bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic distal ureterectomy and anastomosis for management of low‐risk upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma: preliminary results
Authors: Rouprêt Morgan , Harmon Justin D. , Sanderson Kristin M. , Barret Eric , Cathelineau Xavier , Vallancien Guy , Rozet François 
Published: January 2007

Associate EditorAsh TewariEditorial BoardRalph Clayman, USAInderbir Gill, USARoger Kirby, UKMani Menon, USAOBJECTIVETo determine the surgical feasibility and early oncological outcomes of laparoscopic distal ureterectomy in patients with low‐grade upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (UUT‐TCC).PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed patients treated laparoscopically with conservative management for a UUT‐TCC between 2001 and 2005. We collected data on gender, age, mode of diagnosis, smoking, history of bladder cancer, complications, tumour site, size, stage, grade, hospital stay, recurrence and progression.RESULTSData were analysed for six patients with a mean (range) age of 68.5 (54–76) years. Four patients had a diagnostic ureteroscopy with biopsy. The operative duration was 173.3 (120–240) min, the estimated blood loss was 75 (50–200) mL and the length of ureteric resection was 5.23 cm. Two patients required a psoas hitch. JJ stents were maintained for 25.8 (15–30) days. The hospital stay was 6 (5–8) days. There were minor complications in three patients after surgery. The follow‐up was 32 (17–46) months. The tumour size was 1.7 (0.8–2.6) cm. There were low‐grade tumours in four patients and pTa in five. All patients are alive and free of disease; there were no anastomotic strictures. Two patients developed a recurrence, one in the ipsilateral renal pelvis and one in the bladder.CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic distal ureterectomy with direct re‐implantation is technically feasible for low‐risk UUT‐TCC (i.e. low‐grade, noninvasive), in the properly selected patient. Early oncological outcomes are promising but strict surveillance protocols must be followed.
A critical appraisal of logistic regression‐based nomograms, artificial neural networks, classification and regression‐tree models, look‐up tables and risk‐group stratification models for prostate cancer
Authors: Chun Felix K.‐H. , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Briganti Alberto , Walz Jochen , Kattan Michael W. , Huland Hartwig , Graefen Markus 
Published: January 2007

OBJECTIVETo evaluate several methods of predicting prostate cancer‐related outcomes, i.e. nomograms, look‐up tables, artificial neural networks (ANN), classification and regression tree (CART) analyses and risk‐group stratification (RGS) models, all of which represent valid alternatives.METHODSWe present four direct comparisons, where a nomogram was compared to either an ANN, a look‐up table, a CART model or a RGS model. In all comparisons we assessed the predictive accuracy and performance characteristics of both models.RESULTSNomograms have several advantages over ANN, look‐up tables, CART and RGS models, the most fundamental being a higher predictive accuracy and better performance characteristics.CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that nomograms are more accurate and have better performance characteristics than their alternatives. However, ANN, look‐up tables, CART analyses and RGS models all rely on methodologically sound and valid alternatives, which should not be abandoned.
Common Adiponectin Gene Variants Show Different Effects on Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes in European Subjects
Authors: Gable D. R. , Matin J. , Whittall R. , Cakmak H. , Li Ka Wah , Cooper J. , Miller G. J. , Humphries S. E. ,   on behalf of the HIFMECH investigators
Published: January 2007

SummaryAlterations in the secretion of adipokines may explain the link between obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD). These conditions have been associated with variation in the adiponectin gene, although evidence for this relationship has been variable, with differences found even in similar samples. This study aims to clarify these inconsistencies by determining the impact of identified adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) variants (−11391G>A,−1377C>G[promoter] and +45T>G[exon 2] and +276G>T[intron 2]) on the prospective risk of CAD and T2DM in healthy men, and on adverse metabolic markers, in myocardial infarct survivors and controls from different parts of Europe. The hazard ratio for cardiovascular disease varied across the −11391GG/GA/AA(p = 0.03) and −11371CC/CG/GG(p = 0.05) genotypes only. In contrast, only the +45T>G variant (3.80[1.76‐8.24]) was associated with T2DM, while two haplotypes GCTT/GCGG (p < 0.05) and +276G>T(p = 0.01) increased risk in interaction with obesity. The variants were associated with a number of biomarkers in Southern but not Northern Europe (p = 0.01), despite no significant differences in allele or haplotype frequencies (p > 0.44). A risk haplotype could not be identified in either sample. Adiponectin gene variants are hence currently poor markers for the development of T2DM and CAD. Their influence on risk depends significantly on interactions that are not currently understood with either genetic variation elsewhere or the environment of the sample studied.
Visual function and visual perception in cerebral palsied children
Authors: Kozeis Nikos , Anogeianaki Antonia , Mitova Daniela Tosheva , Anogianakis George , Mitov Tosho , Klisarova Anelia 
Published: January 2007

AbstractPurpose:  To investigate visual function and perception in cerebral palsied (CP) children.Methods:  A total of 105 congenitally CP children (aged 6–15 years), without severe mental retardation, were classified into three groups: those with spastic quadriplegia, spastic diplegia and spastic hemiplegia. Data collected included patient history, IQ, refraction, far and near visual acuity, position of the eyes and eye movements, visual fields, colour perception, stereoacuity, slit lamp and fundoscopic examinations, and evaluation of visual perception. The results were compared with a control group from the general paediatric population.Results:  The IQ of the CP children ranged between 70 and 100. A total of 59% of them had best corrected distance visual acuity <6/6, with 25.5% <6/9. Near visual acuity was also reduced (70.1% scored <6/6 and 38.4% scored <6/9). Incidence of refractive errors was higher than in the control group (hypermetropia in 43.8% of the eyes, myopia 16.19% and astigmatism 40.9%) as was the incidence of strabismus (26.7% esotropic and 27.6% exotropic). In visual field testing, 80.95% of CP children were normal. A total of 94.28% had normal colour perception and 89.52% were free of ocular pathology. Stereopsis was abnormal or absent in 85.71% of the cases. Visual perception was markedly reduced: in 57.14% of the cases it was less than or equal to that of 6‐year‐old children; in 26.66% equal to that of 6‐ to 7.5‐year‐old children, and in 16.2% of the cases greater than or equal to that of 7.5‐year‐old children.Conclusions:  In the absence of severe mental retardation, CP children have deficient visual skills. It is suggested that the poor visual skills of CP children are a separate, identifiable factor compounding the adverse effects of mental retardation.
Influence of target type and RAF rule on the measurement of near point of convergence
Authors: Adler Paul M. , Cregg Mary , Viollier Ann‐Julie , Margaret Woodhouse J. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractPurpose:  This study was designed to investigate if the use of different target types or the RAF rule affected the measurement of near point of convergence (NPC).Methods:  The subjects comprised three groups: (1) 20 children aged 6–9 years (2) 17 children aged 11–13 years (3) 14 adults aged 20–30 years. Five targets were used to measure the NPC: (1) pencil tip, (2) fingertip, (3) penlight, (4) N5 letter and (5) vertical line target on the RAF rule.Results:  There was no significant difference in NPC measurements between the pencil tip, fingertip and N5 target in free space. The penlight resulted in significantly more remote NPC break and recovery points compared with the fingertip and pencil tip (p < 0.05). The RAF rule influences the NPC obtained (p < 0.001). The greatest difference in NPC measurements was observed when comparing the RAF line target and the finger in free space; the former resulted in NPC values of 1.9 times (95% CI 1.6–2.2 times) as much as those obtained with the finger.Conclusions:  Use of the penlight and RAF rule resulted in a more distant NPC break point compared with other targets. The effect of the RAF rule was more apparent for more receded NPC points.
Influence of eyelid position on wavefront aberrations
Authors: Han Wei , Kwan William , Wang Jing , Yip Shea Ping , Yap Maurice 
Published: January 2007

AbstractPurpose:  To investigate the influence of eyelid position on wavefront aberrations.Methods:  In study 1, the right eyes of 43 non‐cyclopleged subjects were evaluated using the Complete Ophthalmic Analysis System (COAS) aberrometer. In study 2, the right eyes of the 23 cyclopleged subjects were evaluated using the Optical Pathway Difference Scan aberrometer. Measurements were made with wide‐open and deliberately narrowed palpebral apertures in these subjects. In study 3, the influence of eyelashes on the COAS output was investigated in 20 subjects by placing artificial eyelashes in front of the eye, in close proximity to the natural eyelashes.Results:  For study 1, the total root mean square (RMS) of the third‐ and fourth‐order aberrations with the wide‐open lids was significantly different from the narrowed lid position after the correction for multiple comparisons. There was a difference in the Zernike coefficient of the defocus (C4), 90/180 astigmatism (C5), vertical coma (C7) and spherical aberration terms (C12) between the narrowed and wide‐open positions. For study 2, changes were observed with the narrowed lid position in the overall RMS of the third and fourth orders, and total coma aberrations, as well as the specific Zernike coefficients of the C5 and C7 terms. However, none of these changes were significant after the multiple comparison correction. The corneal topography also showed remarkable changes in the superior corneal zone. Placing artificial eyelashes in front of the eye significantly affected some Zernike terms and the RMS of the second and fourth orders, and total coma aberrations, for particular pupil sizes.Conclusions:  Deliberate narrowing of the palpebral aperture can influence the wavefront aberrations significantly. The corneal curvature distortion in response to eyelid pressure may account for some of the effect on aberration change. Eyelashes interfering with the light path within the pupil zone distort the output from the COAS, causing significant errors.
Reading performance with various lamps in age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Eperjesi F. , Maiz‐Fernandez C. , Bartlett H. E. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to determine if there was an objective difference in reading between four commonly available lamps, of varying spectral radiance, for 13 subjects with age‐related maculopathy (ARM) or non‐exudative age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) – logMAR visual acuity between 0.04 and 0.68. At a constant illuminance of 2000 lux, there was no interaction between ARM and AMD subgroups and no statistically significant difference between the lamps: standard (clear envelope) incandescent, daylight simulation (blue tint envelope) incandescent, compact fluorescent and halogen incandescent, for any reading outcome measure (threshold print size p = 0.67, critical print size p = 0.74, acuity reserve p = 0.84 and mean reading rate p = 0.78). For lamps typically used in low‐vision rehabilitation, a clinically significant effect of spectral radiance on reading for people with ARM or non‐exudative AMD is unlikely.
Acuity measurements in adult subjects using a preferential looking test
Authors: Woodhouse J. Margaret , Morjaria Shreya A. , Adler Paul M. 
Published: January 2007

AbstractPreferential looking (PL), as a technique for assessing visual acuity, was designed for use with young infants. There are occasions when a practitioner may need to use a PL test with an adult who is unable to participate in acuity measures with conventional optotype tests (such as an adult with learning disabilities, stroke damage or dementia). In preparation for the development of an adult‐appropriate PL test, this study compared scores with the Cardiff Acuity Test (CAT, which was designed as a PL test) and a standard LogMAR‐based test, the Lea chart. One hundred and one adults with learning disabilities, attending vision screening at Special Olympics, took part in acuity measures with both tests. Athletes subsequently found to have uncorrected refractive errors were excluded and analysis was confined to 72 athletes. There was no significant difference in mean acuity with the two tests, but CAT tended to overestimate scores for poorer acuities. CAT was less sensitive than the Lea chart to interocular acuity differences. Although CAT may be a successful way to assess acuity in patients unable to participate in conventional acuity tests, the practitioner should be cautious in interpreting results. There is the potential with CAT to overestimate acuity and to miss small interocular differences, so criteria for determining ‘abnormality’ may need to be adjusted.
Review of the Pharmacology and Clinical Profile of Bupropion, an Antidepressant and Tobacco Use Cessation Agent
Authors: Dwoskin Linda P. , Rauhut Anthony S. , King‐Pospisil Kelley A. , Bardo Michael T. 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTBupropion hydrochloride ((±)‐2‐tert‐butylamino)‐3′‐chloropropiophenone · HCl) is a nonselective inhibitor of the dopamine transporter (DAT) and the norepinephrine transporter (NET) and is also an antagonist at neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In animal models used commonly to screen for antidepressant activity, bupropion shows a positive response. Also using animal models, bupropion has been shown to attenuate nicotine‐induced unconditioned behaviors, to share or enhance discriminative stimulus properties of nicotine and to have a complex effect on nicotine self‐administration, i.e., low doses augmenting nicotine self‐administration and high doses attenuating self‐administration. Current studies show that bupropion facilitates the acquisition of nicotine conditioned place preference in rats, further suggesting that bupropion enhances the rewarding properties of nicotine. Bupropion has been shown to attenuate the expression of nicotine withdrawal symptoms in both animal models and human subjects. With respect to relapse, current studies show that bupropion attenuates nicotine‐induced reinstatement in rats, but large individual differences are apparent. Clinically, bupropion is used as a treatment for two indications, as an antidepressant, the indication for which it was developed, and as a tobacco use cessation agent. In clinical trials, bupropion is being tested as a candidate treatment for psychostimulant drug abuse, attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obesity. Bupropion is available in three bioequivalent oral formulations, immediate release (IR), sustained release (SR), and extended release (XL). Extensive hepatic metabolism of bupropion produces three pharmacologically active metabolites, which may contribute to its clinical profile.
Augmentation Treatment of Psychotherapy for Anxiety Disorders with D‐Cycloserine
Authors: Hofmann Stefan G. , Pollack Mark H. , Otto Michael W. 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTAnxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders. One of the most effective strategies to treat anxiety disorders is exposure therapy with or without cognitive intervention. Fear reduction in exposure therapy is similar to extinction learning. Preclinical studies suggest that extinction learning can be blocked by antagonists at the glutamatergic N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and facilitated with D‐cycloserine (DCS), a partial agonist at the glycine recognition site of the NMDA receptor in the amygdala. DCS is an established antibiotic drug for the chronic treatment of tuberculosis in humans, but has only recently been investigated as an augmentation therapy for psychological treatment procedures. The review of the literature provides preliminary support for the use of acute dosing of DCS as an adjunctive intervention to exposure therapy for anxiety disorders, including specific phobia and social anxiety disorder. Negative results have recently been reported in the treatment of subclinical fears of animals. These studies suggest that DCS needs to be administered on an acute rather than a chronic dosing schedule, include sufficient time for memory consolidation, and be administered together with psychological treatment that leaves sufficient room for further improvement. It remains to be seen whether these highly promising findings represent reliable pharmacological strategies to enhance exposure therapy of anxiety disorders.
Silperisone: A Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxant
Authors: Farkas Sándor 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTSilperisone is a tolperisone like organosilicon compound with centrally acting muscle relaxant properties. Studies in mice showed that silperisone may have less propensity to cause CNS depressant or motor side effects than tolperisone or other antispastic drugs. In cats and rats, silperisone was an effective suppressant of monosynaptic and polysynaptic spinal reflexes and decerebrate rigidity. Its suppressant effect on the spinal reflexes was also demonstrated in the isolated hemisected rat spinal cord in vitro. The in vivo potency and efficacy of silperisone by i.v administration were similar to those of tolperisone and eperisone. However, in cats by intraduodenal administration and in mice by oral administration its duration of action was much longer and its functional bioavailability much higher than of the other two drugs. With regard to its profile of actions silperisone was similar to tolperisone with minor differences. The most striking difference was in pontine facilitation and bulbar inhibition of the patellar reflex. Tolperisone depressed both, whereas silperisone inhibited only the former. The mechanism underlying the spinal reflex depressant effects of silperisone involves the blockade of voltage gated neuronal sodium and calcium channels leading to a decreased release of excitatory transmitter and reduced neuronal excitability. In addition, silperisone has potassium channel blocking effect, which is stronger than that of tolperisone. Silperisone is absorbed rapidly and is extensively metabolized in rats. However, its metabolism in dogs and particularly in humans is much less extensive. The elimination half‐life of silperisone in humans is 12 to 16 h, so that it can be administered once or twice daily. Phase I clinical studies with silperisone at doses up to 150 mg/day failed to detect any adverse effects at plasma concentrations considered to be effective in the preclinical tests. These findings suggested that silperisone might be a useful antispastic drug. However, findings in chronic animal toxicity studies led to the discontinuation of silperisone's development.

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[ Chemical structure of silperisone. ]
A New Look at the Respiratory Stimulant Doxapram
Authors: Yost C. Spencer 
Published: January 2007

ABSTRACTA number of life‐threatening clinical disorders may be amenable to treatment with a drug that can stimulate respiratory drive. These include acute respiratory failure secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, post‐anesthetic respiratory depression, and apnea of prematurity. Doxapram has been available for over forty years for the treatment of these conditions and it has a low side effect profile compared to other available agents. Generally though, the use of doxapram has been limited to these clinical niches involving patients in the intensive care, post‐anesthesia care and neonatal intensive care units. Recent basic science studies have made considerable progress in understanding the molecular mechanism of doxapram's respiratory stimulant action. Although it is unlikely that doxapram will undergo a clinical renaissance based on this new understanding, it represents a significant advance in our knowledge of the control of breathing.
The Effects of Abutment Wall Height, Platform Size, and Screw Access Channel Filling Method on Resistance to Dislodgement of Cement‐Retained, Implant‐Supported Restorations
Authors: Emms Mark , Tredwin Christopher J. , Setchell Derrick J. , Moles David R. 
Published: January 2007

Purpose: Factors affecting the retention of fixed prostheses to natural abutments are well understood. In contrast, little is known concerning factors influencing the retention of fixed prostheses cemented to implant abutments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that varying implant abutment wall height, platform size, and screw access channel filling method has on the retention of castings cemented to implant abutments using TempBond.
Materials and Methods: Four 15° preangled abutments (Nobel Biocare Replace Select Esthetic) of each platform size—narrow (NP), regular (RP), and wide (WP)—were used. In each group of abutments the screw access axial wall was either unadjusted, one‐third removed, two‐thirds removed, or completely removed. The screw access channels were either fully or partially filled with Memosil, a vinyl polysiloxane impression material. For each abutment a casting was constructed that incorporated an attachment to allow removal. Castings were cemented to abutments with TempBond. The tensile force required to separate the cemented castings from the abutments was measured using an Instron Universal load‐testing machine.
Results: The mean peak removal force for comparable abutments was significantly different ( p < 0.05): (1) where the screw access channel was completely filled with Memosil compared with those partially filled with Memosil; (2) with platform sizes—WP > RP > NP; (3) with alteration of axial wall height—1/3 removed > unadjusted = 2/3 removed > total wall removal.
Conclusions: The retention of castings cemented to implant abutments with TempBond is influenced by the wall height, platform size, and the filling modality of the screw access channel.