bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Controls on Holocene deep‐water sedimentation in the northern Gioia Basin, Tyrrhenian Sea
Authors: GAMBERI FABIANO , MARANI MICHAEL 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe northern Gioia Basin of the south‐east Tyrrhenian Sea is a slope basin, ∼ 20 km wide and ∼ 50 km long, with a bathymetry of ≤ 1300 m, bounded by the Calabro‐Sicilian landmass and the Aeolian Island Arc. Coarse sediment is supplied from the Calabrian margin, where the shelf is very narrow to non‐existent, whereas the wider shelf on the Sicilian margin prevents supply by storing river‐fed sediments. The basin is dominated by the Gioia–Mesima canyon/channel system paralleled by a tongue‐shaped depositional lobe. Multibeam bathymetric surveys, sea floor reflectivity data and airgun seismic profiles reveal the recent evolution of the submarine system. Slope canyons and basin‐floor levéed channels formed where major rivers built deltas at the shelfless Calabrian margin and strong hyperpycnal flows predominated. The channels are a few hundred metres wide and a few tens of metres deep, with a downslope change from a straight to meandering pattern where the slope gradient decreases from 3·2% to 1·7%. The Mesima Channel has its lower segment abandoned because of avulsion and crevasse‐splay formation at an upslope bend. The adjacent Gioia Channel has had its upper segment straightened and lower segment entrenched because of erosional deepening of the Stromboli Valley into which it debouches and which acts as the local base level. Overbank features include levées, coalescent splays and ‘yazoo’ channels; their nature and surface characteristics depend upon the magnitude and sediment grain‐size of spill‐over flows. On an adjoining narrow shelf sliver of the Calabrian margin, in contrast, the coalescing plumes of sediment suspension supplied by an array of smaller coastal streams were apparently spilling over the shelf edge, scouring a funnel‐shaped bypass depression with chutes and forming an elongate, non‐channellized depositional lobe at the slope base. The study demonstrates the impact of sediment source type, shelf width, basin‐floor gradient and base‐level change on the style of deep‐water sedimentation.
Influence of cancer‐related gene polymorphisms on clinicopathological features in colorectal cancer
Authors: Yoshiya Gen , Takahata Takenori , Hanada Naoyuki , Suzuki Kazuhiro , Ishiguro Atsushi , Saito Masato , Sasaki Mutsuo , Fukuda Shinsaku 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are shown to be related with cancer incidence. It has been reported that CCND1, p21cip1DCC, MTHFR, and EXO1 are related with the risk of malignant neoplasm, but few studies have mentioned the prognosis of the patients. We investigated the SNP of patients and related this to clinicopathological features, including survival rate.Method:  DNA from the tissues of primary colorectal cancer was obtained from surgical resections of 114 patients (68 males and 46 females, 29–83 years). The CCND1 polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) and those of other genes were investigated by the TaqMan method. The polymorphisms obtained were statistically analyzed for the relationship with clinicopathological features.Results:  The CG + GG allele was more invasive than the CC allele in histological tumor depth in the DCC codon 201 (P = 0.0086). The 677TT allele in MTHFR had a larger tumor size than the 677CC allele (P = 0.028). In EXO1 P757L polymorphism, patients with the TT allele had a statistically reduced survival rate compared with the other alleles. In CCND1 polymorphisms, we found no statistical significance in clinicopathological features.Conclusions:  From these preliminary data, these polymorphisms would be candidates predicting the clinicopathological features of colorectal cancer, but further more systematic gene analyses are warranted.
Ribavirin in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Martin Paul , Jensen Donald M 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Current practice guidelines recommend that individuals chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) be treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. Ribavirin, however, is associated with serious adverse events (AE), especially anemia. We review its mechanism of action, its importance in treating chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, the AE associated with its use, and techniques used to lessen these AE.Methods:  Medline searches were performed using the keywords ribavirin and hepatitis, together with the keywords mechanism, anemia, liver transplant, renal function, pharmacokinetics, and dose reduction. Searches of abstracts of recent Digestive Diseases Week, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and European Association for the Study of Liver Diseases meetings were also performed.Results:  Ribavirin may be effective in treating CHC by affecting the virus or the host; for example by inducing viral mutations, blocking cellular enzymes, or affecting the host immune response. Although the pegylated interferons are the primary drugs used to treat CHC, a combination with ribavirin is more effective than pegylated interferon alone. Ribavirin‐associated AE may be lessened by ribavirin dose reductions and by maintenance of the hematocrit.Conclusions:  Treatments of ribavirin toxicities, especially anemia, can allow patients to continue full‐dose combination therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin, enhancing their probability of attaining a sustained virologic response (SVR). Treatment of CHC should be tailored to individual patients, especially those with renal dysfunction, and should include agents that treat the side‐effects of CHC treatment. Monitoring of plasma ribavirin concentrations during treatment may help in the future.
Second‐generation argon plasma coagulation: Two‐center experience with 600 patients
Authors: Manner Hendrik , Enderle Markus D , Pech Oliver , May Andrea , Plum Nicola , Riemann Jürgen F , Ell Christian , Eickhoff Axel 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Second‐generation argon plasma coagulation (APC; APC 2/VIO APC) with its modes ‘forced’, ‘pulsed’, and ‘precise’ is a further development of the ICC/APC 300 system (first‐generation APC). Until now, only limited data has existed on the use of APC 2.Methods:  Fundamental data on the characteristics of the various APC 2 modes and clinical data from more than 600 patients treated in two high‐volume endoscopy centers were analyzed. On the basis of these data, recommendations for the use of APC in daily gastroenterological practice were made.Results:  In comparison to the ICC system, second‐generation APC offers a broadened bandwidth of settings including different APC modes and a range of power settings from 1 to 120 W. Using the various modes of APC 2 in a variety of gastrointestinal diseases, minor complications were observed in 9–21% of patients. Major complications occurred in 1–7% of patients.Conclusions:  In a two‐center experience treating a large group of patients with a wide variety of gastrointestinal conditions, the different APC 2 modes appeared to be safe and effective. Certain preventive measures before and during clinical application are recommended in order to avoid complications.
The NCAM‐derived P2 peptide facilitates recovery of cognitive and motor function and ameliorates neuropathology following traumatic brain injury
Authors: Klementiev B. , Novikova T. , Korshunova I. , Berezin V. , Bock E. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) plays a crucial role during development and regeneration of the nervous system, mediating neuronal differentiation, survival and plasticity. Moreover, NCAM regulates learning and memory. A peptide termed P2, corresponding to a 12‐amino‐acid sequence in the second immunoglobulin (Ig)‐like module of NCAM, represents the natural cis‐binding site for the first NCAM Ig module. The P2 peptide targets NCAM, thereby inducing a number of intracellular signaling events leading to the stimulation of neurite outgrowth and promotion of neuronal survival in vitro. The present study evaluated the effect of the P2 peptide on functional and histological outcomes following traumatic brain injury inflicted by a cortical cryogenic lesion. Lesioned rats were injected subcutaneously with P2 peptide, 5 mg/kg daily for 15 days beginning 2 h after injury. This treatment significantly improved postlesion recovery of motor and cognitive function, reduced neuronal degeneration, protected cells against oxidative stress, and increased reactive astrogliosis and neuronal plasticity in the sublesional area. P2 appeared rapidly in blood and cerebrospinal fluid after subcutaneous administration and remained detectable in blood for up to 5 h. The results suggest that P2 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of traumatic brain injury.
COX‐2, but not COX‐1, activity is necessary for the induction of perforant path long‐term potentiation and spatial learningin vivo
Authors: Cowley T. R. , Fahey B. , O’Mara S. M. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe objectives of this research were to investigate the role played by the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) in learning and memory, synaptic plasticity and synaptic transmission in the rat brainin vivo. Male Wistar rats were treated with isoform‐selective inhibitors for COX‐1 and COX‐2, either chronically and tested in the watermaze or acutely before electrophysiological recordings were made. We found a significant impairment in acquisition of the watermaze with inhibition of COX‐2. Furthermore, we found COX‐2 but not COX‐1 inhibition significantly blocked long‐term potentiation (LTP) induction but had no effect on already established LTP. Moreover, exogenous replacement of the main metabolite of COX‐2 activity, PGE2, was sufficient to restore LTP induction and for normal downstream signalling to ensue, namely extracellular signalling‐regulated kinase (ERK)‐phosphorylation and c‐FOS expression. We conclude that endogenous basal levels of PGE2resulting from COX‐2 but not COX‐1 activity are necessary for synaptic plasticity and memory acquisition.
Stimulus‐driven and strategic neural responses to fearful and happy facial expressions in humans
Authors: Williams Mark A. , McGlone Francis , Abbott David F. , Mattingley Jason B. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe human amygdala responds selectively to consciously and unconsciously perceived facial expressions, particularly those that convey potential threat such as fear and anger. In many social situations, multiple faces with varying expressions confront observers yet little is known about the neural mechanisms involved in encoding several faces simultaneously. Here we used event‐related fMRI to measure neural activity in pre‐defined regions of interest as participants searched multi‐face arrays for a designated target expression (fearful or happy). We conducted separate analyses to examine activations associated with each of the four multi‐face arrays independent of target expression (stimulus‐driven effects), and activations arising from the search for each of the target expressions, independent of the display type (strategic effects). Comparisons across display types, reflecting stimulus‐driven influences on visual search, revealed activity in the amygdala and superior temporal sulcus (STS). By contrast, strategic demands of the task did not modulate activity in either the amygdala or STS. These results imply an interactive threat‐detection system involving several neural regions. Crucially, activity in the amygdala increased significantly when participants correctly detected the target expression, compared with trials in which the identical target was missed, suggesting that the amygdala has a limited capacity for extracting affective facial expressions.
Specific role of the posterior dorsal hippocampus–prefrontal cortex in short‐term working memory
Authors: Izaki Yoshinori , Takita Masatoshi , Akema Tatsuo 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWorking memory in rats involves neural projections from the hippocampus (HP) to the prefrontal cortex (PFC), based on delayed task experiments in a radial‐arm maze, in which the time span of working memory is longer than seconds. To determine whether the HP–PFC pathway is involved in short‐term (on the order of seconds) working memory function, we lesioned the PFC and/or HP, and measured performance in an operant delayed alternation task. The posterior dorsal (pdHP) and ventral HP (vHP) were assessed separately. The bilateral PFC and bilateral pdHP ibotenate lesions produced significant working memory deficits, but the vHP lesion did not. Unilateral pdHP lesions combined with a PFC lesion in the opposite hemisphere reproduced the effects of bilaterally symmetrical lesions. By contrast, unilateral lesions of the pdHP combined with a PFC lesion in the same hemisphere had no effect on delayed alternation. These results indicate that the pdHP–PFC pathway is essential for working memory on the order of seconds in rats, and suggest that the pdHP and vHP pathways to the PFC play different behavioral roles.
The effect on pain experienced by male patients of watching their office‐based flexible cystoscopy
Authors: Cornel Erik B. , Oosterwijk Egbert , Kiemeney Lambertus A. 
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVETo confirm the recently published positive effect on visual analogue pain (VAS) scale levels for men watching their flexible cystoscopy.PATIENTS AND METHODSFrom June 2007 to September 2007, 154 men had a flexible cystoscopy for various indications, all carried out by one urologist. Patients were randomized into two groups; those in group 1 were allowed to watch the video screen together with the urologist during the procedure; those in group 2 were not allowed to watch the procedure on the video screen. All patients received the same real‐time explanation during the cystoscopy. After the cystoscopy procedure the patients were asked to record their experience of pain on the 100 mm VAS as soon as they left the room. The two groups were further stratified by the number of previous cystoscopies experienced to evaluate the possible modifying effect of their previous experience.RESULTSAlthough the results suggested a small decrease in perceived pain there were no statistically significant differences between the groups, regardless of cystoscopy experience.CONCLUSIONSOur results show that, in contrast to an earlier report, the pain experienced by men undergoing a first or repeated flexible cystoscopy is not strongly influenced by watching the procedure.
Associations of lower urinary tract symptoms with prostate‐specific antigen levels, and screen‐detected localized and advanced prostate cancer: a case‐control study nested within the UK population‐based ProtecT (Prostate testing for cancer and Treatment) study
Authors: Collin Simon M. , Metcalfe Chris , Donovan Jenny , Lane J. Athene , Davis Michael , Neal David , Hamdy Freddie , Martin Richard M. 
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVETo determine associations of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels and screen‐detected localized and advanced prostate cancer.SUBJECTS AND METHODSA case‐control study nested within the UK population‐based ProtecT (Prostate testing for cancer and Treatment) study. Men aged 50–69 years were invited for PSA testing and those with a PSA level of ≥3.0 ng/mL were invited for biopsy. We determined whether LUTS were associated with a PSA level of ≥3.0 ng/mL and prostate cancer using logistic regression models adjusted for age, family history of prostate cancer and PSA level as appropriate. Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) were compared between models with and without symptoms.RESULTSIn all, 65 871 men had a PSA test: 7251 had a PSA level of ≥3.0 ng/mL including 2467 subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer (2119 localized, 348 advanced). LUTS were positively associated with a PSA level of ≥3.0 ng/mL: odds ratios (ORs) were 1.18 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.01–1.38), 1.69 (95% CI 1.32–2.16), and 1.60 (95% CI 1.33–1.93) for daytime urination frequency (hourly vs less frequent), urgency and hesitancy (most/all the time vs never), respectively. LUTS among men with a PSA level of ≥3 ng/mL were negatively associated with prostate cancer: ORs were 0.44 (95% CI 0.22–0.83), 0.74 (95% CI 0.63–0.87), and 0.83 (95% CI 0.73–0.94) for nocturia (4+ vs 0), leakage and hesitancy (occasionally/sometimes vs never), respectively. LUTS improved the prediction of a PSA level of ≥3.0 ng/mL (AUC 0.635 vs 0.606, P < 0.001) and prostate cancer (AUC 0.661 vs 0.638; P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSA history of LUTS before PSA testing marginally improves the prediction of an individual’s risk for prostate cancer; men with a PSA level of ≥3 ng/mL and LUTS were more likely to be diagnosed with benign disease than prostate cancer.
Maximum Effect of Triptans in Migraine? A Comment
Authors: Tfelt-Hansen P 
Published: June 2008

The efficacy of triptans in the treatment of migraine was recently contested. How high is then the maximum effect of a triptan? After subcutaneous naratriptan 10 mg a 88% pain-free response was observed. This result was obtained despite the fact that more half of the patients had a migraine duration of > 4 h. These results indicate that subcutaneous naratriptan in a high dose can overcome central sensitization that occurs in migraine attacks.
Influence of facial skin attributes on the perceived age of Caucasian women
Authors: Nkengne A , Bertin C , Stamatas GN , Giron A , Rossi A , Issachar N , Fertil B 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackground and objective The facial appearance of a person does not always reflect the chronological age; some people look younger or older than they really are. Many studies have described the changes in skin properties (colour, wrinkles, sagging, micro relief, etc.) with age, but few of them have analysed their influence on the perceived age. The primary objective of this study was to assess the contribution of individual skin attributes of the face on the perceived age of Caucasian women. Secondary objectives were to assess the influence of age and gender of graders with regard to the age perception.Subjects and method A random sample of 173 subjects of 20 to 74 years of age was taken from a database of more than 5000 healthy Caucasian women. A trained grader performed visual assessment of facial skin attributes (using a visual analogue scale), and a front face photograph was taken from each subject. Photographs were shown to 48 graders (20 men and 28 women, aged 22–64 years) who were asked to estimate the age of the subjects. Graders were classified as young (less than 35 years), middle age (35–50 years) and seniors (older than 50 years).Partial Least Square regression models were built to predict the chronological and the perceived age from the measured facial individual attributes. The contribution of each attribute within the regression model enabled to measure the relevance of this attribute with regards to age prediction.Results The eye area and the skin colour uniformity were the main attributes related to perceived age. For age prediction, older graders’ estimations were more driven by lips border definition shape and eyes opening, whereas younger graders’ (older than 50 years) estimations were more driven by dark circles, nasolabial fold and brown spots.There were statistically significant differences in graders’ age perception between gender and among age ranges. Our findings suggest that female graders are more accurate than male, and younger graders (under 35 years) are more accurate than older (over 50 years) to predict Caucasian women age from facial photographs.Conclusions Different skin attributes influence the estimation of age. These attributes have a different weight in the evaluation of the perceived age, depending on the age and of the observer. The most important attributes to estimate age are eyes, lips and skin colour uniformity.
Nail changes in chronic renal failure patients under haemodialysis
Authors: Salem A , Al Mokadem S , Attwa E , Abd El Raoof S , Ebrahim HM , Faheem KT 
Published: June 2008

AbstractBackground  Chronic renal failure is known to cause various nail pathologies. They may be directly related to the renal condition itself or its complications or to the therapy.Objective  To compare nail changes in end‐stage renal failure patients under haemodialysis with healthy persons and to study the potential relationship with various parameters in the patients.Patients and Methods  The study comprised 100 patients with chronic renal failure under regular haemodialysis as well as 100 healthy control subjects of matched age and sex. Both groups were subjected to full history taking and thorough general and nail examination. Complete blood picture, liver and kidney function tests and fasting blood glucose level were investigated.Results  Nail disorders were more prevalent in patients (76%) than in control group (30%). The half and half nail was the most common finding (20%) followed by – in descending manner – absent lunula, onycholysis, brittle nail, Beau's lines, clubbing, longitudinal ridging, onychomycosis, subungual hyperkeratosis, koilonychias, total leukonychia, splinter hemorrhage, pitting and pincer nail deformity. There was non‐significant correlation between nail changes and age of the patients or duration of haemodialysis. In addition, no evidence of significant relation was found between nail changes and both haemoglobin and albumin levels.Conclusion  Frequent nail changes are observed on systematic nail examination of uraemic patients undergoing haemodialysis; however, the cause of them remains obscure and could not be traced to a particular abnormality in the renal condition, medication or the procedure itself and it needs further investigations.
Extra cardiac activity detected on myocardial perfusion scintigraphy after intra‐arterial injection of 99mTc‐MIBI
Authors: Afzelius Pia , Henriksen Jens H. 
Published: June 2008

SummaryPurpose:  We present an unusual case of extra cardiac activity of 99mTc‐MIBI in the left part of thorax and left upper extremity in a patient admitted for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy.Methods:  A standard 2‐day protocol of 99mTc‐MIBI perfusion scintigraphies starting day 1 with stress (dipyridamol) imaging and followed by rest imaging day 2 was performed.Results:  On day 2, when rest perfusion scintigraphy was carried out, extra cardiac activity was present in the left part of thorax and in the left upper extremity resulting in reduced accumulation of 99mTc‐MIBI in cardiac tissue, prolongation of the study and interference of the extra cardiac activity with the cardiac image reconstructions. Whole‐body scintigraphy disclosed an arterial flow distribution of activity to skeletal muscles in left shoulder and upper limb.Conclusion:  Accidentally injected radiotracer retrogradely into the arterial system resulted in an unusual extra cardiac activity interfering with later image processing.