bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pharmacological characterization of 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐induced contraction in the chicken gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Kitazawa T. , Ukai H. , Komori S. , Taneike T. 
Published: March 2006

Summary 1 5‐Hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) receptor subtypes involved in 5‐HT‐induced contraction of the chicken gastrointestinal tract were characterized pharmacologically using subtype‐selective agonists and antagonists. The proventriculus (area of stomach adjacent to the oesophagus) and ileum are examined. 2 5‐HT applied cumulatively caused sustained contraction of the proventriculus that was not decreased by tetrodotoxin, atropine or l‐nitro‐arginine methylester (l‐NAME). α‐Methyl‐5‐HT showed the same potency as that of 5‐HT, indicating the involvement of the 5‐HT2 receptor. (±)‐1‐(2,5‐dimethoxy‐4‐iodophenyl)‐2‐amino‐propane (DOI), 5‐methoxytryptamine and 1‐(3‐chlorophenyl)piperazine hydrochloride (mCPP) were potent, and 2‐methyl‐5‐HT, 5‐carboxamidotryptamine, BW723C86 and 6‐chloro‐2‐(1‐piperazinyl)pyrazine hydrochloride (MK212) were moderate, but (±)‐8‐hydroxy‐2‐dipropylaminotetralin hydrobromide (8‐OH‐DPAT), [endo‐N‐8‐methyl‐8‐azabicyclo‐(3,2,1)oct‐3‐yl]‐2,3‐dihydro‐(1‐methyl)ethyl‐2‐oxo‐1H‐benzimidazol‐1‐carboxamide (BIMU‐8) and cisapride were weak agonists. Correlation of pEC50 values of these agonists with documented pEC50 values for 5‐HT2C receptor was higher than 5‐HT2A and 5‐HT2B. 3 Cinanserin, ketanserin, methiothepin, methysergide, mianserin, (8‐[5‐(2,4‐dimethoxy‐5‐(4‐trifluoromethylphenylsulphonamido)phenyl‐5‐oxopentyl)‐1,3,8‐triazaspiro[4,5]decane‐2,4‐dione hydrochloride (RS102221), N‐(1‐methyl‐1H‐indolyl‐5‐yl)‐N′‐(3‐methyl‐5‐isothiazolyl)urea (SB204741), spiperone and N‐desmethylclozapine concentration‐dependently inhibited the contractile responses to 5‐HT. Correlation of pKb/pA2 of antagonists with documented pKi for 5‐HT2C receptor was highest among 5‐HT2 receptor subtypes. 4 In the methysergide‐ and ketanserin‐treated proventriculus, 5‐HT, 2‐methyl‐5‐HT and cisapride did not enhance the electrical field stimulation (5 Hz)‐induced cholinergic contractions. 5 5‐HT applied non‐cumulatively caused transient contraction of ileum, and the responses were partly decreased by atropine or tetrodotoxin. 5‐Methoxytryptamine, α‐methyl‐5‐HT, 5‐carboxamidotryptamine, L692,247 and DOI were potent agonists. However, 2‐methyl‐5‐HT, cisapride, BW723C86, 8‐OH‐DPAT and 5‐nonyloxytryptamine, mCPP and MK212 were less effective. Ketanserin and methysergide decreased the 5‐HT‐induced ileal contraction, but neither GR113808 nor SB269970 inhibited the responses. 6 In conclusion, 5‐HT causes contraction of the proventriculus via 5‐HT2C‐like receptors present on smooth muscle. 5‐HT also causes contraction of the ileum, but the underlying mechanisms are complex, involving neural and smooth muscle components, and both 5‐HT1‐ and 5‐HT2‐like receptors. Neural 5‐HT receptors similar to 5‐HT3/5‐HT4 receptors were not found in the chicken proventriculus and ileum.
The Influence of Health Policy and Market Factors on the Hospital Safety Net
Authors: Bazzoli Gloria J. , Lindrooth Richard C. , Kang Ray , Hasnain‐Wynia Romana 
Published: March 2006

Objective. To examine how the financial pressures resulting from the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 interacted with private sector pressures to affect indigent care provision.Data Sources/Study Setting. American Hospital Association Annual Survey, Area Resource File, InterStudy Health Maintenance Organization files, Current Population Survey, and Bureau of Primary Health Care data.Study Design. We distinguished core and voluntary safety net hospitals in our analysis. Core safety net hospitals provide a large share of uncompensated care in their markets and have large indigent care patient mix.Voluntary safety net hospitals provide substantial indigent care but less so than core hospitals. We examined the effect of financial pressure in the initial year of the 1997 BBA on uncompensated care for three hospital groups. Data for 1996–2000 were analyzed using approaches that control for hospital and market heterogeneity.Data Collection/Extraction Methods. All urban U.S. general acute care hospitals with complete data for at least 2 years between 1996 and 2000, which totaled 1,693 institutions.Principal Findings. Core safety net hospitals reduced their uncompensated care in response to Medicaid financial pressure. Voluntary safety net hospitals also responded in this way but only when faced with the combined forces of Medicaid and private sector payment pressures. Nonsafety net hospitals did not exhibit similar responses.Conclusions. Our results are consistent with theories of hospital behavior when institutions face reductions in payment. They raise concern given continuing state budget crises plus the focus of recent federal deficit reduction legislation intended to cut Medicaid expenditures.
Disclosure Risk and Price Drift
Authors: SONG SHIN HYUN 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTDisclosures play an apparently critical role in the empirical regularity of the short‐run momentum and long‐run reversal in stock returns. Motivated by this evidence, this paper integrates an analysis of disclosures within an asset pricing model to arrive at a framework in which disclosures and asset returns are jointly determined. Disclosures resolve uncertainty, but the increased information flow also raises the risks during the disclosure period. When disclosures and asset returns are modeled jointly, apparently good news is associated with the upward revision of future disclosure risks. The model generates predictions that have the outward appearance of short‐run momentum and long‐run reversal.
A Newsvendor Problem with Revenue Sharing and Channel Coordination*
Authors: Koulamas Christos 
Published: March 2006

ABSTRACTIncreasingly manufacturers and retailers are implementing revenue‐sharing policies to coordinate distribution channels more effectively. This article considers a standard newsvendor problem in a single manufacturer–retailer channel and compares the expected profits that each party receives in a traditional ordering environment with those that can be achieved under a revenue‐sharing policy designed to completely eliminate double marginalization. It is shown that the retailer always benefits from the transition to revenue sharing by capturing a portion of the incremental channel profit generated by the complete elimination of double marginalization. A necessary demand‐distribution‐dependent condition is derived under which the transition to revenue sharing benefits the manufacturer as well. The findings of this research are illustrated in a numerical example for the uniform demand distribution.
Pathological Effects of Pulmonary Vein β‐Radiation in a Swine Model
Authors: PÉREZ‐CASTELLANO NICASIO , VILLACASTÍN JULIÁN , ARAGONCILLO PALOMA , FANTIDIS PANAYOTIS , SABATÉ MANEL , GARCÍA‐TORRENT MARIA J. , PRIETO CARLOS , CORRAL JOSÉ M. , MORENO JAVIER , FERNÁNDEZ‐ORTIZ ANTONIO , VANO ELISEO , MACAYA CARLOS 
Published: March 2006

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may be triggered by ectopic beats originating in sleeves of atrial myocardium entering the pulmonary veins (PVs). PV isolation by means of circumferential ostial or atrial radiofrequency ablation is an effective but also a difficult and long procedure, requiring extensive applications that can have serious potential complications. Our objective was to examine pathological effects of PV β‐radiation, particularly the ability to destroy PV myocardial sleeves without inducing PV stenosis and other unwanted effects, in order to establish its potential feasibility for the treatment of AF. Methods and Results: Ten minipigs were studied. A phosphorus‐32 source wire centered within a 2.5‐mm diameter balloon catheter (Galileo® III Intravascular Radiotherapy System, Guidant, Santa Clara, CA, USA) was used to deliver β‐radiation to the superior wall of the right PV trunk. Pathological analysis was performed either immediately after ablation (2 pigs) or 81 ± 27 days later (8 pigs). Acute effects of PV β‐radiation consisted of endothelial denudation covered by white thrombus, elastic lamina disruption, and PV sleeve necrosis. Late effects consisted of mild focal neointimal hyperplasia that reduced the PV luminal area by only 1.3 ± 1.8%, elastic lamina thickening, and PV sleeve fibrosis. Four of these 8 PVs were completely re‐endothelized. Lesions were transmural in 6 of 10 radiated PVs and segmental, involving 28 ± 7% of the right PV perimeter. Conclusion: Intravascular β‐radiation can induce transmural necrosis and fibrosis of PV myocardial sleeves without PV stenosis and other unwanted effects, which supports a potential usefulness of this energy source in the treatment of AF.
Simultaneous Atrial and Ventricular Anti‐Tachycardia Pacing as a Novel Method of Rhythm Discrimination
Authors: SABA SAMIR , BAKER LINDA , GANZ LEONARD , BARRINGTON WILLIAM , JAIN SANDEEP , NGWU OGUNDU , CHRISTENSEN JILL , BROWN MARK 
Published: March 2006

Background: Inappropriate shocks remain a problem in patients with defibrillators (ICD). Objective: To evaluate a new discrimination algorithm for supraventricular (SVT) and ventricular (VT) tachycardias, based on the response to simultaneous (A+V) atrial (A) and ventricular (V) anti‐tachycardia pacing (ATP). Methods: Patients undergoing electrophysiological testing or dual‐chamber implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) implantation were enrolled (N = 32) and underwent A+V ATP through a Marquis ICD with investigational software. If persisting after ATP, the rhythm was classified as VT if the first electrical event was sensed on the V channel and as an SVT otherwise. Results: Arrhythmia sequences (N = 275; 53 VT; 222 SVT) were analyzed in 26 patients (age = 51 ± 17 years, 13 men, LVEF = 0.49 ± 0.14). In response to A+V ATP, 55% of SVT versus 41% of VT episodes were terminated (P = NS). Termination of VT but not of SVT was more likely with faster (50% at ATP/arrhythmia cycle length (CL) = 0.81 vs 8% at ATP/arrhythmia CL = 0.88, P = 0.02) but not with longer ATP bursts (P = NS). Of the 115 arrhythmias that persisted after A+V ATP, the algorithm correctly classified 24 of 24 VT (GEE‐adjusted sensitivity = 100%) and 85 of 91 SVT (GEE‐adjusted specificity = 93%). Proarrhythmia was noted after two A+V ATP, in the form of atrial fibrillation induction and VT acceleration. Conclusions: We describe a new algorithm that can discriminate between SVT and VT with a high sensitivity and specificity. This form of ATP can terminate 55% of SVT sequences. The performance of this new algorithm merits further testing in a large population of dual‐chamber ICD patients.
Regulation of α7‐nicotinic receptor subunit and α7‐like gene expression in the prefrontal cortex of patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
Authors: De Luca V. , Likhodi O. , Van Tol H. H. M. , Kennedy J. L. , Wong A. H. C. 
Published: March 2006

Objective:  The α7‐nicotinic receptor subunit gene (CHRNA7) is located at chromosome 15q13–14, a region previously linked with schizophrenia. Genetic association and mRNA expression studies also implicate CHRNA7 in schizophrenia. The CHRNA7 gene has a partial duplication that constitutes the α7‐like nicotinic receptor gene (CHRFAM7A). We hypothesized that major psychoses could affect the expression of both CHRNA7 and CHRFAM7A.Method:  CHRNA7 and CHRFAM7A mRNA levels were measured in postmortem prefrontal cortex (donated by the Stanley Foundation) from subjects with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and unaffected controls (n = 35 each).Results:  The mRNA levels of alpha7 and α7‐like genes have a positive correlation overall (r = 0.25; P = 0.009), however, there is no significant difference in the expression of CHRNA7 among the three diagnostic groups.Conclusion:  This correlation is driven by the bipolar group (r = 0.43; P = 0.009), and is absent in schizophrenia and unaffected controls, suggesting an alteration in the CHRNA7:CHRFAM7A ratio in bipolar disorder.
How we do it: A new ‘one stop’ ear wick
Authors: Badran K. , Jani P. 
Published: March 2006

Keypoints• In some practices, otitis externa is treated with ear wick and patient is asked to remove it independently without re‐attending clinic.• Although this method reduces workload on aural care services, it can be unhygienic and difficult to perform.• We propose a new design whereby the wick is tied to a string to facilitate its later removal.• Out of 18 patients treated with this method, only 4 opted to re‐attend for further aural care.
How we do it: Surgery should be considered equally with I131 and thionamide treatment as first‐line therapy for thyrotoxicosis
Authors: England R.J.A. , Kamath M.B. , Jabreel A. , Dunne G. , Atkin S.L. 
Published: March 2006

Keypoints• Radioiodine and thionamide treatment are the most frequently used treatment modalities for thyrotoxicosis in Europe and North America with surgery being reserved for selected cases.• In our clinic patients were offered all three modalities via simultaneous interview with an endocrinologist and a surgeon, with international risk benefit data for radioiodine and thionamide therapy, and local risk benefit data for total thyroidectomy provided.• When given the choice, at least 15% of patients opted for total thyroidectomy over the other modalities.• In our series of 100 consecutive surgical patients there was a 4% malignancy rate.• Total thyroidectomy should be offered equally, with radioiodine and thionamide treatment, as a first line treatment modality in the management of thyrotoxicosis.
Cochlear implant outcomes and quality of life in the elderly: Manchester experience over 13 years1
Authors: Orabi A.A. , Mawman D. , Al‐Zoubi F. , Saeed S.R. , Ramsden R.T. 
Published: March 2006

Objectives:  To objectively evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of cochlear implantation in an elderly population.Design:  Retrospective comparative study.Setting:  Neurotology unit at Manchester Royal Infirmary, a supraregional tertiary referral centre in collaboration with Adult Cochlear Implant Programme at The University of Manchester.Participants:  All cochlear implant procedures (38) undertaken on post‐lingually deafened elderly patients (age range at the time of implantation 65–80 years, n = 34) in the period from 1989 to 2002.Main outcome measures:  Medical and surgical outcomes. Audiological performance outcomes for isolated words, words in sentences in quiet and noise. Functional outcome measures used are self‐reported measures of the social, psychological and emotional aspects of quality of life, and the differences between expectations for functional outcomes and the realization of functional outcomes. They included expectation profiles, Glasgow Benefit inventory (GBI) and Glasgow Health Status Inventory Questionnaire (GHSI).Results:  There was statistically significant improvement post‐implantation of both open and closed set test scores (P < 0.01). Eighty‐two percentage of patients were completely satisfied with their cochlear implants. Patients judged that implantation restored half the loss of quality of life that they had experienced as a result of severe‐profound deafness with a highly significant (P < 0.001) improvement in overall quality of life after implantation. The commonest post‐operative observation was transient mild pyrexia.Conclusions:  The age of a cochlear implant candidate should not be a factor in the candidacy decision‐making process. The quality of life of our elderly recipients was significantly improved after cochlear implant.
Reproducibility of volume measurements of vestibular schwannomas – a preliminary study
Authors: Cross J.J. , Baguley D.M. , Antoun N.M. , Moffat D.A. , Prevost A.T. 
Published: March 2006

Objective:  A preliminary study to investigate the intra‐observer and inter‐observer variability of measurements of vestibular schwannoma volume using an area‐tracing and linear dimension measurement method.Design:  Prospective blinded measurements by two observers (one a consultant and one a sub‐specialty trainee in neuroradiology).Setting:  Ambulatory patients with known vestibular schwannoma attending a tertiary referral centre.Participants:  Twenty‐three patients with 26 vestibular schwannomas aged 29–80 years old.Main outcome measure:  Quantification of the variability in measured volume due to intra‐ and inter‐observer measurement differences, expressed as reliability coefficients within which 95% of repeated measurements are calculated to lie from each other in relative percentage terms.Results:  For the linear measurement method, intraobserver variability was calculated to have a reliability coefficient of 65% and for interobserver variability this was 155%. For the area tracing method, the corresponding coefficients were 26% for intraobserver variability and 44% for interobserver variability.Conclusions:  Volume measurements in vestibular schwannoma are variable even when the measurements are made by the same observer on identical images. The area tracing method, commonly regarded as the gold standard, is less variable than a linear method but still introduces more variability than commonly realized (for 95% of patients, repeated measurements by the same observer lie within around 25% of each other). Manual area tracing is not widely used in practice because it is time consuming and reliable automated methods are eagerly awaited.
Systematic review of the safety of electrosurgery for tonsillectomy
Authors: Mowatt G. , Cook J.A. , Fraser C. , McKerrow W.S. , Burr J.M. 
Published: March 2006

Keypoints• In the meta‐analysis models, compared with cold steel dissection with ties/packs haemostasis (reference technique):• Bipolar diathermy dissection and haemostasis was associated with statistically significant lower odds of primary haemorrhage (OR 0.13, 95% CrI 0.03 to 0.51), including primary haemorrhage requiring return to theatre (OR 0.002, 95% CrI <0.001 to 0.26).• Coblation was associated with statistically significant higher odds of secondary haemorrhage requiring return to theatre (OR 33.82, 95% CrI 1.25 to 5676.00).• Monopolar and bipolar diathermy dissection and haemostasis (OR 4.12, 95% CrI 1.12 to 14.67; OR 2.86, 95% CrI 1.12 to 8.02, respectively), coblation (OR 3.75, 95% CrI 1.29 to 12.12), and cold steel dissection with monopolar or bipolar diathermy haemostasis (OR 4.83, 95% CrI 1.56 to 15.95; OR 9.18, 95% CrI 3.09 to 30.53, respectively) were all associated with statistically significant higher odds of secondary haemorrhage.• In deciding which technique to employ, factors to consider include patient characteristics, the underlying risk of primary or secondary haemorrhage, which is regarded as likely to be more serious, and the clinical significance of the observed differences in haemorrhage rates across techniques.
Prognostic value of electroneurography in Bell's palsy and Ramsay–Hunt's syndrome
Authors: Lee D.‐H. , Chae S.‐Y. , Park Y.‐S. , Yeo S.‐W. 
Published: March 2006

Objectives:  This study evaluated the accuracy of electroneurography to predict the prognosis of Bell's palsy and Ramsay–Hunt's syndrome.Design:  A retrospective, institutional review board‐approved study.Setting:  A secondary referral and a university‐based centre.Participants:  The patients had been treated for a sudden onset unilateral facial paralysis over the past 10 years (1994–2004). This retrospective study included only those patients who had been followed up for at least 3 months or if they had reached a complete recovery before then.Main outcomes measures:  House–Backmann grade versus electroneurography value.Results:  The recovery rates to House–Brackmann grade II or better were 95% in those with Bell's palsy and 84% in those with herpes zoster oticus. The electroneurography value of the recovery and non‐recovery groups from those with either Bell's palsy or herpes zoster oticus was similar. The logistic regression model between the electroneurography values and the probability of recovery showed no correlation in those with Bell's palsy or with herpes zoster oticus. This study did not identify the proper electroneurography value that had enough appropriate sensitivity and specificity to predict the prognosis of paralysis accurately in Bell's palsy or in herpes zoster oticus patients.Conclusion:  Electroneurography performed between day 7 and 10 for Bell's palsy or day 10 and 14 for herpes zoster oticus does not provide accurate information on the prognosis or recovery rate of the facial paralysis.
How we do it: Coblation tonsillectomy complication rates from a single ENT department compared with the National Prospective Tonsillectomy Audit
Authors: Clark M.P.A. , Smithard A. , Jervis P. 
Published: March 2006

Keypoints• Coblation tonsillectomy is a relatively new technique, the results of which need auditing within practising units, to justify its continued usage.• The National Prospective Tonsillectomy Audit provides an excellent source of data for individual units to compare their results to.• This retrospective audit of 391 coblation tonsillectomies shows that our units haemorrhage and return to theatre rates are similar to the National rates for cold steel & ties data.• Resolution of training issues and patient selection may lead to increased use of this technique.
Diphosphinoazine Rhodium(I) and Iridium(I) Complexes
Authors: Pošta Martin , Čermák Jan , Vojtíšek Pavel , Císařová Ivana 
Published: March 2006

The first rhodium complexes of diphosphinoazines [{RhCl(1,2-η:5,6-η-CH=CHCH2CH2CH=CHCH2CH2)}2 {μ-R2PCH2C(But)=NN=C(But)CH2PR2] (R = Ph, Cy, Pri) were prepared by cleavage of the bridge in chloro(cycloocta-1,5-diene)rhodium(I) dimer, the analogous iridium(I) complexes were also prepared for the first time. The X-ray structures of isostructural rhodium and iridium complexes with bis(dicyclohexylphosphino)pinacoloneazine were determined. Diphosphinoazine ligands in the complexes remained in (Z,Z) configuration bridging two RhCl(C8H12) units.
Relation between preferred and optimal cadences during two hours of cycling in triathletes
Authors: Argentin S , Hausswirth C , Bernard T , Bieuzen F , Leveque J-M , Couturier A , Lepers R 
Published: March 2006

Objectives:To determine whether the integrated electromyographic signal of two lower limb muscles indicates preferred cadence during a two hour cycling task.Methods:Eight male triathletes performed right isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) knee extension and plantar flexion before (P1) and after (P2) a two hour laboratory cycle at 65% of maximal aerobic power. Freely chosen cadence (FCC) was also determined, also at 65% of maximal aerobic power, from five randomised three minute sessions at 50, 65, 80, 95, and 110 rpm. The integrated electromyographic signal of the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius lateralis muscles was recorded during MVC and the cycle task.Results:The FCC decreased significantly (p<0.01) from P1 (87.4 rpm) to P2 (68.6 rpm), towards the energetically optimal cadence. The latter did not vary significantly during the cycle task. MVC of the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius lateralis decreased significantly (p<0.01) between P1 and P2 (by 13.5% and 9.6% respectively). The results indicate that muscle activation at constant power was not minimised at specific cadences. Only the gastrocnemius lateralis muscle was affected by a two hour cycling task (especially at 95 and 110 rpm), whereas vastus lateralis remained stable.Conclusion:The decrease in FCC observed at the end of the cycle task may be due to changes in the muscle fibre recruitment pattern with increasing exercise duration and cadence.