bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Spinal Neurostimulation Systems
Authors: De Andres Jose , Valía Juan Carlos , Cerda-Olmedo German , Quiroz Carolina , Villanueva Vincente , Martinez-Sanjuan Vincente , de Leon-Casasola Oscar 
Published: March 2007

Background
The safety of performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems needs to be documented. A prospective in vivo study in patients with SCS, exploring the changes produced by MRI and the associated side effects, was performed.

Methods
After ethics committee approval and patient consent, 31 consecutive patients with SCS at different spinal levels requiring a scheduled MRI evaluation were studied during an 18-month period. All MRIs were performed with a 1.5-T clinical use magnet and a specific absorption rate of no more than 0.9 W/kg. Frequency tables were used for the descriptive study, whereas comparative evaluations were made with the chi-square test for qualitative variables and single-factor analysis of variance for quantitative variables.

Results
The mean patient age was 49 +/- 9.5 yr; 67.7% were women (n = 21), and 32.3% were men (n = 10). None of the patients experienced hemodynamic, respiratory, or neurologic alterations. Reported changes were as follows: increased temperature in the generator's area (n = 2, 6.5%); increased in the intensity of the stimulation (n = 1, 3.2%); impedance greater than 4,000 Omega on several of the electrodes in the leads (n = 1, 3.2%); telemetry not possible (n = 2, 6.5%). Radiologic evaluation after MRI revealed no spatial displacements of the SCS leads in any case.

Conclusion
Under the conditions of the described protocol, MRI in patients with SCS systems resulted in few complications. None of the recorded problems were serious, and in no case were patients harmed or the systems reprogrammed. Maximum patient satisfaction was reported in all cases.
Removal of Impacted Food in Children With Eosinophilic Esophagitis Using Saeed Banding Device
Authors: Smith Cass R , Miranda Adrian , Rudolph Colin D , Sood Manu R 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTFood impaction in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis is being recognized increasingly. Retrieval of impacted food may be necessary if it does not resolve spontaneously. The present report describes a new technique for removal of friable impacted food from the esophagus using a modified version of the Saeed banding device. With this technique, impacted food was safely removed in a single attempt in each of 3 patients.
Role of Methotrexate in the Management of Crohn Disease
Authors: Ravikumara Madhur , Hinsberger Ann , Spray Christine H 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTBackground:The majority of children with Crohn disease (CD) are likely to need some form of immunomodulatory therapy to maintain remission and to avoid long‐term corticosteroid usage. Although thiopurine agents are commonly used, some children are unresponsive or intolerant to these drugs. Biological agents like infliximab are being increasingly used in these circumstances, but long‐term safety has yet to be established. Methotrexate has been shown to induce and maintain remission in CD in many adult studies, but pediatric data are limited. The present report describes our experience of using methotrexate in CD in children.Patients and Methods:All children with CD treated with methotrexate were identified by the departmental database. Case records were reviewed for site of disease, Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index, medications, time to achieve remission, duration of remission, and complications.Results:A total of 10 children received methotrexate, 7 of whom were female and 3 of whom were male. All of the children had colonic involvement and had active disease despite previous standard medical treatments. Seven children exhibited remission with methotrexate treatment. Median time to achieve remission was 12 weeks and median duration of remission was 21 months to the point of assessment. One child had transient increase of alanine aminotransferase levels and another developed neutropenia, which remitted with dose reduction. None needed discontinuation of methotrexate treatment.Conclusions:Methotrexate is effective and well tolerated in children with CD. It should be considered in those patients who do not experience a remission with standard medications because it may avoid the use of biological agents and their potential uncertain long‐term side effects.
Evaluating sampling strategies and logistic regression methods for modelling complex land cover changes
Authors: RUTHERFORD G. N. , GUISAN A. , ZIMMERMANN N. E. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryThe role of land cover change as a significant component of global change has become increasingly recognized in recent decades. Large databases measuring land cover change, and the data which can potentially be used to explain the observed changes, are also becoming more commonly available. When developing statistical models to investigate observed changes, it is important to be aware that the chosen sampling strategy and modelling techniques can influence results.We present a comparison of three sampling strategies and two forms of grouped logistic regression models (multinomial and ordinal) in the investigation of patterns of successional change after agricultural land abandonment in Switzerland.Results indicated that both ordinal and nominal transitional change occurs in the landscape and that the use of different sampling regimes and modelling techniques as investigative tools yield different results.Synthesis and applications. Our multimodel inference identified successfully a set of consistently selected indicators of land cover change, which can be used to predict further change, including annual average temperature, the number of already overgrown neighbouring areas of land and distance to historically destructive avalanche sites. This allows for more reliable decision making and planning with respect to landscape management. Although both model approaches gave similar results, ordinal regression yielded more parsimonious models that identified the important predictors of land cover change more efficiently. Thus, this approach is favourable where land cover change pattern can be interpreted as an ordinal process. Otherwise, multinomial logistic regression is a viable alternative.
Bedload abrasion and the in situ fragmentation of bivalve shells
Authors: NEWELL ANDREW J. , GOWER DAVID J. , BENTON MICHAEL J. , TVERDOKHLEBOV VALENTIN P. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine how Unio bivalve shells fragment within the channel of the Sakmara River (southern Urals, Russia). The Sakmara River has an abundant bivalve population and a highly variable flow regime which, at low flow, allowed much of the channel bed to be examined. A large data set of 1013 shells (Unio sp.) was examined and these were shown to have consistent patterns of orientation, aspect, shell abrasion, perforation and fracture. The close spatial relationship between areas of shell abrasion, shell perforation and shell fracture showed that they form part of a continuum whereby areas of abrasion evolve into perforations and perforations coalesce and enlarge into fractures. The mechanism of shell damage proposed is one of abrasion in place, whereby the shell remains stationary on the surface of the point bar and is impacted by bedload. Underpinning this process are the hydrodynamic properties of the bivalve shell, with consistency in the orientation and aspect of the valve in a flowing current producing consistency in the distribution of damage on the shell surface. Valves preferentially lie in a convex‐up position and orientate in the flow such that the umbo faces upstream. The elevated, upstream‐facing umbo region is exposed to particle impact and is the first to be abraded and perforated. The vulnerability of the umbo to perforation is greatly increased by the thinness of the shell at the umbo cavity. The in situ abrasion process is enhanced by the development of an armoured gravel bed which restricts valve mobility and maintains shells within the abrasion zone at the sediment–water interface. The in situ abrasion process shows that broken shells are not a reliable indicator of long distance transport. The study also raises the issue that tumbling barrel experiments, which are generally used to simulate shell abrasion, will not replicate the type of directionally focused sand‐blasting which appears to be the principal cause of shell fragmentation in the Sakmara River.
A high‐resolution map of the rice blast resistance gene Pi15 constructed by sequence‐ready markers
Authors: Lin F. , Liu Y. , Wang L. , Liu X. , Pan Q. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe gene Pi15 for resistance of rice to Magnaporthe grisea was previously mapped to a ≈0.7‐cM region on chromosome 9. To further define the chromosomal region of the Pi15 locus, a contig spanning the locus was constructed, in silico, through bioinformatics analysis using a reference sequence of the cultivar ‘Nipponbare’. One simple sequence repeat marker adopted from the International Rice Microsatellite Initiative and six candidate resistance gene (CRG) markers, developed from gene annotation of the reference sequence of the contig, were used for linkage analysis in a mapping population consisting of 504 extremely susceptible F2 plants. The Pi15 locus was delimited to a ≈0.5‐cM region flanked by the markers CRG5 and CRG2 and co‐segregated with the markers BAPi15782, CRG3 and CRG4, which was physically converted to a 44‐kb interval.
Genetic analysis of partial resistance to black stem (Phoma macdonaldii) in sunflower as measured by a seedling test
Authors: Darvishzadeh R. , Sarrafi A. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractPhoma black stem caused by Phoma macdonaldii is one of the most important diseases of sunflower in France. To determine the inheritance of partial resistance to the disease, five sunflower genotypes with a wide range of genetic variability for partial resistance were crossed in diallel fashion. Resistance was measured as reaction of seedlings to infection by P. macdonaldii. Two separate experiments were undertaken in a controlled growth chamber. In each experiment the parental genotypes and their F1 hybrids were inoculated by one of the two selected isolates (MP8 and MP10). Analysis of variance for each of two isolates showed significant variability among parents and F1 hybrids for disease severity score. Combined analysis of variance detected significant interactions between sunflower genotypes and Phoma isolates, suggesting that partial resistance to Phoma black stem should be isolate‐specific. General and specific combining ability effects for resistance to Phoma black stem were highly significant for each of the two isolates, indicating that both kinds of gene effect were important in controlling the inheritance of partial resistance to Phoma black stem. On the basis of the results from this seedling test, the cross between M6‐54‐1 and ENSAT‐R5 genotypes, which are the best general combiners for MP8 and MP10, respectively, could be of value in improving black stem partial resistance to these P. macdonaldii isolates.
Cytological behaviour of the somatic hybrids Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa + P. cincinnata
Authors: Barbosa L. V. , Mondin M. , Oliveira C. A. , Souza A. P. , Vieira M. L. C. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMeiosis and pollen viability of interspecific somatic hybrids, i.e. Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa, the yellow passion fruit + P. cincinnata, a wild species, were examined and compared with their corresponding diploid fusion parents. Firstly, the cybrid nature of these hybrids was confirmed by leaf‐stomatal measurements and RFLP analyses using four mitochondrial genes as probes. The meiotic behaviour revealed relatively high stability, with most of the hybrid cells showing 18 bivalents. Some instability, such as a quadrivalent configuration was also recorded which has been interpreted as an interchange that occurred in the progenitors more than as a result of in vitro culture or chromosome reorganization in the new genome. Even in low frequencies, the occurrence of univalents resulted in mis‐division, laggard and micronucleus formation. High values of pollen viability (>70%) were found in the diploid parents as well as in the hybrid plants. The results are discussed in relation to the possibilities of applying somatic hybridization for improving passion fruit varieties.
Anesthesia in HIV‐infected children
Authors: LEELANUKROM RUENREONG , PANCHAROEN CHITSANU 
Published: March 2007

SummaryIn 2005, it was estimated that 2.3 million children below15 years of age were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS and 570 000 children below 15 years died. Maternal‐infant or vertical transmission is the most common mode of HIV infection in children. As transplacental passage of maternal anti‐HIV antibodies, diagnosis of HIV infection in young infants relies on virologic assays. Infants older than 18 months of age can be diagnosed by serology alone. Pediatric HIV infections are classified according to Center for Disease Control and Prevention 1994 revised classification system. The understanding of viral pathogenesis, the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy, and the ability to quantitate viral burden have led to significant reduction in disease progression and morbidity in HIV‐infected children. As survival improves, these children will require anesthesia care and pain treatment during the course of their illness. Considerations for the anesthesiologist include: possible involvement of multiple organ systems, adverse reactions and drug interactions of antiretroviral agents and adequate infection control to prevent HIV transmission in hospital and other infections to the immunocompromized patients. Finally, care should be taken not to violate confidentiality.
Unilateral postoperative visual loss due to central retinal artery occlusion following cervical spine surgery in prone position
Authors: NAKRA DHIRAJ , BALA INDU , PRATAP MONICA , KAUR HARVINDER 
Published: March 2007

SummaryPostoperative visual loss following spinal surgery is a rare complication. Although a number of intraoperative and postoperative factors have been implicated exact etiology still may remain unclear. We report a case of unilateral postoperative visual loss in a patient who had undergone prolonged spine surgery in a prone position.
Structural and functional investigations of the murine cavernosal nerve: a model system for serial spatio‐temporal study of autonomic neuropathy
Authors: Schaumburg Herbert H. , Zotova Elena , Cannella Barbara , Raine Cedric S. , Arezzo Joseph , Tar Moses , Melman Arnold 
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVETo illustrate the ultrastructural fibre composition of the rat cavernosal nerve at serial levels, from its origin in the main pelvic ganglion to its termination in the corpus cavernosum of the distal penile shaft, and to develop a technique that permits repeated electrophysiological recording from the fibres that form the cavernosal nerve distinct from the axons of the dorsal nerve of the penis (DNP).MATERIALS AND METHODSFor the light microscope and ultrastructural studies, Sprague–Dawley rats were anaesthetized and the pelvic organs and lower limbs were perfused with glutaraldehyde through the distal aorta. Tissue samples were embedded in epoxy resin and prepared for light and electron microscopy. Frozen tissue was used for the immunohistochemical studies and sections were stained with rabbit anti‐nitric oxide synthetase 1 (NOS1). For the electrophysiology, anaesthetized rats were used in sterile conditions. Nerve conduction velocity for the cavernosal nerve was assessed from a point 2 mm below the main (major) pelvic ganglion after stimulating the nerve at the crus penis; multi‐unit averaging techniques were used to enhance the recording of slow‐conduction activity. Recordings from the DNP were obtained over the proximal shaft after stimulation at the base of the penis.RESULTSStep‐serial sections of the cavernosal nerve revealed numerous ganglion cells in the initial segments and gradually fewer myelinated fibres at distal levels. At the point of crural entry, the nerve contained almost exclusively unmyelinated axons. As it descended the penile shaft, the nerve separated into small fascicles containing only one to four axons at the level of the distal shaft. In the corpus cavernosum, vesicle‐filled presynaptic axon preterminals were close to smooth muscle fibres, but did not seem to be in direct contact. Immunohistochemical evaluation of NOS1 activity showed intense staining of the fibres of the DNP and most of the neurones in the main pelvic ganglion. There was also scattered NOS1 activity in the nerve bundles of the corpus cavernosum. Electrophysiology identified activity in C fibres on the cavernosal nerve and in Aα–Aδ fibres in the DNP.CONCLUSIONThese results show that it is possible to perform integrated cavernosal pressure monitoring and ultrastructural and electrophysiological studies in this model. These yielded accurate data about the erectile status of the penis, and the state of unmyelinated and myelinated fibres in the DNP and cavernosal nerves of the same animal. This study provides a useful template for future studies of experimental diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
6‐O glucose linoleate supports in vitro human hair growth and lipid synthesis
Authors: Vingler P. , Gautier B. , Dalko M. , Rozot R. , Gaillard O. , Michelet J. F. , Bernard B. A. 
Published: March 2007

SynopsisThe hair follicle is a very active organ with a complex structure, which produces a hair fibre at a rate of 0.3 mm a day. Accordingly, the hair follicle is highly demanding in energy source, as the hair bulb matrix cells are endowed with one of the highest rates of proliferation in the human body. Moreover, recent data have shown the involvement of lipids in hair follicle function. As in vitro‐grown hair follicle keeps producing a hair fibre that closely resembles the natural hair fibre, we decided to use this model to investigate the role of a new of glucose linoleate derivative (6‐O‐linoleyl‐d‐glucose: 6‐O‐GL) as a lipid precursor and energy provider. Our results demonstrated that 6‐O‐GL was (i) quite stable and surprisingly resistant to oxidative degradation, and (ii) readily taken up and metabolized by the hair follicle into various lipids, namely neutral lipids, ceramides and polar lipids. Moreover, it supported hair follicle growth and survival in a glucose‐ and linoleic‐acid free medium. 6‐O‐GL thus appeared to be a bi‐functional nutrient, ensuring both proper fibre quality and production by the hair follicle.
A new technique associated with the evaporimetry method for evaluating occlusion
Authors: Marques J. P. P. , Basso D. S. B. , Nunes A. S. 
Published: March 2007

SynopsisThe stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the skin. It constitutes a permeability barrier that keeps micro‐organisms and toxic agents from entering the skin, while retaining water and electrolytes. In order to preserve its colour and elasticity, the skin needs lipids and water. Certain occlusive products in contact with the skin diminish its natural transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and the occlusion potential of such products can be evaluated with the aid of evaporimetry. The purpose of this work was to increase the sensitivity of the method by associating the well‐established methodology for measuring TEWL with a technique for removing occlusive products from the skin. The present study was designed to evaluate the procedure of measuring TEWL evaporimetrically (the traditional method) in comparison with our new method, which employs the same evaporimetric measurement combined with a removal technique that uses cotton to remove the physical barrier that occlusive products form on the skin. The product used in this study was solid petrolatum (petroleum jelly), which possesses well‐known occlusive properties. The TEWL measurements were made over a pre‐defined period of time, on different skin sites, and were systematically compared with the results generated by an untreated control site. The TEWL was first determined by the classic method (without product removal), then the product was removed and new readings were taken. Our results show that the classic technique was unable to show a statistical distinction between the occlusion capability of solid petrolatum and the untreated control site, whereas this same method used in association with product removal provided a statistically significant difference between the TEWL measured on the occluded and control sites. Therefore, our removal technique associated with the traditional method for measuring TEWL proved capable of increasing the response sensitivity of evaporimetry with occlusive products.
Effect of fluid intake on skin physiology: distinct differences between drinking mineral water and tap water
Authors: Williams S. , Krueger N. , Davids M. , Kraus D. , Kerscher M. 
Published: March 2007

SynopsisIt is generally stated that drinking plenty of water has a positive influence on skin condition. However, there is no published scientific study that has investigated this matter. The aim of our exploratory ‘before‐after’ study was to evaluate the in vivo influence of drinking more than 2 L of mineral water or ordinary tap water per day on skin physiology. Ninety‐three healthy subjects were included in our prospective study. After an initial run‐in phase of 2 weeks to monitor individual drinking habits, subjects had to drink 2.25 L day−1 of either mineral water (n = 53) or tap water (n = 40) for 4 weeks. Bioengineering in vivo measurements on the volar forearm included sonographic evaluation of skin thickness and density, determination of skin surface pH, assessment of skin surface morphology, and measurement of finger circumference. Eighty‐six subjects completed the study. In the mineral water group measurements revealed a statistically significant decrease in skin density. Skin thickness increased slightly, albeit not at a statistically significant level. However, when separately analysing those individuals from the mineral water group, who had routinely drunken comparably little before the start of the study, their skin thickness increased at a statistically significant level. Skin surface pH remained almost unchanged in the physiologically optimal range. In the tap water group, skin density increased significantly, while skin thickness decreased significantly. Skin surface pH decreased at a statistically significant level. While in the mineral water group finger circumference decreased significantly, measurements in the tap water group revealed a statistically significant increase. Objective skin surface morphology did not change in any group. In summary, drinking more than 2 L of water per day can have a significant impact on skin physiology. The exact effects within the skin seem to differ depending on the nature of the water ingested. Randomized, controlled, double‐blind follow‐up trials are warranted to confirm the findings of our exploratory pilot study.
LAND REFORM, IDEOLOGY AND URBAN FOOD SECURITY: ZIMBABWE'S THIRD CHIMURENGA
Authors: IKUBOLAJEH LOGAN B. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper is used to comment on the political, legal and ideological struggles between the Zimbabwean State and an alliance comprised of the Commercial Farmers Union of Zimbabwe (CFU) and the British Government over the country's land reform and the theoretical context in which these processes may be situated. A related and equally important objective of the study is to understand how ordinary Zimbabweans construe the impacts of the unfolding dynamics on their livelihoods. The study examines the mechanisms, which both the State and the alliance have used to manipulate land reform in pursuit of their various ideological and political objectives. Finally, it explores how these strategies are being interpreted by the urban poor in the local discourse of food insecurity. These issues are all contextualised in terms of what a former Zimbabwe cabinet minister describes as the Third Chimurenga, a reference to the country's first two agrarian/liberation struggles or chimurengas.