bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Management of cornual (interstitial) pregnancy
Authors: Faraj Radwan , Steel Martin 
Published: October 2007

Key content

The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health report for 2000–02 stated that cornual pregnancy is a rare but dangerous type of ectopic pregnancy.
Four out of the 11 deaths from ruptured ectopic pregnancy were due to ruptured cornual pregnancy. In all four cases the diagnosis was made only after rupture.
Haemorrhage can be severe because pregnancy is often more developed than extrauterine tubal pregnancy and because of the large blood supply to the uterus.
Clinicians should be aware of the difficulties with both clinical and ultrasound diagnosis.
Many case reports have been written about sporadic cases of intact and ruptured cornual pregnancy and several treatment modalities discussed. There are very few publications collecting all management strategies, including both surgical and medical treatment, for this dangerous type of ectopic pregnancy.

Learning objectives

To understand recent advances in diagnosis and conservative laparoscopic and medical treatment.
To review the most reputable case reports discussing all modalities of treatment, including radical surgical and conservative laparoscopic methods and different types of medical treatment, with critical appraisal of each approach.

Ethical issues

How should a couple be counselled regarding future pregnancy risks and the optimum mode of delivery?

Please cite this article as: Faraj R, Steel M. Management of cornual (interstitial) pregnancy. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:249–255.
Confidentiality, disclosure and access to medical records
Authors: Nicholas Nick 
Published: October 2007

Key content

Patient confidentiality is not absolute and there are situations where disclosure is allowed.
Consent is justification for disclosure.
Disclosure of anonymised information does not generally require patient consent, unless it is possible to identify the patient.
When the public interest in disclosure is greater than the public interest in confidentiality, disclosure is allowed.

Learning objectives

To clarify the legal issues, including General Medical Council (GMC) guidance on patient confidentiality.
To discuss the law relating to access to medical records; in particular, the Data Protection Act 1998.
To clarify when there is justification for disclosure.

Ethical issues

Can confidential information be disclosed where a patient has refused specific consent?
How does the law differ from GMC guidance?
What should a gynaecologist do when a patient informs them that she is planning to inflict serious harm on a specific individual?

Please cite this article as: Nicholas N. Confidentiality, disclosure and access to medical records. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:257–263.
Current practice and new developments in ovarian cancer chemotherapy
Authors: Ali S Nasim , Ledermann Jonathan A 
Published: October 2007

Key content

A combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel is the most commonly used treatment for advanced ovarian cancer, a chemosensitive disease with a high recurrence rate.
Molecular targeted agents are being investigated as a novel strategy to improve the outcome of systemic therapy.

Learning objectives

To study the optimum timing of chemotherapy in relation to surgery and the role of intraperitoneal therapy.
To be aware of current chemotherapy regimens used in the management of newly diagnosed and relapsed ovarian cancer and the rationale for using them.
To understand current areas of research using novel agents in systemic therapy and different treatment strategies.

Ethical issues

It is important to consider the balance between benefit and side effects of treatment for women with relapsed disease.
Patient choice is an important consideration for the selection of chemotherapy for relapsed ovarian cancer.
Current treatment produces only a modest gain in outcome, therefore, every effort should be made to recruit women to clinical trials.

Please cite this article as: Ali SN, Ledermann JA. Current practice and new developments in ovarian cancer chemotherapy. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2007;9:265–269.
Functional Activity of the Carboxyl-Terminally Extended Oxytocin Precursor Peptide During Cardiac Differentiation of Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Gassanov Natig , Devost Dominic , Danalache Bogdan , Noiseux Nicolas , Jankowski Marek , Zingg Hans H. , Gutkowska Jolanta 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
The hypothalamic post-translational processing of oxytocin (OT)-neurophysin precursor involves the formation of C-terminally extended OT forms (OT-X) that serve as intermediate prohormones. Despite abundant expression of the entire functional OT system in the developing heart, the biosynthesis and implication of OT prohormones in cardiomyogenesis remain unknown. In the present work, we investigated the involvement of OT-X in cardiac differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Functional studies revealed the OT receptor-mediated cardiomyogenic action of OT-Gly-Lys-Arg (OT-GKR). To obtain further insight into the mechanisms of OT-GKR-induced cardiac effects, we generated ES cell lines overexpressing the OT-GKR gene and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The functionality of the OT-GKR/EGFP construct was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, with further confirmation by radioimmunoassay and immunostaining. Increased spontaneously beating activity of OT-GKR/EGFP-expressing embryoid bodies and elevated expression of GATA-4 and myosin light chain 2v cardiac genes indicated an inductive effect of endogenous OT-GKR on ES cell-derived cardiomyogenesis. Furthermore, patch-clamp experiments demonstrated induction of ventricular phenotypes in OT-GKR/EGFP-transfected and in OT-GKR-treated cardiomyocytes. Increased connexin 43 protein in OT-GKR/EGFP-expressing cells further substantiated the evidence that OT-GKR modifies cardiac differentiation toward the ventricular sublineage. In conclusion, this report provides new evidence of the biological activity of OT-X, notably OT-GKR, during cardiomyogenic differentiation.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Dopaminergic Neurons Reverse Functional Deficit in Parkinsonian Rats
Authors: Yang Dali , Zhang Zhi-Jian , Oldenburg Michael , Ayala Melvin , Zhang Su-Chun 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
We show that human embryonic stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons survived transplantation to the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rat striatum and, in combination with the cells newly differentiated from their progenitors, contributed to locomotive function recovery at 5 months. The animal behavioral improvement was correlated with the dopamine neurons present in the graft. Although the donor cells contained forebrain and midbrain dopamine neurons, the dopamine neurons present in the graft mainly exhibited a midbrain, or nigra, phenotype, suggesting the importance of midbrain dopamine neurons in functional repair. Furthermore, progenies of grafted cells were neurons and glia with greatly diminished mitotic activity by 5 months. Thus, the in vitro-produced human dopamine neurons can functionally engraft in the brain.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α Agonists Enhance Cardiomyogenesis of Mouse ES Cells by Utilization of a Reactive Oxygen Species-Dependent Mechanism
Authors: Sharifpanah Fatemeh , Wartenberg Maria , Hannig Madeleine , Piper Hans-Michael , Sauer Heinrich 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα, -β and -γ) are nuclear receptors involved in transcriptional regulation of lipid and energy metabolism. Since the energy demand increases when cardiac progenitor cells are developing rhythmic contractile activity, PPAR activation may play a critical role during cardiomyogenesis of embryonic stem (ES) cells. It is shown that ES cells express PPARα, -β, and -γ mRNA during differentiation of ES cells towards cardiac cells. Treatment with PPARα agonists (WY14643, GW7647, and ciprofibrate) significantly increased cardiomyogenesis and expression of the cardiac genes MLC2a, ANP, MHC-β, MLC2v, and cardiac α-actin. Furthermore, WY14643 increased PPARα gene expression and the expression of the cardiogenic transcription factors GATA-4, Nkx2.5, DTEF-1, and MEF 2C. In contrast, the PPARα antagonist MK886 decreased cardiomyogenesis, whereas the PPARβ agonist L-165,041 as well as the PPARγ agonist GW1929 were without effects. Treatment with PPARα, but not PPARβ, and PPARγ agonists and MK886, resulted in generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which was inhibited in the presence of the NADPH oxidase inhibitors diphenylen iodonium (DPI) and apocynin and the free radical scavengers vitamin E and N-(2-mercapto-propionyl)-glycine (NMPG), whereas the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone was without effects. The effect of PPARα agonists on cardiomyogenesis of ES cells was abolished upon preincubation with free radical scavengers and NADPH oxidase inhibitors, indicating involvement of ROS in PPARα, mediated cardiac differentiation. In summary, our data indicate that stimulation of PPARα but not PPARβ and -γ enhances cardiomyogenesis in ES cells using a pathway that involves ROS and NADPH oxidase activity.
Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
The scanning electron microscopic study of the infection and conidial development of Aspergillus tamarii Kita on its host, the silkworm, Bombyx mori Linn.
Authors: Kumar Vineet 
Published: October 2007

AbstractDevelopment of Aspergillosis on the integument of the silkworm, Bombyx mori Linn., was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Aspergillosis is a fungal disease caused by an insect mycopathogen Aspergillus tamarii Kita, which infects the silkworms in countries where sericulture (the rearing of silkworms)is prevalent. The present study showed the course of infection and the conidial development of A. tamarii on the integument of B. mori. Five different strains (KA, NB18, NB4 D2, NB7 and PM) of B. mori were inoculated on their body surface with ca. 1 × 106 conidia/ml. Among the five breeds tested, the conidial germination was greatest on the larval surface of KA breed, and least on PM. Most of the conidia germinated on the cuticle approximately 8–12 hours after inoculation, forming a suctorial appressorium within 24 hours. The hyphae reached the hemocoel, where they grew and multiplied extensively, forming a mycelial complex and causing death of the host larva in about 5–6 days. The death of the host was followed by growth of the fungus through mesodermal and epidermal tissues, leading to larval mummification about 6–7 days post-inoculation. Extensive aerial outgrowths of the fungus followed, mostly through the intersegmental regions of larvae. Abundant branched conidiophores developed, forming a confluent yellow brown mat over the entire host body 7 days after inoculation. Each conidiophore had an apical vesicle bearing numerous phialides from which conidia were developed in long chains.
Perioperative hypertension in phaeochromocytoma patients undergoing adrenalectomy
Authors: Šakić Kata , Kvolik Slavica , Grljušić Marijana , Vrbanović Vilena , Prlić Lidija 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
This study was designed to compare perioperative blood pressure (BP) management in hypertensive patients with phaeochromocytoma undergoing preoperative α-blockade and in patients with other suprarenal gland tumors. Perioperative hemodynamic data and immediate postoperative outcome in two groups undergoing adrenalectomy were compared. 483 medical charts from urologic patients with tumors were analyzed. In the hypertensive (n = 168) group, 20 patients with suprarenal gland tumors were identified (phaeochromocytoma n = 11, other tumors n = 9). Demographic data, intraoperative consumption of fentanyl and phentolamine, preoperative hospital stay and postoperative ICU stay were compared. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was registered on the day before surgery, before anesthetic induction, during surgery, and upon admission in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although BP values did not differ significantly on the day before anesthesia, before induction and during operation, significantly more antihypertensive drugs were used for BP regulation in phaeochromocytoma patients versus the other tumor group. The phaeochromocytoma group required significantly more fentanyl during surgery (370±87 vs. 242±35 µg; p = 0.04). MAP upon ICU admission was significantly lower (85.1 vs. 97.4, p = 0.02) after adrenalectomy in phaeochromocytoma patients versus the other tumor group. The postoperative MAP decreased significantly in the phaeochromocytoma group (21.51 mmHg, p = 0.005), whereas significant differences according to preoperative values were not observed in the other tumor group (5.5 mmHg, p = 0.416). Prolonged preoperative hospital stay (24.6 vs. 10.0 days, p = 0.005) and ICU stay were registered in the phaeochromocytoma group. Pheochromocytoma patients had more pronounced perioperative BP oscillations, needed more antihypertensive drugs, analgesics and required prolonged hospital stay than patients with other adrenal tumors. Prolonged α-blockade may have contributed to these effects.
Cholecystitis caused by hemocholecyst: An unusual complication of Hemophilia A
Authors: Karatepe Oguzhan , Tukenmez Mustafa , Adas Gökhan , Çitlak Gamze , Hunerli Kemal , Battal Muharrem , Gülçiçek Osman , Karahan Servet , Özcan Deniz 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Hemocholecyst is a rare disorder that has been reported in patients with gallstones. Previous reports describe cholecystitis resulting from hemocholecyst after iatrogenic trauma. We report the first case of acute cholecystitis secondary to hemocholecyst in a patient with Hemophilia A.
The cultural history of wine - theoretical background to wine therapy
Authors: Fehér János , Lengyel Gabriella , Lugasi Andrea 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
The knowledge of grape and wine is as old as the cultural history of mankind. Moderate consumption of wine can be beneficial in healthy individuals. It is also known from ancient times that it can cause acute and chronic damage when consumed in great quantities. The disinfectant effect of its use in ointments has been observed already in the antiquity. Polyphenols, among them resveratrol, have generated a great amount of scientific research due to their in vivo and in vitro antioxidant capabilities. For decades, red wine was thought to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. This relation was clearly established in the French Paradox phenomenon as well as in the Mediterranean diet. The French Paradox is defined as a low incidence of coronary heart disease, while consuming a diet rich in saturated fat. The cause of this phenomenon is the usually wine drinking in small quantity, supposingly in the consequence of polypenols in red wine. The use of ointments containing polyphenols of wine and the cosmetic treatments with them can be advantageous in the treatment and prevention of some diseases of the skin and the joints, due to its free radical scavenging effect. In healthy individuals the consumption of a moderate amount of 1 to 2 dl wine a day may reduce the mortality of cardiovascular diseases. However, also this quantity can be associated with detrimental effects in pregnant women, in children and in patients with various organic, particularly hepatic, diseases as well as in case of regular administration of certain medicines.
Light induced angular steering via Floquet-Bloch band-tunnelling in one-dimensional liquid crystalline photonic lattices
Authors: Fratalocchi A. , Rutkowska K. , Karpierz M. , Assanto G. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractWe investigate all-optical Zener tunnelling in electro-optically tunable arrays of identical channel waveguides in undoped nematic liquid crystals. By all-optically inducing a refractive acceleration, we demonstrate a novel technique for band-to-band tunnelling, as well as a novel approach to light controlled steering and readdressing.
Wavelength and polarization selective multi-band tunnelling quantum dot detectors
Authors: Perera A. , Ariyawansa G. , Apalkov V. , Matsik S. , Su X. , Chakrabarti S. , Bhattacharya P. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe reduction of the dark current without reducing the photocurrent is a considerable challenge in developing far-infrared (FIR)/terahertz detectors. Since quantum dot (QD) based detectors inherently show low dark current, a QD-based structure is an appropriate choice for terahertz detectors. The work reported here discusses multi-band tunnelling quantum dot infrared photo detector (T-QDIP) structures designed for high temperature operation covering the range from mid-to far-infrared. These structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy consist of a QD (InGaAs or InAlAs) placed in a well (GaAs/AlGaAs) with a double-barrier system (AlGaAs/InGaAs/AlGaAs) adjacent to it. The photocurrent, which can be selectively collected by resonant tunnelling, is generated by a transition of carriers from the ground state in the QD to a state in the well coupled with a state in the double-barrier system. The double-barrier system blocks the majority of carriers contributing to the dark current. Several important properties of T-QDIP detectors such as the multi-colour (multi-band) nature of the photoresponse, the selectivity of the operating wavelength by the applied bias, and the polarization sensitivity of the response peaks, are also discussed.
Homography of central points for optical distortion compensation
Authors: Nowakowski A. , Skarbek W. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe paper presents a novel radial lens distortion modelling method for vision systems. It is based on single images of chessboard planar pattern, in which calibration points (corners of chessboard squares) are localised. The points, which are situated near the image centre, where the distortion is negligible, are used to determine undistorted grid of calibration points by the estimation of homographic matrix. The differences in the localisation of undistorted and distorted points are used to find parameters of radial model by the linear least square method. Having the distortion model, the dense compensation is performed with support of bilinear interpolation and a sparse compensation by Newton iterative scheme providing subpixel accuracy.
Kinetic Analysis of Thermal Decomposition of Unirradiated and γ-Irradiated Tris(ACEtylacetonato)-Ruthenium(III) [Ru(acac)3]
Authors: Mahfouz R. M. , Siddiqui M. R. H. , Al-Ahmari Sh. A. , Alkayali W. Z. 
Published: October 2007

The thermal decompositions of unirradiated and γ-irradiated Ru(acac)3 were studied in air. The results show that decomposition proceeds in one major step in the temperature range of 150-250°C with the formation of RuO2 as a final solid residue for unirradiated Ru(acac)3. For γ-irradiated Ru(acac)3, with a total γ-ray dose of 102kGy, the decomposition goes eventually to completion with almost 100% decomposition and proceeds in one major step which contains four overlapping decomposition stages in the temperature range of 200 −320°C. The kinetics were followed isothermally and non-isothermally using both model-fitting and model-free approaches. IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction techniques were employed to follow the chemical composition of the solid residues obtained at different temperatures. In a model-fitting approach, the kinetic triplet, i.e. the apparent activation energy Ea, the pre-exponential factor, ln A, and the reaction model f (α), were analyzed and calculated using straight line plots, and reduced time plots by isothermal measurements. For non-isothermal measurements we have applied the Coats and Redfern, and Kennedy and Clark methods. In the model-free approach, the non-thermal data for both unirradiated and γ-irradiated Ru(acac)3 samples were analyzed using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Tang (T), and Vyazovkin (Vyz) isoconversional methods. The results of application of model-free and model-fitting approaches to the thermal decompositions of both unirradiated and γ-irradiated Ru(acac)3 were compared and evaluated to deduce the most probable kinetic triplet that describes correctly the thermal behavior of Ru(acac)3. Discussion of the results is preceded by a short review of the models relevant to this study.
Nature of Salt Effects and Mechanism of Covalent Bond Heterolysis
Authors: Dvorko Genrih F. , Ponomareva Engelsine A. , Ponomarev Mykola E. , Stambirsky Mikhailo V. 
Published: October 2007

Data on the influence of neutral salts on the rates of unimolecular heterolyses of organic substrates, obtained mainly by the verdazyl method, are summarized here. It is assumed that heterolysis takes place with consecutive formation of four ion pairs: contact (CIP), cavity-separated (CSIP), one solvent moleculeseparated (SIP) and solvent-separated (SSIP). [Formula: see text] In the limiting step, the CIP interacts with a solvent cavity and the CSIP is formed, which converts quickly into the SIP and subsequently to the SSIP, which also quickly gives the reaction products. In the transition state, bonds between the molecules solvating the CIP are broken. In the absence of salt, the return from external ion pairs does not have much importance. The verdazyl indicator quickly and quantitatively reacts with the SSIP. The normal salt effect takes place due to the action of salt on the covalent substrate, which catalyses CIP formation. The special salt effect is caused by the association of the salt with the CIP, which prolongs the lifetime of the intermediate and increases the probability of its contact with a solvent cavity. The negative special salt effect is caused by association of the salt with the SIP or SSIP, which prolongs the lifetime of the intermediates and increases the probability of their contact with a solvent cavity to return to the covalent substrate. When the salt reacts with the SIP, the salt effect does not depend on the concentration and nature of verdazyl, but such a dependence takes place when the salt reacts with the SSIP. The site of the action of the salt is determined by the Hard and Soft Acids and Bases (HSAB) principle.
Chemosensory Systems
Authors: Spielman Andrew I , Yan Wentao , Brand Joseph G 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Chemosensory systems are highly specialized sensory systems of which taste, smell and the vomeronasal system are prototypical examples. These systems detect a variety of soluble and volatile stimulants with a range of biological effects on feeding, reproduction, social interactions, mood, territoriality, etc.
Colour Vision
Authors: Gouras Peter 
Published: October 2007

Abstract
Our daylight photoreceptors, cones, mediate colour vision but by themselves cannot distinguish wavelength from the energy of the light they absorb. By comparing the responses of two cone types, one absorbing best from one end and the other best from the other end of the visible spectrum, energy and wavelength contrasts can be determined independently, and thereby colour vision. In man and many primates, three cone mechanisms are compared; the long wavelength sensitive (L) cones are compared with the middle wavelength sensitive (M) cones to create ‘red/green’ colour vision and the short wavelength sensitive (S) cones are compared with both M and L cones for ‘yellow/blue’ form of colour vision. The latter is the only form of colour vision in most mammals and in 2% of human males. This process involves hierarchical circuits from retina to visual cortex including antagonistic interactions between these cone pairs in the same areas of visual space, ‘single opponency’ in the retina and lateral geniculate nucleus, to comparisons between adjacent areas of visual space, ‘dual opponency’ in visual cortex. By this means energy is dissociated from wavelength contrast to create colour vision where both variables are processed separately and used to sense hue, saturation and brightness, the qualities of colour vision, creating about a million varieties of colour.