bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breast‐Conserving Surgery in Hong Kong Chinese Women
Authors: Suen Dacita , Chow Lorraine , Kwong Ava 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackgroundSince the introduction of breast‐conserving surgery (BCS), it has been increasingly accepted as the standard surgical option for suitable breast cancer patients in Western countries. However, there have been reports suggesting striking ethnic variations in those undergoing BCS. This study aimed to review the rate of BCS in Hong Kong Chinese breast cancer patients and the possible clinicopathologic and psychosocial factors that may have affected the choice of surgery.MethodsPatients in a university academic surgical center with early‐stage breast cancer (stage I/II invasive carcinoma and carcinoma in situ) who underwent definitive surgery from January 2001 to December 2005 were studied. BCS was considered feasible for those with (1) the optimal tumor size for which an acceptable cosmetic outcome can be achieved after surgery, (2) unifocal disease, and (3) no contraindication for postoperative radiotherapy. The proportion of women undergoing BCS or mastectomy were compared. Factors affecting the choice of surgery were correlated.ResultsSix hundred eighty female patients with early‐stage breast cancer underwent surgery during the study period; 495 (72.8%) mastectomies, 149 (21.9%) BCS, and 36 (5.3%) mastectomies with immediate reconstruction were performed. For those patients who had mastectomies, 54.8% (271/495) had considered BCS as the initial surgical option. Among these, 19.6% (53/271) failed to have BCS performed due to margin involvement or extensive disease, and 80.4% (218/271) declined BCS and opted for mastectomy only. Age, marital status, and educational level were found to be independent significant factors affecting the choice of BCS.ConclusionThe rate of BCS in Hong Kong is relatively low compared to that of Western countries. Patients who opted for mastectomies tended to be older, married, and have a lower educational level. Prospective studies on how sociocultural, clinicopathologic, and other factors important in treatment decision‐making processes and psychosocial impact of choice of surgery are important so that an ethnic‐specific assessment can be made. Suitability and acceptance of BCS by Chinese women should increase with better understanding and education.
Surgical Education in China
Authors: Shen Bai‐Yong , Zhan Qian 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA highly skilled surgical team relies on a standardized training system and the most important subject in the development of general surgery in China is to set up standardized education and training systems for surgeons. This article reviews the history of the training of residents, delineates the current situation and problems of residency training in general surgery, and discusses reform and future development of surgical training systems and assessment of competence in surgical practice, in order to put forward the solutions and countermeasures. China needs a large number of highly trained surgeons to improve its medical care system, and some fundamental changes of its residency training system, especially in the field of surgical education, have been made. All of the experts working in this area sum up the historical experience and apply the advanced experience of foreign countries as a reference to build up a surgical education system with Chinese characteristics to achieve a continuous, sound, and rapid development of surgical education in China.
The Number of Metastatic Lymph Nodes is a Significant Risk Factor for Bone Metastasis and Poor Outcome After Surgery for Linitis Plastica‐type Gastric Carcinoma
Authors: Kodera Yasuhiro , Ito Seiji , Mochizuki Yoshinari , Yamamura Yoshitaka , Misawa Kazunari , Ohashi Norifumi , Nakayama Goro , Koike Masahiko , Fujiwara Michitaka , Nakao Akimasa 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackgroundLinitis plastica‐type gastric carcinoma remains a disease with poor prognosis despite an aggressive surgical approach. Although a prominent pattern of disease failure is peritoneal carcinomatosis, some patients experience rapid disease progression without signs of the peritoneal disease.MethodsClinicopathologic data from 178 patients with linitis plastica‐type gastric cancer operated on between 1991 and 2000 were analyzed. Survival stratified by curability of surgery, pN stage, and patterns of failure were evaluated by using the Kaplan‐Meier method, and χ2 test was used to evaluate correlation between the number of metastatic lymph nodes in terms of pN categories and the incidence of various patterns of metastasis and recurrence. Cox regression hazard model was used to identify independent prognostic factors.ResultsR0 resection was performed only among 82 patients (46% of those who underwent laparotomy). Node metastasis was frequent with only 22 patients classified as pN0. Peritoneal carcinomatosis was observed in 131 patients and was the commonest pattern of recurrence. Bone metastasis, found in 13 patients, was associated with poor outcome, and its incidence was significantly correlated with the number of metastatic nodes. pT4 status and pN3 status were identified as significant independent prognostic determinants.ConclusionTreatment strategy for the linitis plastica should in general combine surgery with aggressive treatment directed toward peritoneal disease. However, patients with >16 metastatic nodes more often are associated with bone metastasis than those with modest nodal involvement and suffer from poor prognosis.
Estimating abundance with sparse data: tigers in northern Myanmar
Authors: Lynam Antony J. , Rabinowitz Alan , Myint Than , Maung Myint , Latt Kyaw T. , Po Saw Htoo T. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractAs part of a national strategy for recovering tiger populations, the Myanmar Government recently proposed its first and the world's largest tiger reserve in the Hukaung Valley, Kachin State. During November 2002–June 2004, camera‐traps were used to record tigers, identify individuals, and, using capture–recapture approaches, estimate density in the reserve. Despite extensive (203 trap locations, 275–558 km2sample plots) and intensive (>4,500 trap nights, 9 months of sampling) survey efforts, only 12 independent detections of six individual tigers were made across three study sites. Due to the sparse data, estimates of tiger abundance generated by Program CAPTURE could not be made for all survey sites. Other approaches to estimating density, based on numbers of tigers caught, or derived from borrowed estimates of detection probability, offer an alternative to capture–recapture analysis. Tiger densities fall in the range of 0.2–2.2 tigers/100 km2, with 7–71 tigers inside a 3,250 km2area of prime tiger habitat, where efforts to protect tigers are currently focused. Tiger numbers might be stabilized if strict measures are taken to protect tigers and their prey from seasonal hunting and to suppress illegal trade in wildlife. Efforts to monitor abundance trends in the tiger population will be expensive given the difficulty with which tiger data can be obtained and the lack of available surrogate indices of tiger density. Monitoring occupancy patterns, the subject of a separate ongoing study, may be more efficient.
Photoaffinity Labeling and Mutational Analysis of 24‐C‐Sterol Methyltransferase Defines the AdoMet Binding Site
Authors: Jayasimha Pruthvi , Nes W. David 
Published: June 2008

AbstractPhotolabeling and site‐directed mutagenesis were performed on recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae 24‐C‐sterol methyltransferase (SMT) to elucidate the location and role of active site residues involved in AdoMet binding and catalysis. Bioinformatic analysis of the SMT revealed a ten amino acid segment, conserved between L124 and P133, associated with the Rossmann‐like fold belonging to AdoMet‐dependent methyltransferases. Irradiation of the SMT in the presence of [methyl‐3H3]AdoMet directly photolabeled the protein. The specificity of photolabeling was demonstrated by inactivation experiments with structural analogs of AdoMet, including sinefungin. Trypsin digestion of the [methyl‐3H3]AdoMet photolabeled Erg6p afforded a single radioactive band in SDS‐PAGE gel of 4 kDa. HPLC purification of this material generated a single radioactive fraction. The corresponding 3H‐AdoMet‐peptide adduct was subjected to Edman sequencing and the first fifteen residues gave a sequence Gly120‐Asp‐Leu‐Val‐Leu‐Asp‐Val‐Gly‐Cys‐Gly‐Val‐Gly‐Gly‐Pro‐Ala134 that contained the predicted AdoMet binding site. Amino acid residues in the tryptic digest fragment considered to bind covalently with the AdoMet at Asp125, Cys128, Pro133 and Tyr153 were replaced with leucine and analyzed kinetically and by photolabeling inactivation experiments. The results indicate that one or both of Cys128 and Pro133 are covalently bound to AdoMet.
Effects of functional electrical stimulation on quality of life and emotional stress in patients with chronic heart failure secondary to ischaemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: A randomised, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Karavidas Apostolos , Parissis John , Arapi Sophia , Farmakis Dimitrios , Korres Dimitrios , Nikolaou Maria , Fotiadis John , Potamitis Nikolaos , Driva Xenia , Paraskevaidis Ioannis , Matsakas Evaggelos , Filippatos Gerasimos , Kremastinos Dimitrios T. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectiveFunctional electrical stimulation (FES) improves exercise capacity and endothelial function in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. This study evaluates the impact of FES on quality of life and emotional stress in patients with moderate to severe CHF.MethodsThirty patients with stable CHF (24 men; NYHA class II–III; left ventricular ejection fraction <35%) were randomly assigned (2:1) to a 6‐week FES training program (n=20) or placebo (n=10). Questionnaires addressing quality of life [Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), functional and overall], and emotional stress [Zung self‐rating depression scale (SDS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)], as well as plasma B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and 6‐min walking distance test (6MWT) were assessed at baseline and after completion of training protocol.ResultsA significant improvement in KCCQ functional (F=76.666, p<0.001), KCCQ overall (F = 41.508, p<0.001), BDI (F = 17.768, p<0.001) and Zung SDS (F = 27.098, p<0.001) was observed in the FES group compared to placebo. Patients in the FES group had also a significant increase in 6MWT (F = 19.413, p<0.001) and a trend towards reduction in plasma BNP (F = 4.252, p=0.053) compared to placebo.ConclusionFES seems to have a beneficial effect on quality of life, exercise capacity and emotional stress in patients with moderate to severe CHF.
Psychiatric neuroimaging: Joining forces with epidemiology
Authors: Glahn David , Reichenberg Abraham , Frangou Sophia , Ormel Hans 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSevere mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and mood disorders have a major impact on public health. Disease prevalence and phenotypic expression are the products of environment and gene interactions. However, our incomplete understanding of their aetiology and pathophysiology thwarts primary prevention and early diagnosis and limits the effective application of currently available treatments as well as the development of novel therapeutic approaches. Neuroimaging can provide detailed in vivo information about the biological mechanisms underpinning the relationship between genetic variation and clinical phenotypes or response to treatment. However, the biological complexity of severe mental illness results from unknown or unpredictable interactions between multiple genetic and environmental factors, many of which have only been partially identified. We propose that the use of epidemiological principles to neuroimaging research is a necessary next step in psychiatric research. Because of the complexity of mental disorders and the multiple risk factors involved only the use of large epidemiologically defined samples will allow us to study the broader spectrum of psychopathology, including sub-threshold presentation and explore pathophysiological processes and the functional impact of genetic and non-genetic factors on the onset and persistence of psychopathology.
Clinical trial experience with prophylactic HPV 6/11/16/18 VLP vaccine in young women from the Asia‐Pacific region
Authors: Tay E.H. , Garland S. , Tang G. , Nolan T. , Huang L.‐M. , Orloski L. , Lu S. , Barr E. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjective:To evaluate results of three phase 3 clinical trials of quadrivalent HPV 6/11/16/18 vaccination of young Asia‐Pacific women.Methods:A total of 814 women from the Asia‐Pacific region (aged 16 to 26 years) received vaccine or placebo in 1 of 3 protocols. Descriptive analyses focused on the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of the vaccine and the natural history of HPV disease.Results:Vaccine efficacy against disease caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, or 18 was 100% for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (0 vs 12 cases; 95% confidence interval [CI], 63.1%–100%) and 100% for vulvar and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia or condylomata accuminata (0 vs 5 cases; 95% CI, − 11.8% to 100%). The vaccination was highly immunogenic. Vaccine recipients experienced a significantly higher injection site adverse event rate (P = 0.002). Compared with other world regions, lower rates of smoking and baseline positivity to 14 HPV types (including the vaccine types) were observed among Asia‐Pacific participants.Conclusion:Prophylactic quadrivalent HPV 6/11/16/18 vaccination of young Asia‐Pacific women demonstrated high efficacy, safety, and tolerability. Together with an observed low baseline HPV positivity rate, the Asia‐pacific population is potentially an important cohort to benefit from vaccination.
In situ fracture of stents implanted for relief of pulmonary arterial stenosis in patients with congenitally malformed hearts
Authors: McElhinney Doff B. , Bergersen Lisa , Marshall Audrey C. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackgroundOne of the most common uses of stents in patients with congenitally malformed hearts is treatment of pulmonary arterial stenosis. Although there are reports of fractured pulmonary arterial stents, little is known about the risk factors for, and implications of, such fractures.MethodsWe reviewed angiograms to identify fractures in stents previously inserted to relieve stenoses in pulmonary arteries from 1990 through 2001 in patients who also underwent follow-up catheterization at least 3 years after placement of the stent. We undertook matched cohort analysis, matching a ratio of 2 fractured to 1 unfractured stent.ResultsOverall, 166 stents meeting the criterions of our study had been placed in 120 patients. We identified fractures in 35 stents (21%) in 29 patients. All fractured stents were in the central pulmonary arteries, 24 (69%) in the central part of the right pulmonary artery, and all were complete axial fractures, or complex fractures along at least 2 planes. Stent-related factors associated with increased risk of fracture identified by multivariable logistic regression included placement in close apposition to the ascending aorta (p = 0.001), and a larger expanded diameter (p = 0.002). There was obstruction across 28 of 35 fractured stents, which was severe in 11. We re-stented 21 of the fractured stents, and recurrent fracture was later diagnosed in 3 of these. A fragment of the fractured stent embolized distally in 2 patients, without clinically important effects.ConclusionsIn situ fracture of pulmonary arterial stents is relatively common, and in most cases is related to compression by the aorta. There is usually recurrent obstruction across the fractured stent, but fractured stents rarely embolize, and are not associated with other significant complications.
Memory-efficient dynamic programming backtrace and pairwise local sequence alignment
Authors: Newberg Lee A. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Motivation: A backtrace through a dynamic programming algorithm's intermediate results in search of an optimal path, or to sample paths according to an implied probability distribution, or as the second stage of a forward–backward algorithm, is a task of fundamental importance in computational biology. When there is insufficient space to store all intermediate results in high-speed memory (e.g. cache) existing approaches store selected stages of the computation, and recompute missing values from these checkpoints on an as-needed basis.
Results: Here we present an optimal checkpointing strategy, and demonstrate its utility with pairwise local sequence alignment of sequences of length 10 000.
Availability: Sample C++-code for optimal backtrace is available in the Supplementary Materials.
Contact: leen@cs.rpi.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data is available at Bioinformatics online.
Induction of lung adenocarcinoma in transgenic mice expressing activated EGFR driven by the SP‐C promoter
Authors: Ohashi Kadoaki , Rai Kammei , Fujiwara Yoshiro , Osawa Masahiro , Hirano Seiki , Takata Katsuyoshi , Kondo Eisaku , Yoshino Tadashi , Takata Minoru , Tanimoto Mitsune , Kiura Katsuyuki 
Published: June 2008

To investigate the role of an activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation in lung cancer, we generated transgenic mice expressing the delE748‐A752 mutant version of mouse EGFR driven by the SP‐C promoter, which is equivalent to the delE746‐A750 mutation found in lung cancer patients. Strikingly, the mice invariably developed multifocal lung adenocarcinomas of varying sizes at between 5 and 6 weeks of age, and they died from tumor progression approximately 2 months later if left untreated. Daily oral administration of the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) gefitinib (5 mg/kg/day) reduced the total and phosphorylation levels of EGFR to those in wild‐type mouse lung tissue; in addition, it abrogated tumor growth within 1 week and prolonged survival to >30 weeks. Interestingly, phosphorylated ErbB2, ErbB3, and thyroid transcriptional factor‐1 increased in the transgenic mice compared with those in wild‐type mice. They might play some roles in tumors progression in the transgenic mice. This model will be useful for studying the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, chemoprevention, and acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs in lung cancer patients carrying activating EGFR mutations. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1747–1753)
Chromosome copy number analysis in screening for prognosis‐related genomic regions in colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Kurashina Kentaro , Yamashita Yoshihiro , Ueno Toshihide , Koinuma Koji , Ohashi Jun , Horie Hisanaga , Miyakura Yasuyuki , Hamada Toru , Haruta Hidenori , Hatanaka Hisashi , Soda Manabu , Choi Young Lim , Takada Shuji , Yasuda Yoshikazu , Nagai Hideo , Mano Hiroyuki 
Published: June 2008

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains the major cause of cancer death in humans. Although chromosomal structural anomaly is presumed to play an important role in the carcinogenesis of CRC, chromosomal copy number alterations (CNA) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) have not yet been analyzed extensively at high resolution in CRC. Here we aim to identify recurrent CNA and LOH in human CRC with the use of single nucleotide polymorphism‐typing microarrays, and to reveal their relevance to clinical outcome. Surgically resected CRC specimens and paired normal mucosa were obtained from a consecutive series of 94 patients with CRC, and both of them were subjected to genotyping with Affymetrix Mapping 50K arrays. CNA and LOH were inferred computationally on every single nucleotide polymorphism site by integrating the array data for paired specimens. Our large dataset reveals recurrent CNA in CRC at chromosomes 7, 8, 13, 18, and 20, and recurrent LOH at chromosomes 1p, 4q, 5q, 8p, 11q, 14q, 15q, 17p, 18, and 22. Frequent uniparental disomy was also identified in chromosomes 8p, 17p, and 18q. Very common CNA and LOH were present at narrow loci of <1 Mbp containing only a few genes. In addition, we revealed a number of novel CNA and LOH that were linked statistically to the prognosis of the patients. The precise and large‐scale measurement of CNA and LOH in the CRC genome is efficient for pinpointing prognosis‐related genome regions as well as providing a list of unknown genes that are likely to be involved in CRC development. (Cancer Sci2008; 99: 1835–1840)
I‐gel insertion by novices in manikins and patients*
Authors: Wharton N. M. , Gibbison B. , Gabbott D. A. , Haslam G. M. , Muchatuta N. , Cook T. M. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe i‐gel, a novel supraglottic airway, has been proposed for use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We evaluated the performance of this device in manikins and anaesthetised patients when used by novices: medical students, non‐anaesthetist physicians and allied health professionals all unfamiliar with the i‐gel. Fifty i‐gels were placed in manikins. Eighty‐eight percent (44/50) were placed on the first attempt with a median insertion time of 14 s (range 7–45). I‐gels were placed in 40 healthy anaesthetised patients. Success on the first attempt was 82.5% (33/40) and on the second attempt 15% (6/40). After three attempts there were no failures. Median insertion time was 17.5 s (range 7–197). Median airway seal was 20 cmH2O (range 13–40). One case of regurgitation and partial aspiration occurred. Our results suggest the i‐gel is rapidly inserted in both manikins and patients by novice users and compares favourably to other supraglottic airways available. Further work determining safety and efficacy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation is required.
The optimum bolus dose of remifentanil to facilitate laryngeal mask airway insertion with a single standard dose of propofol at induction in children
Authors: Kwak H. J. , Kim J. Y. , Kim Y. B. , Chae Y. J. , Kim J. Y. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to determine the optimal bolus dose of remifentanil required for the successful insertion of the laryngeal mask airway during propofol induction in children without a neuromuscular blocking agent. Twenty‐six paediatric patients, aged 3–10 years, requiring anaesthesia for short ambulatory surgery were recruited. A predetermined bolus dose of remifentanil was injected over 30 s, followed by propofol 2.5 mg.kg−1over 10 s. The bolus dose of remifentanil was determined by a modified Dixon’s up‐and‐down method, starting from 0.5 μg.kg−1(0.1 μg.kg−1as a step size). Laryngeal mask insertion was attempted 90 s after the end of remifentanil injection and the response of patients was classified as either ‘movement’ or ‘no movement’. The bolus dose of remifentanil at which there was a 50% probability of successful laryngeal mask insertion (ED50) during induction with 2.5 mg.kg−1propofol was 0.56 (0.07) μg.kg−1in children without a neuromuscular blocking agent. From probit analysis, the ED50and ED95of remifentanil were 0.52 μg.kg−1(95% confidence limits, 0.42–0.62 μg.kg−1) and 0.71 μg.kg−1(95% confidence limits, 0.61–1.40 μg.kg−1), respectively.