO 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground: Developmental and behavioral pediatrics has emerged as an area of special interest and new responsibility for pediatricians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of training, experience, and other factors on pediatricians’ satisfaction with their abilities to care for children with developmental, behavioral and psychosocial problems.Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 211 pediatricians working in primary care clinics in the community in Israel. Items included personal characteristics and experience, practice and satisfaction with the care of children with developmental, behavioral and psychosocial problems. Overall, pediatrician satisfaction with their personal abilities in this domain was defined as the dependent variable on multivariate analysis.Results: The response rate was 76.3% (n = 161). Pediatricians’ satisfaction with their overall professional ability to care for children with developmental, behavioral and psychosocial problems was significantly and positively associated with the following independent variables: (i) satisfaction with training received in the child development field; (ii) satisfaction with psychiatric updates; (iii) general satisfaction with the available child development services; (iv) prescription of methylphenidate to children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder; and (v) having completed their medical studies in a country in which the issue is emphasized.Conclusions: Imparting more knowledge and skills in child development and behavioral pediatrics in pediatric residency and continuing education programs will help improve the attitudes of primary care pediatricians towards developmental and behavioral problems, encourage them to treat these patients and their families, and better the quality of care.
Growth of patients with congenital hypothyroidism detected by neonatal screening in Japan
Authors: SATO HIROKAZU , SASAKI NOZOMU , AOKI KIKUMARO , KURODA YASUHIRO , KATO TADAAKI 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground: The growth of patients with congenital hypothyroidism detected by neonatal screening in Japan was investigated. The data investigated were obtained from Medical Aid Program for Chronic Pediatric Diseases of Specified Categories registered in 2002.Method: The present study included 2341 patients (1030 male, 1311 female) registered as having congenital hypothyroidism. To investigate the growth of these patients, their heights plotted on cross‐sectional growth charts for boys and girls, their bodyweights expressed as percentage of bodyweight for height and the frequency distribution of percentage of bodyweight for height were assessed.Results: Cross‐sectional growth charts of both male and female patients showed that the heights of the majority of the patients with congenital hypothyroidism were within ±2SD. Approximately half of the patients with heights below −2SD, had some complications. The mean percentages of ideal bodyweights for height were 103.0 ± 12.9% for both sexes (±SD, n = 2033), 103.3 ± 12.7% for boys, and 102.7 ± 12.9% for girls. The frequency distribution of percentage of bodyweight showed no tendency of shifting to either ends in comparison with normal distribution curve.Conclusion: Patients with congenital hypothyroidism detected by neonatal screening had normal growth in general, suggesting that the neonatal screening system is being performed efficiently from detection to treatment of the disease in Japan. However, it remains unclear whether some uncomplicated patients with a height below −2 SD are sufficiently treated or not. Close observation of these patients may be needed.
Three mutations analysis of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in neonates in South‐west China
Authors: DENG CHUN , GUO CHUN‐BAO , XU YOU‐HUA , DENG BING , YU JIA‐LIN 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground: Glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, one of the most common human enzymatic defects, is characterized by extreme molecular and biochemical heterogeneity. The underlying DNA changes associated with G6PD deficiency in Asian subjects have not been extensively investigated.Methods: Three gene mutations (G1388A, G1376T, A95G, corresponding amino acid change: Arg463His, Arg459Leu, His32Arg, respectively) were examined in 240 G6PD‐deficient subjects originating from South‐west China using specific polymerase chain reaction.Results: Of the 240 patients with G6PD deficiency, 190 were found to have the G1388A mutation, 48 had G1376T and two had A95G. There were no significant differences between the clinical manifestations caused by the former two gene mutations, which both cause acute hemolytic anemia and jaundice. Therefore the most common gene mutations of G6PD deficiency in neonates in South‐west China are G1388A and G1376T mutations.Conclusion: It is suggested that G6PD deficiency screening be done in higher risk neonates with jaundice in qualified hospitals as soon as possible.
Is childhood asthma still underdiagnosed and undertreated in Istanbul?
Authors: KARADAG BULENT , KARAKOC FAZILET , ERSU REFIKA , DAGLI ELIF 
Published: June 2007

AbstractBackground: Childhood asthma is reported to be underdiagnosed and undertreated worldwide. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the rate of underdiagnosis and undertreatment among children diagnosed with asthma in a tertiary reference center in Turkey.Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out among the parents of 1134 patients diagnosed with asthma in a tertiary reference outpatient clinic.Results: Mean age of the patients was 4.9 years (range 1–17 years). Of these children 45.5% had recurrent asthma attacks (average 4.8 attacks per year) and 24.7% had only the symptom of vigorous fits of coughing. Although they had been symptomatic for 29.6 months, only 41.1% were diagnosed as having asthma before admission to the clinic. In this study group 61.3% had received some form of asthma treatment, but only 21.1% of all patients were treated according to the guidelines. The rate of treatment according to guidelines was lower in the children under 6 years of age than older children (18.8 vs 24.2%, respectively, P  = 0.02).Conclusions: Underdiagnosis and undertreatment of childhood asthma still seem to be a major problem in the management of childhood asthma, especially in preschool children, even after the recommendations of guidelines.
Permanent prostate brachytherapy for Japanese men: Results from initial 100 patients with prostate cancer
Authors: Okaneya Toshikazu , Nishizawa Shuji , Nakayama Tsuyoshi , Kamigaito Takayuki , Hashida Iwao , Hosaka Noriko 
Published: June 2007

Objective:  To evaluate the initial results of brachytherapy for prostate cancer with permanent iodine‐125 implant in Japan.Methods:  The results obtained with brachytherapy in the initial 100 Japanese patients treated at Nagano Municipal Hospital were reviewed. Patients with a prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level of less than 10 ng/mL and a Gleason's scores of 5, 6, 3 + 4 were classified as having a low risk of recurrence. Patients with a PSA level of 10–20 ng/mL and/or a Gleason's score of 4 + 3 were classified as having an intermediate risk for recurrence. Seventy‐eight of the low‐risk patients and 19 of the intermediate‐risk patients were treated by seed implants alone, or seed implants combined with preceding external radiation, respectively. A total of 53 patients received neoadjuvant hormone therapy. The efficacy and morbidity of brachytherapy were investigated using the serum PSA, International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life score and uroflowmetry data.Results:  The average V100 and D90 obtained by post‐implant dosimetry was 94.3 and 113.7%, respectively. Serum PSA decreased gradually after treatment, although it had still not reached a nadir after 1 year. There was little difference of the PSA level between the patients with and without neoadjuvant hormone therapy even at 1 year after seed implantation. There were no PSA biochemical failure or clinical recurrence during the follow‐up period. Voiding symptoms worsened until 3 months after treatment, and then gradually improved. Acute urinary retention occurred transiently in one patient (1%). Rectal bleeding and severe diarrhea did not occur.Conclusion:  Brachytherapy is a feasible and effective option for the treatment of prostate cancer in Japanese men. Brachytherapy may have a different effect in Japanese patients with respect to voiding symptoms. Urinary retention was rare, but voiding symptoms were persistent in Japanese patients. Neoadjuvant hormone therapy deserves investigation to determine whether it can achieve better results, especially in patients with an intermediate risk.
Urinary concentration of osteopontin and association with urinary supersaturation and crystal formation
Authors: Tsuji Hidenori , Tohru Umekawa , Hirotsugu Uemura , Masanori Iguchi , Yuji Hatanaka , Takashi Kurita 
Published: June 2007

Objective:  In this study, we measured urinary osteopontin (OPN) concentrations in urolithiasis patients as well as in healthy volunteers, and investigated the relationship between urinary excretion of OPN and urinary supersaturation level.Methods:  Supersaturation levels (AP indexes) were determined by using Tiselius's index. Crystals with a maximum diameter of 12 ìm or larger and less than 5 ìm were counted by scanning electron microscopy. A sum of cross‐sectional areas of crystals was also calculated as the total crystal volume (VT).Results:  Urinary OPN concentrations in the group with no urinary stone were significantly higher than that in the urolithiasis patients with a tendency toward stone enlargement. AP indexes were observed to be significantly higher in patients with stone enlargement, whereas urinary OPN concentrations bore no definite relation to the urinary supersaturation levels. VT and number of large crystals (12 ìm or larger) in patients with a tendency toward stone enlargement were higher than healthy volunteers, but no differences were found between the number of micro‐crystal with the diameter of less than 5 ìm. On the basis of the plots of VT and OPN concentrations, regression analysis revealed that VT and log OPN had a significant correlation.Conclusion:  Urinary OPN tended to be lower in cases with larger crystal volumes and is potentially associated with crystal growth for inhibitory effect.
Overactive bladder and glaucoma: A survey at outpatient clinics in Japan
Authors: Kato Kumiko , Furuhashi Kenichi , Suzuki Koichi , Murase Tatsuro , Sato Etsuko , Gotoh Momokazu 
Published: June 2007

Objective:  To determine the prevalence of a history of glaucoma and the relative safety of prescribing anticholinergics to patients with overactive bladder (OAB).Methods:  Between 2003 and 2005, 267 female OAB patients (mean age, 65.8 years) and 100 male OAB patients (mean age, 73.0 years) were directly asked about their history of glaucoma. Those with a positive history were referred to ophthalmologists to differentiate types of glaucoma.Results:  For direct history taking, 31 (11.6%) of the female OAB patients and five (5.0%) of the male OAB patients admitted their history of glaucoma. Referrals to ophthalmologists revealed that 27 had open‐angle glaucoma and nine had angle‐closure glaucoma. Six of the patients with angle‐closure glaucoma had already received laser iridotomy, and the remaining three (8.3% of patients with coexisting glaucoma) were diagnosed as true contraindications for anticholinergics.Conclusions:  As both OAB and glaucoma increase with age, it is not surprising that approximately 10% of OAB patients have glaucoma. Although the majority have had either open‐angle glaucoma or angle‐closure glaucoma already treated, some of them may be true contraindications for anticholinergics due to uncontrolled angle‐closure glaucoma. It seems necessary to treat OAB patients based on accurate information on the relationship between glaucoma and anticholinergics.
Crack tip displacements of microstructurally small cracks in 316L steel and their dependence on crystallographic orientations of grains
Authors: SIMONOVSKI I. , NILSSON KARL‐FREDRIK , CIZELJ L. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe paper presents an analysis of the effect of the grain orientations on a short Stage I surface crack in a 316L stainless steel. The analysis is based on a plane‐strain finite element crystal plasticity model. The model consists of 212 randomly shaped, sized and oriented grains that is loaded monotonically in uniaxial tension to a maximum load of 1.12Rp0.2 (280 MPa). The influence of random grain structure on a crack is assessed by calculating the crack tip opening (CTOD) and sliding displacements (CTSD) for single crystal and polycrystal models, considering also different crystallographic orientations. In the single crystal case the CTOD and CTSD may differ by more than one order of magnitude. Near the crack tip slip is activated on all the slip planes whereby only two are active in the rest of the model. The maximum CTOD is directly related to the largest Schmid factors. For the more complex polycrystal cases it is shown that certain crystallographic orientations result in a cluster of soft grains around the crack‐containing grain. In these cases the crack tip can become a part of the localized strain, resulting in a large CTOD value. This effect, resulting from the overall grain orientations and sizes, can have a greater impact on the CTOD than the local grain orientation. On the other hand, when a localized soft response is formed away from the crack, the localized strain does not affect the crack tip directly, resulting in a small CTOD value. The resulting difference in CTOD can be up to a factor of 4, depending upon the crystallographic set. Grains as far as 6xCracklength significantly influence the crack tip parameters. It was also found that among grains with favourable orientation the CTOD increased with the size of such a grain. Finally, a significant change in CTOD and CTSD was observed when extending the crack into the second grain and placing it in the primary or the conjugate slip plane.
Experimental investigations on the growth of small fatigue cracks in naval steel
Authors: ELMALKI ALAOUI A. , THEVENET D. , ZEGHLOUL A. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTThe concept of damage tolerance is now largely employed to evaluate the fatigue life of structures. However, part of this fatigue relies on the initiation and growth of small cracks. The fatigue behaviour of a naval structural steel (S355NL) was investigated. In order to characterize the behaviour of short and long cracks, tests were performed under constant amplitude loading for several load ratios between –1.0 and 0.5. A major part of fatigue life is constituted by short crack initiation and propagation.
Investigation of small crack behaviour under cyclic loading in a dual phase steel with an FIB tomography technique
Authors: MOTOYASHIKI Y. , BRÜCKNER‐FOIT A. , SUGETA A. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTDamage accumulation is investigated in the early stage of fatigue life in a ferritic martensitic dual phase steel. Microcrack initiation and propagation are influenced by microstructure, such as grain boundaries, grain orientation and/or phase distribution morphology. The dominant crack initiation pattern is one in which microcracks are generated in a ferrite grain along slip bands inclined at a certain angle with respect to the loading direction. Subsurface observation with a focused ion beam (FIB) device and additional crystallographic characterization by means of the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique show that a slip system having a high Schmid factor value is activated and results in a crack nucleus. The FIB tomography technique with the help of EBSD measurement allows a three‐dimensional investigation of small crack behaviour to be performed.
A new methodology to guarantee the structural integrity of Al2O3/SiC composite using crack healing and a proof test
Authors: ONO M. , NAKAO W. , TAKAHASHI K. , NAKATANI M. , ANDO K. 
Published: June 2007

ABSTRACTStructural ceramics are brittle and sensitive to flaws. As a result, the structural integrity of a ceramic component may be seriously affected by inherent flaws. Self‐crack‐healing is an excellent answer to this problem. At the moment, however, there is no technique to heal embedded flaws. Therefore, a technique to guarantee the reliability of ceramic components is demanded, and thus a technique using crack healing followed by proof test was developed by K. Ando et al. to accomplish this. With this technique, testing the mechanical behaviour of the crack‐healed zone is very important for ensuring the structural integrity of a ceramic component. In this study, first Al2O3/SiC composite with an excellent crack‐healing ability was sintered. Second, a crack was introduced on the sample (3 mm × 4 mm × 36 mm), which reduced the bending strength by about 80%, and subsequently the crack was healed. Third, a proof test was carried out on the crack‐healed sample. Last, using the crack‐healed and proof‐tested sample, a fracture test was carried out up to 1373 K. The measured minimum fracture stress (σFmin) was compared with the theoretical minimum strength (σG) from room temperature (R.T.) to 1373 K. It was concluded that σG showed good agreement with σFmin up to 1373 K and that the crack healing followed by proof test was an excellent technique to increase the survival probability by administering a proof test and to guarantee the reliability of Al2O3/SiC composite.
Properties of paired‐pulse firing thresholds and the relationship with paired‐pulse plasticity in hippocampal CA3–CA1 synapses
Authors: Huang Fen‐Sheng , Meng Kai , Tang Jing‐Shi 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA large variability of paired‐pulse plasticity (PPP) has been reported in CA3–CA1 synapses, and paired‐pulse facilitation (PPF) has long been extensively used as a relative index of release probability (Pr) from the presynaptic terminal. One of the most common ways of studying Pr and PPP is to pass paired‐pulse stimulation (PPS) through an electrode to fire an action potential (AP), which in turn opens Ca2+ channels in the presynaptic boutons to evoke transmitter release. However, when the postsynaptic responses were elicited by electrical stimulations, the presynaptic APs were usually not monitored. The reliability of presynaptic activation, the difference of AP firing thresholds between the first and the second pulses of PPS, and its relationship with Pr and PPP have been largely ignored. Here we show that the AP firing thresholds in the same CA3 pyramidal cells (axons) are obviously lower for the second pulses of the PPS than for the first pulses. When single (or small numbers of) presynaptic axons were stimulated by low‐intensity PPS, a large variation in the postsynaptic response probability of the first pulses (Pres1) and PPP was observed. Increasing stimulation intensities resulted in the conversion of a lower Pres1 and PPF to a higher Pres1 and paired‐pulse depression. These results indicate that changes in the reliability of AP initiation by the first pulse of the PPS may account for the high variability of Pres1 and PPP observed in CA1 pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, therefore PPF may not be a reliable index of Pr .
Reorganization of GABAergic circuits maintains GABAA receptor‐mediated transmission onto CA1 interneurons in α1‐subunit‐null mice
Authors: Schneider Gasser Edith M. , Duveau Venceslas , Prenosil George A. , Fritschy Jean‐Marc 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe majority of hippocampal interneurons strongly express GABAA receptors containing the α1 subunit, suggesting that inhibitory control of interneurons is important for proper function of hippocampal circuits. Here, we investigated with immunohistochemical and electrophysiological techniques how these GABAA receptors are replaced in mice carrying a targeted deletion of the α1‐subunit gene (α10/0 mice). Using markers of five major populations of CA1 interneurons (parvalbumin, calretinin, calbindin, neuropeptide Y and somatostatin), we show that these interneurons remain unaffected in α10/0 mice. In triple immunofluorescence staining experiments combining these markers with the GABAA receptor α1, α2 or α3 subunit and gephyrin, we demonstrate a strong increase in α3‐ and α2‐GABAA receptors clustered at postsynaptic sites along with gephyrin in most CA1 interneurons in α10/0 mice. The changes were cell type‐specific and resulted in an increased number of GABAergic synapses on interneurons. These adjustments were mirrored functionally by retention of spontaneous IPSCs with prolonged decay kinetics, as shown by whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings of CA1 interneurons. However, a significant decrease in frequency and amplitude of miniature IPSCs was evident, suggesting reduced affinity of postsynaptic receptors and/or impaired vesicular GABA release. Finally, to assess whether these compensatory changes are sufficient to protect against a pathological challenge, we tested the susceptibility of α10/0 mice against kainic acid‐induced excitotoxicity. No genotype difference was observed in the effects of kainic acid, indicating that the absence of a major GABAA receptor subtype is functionally compensated for in hippocampal interneurons by a reorganization of inhibitory circuits.