bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enteric‐Coated Pancreatic Enzyme with Bicarbonate Is Equal to Standard Enteric‐Coated Enzyme in Treating Malabsorption in Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Kalnins Daina , Ellis Lynda , Corey Mary , Pencharz Paul B. , Stewart Cynthia , Tullis Elizabeth , Durie Peter R. 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTObjectives:To compare the efficacy of an enteric‐coated buffered pancreatic enzyme (EC buffered PE) containing 1.5 mEq of bicarbonate per capsule with a conventional enteric‐coated enzyme (EC‐PE) capsule in cystic fibrosis patients with signs or symptoms of moderate to severe malabsorption.Methods:In a double‐blind crossover study, subjects were randomly assigned to two consecutive, 2‐week phases using an EC buffered PE product and conventional EC‐PE product. Seventy‐two hour stool collections from each phase were analyzed for energy, fat, and nitrogen content and expressed as percent of estimated intake.Results:Twenty‐one patients with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic insufficiency (14 female, mean age 20.6 ± 11.5 years, range 8.8‐41.9) completed the study. There was no significant difference in percent malabsorption of energy (19.4% vs. 19.0%), fat (20.7% vs. 20.2%), or nitrogen (10.4% vs. 10.7%) between the EC buffered PE product and the conventional EC‐PE product. However, patients taking the EC buffered PE product received less enzyme based on actual enzyme activity measured in vitro (3,468 ± 1,434 U lipase/g fat vs. 3,978 ± 1,474 U lipase/g fat, P < 0.02).Conclusions:In the doses used, nutrient absorption of patients taking EC buffered PE preparation offers no advantage over a conventional EC‐PE preparation.
Measuring Efficiency: A Comparison of Multilevel Modelling and Data Envelopment Analysis in the Context of Higher Education
Authors: Johnes Jill 
Published: March 2006

AbstractData envelopment analysis (DEA) and multilevel modelling (MLM) are applied to a data set of 54,564 graduates from UK universities in 1993 to assess whether the choice of technique affects the measurement of universities’ performance. A methodology developed by Thanassoulis and Portela (2002; Education Economics, 10(2), pp. 183–207) allows each individual's DEA efficiency score to be decomposed into two components: one attributable to the university at which the student studied and the other attributable to the individual student. From the former component, a measure of each institution's teaching efficiency is derived and compared to the university effects from various multilevel models. The comparisons are made within four broad subjects: pure science, applied science, social science and arts. The results show that the rankings of universities derived from the DEA efficiencies which measure the universities’ own performance (i.e., having excluded the efforts of the individuals) are not strongly correlated with the university rankings derived from the university effects of the multilevel models. The data were also used to perform a university‐level DEA. The university efficiency scores derived from these DEAs are largely unrelated to the scores from the individual‐level DEAs, confirming a result from a smaller data set (Johnes, 2006a; European Journal of Operational Research, forthcoming). However, the university‐level DEAs provide efficiency scores which are generally strongly related to the university effects of the multilevel models.
MTA1 overexpression correlates significantly with tumor grade and angiogenesis in human breast cancers
Authors: Jang Ki‐Seok , Paik Seung Sam , Chung Heekyoung , Oh Young‐Ha , Kong Gu 
Published: March 2006

Metastasis associated antigen 1 (MTA1) is a recently identified candidate metastasis‐associated gene that plays an important role in tumorigenesis and tumor aggressiveness, especially tumor invasiveness and metastasis. We analyzed the relationship between MTA1 expression and variable clinicopathological features and characterized its role in tumor angiogenesis in human breast cancers. Two hundred and sixty‐three breast cancer cases that successfully underwent surgery at Hanyang University Hospital (Seoul, Korea) between January 1989 and December 1997 were enrolled. MTA1 expression was observed by immunohistochemical staining and correlated with intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) and other clinicopathological parameters. MTA1 overexpression correlated significantly with higher tumor grade (grades 1 and 2 vs grade 3, P = 0.009). However, MTA1 expression did not correlate with tumor stage, status of estrogen and progesterone receptors, or axillary lymph node metastasis. Interestingly, MTA1 expression was found to correlate significantly with tumor MVD (P = 0.002). Survival analysis did not show a significant difference between MTA1 overexpression and poorer survival. In conclusion, MTA1 overexpression was found to be closely associated with higher tumor grade and increased tumor angiogenesis. These findings suggest MTA1 as a predictor of aggressive phenotype and a possible target molecule for anti‐angiogenic drugs in breast cancer treatment. (Cancer Sci 2006)
Phase I/II adenoviral p53 gene therapy for chemoradiation resistant advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Shimada Hideaki , Matsubara Hisahiro , Shiratori Tooru , Shimizu Takanori , Miyazaki Shinichi , Okazumi Shinichi , Nabeya Yoshihiro , Shuto Kiyohiko , Hayashi Hideki , Tanizawa Tooru , Nakatani Yukio , Nakasa Hiromitsu , Kitada Mitsukazu , Ochiai Takenori 
Published: March 2006

We investigated the feasibility, safety, biological activity and therapeutic efficacy of adenovirus‐mediated p53 gene transfer in patients with chemoradiation resistant advanced esophageal carcinoma. Eligible patients were not surgical candidates and had measurable, advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus that was resistant to chemoradiation therapy. On a 28‐day cycle, intratumoral injections of Ad5CMV‐p53 (INGN 201; ADVEXIN®) were administered on days 1 and 3 at four dose levels (10 × 1011 particles to 25 × 1011 particles) and treated for up to five cycles. Ten patients received a total of 26 cycles with no dose‐limiting toxicity. Administration of multiple courses was feasible and well‐tolerated. Local tumor responses revealed stable disease in nine cases and progressive disease in one case. The overall responses were stable in six and progressive in four cases. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses, gene transfer and p53 specific transgene expression were detected in tumor biopsy tissue from all patients. mRNA levels of p53, p21 and MDM2 increased in all but one case. Three patients showed absence of disease upon repeat biopsies. Substantial improvement in swallowing was observed in one patient with stenotic lesions. Intratumoral injection of Ad5CMV‐p53 is safe, feasible and biologically active when administered in multiple doses to patients with esophageal cancer. Observations from this study indicate that this treatment results in local antitumor effects in chemoradiation resistant esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97)
Evaluation of a diclofenac transdermal patch for the attenuation of venous cannulation pain: a prospective, randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Agarwal A. , Dhiraaj S. , Kumar A. , Singhal V. , Singh U. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryVenous cannulation, although a minor procedure, is often painful. The present study was planned to evaluate the efficacy of a diclofenac transdermal patch placed over the venepuncture site in decreasing the pain of cannulation. Seventy‐two adults undergoing elective surgery were included in this randomised, prospective, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study. Patients were divided into three equal groups. The Control group had a placebo adhesive patch placed on the both the dorsum of hand and the buttock; the Diclofenac‐Buttock group had a placebo patch placed on the dorsum of the hand and a diclofenac transdermal patch on the buttock; the Diclofenac‐Hand group had a diclofenac transdermal patch placed on the dorsum of hand and a placebo patch on the buttock. The patches were applied 1 h before cannulation. An 18G cannula was used for all venous cannulations. Pain during cannulation was assessed on a non‐graduated 10‐cm visual analogue scale. Median [interquartile range] pain scores were 3.0 [2.0–4.0] in the Diclofenac‐Hand group, 5.0 [4.3–7.8] in the Diclofenac‐Buttock group and 6.5 [4.5–7.0] in the Control group, p < 0.05. The numbers needed to treat were six and two in the Diclofenac‐Buttock and Diclofenac‐Hand groups, respectively. The application of a diclofenac transdermal patch at the cannulation site appears to be effective in decreasing cannulation pain.
A national survey of obstetric anaesthetic handovers*
Authors: Sabir N. , Yentis S. M. , Holdcroft A. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThe handover of patient information between shifts enables continuity of care and increases patient safety. We surveyed UK practice during handovers in obstetric anaesthesia. A questionnaire was sent to 239 lead consultant obstetric anaesthetists to record routine practice in their unit and individual opinion about handover procedures. Responses were received from 168 anaesthetists, a 70% response rate. Handover policies were available in 10% of units. Most (76%) responding units had an allocated time for handover. In most units (76%), the duration of handover was reported as being < 15 min but the actual duration and depth of any discussion involved were not specified. Handovers were rarely documented in writing (7%). Consultant anaesthetists were most likely to be present at the morning handover and few handovers were multidisciplinary. Four percent of units reported critical incidents following inadequate handovers in the past 12 months. We identify features in handover procedures that could be improved.
Evaluation of a new effect‐site controlled, patient‐maintained sedation system in dental patients*
Authors: Chapman R. M. , Anderson K. , Green J. , Leitch J. A. , Gambhir S. , Kenny G. N. C. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryWe have designed a new effect‐site controlled, patient‐maintained sedation system for delivering propofol. In the previous systems we developed, the patients retained the use of the handset throughout the procedure and were able to increase the level of sedation. However, it was found that this could potentially lead to oversedation. In the present system, the patients were able to increase their level of sedation until a level was reached that was judged by the patients as being adequate to allow them to tolerate the injection of dental local anaesthetic. The handset was then taken from the patients and the effect site concentration of propofol was maintained at that level for the remainder of the procedure. To assess its safety and efficacy, the system was used to sedate 40 patients presenting for dental procedures under sedation. The system was used successfully and treatment was completed in 39 patients. The system was found to be safe. Both surgeon and patient approval scores were high. Although this study demonstrates the efficacy of effect‐site controlled, patient‐maintained propofol sedation in this group of patients, further work is required to confirm its safety.
Chest pain in the early postoperative period after laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding: four case reports
Authors: Tan C. P. , Chia C. H. , Leese T. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryLaparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is gaining popularity as a technique for achieving effective weight loss in the severely obese population. It is a minimally invasive procedure and the reported early morbidity is low. However, we have observed at our institution that occasional patients complain of central chest pain, mimicking angina (verbal pain score of > 7 out of 10), within 2 h after the procedure. This is a worrying symptom because obesity is known to be a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular complications. We have now performed 250 LAGB operations at our hospital. The following four case reports document our patients who presented with early chest pain postoperatively. Common characteristics of male gender, morbid obesity and some degree of obstructive sleep apnoea were identified among the cases. The aetiology of the chest pain is uncertain; nevertheless, close monitoring is vital to exclude pathological events such as acute coronary syndrome.
Early induction of TGF‐β1 through a fasting–re‐feeding regimen promotes liver carcinogenesis by a sub‐initiating dose of diethylnitrosamine
Authors: Tessitore L. , Bollito E. 
Published: March 2006

Abstract.  We previously reported that a subnecrogenic dose (20 mg/kg) of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) can induce the development of liver cancer when rats undergo a fasting–re‐feeding regimen. The present study was undertaken to establish whether fasting followed by re‐feeding builds up mechanisms able to trigger liver fibrosis, eventually leading to cirrhosis and cancer. Adult male rats, for fasted 4 days, were given 20 mg/kg of DENA after 1 day of re‐feeding; in parallel, consistently fed animals receiving 20 mg/kg (subnecrogenic) or 200 mg/kg (necrogenic dose) of DENA were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. All three groups were then subjected to the 2‐acetylaminofluorene/carbon tetrachloride promoting regimen. Fasting induced moderate apoptosis in liver tissue, as evidenced by increased levels of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and Bax proteins and by a dramatic drop in the level of Bcl‐2. Subsequent re‐feeding caused all changes to revert except TGF‐β1 up‐regulation. Histological findings of inflammation and fibrosis were consistently associated with increased production of TGF‐β1, the inflammatory cytokine with the most pronounced profibrogenic action. Thus, up‐regulation of TGF‐β1 expression appears as a major mechanism by which the fasting–re‐feeding regimen predisposes to initiation and promotion of liver carcinogenesis in rats. Avoiding fasting–re‐feeding could be considered in the nutritional status of patients with liver fibrosis.
Microleakage along Glassix glass fibre posts cemented with three different materials assessed using a fluid transport system
Authors: Rogić‐Barbić M. , Šegović S. , Pezelj‐Ribarić S. , Borčić J. , Jukić S. , Anić I. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractAim  To evaluate the microleakage along Glassix fibre posts cemented with three different materials.Methodology  The root canals of maxillary central incisor teeth were filled and restored with Glassix posts (Harald Nordin sa, Chailly/Montreux, Switzerland) cemented with either a zinc‐phosphate Harvard cement (Richter & Hoffmann, Harvard Dental GmbH, Berlin, Germany), Fuji PLUS cement (GC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) or Variolink II cement (Vivadent, Schaan, Lichtenstein) in three groups of 15 canals each. Twenty unrestored canals served as a control group, 10 filled with gutta‐percha and sealer (negative control group), the remaining 10 with gutta‐percha only (positive control group). Coronal microleakage was evaluated using a fluid transport system. The movement of an air bubble in a capillary glass tube connected to the apex of the experimental root section was measured over 5‐min periods. Measurements were performed four times for each specimen and the mean values recorded. anova and Duncan's test were performed.Results  The positive control group had the highest values of microleakage. Amongst experimental groups, the highest values of microleakage occurred in the group with the posts cemented with Harvard cement, followed by Fuji PLUS and Variolink II cements. Groups with Fuji PLUS, Variolink II and the negative control group had significantly (P < 0.00001) less microleakage compared with the Harvard cement group and the positive control group.Conclusion  Canals with Glassix posts cemented with Variolink II and Fuji PLUS cement had the least leakage when assessed using a fluid transport system.
Consequences of and strategies to deal with residual post‐treatment root canal infection
Authors: Wu M.‐K. , Dummer P. M. H. , Wesselink P. R. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBacterial sampling of prepared root canals is used to determine the presence and character of the remaining microbiota. However, it is likely that current sampling techniques only identify organisms in the main branches of the root canal system whereas it is unlikely that they can sample areas beyond the apical end‐point of preparation and filling, or in lateral canals, canal extensions, apical ramifications, isthmuses and within dentinal tubules. Thus, it may be impossible by current techniques to identify residual post‐treatment root canal infection. In histologic observations of root apices, bacteria have been found in inaccessible inter‐canal isthmuses and accessory canals often in the form of biofilms. There is no in vivo evidence to support the assumption that these bacteria can be entombed effectively in the canal system by the root filling and thus be rendered harmless. As a consequence of this residual root infection, post‐treatment apical periodontitis, which may be radiographically undetectable, may persist or develop as a defence mechanism to prevent the systemic spread of bacteria and/or their byproducts to other sites of the body. Histologic observation of root apices with surrounding bone removed from either patients or human cadavers has demonstrated that post‐treatment apical periodontitis is associated with 50–90% of root filled human teeth. Thus, if the objective of root canal treatment is to eliminate apical periodontitis at a histological level, current treatment procedures are inadequate. It is essential that our knowledge of the local and systemic consequences of both residual post‐treatment root infection and post‐treatment apical periodontitis be improved. The continued development of treatments that can effectively eliminate root infection is therefore a priority in clinical endodontic research. Post‐treatment disease following root canal treatment is most often associated with poor quality procedures that do not remove intra‐canal infection; this scenario can be corrected via a nonsurgical approach. However, infection remaining in the inaccessible apical areas, extraradicular infection including apically extruded dentine debris with bacteria present in dentinal tubules, true radicular cysts, and foreign body reactions require a surgical intervention.
Quality of life of rural menopausal women in response to a customized exercise programme
Authors: Villaverde‐Gutiérrez Carmen , Araújo Eliane , Cruz Francisco , Roa Jose María , Barbosa Wellington , Ruíz‐Villaverde Gonzalo 
Published: March 2006

Aim.  This paper reports a study examining the effects of physical exercise on the quality of life of menopausal women.Background.  People who perform no type of physical activity have poorer physical and mental health. Despite the well‐documented benefits of exercise, ageing women remain largely sedentary, and interventions designed to help them to maintain exercise programmes may prove particularly valuable. Measures should focus on increasing women's confidence so that they can overcome barriers to exercise. Conflicting results have been reported in intervention studies to promote exercise in postmenopausal women.Methods.  Forty‐eight menopausal women aged 55–72 years were recruited at a primary care centre as voluntary participants in a quasi‐experimental study. They were randomly assigned to one of two groups: control (n = 24) and experimental (n = 24). The experimental group participated in a 12‐month programme of cardiorespiratory, stretching, muscle‐strengthening and relaxation exercises carried out during two fully supervised exercise sessions per week (total of 3 hours weekly). Health‐related quality of life was assessed by using the Quality of Life Profile for Chronically Ill Patients, a generic questionnaire widely used in epidemiological and clinical studies to measure well‐being and function, incorporating as an optional module the Kupperman Index of Menopausal Symptomatology.Results.  There was a statistically significant improvement in the health‐related quality of life of the experimental group, whereas the health‐related quality of life of the control group significantly worsened. Menopausal symptoms also significantly improved in the experimental group and significantly worsened in the control group over the 12‐month study period.Conclusions.  A customized exercise programme is valuable for improving the health‐related quality of life of menopausal women.
Positive and negative outcomes from values and beliefs held by healthcare clinician and non‐clinician managers
Authors: Carney Marie 
Published: March 2006

Aim. The aim of this paper is to present the values and beliefs of clinicians and non‐clinicians working in not‐for‐profit healthcare organizations, and the positive and negative outcomes of holding such values.Background. Ethical values are part of the essence of healthcare management and delivery. Although studies have identified what some of those values are, few studies have been undertaken to identify if the values and beliefs held are ethical, and what the outcomes, positive and negative, to holding such values are.Methods. This study was undertaken in 60 of the 65 acute care hospitals in the Republic of Ireland, and in eight regional health boards during 2001. The study population included all accessible professional clinician and non‐clinician department heads. The sample size was 862 and the valid response rate was 42%. Research findings from questions requiring qualitative responses are presented and are part of a wider study. Responses were subjected to content analysis.Results. Eleven key values identified are excellence in care delivery, positive value system, managerial receptiveness and non‐receptiveness, organizational dependability and lack of dependability, peer cohesion and lack of peer cohesion, equity in care delivery, personal contribution to the organization and personal importance. Findings also demonstrated positive and negative outcomes for the organization, patients and staff as a result of the values held.Conclusions. Findings show that healthcare clinicians and non‐clinicians demonstrated a range of values in the delivery of health care, some of which have not been identified before. Should professionals now reconsider the values required in the delivery of health care? The most widely perceived values held by both groups were similar, although clinicians perceived that non‐clinicians did not hold the same ethical values and beliefs as they did, and vice‐versa, demonstrating a lack of trust in each other's moral and ethical value system.