bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preoperative diagnosis of carcinoma within fibroadenoma on screening mammograms
Authors: Borecky N , Rickard M 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThree cases of fibroadenoma associated with carcinoma are reported. These cases were diagnosed within a screening programme as a result of suspicious mammographic findings, and the diagnosis of malignancy was confirmed preoperatively by core biopsy in all cases. The mammographic findings suggestive of carcinoma within fibroadenoma were irregularity of margins in one case and associated new suspicious pleomorphic and linear calcifications in the two other cases. The preoperative diagnosis of carcinoma within fibroadenoma was provided by ultrasound‐guided core biopsy in two cases and core biopsy under stereotactic guidance in one case. Whereas asymptomatic fibroadenoma with benign imaging appearances usually does not require further investigation, fibroadenoma with atypical imaging features requires a triple test investigation.
Saphenous vein peripherally inserted central catheters: Technique, indications and safety issues
Authors: Du L , Redmond K , Johnstone S , De Leacy M , Harper J 
Published: February 2008

SummaryThis article describes the technique of saphenous vein peripherally inserted central catheter placement, which is used as an alternative site for venous access in our institution, and examines saphenous vein peripherally inserted central catheter safety issues and indications. Three end‐stage renal failure patients, two patients diagnosed with malignancy and one renal transplant patient had a saphenous peripherally inserted central catheter (inserted between March 2004 and March 2006 for antibiotics or chemotherapy. The average duration of placement was 16.2 days (range 3–42 days). All insertions were carried out successfully, with an average screening time of 81.2 s. None of the patients experienced any major complications. Two patients developed localized cellulitis at the insertion site.
Medulloblastomas – Primitive neuroectodermal tumours in the adult population
Authors: Smee RI , Williams JR 
Published: February 2008

SummaryMedulloblastomas – primitive neuroectodermal tumours are rare in adults. This review will evaluate a single centre’s experience with this malignancy. The medulloblastoma – primitive neuroectodermal tumour database was evaluated for all patients aged more than 18 years who were referred for management. Relevant information from the database was abstracted to provide a descriptive record of this malignancy. Between 1977–2004 there were 11 patients referred, 1 with persistent disease and 10 were eligible, presenting with initial diagnosis. There was increased intracranial pressure in 50% of patients. Most patients had symptoms >3 months, with three having symptoms 1–3 months before diagnosis and one patient having thoracic dural metastases at presentation. Complete resection was recorded in four patients and six had 50–90% resection. All patients completed craniospinal radiotherapy (35–36 Gy at 1.8–2.0 Gy fractions) barring one patient, who died of surgical complications during his radiotherapy. Chemotherapy was given in five of the nine patients postradiotherapy. There were two posterior fossa recurrences, with associated supratentorial and extra central nervous system disease. Of the 10 primary patients 7 are alive with no evidence of disease, 2 died because of disease, with 1 intercurrent death. One patient developed a second malignancy. The outcome for adults matches that of the more common paediatric patients. Radiotherapy could control local disease even where complete resection was not achieved.
Bulky scalp metastasis and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis from a cervical adenocarcinoma: An unusual case
Authors: Abhishek A , Ouseph MM , Sharma P , Kamal V , Sharma M 
Published: February 2008

SummaryDistant cutaneous metastases from cervical malignancies are uncommon, with scalp metastases being exceptional events. We present the case of a 53‐year‐old postmenopausal lady with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix that metastasized to the scalp with superior sagittal sinus thrombosis 8 months after diagnosis. In contrast to the seven prior cases of scalp metastases of cervical squamous cell carcinoma reported in published reports, ours is the first documentation of such an occurrence in cervical adenocarcinoma. Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis has not been reported with this tumour in the past.
Prospective study of endoscopic ultrasound performance in suspected choledocholithiasis
Authors: Aljebreen Abdulrahman , Azzam Nahla , Eloubeidi Mohamad A 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground:  The close proximity of the echoendoscope to the extrahepatic bile ductal system and its safety make endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) an excellent method for examining the common bile duct (CBD). The aim of the present study was to compare EUS diagnostic performance for CBD stones with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC).Methods:  A prospective series of our first 60 patients (65% women, average age 43 years) who were referred for ERC for suspicion of choledocholithiasis based on clinical, biochemical and cross‐sectional imaging (ultrasonography [US] or computed tomography [CT]) data underwent radial EUS. EUS results were recorded as positive or negative for CBD stones before starting the ERC. All patients underwent ERC with a balloon sweep of the bile duct as the standard of reference for CBD stone. All procedures were performed during the same endoscopy session by a single endoscopist who was blinded to the clinical, biochemical and imaging data.Results:  Sixty‐five percent of our patients had low to moderate risk for CBD stones. EUS diagnoses were confirmed by ERC as follows: 23 true positive, 33 true negative, three false negative and one false positive (sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 97%, positive predictive value of 96%, and negative predictive value of 92%; overall accuracy of 93%). Compared to the EUS diagnostic accuracy (90%) during the first 30 cases, EUS had a very high diagnostic accuracy (97%) for CBD stones during the last 30 cases (P = 0.31).Conclusion:  EUS is highly accurate for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis. The EUS learning curve is relatively short for CBD stones.
Changes in the Th1/Th2 ratio during a 24‐week course of an interferon alpha‐2b plus ribavirin combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Fujimoto Tomoko , Tomimatsu Masahiko , Iga Daijiro , Endo Hitoshi , Otsuka Kuniaki 
Published: February 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  It has been reported that immunological factors, such as the T‐helper cell (Th)1/Th2 ratio, play a part in the mechanisms for the antihepatitis C virus (HCV) effect of the interferon (IFN) alpha‐2b plus ribavirin combination therapy. By using flow cytometry, we examined this ratio during a 24‐week course of combination therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C.Methods:  We recruited 21 patients with chronic hepatitis C (16 males, five females, genotype 1b, 17 patients; genotype 2a or 2b, four patients) who had been treated by combination therapy. Flow cytometry was used to examine the Th1/Th2 ratio before and at the 4th and 24th week of therapy. Patients who were HCV‐RNA negative 24 weeks after the treatment was completed were defined to show sustained virological response (SVR).Results:  Among the 21 patients, 10 showed SVR, the overall SVR rate being 47.6%. Patients were classified into an ‘increase group’ (Th1/Th2 ratio at 4 or 24 weeks of therapy being higher than those before therapy) and a ‘decrease group’ (the ratio being lower than before therapy). After 24 weeks of therapy, the SVR rate was 66.7% for the Th2 ‘increase group’ and 14.3% for the Th2 ‘decrease group’. The former showed a significantly higher SVR rate (P = 0.0361).Conclusions:  The significant changes in the Th2 level correlated with the therapeutic effect during the IFN alpha‐2b plus ribavirin combination therapy. The increase of the Th2 level during therapy could be a predictor for achieving SVR.
Review of the anatomic concepts in relation to the retrorectal space and endopelvic fascia: Waldeyer’s fascia and the rectosacral fascia
Authors: García‐Armengol J. , García‐Botello S. , Martinez‐Soriano F. , Roig J. V. , Lledó S. 
Published: February 2008

AbstractObjective  A precise anatomical study of the fascias within the retrorectal space is reported, analyzing and clarifying the anatomical concepts previously employed to describe Waldeyer’s and the rectosacral fascia.Method  The pelvis was dissected in 15 cadavers (10 males and five females). All specimens were divided in the median sagittal plane including the middle axis of the anal canal, to allow a correct visualization of and access to the retrorectal space.Results  The retrorectal space was limited anteriorly by the rectum and posterior mesorectum covered by a fine visceral fascia, and posteriorly by the sacrum covered by the parietal presacral fascia. The rectosacral fascia divided the retrorectal space into inferior and superior portions in 80% of the male and 100% of the female specimens. It originated from the presacral parietal fascia at the level of S2 in 15%, S3 in 38% and S4 in 46% of specimens. In all cases it passed caudally to join the rectal visceral fascia 3–5 cm above the anorectal junction. As described by Waldeyer, the floor of the retrorectal space is formed by the fusion of the presacral parietal fascia and the rectal visceral fascia and lies above the levator ani muscle at the level of the anorectal junction.Conclusion  The rectosacral fascia divides the retrorectal space into inferior and superior portions. This must be differentiated from Waldeyer’s description of the fascia lying in the inferior limit of the retrorectal space, formed by the fusion of the rectal visceral and parietal fascias.
Activity of different phospholipids in attenuating hyperactivity in bladder irritation
Authors: Tyagi Pradeep , Chancellor Michael , Yoshimura Naoki , Huang Leaf 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of liposomes prepared from various natural and synthetic lipids in a rat bladder injury model in the absence or the presence of cholesterol and to elucidate the key structural elements necessary for the efficacy of liposomes required for alleviating bladder hyperactivity.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe intravesical pressure was recorded using a transurethral catheter in adult female Sprague‐Dawley rats anaesthetized with urethane (1.0 g/kg subcutaneously). Continuous cystometrograms (CMGs) were obtained by slowly filling the bladder with solutions of varying compositions after obtaining a baseline CMG with saline. Rat urothelium was injured with protamine sulphate (PS) and irritated by subsequent infusion of KCl (500 mm) for 1 h. Thereafter, liposomes prepared in KCl using several natural and synthetic phospholipids were infused for 2 h. The percentage reduction in bladder contraction frequency (BCF) was used as a comparative variable for judging the activity of different phospholipids.RESULTSExposure of rat bladder to sequential infusion of PS and KCl increased its BCF and empty liposomes of uncharged zwitterionic phospholipids markedly attenuated the PS‐induced irritation and decreased the raised BCF. But empty liposomes prepared with either cationic or anionic charged lipids were not able to achieve the same effect. Addition of cholesterol did not significantly increase their efficacy. Optimal efficacy of liposomes was achieved with phosphatidylcholines with longer acyl chains and saturation in only one of the two acyl chains.CONCLUSIONSThese in vivo studies show that phospholipids attenuate the bladder irritation from KCl after PS‐induced bladder injury.
Secular trends in prostate cancer mortality, incidence and treatment: England and Wales, 1975–2004
Authors: Hussain Sabina , Gunnell David , Donovan Jenny , McPhail Sean , Hamdy Freddie , Neal David , Albertsen Peter , Verne Julia , Stephens Peter , Trotter Caroline , Martin Richard M. 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVETo aid the interpretation of the trends in prostate cancer mortality, which declined in the UK in the early 1990s for unknown reasons, by investigating prostate cancer death rates, incidence and treatments in England and Wales in 1975–2004.METHODSJoin‐point regression was used to assess secular trends in mortality and incidence (source: Office of National Statistics), radical prostatectomy and orchidectomy (source: Hospital Episode Statistics database) and androgen‐suppression drugs (source: Intercontinental Medical Statistics).RESULTSProstate cancer mortality declined from 1992 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1990–94). The relative decline in mortality to 2004 was greater and more sustained amongst men aged 55–74 years (annual percentage mortality reduction 2.75%; 95% CI 2.33–3.18%) than amongst those aged ≥75 years (0.71%, 0.26–1.15%). The use of radical prostatectomy increased between 1991 (89 operations) and 2004 (2788) amongst men aged 55–74 years. The prescribing of androgen suppression increased between 1987 (33 000 prescriptions) and 2004 (470 000).CONCLUSIONSThe decrease in prostate cancer mortality was greater amongst men aged 55–74 years than in those aged ≥75 years, but pre‐dated the substantial use of prostate‐specific antigen screening and radical prostatectomy in the UK. An increase in radical therapy amongst younger groups with localized cancers and screen‐detected low‐volume locally advanced disease as a result of stage migration, as well as prolonged survival from increased medical androgen suppression therapy, might partly explain recent trends.
Synergistic effects in neuromuscular activation and calcium‐sensitization in the bladder trigone
Authors: Roosen Alexander , Wu Changhao , Sui Gui‐Ping , Fry Christopher H. 
Published: February 2008

OBJECTIVETo elucidate possible synergistic effects between adrenergic, muscarinic, and purinergic neuromuscular activation in the bladder trigone, and to examine the relevance of the Rho‐kinase (ROCK)/protein kinase C (PKC) pathway as a possible underlying mechanism.MATERIALS AND METHODSMuscle strips were dissected from the superficial trigone of male guinea‐pigs. Contractions were elicited by electrical‐field stimulation (EFS: 0.1 ms pulses, 1–64 Hz for 3 s) or exposure to exogenous agonists.RESULTSThere was evidence for functional adrenergic, purinergic, and muscarinic neurotransmission. Selective inhibition of individual components suggested synergistic interactions. The mean (sd) EFS contractions were enhanced by carbachol (0.3 µm) and phenylephrine (10 µm) to 2.4 (0.4) and 6.4 (1.5)‐fold of control (32 Hz), respectively. Phenylephrine (10 µm) also augmented contractions induced by carbachol (1 µm) to 3.9 (1.2)‐fold of control, α,β‐methylene ATP (1 µm) to 4.3 (0.4) and 20 mm superfusate K+ to 5.0 (2.0). The PKC inhibitors GF 109203X (5 µm) and H‐7 (100 µm), as well as the ROCK inhibitor Y‐27632 (5 µm) reduced the phenylephrine contracture to 37.3 (7.4), 38.5 (11.2) and 54.9 (7.8)% of control, respectively. With the exception of H‐7 they had no significant effect on the carbachol response.CONCLUSIONThis study shows a synergistic effect between adrenergic, muscarinic, and purinergic receptor activation on the muscle of the superficial trigone. The study suggests that Ca2+‐sensitization of contractile proteins plays a key role in this synergism, particularly for adrenergic activation.
The Contextual Specificity of Masculinity and Femininity in Early Adolescence
Authors: Leszczynski Jennifer Pickard , Strough JoNell 
Published: February 2008

AbstractUsing a social constructionist perspective, we investigated the flexibility of early adolescents' (N = 80, 40 boys, 40 girls; M age = 13.14; SD = .65) masculinity and femininity as a function of the interpersonal context (same‐ or other‐sex partner) and situational demands (co‐operation or competition). Participants played a block‐building game with a girl and a boy peer and were instructed either to play the game co‐operatively or competitively. Boys' and girls' femininity scores were greater when working with a girl peer rather than a boy peer. Stereotypical gender differences in masculinity were most apparent when instructions emphasized co‐operation. These findings provide empirical support for a social constructionist theory of gender development by demonstrating how the proximal situation changes adolescents' views of gendered aspects of their identity. A conceptualization of masculinity and femininity as flexible states is discussed as supplementing the idea that masculinity and femininity are enduring personality traits. Implications of the study for understanding how social situations maximize or minimize gender differences and similarities are discussed.
WHITE FARMERS’ DEALINGS WITH LAND REFORM IN SOUTH AFRICA: EVIDENCE FROM NORTHERN LIMPOPO PROVINCE
Authors: FRASER ALISTAIR 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTCompleting restitution, a key element of South Africa's land reform programme, entails government acquisition of white‐owned farms. Some white farmers are willing to sell and consequently the government has paid them full market‐related compensation. Others, however, refuse to sell, a right they have under the terms of the willing‐seller, willing‐buyer principle to which the government has committed itself. Why white farmers refuse to sell, even when compensation is on offer, is poorly understood. This paper therefore draws on qualitative research concerning white farmers in the Levubu area of northern Limpopo province to fill this gap in knowledge. The paper asks why white farmers are refusing to sell land to make way for restitution. It interrogates the material and symbolic factors affecting farmers’ action and demonstrates that the respondents’ justified their stance in relation to shifts in power in the agricultural sector, developments in land reform practice, and the respondents’ strong emotional bond to the land. In so doing, the paper calls into question the underlying (materialist) logic of the government's mode of land acquisition.
THE GEOGRAPHY OF FIRM FORMATION IN NEW ZEALAND
Authors: TAMÁSY CHRISTINE , HERON RICHARD LE 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTNew Zealand's regions exhibit marked spatial variations in firm formation, with the urban areas being less entrepreneurial than the rest of the country, when the analysis controls for the varying sizes of regions. This empirical finding reflects differences in industry structures, with a greater presence of firm births in manufacturing industries and business services in more peripheral and less urbanised areas, especially on the South Island of New Zealand. Using the business demographic statistics (BDS) database by Statistics New Zealand we develop a regression model to explain spatial variations in firm formations over the period 2000–2005. The following explanatory factors are found to be of central importance for firm formations in the New Zealand context: concentration, firm size, population, population growth, income growth and specialisation. Implications of the findings for policy makers and politicians in New Zealand are discussed.
VULNERABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS OF OLDER ADULTS IN DEPRIVED NEIGHBOURHOODS IN THE NETHERLANDS
Authors: VAN DER MEER MARIEKE , FORTUIJN JOOS DROOGLEEVER , THISSEN FRANS 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTRecent policy rests on the assumption that it is better for older people to live independently within the community for as long as possible. A related assumption is that the local community forms a supportive context for vulnerable older people; the environment can compensate the limitations resulting from growing old. However, Lawton's ‘environmental docility hypothesis’, in which the interaction between characteristics of the environment and a person's competence is described, forms a reason to be more careful with this assumption. In a survey of 1,939 Dutch older adults carried out in 2002–2003 this hypothesis is explored for older people living in deprived and non‐deprived neighbourhoods. The results of the analysis seem to be in line with Lawton's hypothesis. In non‐deprived neighbourhoods, no differences in environmental stress are found between vulnerable and non‐vulnerable older adults, while in deprived neighbourhoods vulnerable older adults experience significantly higher levels of environmental stress than non‐vulnerable older adults.
RESTRUCTURING OF LARGE INDUSTRIAL SOEs IN TRANSITIONAL CHINA: A CASE STUDY IN LANZHOU
Authors: CHANG GENYING 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTThe restructuring of state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) is a central aspect of their reform in transitional China. This study traces the processes by which large industrial SOEs in Lanzhou are reorganised externally and expanded internally, and analyses their effects on regional industrial development. The study is qualitative, based on enterprise surveys and their historical documents. The paper demonstrates that the reorganisation process was government‐pushed, and that the government also played some role in the diversification and performance of large SOEs. In addition, the diversification of large SOEs in Lanzhou was subject to market conditions and SOE‐specific factors, and the influence of the national reorganisation policy on industrial development in Lanzhou was linked to the product and scale structure of local enterprises. As such, the study calls for a context approach that analyses the reorganisation and diversification of large enterprises in transitional China.
Does partnership at work increase trust? An analysis based on the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey
Authors: Guest David , Brown William , Peccei Riccardo , Huxley Katy 
Published: February 2008

ABSTRACTIn the late 1990s, partnership at work was embraced with some enthusiasm by a number of stakeholders in employment relations and incorporated in the 1999 Employment Relations Act. The implementation of the Information and Consultation Regulations has also been extensively signalled. We might therefore expect to see some evidence of partnership‐related practices in Britain. The 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey (WERS 2004) provides an opportunity to explore the extent of partnership practice, and also, for the first time, to explore its link to trust relations. This article reports evidence from WERS 2004 suggesting that partnership practice remains relatively undeveloped and that it is only weakly related to trust between management and employee representatives and to employees’ trust in management. Direct forms of participation generally have a more positive association with trust than representative forms. There is also modest evidence that trust may be associated with certain workplace outcomes. The case for partnership and more particularly representative partnership as a basis for mutuality and trust is not supported by this evidence.