bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in the elderly by general practitioners
Authors: Okamura Kikuo , Hasegawa Tomonori , Nojiri Yoshikatsu , Kobayashi Mineo , Murase Toshiyuki , Yanagihara Takashi , Okamoto Yoshihito 
Published: April 2008

Aim:  We investigated the diagnosis and treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) by general practitioners (GPs) according to the Practical Manual for LUTS Evaluation and Treatment in the Elderly For GPs.Methods:  Using the manual, 14 GPs determined LUTS severity using the International Prostate Symptom Score, Quality of Life Index, post‐void residual urine volume and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire‐Short Form, then evaluated utilization of the frequency volume charts and other examinations to treat LUTS and assessed treatment effectiveness.Results:  This study included 52 men (aged 71 ± 9 years) and 37 women (73 ± 9). Voiding symptoms were more frequent in men but storage symptoms occurred similarly in both sexes. The overall severities of LUTS were similar between sexes. Of 36 men and 27 women who were treated, water restriction for polyuria and nocturnal polyuria was recommended for 17 men and 14 women, bladder training for six women, and pelvic floor exercise for three men and 16 women as behavioral therapy. Of 27 men and 25 women whose treatment effectiveness was assessed by GPs, effectiveness was judged as “fairly good” or greater in 20 men (74%) and 23 women (92%). Eleven men (40%) and 20 women (80%) were satisfied with their treatment.Conclusion:  It is suggested that GPs can provide high‐quality LUTS practice when they follow the manual and use the recommended tools for evaluation and monitoring.
Hypoglycaemic symptoms, treatment satisfaction, adherence and their associations with glycaemic goal in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: findings from the Real‐Life Effectiveness and Care Patterns of Diabetes Management (RECAP‐DM) Study
Authors: Guisasola F. Álvarez , Povedano S. Tofé , Krishnarajah G. , Lyu R. , Mavros P. , Yin D. 
Published: April 2008

Aims:  This study was undertaken to evaluate (i) factors associated with patient‐reported hypoglycaemia; (ii) association of patient‐reported hypoglycaemic symptoms with treatment satisfaction and barriers to adherence and (iii) association between treatment satisfaction, adherence and glycaemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes who added a sulphonylurea or a thiazolidinedione to ongoing metformin.Methods:  This observational, cross‐sectional, multicentre study was conducted in seven countries (Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Poland, Spain and UK) from June 2006 to February 2007. Patients with type 2 diabetes who added a sulphonylurea or a thiazolidinedione to ongoing metformin therapy on a date (index date) from January 2001 through January 2006 and who had at least one haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) measurement in the 12‐month period before the visit date were eligible. Questionnaires were used to ascertain patients’ reports of hypoglycaemic symptoms, treatment satisfaction, and treatment adherence. The Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication was used to measure patients’ treatment satisfaction. An adherence and barriers questionnaire was used to measure patients’ adherence to treatment. Glycaemic control was based on documented HbA1C measurements within the prior 12 months.Results:  The mean ± s.d. age was 62.9 ± 10.6 years, and the mean ± s.d. duration of diabetes was 7.8 ± 5.1 years. HbA1C in this population of patients who had failed metformin monotherapy and were treated with oral antihyperglycaemic agents was below the International Diabetes Federation goal of 6.5% in only 477 (27.9%) patients. Approximately 38% of patients reported hypoglycaemic symptoms during the past year. Hypoglycaemia was significantly more likely in patients with a history of macrovascular complications of diabetes (OR = 1.346; 95% CI = 1.050–1.725) and with no regular physical activity (OR = 1.295; 95% CI = 1.037–1.618). Patients reporting hypoglycaemia had significantly lower treatment satisfaction scores (71.6 ± 17.6 vs. 76.3 ± 16.8; p < 0.0001 for global satisfaction). Compared with their counterparts reporting no hypoglycaemic symptoms, patients with such symptoms were also significantly more likely to report barriers to adherence, including being unsure about instructions (37.0 vs. 30.5%; p = 0.0057). Patients at HbA1C goal had significantly higher treatment satisfaction and adherence compared with those who were not.Conclusions:  Patients’ reports of hypoglycaemic symptoms are common in European outpatients with type 2 diabetes and are associated with significantly lower treatment satisfaction and with barriers to adherence. In addition, being at HbA1C goal is associated with treatment satisfaction and adherence.
Development of a diabetes treatment simulation model: with application to assessing alternative treatment intensification strategies on survival and diabetes‐related complications
Authors: Chen J. , Alemao E. , Yin D. , Cook J. 
Published: April 2008

Aims:  The objective of this analysis is to project the long‐term impacts on life expectancy and occurrence over 5, 10, and 40 years of microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes when using different haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) thresholds for intensifying treatment of type 2 diabetes.Methods:  A flexible, discrete‐event simulation model has been developed to evaluate alternative treatment strategies based on the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study Outcomes Model. In the present analysis, the model is used to investigate the impact of alternative HbA1c thresholds for treatment intensification ranging from 7.0 to 9.0%. For each intensification strategy, the model is run using 80 simulated patients for each of 1224 patient profiles from the Real‐Life Effectiveness and Care Patterns of Diabetes Management study (for a total of 97 920 simulated patients) to project the number of patients who will experience diabetes‐related complications over time.Results:  The use of lower HbA1c thresholds for intensifying treatment is associated with improved long‐term outcomes. When the HbA1c threshold for intensifying therapy from oral treatment to basal insulin (T1) is 7.0% and the threshold for intensifying basal insulin to multiple‐dose insulin (T2) is 7.0%, simulated patients spend 54% of their time with HbA1c >7.0%, but 95% of their time with HbA1c >7.0% if T1 and T2 are set to 9.0%. More aggressive or proactive treatment postures are projected to reduce clinical events, including diabetes‐related deaths and diabetes‐related complications, particularly myocardial infarctions (MIs). When T1 and T2 are set to 7.0%, there are 592 fewer diabetes‐related deaths in the first 5 years of the simulation and 3740 fewer deaths over 40 years compared with the results when T1 and T2 are set to 9.0%. These decreases in deaths were also associated with a 0.35 year gain in projected life expectancy. Compared with an aggressive strategy with both T1 and T2 being 7%, 644 more patients are projected to experience at least one episode of MI in the first 5 years if treatment intensification is delayed until HbA1c reaches 9.0%. This number increases over time, reaching 2906 additional patients experiencing at least one MI over a 40‐year time period.Conclusions:  We report results from a discrete‐event simulation model to explore the impact of alternative treatment strategies for patients with type 2 diabetes. Strategies that intensify therapy (in response to rising HbA1c levels) at lower HbA1c thresholds (e.g. 7.0%) are associated with enhanced projected long‐term health outcomes.
Bilateral corneoconjunctival dermoids and nasal choristomas in a calf
Authors: Brudenall Denise K. , Ward Daniel A. , Kerr Larry A. , Newman Shelley J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractA 5‐day‐old Angus × Hereford calf presented for bilateral haired masses on the eyes and nasolabial planum since birth. The masses were surgically excised from the inferonasal cornea and bulbar conjunctiva of both eyes and the left and right side of the dorsomedial nasolabial planum. Histopathology of the excised tissue confirmed bilateral corneoconjunctival dermoids with ectopic lacrimal glands, and bilateral nasal choristomas and ectopic nasal glandular tissue. Surgery was curative and healing was uneventful. Bilateral ocular dermoids in combination with nasal choristomas and ectopic glandular tissue have not been documented previously in cattle.
Loss of glutamine synthetase immunoreactivity from the retina in canine primary glaucoma
Authors: Chen Chu‐Te , Alyahya Khaleel , Gionfriddo Juliet R. , Dubielzig Richard R. , Madl James E. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPurpose Changes in retinal glutamate distribution occur in primary glaucoma (PG) in dogs. Although the redistribution resembles that induced by ischemia, decreases in glutamine synthetase (GS) activity may also induce a similar glutamate redistribution. We examined the distribution of GS, glutamate, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker for reactive glia, in PG retinas by immunohistochemistry to determine whether decreases in GS and formation of reactive glia are associated with glutamate redistribution and neuronal damage.Animals Sections from 14 control dog eyes and 22 eyes from dogs with PG.Methods Sections from 14 control and 22 glaucomatous globes were immunohistochemically stained for GS, glial fibrillary acidic protein or glutamate.Results In semiquantitative immunogold studies, decreases in GS staining density were strongly correlated with glutamate redistribution and neuronal damage. In less quantitative immunoperoxidase staining of acute (≤ 5 days after clinical signs) and chronic PG retinas, GS immunoreactivity was decreased in focal regions of some acute PG retinas, and there were widespread decreases in chronic PG retinas. GFAP immunoreactivity was increased in Müller cells primarily in severely damaged regions of chronic PG retinas.Conclusions Decreases in GS immunoreactivity were associated with glutamate redistribution. These decreases in GS occurred even in mildly damaged regions of retina before retinal thinning. Reactive Müller cells were seen primarily in chronic PG in severely damaged regions. Decreases in GS may potentiate ischemia‐induced early glutamate redistribution and neuronal damage in canine PG.
Effects of nitrous oxide on IOP and pupillary diameter in dogs anesthetized with varying concentrations of desflurane
Authors: Almeida Denise E. , Nishimori Celina T. , Oriá Arianne P. , Paula Danielli P. , Nunes Newton , Laus José L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective   The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of nitrous oxide on IOP and pupillary diameter (PD) of dogs anesthetized with varying desflurane concentrations.Animals studied   Twenty adult Mongrel dogs were used.Methods   They were anesthetized with propofol (10 mg/kg, IV) and maintained with varying concentrations of desflurane (1.6, 1.4, and 1.2 MAC) diluted in 100% oxygen (G1) or in 70% nitrous oxide and 30% oxygen (G2) (30 mL/kg/min). IOP was measured by applanation tonometry and horizontal PD was taken with a caliper adjacent to the cornea. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and end‐tidal CO2 (etCO2) were also measured. All parameters were measured at T0, T30, T45, and T60 time points. One‐way repeated measures anova and the t‐test were used to assess statistical differences (P < 0.05).Results   T30, T45, and T60 IOP measures were within normal limits for both groups and IOP did not differ between groups at any time. There was a significant decrease in PD in G1 between T0 and T30, T45 and T60, and also between T30 and T60. PD did not differ between groups. All vital parameters were within normal limits throughout anesthesia.Conclusions   Administration of nitrous oxide with desflurane results in maintenance of normal IOP and prevents a decrease in horizontal PD during anesthesia. Therefore, this may be a suitable protocol in dogs undergoing intraocular surgeries that require mydriasis and maintenance of normal IOP.
Aqueous humor myocilin protein levels in normal, genetic carriers, and glaucoma Beagles
Authors: MacKay E. O. , Källberg M. E. , Gelatt K. N. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective  The gene (myocilin: MYOC) has been attributed to be involved in over 6% of inherited types of human glaucoma, the highest correlation for any gene to date. This study determines myocilin protein levels in the aqueous humor (AH) of normal laboratory quality, genetic carrier (offspring of normal laboratory quality and POAG Beagles), and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) Beagles.Materials and methods  Eighteen dogs were used and classified as either normal, carrier or having mild, moderate or advanced POAG. A 0.1‐mL sample of AH was drawn from the anterior chamber of each dog in the study and frozen on dry ice. A modified Coomassie stain and Western blot, using a polyclonal rabbit antihuman myocilin antibody (Santa Cruz Biotechnologies, Santa Cruz, CA), was run on each sample to compare the myocilin levels. A purified human trabecular meshwork excreted myocilin protein sample was used as a control (Alcon Research Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX) and its band/densitometry measurement was defined as one unit of myocilin for comparisons.Results  Comparisons of AH myocilin levels differed among normal laboratory quality, genetic carrier, and POAG Beagles at different stages of the disease. In the normal laboratory, Beagles the AH myocilin measured 0.817 ± 0.075 units (mean ± SEM); in the carrier Beagles the AH myocilin was 3.117 ± 0.290 units. As POAG progressed, myocilin protein levels also increased to 6.097 ± 0.810, 8.844 ± 1.079, and 17.228 ± 1.198 units in the early, moderate, and advanced forms, respectively. Overall comparisons between normal, carrier and all POAG Beagles combined showed significant differences (P < 0.0010). Individual comparisons between normal and carrier eyes showed significant differences (P < 0.0193). Comparisons between normal and all POAG eyes also showed significant differences (P < 0.0426).Conclusion  This study shows myocilin protein is present in normal Beagles, markedly increased in POAG Beagles, and mildly increased in genetic carrier Beagles. There is a strong correlation between amounts of AH myocilin protein and the presence and severity of POAG. The exact role of AH myocilin levels in the genesis of ocular hypertension remains unresolved, but myocilin may adversely affect AH outflow.
Ophthalmic examination findings in a colony of Screech owls (Megascops asio)
Authors: Harris M. C. , Schorling J. J. , Herring I. P. , Elvinger F. , Bright P. R. , Pickett J. P. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective To report ophthalmic findings in the Screech owl (Megascops asio).Sample population Twenty‐three, apparently healthy adult captive Screech owls in Maryland.Procedures OU of all owls underwent complete ophthalmic examination. One randomly assigned eye of each bird was measured by phenol red thread tear test (PRT), and the other eye by Schirmer tear test (STT). TonoVet®rebound tonometry and TonoPen‐XL®applanation tonometry were performed in each eye to measure IOP. Conjunctival swabs were cultured from one eye of 10 birds, corneal diameter was measured in OU of eight birds, and streak retinoscopy was performed on OU of seven birds. Ten birds were anesthetized, and A‐scan ultrasonography using a 15‐MHz probe was performed to obtain axial intraocular measurements.Results Ophthalmic abnormalities were noted in 24/46 (52%) of eyes. Median STT result was ≤ 2 mm/min, ranging ≤ 2–6 mm/min, and mean ± SD PRT was 15 ± 4.3 mm/15 s. Mean ± SD IOP were 9 ± 1.8 mmHg TonoVet®‐P, 14 ± 2.4 mmHg TonoVet®‐D, and 11 ± 1.9 mmHg TonoPen‐XL®. Coagulase negative staphylococcal organisms were cultured from all conjunctival swabs. Mean ± SD corneal dimensions were 14.5 ± 0.5 mm vertically and 15.25 ± 0.5 mm horizontally. All refracted birds were within one diopter of emmetropia. Mean ± SD axial distance from the cornea to the anterior lens capsule was 4.03 ± 0.3 mm, from cornea to the posterior lens capsule was 10.8 ± 0.5 mm, and from cornea to sclera was 20.33 ± 0.6 mm.Conclusions This study reports ophthalmic examination findings in Screech owls, and provide means and ranges for various ocular measurements. This is the first report of rebound tonometry and PRT in owls.
Reference values for selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests of the capuchin monkey (Cebus apella)
Authors: Montiani‐Ferreira Fabiano , Shaw Gillian , Mattos Bianca Chaim , Russ Heloisa Helena Abil , Vilani Ricardo G. D’O.C. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractPurpose To perform selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests in healthy capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) with the aim of establishing normal physiological reference values for this species.Methods A total of 15 healthy, capuchin monkeys were used to test most of the parameters in this investigation. Five of the 15 monkeys were used for the evaluation of normal conjunctival flora. Ages varied from 6 to 20 years of age. Selected diagnostic ocular tests were performed including Schirmer tear test (STT), tonometry using an applanation tonometer (Tonopen®), central corneal thickness (CCT) using an ultrasonic pachymeter (Sonomed, Micropach®, Model 200P+) and culture of the normal conjunctival bacterial flora.Results and discussion Results for selected ocular diagnostic tests investigated here for the capuchin monkey eye were as follows: IOP: 18.4 ± 3.8 mmHg; STT: 14.9 ± 5.1 mm/min; CCT: 0.46 ± 0.03 mm. No statistically significant differences between ages or genders were found for any of the results.Streptococcussp. andCorynebacteriumsp. were isolated from healthy conjunctival and eyelid margins, suggesting they are normal constituents of the conjunctival flora of the capuchin monkey.The data obtained in this investigation will help veterinary ophthalmologists and laboratory animal medicine specialists to more accurately diagnose ocular diseases in the capuchin monkey. These ophthalmic reference values will be particularly useful to diagnose discrete or unusual pathological changes of the capuchin monkey eye.
High‐Resolution Volumetric Computation of Offset Surfaces with Feature Preservation
Authors: Pavić Darko , Kobbelt Leif 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe present a new algorithm for the efficient and reliable generation of offset surfaces for polygonal meshes. The algorithm is robust with respect to degenerate configurations and computes (self‐)intersection free offsets that do not miss small and thin components. The results are correct within a prescribed ε‐tolerance. This is achieved by using a volumetric approach where the offset surface is defined as the union of a set of spheres, cylinders, and prisms instead of surface‐based approaches that generally construct an offset surface by shifting the input mesh in normal direction. Since we are using the unsigned distance field, we can handle any type of topological inconsistencies including non‐manifold configurations and degenerate triangles. A simple but effective mesh operation allows us to detect and include sharp features (shocks) into the output mesh and to preserve them during post‐processing (decimation and smoothing). We discretize the distance function by an efficient multi‐level scheme on an adaptive octree data structure. The problem of limited voxel resolutions inherent to every volumetric approach is avoided by breaking the bounding volume into smaller tiles and processing them independently. This allows for almost arbitrarily high voxel resolutions on a commodity PC while keeping the output mesh complexity low. The quality and performance of our algorithm is demonstrated for a number of challenging examples.
Video Relighting Using Infrared Illumination
Authors: Wang Oliver , Davis James , Chuang Erika , Rickard Ian , De Mesa Krystle , Dave Chirag 
Published: April 2008

AbstractInappropriate lighting is often responsible for poor quality video. In most offices and homes, lighting is not designed for video conferencing. This can result in unevenly lit faces, distracting shadows, and unnatural colors. We present a method for relighting faces that reduces the effects of uneven lighting and color. Our setup consists of a compact lighting rig and a camera that is both inexpensive and inconspicuous to the user. We use unperceivable infrared (IR) lights to obtain an illumination bases of the scene. Our algorithm computes an optimally weighted combination of IR bases to minimize lighting inconsistencies in foreground areas and reduce the effects of colored monitor light. However, IR relighting alone results in images with an unnatural ghostly appearance, thus a retargeting technique is presented which removes the unnatural IR effects and produces videos that have substantially more balanced intensity and color than the original video.
Floating Textures
Authors: Eisemann M. , De Decker B. , Magnor M. , Bekaert P. , De Aguiar E. , Ahmed N. , Theobalt C. , Sellent A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe present a novel multi‐view, projective texture mapping technique. While previous multi‐view texturing approaches lead to blurring and ghosting artefacts if 3D geometry and/or camera calibration are imprecise, we propose a texturing algorithm that warps (“floats”) projected textures during run‐time to preserve crisp, detailed texture appearance. Our GPU implementation achieves interactive to real‐time frame rates. The method is very generally applicable and can be used in combination with many image‐based rendering methods or projective texturing applications. By using Floating Textures in conjunction with, e.g., visual hull rendering, light field rendering, or free‐viewpoint video, improved rendering results are obtained from fewer input images, less accurately calibrated cameras, and coarser 3D geometry proxies.
An Example‐based Procedural System for Element Arrangement
Authors: Ijiri Takashi , Mêch Radomír , Igarashi Takeo , Miller Gavin 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe present a method for synthesizing two dimensional (2D) element arrangements from an example. The main idea is to combine texture synthesis techniques based‐on a local neighborhood comparison and procedural modeling systems based‐on local growth. Given a user‐specified reference pattern, our system analyzes neigh‐borhood information of each element by constructing connectivity. Our synthesis process starts with a single seed and progressively places elements one by one by searching a reference element which has local features that are the most similar to the target place of the synthesized pattern. To support creative design activities, we introduce three types of interaction for controlling global features of the resulting pattern, namely a spray tool, a flow field tool, and a boundary tool. We also introduce a global optimization process that helps to avoid local error concentrations. We illustrate the feasibility of our method by creating several types of 2D patterns.
Conformal Flattening by Curvature Prescription and Metric Scaling
Authors: Ben‐Chen Mirela , Gotsman Craig , Bunin Guy 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe present an efficient method to conformally parameterize 3D mesh data sets to the plane. The idea behind our method is to concentrate all the 3D curvature at a small number of select mesh vertices, called cone singularities, and then cut the mesh through those singular vertices to obtain disk topology. The singular vertices are chosen automatically. As opposed to most previous methods, our flattening process involves only the solution of linear systems of Poisson equations, thus is very efficient. Our method is shown to be faster than existing methods, yet generates parameterizations having comparable quasi‐conformal distortion.