bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ophthalmic examination findings of Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia
Authors: Hurn Simon D. , Turner Andrew G. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjective To record the prevalence and document the types of eye disease in population of Thoroughbred racehorses in Victoria, Australia.Design Prospective study.Animals Two hundred four Thoroughbred racehorses.Procedure All horses and both eyes were examined at four metropolitan and two country racing stable complexes. Ophthalmic exam was performed following dark adaptation with a transilluminator, biomicroscope, and direct ophthalmoscope. Intraocular pressures were measured when indicated. Both pupils were dilated with tropicamide when indicated.Results One hundred eighty‐two (89.2%) flat‐racing and 22 (10.8%) jump‐racing (hurdle or steeple) horses were examined. Age range: 2–9 years (mean 3.7 years, median 3); 97 (47.5%) male‐neuter, 74 (36. 3%) female, 33 (16.2%) male. Potential vision‐threatening eye disease was present in 15 (7.4%) different horses: complete lenticular cataracts 3, posterior lens luxation and cataract 1, large peripapillary ‘butterfly’ inactive lesions 3, large peripapillary ‘butterfly’ active lesions 2, peripapillary focal inactive ‘bullet hole’ chorioretinal lesions (> 20) 5, optic nerve atrophy 1. Non‐vision threatening eye disease was present in 117 (57.4%) different horses, involving one or more ocular structures: lower eyelid scars 3; periocular fibropapillomatous disease 1; third eyelid squamous cell carcinoma 1; corneal scars 6; corneal band opacity 2; anterior iris synechia 1; developmental cataracts 36 (17.2%); peripapillary focal inactive ‘bullet hole’ chorioretinal lesions (< 20) 103 (50.0%); linear peripapillary hyperpigmentation bands 16 (7.9%). Unusual variations of normal ocular anatomy and colobomata was recorded in 11 (5.4%) different horses: granular iridica hypoplasia 3, granular iridica hyperplasia 2, multilobular granular iridica cyst 1, microcornea 1, hyaloid remnant 1, rotated optic nerve head 1, coloboma of the lens 1, atypical coloboma of the retina 1.Conclusions This survey demonstrates that the prevalence of vision‐threatening eye disease in racing horses may be greater than previously perceived, and highlights the importance of ocular examination within any routine physical examination of horses.
Effects of systemic administration of 0.5% tropicamide on intraocular pressure, pupillary diameter, blood pressure, and heart rate in normal cats
Authors: Schmidt Kristiane S. , Hacker Dennis V. , Kass Philip H. , Barkhoodarian Alex L. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjective  The objective of the study was to determine the effects of systemic 0.5% tropicamide on intraocular pressure (IOP), pupillary diameter (PD), blood pressure, and heart rate (HR) in normal felines with normotensive eyes.Procedures  Intraocular pressure, PD, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean blood pressure (MBP), and HR were measured in 18 clinically healthy cats. Each of the previously mentioned parameters was measured every 30 min during the trial period. At T60, each cat was treated with one to two drops of 0.5% tropicamide ophthalmic solution placed on the dorsal aspect of the tongue. Changes in SBP, DBP, MBP, and HR were evaluated using one‐way repeated measures analysis of variance, with time as the repeated factor. IOP and PD were evaluated using two‐way repeated measures analysis of variance, with time and side (OD vs. OS) as the repeated factors. P values less than or equal to 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results  After lingual tropicamide administration, the mean PD at T60 was 3.53 mm OD and 3.53 mm OS. The mean PD at T90 was 6.36 mm OD and 6.31 mm OS. The mean PD at T120 was 8.25 mm OD and 8.19 mm OS. This change in PD from T60, T90, and T120 was statistically significant, demonstrating a linear increase in PD over time after tropicamide application on the tongue (P < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference in PD when comparing the right to the left pupils (P = 0.10). The mean IOP at T60 was 14 mmHg OD and 12.94 mmHg OS. The mean IOP at T90 was 14.5 mmHg OD and 14.23 mmHg OS. The mean IOP at T120 was 14.94 mmHg OD and 14.89 mmHg OS. This change in IOP from T60, T90, and T120 was statistically significant, demonstrating a linear increase in IOP over time after tropicamide application on the tongue (P = 0.034). There was no statistically significant difference in IOP when comparing the right eye to the left eye (P = 0.28). There were no statistically significant differences in SBP, DBP, MBP, and HR values over time for the duration of the study.Conclusions  We conclude that although lingual application of tropicamide appears to result in systemic absorption, causing significant pupillary dilation and elevations in IOP, systemic effects on SBP, DBP, MBP, and HR were not observed.
Canine limbal melanoma: 30 cases (1992–2004). Part 1. Signalment, clinical and histological features and pedigree analysis
Authors: Donaldson D. , Sansom J. , Scase T. , Adams V. , Mellersh C. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjectives (1) To review the signalment, clinical, and histological features of canine limbal melanoma; (2) to perform pedigree analysis on breeds predisposed to limbal melanoma to establish if common ancestry exists; and (3) to investigate if any ancestral relationship exists between canine limbal melanoma and canine anterior uveal melanoma (CAUM).Design Retrospective study.Animals studied Thirty dogs with limbal melanoma.Methods Medical records of patients were reviewed. Follow‐up information was obtained by re‐examination of patients or telecommunications with the referring veterinary surgeons or the owners. Pedigrees were analyzed for common ancestry amongst affected dogs.Results The mean age (± SD) at diagnosis was 6.2 (± 2.75) years with a range from 1 to 11 years. There was a bimodal distribution of ages with a peak at 3–4 years and a peak at 7–10 years. There was no eye predilection or predisposition for sex or coat color. Twenty‐five (83%) of the limbal melanomas occurred within a dorsal arc from the dorsomedial to the ventrolateral limbus. Golden retrievers were four times more common in the melanoma group compared to the Animal Health Trust population (P < 0.0001). Labrador retrievers were three times more common in the melanoma group (P = 0.01). Pedigree analysis on eight Golden retrievers [limbal melanoma (n = 5), CAUM (n = 2) and diffuse ocular melanosis (n = 1)], revealed a pattern of inter‐relatedness consistent with the condition(s) being caused, at least in part, by a genetic mutation(s). A similar level of inter relatedness was evident in six Labrador retrievers (limbal melanoma (n = 2) and CAUM (n = 4)). In 5/22 cases (23%), histological features suggestive of malignancy were present including intratumor necrosis in 4/22 cases (18%) and cellular atypia in 1/22 cases (5%).Conclusions In Golden and Labrador retrievers there is evidence that limbal melanomas, CAUM and ocular melanosis are at least in part heritable and that the same genetic mutation(s) may be causally associated with melanocytic disease at different ocular sites. The same genetic mutation(s) may be present in these two breeds. Histology should be performed on all cases to identify those with greater malignant potential.
Subjective vs. objective analysis of the corneal endothelial cells in the rabbit cornea by scanning electron microscopy – a comparison of two different methods of corneal fixation
Authors: Doughty Michael J. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractObjective  To illustrate a method of quantitative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for the evaluation of the corneal endothelia of small animals by comparing two commonly used fixation methods.Animals studied  Female New Zealand white rabbits, aged 10–12 weeks.Procedures  The corneas were either dissected from the eye and placed in fixative (2% glutaraldehyde in 80 mm cacodylate, pH 7.4) or the whole eyeball immersed in fixative solution and the cornea dissected later. Lower (×200) and high magnification (×1000–5000) images were inspected for overall appearance. Magnification images (×500) were used to measure the areas of 100 cells, and cell density (CD) calculated from the average area.Results  Both fixation protocols yielded an intact endothelial surface, but the dissect‐ then‐fix protocol resulted in more creasing and distortion artifacts that were avoided with the whole‐eyeball fixation. Overall, the CD values were higher if the dissect‐then‐fix method was used, and the uniformity of the cell mosaic was less. The median CD values for the central, mid‐peripheral and peripheral regions following dissect‐then‐fix protocols were 7693, 7353, and 7071 cells/mm2 (average eight corneas at each location). If the whole‐globe fixation was used, the median CD values were 6098, 5747, and 4785 cells/mm2.Conclusion  Cell density values in SEM can be very different according to the fixation method used. A distinct regional difference in CD was evident, which was more pronounced if the cornea was fixed prior to being dissected from the eye.
Choice, Diversity and ‘Exit’ in Schooling — A Mixed Picture
Authors: SLIWKA ANNE , ISTANCE DAVID 
Published: February 2006

Traditionally, most systems have required that parents send their children to a school within the district of residence and close to the family home, sometimes with an elite private system co‐existing alongside. In recent years, this basic model has been modified, with some countries witnessing more extensive changes than others. This article outlines the range of change that has taken place along the dual axes of promoting diversity and establishing room for the exercise of parental choice. The synthesis article draws on the material submitted by all the countries participating in the OECD study, and not only those which feature specifically in this issue.The first section reviews the current situation regarding parental choice of school and evidence relating to how that choice is exercised by different groups of parents. For choice to be exercised, there must be alternatives to choose from, and hence there follows a review of some of the policies and practices for diversity. The article then examines diversity in more forms contrasting selective and non‐selective schools, public and private schools, and formal and home schooling. Several countries have moved to greater diversification of public education, allowing for different types of schools accommodating different student ability levels or parents’ educational preferences. The role of demand is clearly a central element in their emergence and differing fortunes. This in turn is closely, but not exclusively, related to the familiar factors of social advantage and reproduction as well as to issues of value choices and beliefs.
Universal decline in mortality in patients with advanced HIV‐1 disease in various demographic subpopulations after the introduction of HAART in Hong Kong, from 1993 to 2002
Authors: Chan KCW , Wong KH , Lee SS 
Published: February 2006

ObjectiveReductions in HIV/AIDS mortality associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) have mainly been reported from Western countries. We studied the impact on survival of patients with advanced HIV disease after the introduction of HAART in Hong Kong.MethodsThe mortality pattern in a government clinic cohort of 511 adult HIV‐1‐infected patients with AIDS or CD4 count <200 cells/μL from 1993 to 2002 was examined. The number of deaths, the crude mortality rate (CMR) and the death rate per 1000 person‐months were recorded.ResultsDespite an increase in the patient population, 36 deaths occurred in the HAART era (1997–2002) as compared with 56 deaths in the pre‐HAART era (1993–1996). The overall annual CMR fell significantly from a high, fluctuating level of 10.8–30.4 per 100 mid‐year patient population pre‐HAART to a low, steady level of 0.8–6.9 per 100 mid‐year population in the HAART era (P=0.004, 1996 vs 1998; P<0.001, 1996 vs 2000; P<0.001, 1996 versus 2002). A fall in CMR was observed in all demographic subpopulations, categorized by sex, ethnicity, HIV exposure risk and age (P ranged from 0.012 to<0.001). Longitudinal tracking until mid‐2003 revealed a death rate of 9.2 events/1000 person‐months (52 deaths with 5661.5 person‐months follow up) among patients first diagnosed as having advanced disease during 1993–1996, and a lower death rate of 2.4 events/1000 person‐months (25 deaths with 10551.8 person‐months follow up) in patients first diagnosed as having advanced disease during 1997–2001 (rate ratio 3.9; 95% confidence interval 2.4–6.2).ConclusionThere was dramatic temporal decline in mortality in patients with advanced HIV disease in all demographic subpopulations with the advent of HAART. Notwithstanding confounding variables, one reason for the universal decline may be that there was no major disparity in access to HIV care across community groups.
Effect of antiretroviral therapy on admissions of HIV‐infected patients to an intensive care unit
Authors: Palacios R , Hidalgo A , Reina C , de la Torre MV , Márquez M , Santos J 
Published: February 2006

ObjectivesTo analyse the characteristics of HIV‐infected patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and to compare them in the pre‐highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and HAART eras.MethodsAll HIV‐infected patients who were admitted to the ICU of our hospital between January 1990 and December 2003 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they were admitted before or after the advent of HAART, the cut‐off date being 31 December 1996.ResultsData were collected on 66 patients, 17 in the pre‐HAART and 49 in the HAART era. The proportion of HIV‐infected patients admitted to the ICU in our HIV‐infected population increased after the introduction of HAART (3.8 vs 0.5%; P=0.001), and the largest diagnostic group was respiratory pathology in both periods. More than a third of patients were diagnosed with HIV infection during the ICU income, and only 31.2% were on antiretroviral therapy. The in‐hospital mortality was 53.0%, and later survival was high. There were no significant differences between the pre‐HAART and HAART eras.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the characteristics of HIV‐infected patients admitted to ICU have not changed: respiratory diseases are still the most frequent cause of admission, in‐hospital mortality is high, and later survival rates are good.
Low initial trough plasma concentrations of lopinavir are associated with an impairment of virological response in an unselected cohort of HIV‐1‐infected patients
Authors: Wateba MI , Billaud E , Dailly E , Jolliet P , Raffi F 
Published: February 2006

ObjectivesThe relationship between lopinavir trough plasma concentration at baseline and virological efficacy 3 months after the beginning of the therapy was investigated in an unselected cohort of HIV‐1‐infected patientsMethodsAccording to initial trough lopinavir plasma level, patients were classified into three groups: the subtherapeutic group (<3 mg/L, n=18), the therapeutic group (between 3 and 8 mg/L, n=50) and the toxic group (>8 mg/L, n=16). The virological response after 3 months of lopinavir treatment, defined as a viral load <200 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL, was compared amongst these groups.ResultsThe virological response was significantly different (P<0.05) between the subtherapeutic group (22.% of patients with viral load<200 copies/mL) and the other groups (56.0% of patients with a viral load<200 copies/mL in the therapeutic group and 56.2% in the toxic group).ConclusionsA lower virological efficacy should be expected for experienced or naive patients with plasma trough lopinavir concentrations<3 mg/L at the beginning of treatment.
Determinants of discontinuation of initial highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens in a US HIV‐infected patient cohort*
Authors: Yuan Y , L'Italien G , Mukherjee J , Iloeje UH 
Published: February 2006

ObjectivesOptimization of initial highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for complete viral suppression and better tolerability is paramount for the prognosis of HIV‐infected patients. Observational studies provide a better means than clinical trials of studying the determinants of discontinuation in actual practice.MethodsA longitudinal cohort of US HIV‐positive patients who initiated HAART for the first time from 1996 to 2003 were included in the analysis. Stratified Cox proportional hazards models, considering time‐updated viral load and CD4 count data, were developed for analyzing time to first discontinuation.ResultsA total of 3414 antiretroviral‐naive HAART patients were identified. In a median follow‐up period of 211 days (mean 324 days), 628 patients (18.4%) reportedly discontinued the HAART regimen because of drug toxicity, 456 (13.4%) because of non‐compliance, and 257 (7.5%) because of treatment failure. In addition to the recorded reasons for discontinuation, black ethnicity [relative risk (RR) 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–1.45], current smoking (RR 1.33, CI 1.18–1.50), high pill burden (RR 1.44, CI 1.22–1.70), and recent viral control (RR 0.63, CI 0.56–0.70) were all predictive of discontinuation. Only high pill burden (>15 pills/day), which is considered to be a surrogate for treatment regimen complexity, and the most recent poor viral control (HIV RNA) were found to be consistently associated with a higher likelihood of discontinuation.ConclusionsRisk factors other than physician‐ or patient‐reported reasons play a role in discontinuation of initial HAART regimens. Identification of these risk factors and simplification of treatment regimens in those at high risk for discontinuation appear to be necessary in order to maximize the effectiveness of HAART regimens.
Incidence rate and risk factors for loss to follow‐up in a French clinical cohort of HIV‐infected patients from January 1985 to January 1998
Authors: Lebouché B , Yazdanpanah Y , Gérard Y , Sissoko D , Ajana F , Alcaraz I , Boitte P , Cadoré B , Mouton Y 
Published: February 2006

ObjectivesTo determine the incidence rate and risk factors for loss to follow‐up (LFU) in HIV‐infected individuals.MethodsWe estimated the incidence rate of LFU in 1756 HIV‐infected patients enrolled in the Tourcoing Clinical Cohort from January 1985 to January 1998. We then investigated potential LFU risk factors at inclusion through a case–control study. Cases were 209 patients who had attended neither our clinic nor another HIV clinic for at least 1 year. Controls were 209 patients randomly selected from the group of HIV‐infected patients followed up regularly.ResultsThe incidence of LFU was estimated at 4.3 per 100 person‐years [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.7–4.9]. Independent risk factors for LFU were (i) year of enrolment before 1993 [odds ratio (OR) 6.7; 95% CI 2.7–16.5 versus after 1997]; (ii) year of enrolment between 1993 and 1997 (OR 5.1; 95% CI 2.0–13.0 versus after 1997); (iii) age<30 years (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.0–3.5 versus >40 years); (iv) injecting drug use (OR 5.3; 95% CI 2.7–10.5 versus men who have sex with men); (v) homelessness and/or illegal immigrant status (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.0–4.9); and (vi) lack of a primary care provider (OR 6.0; 95% CI 2.4–15.1). A history of an AIDS‐defining illness (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.2–0.6) and a history of psychiatric disease (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.3–0.8) were both associated with a decreased risk of LFU.ConclusionsThis study assessed the sociodemographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics associated with LFU in HIV‐infected patients. The findings of this study may allow clinicians to identify patients at risk of LFU, so that appropriate interventions may be initiated.
Of cats and Haruspices*: genetic intervention in the Florida panther. Response to Pimm et al. (2006)
Authors: Maehr D. S. , Crowley P. , Cox J. J. , Lacki M. J. , Larkin J. L. , Hoctor T. S. , Harris L. D. , Hall P. M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractThe claim that the Florida panther Puma concolor coryi has been genetically rescued by the introduction of Texas cougars P. c. stanleyana is based on the questionable development and interpretation of a maximum likelihood model, data dredging and a misleading presentation of historical data. In addition, the claim that Florida panther ‘hybrids are expanding the known range of habitats panthers occupy and use’ is offered in the absence of data or supporting analyses. By (1) ignoring regional differences in habitat quality, (2) ignoring the earlier extinction of the hybrid Everglades population, (3) ignoring the influence of social structure on the relative success of Texas cougars and their offspring, (4) using cursory spatial analyses of panthers before and after intervention and (5) choosing a second‐best model, a misleading scenario was presented. Undoubtedly hybrid animals have increased in abundance and distribution on the south Florida landscape, but it is quite possible that current patterns of abundance and distribution would be similar if purebred Florida panthers had been introduced instead of Texas cougars in 1995. This is because all the demographic events that have occurred since genetic intervention in 1995 can be more reasonably explained by factors relating to panther social structure and habitat variability. We are hopeful that the current genetic management effort will contribute to the recovery of this endangered population; however, it is too early to claim that this intervention has succeeded or failed. We suggest a number of ways in which more reliable insight on this issue might be obtained.
Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have reduced absolute cortical blood flow
Authors: Yoshiuchi Kazuhiro , Farkas Jeffrey , Natelson Benjamin H. 
Published: February 2006

SummaryPrior studies on brain blood flow in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) did not find consistent results. This may be because they used single‐photon emission computed tomography to measure brain blood flow, which could not measure absolute blood flow. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that patients with CFS have reduced absolute cerebral blood flow. Xenon‐computed tomography blood flow studies were done on 25 CFS patients and seven healthy controls. Analyses were done after stratifying the CFS patients based on the presence or absence of a current psychiatric disorder. Flow was diminished in both groups as follows: patients with no current psychiatric disorders had reduced cortical blood flow in the distribution of both right and left middle cerebral arteries (P<0·05 for both) while those with current psychiatric disorders had reduced blood flow only in the left middle cerebral artery territory (P<0·05). These data indicate that patients with CFS have reduced absolute cortical blood flow in rather broad areas when compared with data from healthy controls and that those devoid of psychopathology had the most reductions in cortical flow. These data support, in part, our earlier findings that patients devoid of psychopathology are the group most at risk of having some of the symptoms of CFS due to brain dysfunction.