bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Compound A and carbon monoxide production from sevoflurane and seven different types of carbon dioxide absorbent in a patient model
Authors: Keijzer C. , Perez R. S. G. M. , De Lange J. J. 
Published: November 2006

Background:  The degradation of sevoflurane can lead to the production of compound A (CA) and carbon monoxide (CO) and an increase in temperature of the absorbent. CA is known to be nephrotoxic in rats. These reactions depend on the strong base and water contents of the carbon dioxide absorbent used. The purpose of this study was to measure the maximum amounts of CA and CO produced, and the temperature increase, for seven different carbon dioxide absorbents for sevoflurane containing different contents of strong bases.Methods:  Seven absorbents [some free of strong bases (f)] were employed in hydrated (h) and completely desiccated (d) conditions in a patient model, using a circle anesthesia system connected to an artificial lung. Low‐flow anesthesia with an oxygen–nitrous oxide mixture was maintained using 0.8% sevoflurane. For the quantification of CA and CO, a portable gas chromatograph was used. The temperature was measured inside the absorbent.Results:  In consecutive order of CA‐producing potency, Amsorb®(f)(d), Drägersorb(h), Medisorb®(h), lithium hydroxide(f)(d), Drägersorb(d), Medisorb®(d), Spherasorb®(h) and Spherasorb®(d) produced small amounts of CA. Loflosorb® and Superia®, which are free of strong bases, did not produce any CA or CO in hydrated or desiccated conditions. Only desiccated Drägersorb®, Medisorb® and Spherasorb® demonstrated small amounts of CO accompanied by a significant temperature increase.Conclusion:  In this patient model, we demonstrated that different types of absorbent produced small amounts of CA and CO or none at all. No relationship could be established between temperature and CA concentration.
The addition of tramadol to morphine via patient‐controlled analgesia does not lead to better post‐operative pain relief after total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Stiller C.‐O. , Lundblad H. , Weidenhielm L. , Tullberg T. , Grantinger B. , Lafolie P. , Jansson K.‐Å. 
Published: November 2006

Background:  Tramadol is used as an analgesic in post‐operative pain treatment. Intravenous tramadol is often combined with morphine to achieve better pain relief and less side‐effects after orthopaedic surgery. However, the available evidence is insufficient to support this combination. For this reason, we conducted the present non‐commercial, randomized, double‐blind clinical trial.Method:  Sixty‐three patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, selected for primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA), were randomized to receive saline or tramadol 100 mg/ml intravenously every 6 h during the first post‐operative day (total, 400 mg/24 h). All patients had access to morphine via a patient‐controlled analgesia (PCA) pump.Results:  Neither during the 6 h after the first dose nor during the first post‐operative day could we detect any statistically significant difference with regard to pain intensity, sedation and nausea between patients treated with tramadol and the placebo group. However, the withdrawal rate caused by insufficient pain relief was greater in the tramadol group (7/31) than in the saline group (2/32). This difference did not reach statistical significance. In the group of patients who remained in the study for 24 h (‘per protocol’), those randomized to receive tramadol had a significantly (P < 0.05) lower morphine consumption (20 mg or 31%) than the placebo group.Conclusion:  Our study does not support the combination of tramadol and morphine via PCA for post‐operative pain relief after primary TKA. In addition, our study indicates that morphine via PCA as the sole means of post‐operative analgesia does not provide sufficient pain relief after TKA. Thus, other means of post‐operative analgesia should be used following TKA.
Efficacy of different concentrations of Rotstop® and Rotstop®S and imperfect coverage of Rotstop®S against Heterobasidion spp. spore infections on Norway spruce stumps
Authors: Rönnberg J. , Sidorov E. , Petrylaitė E. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryTwo Rotstop® preparations, one containing a Phlebiopsis gigantea strain from Finland (Rotstop F) and the other one from Sweden (Rotstop S), were used in different concentrations to treat thinning stumps of Picea abies against spore infections by Heterobasidion spp. in southern Sweden. Trees were cut on three sites during the summer of 2004, and 285 stumps were treated manually ensuring 100% coverage. Spore concentrations in the treatment suspensions were ca 5 × 106 and 10 × 106 spores/l, and approximately 10 ml of suspension was applied per 100 cm2 of stump surface. An additional 31 stumps on one of the sites were treated mechanically with Rotstop S; in this treatment the spore concentration was high, about 20 × 106 spores/l, but the coverage was incomplete. Three months later there was a significant reduction in frequency and relative areas of Heterobasidion spp. infections on stumps with manual treatment compared with the untreated stumps. However, there was no significant difference between the preparations or the concentration of active ingredient in terms of their reduction of Heterobasidion infection. Mechanical treatment with incomplete coverage failed to control infection. Therefore, in conditions of moderate Heterobasidion spore load in the environment there seems to be no reason to use higher concentrations of P. gigantea in the treatment of spruce stumps.
Comparing results after surgery in patients with clinical unilateral T3a prostate cancer treated with or without neoadjuvant androgen‐deprivation therapy
Authors: Hsu Chao‐Yu , Joniau Steven , Roskams Tania , Oyen Raymond , Van Poppel Hein 
Published: November 2006

OBJECTIVETo compare the results in patients with unilateral cT3 prostate cancer treated with or with no neoadjuvant androgen‐deprivation therapy (nADT), as nADT might have benefit in cT2 prostate cancer, but for cT3 tumours its use remains controversial, and it is unclear whether it can prevent or delay progression after surgery.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween 1987 and 2004, 235 patients were assessed as having unilateral cT3 disease by a digital rectal examination; before surgery, 200 patients were not treated with nADT and 35 were. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to calculate survival rates.RESULTSWith no nADT the biochemical progression‐free survival (PFS) was 59.5%, the clinical PFS was 95.9%, the cancer‐specific survival (CSS) was 98.7%, and overall survival was 95.9% at 5 years. With nADT, the biochemical PFS was 43.4%, clinical PFS was 77.6%, CSS was 88.7%, and overall survival was 79.8% at 5 years. The positive surgical margin rate with no nADT and with nADT was 33.5% and 57.1%, respectively, and the respective mean cancer volume was 6.6 mL and 4.0 mL.CONCLUSIONnADT can decrease tumour size but does not reduce the positive surgical margin rate, nor improve the survival rate in unilateral cT3a disease. Because of side‐effects and treatment costs, we do not advise nADT in patients with unilateral cT3a prostate cancer.
Impairments in monkey and human face recognition in 2‐year‐old toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Delay
Authors: Chawarska Katarzyna , Volkmar Fred 
Published: November 2006

Abstract Face recognition impairments are well documented in older children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD); however, the developmental course of the deficit is not clear. This study investigates the progressive specialization of face recognition skills in children with and without ASD. Experiment 1 examines human and monkey face recognition in 2‐year‐old children with ASD, matched for nonverbal mental age (NVMA) with developmentally delayed (DD) children, and typically developing children (TD), using the Visual Paired Comparison (VPC) paradigm. Results indicate that, consistent with the other‐species effect, TD controls show enhanced recognition of human but not monkey faces; however, neither the ASD nor the DD group show evidence of face recognition regardless of the species. Experiment 2 examines the same question in a group of older 3‐ to 4‐year‐old developmentally disabled (ASD and DD) children as well as in typical controls. In this experiment, both human and monkey faces are recognized by all three groups. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 suggest that difficulties in face processing, as measured by the VPC paradigm, are common in toddlers with ASD as well as DD, but that these deficits tend to disappear by early preschool age. In addition, the experiments show that higher efficacy of incidental encoding and recognition of facial identity in a context of passive exposure is positively related to nonverbal cognitive skills and age, but not to overall social interaction skills or greater attention to faces exhibited in naturalistic contexts.
Americans' Views of Health Care Costs, Access, and Quality
Authors: BLENDON ROBERT J. , BRODIE MOLLYANN , BENSON JOHN M. , ALTMAN DREW E. , BUHR TAMI 
Published: November 2006

For more than two decades, polls have shown that Americans are dissatisfied with their current health care system. However, the public's views on how to change the current system are more conflicted than often suggested by individual poll results. At the same time, Americans are both dissatisfied with the current health care system and relatively satisfied with their own health care arrangements.As a result of the conflict between these views and the public's distrust of government, there often is a wide gap between the public's support for a set of principles concerning what needs to be done about the overall problems facing the nation's health care system and their support for specific policies designed to achieve those goals.
Service users’ views of physical restraint procedures in secure settings for people with learning disabilities
Authors: Jones Peter , Kroese Biza Stenfert 
Published: November 2006

AbstractThe appropriateness and justification of physical restraint procedures in secure learning disability settings is an emotive issue. This paper examines the views of service users (n = 10) from secure residential facilities who are restrained frequently. Using a semi‐structured interview schedule, Service users were interviewed about their restraint experiences. They reported that restraint can lead to potentially abusive situations and that staff should try other approaches before restraining someone. They were divided on whether it calmed them down and whether staff enjoyed performing restraint. Other comments included that restraint may or may not serve a purposeful goal and that there is a definite need for staff training for those involved in performing restraint.
Liberating silent voices – perspectives of children with profound & complex learning needs on inclusion
Authors: Whitehurst Teresa 
Published: November 2006

Accessible summary

Listening to what young people with severe learning disabilities have to say about inclusion is important.
Researchers must be prepared to use a range of resources to facilitate communication.
Resources must be appropriate and familiar to the individual.

SummaryThis paper describes the evaluation of a drama production which involved 6 young people with profound and complex learning needs and 23 pupils from a mainstream school. The young people worked together on the project for nearly 2 years. At the end of the project we wanted to find out what the young people with disabilities thought of the inclusion project. Very often, the thoughts of young people with learning disabilities are not included because professionals do not have the resources or experience to conduct the interviews. This paper explains how the interviews were arranged, what tools were used and finishes with two case studies which are examples of what the young people thought. This research demonstrates that young people with severe learning disabilities have important messages to tell us about their experiences of inclusion. This paper gives examples of how we can enable young people with severe learning disabilities to express their views.
Approaches to Handling Incomplete Data in Family‐based Association Testing
Authors: Van Steen K. , Laird N. M. , Markel P. , Molenberghs G. 
Published: November 2006

SummaryThe high throughput of data arising from the complete sequence of the human genome has left statistical geneticists with a rich and extensive information source. The wide availability of software and the increase in computing power has improved the possibilities to access and process such data. One problem is incompleteness of the data: unobserved or partially observed data points due to technical reasons or reasons associated with the patient's status or erroneous measurements of phenotype or genotype, to name a few. When not properly accounted for, these sources of incompleteness may seriously jeopardize the credibility of results from analyses.In this paper we provide some perspectives on the occurrence and analysis of different forms of incomplete data in family‐based genetic association testing.
Microsatellite loci in the Propertius duskywing,Erynnis propertius(Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), and related species
Authors: ZAKHAROV EVGUENI V. , HELLMANN JESSICA J. , ROMERO‐SEVERSON JEANNE 
Published: November 2006

AbstractFifteen polymorphic dinucleotide microsatellite loci were characterized forErynnis propertiususing an enrichment protocol. The number of alleles varied from nine to 28 for a sample of 24 individuals. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.25 to 0.96. Homozygote excess was detected for 10 loci. Twelve markers successfully amplified in relatedErynnisspecies and eight loci were polymorphic in at least one other species.
Profile of lupus autoantibodies found in Asia
Authors: MOK Mo‐Yin 
Published: November 2006

AbstractSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by the presence of serum hypergammaglobulinaemia and a vast variety of autoantibodies. As SLE is a multifactorial disease, different genetic makeup in different ethnic groups is likely to contribute to variations on disease prevalence, clinical features and autoantibody profiles. In this article, the prevalence of autoantibody profiles and their clinical associations in SLE patients in different Asian countries were reviewed. Anti‐extractable nuclear antibodies including anti‐Ro and anti‐Sm antibodies were found to be more frequent in Eastern patients than Caucasians. On the other hand, the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies was lower in Asians. The clinical associations of different autoantibodies are in general similar to those reported in Caucasian cohorts but with some variations in different Asian countries. This may be affected by the method of measurement of these serum autoantibodies, standardization of immunoassays, sample size of the studies and the method of statistical analysis. Immunogenetic studies into some autoantibodies including anti‐Ro/SSA and beta2 glycoprotein I‐dependent anticardiolipin antibodies in Asian lupus patients revealed association with HLA Class II alleles.
The genetics of systemic lupus erythematosus: differences across ethnicities
Authors: KOCHI Yuta , SHIMANE Kenichi , YAMAMOTO Kazuhiko 
Published: November 2006

AbstractWith the acceleration in understanding of the human genome over the past decade, genetic studies have revealed several specific genes associated with a predisposition to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These studies have shown that some of the genetic variants are shared with other autoimmune diseases, and the contribution of each variant to disease differs among different ethnic groups. This article summarizes recent findings from genetic analyses of SLE, with particular emphasis on ethnic differences between Asian populations and others.
Mycophenolate mofetil in the treatment of lupus nephritis: an appraisal of recent data
Authors: CHAN Tak Mao 
Published: November 2006

AbstractAfter nearly two decades of relative requiescence, a plethora of new drugs or biologic agents are currently being studied for their therapeutic potential in lupus nephritis. While corticosteroid remains an indispensable component in induction treatment for severe proliferative lupus nephritis, the advent of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) offers an alternative to cyclophosphamide (CTX), thereby reducing the occurrence of treatment‐related adverse effects, especially in patients requiring multiple courses of therapy for flares. Data on the high treatment efficacy and favourable tolerability of MMF were first reported in Chinese patients with diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. The improved safety profile of MMF was subsequently confirmed in patients of Caucasian, Hispanic, or African origin, in whom comparable or even better treatment efficacy compared with CTX was observed. However, the response rates differed between these studies. This review aims to provide a succinct update on the reported experience that compared MMF with other immunosuppressive agents in the treatment of lupus nephritis. Considering potential ethnic differences in the disease course and/or treatment response, it remains to be examined whether the favourable long‐term clinical outcomes observed in Chinese patients with corticosteroid and MMF as continuous treatment from induction to maintenance could be reproduced in patients of other ethnic origins. In addition, the relative merit and cost‐effectiveness of MMF against alternative maintenance immunosuppressive agents in the prevention of disease flares deserve further investigation.
Clinical problem‐solving: ‘persistent knee arthritis and prolonged fever in a lupus patient’
Authors: PEREZ Emmanuel C. , NAVARRA Sandra V. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractSalmonella infections occur more frequently among immunocompromised patients such as those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with high propensity for extra‐intestinal, including osteoarticular, involvement. Hemarthrosis following trauma, typhoid fever and septic arthritis of the knee developed in a 20‐year‐old female lupus patient with pulmonary hypertension, maintained on corticosteroids and warfarin. This article takes the reader through the clinical problem‐solving process with an SLE patient whose illness is confounded by prolonged fever, with manifestations indistinguishable from that of either lupus activity and/or an infection. Early diagnosis, appropriate antibiotics, and if necessary, surgical intervention are essential principles of management to improve prognosis and prevent long‐term disabilities such as destructive arthropathy.
Management of systemic lupus erythematosus: a brief update on recent advances
Authors: WONG Maida , LAU And C. S. 
Published: November 2006

AbstractSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has remained one of the most baffling autoimmune rheumatic diseases since it was described in the 19th century. It is a multisystemic, chronic condition that affects individuals with life‐threatening irreversible end‐organ damage and debilitating clinical features. The course of SLE varies from periods of quiescence to ones of exacerbation that may involve any organ system in almost any combination. In particular, SLE typically attacks young women at their childbearing years, which makes the therapeutic goals and pharmacological management challenging. The management of patients with SLE in Asia is further complicated by the facts that these patients tend to have a more severe disease, do not have ready access to medical treatment, are not able to afford expensive drugs, especially novel immunosuppressive and biologic agents, and are more susceptible to serious infective complications. In this article, we will provide a brief update on the currently available drug treatment for SLE, and recent advances in this area. The emphases are on early recognition and monitoring of disease complications and the judicious use of immunosuppressive drugs.
GROWTH AND MORPHOLOGY OF YOUNG GAMETOPHYTES OF PORPHYRA ABBOTTAE (RHODOPHYTA): EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN CULTURE1
Authors: Hannach Gabriela , Waaland J. Robert 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTGrowth, blade shape and blade thickness of young gametophytes of Porphyra abbottae Krishnamurthy cultured from conchospores were determined at various combinations of temperature (8, 10, 12° C), photon flux density (17.5, 70, 140 μmol·m‐−2·S−1), nutrient concentration (5, 25, 50, 100% f medium) and water motion (0, 50, 100, 150 rpm). Growth (as surface area) was light‐saturated at 70 μmol· m−2· S−1, light‐inhabited at 140 μmol·m−2· S−1, and nutrient‐saturated an 25% f medium. Temperature had no significant effect on growth. Water motion and nutrients had an interactive effect on growth, with water motion having the greatest effect at the lowest nutrient concentrations. Water motion enhanced growth even at saturating nutrient concentrations.Blade length / width ratio was greater in low light (2.5) than in saturating light (1.9); with increasing water motion the ratio increased from 1.2 to 2.4. Blade thickness (53‐88 μm) was greatest at the highest nutrient concentrations and at the lowest water motion levels. Temperature and light did not have a consistent effect on blade thickness.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF TWO MORPHOLOGIES OF NOSTOC PARMELIOIDES (CYANOBACTERIA) AS RELATED TO CURRENT VELOCITIES AND DIFFUSION PATTERNS1
Authors: Dodds Walter K. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTColonies of the stream‐inhabiting cyanobacterium Nostoc parmelioides Kützing often contain a single endosymbiotic dipteran larva Cricotopus nostocicola (Wirth), which induces a morphological change from small, spherical colonies to larger, ear‐shaped colonies. At a current velocity of 0 cm · s−1, whole colonies containing the midge showed overall rates of 14CO2 uptake and nitrogenase activity that were higher than those when the midge was absent (sphere‐shaped colonies). Spherical colonies incubated at current velocities of 5‐10 cm · s−1did not show higher rates of 14CO2 or 15N2 incorporation than those with the larvae (ear‐shaped colonies). Ear‐shaped colonies extended well into regions of higher current velocity, whereas spherical colonies did not. Photosynthesis of ear‐shaped colonies was stimulated by increased current velocity, increased inorganic C and decreased O2 concentrations. Moreover, levels of O2 at the surface of midge‐inhabited colonies decreased with increased current velocity. The morphological change induced by the larva is detrimental (lowers photosynthesis and N2 fixation) in quiescent water but not at current velocities above 10 cm · s−1. This is probably a result of higher diffusion of O2 and CO2 associated with the midge‐induced morphology.