bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Unexpected Jurassic to Neogene vertical movements in ‘stable’ parts of NW Africa revealed by low temperature geochronology
Authors: Ghorbal B. , Bertotti G. , Foeken J. , Andriessen P. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractIn Morocco, it is generally considered that post‐Hercynian vertical movements were limited to the Atlas system, the passive continental margin and the Rif. Apatite FT and He ages from the Moroccan Meseta (Rehamna and Zaer Massif) document instead two episodes of subsidence and exhumation in Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous and during the Late Cretaceous to Neogene. The Meseta subsided to >3 km depth during the Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic and was exhumed to the surface before the Late Cretaceous, during the rift and post‐rift stages of Central Atlantic opening. Erosion of the exhuming rocks is responsible for a thick package of terrigenous sands found in the Moroccan offshore and elsewhere along the NW Africa margin. About 1 km of subsidence affected the Meseta during the Late Cretaceous to Eocene. During the Neogene, these areas were brought back to the surface in association with bimodal folding with wavelengths of 100–150 km and >500 km.
Late stage differential exhumation of crustal blocks in the central Eastern Alps: evidence from fission track and (U–Th)/He thermochronology
Authors: Wölfler Andreas , Dekant Christian , Danišík Martin , Kurz Walter , Dunkl István , Putiš Marián , Frisch Wolfgang 
Published: August 2008

AbstractThermal history modelling based on zircon‐ and apatite fission track and apatite (U–Th)/He data constrain and refine the near‐surface exhumation of the south‐eastern Tauern Window (Penninic units) and neighbouring Austroalpine basement units in the Eastern Alps. Fast exhumation on both sides of the Penninic/Austroalpine boundary coincides with a period of lateral extrusion and tectonic denudation of the Penninic units in Miocene time (22–12 Ma). The jump to older ages occurs within the Austroalpine unit along the Polinik fault, which therefore defines the boundary between the tectonically denuded units and the hangingwall at that time. According to the different (U–Th)/He ages between the Penninic Hochalm‐ and Sonnblick Domes we demonstrate a differential cooling history of these two domes in the latest Miocene and early Pliocene.
Palaeomagnetic evidence of a Variscan age for the epigenetic Galmoy zinc–lead deposit, Ireland
Authors: Pannalal S. J. , Symons D. T. A. , Sangster D. F. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractPalaeomagnetism of 273 specimens from 24 sites isolated a well‐defined characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) direction on AF and thermal demagnetization in seven host carbonate and 14 ore mineralization sites from the Galmoy Zn–Pb deposit. Thermal decay and saturation remanence data show that the ChRM is carried dominantly by single domain magnetite. Palaeomagnetic field stability tests indicate a post‐brecciation and post‐folding ChRM. The ChRM directions from the host rock and mineralized sites are indistinguishable at 95% confidence and give a palaeopole at 41.5°S, 8.4°W (dp = 1.5°, dm = 3.0°) with an age of 290 ± 9 Ma on the Laurentian apparent polar wander path. This Early Permian age at Galmoy records Variscan orogenesis and suggests an epigenetic model in which mineralization occurred during cooling from the regional Variscan thermal episode.
Therapy of uncomplicated malaria in children: a review of treatment principles, essential drugs and current recommendations
Authors: Deen Jacqueline L. , Von Seidlein Lorenz , Dondorp Arjen 
Published: August 2008

SummaryUnderstanding the optimal treatment of uncomplicated malaria in children is challenging because of the availability of new drugs and the shift to combination therapies. This is a review of the guiding principles for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria, the essential anti‐malarial drugs for children, and the treatment regimens currently recommended.
Pharmacovigilance through consumer feedback (reporting) in the mass treatment of lymphatic filariasis using diethylcarbamazine and albendazole in two districts of Sri Lanka
Authors: Gunawardena Sharmini , Ranganathan Shalini Sri , Fernandopulle Rohini 
Published: August 2008

SummaryObjective  To document the types and severity of adverse drug reactions to diethylcarbamazine and albendazole in randomly selected urban populations from Colombo and rural populations from Gampaha, Sri Lanka.Methods  Interviewers administered a pre‐tested questionnaire to elicit information about the type and severity of adverse drug reactions experienced by recipients. Seeking medical treatment and requiring hospital admission for the adverse drug reactions were used as indicators for severity. The sample population was selected using the cluster sampling method.Results  Two thousand three hundred and nineteen persons aged 10 to 90 years (median 40.0) responded to the questionnaire; 63.9% of them had received and ingested the drugs. 12.6% reported that they had experienced adverse drug reactions, the proportion being similar in urban and rural areas (χ2 = 0.05; p = 0.82). Commonly reported reactions were drowsiness (34.7%), headache (23.1%), gastrointestinal symptoms (18.7%) and dizziness or faintness (11.9%). However, most symptoms were mild (96.3%) and did not interfere with daily activities or require medical attention. 3.2% said that they sought medical advice for their symptoms; one person (0.5%) who had severe abdominal pain was hospitalized.Conclusions  Fewer people experienced adverse drug reactions than in previous years, possibly due to lower microfilariaemia prevalence after several rounds of mass drug administration against filariasis. Community awareness of adverse drug reactions is essential for improving compliance and for the success of the filariasis elimination programme.
After a decade of annual dose mass ivermectin treatment in Cameroon and Uganda, onchocerciasis transmission continues
Authors: Katabarwa Moses , Eyamba Albert , Habomugisha Peace , Lakwo Tom , Ekobo Same , Kamgno Joseph , Kuete Thomas , Ndyomugyenyi Richard , Onapa Ambrose , Salifou Mkpouwoueiko , Ntep Marcelline , Richards Frank O. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryObjective  To evaluate the effectiveness of 10 years’ annual single dose ivermectin treatment on onchocerciasis transmission in hyperendemic areas of Cameroon and Uganda.Methods  Baseline nodule and microfilaria (‘skin snip’) prevalence data were available from 10 hyperendemic sentinel communities in Cameroon (from 1996) and hyperendemic 20 sentinel communities in Uganda (from 1993). We returned to these villages in 2005, 10 months after the last annual ivermectin distribution, to repeat the cross‐sectional surveys. Each sentinel community reported a mean interval treatment coverage of eligible persons of >88% (range 37–100%). Data were analyzed for more than 6200 person examinations. In Cameroon, 719 people ≥10 years were examined at the baseline survey in 1996 and 838 at the follow‐up survey in 2005. In Uganda, 1590 people ≥10 years were examined at the baseline survey in 1993 and 2122 people at the follow‐up survey in 2005. We also examined children under 10 in Cameroon (1996, n = 185; 2005, n = 448) and Uganda (1993, n = 177; 2005, n = 130). In Uganda, the vitality of worms was judged using standard histological criteria in 80 nodules excised in 2005.Results  The prevalence of microfilaria carriers among older children and adults (≥10 years) in Cameroon sentinel communities dropped from 70.1% to 7.04% (P < 0.0001) over the 10‐year treatment period; that of nodule carriers from 58% to 9.55% (P < 0.0001). Similarly, in Uganda, the prevalence of microfilaria carriers fell from 71.9% to 7.49% (P < 0.0001) over the 13‐year treatment period, and that of nodule carriers from 53.21% to 9.66% (P < 0.0001). The number of microfilaria carriers among children <10 years in Cameroon decreased from 29.73% to 3.8% (P < 0.0001), and in Uganda from 33.89% to 3.1% (P < 0.0001). In 2005, worms excised from nodules in Uganda, 81.4% of males remained alive, and 64% of females, with 24% of them inseminated.Conclusion  A decade or more of annual single dose ivermectin treatment in hyperendemic areas has reduced onchocerciasis to ‘hypoendemicity’, but onchocerciasis transmission persists. For now, annual treatment with ivermectin should be continued in formerly mesoendemic and hyperendemic zones.
Safety of a pre‐formulated amphotericin B lipid emulsion for the treatment of Indian Kala‐azar
Authors: Sundar S. , Chakravarty J. , Agarwal D. , Shah A. , Agrawal N. , Rai M. 
Published: August 2008

SummaryAmphotericin B (AB) deoxycholate is highly effective in antimony refractory cases for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Bihar. But the need for prolonged hospitalisation and frequent, occasionally serious, adverse events are its major drawbacks. Lipid formulations of AB are devoid of these problems, but very expensive. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of a commercial standardised amphotericin B emulsion, a product of AB formulated in lipid emulsion vehicle (ABLE) in the treatment of Indian VL. In this open label, non‐comparative study, 15 patients in each group were given three daily intravenous infusions each of 3, 4 or 5 mg/kg. All 45 patients (15 in each group) completed the treatment. The drug was tolerated well. Infusion reactions occurred in 5 (11%) patients and vomiting in 2 (4.4%). No nephrotoxicity or other organ toxicity was observed. At the end of treatment all patients of every group were clinically and parasitologically cured. However, during 6 months follow up, three patients from the 5 mg/kg group and one from the 4 mg/kg group tested positive for splenic aspirate. Thus 41 (91.1%; 95% CI 78–97) of 45 patients were cured with a total dose ranging between 9 and 15 mg/kg. There was no dose response linear correlation. In this preliminary study, AB formulated in a lipid emulsion vehicle was safe and effective for the treatment of VL in India.
Lymphovascular invasion is an independent predictor of prostate‐specific antigen failure after radical prostatectomy in patients with pT3aN0 prostate cancer
Authors: Yamamoto Shinya , Kawakami Satoru , Yonese Junji , Fujii Yasuhisa , Ohkubo Yuhei , Suyama Taisuke , Komai Yoshinobu , Kijima Toshiki , Ishikawa Yuichi , Fukui Iwao 
Published: August 2008

Objectives:  To investigate the association of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) failure in patients with pT3aN0 prostate cancer (PCA).Methods:  We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 94 patients with pT3aN0 PCA treated with RP alone. All of the 94 patients were prospectively observed without any treatment until PSA failure was confirmed. We investigated the association of LVI with the adverse pathological findings in RP specimens and the PSA failure‐free survival rate. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to elucidate predictors of PSA failure.Results:  Median follow up was 47.4 months (quartile range 9.1 to 146.8). LVI was found in 26 (27.7%) of the 94 patients. In a multivariate analysis, PSA (P = 0.0054) and LVI (P = 0.015) were significant and independent predictors of PSA failure. Stratifying patients into four risk groups by LVI status and PSA level, the PSA failure‐free survival rate in patients with negative LVI and PSA ≤10 ng/mL was significantly better than any other groups (positive LVI and/or PSA >10 ng/mL).Conclusions:  Adjuvant therapy would not be indicated to patients with pT3aN0 PCA with negative LVI and PSA ≤10 ng/mL.
Endogenous oxalogenesis after acute intravenous loading with ethylene glycol or glycine in rats receiving standard and vitamin B6‐deficient diets
Authors: Teerajetgul Yaovalak , Hossain Rayhan Zubair , Machida Noriko , Sugaya Kimio , Ogawa Yoshihide 
Published: August 2008

Objectives:  The effect on endogenous oxalate synthesis of acute intravenous loading with ethylene glycol or glycine was investigated in rats on a standard or a vitamin B6‐deficient diet.Methods:  Twenty‐four male Wistar rats weighing approximately 180 g were randomly divided into ethylene glycol and glycine groups of 12 animals each. These groups were further divided into two subgroups of six animals each that were fed either a standard or a vitamin B6‐deficient diet for 3 weeks. Animals of these two subgroups received an intravenous infusion of 20 mg (322.22 µmol) of ethylene glycol or 100 mg (1332.09 µmol) of glycine, respectively. Urine samples were collected just before intravenous infusion of each substance and at hourly intervals until 5 h after receiving the infusion. Urinary oxalate, glycolate, and citrate levels were measured by capillary electrophoresis.Results:  Urinary oxalate and glycolate excretion was significantly increased after ethylene glycol administration. Significant differences between the control and vitamin B6‐deficient groups were found. In contrast, there were only small changes of oxalate and glycolate excretion after glycine administration. Recovery of the given dose of ethylene glycol as oxalate in 5‐h urine was 0.31% and 7.15% in the control and vitamin B6‐deficient groups, respectively, whereas recovery of glycolate was 0.68% and 7.22%, respectively.Conclusions:  Ethylene glycol loading has a significant effect on urinary oxalate excretion in both normal and vitamin B6‐deficient rats, whereas glycine loading only has a small effect. Oxalate and glycolate excretion after ethylene glycol loading were respectively 23‐fold and 11‐fold higher in vitamin B6‐deficient rats than in controls.
Efficacy of bacillus Calmette‐Guérin in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer: The impact of previous intravesical treatment
Authors: Okamura Takehiko , Akita Hidetoshi , Imura Makoto , Kaneko Tomoyoshi , Mizuno Kentaro , Tozawa Keiichi , Kohri Kenjiro 
Published: August 2008

Objective:  To clinically evaluate the role of intravesical bacillus Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) in the management of superficial bladder cancer, focusing on dose, age, high grade/stage, and pretreatment episodes with other therapies in long‐term follow‐up patients.Methods:  A total of 213 patients with superficial (Ta‐T1) transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder received 6–8 weekly instillations of 40, 60 or 80 mg of Tokyo strain BCG. Further 6–8 monthly applications were given in some cases.Results:  Recurrence‐free and progression‐free survival rates were compared with reference to dose, age, previous treatment, grade, stage, and high risk categories. Overall recurrence‐free rates for 3, 5, and 10 years were 70.8%, 67.1%, and 57.6%, with progression‐free survival rates of 94.5%, 93.6%, 90.6%, respectively. In univariate analyses, younger cases demonstrated higher recurrence‐free survival rates, but without statistical significance (P = 0.1229). Recurrence‐free rates were significantly higher for cases without previous intravesical treatment (P = 0.0010). There was no significant BCG dose‐dependence. High grade and high stage patients were confirmed as having higher recurrence and progression rates.Conclusions:  Intravesical instillation of BCG is the most effective in the long term when chosen as the initial prophylactic therapy for the prevention of recurrence in superficial bladder cancer.
Surface area of chorionic villi of placentas: An index of intrauterine growth restriction of fetuses
Authors: Biswas Sharmistha , Ghosh Samit K. , Chhabra Shakuntala 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim:  Histomorphometric studies of placentas from idiopathic intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) fetuses as well as normal‐weight (control) fetuses were performed to determine surface area of chorionic villi (mostly terminal and few intermediate) using stereological technique. The results were compared to determine the difference in the values of surface area of chorionic villi, and to establish any relationship between placental histomorphometric changes and IUGR.Methods:  Placentas from fifty (50) full‐term, uncomplicated deliveries were collected; twenty eight (28) of them were associated with IUGR babies and twenty two (22) were from normal‐weight babies. Placental weights and volumes were measured. Pieces of placental tissues were formalin‐fixed, processed and embedded in paraffin. Seven‐micron sections were cut and stained with HE stain. Histomorphometric and stereological studies were performed.Results:  IUGR placental weights and volumes were lower than those of controls. Surface areas of villi of IUGR placentas had a mean of 8.19 m2 (SD ± 2.88). For control placentas, the mean was 10.02 m2 (SD ± 1.83). The mean value of the surface area of villi of the IUGR group was significantly lower than that of the control group.Conclusion:  These findings pointed to a defect in the normal interaction between trophoblast and maternal tissue, leading to a reduced surface area of villi. Because the surface area of the villi presents the interface between maternal and fetal circulation, its reduction might be the cause of idiopathic intrauterine growth restriction.
Maternal mortality in India: A 20‐year study from a large referral medical college hospital, West Bengal
Authors: Bhattacharyya Subir Kumar , Majhi Arup Kumar , Seal Subrata Lall , Mukhopadhyay Sima , Kamilya Gourisankar , Mukherji Joydev 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim:  The present study was carried out to analyze the maternal death rate and its changing trends over a 20‐year period in a large referral/teaching institution in Eastern India.Methods:  A retrospective analysis of maternal deaths was carried out from January 1986 to December 2005 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India. Records were divided into four 5‐yearly periods: 1986–1990; 1991–1995; 1996–2000; and 2001–2005, for comparison of the trends. The initial interval from 1986 to 1990 was chosen as the reference period.Results:  The cumulative maternal mortality ratio (MMR) was 599.3 per 100 000 live births. Comparison between the first 5‐year period (1986–1991) and the last (2001–2005) showed a statistical significant downward trend in MMR (683.6 vs 474.3; P < 0.001). Deaths due to direct causes are still the leading cause, accounting for 82.09% of total deaths. Hypertensive disorders (36.14%), hemorrhage (21.91%) and sepsis (19.54%) were still the major causes of direct obstetric deaths throughout the study period. Hypertensive disorders alone showed a substantial decline after the introduction of magnesium sulphate.Conclusion:  The fall in maternal mortality has been very slow.
Treatment of cervical cancer with adjuvant chemotherapy versus adjuvant radiotherapy after radical hysterectomy and systematic lymphadenectomy
Authors: Hosaka Masayoshi , Watari Hidemichi , Takeda Mahito , Moriwaki Masashi , Hara Yoko , Todo Yukiharu , Ebina Yasuhiko , Sakuragi Noriaki 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim:  To compare the clinical efficacy focused on post‐treatment morbidity between adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and pelvic radiotherapy (RT) after radical hysterectomy for patients with cervical cancer.Methods:  A total of 125 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy at Hokkaido University Hospital between 1991 and 2002 were enrolled in the study for retrospective analysis. Seventy patients with recurrent risk factors, including deep stromal invasion, lymph vascular space invasion, parametrial invasion, lymph node metastasis (LNM), and bulky tumor (≥4 cm), received adjuvant therapy; 42 were treated with RT, and 28 were treated with CT. Almost all patients with multiple LNM received RT. Analyses were also performed on a subgroup of 50 patients without multiple LNM (23 RT, 27 CT). Clinical efficacy of post‐treatment morbidity and survival was evaluated.Results:  Because there were more patients with multiple LNM in the RT group, we analyzed disease‐free survival in 50 patients without multiple LNM. The 3‐year disease‐free survival rate was 82.6% with RT and 96.3% with CT (P = 0.16). Postoperative bowel obstruction was significantly more frequent in the RT group versus the CT (P = 0.007) and no‐therapy (P = 0.0026) groups. Urinary disturbance was also more frequent in the RT group than in the CT (P = 0.0016) and no‐therapy (P = 0.089) groups.Conclusion:  CT has the equivalent therapeutic effect as RT with fewer postoperative complications for patients with intermediate risks. A prospective randomized trial is needed to compare CT combined with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy to RT or chemoradiotherapy.
Prediction of fetal birthweight in Taiwanese women with pre‐eclampsia and gestational hypertension using an equation based on maternal characteristics
Authors: Liu Ching‐Ming , Chang Shuenn‐Dyh , Cheng Po‐Jen 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim:  The purpose of the present study was to develop a method for predicting the birthweight of newborns in women with pre‐eclampsia and gestational hypertension based on maternal characteristics and pregnancy‐related factors.Methods:  A total of 661 consecutive pregnant women with pre‐eclampsia and gestational hypertension who delivered at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 1994 to 2003 were included in the analysis. Multivariate regression formulas (Models I and II) were derived from maternal characteristics to predict low infant birthweight. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated and tested for these formulas.Results:  The Model I formula was as follows:
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Using a cut‐off value of 2210 g, the equation predicts the occurrence of a low birthweight baby with 90.9% sensitivity. If higher specificity is required, increasing the cut‐off value to 2488 g yields a specificity of 95.2%. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed an area under the curve of 93.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88 to 0.99) for low birthweight baby prediction in Model I.Conclusion:  The results suggest that these regression formulas based on maternal characteristics may accurately predict low birthweight babies in pregnant women with pre‐eclampsia and gestational hypertension. The cut‐off values were determined and cross‐validated by ROC curve analysis.
Gamma‐glutamyltransferase level in pregnancy is an independent risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Tan Peng C. , Mubarak Sarah , Omar Siti Z. 
Published: August 2008

AbstractAim:  To evaluate the relationship between gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) level in pregnant women at oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM).Methods:  Blood was taken for analyzing GGT level from women at high risk of GDM at the time of their scheduled OGTT. GDM was diagnosed according to World Health Organization 1999 criteria.Results:  GGT level correlated positively with the 2‐hour glucose level (Spearman's rho = 0.112: P < 0.05). GGT values that were stratified into quartiles demonstrated a significant trend with diagnosis of GDM (χ2 for trend; P = 0.03). Multivariable logistic regression analysis taking into account maternal age, gestational age at OGTT, body mass index and a positive 50‐g glucose challenge test (GCT) indicated that high GGT was an independent risk factor for GDM (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.1 95% CI 1.2–3.8: P = 0.01). In the subset of women identified by a positive GCT, on multivariable logistic regression analysis, only high GGT was an independent risk factor for GDM (AOR 2.3 95% CI 1.3–4.2: P = 0.007).Conclusion:  Raised GGT level is an independent risk factor for GDM in high risk pregnant women undergoing OGTT.