bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Groin pain after a tension‐free vaginal tape or similar suburethral sling: management strategies
Authors: Duckett Jonathan R.A. , Jain Smita 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVETo review different treatment strategies for women with groin pain after tension‐free vaginal tape (TVT) or similar suburethral sling procedures.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe series comprised 450 women who had a TVT procedure, with a follow‐up of 3–50 months. Five women (1%) reported significant groin pain and were offered further treatment. In addition, one woman was referred from another centre and received treatment.RESULTSWomen with pain were initially treated conservatively, and in most the pain resolved and required no further treatment. Persistent or severe discomfort was treated with a combined steroid (methyl prednisolone, 2 mL, 80 mg) and local anaesthetic (bupivacaine, 10 mL, 0.5%) injection in four women. There were no side‐effects from the treatment. One woman was relieved of her pain and required no further treatment. In one woman the local injections failed to improve her symptoms but the pain was not severe enough to warrant further treatment. Two women developed recurrent pain after an initially successful injection, and in these women the TVT was excised. One woman referred from another centre was primarily treated with TVT excision. In the three women treated with distal tape excision, the mean pain scores decreased from 8.7 before excision to 0.7 afterward. One woman is awaiting tape excision.CONCLUSIONIf conservative management fails to relieve the symptoms of groin pain it can be treated by injecting a mixture of steroid and local anaesthetic. However, local injection failed to provide long‐term relief in three of four women. More severe symptoms might require TVT mesh dissection and excision, which provided significant pain relief.
Vardenafil is effective and well‐tolerated for treating erectile dysfunction in a broad population of men, irrespective of age
Authors: Giuliano François , Donatucci Craig , Montorsi Francesco , Auerbach Stephen , Karlin Gary , Norenberg Christiane , Homering Martin , Segerson Thomas , Eardley Ian ,   Vardenafil Study Group
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVESTo assess the efficacy and safety of vardenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men of different age groups.PATIENTS AND METHODSIn a retrospective pooled subgroup analysis of randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies, men from the general population with ED received either placebo or vardenafil 5, 10 or 20 mg over 12 weeks. Efficacy variables included the erectile function (EF) domain score from The International Index of Erectile Function, diary response rates to questions on vaginal penetration and maintenance of erection, and positive responses to the Global Assessment Question (GAQ) ‘Has the treatment you have been taking over the past 4 weeks improved your erections?’. The 1385 men were grouped by age (<45, 45–64 and ≥65 years).RESULTSAt 12 weeks the EF domain scores approached 20 with vardenafil and 14 with placebo in men aged ≥ 65 years (P < 0.03 vardenafil 5 mg vs placebo, P < 0.001 vardenafil 10 and 20 mg vs placebo). The corresponding scores were 22 and 14 in men aged 45–64 years and up to 24 and 16 in those aged <45 years (P < 0.03 vardenafil 5 mg vs placebo, P < 0.001 vardenafil 10 and 20 mg vs placebo). Vardenafil generated positive GAQ responses in ≈ 71%, 76% and 85% of men aged <45, 45–64 and ≥ 65 years (P ≤ 0.001 vardenafil vs placebo). The corresponding placebo rates were 23%, 25% and 34%. The most common treatment‐emergent adverse events were headache, rhinitis, flushing and dyspepsia, which were mild to moderate, transient and unrelated to age.CONCLUSIONVardenafil is an effective and generally well‐tolerated treatment for ED, irrespective of age.
Comparison of laparoscopic and open donor nephrectomy: UK experience
Authors: Wilson Colin H. , Bhatti Aftab A. , Rix David A. , Soomro Naeem A. 
Published: December 2004

A comparison of laparoscopic and open donor nephrectomy is presented by authors from the UK. They found that the laparoscopic approach could safely be offered to patients treated in experienced units and after adequate training fo the surgeon, with no increase in complications or decrease in efficacy.OBJECTIVETo compare our early experience of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) with a contemporary cohort of conventional open donor nephrectomy (ODN).PATIENTS AND METHODSTransperitoneal left‐sided LDN was offered to carefully selected potential live kidney donors on the basis of vascular anatomy. The first 20 donors who underwent LDN were compared with a control group of 20 patients who had ODN. Donors and recipients were compared for demographics, intraoperative variables, postoperative complications and allograft function.RESULTSThere was no peri‐operative mortality in either group. No laparoscopic procedure required open conversion. The operating time was comparable (165 vs 153 min); LDN was associated with significantly less intraoperative blood loss (200 vs 350 mL; Mann‐Whitney U, P = 0.01) and hospital stay (3 vs 5 days; P < 0.001). The graft warm ischaemic time was significantly longer for LDN (5 vs 2 min; P < 0.001) but this did not appear to affect either the delayed graft function rate (5% vs 10%, not significant) or serum creatinine level at discharge (125 vs 126 µmol/L).CONCLUSIONSUK centres with experience of advanced laparoscopy and ODN can safely offer LDN to potential live donors.
Systemic stress responses in patients undergoing surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Ruzic Boris , Tomaskovic Igor , Trnski Davor , Kraus Ognjen , Bekavac‐Beslin Miroslav , Vrkic Nada 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVETo determine differences in systemic stress responses in patients undergoing three different types of surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), evaluated by measuring levels of stress variables, i.e. cortisol; acute‐phase reactants, i.e. C‐reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen; and antioxidants, i.e. total antioxidant status (TAS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD).PATIENTS AND METHODSThe study included 80 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria for surgery for BPH. Based on an ultrasonographic estimate of the prostate volume before surgery, all patients were allocated to one of three groups; group 1, prostate ≤ 30 g and treated with transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP); group 2, prostate 30–80 g, treated with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP); and group 3, prostate >80 g, treated with a suprapubic transvesical prostatectomy (TP). Blood samples were taken from each patient on the day before and the day after surgery, and the acute‐phase reactants and antioxidants measured; cortisol concentrations were also measured in 24‐h urine samples the day before and 3 days after surgery.RESULTSThere were significantly higher levels of cortisol, CRP and TAS, and significantly lower levels of fibrinogen and SOD in all study groups after surgery than before. Surgery and associated conditions, e.g. excitement, fear, blood loss, etc., lead to traumatic and oxidative stress, followed by a strong systemic stress response during and after surgery. Low fibrinogen levels after surgery had a different pattern from the other acute‐phase reactants, as a result of increased fibrinolytic activity after TURP and TP.CONCLUSIONThe extent of the systemic stress response correlated fairly well with the degree of tissue damage, which differed in the three groups. Suprapubic TP caused the most tissue trauma and triggered the strongest systemic stress response. This response was moderate after TURP, while TUIP (a minor intervention) caused the least stress. Specific changes in stress markers could be used to improve surgery for BPH. Whether there is a benefit of antioxidant therapy during surgery for BPH should be evaluated in further studies.
Prostate cancer: socio‐economic, geographical and private‐health insurance effects on care and survival
Authors: Hall Sonĵa E. , Holman C. D’Arcy J. , Wisniewski Z. Stan , Semmens James 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVETo examine the effects of demographic, geographical and socio‐economic factors, and the influence of private health insurance, on patterns of prostate cancer care and 3‐year survival in Western Australia (WA).PATIENTS AND METHODSThe WA Record Linkage Project was used to extract all hospital morbidity, cancer and death records of men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1982 and 2001. The likelihood of having a radical prostatectomy (RP) was estimated using logistic regression, and the likelihood of death 3 years after diagnosis was estimated using Cox regression.RESULTSThe proportion of men undergoing RP increased six‐fold, from 3.1% to 20.1%, over the 20 years, whilst non‐radical surgery (transurethral, open or closed prostatectomy) simultaneously halved to 29%. Men who had RP were typically younger, married and with less comorbidity. Patients with a first admission to a rural hospital were much less likely to have RP (odds ratio 0.15; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.11–0.21), whereas residence alone in a rural area had less effect (0.54, 0.29–1.03). A first admission to a private hospital increased the likelihood of having RP (2.40, 2.11–2.72), as did having private health insurance (1.77, 1.56–2.00); being more socio‐economically disadvantaged reduced RP (0.63, 0.47–0.83). The 3‐year mortality rate was greater with a first admission to a rural hospital (relative risk 1.22; 95% CI 1.09–1.36) and in more socio‐economically disadvantaged groups (1.34, 1.10–1.64), whereas those admitted to a private hospital (0.77, 0.71–0.84) or with private health insurance (0.82, 0.76–0.89) fared better. Men who had RP had better survival than those who had non‐radical surgery (4.85, 3.52–6.68) or no surgery (6.42, 4.65–8.84), although this may be an artefact of a screening effect.CONCLUSIONThe 3‐year survival was poorer and the use of RP less frequent in men from socio‐economically and geographically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those admitted to rural or public hospitals, and those with no private health insurance.
Inhibitory actions of calcitonin gene‐related peptide and capsaicin: evidence for local axonal reflexes in the bladder wall
Authors: Gillespie James I. 
Published: December 2004

OBJECTIVESTo explore the actions of capsaicin and the neurotransmitters released by capsaicin (substance P and calcitonin gene‐related peptide, CGRP) on the phasic contractile activity generated in the whole isolated guinea pig bladder by muscarinic stimulation, and to examine the hypothesis that collateral fibres of sensory axons contribute to a local reflex in the bladder wall.MATERIALS AND METHODSAll experiments used whole isolated bladders from female guinea pigs (270–300 g). Bladders were cannulated via the urethra to measure intravesical pressure and suspended in a heated chamber containing oxygenated Tyrode's solution at 33–35 °C. All drugs were added to the solution bathing the abluminal surface.RESULTSApplication of capsaicin (10 µmol/L) to the whole isolated bladder resulted in complex changes in the frequency and amplitude of phasic activity generated by muscarinic stimulation; an initial burst of activity involving a rise in frequency, a second phase of reduced amplitude and frequency and a third phase where the amplitude of the transients recovered and the frequency increased. Capsaicin had no effect on the phasic activity generated by the nicotinic ligand lobeline (30 µmol/L). As capsaicin releases the neurotransmitter content of the sensory nerves, experiments explored the actions of CGRP and substance P on the muscarinic‐induced activity. CGRP (3–30 nmol/L) reduced the amplitude and slowed the frequency of the phasic activity. On washing off CGRP the amplitude and frequency of the transient activity recovered and there was a transient increase in frequency above the levels before stimulation. There was also evidence of a desensitization to CGRP on repeated application. In contrast, substance P (100–300 nmol/L) increased the frequency of the transients, while on removing it there was an inhibition of both amplitude and frequency.CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that neurotransmitters released from sensory nerve endings in the guinea pig bladder wall affect phasic activity. The direct application of CGRP inhibited phasic activity while substance P was excitatory, indicating the specific contributions of these neurotransmitters. The excitation after stimulation with CGRP and inhibition with substance P may indicate that these neurotransmitters feed back on the sensory nerves to induce transmitter release. Taken together, these observations suggest the presence of a local reflex in the bladder wall, where axon collaterals of afferent sensory fibres innervate the pacemaker mechanism in the bladder wall responsible for generating phasic activity. The possible importance of this reflex in the physiology and pathophysiology of the bladder is discussed.
SIMD Optimization of Linear Expressions for Programmable Graphics Hardware
Authors: Bajaj Chandrajit , Ihm Insung , Min Jungki , Oh Jinsang 
Published: December 2004

Abstract The increased programmability of graphics hardware allows efficient graphical processing unit (GPU) implementations of a wide range of general computations on commodity PCs. An important factor in such implementations is how to fully exploit the SIMD computing capacities offered by modern graphics processors. Linear expressions in the form of
, where A is a matrix, and and are vectors, constitute one of the most basic operations in many scientific computations. In this paper, we propose a SIMD code optimization technique that enables efficient shader codes to be generated for evaluating linear expressions. It is shown that performance can be improved considerably by efficiently packing arithmetic operations into four‐wide SIMD instructions through reordering of the operations in linear expressions. We demonstrate that the presented technique can be used effectively for programming both vertex and pixel shaders for a variety of mathematical applications, including integrating differential equations and solving a sparse linear system of equations using iterative methods.
Placement of Deformable Objects
Authors: Schein S. , Elber G. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractWith the increasing complexity of photorealistic scenes, the question of building and placing objects in three‐dimensional scenes is becoming ever more difficult. While the question of placement of rigid objects has captured the attention of researchers in the past, this work presents an intuitive and interactive scheme to properly place deformable objects with the aid of free‐form deformation tools. The presented scheme can also be used to animate the locomotion of nonrigid objects, most noticeably animals, and adapt the motion to arbitrary terrain. The automatic construction of our free‐form deformation tool is completely hidden from the end user, and hence, circumvents the difficulties typically faced in manipulating these deformation functions. Further, a precise bound on the error that is introduced by applying free‐form deformations to polygonal models is presented, along with an almost‐optimal adaptive refinement algorithm to achieve a certain accuracy in the mapping.
Physical Validation of Global Illumination Methods: Measurement and Error Analysis
Authors: Schregle Roland , Wienold Jan 
Published: December 2004

Abstract In this paper, we present a physical validation of global illumination algorithms based on measurements from a simple experimental setup. The validation methodology emphasizes tractability and error minimization. To this end, we discuss issues such as the acquisition and accurate simulation of material bidirectional reflection distribution functions (BRDFs) and the light source distribution, as well as error analysis. In addition, we present a nearest‐neighbor resampling technique for BRDFs and a simple method for extracting the light source distribution from digitized high dynamic range (HDR) images. Finally, we compare the measurements to a forward and backward raytracing solution (photon map and RADIANCE, respectively) in a set of case studies.
Open‐loop Analysis of Transfer Characteristics from Blood Pressure to Heart Rate Using an Effectively Total Artificial Heart
Authors: Tanaka Akira , Yoshizawa Makoto , Abe Ken‐ichi , Takeda Hiroshi , Yambe Tomoyuki , Nitta Shin‐ichi , Abe Yusuke , Chinzei Tsuneo , Imachi Kou 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:   It is desirable for the dynamic behavior of the drive rate of the artificial heart to be as similar as possible to that of the recipient's heart rate (HR) before implantation. This requires a model which can simulate the behavior of HR on the basis of only the information measured with the limited number of approvable implanted sensors. This article provides a linear time series model for explaining the behavior of HR only with aortic pressure and right atrial pressure. This could be obtained from open‐loop analysis using a total artificial heart, which was introduced for measuring HR in vivo and for eliminating its effect on blood pressure.The model was identified in a goat equipped with a special biventricular assist device called the effectively total artificial heart (ETAH). The ETAH was introduced to make an open loop and awake situation in the animal with almost intact autonomic nerves, which could enhance the accuracy and reliability of the identification of the model. The adequacy of the proposed model was ascertained in several data sets measured in two goats, which were different from the data set used for identification. Most of the mean estimation errors were less than 3 beats/min and auto‐correlation analysis showed approvable statistical appropriateness. However, it was clarified through comparison with the 1/R control method that the proposed model has a few problems still to be solved before its future implementation as an automatic controller of the TAH.
The Action of Low‐intensity Pulsed Ultrasound in Bones of Osteopenic Rats
Authors: Carvalho Daniela C.L. , Cliquet Alberto 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:   In this study, the action of low‐intensity pulsed ultrasound for 20 min/day, during twenty days, was analyzed in an attempt to revert bone loss in the proximal femur of osteopenic rats.Although the quantitative results of bone mineral content (BMC) demonstrated no significant difference among the groups (P > 0.05), the histologic investigations have shown the occurrence of recent bone formation not observed in the nontreated group. Moreover, the treated femur presented less microarchitectural deterioration than the nontreated group. These results suggest that the low‐intensity ultrasound can interfere in a positive way on osteoporosis.
Ocular changes, risk markers for eye disorders and effects of cataract surgery in elderly people: a study of an urban Swedish population followed from 70 to 97 years of age
Authors: Bergman Birgitta , Nilsson‐Ehle Herman , Sjöstrand Johan 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.Aims:  To investigate the prevalence of and potential risk factors for ocular disorders and the effects of timing of cataract surgery from age 70–97 years.Population:  A representative population sample taken from within the Gerontological and Geriatric Population Studies (H 70) in Gothenburg, Sweden (n = 958). All subjects underwent eye examinations at age 70 years in 1971 and subsequently at ages 82, 88, 95 and 97 years. All inhabitants of Gothenburg aged 95 and 97 years were invited to participate in the study.Results:  Decreased vision (visual acuity ≤  0.5) was found in 20% and 80% of subjects at ages 82 and 97 years, respectively. Blood folate and physical activity at age 70 years correlated positively and body mass index (BMI) negatively to visual acuity (VA) ≥  0.8 at ages 82 and 88 years. Smoking at age 70 years correlated to early age‐related maculopathy (ARM). Cataract surgery had been performed in 40% of subjects at age 97 years. Surgery 2 years earlier led to a 15% increase in time spent with improved vision.Conclusions:  The deterioration of vision in elderly people is a major health problem, for which ‘low’ folate status, smoking, ‘high’ BMI and low physical activity are potential risk factors. Early cataract surgery is also beneficial in very old patients.
Evaluation of toxicity due to vital stains in isolated rat retinas
Authors: Tokuda Kazuhiro , Tsukamoto Teruhisa , Fujisawa Shigeki , Matsubara Masao 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.Purpose:  We investigated whether artificial aqueous humours are adequate incubation media compared with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF), and evaluated the retinal toxicity of two vital stains − trypan blue (TB) and indocyanine green (ICG) − and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) using isolated rat retinas incubated in artificial aqueous humours.Methods:  In experiment 1, retinal segments were isolated and incubated in aCSF, BSS plus®, Opeguard® Neo Kit, or phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS). In experiment 2, retinal tissues were exposed to one of the agents and incubated in BSS plus®. Retinal damage was assessed by morphological examination and biochemical assay, which measured lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the medium once every hour.Results:  In experiment 1, BSS plus® was confirmed as a suitable incubation medium. In experiment 2, there were no significant changes in the retinas exposed to TB or TA. Tissues exposed to ICG showed damage in every retinal layer and significantly higher release of LDH.Conclusion:  Exposure to ICG caused retinal damage in isolated rat retina tissue in our experimental model (in vitro).
Activated protein C resistance in anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy
Authors: Nagy Valeria , Facsko Andrea , Takacs Lili , Balazs Erzsebet , Berta Andras , Balogh Istvan , Edes Istvan , Czuriga Istvan , Pfliegler Gyorgy 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.Purpose:  Protein C is a major component of the natural anticoagulant pathway. Resistance of coagulation factor V (FV) to activated protein C (APC), mostly due to FV Leiden mutation, is the most common cause of inherited thrombophilia. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of APC resistance and Leiden mutation in patients with non‐arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).Methods:  A total of 25 patients with NAION were examined between 1997 and 2002. The patients were screened for APC resistance and FV Leiden mutation as well as for acquired risk factors of vascular disease such as diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertonia and ischaemic heart disease. A control group of subjects without ocular vascular disease and with homogenous distribution of the same risk factors was used for comparison.Results:  Six of the 25 patients (24%) with NAION had APC resistance due to the heterozygous Leiden mutation of FV. The frequency of the same genetic mutation in the control group was only 5.9%. Odds ratio calculations showed that patients with the Leiden mutation were at a significantly higher risk of NAION than control patients (p ≤ 0.021).Conclusion:  The high frequency of Leiden mutation in NAION suggests a pathogenic role of the mutation in the disease.