bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictive factors for lymph node metastasis and endoscopic treatment strategies for undifferentiated early gastric cancer
Authors: Ye Byong D , Kim Sang G , Lee Jong Y , Kim Joo S , Yang Han‐Kwang , Kim Woo H , Jung Hyun C , Lee Kuhn U , Song In S 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Although more than 80% of undifferentiated early gastric cancers (EGC) are not associated with lymph node metastasis, endoscopic mucosal resection is not generally accepted as a means of curative treatment because of an abundance of conflicting data concerning clinicopathological characteristics and prognoses. The aim of this study was to define a subgroup of undifferentiated EGC that could be cured by endoscopic treatment without the risk of lymph node metastasis.Method:  A total of 591 patients surgically resected for undifferentiated EGC between January 1999 and March 2005 were reviewed. Associations between various clinicopathological factors and the presence of lymph node metastasis were analyzed to identify the risk factors of lymph node metastasis.Results:  Lymph node metastasis was found in 79 patients (13.4%). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, a tumor diameter 2.5 cm or larger, invasion into the middle third of the submucosal layer or deeper, and lymphatic involvement were identified as independent risk factors of lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001, respectively). Lymph node metastasis was not found in any patient with undifferentiated EGC smaller than 2.5 cm confined to the mucosa or upper third of the submucosal layer without lymphatic involvement.Conclusions:  Undifferentiated intramucosal EGC smaller than 2.5 cm without lymphatic involvement was not associated with lymph node metastasis. Thus, we propose in this circumstance that endoscopic mucosal resection could be considered a definitive treatment without compromising the possibility of cure.
Antifibrotic activity of rofecoxib in vivo is associated with reduced portal hypertension in rats with carbon tetrachloride‐induced liver injury
Authors: Tu Chuan‐Tao , Guo Jin‐Sheng , Wang Manner , Wang Ji‐Yao 
Published: April 2007

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Upregulation of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), an inducible enzyme that is actively involved in inflammation and wound healing, has been found in cirrhotic livers. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of selective inhibition of COX‐2 on the development of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension in rats.Methods:  Liver cirrhosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in Sprague‐Dawley rats. Rofecoxib, a highly selective COX‐2 inhibitor, was orally administered to rats at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day. Portal pressure was measured at 8 weeks post CCl4 administration with the catheterization method followed by the harvesting of liver samples. Liver histopathology was analyzed with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. The activated, alpha smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) positive hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the protein levels of collagen types I, III, IV, as well as laminin and two fibrogenic mediators, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the livers, were detected with immunohistochemical staining and western blot methods, respectively. The level of hepatic thromboxane B2 (TXB2), a potent vasoconstrictive substance derived from COX, was measured with enzyme immunoassay.Results:  Oral administration of rofecoxib decreased portal pressure in rats that were treated with CCl4 for 8 weeks. This was associated with a marked reduction in collagen accumulation and TXB2 level in the rat livers. In addition, rofecoxib administration was found to reduce the number of activated HSCs and to downregulate hepatic protein levels of three detected types of collagen, laminin, VEGF and CTGF in CCl4‐treated rats.Conclusions:  COX‐2 is involved in the fibrogenesis of livers and the formation of portal hypertension in CCl4‐treated rats. Selective inhibition of COX‐2 by rofecoxib reduces portal hypertension and this is associated with antifibrotic activity as well as a reduction of COX‐2‐derived vasoactive substance.
Ulcerative colitis in China: Retrospective analysis of 3100 hospitalized patients
Authors: Wang Yufang , Ouyang Qin ,   APDW 2004 Chinese IBD working group
Published: April 2007

AbstractBackground and Aims:  This retrospective study analyzed the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) in China.Methods:  A total of 3100 hospitalized patients with UC admitted to 23 hospitals in China from 1990 to 2003 were retrospectively investigated and their clinical characteristics were analyzed.Results:  A male/female ratio of 1.34/1.00 was found in the 3100 patients, who had an average age of 44 ± 15.1 years at diagnosis. Of the patients, 2972 (95.9%) had active UC. Active UC was mild in 35.4% of the 2972 patients, moderate in 42.9% and severe in 21.7%. Of the 2726 patients with a description of their lesion extent, 14.8% had proctitis, 26.4% had proctosigmoiditis, 25.0% had left‐sided colitis, 6.3% had extensive colitis, 25.8% had pancolitis and 1.7% had regional colitis. The predominant complaints of the patients with UC were bloody diarrhea (48.2%), abdominal pain (67.3%) and mucus stools (58.4%). Among these patients, 13.6% had extraintestinal manifestations and 9.6% had related complications. A differential diagnosis was difficult to make, as there were 19 varieties of the disease; infectious enterocolitis had a misdiagnosis rate of 22.9% before admission. The main medications for UC in China were aminosalicylates (66.8%) and steroids (42.8%). Only 94 (3%) of the patients required colectomy and only 19 (0.6%) died of UC.Conclusions:  Compared with UC in Western countries, ulcerative colitis in China has some differences in clinical characteristics. Therefore, a further population‐based epidemiological study is required to determine the prevalence and incidence rates of UC in China.
Theoretic and Empirical Data-Inclusive Process Characterization
Authors: Bokov Vladimir B. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryIn process characterization the quality of information that is obtained depends directly on the quality of process model. The current quality revolution is now providing a strong stimulus for rethinking and re-evaluating many statistical ideas. Among these are the role of theoretic knowledge and data in statistical inference and some issues in theoretic–empirical modelling. With this concern the paper takes a broad, pragmatic view of statistical inference to include all aspects of model formulation. The estimation of model parameters traditionally assumes that a model has a prespecified known form and takes no account of possible uncertainty regarding model structure. But in practice model structural uncertainty is a fact of life and is likely to be more serious than other sources of uncertainty which have received far more attention. This is true whether the model is specified on subject-matter grounds or when a model is formulated, fitted and checked on the same data set in an iterative interactive way. For that reason novel modelling techniques have been fashioned for reducing model uncertainty. Using available knowledge for theoretic model elaboration the techniques that have been created approximate the exact unknown process model concurrently by accessible theoretic and polynomial empirical functions. The paper examines the effects of uncertainty for hybrid theoretic–empirical models and, for reducing uncertainty, additive and multiplicative methods of model formulation are fashioned. Such modelling techniques have been successfully applied to perfect a steady flow model for an air gauge sensor. Validation of the models elaborated has revealed that the multiplicative modelling approach allows us to attain a satisfactory model with small discrepancy from empirical evidence.
Discrete Time, Discrete State Latent Markov Modelling for Assessing and Predicting Household Acquisitions of Financial Products
Authors: Paas Leonard J. , Vermunt Jeroen K. , Bijmolt Tammo H. A. 
Published: April 2007

SummaryThe paper demonstrates application of the latent Markov model for assessing developments by individuals through stages of a process. This approach is applied by using a database on ownership of 12 financial products and various demographic variables. The latent Markov model derives latent classes, representing household product portfolios, and shows the relationship between class membership and household demographics. The analysis provides insight into switching between the latent classes, reflecting developments of individual household product portfolios, and the effects of demographics on such switches. Based on this, we formulate equations to predict future acquisitions of financial products. The model accurately predicts which product a specific household unit acquires next, for most of the products.
Innovation and Market Structure in the Manufacturing Sector: An Application of Linear Feedback Models*
Authors: Uchida Yuichiro , Cook Paul 
Published: April 2007

AbstractIn recent years, there has been a renewed interest in the relationship between market structure and innovation activities at an industry level. The paper examines the relationship between these for the manufacturing sector in a sample of 33 countries. It applies a recently developed method, based on linear feedback models, and uses cross‐country time‐series data. Despite the relatively small number of observations, the results indicate that domestic competition, external market share, and research and development have a positive effect on innovation activities. The results also suggest that the introduction of the foreign competition may have an initial positive effect on innovation activities, but over time this becomes dissipated.
Enhancing Part‐time Teaching in Higher Education: a Challenge for Institutional Policy and Practice
Authors: Knight Peter , Baume David , Tait Jo , Yorke Mantz 
Published: April 2007

AbstractHigher education in the UK has seen a steady increase in the numbers of part‐time teachers, yet the way in which they are inducted into teaching and the utilisation of their expertise are under‐researched. This qualitative study of 33 part‐time teachers from several universities suggests that their involvement in higher education should be considered from a fresh perspective, which differs from approaches to the enhancement of university teaching that rely upon simply educating individual teachers to do better by requiring their attendance at formally provided courses and events. While these approaches have their place, modern research on professional learning is increasingly pointing to the view that professional formation is an ecological process that is insufficiently served by the formal provision of learning opportunities. The ecological perspective, which emphasises the part played by the everyday workplace in professional formation, provides a challenge to leaders and managers regarding the development and implementation of institutional policy and practice.
No barriers to fertilization between sympatric colour morphs in the marine species flock Hypoplectrus (Serranidae)
Authors: Whiteman E. A. , Gage M. J. G. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractAssortative mate choice is, so far, the only demonstrated isolating barrier between colour morphs in fish species flocks, such as freshwater cichlids and marine hamlets, suggesting an important role for sexual selection in speciation. However, there has been little consideration of post‐copulatory mechanisms that are known to influence reproductive isolation in other taxa. Selective pressures through a cost to hybrid matings, or genetic drift, may lead to the evolution of fertilization barriers through gamete incompatability. In cases of incipient speciation, such as the hamlets, complete fertilization blocks may not have evolved. Instead, differential fertilization between species may reduce the success of interspecific fertilizations. We examined the fertilization dynamics of sympatric Hypoplectrus nigricans (black hamlet) and Hypoplectrus puella (barred hamlet). Experimental crosses were performed to score fertilization success in within‐morph and between‐morph crosses. Fertilization success did not differ between self‐fertilized, within‐morph or between‐morph crosses. We therefore found no evidence of post‐mating barriers through sperm:egg incompatibilities and potential for self‐fertilization. Our results are consistent with a mechanism of colour morph divergence based on sexually selected morph mating preferences.
Between Italy and Spain: cultural interchange in the Roman career of Sebastiano del Piombo
Authors: Baker‐Bates Piers 
Published: April 2007

High Renaissance Rome has been envisioned as hermetic – or at least as being influential only in the Italian peninsula, until the traumatic effects of the Sack of 1527 dispersed throughout Europe the community of artists gathered there. In contrast to this traditionally Italo‐centric view, the export trade in artistic ideas, if not in physical objects, was flourishing throughout the period 1492–1534. Given Rome's position as the diplomatic centre of the Italian peninsula and the varied nationalities of the personnel employed in the Curia, the achievements of High Renaissance culture were always easily accessible to foreign patrons. In turn, as the export market flourished, it encouraged other ‘foreigners’ (a definition including both Italians and non‐Italians alike) and the aesthetics of Rome became a standard by which the prestige and culture of an individual could be measured.No particular group of ‘foreigners’ was better placed to exploit this than the Spanish, already established for many years in the south of Italy and now the growing power throughout the whole peninsula. Spaniards, clerical or secular, were a permanent feature of the Roman Court and among the most prominent was the royal ambassador. This post from 1506–21, the apex of the High Renaissance, was held by the Valencian aristocrat, Don Jeronimo de Vich y Vallterra. Vich brought to Valencia not only two works by Sebastiano del Piombo but also designs for an entirely contemporary palazzo. In these activities not only was he consciously emulating the Borgia, who had first brought the Italian Renaissance to Valencia, but in turn his imports provided a model for the succeeding generations of Valencian artists to emulate.
A recalibration of the garnet‐olivine geothermometer and a new geobarometer for garnet peridotites and garnet‐olivine‐plagioclase‐bearing granulites
Authors: WU C. M. , ZHAO G. C. 
Published: April 2007

AbstractThe garnet‐olivine Fe‐Mg exchange geothermometer and the garnet‐olivine‐plagioclase geobarometer have been simultaneously calibrated using reversed experimental data based on the model reactions
image

and
image

between 900 and 1500 °C at 9.1–95.0 kbar and between 4.7 and 7.0 kbar at 750–1050 °C, respectively. The resulting garnet‐olivine thermometer reproduces experimental temperatures mostly within ±75 °C and the garnet‐olivine‐plagioclase barometer reproduces experimental pressures well within ±0.19 kbar. These new thermobarometers use the same garnet and olivine activity models and are thermodynamically consistent. Application of these thermobarometers to garnet peridotites from mantle xenoliths, orogenic garnet peridotites over the world and the Adirondack olivine‐bearing metagabbros yielded reasonable P–T results. The present garnet‐olivine thermometer can be used to measure medium‐high‐grade to ultrahigh‐grade, low‐pressure to ultrahigh–high‐pressure garnet peridotites and metagabbros, whereas the garnet‐olivine‐plagioclase barometer has limited application to garnet‐olivine‐plagioclase‐bearing granulites.
Accuracy of electrocardiogram interpretation improves with emergency medicine training
Authors: Hoyle Rachel J , Walker Katherine J , Thomson Graeme , Bailey Michael 
Published: April 2007

AbstractObjective:  To assess whether electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation accuracy improves with advancing years of emergency medicine training.Methods:  A prospective cross‐sectional double‐blinded study of emergency medicine trainees attending teaching sessions in ACEM accredited Victorian hospitals. Subjects completed a survey about level of training, rotations completed and ECG training. They were then asked for the ‘main diagnosis’ on 10 clinically significant ECG. Those in their fourth year of advanced training onwards, or in active preparation for fellowship examination (senior trainees) were compared with trainees in earlier years (other trainees).Results:  There were 122 trainees surveyed in total. In the present study, 48/122 were senior trainees and 74/122 were other trainees. The overall accuracy of ECG interpretation was 67.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 63.2–71.8%) for the senior trainees and 49.6% (95% CI 45.2–53.9%) for the others. Results for some of the individual ECG were: left bundle branch block: 81.3% (95% CI 69.9–92.6%) seniors and 58.1% (95% CI 46.6–69.7%) others; ventricular tachycardia: 43.8% (95% CI 29.3–58.2%) seniors and 37.8% (95% CI 26.5–49.2%) others; and ventricular fibrillation: 70.8% (95% CI 57.6–84.1%) seniors and 63.5% (95% CI 52.2–74.9%) others.Conclusion:  There is an improvement in ECG interpretation accuracy with advancing years of emergency medicine training in Victoria. There exists, however, a low level of accuracy for some critical ECG diagnoses. There is a call by trainees for more formalized and regular ECG education to begin earlier in their training.
Molecular Discrimination of Atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Strains from a Geographical Region Spanning a Wide Area in Europe
Authors: Jacobs Jorg G. , Langeveld Jan P. M. , Biacabe Anne-Gaëlle , Acutis Pier-Luigi , Polak Miroslaw P. , Gavier-Widen Dolores , Buschmann Anne , Caramelli Maria , Casalone Cristina , Mazza Maria , Groschup Martin , Erkens Jo H. F. , Davidse Aart , van Zijderveld Fred G. , Baron Thierry 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy strains can be differentiated by their behavior in bioassays and by molecular analyses of the disease-associated prion protein (PrP) in a posttranslationally transformed conformation (PrP
Sc
). Until recently, isolates from cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) appeared to be very homogeneous. However, a limited number of atypical BSE isolates have recently been identified upon analyses of the disease-associated proteinase K (PK) resistance-associated moiety of PrP
Sc
(PrP
res
), suggesting the existence of at least two additional BSE PrP
res
variants. These are defined here as the H type and the L type, according to the higher and lower positions of the nonglycosylated PrP
res
band in Western blots, respectively, compared to the position of the band in classical BSE (C-type) isolates. These molecular PrP
res
variants, which originated from six different European countries, were investigated together. In addition to the migration properties and glycosylation profiles (glycoprofiles), the H- and L-type isolates exhibited enhanced PK sensitivities at pH 8 compared to those of the C-type isolates. Moreover, H-type BSE isolates exhibited differences in the binding of antibodies specific for N- and more C-terminal PrP regions and principally contained two aglycosylated PrP
res
moieties which can both be glycosylated and which is thus indicative of the existence of two PrP
res
populations or intermediate cleavage sites. These properties appear to be consistent within each BSE type and independent of the geographical origin, suggesting the existence of different BSE strains in cattle. The choice of three antibodies and the application of two pHs during the digestion of brain homogenates provide practical and diverse tools for the discriminative detection of these three molecular BSE types and might assist with the recognition of other variants.
Fatal Echovirus 18 Leukoencephalitis in a Child
Authors: Brunel Delphine , Jacques Jérôme , Motte Jacques , Andréoletti Laurent 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTRare cases of leukoencephalitis have been reported in infants with documented enterovirus (EV) central nervous system (CNS) infections. A case of fatal encephalitis with white matter lesions caused by echovirus 18 is described, and it highlights the role of EV CNS infection as a potential cause of leukoencephalitis in infants.
Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Manifestations of Viral Gastroenteritis in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients in Northern Taiwan
Authors: Chen Shih-Yen , Chang Yu-Chung , Lee Yun-Shien , Chao Hsun-Chin , Tsao Kuo-Chien , Lin Tzou-Yien , Ko Tzu-Yin , Tsai Chi-Neu , Chiu Cheng-Hsun 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT
By reverse transcription-PCR or PCR, among 257 children with nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis (AGE), rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, enteric adenovirus, and multiple viruses were identified in 78 (30.4%), 21 (8.2%), 7 (2.7%), 51 (19.8%), and 53 (20.6%) patients, respectively. Higher disease severity was found for AGE caused by multiple viruses and by rotavirus alone. The majority of rotaviruses isolated from 2004 to 2006 belonged to genotypes G1 (20.4%), G2 (16.5%), G3 (27.2%), and G9 (21.4%).
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Infection Promotes Invasion of Primary Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells by Inducing Matrix Metalloproteinases
Authors: Qian Li-Wu , Xie Jianping , Ye Fengchun , Gao Shou-Jiang 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important roles in cancer invasion, angiogenesis, and inflammatory infiltration. Kaposi's sarcoma is a highly disseminated angiogenic tumor of proliferative endothelial cells linked to infection by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). In this study, we showed that KSHV infection increased the invasiveness of primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in a Matrigel-based cell invasion assay. KSHV-induced cell invasion was abolished by an inhibitor of MMPs, BB-94, and occurred in both autocrine- and paracrine-dependent fashions. Analysis by zymography and Western blotting showed that KSHV-infected HUVEC cultures had increased secretion of MMP-1, -2, and -9. KSHV increased the secretion of MMP-2 within 1 h following infection without upregulating its mRNA expression level. In contrast, the secretion of MMP-1 and -9 was not increased until 6 h after KSHV infection and was correlated with the upregulation of their mRNA expression levels. Promoter analysis by reporter assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays identified an AP-1
cis
-element as the dominant KSHV-responsive site in the MMP-1 promoter. Together, these results suggest that KSHV infection modulates the production of multiple MMPs to increase cell invasiveness and thus contributes to the pathogenesis of KSHV-induced malignancies.