bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acropustulosis repens
Authors: Proença Nelson Guimarães 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Pustular eruptions of the extremities of the fingers and toes (acropustulosis) have been grouped under the single term “Hallopeau's acrodermatitis continua”, which is a severe disease, with uninterrupted course, and successive eruptions that may become generalized. However, there is a form of acropustulosis with few lesions, evolving with remissions and relapses, with a benign course. It is necessary to separate these two forms of acropustulosis.Methods  I had the opportunity to observe six patients with a mitigated form of acropustulosis that does not fit into the diagnostic criteria of Hallopeau's acrodermatitis continua, which should be considered an independent clinical entity.Results  Sometimes, there is only one lesion in each eruption. The pustules are sterile and appear in small crops, located on the hyponychium or on the nail bed. The result is partial onycholysis or nail detachment. After each eruption there is complete recovery. Histopathology shows a nonspongiform pustule filled with neutrophils, with subcorneal localization. Four patients had follow‐up for at least 2 years, and one patient presented psoriasis lesions on the scalp after 11 years.Conclusions  Acropustulosis as I described it can be differentiated from Halopeau's acrodermatitis continua using the following diagnostic criteria: (1) it is a benign condition; (2) the pustules are located on the hyponychium or nail bed; (3) pustules can be single or occur in small groups; (4) they reccur in flares, with restitutio ad integrum during the periods of remission; (5) the pustules are sterile; (6) microscopic study shows a subcorneal pustule (spongiform aspect is rare). A similar condition to that found in my cases was described by Radcliff‐Crocker (H. Radcliff‐Crocker, Diseases of the Skin, London: H.K. Lewis, 1888), termed “dermatitis repens”.
Impact of psoriasis on quality of life in Kuwait
Authors: Al‐Mazeedi K. , El‐Shazly M. , Al‐Ajmi H. S. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Psoriasis can seriously affect the quality of life (QOL) of patients and has a strong impact on social relations, psychological status and daily activities.Objective  The aim of this study was to describe the impact of different grades of severity in psoriasis on QOL in patients in Kuwait.Patients/methods  We used the Dermatology Quality Of Life scale (DQOLS) developed by Morgan and then validated for use in Kuwait to study a sample of 330 out‐patients with psoriasis.Results  Overall, physical activities were affected in greater than 50% of cases. This figure increased significantly with increased severity of psoriasis. Also, social relationships were disrupted in more than half of the patients but with no significant difference between different grades of severity. All psychological feeling items were affected by psoriasis to variable degrees. However, significant differences related to the severity of psoriasis were detected: feeling embarrassed, feeling short tempered, feeling depressed, and feeling a lack of hope. One third of cases declared their sexual activities were affected by psoriasis.Conclusion  Data provided should improve the physicians’ awareness of the importance of patients’ QOL and enhance psychological evaluation of the psoriatic patient which will promote his/her positive outcome and compliance with treatment.
A simple digital image processing system to aid in melanoma diagnosis in an everyday melanocytic skin lesion unit. A preliminary report
Authors: Manousaki Aglaia G. , Manios Andreas G. , Tsompanaki Evgenia I. , Panayiotides John G. , Tsiftsis Dimitris D. , Kostaki Anastasia K. , Tosca Androniki D. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  For early melanoma diagnosis, experienced dermatologists have an accuracy of 64–80% using clinical diagnostic criteria, usually the ABCD rule, while automated melanoma diagnosis systems are still considered to be experimental and serve as adjuncts to the naked‐eye expert prediction. In an attempt to aid in early melanoma diagnosis, we developed an image processing program with the aim to discriminate melanoma from melanocytic nevi, establishing a mathematical model to come up with a melanoma probability.Methods  Digital images of 132 melanocytic skin lesions (23 melanomas and 109 melanocytic nevi) were studied in features of geometry, color, and color texture. A total of 43 variables were studied for all lesions, e.g., geometry, color texture, sharpness of border, and color variables. Univariate logistic regression analysis followed by “−2 log likelihood” test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used to eliminate inappropriate variables, as the presence of multicollinearity among variables could cause severe problems in any stepwise variable selection method. Initially, “−2 log likelihood” and nonparametric Spearman's rho picked five variables to be included in a multivariate model of prediction. The five‐variable model was then reduced to three variables and the performance of each model was tested. The “jackknife” method was performed in order to validate the model with the three variables and its accuracy was weighed vs. the five‐variable model by receiver‐operating characteristics (ROC) curve plotting. It was concluded that the reduced model did not compromise discriminatory power.Results  Not all variables contributed much to the model, therefore they were progressively eliminated and the model was finally reduced to three covariates of significance. A predictive equation was calculated, incorporating parameters of geometry, color, and color texture as independent covariates for the prediction of melanoma. The proposed model provides melanoma probability with a 60.9% sensitivity and 95.4% specificity of prediction, an overall accuracy of 89.4% (probability level 0.5), and 8% false‐negative results.Conclusions  Through a digital image processing system and the development of a mathematical model of prediction, discrimination between melanomas and melanocytic nevi seems feasible with a high rate of accuracy using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The proposed model is an alternative method to aid in early melanoma diagnosis. Expensive and sophisticated equipment is not required and it can be easily implemented in a reasonably priced portable programmable computer, in order to predict previously undiagnosed skin melanoma before histopathology results confirm diagnosis.
Etiology and incidence of chronic ulcers in Blantyre, Malawi
Authors: Zeegelaar Jim E. , Stroïnk Aimee C. , Steketee Willemyn H. , Faber William R. , Van Der Wal Allard C. , Komolafe Isaac O. O. , Dzamalala Charles , Chibwana Cecilia , Wendte Johannes F. , Zijlstra Eduard E. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground  Little information is available on the incidence and etiology of chronic ulcers in the tropics. Therefore, the incidence and etiology of chronic skin ulcers were assessed in out‐patients at the Department of Dermatology and in in‐patients at the Departments of Dermatology, Surgery, Medicine, and Pediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Blantyre, Malawi.Method  In a 10‐week study period, 44 patients (31 males, 70%) with chronic skin ulcers were diagnosed from 6292 patients seen by the departments involved.Results  The mean age of patients with ulcers was 38 years (range, 9 months to 82 years). The most frequent cause of ulcers was bacterial infection (n = 22), followed by malignancy (n = 11) and trauma (n = 7).Conclusion  In contrast with developed countries, venous and diabetic ulcers were uncommon. In addition to bacterial infections, a surprisingly large number of malignancies were found in this study. We speculate that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, which is seen with a high prevalence at QECH, is a contributing factor. Because of the large number of malignancies, we recommend early histopathologic investigation of chronic ulcers in this part of Africa.
Evaluation of concurrent collection of in‐line filtered platelets and packed red blood cells by multicomponent apheresis with three last‐generation apparatuses
Authors: Picker S. M. , Radojska S. M. , Gathof B. S. 
Published: April 2006

Background and Objectives  Multicomponent apheresis enables the collection and procession of different blood products in a single donation. Different apparatuses vary in terms of principle and efficiency. Knowledge of them is essential to analyse cost effectiveness.Materials and Methods  A total of 30 donors, well matched for baseline parameters, were randomly assigned to the concurrent collection of red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets (PLTs) with the Baxter Amicus (AM), the Haemonetics MCS plus (MCS+), and the Gambro Trima Accel (TA). The procedures were prospectively evaluated, focusing on yield, time, efficiency, citrate donor load and in vitro quality.Results  PLT yield (× 1011/unit; mean ± standard deviation) was 3·09 ± 0·34 (AM), 2·53 ± 0·35 (MCS+), 2·51 ± 0·32 (TA). Absolute RBC mass (ml/unit; mean ± standard deviation) was 177·4 ± 2·7 (AM), 161·5 ± 0·7 (MCS+), and 163·7 ± 5·4 (TA). The programmed RBC collection target of 160–180 ml was reached by all instruments, whereas the programmed PLT yield of 3·0 × 1011 was met satisfactorily by AM only. All units contained < 1 × 106 WBCs. In vitro RBC quality was equivalent among the systems. No significant differences were noted with collection efficiency, processed whole blood or citrate donor load. Owing to high collection and draw rates, the TA was the fastest of all the systems. The MCS+ had the longest donation/needle time and the highest PLT activation, but compensated with significantly lower draw and citrate infusion rates. The overall processing time was longest with the AM, as a result of manual procedures from donor disconnection to the final products.Conclusions  Multicomponent apheresis was performed safely and efficiently with all three instruments. There was no ‘magic apparatus’ as each system combined advantages and pitfalls for the diverse parameters evaluated.
Therapeutic transfusions of granulocytes collected by simple bag method for children with cancer and neutropenic infections: results of a single‐centre pilot study
Authors: Kikuta A. , Ohto H. , Nemoto K. , Mochizuki K. , Sano H. , Ito M. , Suzuki H. 
Published: April 2006

Background and Objectives  Granulocyte transfusion therapy (GTX) can be effective for life‐threatening infections unresponsive to conventional antimicrobial therapies in severely neutropenic children with cancer. We developed a new granulocyte collection method, named the ‘bag method’, in which apheresis, hydroxyethyl starch (HES) or dexamethasone are not used. We undertook a pilot study to determine the feasibility and the safety of GTX collected by the bag method for children with cancer and life‐threatening infections.Materials and Methods  A total of 25 GTX were administered to 13 patients (median age 3 years, range: 0·3–17; median weight 10·6 kg, range: 4·5–49·8) with neutropenia‐related infections. Thirteen blood‐relative donors received granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) (5–10 µg/kg), subcutaneously, 14 h before collection. Major end‐points were granulocyte yields, post‐transfusion absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) in patients, donor and patient safety, and clinical outcome on day 30.Results  The median yield of ANC per 400 ml of processed whole blood was 6·2 × 109 (range: 2·5–15·0 × 109). Patients received a mean of 6·4 ± 0·8 × 108 granulocytes per kg of body weight per transfusion. The 1‐h and 24‐h post‐transfusion ANC rose to 607 ± 124/µl and 704 ± 300/µl, respectively, from the baseline of 21/µl before the first GTX. Adverse reactions were observed in five of 13 donors (bone pain, headache, vasovagal reaction; all ≤ grade 2) and in two of 25 transfusions of 13 patients (transient hypoxia; grade 3). Ten patients had favourable responses, and infection resolved in nine patients.Conclusions  The bag method without apheresis relieves the physical load of donors and enables patients with a low body weight to provide an adequate dose of granulocytes.
Development of composite planar fabric in mylonites along the Median Tectonic Line, southwest Japan
Authors: Takagi Hideo 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Mylonites along the Median Tectonic Line, southwest Japan commonly contain shear bands comprising S(‐C)‐Ss fabrics. This paper stresses the lithologic control on the orientation, dimension and development of shear bands by comparing the microstructure of the shear bands in different rock types (P mylonites, F mylonites, micaceous phyllonite and quartzose phyllonite). There is no significant change of the α angles (average 21–24°) between Ss and S toward the centre of the shear zone (viz. increasing the intensity of mylonitization) and it is different from the S‐C relationship in a narrow sense.The generation of the composite planar fabric can be classified into four different strain partitioning models: S only type without any slip surface (model A); S‐C type (model B); S‐Ss type with Ss‐slip precedence (model C), and S‐Ss type with S‐slip precedence (model D). Model C is proposed in this paper and is similar to the model for the generation of Riedel shears in brittle shear zones. An unstable slip between porphyroclasts and the matrix during ductile flow can easily initiate shear bands. Formation of a composite planar fabric is initiated according to model A, followed by model C in conditions of increasing strain, and then model D when the angle between S and the shear zone boundary becomes small enough (α/2 = 10°) to produce S‐slip. Thus the generation of the shear bands probably begins in the early stages of shear deformation and continues until the latest stages.
Tectonic and sedimentary processes at the submarine Antique Ridge and the accretionary wedge of Negros (Sulu Sea, Philippines): Results of an underwater television and photographic survey by RV ‘Sonne’
Authors: Beiersdorf Helmut 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Numerous Neogene/Quaternary marl outcrops of the submarine Antique Ridge and southern Negros accretionary complexes (Sulu Sea, Philippines) were formed by an oversteepen‐ing of the slope by the collision with the Cagayan Ridge and Cuyo Platform and also by erosion.The outcrops exhibit distinct joint systems that were developed under compressional stress parallel to an east‐northeast subduction of the southeast Sulu Basin complex under the Panay‐Negros Fore‐Arc and Arc Complexes during the Late Miocene/earliest Pliocene. Typical bc‐(longitudinal) joints following the axial trend of the subduction zone, hkO (diagonal) shear joints, and ac‐(transverse) joints were formed. The regional stress in south‐southeast, which has changed to northeast since the Early Pliocene, has caused an uplift of the accretionary complexes and a clockwise rotation of the subduction/collision zone axis of the Antique Ridge complex from a more northern direction to NNE. Consequently the pre‐existing joint system has also rotated for 10° to 20°. A strike‐slip motion parallel to this axis as a consequence of the NE collision may have been accommodated within the accretionary complex by the bc‐joints.Some bedding‐plane parallel white veins or layers may be related to calcium carbonate precipitation via oxidation of methane which was probably carried by migrating fluids along shear zones.Downslope, sediment transport as well as trench‐parallel sediment transport in southerly directions is still going on, indicating active tectonic oversteepening of the slopes of the accretionary complexes as well as flowing water, possibly of intermediate water from the Northwest Sulu Basin into the Southeast Sulu Basin via the Panay Canyon.
Origin of cyclicity in Triassic‐Jurassic radiolarian bedded cherts of the Mino accretionary complex from Japan
Authors: Hori Rie S. , Cho Chang‐Fee , Umeda Hiroyuki 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
The abundance of magnetic microspherules in a Triassic‐Jurassic continuous sequence of alternating chert and shale beds in the Mino accretionary complex, central Japan, was measured systematically. Depending on time, the magnetic microspherules extracted from shale beds change in abundance considerably from the minimum 0.9ppm/cm3 at latest Triassic (ca 208Ma) and the maximum 75ppm/cm3 at late Early Jurassic (ca 187Ma); however, the abundance is always higher approximately 10–100 (average 70) times than those from adjacent chert bed at any stratigraphic horizon. Such systematic difference reveals the origin of radiolarian bedded chert as cyclic‐rapid accumulation of biogenic SiO2 under extremely slow accumulative environments of shale with probable aeolian dust in origin. The accumulation data for individual shale and chert beds were obtained based on the microspherule abundance and radiolarian biostratigraphy, i.e., ca 0.018g/cm2Ka for lower Jurassic shale beds and ca 1.9g/cm2Ka for adjacent chert beds.Duration time to make a chert‐shale couplet corresponds to a dominantly 15–20Ka interval (average 23 Ka) in Upper Triassic bedded cherts with a low paleolatitude, whereas a 40–45 Ka interval (average 42 Ka) in Lower Jurassic ones which may been formed in higher latitude than Triassics before the final accretion to the Asian continental margin. Depending on paleolatitude, the cyclicity of 23 and 42 Ka may correspond to Milankovitch cycles which have been well documented in deep‐sea sediments.
Interleukin‐1α, interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α levels in children with sepsis and meningitis
Authors: FIDA NADIA M. , AL‐MUGHALES JAMIL , FAROUQ MOHAMED 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground: Cytokines are thought to be important endogenous mediators of the host immune response to infection. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the utility of serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐1α, IL‐6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α in the prediction and differentiation of sepsis and meningitis in children.Methods: Blood was collected from 50 children admitted to hospital for suspicion of infection. On the basis of predetermined criteria and investigation, the children were classified into sepsis (n = 30) and meningitis (n = 20) groups, as well as into healthy controls (n = 24) and non‐infected sick controls (n = 12). The sepsis group was subdivided according to culture results into S1 (proven sepsis, n = 11) and S2 (clinical sepsis, n = 19). Serum IL‐1α, IL‐6 and TNF‐α were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) while C‐reactive protein (CRP) was measured by nephelometer.Results: In non‐infected sick controls, sepsis and meningitis groups, levels of CRP (P < 0.001, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), IL‐1α (P < 0.001 for all), and IL‐6 (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively) were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls. In sepsis, levels of IL‐1α increased in the S2 subgroup (P < 0.001) and IL‐6 increased in the S1 and S2 subgroups (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively) compared with healthy controls. In meningitis, IL‐1α had the highest sensitivity and negative predictive value, while IL‐6 had the highest specificity and positive predictive value in non‐infected sick controls, sepsis and meningitis groups.Conclusion: Interleukin‐1α, IL‐6 and CRP are increased in non‐infected sick controls, sepsis and meningitis patients but it is not possible to differentiate between them. IL‐1α had the highest sensitivity in meningitis while IL‐6 had the highest specificity in prediction of sepsis and meningitis and their assessment together may improve accuracy in the diagnosis of childhood infection.
Successful uses of magnesium sulfate for torsades de pointes in children with long QT syndrome
Authors: HOSHINO KENJI , OGAWA KIYOSHI , HISHITANI TAKASHI , ISOBE TAKESHI , ETOH YOSHIKATSU 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground: Administration of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is an effective and safe treatment for torsades de pointes (TdP) associated with acquired long QT syndrome (LQTS) in adults. As for children, there are few reports focusing on it. The authors discuss the efficacy of MgSO4 for TdP in children with congenital and acquired LQTS. The authors also discuss the optimal administration dosage and serum magnesium (SMg) concentration during MgSO4 therapy.Methods: The authors studied seven consecutive LQTS children undergoing MgSO4 therapy for TdP. Of the seven children, five were congenital LQTS and two were acquired LQTS. A bolus injection of MgSO4 was given intravenously over 1–2 min followed by continuous infusion for the next 2–7 days.Results: Of the seven patients, six responded completely to the initial bolus. The bolus dosage was 5.9 ± 3.8 mg/kg (range, 2.3–12 mg/kg) in these six, and the other remaining one (neonate with congenital LQTS) required a total of 30 mg/kg until complete abolishment. The continuous infusion was given at rates of 0.3–1.0 mg/kg per h and patients did not show recurrence of TdP. The SMg concentration was 3.9 ± 1.0 mg/dL (2.9–5.4 mg/dL) immediately after bolus injection. The mean corrected QT (QTc) interval before and after bolus injection did not show significant difference.Conclusion: Intravenous infusion of MgSO4 was effective for TdP in children with LQTS, and MgSO4 abolished TdP without shortening the QTc interval. The optimal bolus dosage, infusion rates and SMg concentration were 3–12 mg/kg, 0.5–1.0 mg/kg per h and 3–5 mg/dL, respectively.
Reliability of the Functional Independence Measure for children in normal Thai children
Authors: JONGJIT JITHATHAI , KOMSOPAPONG LADDA , SAIKAEW THEDKEAN , WANICH UDOMPORN , CHEWAPANICH SULIPHON , UDOMSUBPAYAKUL UMAPORN , RUANGDARAGANON NICHARA 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground: The Functional Independence Measure for children (WeeFIM) is a new instrument for evaluating functionality in disabled children aged 9–100 months. It was developed to determine a child's functional capacity and performance. With no baseline information about Thai children, it is difficult to assess whether a patient is initially high or low with respect to function.Methods: The aim of this study, therefore, was to evaluate the interrater, intrarater reliability and appropriateness of the use of the WeeFIM and to establish a normative data profile suitable for Thai children. The WeeFIM is an instrument used to assess independence in self‐care, sphincter control, transfer, locomotion, communication, and social cognition.Results: Direct interviews were conducted in the communities for 569 normal Thai children (289 girls and 280 boys) aged 6–100 months. The interrater and intrarater reliability scores were examined. The WeeFIM total and domain scores increased progressively with age. Intraclass correlation coefficients for the reliability for the WeeFIM domain score ranged from 0.90 to 0.99. Total WeeFIM intraclass correlation coefficients values were greater than 0.97 for all analyses. The authors classified the 18 items into six groups according to the degree of correlation with age. Most items were highly correlated with age as indicated by a Spearman's correlation coefficient greater than 0.8. The interrater and intrarater reliability of the WeeFIM subscores was high.Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that WeeFIM could be employed as a useful and reliable instrument for assessing functional independence for Thai children. Therefore, usage of WeeFIM with different age criteria for achieving independence should be adopted. Normative functional independence measures for a large group of Thai children will enhance the knowledge base about their development measurement and provide a database for future investigations on clinical population in Thailand.