bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epithelioid Sarcoma in the Hand
Authors: Rajan Sorna , Skau Tommy 
Published: March 2006

An illustrative case of epithelioid sarcoma in the hand of a young man, causing considerable diagnostic problems, is presented. Epithelioid sarcoma is a malignant lesion, first described by Enzinger in 1970. Although epithelioid sarcoma is the third commonest soft tissue sarcoma in the upper extremity (Bryan, 1974) it still causes confusion in differential diagnosis, both to the surgeon and to the pathologist. Because of its deceptively harmless appearance during the initial period and its clinical and microscopical similarity to an inflammatory process, it is often mistaken for a benign lesion. The purpose of our paper is to draw attention to this rare malignant tumour. This case illustrates a course similar to those described previously. (Enzinger, 1970: Santiago, 1972).
Acute Drug-Induced Vascular Injury in Beagle Dogs: Pathology and Correlating Genomic Expression
Authors: Enerson Bradley E. , Lin Aiping , Lu Bin , Zhao Hongyu , Lawton Michael P. , Floyd Eugenia 
Published: March 2006

Acute vascular injury that leads to vascular inflammation is a common finding in the preclinical toxicity testing of drugs in rats and dogs. However, the relevance of this finding for risk to humans is unclear. Concern about the safety of these drugs is heightened by the current lack of noninvasive clinical methods to predict the onset of vascular damage in animals or humans. Determining the relevance of this poorly understood preclinical outcome for humans requires a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of injury in addition to the development of sensitive and specific leading biomarkers for the clinical diagnosis of acute vascular damage. Most molecular research on this toxicity has been performed in rats, but recent development of canine gene expression microarrays makes transcriptomic studies now possible in the dog. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of drug-induced vascular injury in dogs using gene arrays. After treating Beagles with toxic doses of CI-947, an adenosine receptor agonist, we profiled gene expression in the coronary arteries and correlated those changes with histopathology at 16 and 24 hours after dosing. The results demonstrated that pathobiological processes such as stimulation of the innate immune response, increased extracellular matrix turnover and oxidative stress were active at times of very early injury.
Standardized volume rendering for magnetic resonance angiography measurements in the abdominal aorta
Authors: Persson A. , Brismar T. B. , Lundström C. , Dahlström N. , Othberg F. , Smedby Ö. 
Published: March 2006

Purpose: To compare three methods for standardizing volume rendering technique (VRT) protocols by studying aortic diameter measurements in magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) datasets. Material and Methods: Datasets from 20 patients previously examined with gadolinium-enhanced MRA and with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for abdominal aortic aneurysm were retrospectively evaluated by three independent readers. The MRA datasets were viewed using VRT with three different standardized transfer functions: the percentile method (Pc-VRT), the maximum-likelihood method (ML-VRT), and the partial range histogram method (PRH-VRT). The aortic diameters obtained with these three methods were compared with freely chosen VRT parameters (F-VRT) and with maximum intensity projection (MIP) concerning inter-reader variability and agreement with the reference method DSA. Results: F-VRT parameters and PRH-VRT gave significantly higher diameter values than DSA, whereas Pc-VRT gave significantly lower values than DSA. The highest interobserver variability was found for F-VRT parameters and MIP, and the lowest for Pc-VRT and PRH-VRT. All standardized VRT methods were significantly superior to both MIP and F-VRT in this respect. The agreement with DSA was best for PRH-VRT, which was the only method with a mean error below 1 mm and which also had the narrowest limits of agreement (95% of cases between 2.1 mm below and 3.1 mm above DSA). Conclusion: All the standardized VRT methods compare favorably with MIP and VRT with freely selected parameters as regards interobserver variability. The partial range histogram method, although systematically overestimating vessel diameters, gives results closest to those of DSA.
Effect of saline pushing after contrast material injection in abdominal multidetector computed tomography with the use of different iodine concentrations
Authors: Tatsugami F. , Matsuki M. , Kani H. , Tanikake M. , Miyao M. , Yoshikawa S. , Narabayashi I. 
Published: March 2006

Purpose: To investigate whether saline pushing after contrast material improves hepatic vascular and parenchymal enhancement, and to determine whether this technique permits decreased contrast material concentration. Material and Methods: 120 patients who underwent hepatic multidetector computed tomography were divided randomly into four groups (Groups A–D): receiving 100 ml of contrast material (300 mgI/ml) only (A) or with 50 ml of saline solution (B); or 100 ml of contrast material (350 mgI/ml) only (C) or with 50 ml of saline solution (D). Computed tomography (CT) values of the aorta in the arterial phase, the portal vein in the portal venous inflow phase, and the liver in the hepatic phase were measured. Visualization of the hepatic artery and the portal vein by 3D CT angiography was evaluated as well. Results: Although the enhancement values of the aorta were not improved significantly with saline pushing, they continued at a high level to the latter slices with saline pushing. The enhancement value of the portal vein increased significantly and CT portography was improved with saline pushing. The enhancement value of the liver was not improved significantly using saline pushing. In a comparison between groups B and C, the enhancement values of the aorta and portal vein and the visualization of CT arteriography and portography were not statistically different. Conclusion: The saline pushing technique can contribute to a decrease in contrast material concentration for 3D CT arteriography and portography.
Magnetic resonance renography findings and their clinical associations in nephropathia epidemica
Authors: Paakkala A. , Ryymin P. , Dastidar P. , Huhtala H. , Mustonen J. 
Published: March 2006

Purpose: To evaluate, with magnetic resonance renography (MRR), the dynamics of renal function in patients with nephropathia epidemica (NE) and to correlate the findings with the clinical course of NE. Material and Methods: MRR was performed on 20 hospitalized NE patients during the acute phase of the disease. A repeat MRR study was done 5–8 months later. Primary and repeat MRR studies were compared and functional findings evaluated. Results: The uptake slope of the contrast enhancement curve was abnormal in the primary study in 14 patients, maximum level of enhancement in 11, decreasing slope of contrast enhancement curve in 14, and signal drop at time in 10 patients when the primary and repeat studies were compared. The greater change in the uptake slope of contrast enhancement, maximum level of enhancement, decreasing slope of enhancement, and signal drop at time between primary and repeat MRR studies evinced a mild association with the severity of clinical renal insufficiency and fluid volume overload. Conclusion: Measurable functional MRR findings were recorded in 14/20 NE patients. The severity of the findings was mildly associated with the degree of clinical renal insufficiency and fluid volume overload.
Characterization of the metabolic phenotypes of Cushing's syndrome and growth hormone deficiency: a study of body composition and energy metabolism
Authors: Burt Morton G. , Gibney James , Ho Ken K. Y. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObjective  A comparison of the severity and distribution of perturbations in body composition and their relationship to energy metabolism in glucocorticoid excess and GH deficiency (GHD) has not been undertaken before. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of Cushing's syndrome (CS) and GHD on whole and regional body composition and energy metabolism.Design  Cross‐sectional study design.Patients  Eighteen subjects with CS (12 women, aged = 41·5 ± 3·0 years, 24‐h urinary free cortisol = 1601 ± 361 nmol/day, normal < 300 nmol/day), 22 subjects with GHD (14 women, age = 42·9 ± 2·9 years) and 18 normal subjects (11 women, age = 46·8 ± 2·8 years).Measurements  Lean body mass (LBM), fat mass (FM) and regional body composition were assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Resting energy expenditure (REE) and fat oxidation (Fox) were assessed by indirect calorimetry.Results  Mean percentage FM was significantly greater by 30% in CS (P = 0·002) and 22% in GH‐deficient subjects (P = 0·014) than in normal subjects. LBM was significantly lower by 15% in CS (P = 0·002) and 11% in GHD (P = 0·013). In CS, the proportion of lean tissue in the limbs was 12% less than in normal (P = 0·001) and GH‐deficient subjects (P = 0·0005). Truncal fat represented a greater proportion of total FM in CS (52·5 ± 1·8%vs. 46·9 ± 1·3%, P = 0·014) than in normal subjects, but not in GHD. REE and Fox, corrected for LBM, were significantly lower in GHD (P < 0·02 for both vs. normal) but not in CS.Conclusion  FM was higher and LBM lower in both CS and GHD. However, there is a greater abnormality of regional body composition in patients with CS who exhibit a lower limb lean mass and a greater truncal fat. Reduced REE and Fox contribute to increased adiposity in GHD. As REE and Fox are not perturbed in CS, other mechanisms must explain the marked gain in truncal and total fat.
Comorbidity in newly diagnosed thyroid cancer patients: a population‐based study on prevalence and the impact on treatment and survival
Authors: Kuijpens Johannes L. P. , Janssen‐Heijnen Maryska L. G. , Lemmens Valery E. P. P. , Haak Harm R. , Heijckmann A. Caroline , Coebergh Jan‐Willem W. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryBackground  Comorbidity may be an important contributory factor to differences in the treatment and outcome of cancer, especially in older patients. It might also provide information on the aetiology of the cancer in cases of high or low frequency. The aim of this study was to describe the spectrum of comorbidity and the possible impact on treatment and survival in newly diagnosed thyroid cancer (TC).Design  A population‐based observational study.Setting The Eindhoven Cancer Registry, Comprehensive Cancer Centre South (IKZ), the Netherlands.Methods  Demographic, histological and treatment data on all 417 TC patients diagnosed between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2002 were collected and followed up till 2004. An adapted version of the list of Charlson was used for registration of clinically relevant concomitant disorders. The prevalence of comorbidity at diagnosis was analysed according to gender, age, histological type and therapy. Crude 6‐month and 1‐ and 5‐year survival rates were determined. A regression analysis was performed to identify independent variables related to survival.Results  Information on comorbidity was available for 378 patients (91%). Comorbidity was present in 32% of the patients; 23% had one and 12% had two or more concomitant diseases. The prevalence of comorbidity increased with age. Hypertension was the most frequent comorbidity (18%), followed by ‘other cancers’ (7%), cardiovascular diseases (6%) and diabetes mellitus (6%). The prevalence of hypertension was twice as high as expected at all age groups. Six patients > 60 years had had tuberculosis. Initial surgical treatment was negatively related to the presence of concomitant diseases in patients < 70 years (P = 0·02), but not in patients ≥ 70 years. Comorbidity was not independently associated with crude survival up to 5 years.Conclusions  A previous diagnosis of hypertension was associated with TC. The use of external radiation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for tuberculosis probably explains the high prevalence of former tuberculosis in elderly TC patients. Treatment choices appeared to be influenced by the presence of comorbidity. Comorbidity did not affect survival up to 5 years; a study with a longer period of follow‐up is needed.
Influence of parasellar extension of macroprolactinomas defined by magnetic resonance imaging on their responsiveness to dopamine agonist therapy
Authors: Delgrange Etienne , Duprez Thierry , Maiter Dominique 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObjective and Design  The resistance of macroprolactinomas to dopamine agonist (DA) therapy, whether defined as an absence of PRL normalization or the lack of significant tumour shrinkage after prolonged treatment at high doses, is usually regarded as unpredictable. The aim of this retrospective study, conducted in a teaching hospital, was to determine whether cavernous sinus (CS) invasion assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is associated with a higher rate of resistance to DA therapy.Methods  Forty‐nine patients with a macroprolactinoma were included in this study and classified into four groups according to the percentage of encasement of the intracavernous internal carotid artery (ICA) by the tumour. All patients received DA as the primary treatment, mainly cabergoline (CAB). PRL normalization and tumour shrinkage during treatment were evaluated as a function of CS invasion.Results  Tumours encasing more than three‐quarters of the intracavernous ICA (group 4) were less responsive to DA therapy, exhibiting a lower rate of early (≤ 3 months) PRL normalization (8%vs. 69% in the others groups; P < 0·01) under a higher dose of CAB (median: 3·5 mg vs. 1·0 mg per week; P < 0·01). CS invasion was a strongly significant and independent predictor of hormonal resistance to CAB (P < 0·01). This hormonal resistance occurred in eight patients (16%), all but one belonging to group 4. Significant tumour shrinkage was observed in 31 out of 45 assessable cases (69%) and was more likely to occur in the case of PRL normalization (P < 0·01).Conclusions  Parasellar extension of macroprolactinomas, assessed on the basis of strict MRI criteria, may predict a negative response to DA. The responsiveness of noninvasive macroprolactinomas (over 90%) is similar to that reported in microprolactinomas, whereas invasive tumours are resistant to treatment in more than 50% of cases.
Effects of oestradiol and oestroprogestin on erythrocyte antioxidative enzyme system activity in postmenopausal women
Authors: Bednarek‐Tupikowska Grazyna , Tworowska Urszula , Jedrychowska Iwona , Radomska Barbara , Tupikowski Krzysztof , Bidzinska‐Speichert Bozena , Milewicz Andrzej 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObjective  Data concerning the relationship between sex steroid hormones and the cellular antioxidative enzyme system are controversial. We investigated the effects of oestradiol deficiency after menopause and the influence of transdermal oestradiol therapy (ET) and hormonal (oestradiol plus medroxyprogesterone) replacement therapy (HT) on erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) and catalase (CAT). GSH and selenium (Se) concentrations were also estimated. Serum lipid peroxide (LPO) levels were measured as an indicator of free‐radical production and lipid peroxidation.Patients  The study group consisted of 80 postmenopausal women, divided into two subgroups: 26 women with surgically induced menopause (ET1) and 54 women with physiological menopause (HT1). Forty premenopausal healthy volunteers were controls (C group).Results  LPO was higher in postmenopausal women and decreased after both ET and HT. GSH‐Px and GSH were lower in the postmenopausal groups but increased significantly after both types of therapy. Se concentrations did not differ significantly among the groups. CAT activities were similar in all groups and decreased after ET and HT. SOD activities in postmenopausal women were similar to those in the C group and did not change significantly after treatment.Conclusions  The administration of natural oestrogens to postmenopausal women diminishes oxidative stress and increases antioxidative cell potency.
Congenital primary hypothyroidism with subsequent adenomatous goiter in a Turkish patient caused by a homozygous 10‐bp deletion in the thyroid peroxidase (TPO) gene
Authors: Pfarr Nicole , Musholt Thomas J. , Musholt Petra B. , Brzezinska Rita , Pohlenz Joachim 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObjective  Congenital primary hypothyroidism occurs in 1 of 4000 births. Whereas the majority of the cases are due to developmental defects of the thyroid gland, 20% carry a defect in thyroid hormonogenesis. We report a Turkish boy who had goitrous hypothyroidism due to a mutation in the thyroid peroxidase (TPO) gene.Design  The TPO gene was sequenced directly from genomic DNA and cDNA which was transcribed from three RNA samples harvested from different parts of the patient's excised thyroid gland.Patient  The boy was thyroidectomized because of continuing growth of his thyroid gland and development of multiple nodes suspected of malignancy by ultrasound examination. Histopathological examination verified a dyshormonogenetic goiter with multiple follicular adenomas.Results  The patient had a novel homozygous 10‐bp deletion of the TPO gene at position 2812 in exon 16. This frame shift mutation results in a severely altered intracellular part of the protein. The deletion identified in leucocyte DNA was also found in thyroid tissue cDNA – so that instability of the transcript or a splicing defect was excluded. Both unaffected parents were heterozygous carriers of the mutation whereas 50 healthy individuals of the same ethnic background did not harbour the mutation.Conclusions  The identified TPO gene deletion is the first mutation coding for an inactive TPO molecule, which has a severely altered intracellular segment. Because the most likely reason for the enlarging goiter was poor compliance of the patient, this report underlines the importance of a careful and regular follow‐up of patients with dyshormonogenesis.
Influences of El Niño on assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur
Authors: FUNES‐RODRÍGUEZ RENÉ , HINOJOSA‐MEDINA ALEJANDRO , ACEVES‐MEDINA GERARDO , JIMÉNEZ‐ROSENBERG SYLVIA P. A. , JESÚS BAUTISTA‐ROMERO J. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractSeasonal assemblages of mesopelagic fish larvae and changes related with environmental factors (plankton biomass, sea surface temperature anomaly, upwelling, and the multivariate El Niño index) were investigated. From 1982 to 1987, 16 oceanographic cruises were carried out along the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. Larvae of 42 mesopelagic fish taxa were collected. Larval abundance was highly variable during the studied period, but summer months coincided with higher abundance (>200 larvae under 10 m2). Larval assemblages were dominated by three of the most common species of tropical (Vinciguerria lucetia, Diogenichthys laternatus) and subtropical affinity (Triphoturus mexicanus). A group of species of tropical affinity (Diplophos proximus, Diaphus pacificus, Benthosema panamense) was useful for distinguishing the 1982–84 El Niño event, and an assemblage of larvae of temperate affinity (Symbolophorus californiensis, Melamphaes lugubris, Bathylagus ochotensis, Leuroglossus stilbius, Protomyctophum crockeri) characterized ‘normal’ years (mid‐1984 to mid‐1987).
Chemosensory Response of Desert Iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) to Skin Lipids from A Lizard‐Eating Snake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
Authors: Bealor Matthew T. , O'Neil Krekorian C. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractSeveral species of lizards respond to chemicals from sympatric lizard‐eating snakes with increased tongue‐extrusion rates. These substances also elicit antipredator behavior indicating that they have important ecological functions and the resulting behavior can have serious implications for individual fitness of lizards. However, the source and type of snake chemical cues that elicit these behavioral changes in lizards have yet to be determined. We tested the ability of adult desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis) to detect and identify a potential predator by exposing them to lipids extracted from shed snakeskins. Lipids were extracted from cast skins of a known lizard‐eating snake, the California kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae), using chloroform and methanol. Test subjects were presented with skin lipids as well as clean, pungent, and chloroform controls on cotton‐tipped applicators in random order. Desert iguanas directed significantly more tongue extrusions toward applicators bearing snakeskin lipids when compared with controls. In addition, overall tongue‐extrusion frequency increased following exposure to lipids during the 5‐min trials. Desert iguanas clearly detected snakeskin lipids, but this stimulus failed to elicit changes in body posture and movement patterns previously observed in experiments using chemical cues from live snakes. Increased tongue flicking by lizards in response to snakeskin lipids may represent a generalized response to this class of chemicals. Additional potential sources of chemicals used in the detection of lizard‐eating snakes are discussed.
Underwater Video Reveals Strong Avoidance of Chemical Alarm Cues by Prey Fishes
Authors: Friesen Robert G. , Chivers Douglas P. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractA diversity of fishes release chemical cues upon being attacked by a predator. These cues, commonly termed alarm cues, act as sources of public information warning conspecifics of predation risk. Species which are members of the same prey guild (i.e. syntopic and share predators) often respond to one another's alarm cues. The purpose of this study was to discriminate avoidance responses of fishes to conspecific alarm cues and cues of other prey guild members from responses to unknown damaged fish odours and novel odours. We used underwater video to measure avoidance responses of freshwater littoral species, namely fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), finescale dace (Chrosomus neogaeus), and brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans), to both injured fish cues and novel non‐fish odours. The cyprinids (minnows and dace) showed significant avoidance of minnow cues over swordtail cues, morpholine, and the control of distilled water and tended to avoid fathead cues over cues of known prey guild members (stickleback). Cyprinids also significantly avoided cues of stickleback over unknown heterospecific cues (swordtail) and tended to avoid stickleback cues over morpholine and the distilled water control. Stickleback significantly avoided fathead minnow extract over the distilled water and tended to avoid stickleback and swordtail over distilled water. We conclude that fishes in their natural environment can show dramatic changes in behaviour upon exposure to alarm cues from conspecifics and prey guild members. These responses do not represent avoidance of cues of any injured fish or any novel odour.