bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The highest aim of the physicist
Authors: Rowland Henry A. 
Published: January 2009

Gentlemen and Fellow Physicists of America:
We meet to-day on an occasion which marks an epoch in the history of physics in America; may the future show that it also marks an epoch in the history of the science which this society is organized to cultivate! For we meet here in the interest of a science above all sciences, which deals with the foundation of the Universe, with the constitution of matter from which everything in the Universe is made, and with the ether of space by which alone the various portions of matter forming the Universe affect each other even at such distances as we may never expect to traverse whatever the progress of our science in the future.
Vaccination against human papillomavirus – an impact on preterm delivery? Estimations based on literature review
Authors: SJØBORG KATRINE DØNVOLD , ESKILD ANNE 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjective. Cervical cone excision increases the risk of preterm deliveries. Vaccination against human papillomavirus 16/18 (HPV16/18) will probably prevent development of high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and thereby reduce the need for cervical cone excisions. An HPV16/18 vaccination programme may therefore also prevent some preterm deliveries. Methods. We identified the parameters influencing the effect of a HPV16/18 vaccination programme on preterm deliveries, and estimated a possible range of preventable deliveries before the 37th week of pregnancy. The number of preterm deliveries prevented by HPV16/18 vaccination programme would depend on the number of preterm deliveries related to cervical cone excision (extent of the health problem), and the proportion of this health problem that could be prevented by a vaccination programme. We obtained values on the parameters used in the estimations from the scientific literature. Results. If 2% of childbearing women are treated with cervical cone excision, between 60 and 220 preterm deliveries/100 000 births may be related to such treatment. Close to 60% (between 35 and 128 preterm deliveries) could be prevented by an HPV16/18 vaccination programme, if the programme coverage was 90%. If 4% of women are treated with cone excision, between 70 and 257 preterm deliveries/100 000 births could be prevented. Conclusion. HPV16/18 vaccination programmes may reduce the number of preterm deliveries through reducing the need for cone excision.
Quality of life for couples 4–5.5 years after unsuccessful IVF treatment
Authors: JOHANSSON MARIANNE , ADOLFSSON ANNSOFIE , BERG MARIE , FRANCIS JYNFIAF , HOGSTRÖM LARS , OLOF JANSON PER , SOGN JAN , HELLSTRÖM ANNA‐LENA 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjective. To describe quality of life in men and women who had terminated in vitro fertilization (IVF) within the public health system 4–5.5 years previously, and for whom treatment did not result in childbirth. Design. Cross‐sectional study. Setting. Reproductive Unit, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. Sample. Four hundred pairs were invited to participate, 71% accepted and 68% completed questionnaires. Methods. Questionnaire study. Study subgroups were compared with a control group with children and with each other. Main outcome measure. Psychological General Well‐Being (PGWB), Sense of Coherence (SOC), experience of infertility, demographic–socio‐economic and health characteristics were measured. Results. Surprisingly, 76.7% had or lived together with children; 39.6% had biological children, 34.8% had adopted and 3.7% were parents to both biological and adopted children. No differences were found between the study and the control groups, except in SOC which scored lower in the study group. The study group with children had a higher PGWB index than the 23.3% without children and the controls. SOC scored higher in the subgroup with than those without children. Infertility was still a central issue in the subgroup without children. Conclusion. Despite having undergone unsuccessful IVF within the public health system, more than 75% lived with children 4–5.5 years later. This subgroup had a better quality of life, compared to those without children. Additional IVF treatment may result in increased quality of life.
The effect of uterine fundal pressure on the duration of the second stage of labor: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: API OLUS , EMEKSIZ BALCIN MUGE , UGUREL VEDAT , API MURAT , TURAN CEM , UNAL ORHAN 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjective. To determine the effect of uterine fundal pressure on shortening the second stage of labor and on the fetal outcome. Design. Randomized controlled trial. Setting. Teaching and research hospital. Sample. One hundred ninety‐seven women between 37 and 42 gestational weeks with singleton cephalic presentation admitted to the delivery unit. Methods. Random allocation into groups with or without manual fundal pressure during the second stage of labor. Main outcome measures. The primary outcome measure was the duration of the second stage of labor. Secondary outcome measures were umbilical artery pH, HCO3−, base excess, pO2, pCO2 values and the rate of instrumental delivery, severe maternal morbidity/mortality, neonatal trauma, admission to neonatal intensive care unit, and neonatal death. Results. There were no significant differences in the mean duration of the second stage of labor and secondary outcome measures except for mean pO2 which was lower and mean pCO2 which was higher in the fundal pressure group. Nevertheless, the values still remained within normal ranges and there were no neonates with an Apgar score <7 in either of the groups. Conclusion. Application of fundal pressure on a delivering woman was ineffective in shortening the second stage of labor.
Fetal hemodynamic changes following maternal betamethasone administration in pregnancies with fetal growth restriction and absent end‐diastolic flow in the umbilical artery
Authors: NOZAKI ALEXANDRE M. , FRANCISCO ROSSANA P.V. , FONSECA EDUARDO S.V.B. , MIYADAHIRA SEIZO , ZUGAIB MARCELO 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjectives. To examine the effects of betamethasone administration on umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA) and ductus venosus (DV) Doppler flow. Design. Longitudinal prospective study. Setting: Fetal Surveillance Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Population. Thirty‐two singleton pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction with absent end‐diastolic flow in the UA. Methods. Pulsatility index (PI) of the UA, MCA and DV was measured from 26 to 34 weeks prior to and within 24 or 48 hours after starting betamethasone treatment course. Analysis of variance for repeated measures was used to determine the changes in the fetal hemodynamic Doppler flow following maternal corticosteroid administration. Main outcome measures. Improvement of UA‐PI within 24 hours and DV‐PIV (venous pulsatility) within 48 hours from the first betamethasone dose. Results. Mean gestational age at delivery was 29.3 (±1.8) weeks and birthweight was 806.6 (±228.2) g. A reduction in the UA‐PI was observed in 29 (90.6%) cases, with return of end‐diastolic flow in 22 (68.7%). The mean UA‐PI were 2.84 (±0.52) before corticosteroid administration, 2.07 (±0.56) within 24 hours and 2.42 (±0.75) after 48 hours, with a significant difference along the evaluations (p<0.001). No significant changes in the MCA Doppler were observed. DV‐PIV decreased from 1.06 (±0.23) prior corticosteroids administration to 0.73 (±0.16) within 24 hours and 0.70 (±0.19) after 48 hours (p<0.001). Conclusions. There was reduction in the umbilical artery and in the DV pulsatility indices within 24 hours from betamethasone administration that was maintained up to 48 hours.
New concepts and trends in vaginal prolapse surgery
Authors: FLAM FOLKE , SÖDERBERG MARIE WESTERGREN 
Published: January 2009

AbstractDespite poor results in prolapse surgery, the operative procedures have basically remained unchanged for 100 years. It has been postulated that lifting restrictions and other measures of inactivation are crucial for the success. Even though most of what is done in prolapse repair is not evidence based, few have challenged the prevailing concepts. However, tradition‐based policies are now being scrutinized and in accordance with other operations, time of hospitalization is sharply reduced at many institutions. The reintroduction of local anesthesia and sedation offers potential advantages compared to regional‐ or general anesthesia. Although augmentation by foreign material is not altogether a new concept, the introduction of commercial kits make mesh procedures more standardized, but not necessarily technically more easy to perform. As molecular biology provides more and more evidence about the importance of the quality of the connective tissue, it is conceivable that foreign material in prolapse repair is here to stay. In this period of time it is more essential than ever to scientifically document the results of the new concepts. In the Nordic countries, where the first registries were set up for Tensionfree Vaginal Tape (TVT), a cooperative effort among 53 institutions is under way to evaluate mesh repairs in prolapse surgery.
Incidence trends of cervical adenocarcinoma in Israeli Jewish women. A population‐based study
Authors: MENCZER JOSEPH , KOGAN LIRON , LIPHSHIZ IRENA , BARCHANA MICHA 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjective. To assess the trend over time of the relative frequency and incidence of adenocarcinoma (AC) in Israeli Jewish women. Design. Register study. Setting. Israel National Cancer Registry. Population. All cases of histologically proven invasive cervical cancer diagnosed during two time periods: 1961–1971 and 2002–2004. Methods. Calculation of frequencies and incidence rates and comparison by the χ2 test and by the Poisson regression model, respectively. Main outcome measures. Frequency and incidence of AC. Results. There were a total of 532 women with a diagnosis of cervical cancer during the first and 434 women during the second period (incidence 4.2 and 4.7/100,000, respectively). The total incidence rates and frequency rates of AC during the two periods were statistically not different. The frequency rate of AC during the second period was significantly higher in the 20–29 and the 40–49 age groups and in the North African born than in the other ethnic groups. Conclusions. Our study indicates that except in certain age and ethnic groups, the frequency and incidence of AC has not significantly altered in Israel over the time periods studied.
Can ultrasound measurements replace digitally assessed elements of the Bishop score?
Authors: EGGEBØ TORBJØRN M. , ØKLAND INGER , HEIEN CLAUDIA , GJESSING LEIF K. , ROMUNDSTAD PÅL , SALVESEN KJELL Å. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractObjective. To compare elements of the Bishop score and corresponding sonographic measurements before induction of labor, and assess how predictive factors can be used in a clinical setting. Design. Prospective comparative clinical study. Setting. Secondary referral center, university hospital. Population. A total of 275 women scheduled for induction of labor. Methods. Fetal head descent to the perineum was assessed with transperineal ultrasound. Cervical length, posterior angle, and dilatation were evaluated with transvaginal ultrasound followed by Bishop score without knowledge of the ultrasound measurements. Results. Univariable regression analyses of successful induction were significant for digital assessment of cervical dilatation, ultrasound measured fetal head–perineum distance ≤40 mm, ultrasound measured cervical length ≤25 mm, and ultrasound measured posterior cervical angle >90 degrees. After adjusting for maternal factors in a multivariable model, estimates were significant for previous vaginal birth (OR 5.3; 95% CI 2.1–13.9, p<0.01), but borderline for maternal height (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.0–1.2, p = 0.01) and ultrasound measured posterior cervical angle >90 degrees (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.1–6.1, p = 0.03). A scoring model combining ultrasound measured fetal head–perineum distance, cervical length, cervical posterior angle and digitally assessed cervical dilatation, discriminated successful and failed induction at 71% (95% CI 61–80%, p<0.01) area under the receiver–operating characteristics curve. Conclusion. Digital assessment of fetal head descent, cervical length and position can possibly be replaced with ultrasound measurements. Dilatation is best evaluated with digital assessment. Combination of these four factors can predict success of labor induction.
RNAither, an automated pipeline for the statistical analysis of high-throughput RNAi screens
Authors: Rieber Nora , Knapp Bettina , Eils Roland , Kaderali Lars 
Published: January 2009

AbstractSummary: We present RNAither, a package for the free statistical environment R which performs an analysis of high-throughput RNA interference (RNAi) knock-down experiments, generating lists of relevant genes and pathways out of raw experimental data. The library provides a quality assessment of the signal intensities, as well as a broad range of options for data normalization, different statistical tests for the identification of significant siRNAs, and a significance analysis of the biological processes involving corresponding genes. The results of the analysis are presented as a set of HTML pages. Additionally, all values and plots are available as either text files or pdf and png files.Availability: http://bioconductor.org/Contact: RNAither@gmx.de
Sparse linear discriminant analysis for simultaneous testing for the significance of a gene set/pathway and gene selection
Authors: Wu Michael C. , Zhang Lingsong , Wang Zhaoxi , Christiani David C. , Lin Xihong 
Published: January 2009

AbstractMotivation: Pathway and gene set-based approaches for the analysis of gene expression profiling experiments have become increasingly popular for addressing problems associated with individual gene analysis. Since most genes are not differently expressed, existing gene set tests, which consider all the genes within a gene set, are subject to considerable noise and power loss, a concern exacerbated in studies in which the degree of differential expression is moderate for truly differentially expressed genes. For a significantly differentially expressed pathway, it is also of substantial interest to select important genes that drive the differential expression of the pathway.Methods: We develop a unified framework to jointly test the significance of a pathway and to select a subset of genes that drive the significant pathway effect. To achieve dimension reduction and gene selection, we decompose each gene pathway into a single score by using a regularized form of linear discriminant analysis, called sparse linear discriminant analysis (sLDA). Testing for the significance of the pathway effect proceeds via permutation of the sLDA score. The sLDA-based test is compared with competing approaches with simulations and two applications: a study on the effect of metal fume exposure on immune response and a study of gene expression profiles among Type II Diabetes patients.Results: Our results show that sLDA-based testing provides a powerful approach to test for the significance of a differentially expressed pathway and gene selection.Availability: An implementation of the proposed sLDA-based pathway test in the R statistical computing environment is available at http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/∼mwu/software/Contact: xlin@hsph.harvard.eduSupplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Evaluation of automated silver‐enhanced in situ hybridization (SISH) for detection of HER2 gene amplification in breast carcinoma excision and core biopsy specimens
Authors: Shousha S , Peston D , Amo‐Takyi B , Morgan M , Jasani B 
Published: January 2009

Aims:  To validate the use of the silver‐enhanced in situ hybridization (SISH) technique in assessing HER2 status of breast carcinoma in excision biopsy specimens, and to assess its reliability in determining HER2 status in core biopsy specimens.Methods and results:  Routinely processed paraffin sections of 65 excised breast carcinomas and 56 available preoperative core biopsy specimens from the same patients were selected from the archives for testing with the SISH technique using the automated Ventana Benchmark XT machine. For each case, two sections were used, one for the assessment of HER2 gene amplification and the other for assessment of chromosome 17. Of the 65 excision specimens tested, sections of 53 cases were also available for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) examination. HER2 gene amplification was detected by SISH in 14 (21%) out of 65 excision specimens and in eight (14%) out of 56 core biopsy specimens. The results of SISH and FISH were identical in 50 (94%) out of the 53 excision cases examined by the two techniques. Two cases were SISH−, FISH+, and one case was the other way round. SISH results of core biopsy specimens and corresponding excision biopsy specimens were identical in 50 (89%) out of 56 cases. Four cases (7%) were SISH− in cores but positive in excision specimens, whereas two cases were the other way round.Conclusions:  The results validate the use of the SISH technique for assessing HER2 status of excised breast carcinoma tissue sections. The results are comparable to those obtained with FISH, but SISH has the advantage of having a permanent end result that can be visualized by an ordinary light microscope. There is a reasonable 89% concordance between SISH results obtained in core and excision biopsy specimens. However, it may be prudent to postpone doing SISH, if possible, until sections of the resected specimen are available, as these seem to be more reliable.
Membranous and cytoplasmic staining of Ki67 is associated with HER2 and ER status in invasive breast carcinoma
Authors: Faratian Dana , Munro Alison , Twelves Christopher , Bartlett John MS 
Published: January 2009

Aims:  Membranous and cytoplasmic Ki67 immunoreactivity has recently been observed in a number of histopathological entities, but frequency of occurrence and relationship to prognosis in more common cancers have not been described. The aim was to describe the pattern and frequency of membranous/cytoplasmic Ki67 in a cohort of invasive breast carcinomas, and their associations with grade, HER2 amplification and oestrogen receptor (ER) expression.Methods and results:  Three hundred and twenty‐two cases of invasive ductal carcinoma were assessed for histological grade, Ki67 (MIB‐1 clone) proliferation index and pattern of immunoreactivity, ER expression by immunohistochemistry, and HER2 amplification status by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Overall, 26/322 (8%) breast carcinomas showed membranous/cytoplasmic Ki67, and expression was significantly associated with grade 3, HER2‐amplified and ER− tumours. Membranous/cytoplasmic Ki67 was not, however, an independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis.Conclusions:  Membranous/cytoplasmic Ki67 identifies a group of breast carcinomas that may be important to consider separately in prognostic and predictive studies. The mechanism of subcellular Ki67 relocalization remains elusive and further studies are required to establish both the cause and effect of this unusual pattern of Ki67 immunoreactivity.
Dirofilarial human cases in the Old World, attributed to Dirofilaria immitis : a critical analysis
Authors: Pampiglione Silvio , Rivasi Francesco , Gustinelli Andrea 
Published: January 2009

Aims:  To review 28 cases of human dirofilariasis reported in the last 30 years in the Old World and attributed, by their respective authors, to Dirofilaria immitis or a species of Dirofilaria other than D. repens.Methods and results:  Each case was analysed by examining the published accounts or by discussions with the authors, who were interviewed whenever possible.Conclusions:  On the basis of these analyses we conclude that there is as yet no proof demonstrating with certainty that Old World D. immitis plays a pathogenic role in humans. It remains to be explained why D. immitis causes pulmonary infections in humans in the Americas while, in the Old World, this location appears, instead, to be always associated with D.repens, even though the former species is at times more frequent than the latter both in dogs and in the vectors. To explain this apparently different pathogenic power, two hypotheses are proposed: (i) there are perhaps twin populations with different genotypes on the two sides of the Atlantic, with different infective capacity for man and dog; (ii) the infective capacity to humans of the parasite could be modified, only in the Old World, by some unidentified factor, possibly inherent to the vector, that affects the complex mechanism of the vector–parasite relationship, affecting the survival of the larvae.
DMBT1 expression distinguishes anorectal from cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Helmke Burkhard Maria , Renner Marcus , Poustka Annemarie , Schirmacher Peter , Mollenhauer Jan , Kern Michael André 
Published: January 2009

Aims:  Anorectal melanoma (AM) forms a rare but highly malignant subset of mucosal melanoma with an extremely poor prognosis. Although AMs display histological and immunohistochemical features very similar to cutaneous melanoma (CM), no association exists either with exposure to ultraviolet light or with melanocytic naevi. While AMs are clearly distinguished from CM by displaying few BRAF mutations, they are commonly indistinguishable from CM at the level of gene expression. The aim was to carry out expression analyses of classical immunohistochemical markers and of the protein deleted in malignant brain tumours 1 (DMBT1) in cases of primary anorectal malignant melanoma and CM.Methods and results:  Expression analyses of classical immunohistochemical markers (S100, HMB45, Melan A and MiTF) and of the protein DMBT1 were carried out in 27 cases of primary anorectal malignant melanoma and 26 cases of CM. All AM cases analysed showed expression of at least three of the classical markers for melanoma. However, immunohistochemistry showed 19 out of 27 AM to be positive for DMBT1, which represented a statistically significant difference (P = 0.0009) compared with CM (six out of 26), which more commonly are negative for DMBT1 expression.Conclusion:  These results identify DMBT1 as a molecular feature that may allow distinction between AM and CM and support the notion that AM represents an entity molecularly distinct from CM.
Expression of BAFF‐R and TACI in reactive lymphoid tissues and B‐cell lymphomas
Authors: Wada Kiriko , Maeda Kunihiko , Tajima Katsushi , Kato Takeo , Kobata Tetsuji , Yamakawa Mitsunori 
Published: January 2009

Aims:  The receptor for B‐cell‐activating factor belonging to the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF‐R) and transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) have been established as binding molecules to BAFF. The aim of this study was to determine the pathological diagnostic roles and clinical significance of these BAFF‐binding receptors in B‐cell neoplasms.Methods and results:  Expression of BAFF‐R and TACI was examined immunohistochemically in reactive lymphoid tissues and B‐cell lymphomas including diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma (MZBCL) and plasma cell myeloma (PCM). In reactive tissues BAFF‐R was expressed exclusively in the cells of the mantle zone and within the germinal centres (GCs), whereas TACI appeared positive in the scattered cells in extrafollicular areas. There were variable patterns of expression of BAFF‐R and TACI amongst the different types of B‐cell lymphomas (MCL and FL: BAFF‐R+TACI−; PCM: BAFF‐R−TACI+; DLBCL and MZBCL: variable expression). Reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction studies supported these results. The overall survival of the BAFF‐R+ DLBCL group was significantly better than that of the BAFF‐R− group.Conclusions:  These results indicate that the assessment of expression of BAFF‐binding receptors aids subclassification and prognostication of DLBCL.