bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tension‐free vaginal tape surgery for stress urinary incontinencne: A prospective multicentered study in Japan
Authors: OHKAWA ASAKO , KONDO ATSUO , TAKEI MINEO , GOTOH MOMOKAZU , OZAWA HIDEO , KATO KUMIKO , OHASHI TERUHISA , NAKATA MAKI ,   ON BEHALF OF THE TENSION‐FREE VAGINAL TAPE TRIAL GROUP
Published: July 2006

Aim:  To report the prospective multicentered study of the tension‐free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure for stress urinary incontinence.Methods:  One hundred and fifty‐one women with stress urinary incontinence were operated on by the TVT procedure and were followed up at 3, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Patients’ age and body mass index (BMI) averaged 57 years and 23.9, respectively. Forty‐nine women were classified as type I, 46 women type II and 56 women type III (McGuire’s classification). Local anesthesia was used in the operations on 137 women (91%) and epidural or general anesthesia was used in 14 (9%). Surgical outcomes were analyzed with Kaplan‐Meier survival curves.Results:  The subjective and objective cumulative cure rates 24 months later were 92% and 77%, respectively (P > 0.05). The TVT operation for women with type III (62%) resulted in a significantly lower cure rate compared to those with type I or with type II (83%) (P < 0.001). Post‐operatively a urethral catheter was indwelt one day in 77 women (51%), two days in 14 (9%) and 3–7 days in 60 (40%). Surgical complications were encountered in 43 women (28%). The most frequent was bladder perforation in 24 women followed by postoperative difficulty in urination and de novo urgency.Conclusions:  The TVT surgery was promising for the treatment of stress incontinence because of minimal surgical invasiveness and satisfactory surgical results. Women with type III incontinence resulted in fewer satisfactory outcomes than those with type I or II incontinence.
Histological description of the ink gland of the tropical sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828
Authors: Bezerra Luis E. A. , Silva José R. F. , Carvalho Ana F. U. , Melo Vânia M. M. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThis work describes for the first time the ink gland of Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828 using light microscopy and histochemical tests. The results reveal that this organ is covered by a layer of simple epithelium and that there are some differences between the epithelium facing the mantle shelf and that facing the mantle cavity. The former consists of columnar cells, which may have a secretory function, whereas the latter is a cuboidal epithelium. Underneath the epithelium and along the whole gland there are fibres of smooth muscle and collagen, organized in groups of parallel bundles. There are vesicles of different diameters, apparently with similar morphology. Some are filled with ink, whereas others are either granular or clear. The ink is released through a duct formed by invaginations of the cuboidal epithelium. Tests with bromophenol blue and periodic acid Schiff indicated that the ink and granulated vesicles contain proteins and carbohydrates or maybe glycoproteins. Between the fibre bundles and the vesicles there are dispersed cells. A diagram is presented emphasizing the covering epithelium, the distribution of muscle and collagen fibres, the dispersed cells, vesicles and ducts. This organization is similar to that of the other Aplysia species studied to date, A. californica.
Suburethral sling at the time of radical prostatectomy in patients at high risk of postoperative incontinence
Authors: WESTNEY O. LENAINE , SCOTT SHELLIE , WOOD CHRISTOPHER , EDDINGS TERESA , JOHNSON MARCELLA M. , TAYLOR JENNIFER M. , McGUIRE EDWARD , PISTERS LOUIS L. 
Published: July 2006

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the insertion of a urethral sling at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP) in men at high risk of urinary incontinence after RP.PATIENTS AND METHODSBetween 1998 and 2000, 49 of 871 men undergoing RP at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, were identified as at risk of urinary incontinence after RP, based on their age (>65 years), previous transurethral resection of the prostate, previous radiation therapy, clinical stage, and obesity (body mass index of ≥ 30 kg/m2). These 49 men had a suburethral sling inserted at the time of RP, and incontinence after surgery was evaluated using pad counts and patient‐completed questionnaires. Retrospectively, incontinence rates and complications in these men were compared with 122 men also at high risk of urinary incontinence after RP who did not have a sling inserted at the time of RP (control group).RESULTSIn all, 29 of 49 men (59%) with a suburethral sling reported using either no pad or one pad per day for urinary leakage at 6 months after RP, compared with 83 of 118 (70%) in the control group. At 12 months after RP, 34 of 46 (74%) men with a suburethral sling reported using no or one pad, compared with 75 of 89 (84%) in the control group. Seventeen (35%) men were treated for urethral stricture in the sling group and 17 (14%) in the control group (P = 0.001).CONCLUSIONThe urethral sling modification concurrent with RP is feasible, but does not decrease incontinence compared with a similar group of high‐risk patients who did not have the sling modification. In addition, the stricture rate in the sling group was unacceptably high. Currently, we do not recommend the use of a urethral sling at the time of RP.
Laparoscopic decortication of symptomatic simple renal cysts: 10‐year experience from one institution
Authors: SHIRAISHI KOJI , EGUCHI SATOSHI , MOHRI JUN , KAMIRYO YORIAKI 
Published: July 2006

In this Japanese retrospective study, laparoscopic decortication was performed in 36 patients. The authors suggest that this is a safe procedure with satisfactory long‐term symptomatic results. They also found that the procedure was still challenging for peripelvic cysts.OBJECTIVETo assess the long‐term results by symptomatic and radiological outcome of laparoscopic decortication of renal cyst, first reported in 1992.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the records of 36 patients who had a total of 36 laparoscopic decortications at our institution between December 1993 and March 2004. Of these cysts, 30 were peripheral and six were peripelvic cysts; the patients were asked if they had pain or not. Changes of cyst size after decortication were determined by computed tomography and the serial changes of each cyst were evaluated as the percentage of the diameter before surgery. The relationships between radiological and symptomatic outcome or cyst location were examined.RESULTSPeri‐operative morbidity was satisfactory; with a mean (range) follow‐up of 67.2  (13–128) months the symptomatic and radiological success rates were 92% (33 of 36) and 81% (25 of 36), respectively. Peripelvic cysts were significantly correlated with radiological failure. Symptomatic improvement was evident by 3 months, while radiological improvement continued for up to 3–4 years after surgery. Seven asymptomatic patients with radiological failure selected a conservative follow‐up.CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic decortication is safe and provides long‐term satisfactory symptomatic results. The radiological improvement was slower than the symptomatic improvement and several cysts remained large, indicating some reduction in volume that was enough to improve the symptoms. This procedure is still challenging for peripelvic cysts in terms of radiological results, yet feasible for the clinical outcome.
Polymerase chain reaction‐based identification of Propionibacterium acnes types isolated from the male urinary tract: evaluation of adolescents, normal adults and men with prostatic pathology
Authors: SHANNON BEVERLEY A. , COHEN RONALD J. , GARRETT KERRYN L. 
Published: July 2006

OBJECTIVETo assess whether colonization of the male urinary tract with Propionibacterium acnes, in particular types IB and II (which are associated with inflammation in radical prostatectomy specimens and might be involved in the development of prostate cancer), is associated with prostate disease, and thus to develop a urine test to detect men at risk of prostate disease.PATENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODSWe developed the first polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based technique for identifying P. acnes types IA, IB and II, and used this in combination with selective culture medium to compare the prevalence of these subtypes in the urinary tract of adolescent males, healthy adult men and patients with confirmed prostate pathology.RESULTS P. acnes types IB and II were no more prevalent in the urinary tract of patients with prostate pathology than in normal control men. However, the prevalence of types IB and II appeared to be higher in adult men (at 11 of 15 and six of 15, respectively) than in adolescents (two of six and one of six), suggesting an age‐related increase. Comparison of urinary tract and facial skin P. acnes from three subjects showed that type IA was more often predominant on facial skin, whereas types IB or II were more often predominant in the urinary tract.CONCLUSIONSA urine test might not be useful for detecting men with prostatic P. acnes infection and thus at greater risk of associated prostate disease. However, this work validated our technique for detecting and identifying the three P. acnes subtypes, and identified some interesting trends worth further investigation.
A randomized controlled equivalence trial of short‐term complications and efficacy of tension‐free vaginal tape and suprapubic urethral support sling for treating stress incontinence
Authors: LORD H. ELIZABETH , TAYLOR JOHN D. , FINN JUDITH C. , TSOKOS NICOLAS , JEFFERY J. TIMOTHY , ATHERTON MICHELLE J. , EVANS SHARON F. , BREMNER ALEXANDRA P. , ELDER GILLIAN O. , HOLMAN C. D’ARCY J. 
Published: July 2006

OBJECTIVETo establish the equivalence between the tension‐free vaginal tape (TVT) and the suprapubic urethral support sling (SPARC). Approximately 35% of women have stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and although TVT is now perceived as the standard treatment, the SPARC is a very similar procedure and is thought to have fewer peri‐operative complications.PATIENTS AND METHODSPatients with clinical SUI were recruited from public and private urology/urogynaecology clinics, and participated in the trial of TVT vs SPARC. The primary outcome was bladder perforation; secondary outcomes were blood loss, voiding difficulty, urgency, and cure of SUI symptoms. Sample size calculations, based on an estimated 2% perforation rate, showed that 290 patients would be needed to detect a clinically significant difference of 5%. Stratification was by previous incontinence surgery and the experience of the surgeon.RESULTSThere were 301 operations; the difference in bladder perforations was not statistically significant, at one/147 TVT (0.7%), and three/154 SPARC (1.9%), with the difference in rate of 0.013 (95% confidence interval (CI) − 0.01 to 0.04; odds ratio 2.89, 95% CI 0.30–28.21; P = 0.62), and nor were differences in estimated blood loss of >100 mL (TVT, 32/147, 21.8%; SPARC 28/154, 18.2%); de novo urgency (TVT 15/37, 40.5%; SPARC 14/33, 42.4%), objective cure (TVT 143/147, 97.3%; SPARC 148/152, 97.4%) or vaginal mesh erosion (TVT 7/147, 4.8%; SPARC 16/152, 10.5%). Acute urinary retention (TVT none of 147; SPARC 10/154, 6.5%; odds ratio ∞, 95% CI 2.2–∞; P = 0.002) and subjective cure (TVT 128/147, 87.1%; SPARC 117/153, 76.5%; odds ratio 2.07, 95% CI 1.13–3.81; P = 0.03) were statistically significantly different.CONCLUSIONThese results are consistent with clinical equivalence between TVT and SPARC for bladder perforation. There was no statistically significant difference between TVT and SPARC in blood loss, urgency or objective cure of SUI symptoms at 6 weeks. However, SPARC was more difficult to adjust correctly, and a statistically significant number of patients required loosening of the tape in theatre (P = 0.002). TVT had a lower rate of vaginal erosion and a statistically significantly higher cure rate of subjective SUI symptoms than SPARC. Overall, voiding difficulty (loosening of the tape), urgency and vaginal mesh erosion were the most important clinical problems. This trial showed the importance of testing new devices which appear to be similar, but which might have relevant differences. There was no financial assistance for this study, and a long‐term follow up is planned.
Clinical response to therapy targeted at vascular endothelial growth factor in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: impact of patient characteristics and Von Hippel‐Lindau gene status
Authors: Rini Brian I. , Jaeger Erich , Weinberg Vivian , Sein Nancy , Chew Karen , Fong Kristen , Simko Jeffery , Small Eric J. , Waldman Frederic M. 
Published: July 2006

OBJECTIVETo describe the relationship among patient characteristics, Von Hippel‐Lindau (VHL) gene status and clinical outcome in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients receiving vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)‐targeted therapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSAll patients with metastatic RCC who received therapy with interferon‐α plus bevacizumab, SU11248 or AG013736 at the authors’ institution were considered. Clinical features were collected and activation status of the VHL gene (VHL) was determined from baseline paraffin‐embedded tumour samples. Tumour response, time to tumour progression (TTP) and overall survival were recorded.RESULTSForty‐three patients were evaluable for determination of VHL status and clinical response. There was an objective response in 18 patients (43%; 95% confidence interval 28–59%). The median TTP for the entire cohort was 8.1 months. There was an improved clinical outcome in patients with the following clinical features: male gender, lack of hepatic metastases, no previous radiation therapy and higher baseline haemoglobin level. Twenty‐six patients (60%) had evidence of VHL mutation or promoter methylation; such patients had an objective response rate of 48%, vs 35% in patients with no VHL mutation or methylation. Patients with VHL methylation or a mutation predicted to truncate or shift the VHL reading frame had a median TTP of 13.3 months, vs 7.4 months in patients with none of these features (P = 0.06).CONCLUSIONVEGF‐targeted therapy is active in metastatic RCC and the response can be associated with certain clinical features. The TTP with VEGF‐targeted therapy might be prolonged in patients with VHL methylation or mutations that truncate or shift the VHL reading frame. Further investigation of VHL pathway components is needed to understand the biology of the response to VEGF‐targeted agents in metastatic RCC.
One Continent, One Currency? Varieties of Common Currency Experience in Europe and Latin America
Authors: Miles William 
Published: July 2006

SUMMARYCurrency unions have been promoted as a means to increase trade, investment and growth. A crucial issue in giving up the domestic currency is the loss of a mechanism to absorb real external shocks. High real exchange volatility between countries considering such a policy would suggest that a currency union could be quite costly in terms of large, persistent misalignment and thus balance of payments imbalances. Von Hagen and Neumann (1994) assessed the readiness of nine European countries for Euro‐zone membership by examining real exchange rate variability. In this paper we analyze their predictions, and find them to be quite accurate for Europe. All of the nations which appeared ready for the Euro have joined. Of the three which did not appear prepared, two have retained their own currency, and the third has experienced real appreciation and stagnant exports. Given the prescience of this method, we apply it to nine Latin American nations. A number of countries in this region have begun to form a currency union by unilaterally adopting the U.S. dollar. The Von Hagen‐Neumann method finds very high real exchange rate variability between the U.S. and the Latin American nations‐indeed much higher than that between Germany and the countries which would later adopt the Euro‐so adopting the dollar could cause very painful adjustment in Latin America.
Wage Structure and the Incentive Effects of Promotions
Authors: Van Herpen Marco , Cools Kees , Van Praag Mirjam 
Published: July 2006

SUMMARYThis paper studies wage structure characteristics and their incentive effects within one firm. Based on personnel records and an employee survey, we provide evidence that wages are attached to jobs and that promotions play a dominant role as a wage determinant. We furthermore show that a promotion affects both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation significantly, though in two different ways: An expected promotion increases extrinsic motivation whereas intrinsic motivation is highest subsequent to a realized promotion. The relationship between extrinsic motivation and expected promotions implies that promotions have a clear incentive effect, consistent with a key – not yet tested – prediction of the tournament model.
Transparency and Disclosure Scores and their Determinants in the Istanbul Stock Exchange
Authors: Aksu Mine , Kosedag Arman 
Published: July 2006

Recent financial reporting and auditing scandals on both sides of the Atlantic have led to a global realisation of the importance of sound corporate governance (CG) practices in alleviating the agency problems in the corporate form of business and for efficient allocation of capital in international markets. Transparency and disclosure (T&D) practices followed by firms are an important component and a leading indicator of CG quality. Transparent and full‐disclosure of information is especially vital for Turkey where external capital is necessary to sustain the high growth rate and the biggest agency problem centres on asymmetric information and expropriation by majority shareholders.We collaborate with Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and base our survey on their scoring methodology, a customised version of the 98 desirable T&D attributes they used in several other countries, and their classification of the attributes into three categories: ownership structure and investor relations, financial transparency and information disclosure, and board and management structures and processes. We evaluate the T&D practices of the 52 largest and most liquid firms in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE), based on their English and local language annual reports and websites. Our rankings provide a first time, objective assessment of the corporate disclosure practices of ISE firms and uncover that they are, at best, moderate and vary with respect to the three sub‐categories of T&D.We also consider a simple model that sequentially links agency problems to CG/T&D mechanisms in place, which in turn impact firm‐level and economy‐wide financial performance. Concentrating on the causal side of the model –the determinants of T&D scores– we provide out‐of‐sample evidence that firm size, financial performance and market‐to‐book equity best explain the variation in T&D scores in the ISE. While our results provide considerable support for prior findings in developed markets, they also shed light on how specific agency problems faced by ISE firms impact their T&D scores.
Foraging habitats based on the diet of female northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on the Pribilof Islands, Alaska
Authors: Zeppelin T. K. , Ream R. R. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractScats (fecal samples) collected between 1987 and 2000 on northern fur seal Callorhinus ursinus rookeries of St Paul (n=2968) and St George Islands (n=1203), Alaska, were used to examine the relationship between breeding sites and food habits of adult female seals. On the basis of the frequency of occurrence (FO) and per cent minimum number of individual prey (%MNI) in scats, juvenile walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma and gonatid squid Gonatopsis borealis/Berryteuthis magister and Gonatus madokai/Gonatus middendorffi were the dominant prey species consumed overall. Other primary prey (FO>5%) included Pacific sand lance Ammodytes hexapteus, Pacific herring Clupea pallasi, northern smoothtongue Leuroglossus schmidti, Atka mackerel Pleurogrammus monopterygius, Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and other squid of the Gonatus genus. We identified five rookery complexes from a cluster analysis of the FO of primary prey in scats. Rookery complexes were separated geographically and each was further defined by characteristic patterns in the representation of prey types typically associated with specific hydrographic domains. Diet differences were observed among rookeries on the north and south side of St George Island and on the east, south and south‐west side of St Paul Island. The rookery clusters observed in this study provide evidence of resource partitioning among adult female northern fur seals and have important implications for fur seal conservation and management.
Copulation behaviour and paternity in shy albatrosses (Thalassarche cauta)
Authors: Abbott C. L. , Double M. C. , Gales R. , Cockburn A. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractWe investigated the mating system of shy albatrosses Thalassarche cauta by combining behavioural observations during the pre‐laying period with genetic paternity analysis. Genetic data on the mating systems of several procellariiform seabirds have recently become available, but data on the reproductive behaviour of these species are rarely obtained. Our main aims were to describe the copulatory behaviour of this species and identify how males achieve within‐pair and extra‐pair paternity (EPP). Most copulations occurred on the nest, were unforced and were within‐pair. Females controlled the success of copulations and were observed soliciting extra‐pair matings. Within‐pair and extra‐pair copulations were behaviourally similar. A low frequency (7–10%, n=29 chicks) of EPP was detected despite male use of frequent copulation as a paternity guard. The pre‐laying foraging exodus of female shy albatrosses differed from that in other albatrosses: it was relatively short in length, lasting c. 2 days, and within‐pair copulations occurred after the female's return 2 days before laying. This may reflect the close proximity of feeding grounds to the breeding colony.