bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ablation for Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia with a Prolonged PR Interval During Sinus Rhythm: The Risk of Delayed Higher‐Degree Atrioventricular Block
Authors: REITHMANN CHRISTOPHER , REMP THOMAS , OVERSOHL NICO , STEINBECK GERHARD 
Published: June 2006

Introduction: Delayed higher‐degree atrioventricular (AV) block can develop after slow pathway ablation for AV nodal reentrant tachycardia with a preexisting first‐degree AV block. Retrograde fast pathway ablation is considered as an alternative approach for patients with a markedly prolonged PR interval and no demonstrable anterograde fast pathway function at baseline. This study aimed to determine the long‐term reliability of AV conduction after retrograde fast pathway ablation in comparison to slow pathway ablation in patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and a first‐degree AV block at baseline. Methods and Results: Among 43 patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and a prolonged PR interval (defined as ≥200 msec), 10 patients without demonstrable dual pathway physiology underwent ablation of the retrograde fast pathway, and 33 patients with dual pathway physiology underwent slow pathway ablation. Persisting intraprocedural second‐ or third‐degree AV block requiring pacemaker implantation occurred in one patient (10%) after retrograde fast pathway ablation and in one patient (3%) after slow pathway ablation. During the long‐term follow‐up of 61 ± 39 months after retrograde fast pathway ablation, no delayed second‐ or third‐degree AV block occurred, and the PR interval remained unchanged (308 ± 60 msec vs 304 ± 52 msec). During the follow‐up of 37 ± 25 months after slow pathway ablation, a delayed complete heart block developed in two patients, and a second‐degree AV block developed in two patients. Three patients aged 66, 75, and 76 years died suddenly of unknown cause 4, 16, and 48 months following slow pathway ablation, respectively. Conclusions: Slow pathway ablation was associated with a significant risk of a delayed higher‐degree AV block in patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and a prolonged PR interval at baseline. Retrograde fast pathway ablation for patients with a first‐degree AV block and no demonstrable dual pathway physiology was associated with a higher intraprocedural risk of complete AV block but did not result in the development of higher‐degree AV block during the long‐term follow‐up of up to 9 years.
Right and Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardias: Evidence for a Common Electrophysiologic Mechanism
Authors: IWAI SEI , CANTILLON DANIEL J. , KIM ROBERT J. , MARKOWITZ STEVEN M. , MITTAL SUNEET , STEIN KENNETH M. , SHAH BINDI K. , YARLAGADDA RAVI K. , CHEUNG JIM W. , TAN VIVIAN R. , LERMAN BRUCE B. 
Published: June 2006

Introduction:“Idiopathic” ventricular arrhythmias most often arise from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), although arrhythmias from the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) are also observed. While previous work has elucidated the mechanism and electropharmacologic profile of RVOT arrhythmias, it is unclear whether those from the LVOT share these properties. The purpose of this study was to characterize the electropharmacologic properties of RVOT and LVOT arrhythmias. Methods and Results: One hundred twenty‐two consecutive patients (61 male; 50.9 ± 15.2 years) with outflow tract arrhythmias comprise this series, 100 (82%) with an RVOT origin, and 22 (18%) with an LVOT origin. The index arrhythmia was similar: sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) (RVOT = 28%, LVOT = 36%), nonsustained VT (RVOT=40%, LVOT=23%), and premature ventricular complexes (RVOT = 32%, LVOT = 41%) (P = 0.32). Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and microvolt T‐wave alternans results (normal/indeterminate) were also comparable. In addition, 41% with RVOT foci and 50% with LVOT foci were inducible for sustained VT (P = 0.48), and induction of VT was catecholamine dependent in a majority of patients in both groups (66% and 73%; RVOT and LVOT, respectively; P = 1.0). VT was sensitive to adenosine (88% and 78% in the RVOT and LVOT groups, respectively, P = 0.59) as well as blockade of the slow‐inward calcium current (RVOT=70%, LVOT=80%; P = 1.00) in both groups. Conclusions: Electrophysiologic and pharmacologic properties, including sensitivity to adenosine, are similar for RVOT and LVOT arrhythmias. Despite disparate sites of origin, these data suggest a common arrhythmogenic mechanism, consistent with cyclic AMP‐mediated triggered activity. Based on these similarities, these arrhythmias should be considered as a single entity, and classified together as “outflow tract arrhythmias.”
Marshall Vein as Arrhythmogenic Source in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Correlation Between its Anatomy and Electrophysiological Findings
Authors: KUROTOBI TOSHIYA , ITO HIROSHI , INOUE KOICHI , IWAKURA KATSUOMI , KAWANO SHIGEO , OKAMURA ATSUNORI , DATE MOTOO , FUJII KENSHI 
Published: June 2006

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may originate from catecholamine‐sensitive vein of Marshall (VOM) or its ligament in addition to pulmonary veins (PVs). The anatomy of VOM and its relation to arrhythmogenic foci in the left atrium are unknown. We studied the anatomy of VOM and its relation to foci in patients with AF. Methods: The study population consisted of 100 patients with AF (mean age, 62 years; chronic AF, n = 15). AF sources were determined at baseline and after isoproterenol administration without sedation. VOM was identified by balloon‐occluded coronary sinus (CS) angiography. We determined its anatomy in relation to left PVs. Results: VOM was visualized in 73 patients (73%). Ninety‐seven patients had 269 arrhythmogenic foci (PV, n = 77; non‐PV, n = 48). Non‐PV foci included left atrial posterior wall (24, 9%), left lateral area (12, 4.5%), roof (6, 2.2%), superior vena cava (28, 10.4%), crista terminalis (8, 3.0%), CS (10, 3.7%), and others (10, 3.7%). The incidence of PV foci in the left superior PV (LSPV) was significantly higher in patients with well‐developed VOM than in those without (66% vs 42%, P < 0.05). Twenty‐eight patients had 30 non‐PV foci around the LSPV ostium. We successfully ablated the non‐PV foci at the distal end of VOM in 11 patients. The ends of the VOM branches were good markers to search for non‐PV foci. Seven of 11 (64%) patients with successful ablation of non‐PV foci were free from arrhythmia, whereas only 6 of 17 (35%) were free from arrhythmia in those with residual non‐PV foci. Conclusions: To determine VOM anatomy is important to identify non‐PV foci around the ends of VOM.
The influence of polyamines on apricot ovary development and fruit set
Authors: Alburquerque N. , Egea J. , Burgos L. , MartÍnez‐Romero D. , Valero D. , Serrano M. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractPolyamine (PA) concentrations of ovaries of two apricot cultivars, ‘S405‐17’ and ‘Bergeron’, collected at three stages of floral development, were analysed. The relationships between PA profiles, ovule development and fruit load between the two apricot cultivars were also determined. We show that PA levels vary with ovary development, depending on the cultivar. Higher concentrations of putrescine (PUT), spermidine and spermine were found in S405‐17 cultivar at all phenological stages. In addition, S405‐17 cultivar had more developed ovules and a higher fruit load than Bergeron. Moreover, the exogenous application of 10 mM PUT in Bergeron increased the percentage of functional ovules from 17.1% (control) to 33.3%. These results prove the effects of PAs on ovary development and indicate the possible improvement of apricot ovule development by their exogenous application. All these results define the relationship between PA content and ovule development in apricot. Further studies would confirm the use of free endogenous PA concentrations as markers of the developmental stage of the ovary, because determination of PA contents is easier and faster than serial sectioning.
ABILITY OF VARIOUS POLYPHENOLIC CLASSES FROM CRANBERRY TO INHIBIT LIPID OXIDATION IN MECHANICALLY SEPARATED TURKEY AND COOKED GROUND PORK
Authors: LEE CHEN‐HSIEN , REED JESS D. , RICHARDS MARK P. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT The ability of the components of cranberry powder to inhibit lipid oxidation processes in mechanically separated turkey (MST) and cooked ground pork was assessed. Fractions (Fr.) enriched in phenolic acids (Fr. 1), anthocyanins (Fr. 2), flavonols (Fr. 3 and 4) and proanthocyanidins (Fr. 5 and 6) were prepared. Fr. 4 showed the greatest inhibitory effect on lipid oxidation in cooked pork (81% inhibition), followed by Fr. 3, 2, 5, 1 and 6 of 56, 45 ,46, 26 and 22%, respectively, during storage at 2C. Fr. 4 was also the most effective fraction in inhibiting thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation in MST. Fr. 4 was found to partition into lipid phases more readily than the other fractions. Ethanol was the most effective carrier solvent of polyphenolics compared to propylene glycol and water as carriers. Quercetin, a nonglycosylated flavonol present in cranberry powder, inhibited lipid oxidation in MST at low concentrations. These results suggest that flavonol aglycones were the most effective in inhibiting lipid oxidation compared to the other classes of polyphenolics.
EFFECT OF OXYGEN CONCENTRATIONS ON BLOOMING ABILITY OF AGED BEEF LONGISSIMUS LUMBORUM STEAKS FOLLOWING ULTRALOW OXYGEN AND VACUUM STORAGE
Authors: BEGGAN M. , ALLEN P. , BUTLER F. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT Effect of different oxygen concentrations on blooming ability of aged beef longissimus lumborum (LL) steaks was examined. Six LL primals were stored for 2 weeks under vacuum followed by display under 2, 5, 10 or 20% oxygen (experiment 1). In addition, six primals were cut into steaks and individually stored under an ultralow‐oxygen modified atmosphere (MA), followed by display under 5, 10 or 20% oxygen (experiment 2). Color measurements (L*, a*, b*, chroma [C*] and hue angle) were recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 24 h of display. The steaks from experiment 1 displayed at 10 and 20% oxygen showed similar a* and C* values (P > 0.05) to aerobically displayed steaks (control), indicating that a minimum level of 10% oxygen was required for blooming. In experiment 2, similar (P > 0.05) a* and C* values were found between steaks displayed under 10 and 20% oxygen treatment and between 20% oxygen and control treatments. This finding suggests that steaks stored under ultralow‐oxygen MA required a higher level of oxygen (between 10 and 20% oxygen) for blooming compared with steaks stored under vacuum.
EFFECT OF LACTIC ACID AND LACTIC ACID BACTERIA ON GROWTH OF SPOILAGE MICROORGANISMS IN VACUUM‐PACKAGED BEEF
Authors: SIGNORINI M.L. , PONCE‐ALQUICIRA E. , GUERRERO‐LEGARRETA I. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT Surface application of lactic acid and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in meat substrates was reported as a means to control spoilage populations. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of LAB inoculation and lactic acid on development of spoilage bacteria in vacuum‐packaged beef. Finely cut meat was inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescens, Brochothrix thermosphacta and Lactobacillus minor, and treated with a LAB inoculum (Lactobacillus carnis, Lactobacillus pentosus and Staphylococcus carnosus) and lactic acid (200 mg/100 g of meat). The samples were vacuum‐packaged and stored for 12 and 6 days at 4 and 20C, respectively. Aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae species, Pseudomonas spp., B. thermosphacta, and heterofermentative LAB counts and pH were analyzed. Lactic acid was the most efficient treatment for controlling spoilage populations. LAB should be considered only as an additional factor parallel to other preservation methods to keep spoilage populations low enough as to extend meat shelf life.
COMPARISON OF FATTY ACID AND SENSORY PROFILES OF BEEF FROM FORAGE‐FED CATTLE WITH RETAIL UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CHOICE AND SELECT BEEF
Authors: BAUBLITS R.T. , POHLMAN F.W. , BROWN A.H. , RULE D.C. , JOHNSON Z.B. , ONKS D.O. , MURRIETA C.M. , SANDELIN B.A. , RICHARDS C.J. , LOVEDAY H.D. , PUGH R.B. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT Over two consecutive years, steaks from cattle (n = 107) grazing three cool‐season grazing systems consisting of either orchard grass pasture or fescue pasture, each with soyhull (SH) supplementation or fescue pasture with no supplementation, were compared with retail United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Choice and Select steaks obtained from area supermarkets for fatty acid and sensory characteristics. Steaks from all three forage treatments had greater (P < 0.05) proportions of longissimus conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; cis‐9, trans‐11) and lower (P < 0.05) n‐6–n‐3 fatty acid ratios than USDA Choice or Select steaks. Sensory evaluation revealed that steaks from the SH‐supplemented treatments had similar (P > 0.05) beef/brothy and grassy flavor intensities than retail USDA Choice and Select steaks, whereas steaks from unsupplemented forage‐fed cattle had decreased (P < 0.05) beef/brothy and increased (P < 0.05) grassy flavor intensities than USDA Choice and Select steaks. These results suggest that supplementing SHs to cattle on forage can enhance beef flavor and reduce grassy flavor characteristics similar to retail USDA Choice and Select steaks while maintaining heightened CLA proportions and a lower n‐6–n‐3 ratio.
USING FLUID WHEY IN COMMINUTED MEAT PRODUCTS: EFFECTS ON TEXTURAL PROPERTIES OF FRANKFURTER‐TYPE SAUSAGES
Authors: YETIM H. , MÜLLER W.D. , DOGAN M. , KLETTNER P.G. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to determine the possibility of using fluid whey in frankfurter formulations and to observe its effects on the textural properties of frankfurter‐type sausages. For this purpose, fluid whey substituted for ice used in sausages was manufactured and their textural characteristics were measured. Results of this research showed that liquid whey could be substituted for up to 100% of the ice in frankfurter formulations. For example, similar or more desirable emulsion stability and textural and color properties were obtained in comparison with the control group that contained no whey. For example, % jelly deposit and fat separation were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in 25% whey‐replaced groups. Again, a higher chewiness and elasticity but lower brittleness and hardness values were measured in no whey‐containing control groups compared with the 50, 75 and 100% fluid whey‐substituted sausages, and the highest redness (a*) value was with the 75 and 100% whey‐replaced samples. Therefore, utilization of liquid whey in comminuted meat products offers an enormous economic advantage and potential to fortify and improve functionality of processed meat products. In this way, the drying or condensing expenses as well as environmental concerns for disposing over surplus whey could also be eliminated.
Prognostic significance of CDC25B expression in gliomas
Authors: Nakabayashi H , Hara M , Shimizu K 
Published: June 2006

Background:CDC25B is a cell-cycle regulatory protein, which is considered to be related to tumorigenesis and progression of tumours.Aims:To elucidate the role of CDC25B in glioma, the expression of CDC25B and the association of the CDC25B expression with the clinicopathological parameters were investigated.Methods:Fifty seven gliomas, which included 21 low-grade astrocytomas, 17 anaplastic astrocytomas and 19 glioblastomas, were studied. Protein expressions of CDC25B were evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. Semiquantitative and real-time RT-PCR analyses for the expression of CDC25B mRNA were also carried out. Disease-free survival (DFS) data were analysed by using the Kaplan–Meier method.Results:High expression of CDC25B was identified in 18 of the 19 glioblastomas, in 10 of the 17 anaplastic astrocytomas, but not in any of the 21 low-grade astrocytomas. The CDC25B mRNA expression increased with the rise in histological grade. Increased CDC25B expression was correlated significantly with a shorter period of DFS, as shown by multivariate analysis.Conclusions:Patients with an unfavourable clinical outcome are characterised by the increased expression of CDC25B in their glioma samples. Useful clinical information, especially on its relevance as a prognostic indicator, is provided by the evaluation of CDC25B expression in gliomas.
Audit of laboratory mycology services for the management of patients with fungal infections in the northwest of England
Authors: Hassan I A , Critten P , Isalska B , Denning D W 
Published: June 2006

Background:Fungal infection is increasingly recognised as an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients. Little information exists on laboratory services available and the methods used by general microbiology laboratories to diagnose these important infections.Aim:To investigate the services microbiology laboratories in northwest England provide towards the diagnosis and management of superficial and deep fungal infections.Methods:A questionnaire was sent to laboratories to get a holistic view of the support given to clinicians looking after patients with fungal infections. The aim was not to investigate details of each laboratory’s standard operating procedures.The completed questionnaires, which formed the basis of this report, were returned by all 21 laboratories which were recruited. This study was conducted between March 2004 and September 2004.Results:Services were provided to District General Hospitals and to six tertiary centres, including eight teaching hospitals by 16 laboratories. Their bed capacity was 250–1300 beds. Total specimens (including bacterial and viral) processed annually were 42 000–500 000 whereas fungal ones were 560–5400.Conclusion:In most microbiology laboratories of northwest England, clinicians were aware of the potential of fungal pathogens to cause infections especially in immunocompromised patients. Additional measures such as prolonged incubation of samples were introduced to improve fungal yield from patients at high risk. It is necessary to train and educate laboratory and medical staff about the role of serology and molecular methods in diagnosis and management of patients with fungal infection.
Building and Using a Lexical Knowledge Base of Near-Synonym Differences
Authors: Inkpen Diana , Hirst Graeme 
Published: June 2006

Choosing the wrong word in a machine translation or natural language generation system can convey unwanted connotations, implications, or attitudes. The choice between near-synonyms such as error, mistake, slip, and blunder—words that share the same core meaning, but differ in their nuances—can be made only if knowledge about their differences is available. We present a method to automatically acquire a new type of lexical resource: a knowledge base of near-synonym differences. We develop an unsupervised decision-list algorithm that learns extraction patterns from a special dictionary of synonym differences. The patterns are then used to extract knowledge from the text of the dictionary. The initial knowledge base is later enriched with information from other machine-readable dictionaries. Information about the collocational behavior of the near-synonyms is acquired from free text. The knowledge base is used by Xenon, a natural language generation system that shows how the new lexical resource can be used to choose the best near-synonym in specific situations.
Consistent Validation of Manual and Automatic Sense Annotations with the Aid of Semantic Graphs
Authors: Navigli Roberto 
Published: June 2006

The task of annotating texts with senses from a computational lexicon is widely recognized to be complex and often subjective. Although strategies like interannotator agreement and voting can be applied to deal with the divergences between sense taggers, the consistency of sense choices with respect to the reference dictionary is not always guaranteed. In this article, we introduce Valido, a visual tool for the validation of manual and automatic sense annotations. The tool employs semantic interconnection patterns to smooth possible divergences and support consistent decision making.
Characterization of Local Structures in Flexible Polyurethane Foams by Solid-state NMR and FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Oka Hideyuki , Tokunaga Yuji , Masuda Takahiro , Kiso Hiroyuki , Yoshimura Hiroyuki 
Published: June 2006

The article examines the characterization of local structures in water-blown flexible polyurethane foams with various amine catalysts. In this study, the authors have applied solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation, nuclear spin diffusion, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscope analysis on flexible polyurethane foams. Quantitative knowledge of the polymer structure and dynamics by these methods provides a significant insight on understanding the microphase separation and the domain structure of urethane and urea hard segments and polyether soft segments in foam. Furthermore, the authors analyze the influence of hydrothermal degradation on the microphase structure of the foams. A detailed comparison of the fundamental results with conventional foam durability tests (e.g., humid aged compression sets) is described, and the hydrothermal degradation mechanism and the influence of catalysts on the foam stability are discussed.
A Prospective, Randomized Clinical Investigation of the Treatment of First-Time Ankle Sprains
Authors: Beynnon Bruce D. , Renström Per A. , Haugh Larry , Uh Benjamin S. , Barker Howard 
Published: June 2006

Background Acute ankle ligament sprains are treated with the use of controlled mobilization with protection provided by external support (eg, functional treatment); however, there is little information regarding the best type of external support to use. Hypothesis There is no difference between elastic wrapping, bracing, bracing combined with elastic wrapping, and casting for treatment of acute, first-time ankle ligament sprains in terms of the time a patient requires to return to normal function. Study Design Randomized controlled clinical trial; Level of evidence, 1. Methods Patients suffering their first ligament injury were stratified by the severity of the sprain (grades I, II, or III) and then randomized to undergo functional treatment with different types of external supports. The patients completed daily logs until they returned to normal function and were followed up at 6 months. Results Treatment of grade I sprains with the Air-Stirrup brace combined with an elastic wrap returned subjects to normal walking and stair climbing in half the time required for those treated with the Air-Stirrup brace alone and in half the time required for those treated with an elastic wrap alone. Treatment of grade II sprains with the Air-Stirrup brace combined with the elastic wrap allowed patients to return to normal walking and stair climbing in the shortest time interval. Treatment of grade III sprains with the Air-Stirrup brace or a walking cast for 10 days followed by bracing returned subjects to normal walking and stair climbing in the same time intervals. The 6-month follow-up of each sprain severity group revealed no difference between the treatments for frequency of reinjury, ankle motion, and function. Conclusion Treatment of first-time grade I and II ankle ligament sprains with the Air-Stirrup brace combined with an elastic wrap provides earlier return to preinjury function compared to use of the Air-Stirrup brace alone, an elastic wrap alone, or a walking cast for 10 days.