bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cystine Stones: The Impact of New Treatment
Authors: MARTIN X. , SALAS M. , LABEEUW M. , POZET N. , GELET A. , DUBERNARD J. M. 
Published: December 2008

Summary The hardness and frequent recurrence of cystine stones present a special challenge to the urologist. In this study, 15 cystinuric patients (11 males, 4 females; mean age 36 years, range 17–54) were treated and followed up over a period of 30 months (range 2–40). Most patients had a previous history of open surgery. The diagnosis of cystinuria was confirmed by metabolic studies and infrared spectrometry of stones.Over the follow‐up period recurrence was observed in 23 instances in 11 patients, leading to 38 “stone treatments” on 74 cystine stones. The percutaneous approach was used alone in 9 cases and in association with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in 9 cases. ESWL was used alone in 18 cases. Medical treatment included high fluid intake, alkalinisation and Thiola (tiopronin, N‐(2‐mercaptopropionyl)glycine) in 6 patients. The overall stone‐free rate assessed 3 months after treatment was 44.7%, which compares poorly with the rate for non‐cystine stones. The recurrence rate is very high and instrumental treatment should not therefore be used excessively; it is indicated only for stones that are symptomatic or refractory to intensive medical therapy.
Antenatally Detected Pelviureteric Junction Obstruction. Is Non‐operation Safe?
Authors: MADDEN N. P. , THOMAS D. F. M. , GORDON A. C. , ARTHUR ROSEMARY J. , IRVING H. C. , SMITH S. E.W. 
Published: December 2008

Summary We report follow‐up data (minimum of 1 year) on 63 kidneys with antenatally detected pelviureteric junction obstruction, as defined by renographic criteria. The condition was bilateral in 10 patients (i.e. 20 kidneys), 2 patients had unilateral obstruction with contralateral multicystic dysplastic kidneys, and 41 patients had unilateral obstruction with a normal contralateral kidney. In the latter group, 29 (71%) had good function (>40%) at initial assessment.Of the 63 kidneys, 24 (38%) were operated upon following initial assessment, mainly for impaired function. Of 39 patients, initially managed non‐operatively, 8 (21%) were operated upon subsequently: 3 for deteriorating function (2 of whom have been reassessed and both have regained their lost function) and 5 for other renographic or ultrasonic indications).Of the original 63 kidneys, 31 (49%) continue to be managed non‐operatively; 16 of these (52%) show improving ultrasound appearances, 8 of 17 studied show improved drainage, and all unilateral cases have stable good function.It is concluded that non‐operative management of selected cases of antenatally detected pelviureteric junction obstruction is safe.
Inhibitory Role of Gamma‐amino‐butyric Acid in the Rabbit Urinary Bladder
Authors: CHEN T. F. , DOYLE P. T. , FERGUSON D. R. 
Published: December 2008

Summary— Gamma‐amino‐butyric acid (GABA) is an established inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) and it has also been identified in the bladder. We have investigated in the rabbit the effect of GABA on detrusor activity.Rabbit detrusor muscle strips were made to contract by electrical stimulation of their autonomic nerves or by the addition of carbachol. The addition of GABA caused substantial inhibition of muscle contraction. GABA acts on 2 classes of receptors‐GABAA and GABAB. The inhibition was mediated via the GABAB receptors as its effect was mimicked by baclofen (a GABAB agonist) and inhibited by 2‐hydroxysaclofen (a GABAB receptor antagonist). Inhibition was not prevented by bicuculline (a GABAA receptor antagonist). This inhibition may be due to a direct muscle effect since the inhibition, which occurred with carbachol‐induced contraction, was not abolished by the addition of tetrodotoxin.GABA, acting via the GABAB receptor, produces substantial inhibition of muscle contraction in the rabbit uinary bladder. This raises the possibility of using GABAB analogues in the treatment of detrusor instability.
A Simple Method for Insertion of an Intraprostatic Coil
Authors: NIEBEN O. G. , NORDLING J. , NIELSEN K. K. , KROMANN‐ANDERSEN B. , ABSALOM MARY J. , FOWLER C. 
Published: December 2008

Summary— A simplified method of insertion of a urethral coil for treatment of benign prostatic obstruction has been tested in 25 patients.The prostatic urethra is measured either by abdominal/transrectal ultrasound scanning or by rigid or flexible endoscopy. The coil is inserted into the prostatic urethra using simple measurements taken from a Foley catheter; 21 coils were correctly positioned at the first attempt using this new method–a success rate equivalent to that of ultrasound‐guided insertion.
Norfloxacin Prophylaxis for Endoscopic Urological Surgery
Authors: CUTAJAR C. L. 
Published: December 2008

Summary— A series of 140 patients, undergoing various types of urological endoscopic procedures, was divided into 2 equal, parallel, randomised groups. The first group of 70 patients, undergoing lower urinary tract surgery, was randomised, half to receive norfloxacin prophylaxis and half no antibiotic cover; the other 70 patients, undergoing percutaneous renal surgery, were randomised, half to receive norfloxacin and half cefuroxime. It was found that 26% of patients not receiving antibiotic prophylaxis and 11% on cefuroxime prophylaxis developed post‐operative bacteriuria, with a high incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI). Only 1 patient of 70 on norfloxacin prophylaxis developed post‐operative bacteriuria, which quickly responded to prolongation of norfloxacin therapy.Prior to surgery, 10% of all patients were found to have previously undetected bacteriuria. This group was at high risk of developing post‐operative infection. Norfloxacin effectively prevented post‐operative bacteriuria and urinary tract infection in these patients. This study suggests that norfloxacin is a safe and effective prophylactic antibiotic in all forms of urological endoscopic procedures.
Laser Ablation of the Prostate in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
Authors: COSTELLO A. J. , BOWSHER W. G. , BOLTON D. M. , BRASLIS K. G. , BURT J. 
Published: December 2008

Summary— Seventeen patients with bladder neck obstruction due to benign prostatic hypertrophy have been treated with the Neodymium: YAG laser. We review our experience since the first patient was treated in September 1990.Using a prototype deflecting gold alloy tip on a quartz laser fibre (Lateralase TM), we ablated obstructing prostatic adenoma and constricting bladder neck tissue. Experience with this technique has enabled a patient population to be defined in whom laser therapy for prostatic obstruction may be effective. The treatment is relatively simple, speedy and attended by virtually no blood loss. Laser ablation therapy may offer some advantages over conventional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) in a selected subgroup of patients. The advent of new delivery systems may make laser ablation therapy a practical alternative to TURP.
Phase III Randomised Study of Zoladex versus Stilboestrol in the Treatment of Advanced Prostate Cancer
Authors: WAYMONT B. , LYNCH T. H. , DUNN J. A. , EMTAGE L. A. , ARKELL D. G. , WALLACE D. M. A. , BLACKLEDGE G. R. P. 
Published: December 2008

Summary— An open randomised Phase III trial was conducted of the depot GnRH analogue goserelin (Zoladex) versus stilboestrol (3 mg/day) in patients with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. The study included 250 patients and the median follow‐up was 43 months. In the Zoladex arm the time to first response was achieved earlier and more patients reported an improvement in symptoms. There was no statistically significant difference between the Zoladex and the stilboestrol arms with regard to survival and time to treatment failure.A major reason for treatment failure was the preponderance of adverse events in patients receiving stilboestrol. It is suggested that stilboestrol should no longer be used for prostate cancer when equally effective alternative treatments are available.
Pre‐operative Assessment of Peyronie's Disease Using Colour Doppler Sonography
Authors: RALPH D. J. , HUGHES T. , LEES W. R. , PRYOR J. P. 
Published: December 2008

Summary— Colour Doppler ultrasonography was used to assess 39 patients with Peyronie's disease with a suspected organic cause for their impotence.In 20 patients who complained of a uniform loss of erection, the impotence was likely to be functional in origin (90%) or occasionally venogenic (10%), the penile arterial blood flow being normal. However, patients who complained of distal flaccidity were likely to have an organic cause for their impotence (68%). This was due to proximal arterial disease (10%), plaque involvement of the distal vessels (37%), veno‐occlusive dysfunction (5%) or to the soft glans syndrome (16%).
Continent Urinary Diversion Using an Artificial Urinary Sphincter
Authors: MITROFANOFF P. , BONNET O. , ANNOOT M. P. , BAWAB F. , GRISE P. 
Published: December 2008

Summary— We report a new and simplified method of continent urinary diversion employing a modified AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter (AUS). Our aim in using this artificial valve is to make a stoma continent, while allowing intermittent catheterisation. The AMS 800 pump is replaced by a subcutaneous injection port. This allows, by direct puncture, the accurate setting of the closing pressure by varying the volume of the intra‐prosthetic liquid, with subsequent adjustment of this pressure as necessary. The cuff is placed on the subcutaneous part of the intestinal loop diversion. The pressure‐regulating balloon is implanted within the area of abdominal pressure, retroperitoneally.After first confirming the efficacy of the system in 3 dogs, the device was placed in 2 patients. The first had a neuropathic bladder treated initially by enterocystoplasty with an appendicocutaneous stoma. Secondary leakage was subsequently controlled by placement of the device, with continuing excellent results at 32 months. The second patient was a girl in whom a urogenital rhabdomyosarcoma had been treated by anterior exenteration, radiotherapy and a sigmoid conduit diversion. This was subsequently converted to a continent reservoir by simple augmentation of the conduit and placement of the device, with a good result being maintained after a follow‐up of 20 months.These two cases illustrate the best indications for this procedure, namely primary or secondary leakage from a supposedly continent urinary diversion, and conversion of a freely draining conduit into a continent reservoir.Although long‐term results are still pending, our experience thus far encourages us to recommend this technique as a simple means of achieving a continent urinary diversion.
Reasons for patient drop‐out from an intracavernous autoinjection programme for erectile dysfunction
Authors: ARMSTRONG D.K.B. , CONVERY A.G. , DINSMORE W. W. 
Published: December 2008

Objective To identify factors that contribute to patient drop‐out rates from an intracavernous auto‐injection programme for erectile dysfunction.Patients and methods Forty‐seven patients who had been successfully treated with intracavernous vasoactive agents but who subsequently failed to attend follow‐up appointments were included in the study. Each patient completed a self‐administred questionnaire.Results Thirty (64%) completed questionnaires were returned. The reasons for withdrawal from treatment are outlined.Conclusions The majority of patients who discontinued intracavernous therapy did so for reasons unrelated to treatment associated problems.
‘It's them faulty genes again’: women, men and the gendered nature of genetic responsibility in prenatal blood screening
Authors: Reed Kate 
Published: December 2008

AbstractPrenatal blood tests are routinely offered to pregnant women in the UK. Male partners are tested only where a combined positive male and female test could detect fetal abnormality such as sickle cell anaemia. Little is known about the gendered nature of screening and the impact it has on lay feelings of genetic responsibility. For example, do women take exclusive ‘maternal responsibility’ for the fetus? How is this responsibility challenged when men are also screened? Drawing on empirical research with pregnant women and their male partners in a northern city in the UK, this paper aims to explore the gendered nature of genetic responsibility in prenatal blood screening. The paper will argue that women and men feel a sense of genetic responsibility for the fetus throughout screening. However, while women's sense of responsibility is directly ‘embodied’ and is heightened by the detection of ‘faulty genes’, men's manifests itself indirectly through shared responsibility with their pregnant partners and directly through their own genetic connections to the fetus. The paper concludes that the gendered nature of genetic responsibility is complex and contradictory, producing a set of gender roles that both challenges and reinforces a traditional gender division of labour.
Transitory Sites: Mapping Dubai's ‘Forgotten’ Urban Spaces
Authors: ELSHESHTAWY YASSER 
Published: December 2008

AbstractSeeking to uncover a hidden side of Dubai, this article investigates the city's ‘forgotten’ urban spaces. I use a theoretical framework that responds to a shift in global city research, emphasizing the everyday as well as transnational connections in which the local and the global are closely intertwined. I argue that such processes can be observed in these ‘forgotten’ settings, which, as well as being major gathering points, are utilized by Dubai's low‐income migrant community for the exchange of information. Through an analysis of users and their activities as well as of the morphology of these spaces, I situate them within the overall development of Dubai. A key construct developed in this study and used as a unit of analysis is the notion of transitory sites — viewed as a major element in understanding migrant cities. The architectural and urban character of these sites is identified. A key finding is that low‐income migrants resist globalizing influences by claiming these settings and establishing linkages through them to their home countries.Résumé En tentant de révéler la face cachée de Dubaï, cet article étudie les espaces urbains ‘oubliés’ des grandes villes. Son cadre théorique tient compte d’une transformation dans la recherche sur les villes planétaires, en soulignant les rapports, à la fois quotidiens et transnationaux, dans lesquels le local et le mondial sont liés de manière inextricable. Ce genre de processus est observable dans ces environnements ‘oubliés’ qui, en plus d’être des points de rassemblement importants, servent à la communauté des migrants à faible revenu de Dubaï pour échanger des informations. En analysant les usagers et leurs activités, ainsi que la morphologie de ces espaces, on peut les positionner dans le cadre de l’aménagement global de Dubaï. Cette étude produit un concept essentiel qui est utilisé comme unité d’analyse : la notion de sites transitoires, considérée comme un élément majeur pour comprendre les villes de migration. Le caractère architectural et urbain de ces sites est identifié. L’un des principaux résultats est le fait que les migrants à faible revenu résistent aux influences mondialisatrices en revendiquant ces espaces et en instaurant, grâce à eux, des liens avec leurs pays d’origine.
NF‐κB p50/RelA and c‐Rel‐containing dimers: opposite regulators of neuron vulnerability to ischaemia
Authors: Sarnico Ilenia , Lanzillotta Annamaria , Boroni Flora , Benarese Marina , Alghisi Manuela , Schwaninger Markus , Inta Ioana , Battistin Leontino , Spano PierFranco , Pizzi Marina 
Published: December 2008

AbstractDiverse nuclear factor‐κB subunits mediate opposite effects of extracellular signals on neuron survival. While RelA is activated by neurotoxic agents, c‐Rel drives neuroprotective effects. In brain ischaemia RelA and p50 factors rapidly activate, but how they associate with c‐Rel to form active dimers and contribute to the changes in diverse dimer activation for neuron susceptibility is unknown. We show that in both cortical neurons exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) and mice subjected to brain ischaemia, activation of p50/RelA was associated with inhibition of c‐Rel/RelA dimer and no change p50/c‐Rel. Targeting c‐Rel and RelA expression revealed that c‐Rel dimers reduced while p50/RelA enhanced neuronal susceptibility to anoxia. Activation of p50/RelA complex is known to induce the pro‐apoptotic Bim and Noxa genes. We now show that c‐Rel‐containing dimers, p50/c‐Rel and RelA/c‐Rel, but not p50/RelA, promoted Bcl‐xL transcription. Accordingly, the OGD exposure induced Bim, but reduced Bcl‐xL promoter activity and decreased the content of endogenous Bcl‐xL protein. These findings demonstrate that within the same neuronal cell, the balance between activation of p50/RelA and c‐Rel‐containing complexes fine tunes the threshold of neuron vulnerability to the ischaemic insult. Selective targeting of different dimers will unravel new approaches to limit ischaemia‐associated apoptosis.
Aural Cholesteatoma in Twenty Dogs
Authors: HARDIE ELIZABETH M. , LINDER KEITH E. , PEASE ANTHONY P. 
Published: December 2008

Objective—To determine the clinical course in dogs with aural cholesteatoma.Study Design—Case series.Animals—Dogs (n=20) with aural cholesteatoma.Methods—Case review (1998–2007).Results—Twenty dogs were identified. Clinical signs other than those of chronic otitis externa included head tilt (6 dogs), unilateral facial palsy (4), pain on opening or inability to open the mouth (4), and ataxia (3). Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 19 dogs, abnormalities included osteoproliferation (13 dogs), lysis of the bulla (12), expansion of the bulla (11), bone lysis in the squamous or petrosal portion of the temporal bone (4) and enlargement of associated lymph nodes (7). Nineteen dogs had total ear canal ablation–lateral bulla osteotomy or ventral bulla osteotomy with the intent to cure; 9 dogs had no further signs of middle ear disease whereas 10 had persistent or recurrent clinical signs. Risk factors for recurrence after surgery were inability to open the mouth or neurologic signs on admission and lysis of any portion of the temporal bone on CT imaging. Dogs admitted with neurologic signs or inability to open the mouth had a median survival of 16 months.Conclusions—Early surgical treatment of aural cholesteatoma may be curative. Recurrence after surgery is associated with advanced disease, typically indicated by inability to open the jaw, neurologic disease, or bone lysis on CT imaging.Clinical Relevance—Presence of aural cholesteatoma may affect the prognosis for successful surgical treatment of middle ear disease.
Paramedic Self‐efficacy and Skill Retention in Pediatric Airway Management
Authors: Youngquist Scott T. , Henderson Deborah P. , Gausche‐Hill Marianne , Goodrich Suzanne M. , Poore Pamela D. , Lewis Roger J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractObjectives:  The objectives were to determine the effect of pediatric airway management training on paramedic self‐efficacy and skill performance and to determine which of several retraining methods is superior.Methods:  A total of 2,520 paramedics were trained to proficiency in pediatric bag‐mask ventilation (BMV) and endotracheal intubation (ETI) on mannequins. Subjects were a convenience sample of 245 (10% of original cohort) presenting for voluntary retraining. A total of 212 of 245 (87%) completed skills testing. Self‐efficacy was measured prior to and following initial training and retraining events. Paramedics were assigned to control (no retraining), videotape presentation, self‐directed learning, or instructor‐facilitated lecture and demonstration retraining. Following retraining, BMV and ETI skills were tested.Results:  Paramedics from low‐call‐volume areas reported lower baseline self‐efficacy and derived larger increases with training, but also experienced the most decline between training events. Pass rates for BMV and ETI were 66% (139/211) and 42% (88/212), respectively. However, overall cohort self‐efficacy was maintained over the study period. In ordinal regression modeling, only the lecture and demonstration method was superior to control, with an odds ratio (OR) of achieving higher scores of 2.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2 to 5.2) for BMV and 5.2 (95% CI = 2.4 to 11.2) for ETI. Poor performance with ETI but not BMV was associated with time elapsed since training (p = 0.01). Self‐efficacy ratings were not predictive of skill performance.Conclusions:  Training provides increases in self‐efficacy, particularly among paramedics from low‐call‐volume areas. A gap exists between self‐efficacy and skill performance, in that self‐efficacy may be maintained even when skill performance declines. Pediatric airway skills decay quickly, ETI skills drop off more significantly than BMV skills, and a lecture and demonstration format seems superior to other retraining methods investigated.
In Vivo Study of Wound Bursting Strength and Compliance of Topical Skin Adhesives
Authors: Singer Adam J. , Perry Larry C. , Allen Jr Robert L. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractObjectives:  Over the past decade, the use of topical skin adhesives (TSA) for wound closure has increased. Among TSA characteristics, strength and flexibility are most important. Prior studies have compared the wound bursting strengths (WBSs) of the cyanoacrylates immediately after wound closure. In this study the authors compared the WBS and flexibility of multiple TSAs immediately and up to 2 days after closure.Methods:  This was a controlled animal experiment. Two‐centimeter incisions were created on both sides of 210 Sprague‐Dawley rats and randomly closed with one of five commercially available TSAs (Dermabond [D], Indermil [I], Histoacryl [H], Liquiband [L], or GluStitch [G]). WBS and TSA flexibility were measured using the BTC‐2000 device immediately after closure and at 1 and 2 days after closure. WBS and TSA flexibility were compared across groups with analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results:  Wound bursting strengths were higher (p < 0.05) at 0, 1, and 2 days for D (274, 388, 232 mm Hg) than for all other TSAs (I 182, 225, and 107; H 189, 214, and 69; L 146, 118, and 75; or G 161, 150, and 73). TSA flexibility was also greater (p < 0.05) at 0, 1, and 2 days for D (36, 27, and 29 mm Hg/mm) than for all other TSAs (I 18, 14, and 12; H 18, 13, and 15; L 19, 14, and 12; G 26, 23, and 18).Conclusions:  The octyl‐cyanoacrylate–based adhesive is significantly stronger and more flexible than all the butyl‐cyanoacrylate–based adhesives at 0, 1 and 2 days after closure.