bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Virtual gastroscopy: Initial attempt in North American patients
Authors: Ezzeddine Dina , Ezzeddine Bilal , Mckenzie Richard , Bhutani Manoop S. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground:  Virtual endoscopy (VE) is a new evolving technology that describes the 3‐D reconstruction of medical image scans to create a visualization similar to that produced by fiber‐optic and video endoscopy. The present study was carried out to establish the feasibility of this technique in the upper gastrointestinal tract.Methods:  Ten patients who underwent upper endoscopy for different clinical reasons and who were found to have a normal or near normal examination underwent a spiral computed tomography scan of the lower chest and abdomen. A 3‐D image was reconstructed using the Freeflight software.Results:  The anatomy of the stomach including the lumen, the cardia, the pylorus, gastric folds and the incisura angularis were well‐visualized. It was not possible to visualize the esophagus by VE because the lumen was unable to be kept patent long enough to provide accurate imaging.Conclusions:  The present preliminary study has demonstrated the feasibility of performing virtual gastroscopy. Further development in this area is needed before any routine clinical application.
Long‐term monitoring of platelet count, as a non‐invasive marker of hepatic fibrosis progression and/or regression in patients with chronic hepatitis C after interferon therapy
Authors: Taniguchi Hideaki , Iwasaki Yoshiaki , Fujiwara Akiko , Sakaguchi Kohsaku , Moriya Akio , Yu Piao Cheng , Takaki Akinobu , Fujioka Shin‐Ichi , Shimomura Hiroyuki , Shiratori Yasushi 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground:  Platelet count has been shown to correlate with the hepatic fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of the present study was to assess hepatic fibrosis progression or regression of CHC patients by long‐term monitoring of the platelet count.Methods:  A total of 429 interferon (IFN)‐treated CHC patients were studied. Follow‐up data on the platelet count were collected every 6 months after IFN therapy. The IFN response was defined as follows: complete responders (CR, n = 121) demonstrating persistent clearance of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA; biochemical responders (BR, n = 94) demonstrating alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization for ≥6 months without eradication of HCV‐RNA; and non‐responder (NR, n = 214) demonstrating all other patterns.Results:  In comparison with the baseline level, mean platelet count increased in the CR group from 0.5 years after IFN therapy (for each point, P < 0.01), but significantly decreased in the NR group from 1 year after IFN therapy (for each point, P < 0.01). In the BR group, an increase in mean platelet count was observed from 0.5 to 3.5 years following IFN therapy (for each point, P < 0.01), followed by a gradual decrease.Conclusion:  An increase from baseline values in platelet count was observed, regardless of the presence of HCV‐RNA, in both the CR and BR groups, suggesting the importance of ALT normalization in preventing hepatic fibrosis progression in IFN‐treated CHC patients.
Does butyrate protect from colorectal cancer?
Authors: Sengupta Shomik , Muir Jane G , Gibson Peter R 
Published: February 2006

AbstractButyrate, the four‐carbon fatty acid, is formed in the human colon by bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates (including dietary fiber), and putatively suppresses colorectal cancer (CRC). Butyrate has diverse and apparently paradoxical effects on cellular proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation that may be either pro‐neoplastic or anti‐neoplastic, depending upon factors such as the level of exposure, availability of other metabolic substrate and the intracellular milieu. In humans, the relationship between luminal butyrate exposure and CRC has been examined only indirectly in case–control studies, by measuring fecal butyrate concentrations, although this may not accurately reflect effective butyrate exposure during carcinogenesis. Perhaps not surprisingly, results of these investigations have been mutually contradictory. The direct effect of butyrate on tumorigenesis has been assessed in a number of in vivo animal models, which have also yielded conflicting results. In part, this may be explained by methodological differences in the amount and route of butyrate administration, which are likely to significantly influence delivery of butyrate to the distal colon. Nonetheless, there appears to be some evidence that delivery of an adequate amount of butyrate to the appropriate site protects against early tumorigenic events. Future study of the relationship between butyrate and CRC in humans needs to focus on risk stratification and the development of feasible strategies for butyrate delivery.
Fertile Soil for Structural Funds?A Panel Data Analysis of the Conditional Effectiveness of European Cohesion Policy
Authors: Ederveen Sjef , de Groot Henri L.F. , Nahuis Richard 
Published: February 2006

SUMMARYStructural Funds are the most intensively used policy instrument by the European Union to promote economic growth in its member states and to speed up the process of convergence. This paper empirically explores the effectiveness of European Structural Funds by means of a panel data analysis for 13 countries in the European Union. We show that – on average – Structural Funds are ineffective. For countries with a ‘proper’ institutional framework, however, Structural Funds are effective. The latter result is obtained for a wide range of conditioning variables, such as openness, institutional quality, corruption and indicators for good governance. It is robust to a wide range of robustness tests.
Does Governance Matter? Yes, No or Maybe: Some Evidence from Developing Asia
Authors: Quibria M.G. 
Published: February 2006

SUMMARYThis paper seeks to explore the relationship between economic growth and governance performance in Asian developing economies. This exploration yields some interesting conclusions. First, notwithstanding its tremendous economic achievements, the state of governance in Asia is not stellar by international comparison. Indeed, the majority of these countries seem to suffer from a governance deficit. Second, contrary to our expectations, data do not suggest any strong positive link between governance and growth: paradoxically, countries that exhibit surpluses in governance on average grew much slower than those with deficits. The paper ends with some conjecture about this apparent paradox.
Contingent Valuation and Collective Choice
Authors: Schläpfer Felix , Hanley Nick 
Published: February 2006

SUMMARYContingent valuation (CV) is a widely used but controversial survey‐based technique for estimating the nonmarket benefits of environmental goods and services. This study is the first to compare the outcome of a self‐contained CV survey with the outcome of a collective decision, by contrasting hypothetical willingness to pay with willingness to pay inferred from aggregate voting returns and tax liability distributions. The empirical dataset is from a CV survey and a referendum on a proposition to increase financing for landscape and heritage protection in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Voting‐based willingness to pay was only a small fraction of stated willingness to pay, indicating an inflation in values due to the hypothetical context.
Computer‐based measurement of letter and word acuity
Authors: Whatham Andrew R. , Mermoud Christophe , Déruaz Anouk , Goldschmidt Mira , Zesiger Pascal , Safran Avinoam B. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractDetermining causes of poor reading ability is an important step in trying to ameliorate reading performance in low‐vision patients. One important parameter is word acuity. The principal aim of the current study is to develop a method to reliably measure acuities for isolated lowercase letters and words of differing length that can be used to test low‐vision patients. Using isolated stimuli means that testing is relatively free of potential crowding and/or distracting attentional effects from surrounding words, it is unambiguous which stimulus subjects are trying to read and response times can be recorded for each stimulus. Across a series of experiments, subjects with normal vision were asked to read isolated lowercase single letters and lowercase words of 4, 7 and 10 letters, in separate tests. Acuities for uppercase Sloan letters were also measured to provide a reference, as they are commonly used to measure visual acuity. Each test was based upon the design principles and scoring procedures used in the Bailey–Lovie and ETDRS charts. Acuities for uppercase Sloan letters were found to be equivalent whether measured using ETDRS charts or the computer‐based method. Measurement of acuities for lowercase single letters and lowercase words of 4, 7 and 10 letters had a reliability that was no worse than acuities for uppercase Sloan letters. Lowercase word acuities were essentially independent of word length. Acuities for single lowercase letters and lowercase words were slightly better than uppercase Sloan letters acuity. Optimal processing of lowercase single letters and 4‐, 7‐ and 10‐letter words occurred at character sizes that were at least 0.2–0.40 log MAR above acuity threshold, i.e. between 1.5 and 3 times threshold acuity for that particular stimulus. In general, critical character sizes appear similar across word lengths as progressive increases or decreases in these values were not observed as a function of the number of letters in the stimulus. We conclude that a computer‐based method of stimulus presentation can be used to obtain highly repeatable measures of acuity for lowercase single letters and lowercase words in normal vision.
Accommodation and the relationship to subjective symptoms with near work for young school children
Authors: Sterner Bertil , Gellerstedt Martin , Sjöström Anders 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe aim of this work was to study the relation between subjective symptoms at near and ocular accommodation in terms of the amplitude of accommodation and the relative accommodation. A secondary aim was to discuss the diagnosis of accommodative insufficiency. The chosen cohort was examined on two occasions with 1.8 years in between. The first examination included 72 children, 43 boys (mean age 8.1 years, ranging from 5.8 to 9.8) and 29 girls (mean age 8.3 years, ranging from 6.2 to 10.0). The second examination included 59 of these children, 34 boys (mean age 9.9 years, ranging from 7.8 to 11.7) and 25 girls (mean age 10.1 ranging from 8.0 to 11.8). Subjective symptoms at near work (headache, asthenopia, floating text, facility problems) were recorded and the amplitude and the relative accommodation, both positive and negative, were measured. The result from the questionnaire showed that at the first examination more than one‐third of the children (34.7%) reported at least one subjective symptom when doing near work and 42.4% at the second examination. No symptoms were found among children younger than 7.5 years, but for children between 7.5 and 10 years old at the first examination, the prevalence of at least one symptom was 47.2%. At the second examination, symptoms were reported also for the youngest children, i.e. from the age of 8 years. The discrimination ability for the amplitude of accommodation, both monocular and binocular, was significant. In the first examination the difference between the mean for the two groups (i.e. with and without at least one symptom) was around 2.00 D monocular and 3.00 D binocular. Corresponding figures from the second examination was a difference between the mean for the two groups of around 3.50 D monocular and nearly 4.00 D binocular. We suggest that accommodation measurements should be performed more routinely and regularly, maybe as screening, especially in children over 8 years of age.
The power of a cylinder in an oblique meridian: revisiting an old controversy*
Authors: Naeser Kristian , Hjortdal Jesper 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe sine‐squared correlation states that the cylinder power in an oblique meridian forming an angle β with the axis of the cylinder is reduced to sin2β of the maximal power. The sine‐squared relationship is fundamental in paraxial optics, but its validity has repeatedly been questioned during the last century. It appears that two powers are operative in an oblique meridian, curvital and torsional. Curvital power is responsible for refraction in the plane of the meridian, while the torsional component twists the light out of that plane. Curvital power is the traditional power concept, while torsional power has only recently been described. The long‐standing criticism of the sine‐squared correlation is based on the erroneous assumption that only curvital power is operational in paraxial imagery. Curvital and torsional power are both derived from the sine‐squared correlation. The concept of these dual powers repudiates the criticism and is in complete accordance with paraxial optics.
Spectral optical coherence tomography: a new imaging technique in contact lens practice
Authors: Kałużny Bartłomiej J. , Kaluzny Jakub J. , Szkulmowska Anna , Gorczyńska Iwona , Szkulmowski Maciej , Bajraszewski Tomasz , Targowski Piotr , Kowalczyk Andrzej 
Published: February 2006

AbstractPurpose:  Spectral optical coherence tomography (SOCT) is a new non‐invasive, non‐contact, high‐resolution technique, which provides cross‐sectional images of objects that weakly absorb and scatter light. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the application of SOCT to imaging of eyes fitted with contact lenses.Methods:  Nine eyes of six different subjects fitted with various contact lenses have been examined with a slit‐lamp and a prototype SOCT instrument.Results:  Our SOCT system provides high‐resolution (4–6 μm longitudinal, 10 μm transversal) tomograms composed of 3000–5000 A‐scans with acquisition time of 100–250 ms. The quality of the images is adequate for detailed evaluation of contact lens fit. Design, shape and lens edge position were assessed, and complications of contact lens wear could be visualized. Thickness of the lens, corneal epithelium and stroma as well as the space between the lens and the eye surface have been measured.Conclusions:  SOCT allows high‐resolution, cross‐sectional visualization of the eye fitted with a contact lens. The ability to carry out a detailed evaluation of the fitting relationship between the lens and the ocular surface might be useful in research and optometric practice. SOCT can also be helpful in diagnosis, evaluation and documentation of contact lens complications.
Infectious keratitis related to orthokeratology
Authors: Sun Xuguang , Zhao Huiying , Deng Shijing , Zhang Yan , Wang Zhiqun , Li Ran , Luo Shiyun , Jin Xiuying 
Published: February 2006

AbstractPurpose:  To report 28 cases of infectious keratitis related to orthokeratology lens overnight wear in China.Methods:  From March 2000 to August 2001, 28 cases of infectious keratitis related to overnight orthokeratology lens wear were diagnosed in Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology. These were retrospectively reviewed with regard to the pathogens isolated, duration of wear, the time since onset of symptoms, and age. Cultures of corneal scrapes for bacteria, fungus and Acanthamoeba were performed in all of the 28 cases.Results:  All cases were students, including 10 males and 18 females, average age was 16 years (range 10–21 years). The duration of orthokeratology overnight wearing was from 2 weeks to 2 years. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) on initial examination in our institute was from 20/200 to light perception. Of 28 isolates, 24 were culture positive (including 11 bacteria, 11 Acanthamoeba and two fungi), and four were culture negative. In two of the four culture negative cases, Acanthamoeba cysts were detected in the corneal stroma with the confocal microscope. Acanthamoeba and Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounted for 75% (21 of 28) of the cases of infectious keratitis.Conclusion:  Infectious keratitis is a severe complication associated with overnight orthokeratology lens wear. Ophthalmologists should pay more attention to this complication in practice.
Real‐time image enhancement of television for the visually impaired – pilot study
Authors: Wolffsohn James S 
Published: February 2006

Purpose:  To determine whether a universal image enhancement could be conducted in real‐time to enhance the viewing clarity of television images by the visually impaired.Method:  One minute clips of television news and advert footage were digitally captured and converted to AVI format. These were displayed to five subjects with low vision (<0.5 logMAR binocular visual acuity) at the same time as a real‐time image of the edges detected (white on black image) and the original colour image overlaid by the detected edges coloured in red.Results:  Forced choice comparison resulted in the image enhanced colour image being preferred over the original and edges only image for both video clips in all subjects. This image analysis could be performed on a live television image and displayed at 25 Hz (PAL format).Conclusion:  Current technology allows real‐time image enhancement of television images and a universal edge enhancement overlaid on the original footage appears to benefit the visually impaired. If larger trials support this finding, it is envisaged that a small signal processing box could be connected to a television to enhance the viewing clarity for the visually impaired.
Detecting clinical change using visual acuity measurements – the effect of uncorrected refractive error
Authors: Rosser Dan 
Published: February 2006

It is well known that when visual acuity is measured repeatedly, the resultant acuity score tends to vary even in the absence of true clinical change. The greater the degree of test‐retest variability (TRV), the larger a genuine change in clinical status must be before it can be reliably detected using visual acuity data alone. TRV may be reduced by using charts based upon rigorous design principles, and/or employing interpolated scoring methods. A review of published estimates of TRV suggested that the presence of uncorrected refractive error may increase TRV. A study was designed to assess the effect of varying degrees of optical defocus upon the TRV of ETDRS logMAR visual acuity measurements in normal subjects. Estimates of TRV were ±0.10 log MAR for zero defocus, ±0.18 log MAR for +0.50 D defocus, and ±0.24 log MAR for +1.00 D defocus (p = 0.0002). These results suggest that even small degrees of uncorrected refractive error may have a dramatic affect upon the TRV of visual acuity measurements. This finding may have considerable implications for the detection of clinical change in individuals, as well as the design of clinical trials which use visual acuity data as a primary outcome variable.Reference:  Rosser, D. A., Murdoch, I. E. and Cousens S. N. (2004) The effect of optical defocus on the test‐retest variability of visual acuity measurements. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci45, 1076–1079.
Thirty years in the life of the Moorfields Eye Hospital Low Vision clinic
Authors: Crossland Michael 
Published: February 2006

Purpose:  The Moorfields Low Vision Clinic is thought to be the largest in the world. This presentation will provide a historical perspective of the work performed in the low vision clinic, based on a retrospective review of entries made in the clinic's summary ledger between 1973 and 2003.Methods:  Data were collected from the ledger for all patients attending the low vision clinic during the month of June in 1973, 1978, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998 and 2003. Demographic data and the type of low vision devices (LVDs) prescribed to newly attending patients were recorded.Results:  1438 patient visits were identified, of which 40% were first attendances. The median age, proportion of patients over 60 and sex distribution of the patients did not alter significantly over time. The most frequently prescribed devices were non‐illuminated hand magnifiers, illuminated hand magnifiers and illuminated stand magnifiers. There was a linear increase in the proportion of hand magnifiers prescribed between 1973 and 2003 (r2 = 0.62, p < 0.05) and a corresponding decrease in the number of near spectacle‐mounted telescopes prescribed (r2 = 0.70, p < 0.05).Conclusions:  Between 1973 and 2003, the low vision clinic at Moorfields Eye Hospital provided nearly 100 000 low vision consultations. The demographics of patients attending the clinic remained remarkably constant over this time. The number of spectacle‐mounted devices prescribed fell between 1973 and 2003. It is thought this is due in part to the increased availability of electronic magnification devices, and the development of illuminated hand magnifiers. The development of the acrylic bright field magnifier and LED illuminated LVDs have had particular clinical impact.Reference:  Crossland, M.D. and Silver, J.H. (2005) Thirty years in an urban low vision clinic: changes in prescribing habits of low vision practitioners. Optom Vis Sci82, 617–622.
Clinical negligence
Authors: Woodward E. G. 
Published: February 2006

Purpose:  In an increasingly litigious society a growing number of optometrists are being arraigned in the civil courts and by the Disciplinary Committee of the General Optical Council for clinical negligence. This study analysed the main grounds for these charges and considered future implications.Methods:  50 cases where optometrists were either defendants in a civil court or appearing before the GOC Disciplinary Committee and where the author had provided an expert witness report were examined. These cases occurred between 1999 and 2004. The author was instructed in 19 cases by solicitors acting for the defendant and in 31 cases by the claimants’ solicitors.Results:  The most frequent complaint was failing to detect glaucoma (15 cases), followed by failure to detect retinal detachments (13). Five of the glaucoma cases were relatively young contact lens wearers (40–60 years of age). There were six cases where failure to detect papilloedema was alleged and in every case the patients were young adults or children with migrainous symptoms referred to the optometrist for refraction. Of the five cases involving ocular neoplasms, four were choroidal melanomas all of which were eventually detected by a second optometrist. In the fifth case, where a melanoma of the iris was not detected the optometrist did record some changes and a difference in IOP between the two eyes, but took no action. In all, 12 different ocular and systemic conditions were the cause of civil litigation or disciplinary proceedings.Conclusion:  The two most frequent charges against optometrists related to the glaucomas and retinal detachment, and optometrists must practice ‘defensive optometry’ in every case where these might be a possibility. The number of cases relating to intra‐cranial neoplasms was surprising, as an optometrist has no legal obligation to diagnose such conditions. However, they are obliged to detect any consequent papilloedema and this was the issue in every case. Also, in the last few years there has been a tendency to sue both the general medical practitioner and the optometrist in such cases. This occurred in all six of the cases in this series and also in the one case involving diabetic retinopathy. With an increasing role for the optometrist in primary health care more optometrists are liable to find themselves as co‐defendants in actions for clinical negligence.