bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oxidative stress from rapid versus slow intravenous iron replacement in haemodialysis patients
Authors: TIRANATHANAGUL KHAJOHN , EIAM‐ONG SOMCHAI , TOSUKHOWONG PIYARATANA , PRADITPORNSILPA KEARKIAT , TUNGSANGA KRIANG 
Published: September 2004

SUMMARY:Methods and Results:  Oxidative stress was examined in 19 erythropoietin‐treated haemodialysis patients who were receiving 100 mg of iron sucrose every 2 weeks by two intravenous methods, rapid injection and slow infusion. There were no significant differences in incidence of iron oversaturation state between the two methods. Regarding oxidative stress markers, the values of plasma and red blood cell thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) expressed in terms of malonyldialdehyde (MDA) equivalents following the two methods did not increase, and the values of area under the curve (AUC) of both markers were not different between both regimens. Also, there were no significant differences in the values of plasma and AUC of anti‐oxidant markers including total anti‐oxidant status, reduced thiols, and vitamin E among both periods treated with two intravenous iron methods.Conclusion:  As such, both intravenous iron methods could be safely used without enhancing oxidative stress in haemodialysis patients. The rapid injection method would be the preferred method of intravenous iron administration because it is more convenient while still retaining the safety profile.
Status of dialyser reuse in Korea
Authors: CHO HYEON‐KYEONG , SHIN GYU‐TAE , KIM HEUNGSOO 
Published: September 2004

SUMMARY:Background and Aim:  Dialyser reuse treatments in Korea were first practised at a facility in 1985. Until 1999, there was only one facility practising dialyser reuse treatments, but the reuse practice has gradually increased since 1999. The purpose of this study was to gather and analyse the current (April 2002) dialyser reuse treatment data in Korea.Method and Results:  Data was collected via a questionnaire sent to the each hospital that reuses the dialyser, and we received a response from 26 out of 29 facilities (89.7%). Twenty‐nine facilities comprised 7.7% (29 of 376) of the total nationwide haemodialysis facilities in Korea. The percentage of patients on dialyser reuse treatments was 6.2% (1234 of 20 010). All facilities used an automated reuse processing technique for dialyser reuse and 22 facilities used a peracetic acid mixture (PAM) without hypochlorite. There was one facility that used the heated citric acid method. Eighty per cent of facilities used only high flux membranes (Kuf ≥ 20 mL/h per mmHg) and 12% of the facilities used both high and low flux membranes. The average number of the reuse treatments was 15‐fold (range 10−22) and the average of the maximum number of reuse treatments was 20‐fold (range 10–50).Conclusion:  Although dialyser reuse treatments are not a common practice in Korea, the reuse programs are steadily increasing. Strict quality control and further regulations regarding the reuse program  should be promptly enacted to provide a better quality of haemodialysis treatment for patients in Korea.
DIAGNOSIS OF GASTRIC MUCINOUS CARCINOMA BY ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY
Authors: Hirasawa Dai , Fujita Naotaka , Yuki Toyohiko , Sato Tadasu , Ishida Kazuhiko , Senoo Shigeharu , Suzuki Takashi , Noda Yutaka , Kobayashi Go , Kimura Katsumi , Matsunaga Atsuo , Nomura Mikiko , Ito Kei , Sugawara Toshiki , Horaguchi Jun , Takasawa Osamu 
Published: September 2004

Background:  Biopsy diagnosis of gastric mucinous carcinoma (GMC) is sometimes difﬁcult. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) can visualize the change in the gastric wall in detail. We reviewed the EUS images and histological ﬁndings of cases of GMC and evaluated the correlation between them to identify the characteristic ﬁndings of GMC on EUS.Methods:  Thirty‐one GMC patients who had undergone both preoperative EUS and surgery were studied. The EUS images of these patients and the histological ﬁndings were compared with those for other histological types of gastric cancer (OGC).Results:  The tumor echo showed high echoic in GMC cases more frequently than that in OGC. The frequency of visualization of the layer structure above the tumor was higher compared with OGC. Histology veriﬁed the presence of ﬁne septa composed of thin ﬁbrotic tissue and ﬂoating cancer cells in the mucus lake. The mucus lake was often located in the submucosa and the tumor was covered with cancerous mucosa of other histological types with preserved lamina muscularis mucosae.Conclusions:  The EUS ﬁndings of GMC are characteristic and reﬂect its histological changes well, and would complement the preoperative diagnosis of this tumor.
A CASE OF INDETERMINATE COLITIS UNDERGOING SUBTOTAL COLECTOMY
Authors: Yokoyama Hiroshi , Takagi Sho , Utsunomiya Kyoko , Negoro Kenichi , Takahashi Seiichi , Kinouchi Yoshitaka , Shimosegawa Tooru , Masuda Takayuki 
Published: September 2004

The nomenclature inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) generally defines ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). However, we sometimes find patients who cannot be diagnosed as UC or CD, because of the presence of both characteristics. These cases have been reported as indeterminate colitis (IC) since the first report in 1978. In our department, we have experienced IBD since 1993 (366 cases of CD), but only three cases were diagnosed as IC. Of the three, we report here the clinical and pathological features of a patient who was followed up since the diagnosis.The case was a 19‐year‐old Japanese woman without any particular past history. In December 1997, she was admitted to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain, high fever, diarrhea and fresh blood in the stool. Based on the findings of various tests, we made a diagnosis of IC, and started to treat her with prednisolone intravenous injection (i.v) at a dose of 40 mg per day. Because symptoms and signs of inflammation relapsed frequently, it was judged that there was a relative indication for surgical operation. She underwent subtotal colectomy with end‐to‐end ileorectal anastomosis on 6 January 2002. On the histopathological examination of surgical specimens, several characteristics of both UC and CD were observed. Therefore, we finally diagnosed this case as IC. After operation, she has not experienced a relapse so far and maintained fair physical condition.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE USE OF MAGNETIC ENDOSCOPE IMAGING FOR COLONOSCOPY
Authors: Suzuki Takayoshi , Matsushima Masashi , Ihara Kenichi , Tokiwa Kayoko , Kanai Takashi , Ito Akemi , Shirai Takayuki , Miwa Takeshi , Mine Tetsuya 
Published: September 2004

Background:  A new endoscopic system using low‐density alternating magnetic ﬁelds to visualize loop formation during insertion has been developed and has recently been made available. The present study was designed to assess the usefulness of this new endoscopic system, which is known as magnetic endoscope imaging (MEI), compared with the use of a variable stiffness colonoscope without MEI in the performance of routine colonoscopy.Methods:  Ten less‐experienced and 11 experienced colonoscopists performed colonoscopy either with or without the assistance of MEI. After each procedure, the colonoscopist assessed the usefulness of MEI, and the patient also assessed the degree of pain experienced while undergoing the procedure with a pain scale. Success rates in reaching the cecum, insertion time, and the rate of manual abdominal counter‐pressure were recorded by endoscopic assistants.Results:  There were no signiﬁcant differences in the time and cecal insertion rate taken to complete insertion between colonoscopy with and without MEI. However, the level of pain experienced during insertion from the anus to the cecum was signiﬁcantly lower with MEI than without it when less‐experienced colonoscopists performed the colonoscopy. The rates of manual abdominal counter‐pressure used during colonoscopy were higher in groups where MEI was used. Moreover, manual abdominal counter‐pressure was quite easily undertaken with the assistance of MEI.Conclusion:  In summary, MEI is useful for decreasing the level of patient pain in the less‐experienced colonoscopist group.
Why Induction Is No Cure For Baldness
Authors: Dolev Yuval 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe paper aims at establishing that the premises of both the inductive and the multi‐premised versions of the sorites argument are not apparently acceptable and that, therefore, sorites‐type arguments do not constitute logical or conceptual paradoxes. Rather, it is suggested that such arguments are most properly and fruitfully described as skeptical challenges. A secondary goal of the paper is to focus attention to the unduly neglected inductive version of the argument.
Treatment of canine mast cell tumours with prednisolone and radiotherapy
Authors: Dobson J. , Cohen S. , Gould S. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThis retrospective study describes 35 dogs with non‐resectable, grade I–III mast cell tumours on the head or limb treated with prednisolone (40 mg m−2daily) for 10–14 days prior to radiotherapy (4 × 800 cGy fractions at 7‐day intervals) from a 4 MV linear accelerator. Prednisolone was continued at a reduced dose rate (20 mg m−2) during radiotherapy and for 2 months or longer afterwards. Eighteen of 24 tumours (75%) decreased in size in response to prednisolone treatment. By 6–8 weeks following radiotherapy, 12 dogs had achieved a complete remission and 19 a partial response. Two tumours remained static and two progressed during the course of treatment. The overall response rate was 88.5%. With long‐term follow‐up, 11 dogs experienced local recurrence (n = 4), metastasis (n = 5) or both (n = 2). The median progression‐free interval was 1031 days (95% CI 277.44–1784.56, Kaplan–Meier), with 1‐ and 2‐year progression‐free rates of 60 and 52%, respectively. Tumour grade did not predict the prognosis for this group of dogs, but tumour location did affect the outcome. Dogs with tumours located on the limb survived longer than those with tumours on the head. The combination of prednisolone with radiotherapy appears to have a useful role in the management of measurable mast cell tumours sited on the head and distal extremities.
Cardiac troponin I in canine patients with lymphoma and osteosarcoma receiving doxorubicin: comparison with clinical heart disease in a retrospective analysis
Authors: Selting K. A. , Lana S. E. , Ogilvie G. K. , Olmstead A. , Mykles D. L. , Bright J. , Richardson K. L. , Walton J. A. , Monnet E. , Fettman M. J. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractThe cumulative cardiotoxicity that occurs as a result of doxorubicin chemotherapy is irreversible and can affect both quality and quantity of life for the cancer patient. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a sensitive and specific marker of cardiomyocyte death. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate serum concentrations of cTnI in dogs with lymphoma or osteosarcoma given doxorubicin chemotherapy, and with known cardiac outcome, based on a minimum assessment by physical examination and thoracic radiography. Serum samples were also available for cTnI measurement from seven healthy dogs given intracoronary doxorubicin. Serial serum samples obtained before, during and after doxorubicin chemotherapy showed increased cTnI concentrations in some clinical patients following chemotherapy (P = 0.0083 compared to baseline), but this did not correlate with clinical signs of cardiomyopathy. In dogs that subsequently developed cardiomyopathy however, serum cTnI concentrations were elevated before clinical signs became evident (confirmed with echocardiography).
The practice of participatory research and gender analysis in natural resource management
Authors: Johnson Nancy , Lilja Nina , Ashby Jacqueline A. , Garcia James A. 
Published: September 2004

Abstract Stakeholder participation is expected to improve the efficiency, equity, and sustainability of natural resource management research and development (R&D) projects by ensuring that research reflects users’ priorities, needs, capabilities, and constraints. Use of participatory methods and tools is growing rapidly; however, there is little systematic evidence about what participation actually means in practice, or about what difference it makes. Based on an inventory of 59 self‐described participatory R&D projects in the area of natural resource management, this article characterizes the typical project and analyzes how stakeholders are selected, how they participate in the research process, and what their involvement means for project costs and impacts. The results suggest that, while projects are generating a range of direct and indirect benefits for participants, more careful attention needs to be paid to achieving equitable impacts. Current practices may lag behind best practices in key areas, such as power sharing and participant selection, and may therefore be missing important contributions from women and other marginalized groups.
Functional wildlife parks: The views of Kenyan children who live with them
Authors: Ali Ibrahim M. , Maskill Roger 
Published: September 2004

Abstract This study reports on Kenyan school children's ideas about wildlife parks in their country. A comparison is made between the responses of school children in primary school, before they receive any science education, and those of secondary school pupils at the end of the secondary cycle. The findings show little difference between the two groups of students in terms of their ideas about wildlife parks. This has serious implications for science and environmental education in Kenya. Parks are understood by these pupils in terms of real life issues, as derived from social consequences. The children's ideas are all based on the role that parks play in society, but the function of parks to support biodiversity conservation does not seem to be important to the students. While it is satisfying to note that the school children have a good understanding of parks in their social context, it is essential to address fully the scientific and ecological role of parks in order that biodiversity becomes more valued in our society.
Randomized double‐blind clinical drug trials of meloxicam in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis knees: an Indian experience
Authors: CHOPRA Arvind , BICHILE L. , RAJADHYAKSHA A. G. , GADGIL D. , MAROLI S. , GOREGAONKAR A. B. , DHAON B. K. 
Published: September 2004

AbstractBackground:  Indian data from controlled drug trials on the use of meloxicam (a new preferential COX‐2 inhibitor) and other non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in arthritis is sparse.Aim:  To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of meloxicam.Patients and methods:  One hundred and twenty‐one patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 133 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) knees were randomized into two different multicentric, double‐blind, drug trials of four‐weeks duration each. Meloxicam 7.5 mg (OA study) and 15 mg (RA study) was compared to diclofenac 100 mg and piroxicam 20 mg in daily dosages, respectively. Strict eligibility criteria ensured active symptomatic disease. Standard ACR efficacy measures of pain and function (including validated Indian versions of HAQ & WOMAC) were used. Protocol‐driven evaluations were carried out throughout the study. An intent‐to‐treat efficacy analysis (significance at P < 0.05) was carried out to test the hypothesis of equal efficacy between meloxicam and comparator.Results:  (i) There were no significant differences between meloxicam and piroxicam in the RA study. (ii) While joint count for pain/tenderness was improved (P < 0.05) by both meloxicam and piroxicam, only meloxicam showed significant improvement (95% CI ≈ 0.7,5.6) in swollen joint count. (iii) In the OA study, though painVAS reduction was marginally better (95% CI ≈ −15,−0.6) with diclofenac, both meloxicam and diclofenac were equally effective (95% CI ≈ −10,2.0) in improving WOMAC‐physical function. (iv) Overall, meloxicam demonstrated a superior safety and gut tolerability profile as compared to piroxicam (maximum adverse events, 29.3%) and diclofenac. (iv) Maximum dyspepsia (6.2%) was reported by the diclofenac group. (v) Overall, the drug toxicity seen in the trials was mild, and only one patient (on diclofenac) was withdrawn due to haematuria. (vi) All treatment groups consumed paracetamol (P > 0.05) as a rescue analgesic.Conclusions:  When compared to piroxicam and diclofenac, meloxicam has equal clinical efficacy and a better safety profile. Multicentric control drug trials are feasible in our population.
Avascular necrosis in rheumatology practice
Authors: BISWAS Tamal Kumar , BISWAS Sobhan 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAvascular necrosis (AVN) refers to the death of the cellular component of bone (osteocytes) and contiguous bone marrow, resulting from ischaemia. Sites which are particularly vulnerable to ischaemic necrosis are the femoral head, the femoral condyles, the head of the humerus, the capitulum and the proximal parts of the scaphoid and talus. These subarticular regions lie at the most distant parts of the bone's vascular territory and they are largely enclosed by cartilage, giving restricted access to local blood vessels. The whole process of AVN can be initiated in at least four different ways – severance of the local blood supply, venous stasis and retrograde arteriolar stoppage, intra‐vascular thrombosis and compression of capillaries and sinusoids by marrow swelling. Ischaemia in the majority of cases is due to a combination of several of these factors. Various clinical conditions are associated with AVN. They include corticosteroid administration, alcohol abuse, Cushing's syndrome, SLE, systemic vasculitis, RA, scleroderma, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, renal transplantation, sickle‐cell anaemia, haemoglobinopathies, caisson disease, radiotheraphy and fractured neck of femur.Clinical features include pain at the groin, medial thigh and medial aspect of the knee in AVN of hip joint. Diagnosis is at the early stage. The staging system for AVN of the femoral head has been advocated, which is helpful for its treatment. Medical management includes avoidance of weight‐bearing and use of analgesics in early stages. In moderate and severe cases surgical treatment in the form of core decompression, bone grafting and total hip arthroplasty are usually done.
A new diagnostic sign for rheumatoid arthritis: Avicenna sign
Authors: BARZEGAR‐JALALI Shahriar , HATAMI‐SADABADI Farhad 
Published: September 2004

AbstractAim:  The status of a new sign for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis is discussed for the first time in this study. It is defined as marked tenderness on the anterior surface of leg (shin) on pressure of about 4 kg by thumb. The sign has been denoted as ‘Avicenna sign’.Methods:  All cases were selected by convenient sampling from patients who were referred to two rheumatology clinics in Tabriz, Iran. Sample size was calculated as 618 using Cochran's sampling equation.Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was made according to American Rheumatism Association criteria. Two physicians were asked to examine the sign on all of the selected patients separately. One of them (a general physician) was not informed about methodology and objectives of the study, whereas a rheumatologist was well informed and he collected data using a written questionnaire.Test–retest method and discriminant analysis were used to test reliability and validity of the sign for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. The effects of intervening variables including osteoporosis and consumption of some medications were controlled employing Chi‐square test.Results:  When the general physician examined patients with Avicenna sign to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, sensitivity and specificity of the sign were reported as 77.1% and 98.4%, respectively. The corresponding values were 81.3% and 98.4%, respectively, when the rheumatologist examined the patients.Conclusions:  This study suggested considerable diagnostic value of the sign for rheumatoid arthritis. Consumption of acetaminophen or NSAIDs had no effect on the status of Avicenna sign while taking gluccocorticoids made it unreliable for diagnostic purposes.
Infliximab‐induced systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: John RUSSO Paul Anthony , TYMMS Kathleen Elizabeth , SMITH George Richard 
Published: September 2004

AbstractOnly six cases of clinical drug‐induced lupus (DIL) following infliximab initiation for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease are documented dispite studies indicating many patients develop asymptomatic antinuclear ANA (62%) and anti‐dsDNA (15%) antibodies. Our 43‐year‐old female patient with 25 years of RA had active synovitis despite combination sulfasalazine, leflunomide and methotrexate. She received infliximab (3 mg/kg) infusion with rapid resolution of synovitis and then again 2, 6 and 14 weeks later. At 21 weeks she developed acute DIL with typical clinical features and laboratory findings which resolved after 8 weeks of prednisolone treatment. New biologic therapies can not only suppress RA but potentiate clinical DIL.
A Hereditary Disorder In the Family and the Family Life Cycle: Huntington Disease as a Paradigm
Authors: Brouwer‐DudokdeWit A. Christine , Savenije Anke , Zoeteweij Moniek W. , Maat‐Kievit Anneke , Tibben Aad 
Published: September 2004

The implications of predictive DNA‐testing for Huntington's Disease (HD) for the transitions in the family life cycle are described. HD is a hereditary disorder leading to personality changes, uncontrollable movements, cognitive impairment, and ultimately death in mostly adults, People at risk have the possibility to detect whether or not they carry the disease provoking‐gene, but no treatment is available. In this article, we will highlight the complex implications of pre‐symptomatic testing by describing six different cases, interpreted by following the theoretical framework of Carter and McGoldrick (see pp. 684).HD interferes strongly with the “normal” transitions in the life cycle. It is not so much the test result itself that may be disrupting, but the changed expectations and possibilities for the future. As a family disease, HD forces its members to cope, one way or another, with disturbing events and untimely deaths. Some families are able to make some transitions, while becoming blocked at other transition points; this may differ between families. Being able to cope with HD in the family for a certain time does not necessarily imply that problems will never occur. Because any family member may eventually need help, it is important to then help the family discover what hinders them from making the transition to the next life stage and to resolve these issues so that they can move on.