bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pre‐operative measurement of heart rate variability predicts hypotension during general anesthesia
Authors: Huang C.‐J. , Kuok C.‐H. , Kuo T. B. J. , Hsu Y.‐W. , Tsai P.‐S. 
Published: April 2006

Background:  Peri‐operative hymodynamic instability is one of the major concerns for anesthesiologists when performing general anesthesia for individuals with autonomic dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential usage of pre‐operative measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) in identifying which individuals, with or without diabetes, may be at risk of blood pressure (BP) instability during general anesthesia.Methods:  We studied 46 patients with diabetes and 87 patients without diabetes ASA class II or III undergoing elective surgery. Participants' cardiovascular autonomic function and HRV were assessed pre‐operatively, and hymodynamic parameters were monitored continuously intra‐operatively by an independent observer.Results:  Only 6% of the participants were classified as having cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) based on traditional autonomic function tests whereas 15% experienced hypotension. Total power (TP, P = 0.006), low frequency (LF, P = 0.012) and high frequency (HF, P = 0.028) were significantly lower in individuals who experienced hypotension compared with those who did not. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that TP [odds ratio (OR) = 0.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.05–0.47, P = 0.001] independently predicted the incidence of hypotension, indicating that each log ms2 increase in total HRV lowers the incidence of hypotension during general anesthesia by 0.15 times. After stepwise multiple linear regression analysis (R2 = 11.5%), HF (β = −11.1, SE = 2.79, P < 0.001) was the only independent determinant of the magnitude of systolic blood pressure (SBP) reduction at the 15th min after tracheal intubation.Conclusions:  Spectral analysis of HRV is a sensitive method for detecting individuals who may be at risk of BP instability during general anesthesia but may not have apparent CAN according to traditional tests of autonomic function.
Evaluation of a new recommendation for improved cuffed tracheal tube size selection in infants and small children
Authors: Salgo B. , Schmitz A. , Henze G. , Stutz K. , Dullenkopf A. , Neff S. , Gerber A. C. , Weiss M. 
Published: April 2006

Background:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new recommendation for tracheal tube size selection using second‐generation Microcuff paediatric endotracheal tubes (PETs) with optimized outer diameter (OD) of the distal tube.Methods:  With Ethics Committee approval, patients aged from birth to 5 years, requiring general anaesthesia with orotracheal intubation, were included. Tracheal tube sizes were selected as follows: internal diameter (ID) 3.0 mm, birth (if ≥3 kg) to <6 months; ID 3.5 mm, 6 to <18 months; ID 4.0 mm, 18 months to <3 years; ID 4.5 mm, 3 to <5 years. Tracheal tubes with the cuff not inflated were classified as too large if no air leak was obtained at an airway pressure of ≤20 cmH2O. Post‐intubation stridor requiring therapy was noted.Results:  Three hundred and fifty children were studied. Nine tracheal tubes (2.6%) were too large and had to be exchanged: in patients requiring tracheal tubes of ID 3.0 mm and 3.5 mm, three and four tracheal tubes, respectively, and, in patients requiring tracheal tubes of ID 4.0 mm and 4.5 mm, one tracheal tube in each group. In three patients (0.9%), post‐intubation stridor occurred which required therapy.Conclusion:  The new recommendation presented for the use of second‐generation Microcuff PETs with improved OD to ID ratio allows the selection of cuffed tracheal tubes with larger IDs than previously recommended for small children without increased need for tracheal tube exchange or increased incidence of post‐intubation stridor in these age groups.
The effect of phenotypic plasticity on evolution in multipeaked fitness landscapes
Authors: Borenstein E. , Meilijson I. , Ruppin E. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWhen facing the challenge of developing an individual that best fits its environment, nature demonstrates an interesting combination of two fundamentally different adaptive mechanisms: genetic evolution and phenotypic plasticity. Following numerous computational models, it has become the accepted wisdom that lifetime acclimation (e.g. via learning) smooths the fitness landscape and consequently accelerates evolution. However, analytical studies, focusing on the effect of phenotypic plasticity on evolution in simple unimodal landscapes, have often found that learning hinders the evolutionary process rather than accelerating it. Here, we provide a general framework for studying the effect of plasticity on evolution in multipeaked landscapes and introduce a rigorous mathematical analysis of these dynamics. We show that the convergence rate of the evolutionary process in a given arbitrary one-dimensional fitness landscape is dominated by the largest descent (drawdown) in the landscape and provide numerical evidence to support an analogous dominance also in multidimensional landscapes. We consider several schemes of phenotypic plasticity and examine their effect on the landscape drawdown, identifying the conditions under which phenotypic plasticity is advantageous. The lack of such a drawdown in unimodal landscapes vs. its dominance in multipeaked landscapes accounts for the seemingly contradictory findings of previous studies.
Epidemiological and aetiological study on tinea pedis and onychomycosis in Algeria
Authors: Djeridane Assya , Djeridane Yasmina , Ammar‐Khodja Aomar 
Published: April 2006

SummaryEpidemiological studies on tinea pedis and onychomycosis, common fungal infections, have been conducted in many parts of the world. There are currently no studies of tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis in Algeria. The aim of this paper was to study the epidemiology of foot diseases, including tinea pedis and onychomycosis and to identify the aetiological factors of these infections in outpatients attending the Department of Dermatology of the Central Hospital of Army in Algiers, Algeria. A total of 1300 male subjects, mean age 35.9 ± 16 years (range: 16–80) were recruited during the period November 2003 to November 2004 and were clinically examined. A complete dermatological examination was performed on all subjects, and skin and nail specimens of the feet were taken from those patients presenting signs of tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis for microscopy and fungal culture. Clinical diagnosis for tinea pedis and onychomycosis was suspected in 249 and 72 subjects, respectively, and confirmed in 197 and 60 cases, respectively, by positive cultures, resulting in a global prevalence of tinea pedis and toenail onychomycosis of 15% and 4.6% respectively. The age groups most commonly infected were 50–59 and 20–29 years. The yeast species Candida parapsilosis and the dermatophytic species Trichophyton rubrum were shown to be the most common pathogens in both tinea pedis (C. parapsilosis 20.4%; T. rubrum 17%) and onychomycosis (T. rubrum 35%; C. parapsilosis 28.3%). This is the first investigation dealing with fungal foot diseases in Algeria. The clinical and epidemiological data collected would serve as reference for future research and may be useful in the development of preventive and educational strategies.
First case report of empyema caused by Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Gürcan Şaban , Tuğrul H. Murat , Yörük Yener , Özer Burçin , Tatman‐Otkun Müşerref , Otkun Metin 
Published: April 2006

SummaryInfections with Beauveria bassiana are extremely rare in humans. A 51‐year‐old man was admitted to hospital with the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma. Thoracic wall resection with lobectomy was applied and empyema has developed after prolonged air leakage. B. bassiana was isolated in pleural fluid. The patient improved without antifungal therapy after thoracotomy with securing of air leakage.
Antifibrotic effects of tetrandrine on hepatic stellate cells and rats with liver fibrosis
Authors: Hsu Yi‐Chao , Chiu Yung‐Tsung , Cheng Ching‐Chang , Wu Ching‐Fen , Lin Yun‐Lian , Huang Yi‐Tsau 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:  Anti‐inflammation strategies are one of the proposed therapeutic approaches to hepatic fibrosis. Tetrandrine (C38H42O8N2, molecular weight: 622; Tet), an alkaloid isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Stephania tetrandra, has been shown to exert anti‐inflammatory activity in pulmonary diseases. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of Tet on hepatic fibrosis.Methods:  A cell line of rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC‐T6) was stimulated with transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) or tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). The inhibitory effects of Tet on the nuclear factor κB (NFκB) signaling cascade and molecular markers including intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) and α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) secretion were assessed. Fibrosis was induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) administration in rats for 4 weeks. Fibrotic rats were randomly assigned to one of the four groups: vehicle (0.7% carboxyl methyl cellulose, CMC), Tet (1 mg/kg), Tet (5 mg/kg), or silymarin (50 mg/kg), each given by gavage twice daily for 3 weeks starting after 1 week of DMN administration. At the end of the study, liver tissues were scored for fibrosis and analyzed for molecular markers of fibrosis.Results:  Tetrandrine (0.5–5.0 µmol/L) concentration‐dependently inhibited NFκB transcriptional activity induced by TNF‐α, including IκBα phosphorylation and mRNA expressions of ICAM‐1 in HSC‐T6 cells. In addition, Tet also inhibited TGF‐β1‐induced α‐SMA secretion and collagen deposition in HSC‐T6 cells. Fibrosis scores of livers from DMN‐treated rats with high‐dose Tet (1.3 ± 0.3) were significantly reduced in comparison with DMN‐treated rats receiving saline (2.0 ± 0.2). Hepatic collagen content of DMN rats was significantly reduced by either Tet or silymarin treatment. Double‐staining results showed that α‐SMA‐ and NFκB‐positive cells were decreased in the fibrotic livers by Tet and silymarin treatment. In addition, mRNA expression of ICAM‐1, α‐SMA, and TGF‐β1 was attenuated by Tet treatment. Moreover, levels of plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities were reduced by Tet and silymarin treatment.Conclusion:  Tetrandrine exerts antifibrotic effects in both HSC‐T6 cells and in rats with DMN‐induced fibrosis.
Akt expression may predict favorable prognosis in cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Javle Milind M , Yu Jihnhee , Khoury Thaer , Chadha Krishdeep C , Iyer Renuka V , Foster Jason , Kuvshinoff Boris W , Gibbs John F , Geradts Joseph , Black Jennifer D , Brattain Michael G 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBackground:  Overexpression of signaling proteins including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Akt, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) occurs in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. However, the prognostic value of these markers is unknown. No prior study correlated the expression of these signaling proteins with clinical outcome. Further, co‐expression of these proteins has not been reported. Co‐expression may reflect cross‐talk between signaling pathways. The aim of this clinicopathological study was to investigate the overexpression and co‐expression of EGFR and related signaling proteins in cholangiocarcinoma and explore their relationship to clinical outcome.Methods:  Twenty‐four consecutive cases of cholangiocarcinoma treated from 1996 to 2002 at Roswell Park Cancer Institute were included. Immunohistochemical staining of paraffin‐embedded tissue sections was performed using antibodies against Akt, p‐Akt, MAPK, p‐MAPK, COX‐2, EGFR and p‐EGFR. Two pathologists independently scored the protein expression.Results:  Cyclooxygenase‐2, Akt, and p‐MAPK were commonly expressed in biliary cancers (100%, 96% and 87% of malignant cells, respectively). EGFR (60%) and p‐EGFR (22%) overexpression was also detected. There was a significant association between EGFR and p‐EGFR (P = 0.027) and between Akt and p‐Akt (P = 0.017) expression in tumor tissue. A noteworthy association was shown between MAPK and p‐Akt (P = 0.054). Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model identified the use of chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.039, P = 0.0002), radiation (HR = 0.176, P = 0.0441) and Akt expression (HR = 0.139, P = 0.006) as the best predictors of overall prognosis.Conclusion:  Epidermal growth factor receptor signaling intermediates are commonly expressed in cholangiocarcinoma. Expression of Akt and use of systemic chemotherapy or radiation may correlate with improved survival.
Radiotherapy for lymph node metastases in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Retrospective study
Authors: Yamashita Hideomi , Nakagawa Keiichi , Shiraishi Kenshiro , Tago Masao , Igaki Hiroshi , Nakamura Naoki , Sasano Nakashi , Siina Shuichiro , Omata Masao , Ohtomo Kuni 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAim:  This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of external radiation therapy on lymph node metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:  A total 28 patients with cytopathologically proven HCC were subjected to radiation therapy over a 5‐year period, and treatment was continued in all cases. All patients underwent irradiation with a total dose ranging between 46 and 60 Gy in daily 2.0‐Gy fractions, five times a week.Results:  Among the metastatic lesions treated, 18 (64%) and five (18%) patients achieved partial responses and complete responses, respectively. The 1‐ and 2‐year overall survival rates and the median survival time were 53% and 33%, respectively, and 13 months in patients given external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) for a non‐palliative, near‐cure intent (n = 21).Conclusions:  Although lymph node metastasis from HCC is sensitive to EBRT, the intent of EBRT should be limited to palliation. For palliative purposes, it is useful in treatment with 50 Gy in 25 fractions for these patients.
A null model of temporal trends in biological invasion records
Authors: Wonham Marjorie J. , Pachepsky Elizaveta 
Published: April 2006

AbstractBiological invasions are a growing aspect of global biodiversity change. In many regions, introduced species richness increases supralinearly over time. This does not, however, necessarily indicate increasing introduction rates or invasion success. We develop a simple null model to identify the expected trend in invasion records over time. For constant introduction rates and success, the expected trend is exponentially increasing. Model extensions with varying introduction rate and success can also generate exponential distributions. We then analyse temporal trends in aquatic, marine and terrestrial invasion records. Most data sets support an exponential distribution (15/16) and the null invasion model (12/16). Thus, our model shows that no change in introduction rate or success need be invoked to explain the majority of observed trends. Further, an exponential trend does not necessarily indicate increasing invasion success or ‘invasional meltdown’, and a saturating trend does not necessarily indicate decreasing success or biotic resistance.
Ultrastructural features of neurons and synaptic contacts in the posterodorsal medial amygdala of adult male rats
Authors: Hermel E. E. S. , Faccioni‐Heuser M. C. , Marcuzzo S. , Rasia‐Filho A. A. , Achaval M. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to describe the ultrastructure of neurons (from eight animals) and to analyse the synaptic terminal distribution (from two animals) in the posterodorsal subnucleus of the medial amygdala (MePD) of adult male rats. Using transmission electron microscopy, it was possible to identify many spiny and aspiny dendrites, unmyelinated axonal bundles, single axonal processes, a few myelinated axons, blood vessels and glial processes in the neuropil. Axodendritic synapses were the most frequently observed (67.5%), appearing to be of either the inhibitory or the excitatory types. The presynaptic region contained round or flattened vesicles that occurred either singly or with dense‐cored vesicles (DCVs). The dendrites often received many synapses on a single shaft, and axon terminals displayed synaptic contacts with one or more postsynaptic structures. Dendritic spines showed different morphologies and the synapses on them (23.1%) formed a single and apparently excitatory synaptic contact with round, electron‐lucid vesicles alone or, less frequently, with DCVs. Inhibitory and excitatory axosomatic synapses (8.2%) and excitatory axoaxonic synapses (1.2%) were also identified. The present report provides new findings relevant to the study of the MePD cellular organization and could be combined with other morphological data in order to reveal the functional activity of this area in male rats.
Origin of the styloglossus muscle in the human fetus
Authors: Mérida‐Velasco J. R. , Rodríguez‐Vazquez J. F. , De La Cuadra Blanco C. , Sánchez‐Montesinos I. , Mérida‐Velasco J. A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe origin of the styloglossus muscle was histologically studied bilaterally in nine human fetuses (18 sides). In all cases, the muscle originated in Reichert's cartilage, which gives rise to the temporal styloid process. We identified three types of variation: type A, an accessory muscle fascicle originating from the mandibular angle, found in 7 cases (12 sides); type B, where the styloglossus muscle was attached to the mandibular angle by fibrous tracts, found in three cases (4 sides); and type C, where an accessory muscle fascicle arose from the fibrous tract connecting Reichert's cartilage to the mandibular angle; found in one case. In all cases (2 sides), the styloglossus muscle was innervated by the hypoglossal nerve. Relationships between the styloglossus muscle and vasculonervous elements of the prestyloid and retrostyloid spaces were analysed.
Age‐related impairment of mesenchymal progenitor cell function
Authors: Stolzing Alexandra , Scutt Andrew 
Published: April 2006

SummaryIn most mesenchymal tissues a subcompartment of multipotent progenitor cells is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the tissue following trauma. With increasing age, the ability of tissues to repair themselves is diminished, which may be due to reduced functional capacity of the progenitor cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aging on rat mesenchymal progenitor cells. Mesenchymal progenitor cells were isolated from Wistar rats aged 3, 7, 12 and 56 weeks. Viability, capacity for differentiation and cellular aging were examined. Cells from the oldest group accumulated raised levels of oxidized proteins and lipids and showed decreased levels of antioxidative enzyme activity. This was reflected in decreased fibroblast colony‐forming unit (CFU‐f) numbers, increased levels of apoptosis and reduced proliferation and potential for differentiation. These data suggest that the reduced ability to maintain mesenchymal tissue homeostasis in aged mammals is not purely due to a decline in progenitor cells numbers but also to a loss of progenitor functionality due to the accumulation of oxidative damage, which may in turn be a causative factor in a number of age‐related pathologies such as arthritis, tendinosis and osteoporosis.
Patient gender and radiopharmaceutical tracer is of minor importance for the interpretation of myocardial perfusion images using an artificial neural network
Authors: Tägil Kristina , Richard Underwood S. , Davies Glyn , Latus Katherine A. , Ohlsson Mattias , Götborg Cecilia Wallin , Edenbrandt Lars 
Published: April 2006

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to assess the influence of patient gender and choice of perfusion tracer on computer‐based interpretation of myocardial perfusion images. For the image interpretation, an automated method was used based on image processing and artificial neural network techniques. A total of 1000 patients were studied, all referred to the Royal Brompton Hospital in London for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy over a period of 1 year. The patients were randomized to receive either thallium or one of the two technetium tracers, methoxyisobutylisonitrile or tetrofosmin. Artificial neural networks were trained with either mixed gender or gender‐specific and mixed tracer or tracer‐specific training sets of different sizes. The performance of the networks was assessed in separate test sets, with the interpretation of experienced physicians regarding the presence or absence of fixed or reversible defects in the images as the gold standard. The neural networks trained with large mixed gender training sets were as good as the networks trained with gender‐specific data sets. In addition, the neural networks trained with large mixed tracer training sets were as good as or better than the networks trained with tracer‐specific data sets. Our results indicate that the influence of patient gender and perfusion tracer are of minor importance for the computer‐based interpretation of the myocardial perfusion images. The differences that occur can be compensated for by larger training sets.
Vegas Stripped
Authors: Eadington William 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Las Vegas is the casino capital of the world. Millions of gamblers and billions of dollars pass through its glittering, neon-lit attractions. How does it operate? Where, if anywhere, are the odds in the gambler's favour? From blackjack to the high-technology slot machines that have replaced the old-time one-armed bandits, Bill Eadington examines probabilities, prices and casino games on offer both on and off the Las Vegas strip and tells us how and where to gain most—or, more accurately, to lose least—in Las Vegas.
Initial Analysis of PCM Integrated Solar Collectors
Authors: Alva S. L. H. , González J. E. , Dukhan N. 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
This paper investigates the technical feasibility of innovative solar collectors. The proposed collectors have a phase change material (PCM) integrated into them as the storage mechanism. The PCM-integrated solar collector eliminates the need of conventional storage tanks, thus reducing cost and space. The present work uses a paraffin-graphite composite as the PCM to increase the conductivity of the PCM matrix. The paraffin’s melting point is around 89°C, which is appropriate for use in single-effect absorption systems. The mathematical model that describes the thermal process in the PCM is presented and differs from the analysis of conventional flat plate solar collectors making use of the lumped capacitance method which neglects spatial variations. The proposed model is calibrated favorably with a more detailed mathematical model that uses finite differences and considers temporal and spatial variations. Results for the collectors’ thermal performance are presented along with the effects of the composition of the PCM. The results for the PCM integrated collector proposed here are very encouraging. Therefore, there is an indication that conventional storage tanks may be replaced for the PCM integrated in the solar collector.