bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shaping ability of ProFile.04 Taper Series 29 rotary nickel‐titanium instruments in simulated root canals. Part 1
Authors: THOMPSON S. A. , DUMMER P. M. H. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe aim of this study was to determine the shaping ability of ProFile.04 Taper Series 29 nickel‐titanium instruments in simulated canals. A total of 40 simulated root canals made up of four different shapes in terms of angle and position of curvature were prepared by ProFile instruments using a step‐down approach. Part 1 of this two‐part report describes the efficacy of the instruments in terms of preparation time, instrument failure, canal blockages, loss of canal length and three‐dimensional canal form. The time necessary for canal preparation was not influenced significantly by canal shape. No instrument fractures occurred but a total of 52 instruments deformed. Size 6 instruments deformed the most followed by sizes 5, 3 and 4. Canal shape did not influence significantly instrument deformation. None of the canals became blocked with debris and loss of working distance was on average 0.5 mm or less. Intracanal impressions of canal form demonstrated that most canals had definite apical stops, smooth canal walls and good flow and taper. Under the conditions of this study, ProFile.04 Taper Series 29rotary nickel‐titanium instruments prepared simulated canals rapidly and created good three‐dimensional form. A substantial number of instruments deformed but it was not possible to determine whether this phenomenon occurred because of the nature of the experimental model or through an inherent design weakness in the instruments.
The effectiveness of three irrigating solutions on root canal cleaning after hand and mechanical preparation
Authors: LIOLIOS E. , ECONOMIDES N. , PARISSIS‐MESSIMERIS S. , BOUTSIOUKIS A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of three irrigating solutions after hand and mechanical instrumentation. Sixty intact, single, straight‐rooted, human teeth were used in this study. They were instrumented using K‐files sizes 15 to 50 with hand or mechanical instrumentation. Mechanical instrumentation was with one of two handpieces, the Endocursor or Endolift. Instrumentation time for each file was 1 min. Each change of file was followed by irrigation with 1 mL 1% NaOCl. A flush of 2 mL of one of three irrigating solutions Largal Ultra, Tubulicid Plus or 50% citric acid, was administered at the end of the instrumentation and a final flush of 5 mL distilled water completed the treatment. The specimens were prepared and viewed under the scanning electron microscope. There were no significant differences in the smear layers produced by the three methods of instrumentation. The use of Largal Ultra and Tubulicid Plus removed considerable amounts of the smear layer regardless of the method of instrumentation. The use of 50% citric acid, on the other hand, removed the smear layer only partially whilst producing rather diverse findings.
Identification of a novel 120 bp allele at the TNFd microsatellite locus
Authors: Wastowski I. J. , Peres N. T. A. , Simões R. T. , Castelli E. C. , Simões A. L. , Martinez‐Rossi N. M. , Donadi E. A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine mainly secreted by macrophages and T‐cells that play a key role in the pathogenesis of many infectious and inflammatory diseases. The TNF gene cluster is located within the class‐III region of the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex on human chromosome 6p21. A cluster of six multiallelic microsatellites has been identified in the TNF region, named TNF a–e. TNFb, TNFc, TNFd, and TNFe are (GA)n repeats, whereas TNFa and TNFf are (GT)n and (CA)n repeats, respectively. The TNFd microsatellite locus maps 8–10 kb centromeric to the TNF‐α gene, downstream to the TNF‐β gene.
Novel cynomolgus macaque MHC‐DPB1 polymorphisms in three South‐East Asian populations*
Authors: Sano K. , Shiina T. , Kohara S. , Yanagiya K. , Hosomichi K. , Shimizu S. , Anzai T. , Watanabe A. , Ogasawara K. , Torii R. , Kulski J. K. , Inoko H. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractCynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis, Mafa), alias the crab‐eating monkeys or long‐tailed macaques, live across a vast range of South‐East Asia. These non‐human primates have emerged as important animal models in infectious and chronic diseases and transplantation studies, necessitating a more extensive characterization of their major histocompatibility complex polymorphic regions. The current information on the polymorphic variation or diversity of the Mafa‐DPB1 locus is largely limited in comparison with the more commonly studied rhesus macaque DPB1 locus. In this article, to better elucidate the degree and types of polymorphisms and genetic differences of Mafa‐DPB1 locus among three South‐East Asian populations and to investigate how the allele differences between macaques and humans might affect their respective immune responses, we identified 40 alleles within exon 2 of the Mafa‐DPB1 locus by DNA sequencing using 217 individuals. We also performed evolutionary and population analyses using these sequences to reveal some population‐specific alleles and trans‐species allelic conservation between the cynomolgus macaques and the rhesus macaques. Of the 40 new alleles, eight belong to a newly identified lineage group not previously found in the rhesus macaque species. This allele information will be useful for medical researchers using the cynomolgus macaques in disease and immunological studies.
Maternal medicine: Drug prescription patterns before, during and after pregnancy for chronic, occasional and pregnancy‐related drugs in the Netherlands
Authors: Bakker MK , Jentink J , Vroom F , Van Den Berg PB , De Walle HEK , De Jong‐Van Den Berg LTW 
Published: April 2006

Objective  To compare the prescription of drugs in women over a period from 2 years before until 3 months after pregnancy, regarding the type of drugs used and the fetal risk.Design  A cohort study based on pharmacy records of women giving birth to a child between 1994 and 2003.Setting  The study was performed with data from the InterAction database, containing prescription‐drug‐dispensing data from community pharmacies.Population  The study population included 5412 women for whom complete pharmacy records were available.Methods  Drugs were classified into three categories: (1) drugs for chronic conditions, (2) drugs for occasional use and (3) drugs for pregnancy‐related symptoms and also classified according to the Australian classification system.Main outcome measures  The prescription rate was calculated as the number of women per 100 women who received one or more prescriptions for a given drug within a specified time period.Results  About 79.1% of the women received at least one prescription during pregnancy. The prescription rate for most drugs for chronic diseases and for occasional use decreased during pregnancy, whereas, as expected, the prescription rate for pregnancy‐related drugs increased. During the first trimester of pregnancy, 1.7% of all drugs prescribed for chronic conditions and 2.3% of the occasional drugs were classified as harmful.Conclusions  The increase in prescription rate during pregnancy is caused by an increase in prescription rate of drugs for pregnancy‐related symptoms. The prescription of harmful drugs is more commonly associated with drugs for occasional use rather than with drugs for chronic conditions. Therefore, a more cautious prescribing of drugs to healthy women in the fertile age is necessary.
Observations of the Subtropical Mode Water Evolution from the Kuroshio Extension System Study
Authors: Qiu Bo , Hacker Peter , Chen Shuiming , Donohue Kathleen A. , Watts D. Randolph , Mitsudera Humio , Hogg Nelson G. , Jayne Steven R. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Properties and seasonal evolution of North Pacific Ocean subtropical mode water (STMW) within and south of the Kuroshio Extension recirculation gyre are analyzed from profiling float data and additional hydrographic and shipboard ADCP measurements taken during 2004. The presence of an enhanced recirculation gyre and relatively low mesoscale eddy variability rendered this year favorable for the formation of STMW. Within the recirculation gyre, STMW formed from late-winter convection that reached depths greater than 450 m near the center of the gyre. The lower boundary of STMW, corresponding to σθ ≃ 25.5 kg m−3, was set by the maximum depth of the late-winter mixed layer. Properties within the deep portions of the STMW layer remained largely unchanged as the season progressed. In contrast, the upper boundary of the STMW layer eroded steadily as the seasonal thermocline deepened from late April to August. Vertical eddy diffusivity responsible for this erosion was estimated from a budget analysis of potential vorticity to be in the range of ∼2–5 × 10−4 m2 s−1. The latitudinal extent of the STMW formation was narrow, extending from 30°N to the Kuroshio Extension jet near 35°N. South of 30°N, STMW did not form locally but was transported from the recirculation gyre by lateral induction.
On the Interaction of Surface Waves and Upper Ocean Turbulence
Authors: Ardhuin Fabrice , Jenkins Alastair D. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
The phase-averaged energy evolution for random surface waves interacting with oceanic turbulence is investigated. The change in wave energy balances the change in the production of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE). Outside the surface viscous layer and the bottom boundary layer the turbulent flux is not related to the wave-induced shear so that eddy viscosity parameterizations cannot be applied. Instead, it is assumed that the wave motion and the turbulent fluxes are not correlated on the scale of the wave period. Using a generalized Lagrangian average it is found that the mean wave-induced shears, despite zero vorticity, yield a production of TKE as if the Stokes drift shear were a mean flow shear. This result provides a new interpretation of a previous derivation from phase-averaged equations by McWilliams et al. It is found that the present source or sink of wave energy is smaller but is still on the order of the empirically adjusted functions used for the dissipation of swell energy in operational wave models, as well as observations of that phenomenon by Snodgrass et al.
Contrasting Characteristics of Convection over the Northern and Southern South China Sea during SCSMEX
Authors: Ciesielski Paul E. , Johnson Richard H. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Observations from two enhanced sounding arrays during the May–June 1998 South China Sea Monsoon Experiment (SCSMEX) are used to determine and contrast the properties of convection over the northern and southern South China Sea (SCS). A regression analysis between SST data and monthly rainfall indicates that the ENSO signal exerted a strong influence on the rainfall distribution over the SCS during SCSMEX. This resulted in wetter-than-normal conditions along the south China coast and northern SCS, and generally drier-than-average conditions elsewhere, particularly over the Philippine Islands.
The monsoon onset as determined by a shift in the low-level winds from easterly to southwesterly over the SCS occurred around mid-May. Over the southern enhanced sounding array (SESA), the onset was characterized by a rainy period associated with the passage of a convectively coupled Kelvin wave. This was followed by a weeklong break and then several episodic rain events with increasingly higher rain rates. Rainfall over the northern enhanced sounding array (NESA), which was largely out of phase with SESA rainfall events, occurred primarily during two 10-day periods separated by a weeklong break. Convective characteristics over the SESA, deduced primarily from heat and moisture budget profiles, indicate a high stratiform rain fraction consisting of alternating periods with decaying mesoscale systems that organized near the western Borneo coastline and shallower convective clouds. In contrast, NESA-averaged profiles were indicative of deep convection with a relatively small stratiform rain fraction, which was confirmed with radar analyses during the onset convective period.
The diurnal cycle of convection is a dominant feature throughout much of the SCS. Over both budget regions, early morning (0500–0800 LT) convective systems were frequently initiated near the coasts, then gradually dissipated during the course of the day as the midlevel steering currents moved the systems away from the coastline. These decaying convective systems resulted in an early afternoon (1400 LT) rainfall peak over both sonde arrays.
Socioeconomic Costs of Open Surgery and Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Benign Cranial Base Tumors
Authors: Cho Der-Yang , Tsao Meilan , Lee Wen-Yuan , Chang Cheng-Siu 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative socioeconomic costs of benign cranial base tumors treated with open surgery and gamma knife radiosurgery.

METHODS:
In a retrospective study, we studied 174 patients with benign cranial base tumors, less than 3 cm in diameter (or volume less than 30 ml), admitted in the past 5 years. Group A (n = 94) underwent open surgery for removal of the tumors, whereas Group B (n = 80) underwent gamma knife radiosurgery. The socioeconomic costs were evaluated by both direct and indirect cost. The direct costs comprised intensive care unit cost, ward cost, operating room cost, and outpatient visiting cost. The indirect costs included loss of workdays and mortality. The length of hospital stay, the number of lost workdays, surgical complications, mortality, and cost-effectiveness analysis were calculated as well. Student t test and χ2 test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS:
The mean length of hospital stay for open surgery was 18.2 ± 30.4 days including 5.0 ± 14.7 days of intensive care unit stay and 13.0 ± 15.2 days of ward stay, P&lt;0.01. The mean hospital stay for gamma knife was 2.2 ± 0.9 days with no need of intensive care unit stay, P&lt;0.01. The mean loss of workdays for open surgery was 160 ± 158 days and 8.0 ± 9.0 days for gamma knife, P&lt;0.01. The gamma knife cost per hour (US $1435) is higher than the open surgery cost per hour (US $450), P&lt;0.01. The direct cost for gamma knife (US $9677 ± $6700) is higher than that for open surgery (US $5837 ± $6587), P&lt;0.01. Open surgery had more complication rates (31.2%) than gamma knife (3.8%). Open surgery had a mortality rate of 5.3%; there was no mortality for gamma knife. The indirect costs, including loss of workdays and mortality, were significantly higher for open surgery than for gamma knife, P&lt;0.01. Finally, the socioeconomic cost (US $34,453 ± $97,277) is higher for open surgery than for gamma knife (US $10,044 ± $7481), P&lt;0.01. The CEA is significantly higher in gamma knife (US $3762/quality-adjusted life year) than in open surgery (US $8996/quality-adjusted life year), P&lt;0.01.

CONCLUSION:
Most of the socioeconomic loss with open surgery for benign cranial base tumors comes from the indirect costs of workdays lost and mortality. Gamma knife radiosurgery is a worthwhile treatment to our patients and to our society because it may shorten hospital stays and workdays lost and reduce complications, mortality, socioeconomic loss, and achieve better cost-effectiveness.
Minimally Invasive Lateral Mass Screw Fixation in the Cervical Spine: Initial Clinical Experience with Long-term Follow-up
Authors: Wang Michael Y. , Levi Allan D.O. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
Lateral mass screw fixation of the subaxial cervical spine has been a major advancement for spinal surgeons. This technique provides excellent three-dimensional fixation from C3 to C7. However, exposure of the dorsal spinal musculature can produce significant postoperative neck pain. The incorporation of a minimal access approach using tubular dilator retractors can potentially overcome the drawbacks associated with the extensive muscle stripping needed for traditional surgical exposures.

METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was performed on the first 18 patients treated using lateral mass screws placed in a minimally invasive fashion. All patients, except 2 who were lost to follow-up, had a 2-year minimum clinical follow-up. All patients had a computed tomography (CT) scan in the immediate postoperative period to check the positioning of implanted hardware. Operative time, blood loss, and complications were ascertained. Fusion was assessed radiographically with dynamic radiographs and CT scans.

RESULTS:
Sixteen of the 18 patients underwent successful screw placement. Two patients had the minimal access procedure converted to an open surgery because radiographic visualization was not adequate in the lower cervical spine. Six cases involved unilateral instrumentation and 10 had bilateral screws. A total of 39 levels were instrumented. There were no intraoperative complications, and follow-up CT scans demonstrated no bony violations except in cases where bicortical purchase was achieved. All patients achieved bony fusion.

CONCLUSION:
A minimally invasive approach using tubular dilator retractors can be a safe and effective means for placing lateral mass screws in the subaxial cervical spine. Up to two levels can be treated in this manner. This approach preserves the integrity of the muscles and ligaments that maintain the posterior tension band of the cervical spine but requires adequate intraoperative imaging.
Suboptimal Sphenoid and Sellar Exposure: A Consistent Finding in Patients Treated with Repeat Transsphenoidal Surgery for Residual Endocrine-inactive Macroadenomas
Authors: Mattozo Carlos A. , Dusick Joshua R. , Esposito Felice , Mora Hugo , Cohan Pejman , Malkasian Dennis , Kelly Daniel F. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
In a series of patients with residual endocrine-inactive macroadenomas who underwent repeat surgery, we assess possible reasons for prior subtotal removal, reoperative success, complication rates, and patient impressions.

METHODS:
All patients were identified who had a prior subtotal removal of an endocrine-inactive macroadenoma and were reoperated on for residual sellar tumor via an endonasal approach.

RESULTS:
Over 6 years, of 188 consecutive patients with endocrine-inactive adenomas, 30 (16%) had repeat surgery (age, 15–77 yr; median interval between surgeries, 25 mo; median follow-up, 20 mo). Maximal tumor diameter averaged 2.4 ± 0.9 cm. At reoperation, a suboptimal bony exposure was seen in all 30 patients: at the sphenoid keel, the sella, or both in 97, 93, and 90% of patients, respectively. Cavernous sinus invasion was seen in 16 (53%) patients and a fibrous/rubbery consistency in 12 (40%). Gross total tumor removal was achieved in 17 (57%) patients, including 12 of 14 (86%) with noninvasive tumors and 5 of 16 (31%) with invasive tumors, (P&lt;0.01). All six fibrous/rubbery but noninvasive tumors were totally removed. Of 16 patients with preoperative visual loss, 15 (94%) improved. Complications included one each of cerebrospinal fluid leak, delayed sinusitis, and new hypothyroidism. In 17 patients with prior sublabial surgery who completed questionnaires, the second (endonasal) surgery was associated with an easier recovery, less pain, and better nasal airflow in 82, 88, and 93%, respectively (P&lt;0.0001).

CONCLUSION:
In patients with residual sellar endocrine-inactive adenomas, a suboptimal opening at the sphenoid keel or sella at the first surgery and a high proportion of fibrous/rubbery tumors likely contributed to prior subtotal removal of otherwise accessible tumor. With a wider exposure, most noninvasive tumors can be totally removed, whereas invasive tumors can be effectively debulked. An endonasal reoperation is well tolerated with a low complication rate.
The Currarino Triad: Neurosurgical Considerations
Authors: Emans Pieter J. , van Aalst Jasper , van Heurn Ernest L.W. , Marcelis Carlo , Kootstra Gauke , Beets-Tan Regina G.H. , Vles Johannes S.H. , Beuls Emile A.M. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
The Currarino triad, a relatively uncommon hereditary disorder, is often associated with tethered cord and anterior myelomeningocele. Little is known of the implications of these neuroanatomic malformations or of the neurosurgical attitude. The objective of this study is to identify the spinal cord and meningeal malformations associated with the Currarino triad and to discuss the risks and benefits of surgical intervention.

METHODS:
We analyzed the spinal cord malformations and the neurosurgical involvement with the Currarino triad by retrospective chart review.

RESULTS:
The Currarino triad neuroanatomic malformations were identified in five patients. The Currarino triad was associated with a tethered cord in three patients, a myelomeningocele in five patients, a syrinx in two patients, a fistula between the colon and spinal canal in two patients, and an Arnold-Chiari Type 1 malformation in one patient.

CONCLUSION:
Full spine imaging is required for all patients diagnosed with the Currarino triad. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head should be performed in every patient with neuroanatomic anomalies. Surgery of an anterior myelomeningocele is not necessarily indicated, only in the rare case in which the space-occupying aspect is expected to cause constipation or problems during pregnancy or delivery. Constipation directly after birth is seen in virtually all patients with the triad. Therefore, constipation cannot be used to diagnose a tethered cord syndrome nor indicate tethered cord release. Fistulas between the spinal canal and colon have to be operated on directly.
Duration of In Vivo Antimicrobial Activity of Antibiotic-impregnated Cerebrospinal Fluid Catheters
Authors: Pattavilakom Ananthababu , Kotasnas Despina , Korman Tony M. , Xenos Chris , Danks Andrew 
Published: April 2006

AbstractOBJECTIVE:Shunt infection is a major neurosurgical concern even after 50 years of experience with shunt surgery. Staphylococcus species are responsible for the majority of cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections. In vitro, antibiotic-impregnated cerebrospinal fluid shunt catheters (AIC) have demonstrated protection against multiple staphylococcus species and strains for reasonable periods. We aim to study the longevity of antimicrobial activity of AIC in vivo by using explanted catheters.METHODS:Twenty-five AICs (rifampicin [0.054%] and clindamycin [0.15%]) were explanted from 18 patients for noninfectious reasons, from 11 to 700 days postimplantation. The catheters were set up on standardized Staphylococcus aureus culture plates to detect antimicrobial activity. Unused fresh AIC segments were used as control in each culture plates.RESULTS:Fourteen explanted AICs demonstrated persistent antimicrobial activity against staphylococcal species. Antimicrobial activity was detected for a period of implantation up to 127 days. This is longer than that predicted by in vitro models.CONCLUSION:The persistent antimicrobial activity is likely to translate to ongoing in vivo antimicrobial protection. This period of protection exceeds that during which most shunt infections occur.