bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accommodation responses in late‐onset myopia are improved by spatiotopic stimulation
Authors: Gray L. S. , Seidel D. , Heron G. 
Published: March 2003

Purpose:  Inaccurate accommodation responses to retinotopic stimuli have been shown in late‐onset myopia (LOM). The aim of this experiment was to determine whether spatiotopic (perceived proximity) and binocular stimulation would improve the quality of accommodation responses in LOM subjects.Methods:  Ten emmetropic subjects (mean age 22.3 ± 2.3 years) and 10 LOM subjects (mean age 21.8 ± 1.5 years) participated. A specially modified Canon R‐1 infrared optometer was used to measure accommodation responses. Three conditions were presented: (1) Monocular blur‐only stimulus, (2) Monocular free‐space stimulus, and (3) Binocular free‐space stimulus. Each condition was presented on a separate day to avoid fatigue effects.Results:  Accommodation stimulus–response curves in the LOM group showed improved accuracy with the spatiotopic stimulus. Microfluctuations were significantly (p < 0.01) smaller in magnitude in the LOM group with the spatiotopic stimulus, because of reductions in the low frequency components of the fluctuations. A significant (p < 0.01) increase in the percentage of correct step accommodation responses for the spatiotopic stimulus was found in the LOM group. However, step response times in the LOM group with the spatiotopic stimulus were not significantly different than those found with the retinotopic stimulus, and were significantly (p < 0.01) longer than those found in the emmetropic group.Conclusions:  (1) Spatiotopic stimulation produces significant improvements in static accommodative accuracy in LOM subjects compared with retinotopic stimulation. (2) The quality of dynamic accommodation responses in LOM subjects was found to improve significantly with spatiotopic stimulation. (3) LOM subjects appear to rely upon proximity driven stimuli to improve accommodative response accuracy.
Does corneal polarisation vary with corneal astigmatism?
Authors: Mamoojee A. , Diaz‐Santana L. , Lara‐Saucedo D. 
Published: March 2003

Purpose:  To assess the correlation between the axis of corneal astigmatism and/or corneal thickness with that of corneal birefringence in a small group of observers using a subjective polarimeter and a corneal topographer.Methods:  The corneal polarisation axis and corneal astigmatism directions were measured in 11 subjects, providing data for 22 eyes. One kerataconic subject was included in the sample. The study utilised subjective ellipsometry using an instrument engineered at Imperial College, London to determine the corneal polarisation axis. An Orbscan (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY, USA) corneal topographer was used to measure corneal astigmatism and corneal thickness.Results:  It was found that the angle of corneal polarisation axis and the steepest direction of corneal astigmatism were correlated. The correlation coefficient for the RE was −0.49, whilst that for LE was 0.43. A similar relationship was found for the flat axis of the cornea.Conclusions:  There was a fair correlation between the corneal polarisation direction and both the flat and steep axis of corneal astigmatism. It was also found, in agreement with other studies, that corneal polarisation axis in either eye was symmetrical about the nose, as was corneal astigmatism. The kerataconic cornea followed the trend observed, although nothing conclusive can be stated. A relationship between the corneal polarisation axis and corneal thickness was not established. Analysis of the data provided us with simple equations, which could help to predict a polarisation axis for a known direction of corneal astigmatism.
Talking to Patients About Food Insecurity
Authors: Messer Ellen , Ross Elizabeth M. , Ldn  
Published: March 2003

AbstractFood insecurity is highly prevalent in the United States. Even in the best of times, some 10% of the U.S. population self‐reports food insecurity in the U.S. annual census instrument, and some 23.3 million Americans use the community‐based emergency food system. Unemployed or underemployed individuals, the elderly, single parents, substance abusers, and uninsured or underinsured individuals with medical illnesses are at increased risk for food insecurity. This article discusses clinical approaches to food‐insecure individuals. Measurement tools developed to define and document the extent of hunger and food insecurity in the U.S. population are presented as templates for discussion between doctor or dietitian and patient. Information is provided to help clinicians guide patients with food insecurity to appropriate resources.
Probiotics for Urogenital Health
Authors: Reid Gregor 
Published: March 2003

AbstractBacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infection, and yeast vaginitis afflict an estimated 1 billion women each year. Once investigation has ruled out complicated underlying causes, the only therapeutic option is antimicrobial agents. In many cases, this is effective at clearing infection. However, recurrences, side effects, and secondary infections are frequent. Coinciding with infection is a disruption of the normal commensal microflora in the vagina, primarily a loss of lactobacilli. The exogenous application of lactobacilli to the host as probiotic agents appears to offer hope as an alternative management regimen to antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis. Although commercial probiotics specifically selected and proven to be effective for urogenital infections are not yet available, there is growing in vitro and human data to suggest that certain strains could confer health benefits on a large number of women. Given that depleted vaginal lactobacilli and recurrent infection is associated with increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases and preterm labor, multiple antibiotic resistance, and significant reduction in quality of life, the need for probiotic therapeutics has never been greater.
The Obese Patient with Infertility: A Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Moran L. J. , Norman R. J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractOverweight and obesity are serious and prevalent conditions in Western countries and carry many health consequences, including reproductive dysfunction. In particular, excess fat in the abdominal area is strongly related to disorders of the reproductive system. Moderate weight loss and reduction of abdominal fat improves menstrual regularity, ovulation, and infertility in women. This may be etiologically related to insulin resistance, particularly in a subset of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome. As such, weight loss should be promoted as an initial treatment option for obese women with infertility. However, the most effective method for achieving and maintaining weight loss is unclear. Gradual weight loss is best achieved through a sensible eating plan that can be maintained over long periods of time. The likelihood of maintaining weight loss is increased when diet is combined with regular exercise, cognitive behavior therapy, and a supportive group environment. Adoption of these principles in a primary healthcare setting can therefore aid in treatment of infertility related to obesity.
Numerical simulations of spiral‐shaped inclusion trails: can 3D geometry distinguish between end‐member models of spiral formation?
Authors: Stallard A. , Ikei H. , Masuda T. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractNumerical 3D simulations of the development of spiral inclusion trails in porphyroblasts were conducted in order to test the proposals that (a) 3D spiral geometry differs between the rotation and nonrotation end‐member models of spiral formation proposed in the literature, and (b) 3D spiral geometry can be used as a criterion to distinguish between the two end‐member models in rocks. Four principal differences are identified between the two sets of simulations: smoothness of spiral curvature; spacing of foliation planes; alignment of individual foliation planes either side of the sphere representing the porphyroblast; and spiral asymmetry with respect to matrix shear sense. Of these differences, only spiral asymmetry and possibly the alignment of individual foliation planes are diagnostic criteria for distinguishing between the end‐member models. In the absence of a readily applied test to distinguish the end‐member models, interpretation of spiral inclusion trails is problematic. It is necessary to determine complementary evidence to distinguish porphyroblast rotation or nonrotation during spiral formation.
Carboniferous and Triassic eclogites in the western Dabie Mountains, east‐central China: evidence for protracted convergence of the North and South China Blocks
Authors: Sun Weidong , Williams I. S. , Li Shuguang 
Published: March 2003

AbstractSHRIMP U–Pb dating and laser ablation ICP‐MS trace element analyses of zircon from four eclogite samples from the north‐western Dabie Mountains, central China, provide evidence for two eclogite facies metamorphic events. Three samples from the Huwan shear zone yield indistinguishable late Carboniferous metamorphic ages of 312 ± 5, 307 ± 4 and 311 ± 17 Ma, with a mean age of 309 ± 3 Ma. One sample from the Hong'an Group, 1 km south of the shear zone yields a late Triassic age of 232 ± 10 Ma, similar to the age of ultra‐high pressure (UHP) metamorphism in the east Qinling–Dabie orogenic belt. REE and other trace element compositions of the zircon from two of the Huwan samples indicate metamorphic zircon growth in the presence of garnet but not plagioclase, namely in the eclogite facies, an interpretation supported by the presence of garnet, omphacite and phengite inclusions. Zircon also grew during later retrogression. Zircon cores from the Huwan shear zone have Ordovician to Devonian (440–350 Ma) ages, flat to steep heavy‐REE patterns, negative Eu anomalies, and in some cases plagioclase inclusions, indicative of derivation from North China Block igneous and low pressure metamorphic source rocks. Cores from Hong'an Group zircon are Neoproterozoic (780–610 Ma), consistent with derivation from the South China Block. In the western Dabie Mountains, the first stage of the collision between the North and South China Blocks took place in the Carboniferous along a suture north of the Huwan shear zone. The major Triassic continent–continent collision occurred along a suture at the southern boundary of the shear zone. The first collision produced local eclogite facies metamorphism in the Huwan shear zone. The second produced widespread eclogite facies metamorphism throughout the Dabie Mountains–Sulu terrane and a lower grade overprint in the shear zone.
Regulation of Bone Remodeling: Impact of Novel Therapies
Authors: Hercz Gavril 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThe kidneys serve as both an endocrine organ and as a target of endocrine action, with the aim of controlling mineral and water balance. Hormones and other key metabolites regulate mineral homeostasis by altering gene function directly or by initiating a sequence of events, leading ultimately to a change in enzyme function. Two of these hormones, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitriol (the active form of vitamin D), interact in multiple tissues in the body to regulate the flux of calcium and phosphorus between extra‐ and intracellular compartments. Changes in the concentration of PTH and vitamin D, or the interaction of these with other factors, lead to the aberrant regulation of calcium and phosphorus. Among other effects, this aberrant regulation leads to pathologic changes in bone metabolism. The pathology of renal bone disease varies along a spectrum from disorders of low turnover to those of high turnover. This spectrum reflects the results of therapeutic intervention, hormone balances, and other causes. Effective management of renal bone disease therefore requires thorough evaluation of relevant risk factors, measurement of biochemical markers of bone remodeling, and determination of the physical status of bone tissue either by bone mineral density or bone biopsy. Subsequent therapeutic intervention with newer vitamin D compounds, novel phosphate binders, calcimimetics, and the use of alternative dialysis modalities offer hope in normalizing bone remodeling and mineral balance.  The human skeleton functions in two capacities: the storage of minerals and structural support of the body. It is the only tissue that behaves as both a major source and a sink of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P). Healthy bone is a composite of a collagenous matrix embedded with crystals of hydroxyapatite. On the surface of bone and within the calcified matrix are specialized cells that build and maintain the tissue, and facilitate the movement of Ca and P into and out of serum. Bone undergoes remodeling in response to either damage from mechanical strain or as part of the normal cycle of bone renewal. The process involves distinct steps of cellular activation, bone resorption, and subsequent bone formation. It is a relatively slow process that takes several months, and at any one time occurs at many different sites along the bone surface. Systemic factors, such as PTH and vitamin D, regulate the resorption and formation of bone, and thus the systemic movement of Ca and P. However, during conditions of stress and disease, other factors may also play a role. In patients with chronic renal disease, the balance of Ca and P is profoundly disturbed. This disruption and the compensatory changes that occur in response alter the normal processes of bone metabolism.
The Role of the Synovium and Cartilage in the Pathogenesis of β2‐Microglobulin Amyloidosis
Authors: Moe Sharon M. , Chen Neal X. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTThe predilection for β2‐microglobulin (β2M) amyloid deposition in articular structures is unique compared to other forms of amyloid; this article focuses on possible pathogenic mechanisms. The synovium and/or cartilage appear to be important in the pathogenesis of β2M amyloidosis (Aβ2M), as amyloid is not found in the shafts of long bones. The concentration of β2M in the joint fluid parallels that in serum. Once in the joint space, evidence suggests that the β2M binds to collagen in cartilage as the initial site of deposition. This binding may serve as the first step in subsequent amyloid formation, although this remains to be proven. β2M has been shown to have many direct effects on synovial fibroblasts, including induction of the release of cytokines, metalloproteinases, cyclooxygenase‐2, and vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1). The release of these inflammatory mediators that lead to tissue degradation is also observed in other forms of arthritis. Thus β2M itself may elicit the release of inflammatory mediators from synovial fibroblasts even in the absence of cellular infiltrates.
A Phase II Trial of Humanized Anti‐Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Antibody for the Treatment of Androgen‐Independent Prostate Cancer
Authors: Reese David M. , Fratesi Paige , Corry Michelle , Novotny William , Holmgren Eric , Small Eric J. 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTObjective: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a glycoprotein that is important in promoting tumor angiogenesis. Recombinant humanized anti (rhuMAb)‐VEGF is a humanized murine monoclonal antibody that neutralizes VEGF activity and has shown promise in animal tumor models. Methods: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of single‐agent rhuMAb VEGF in metastatic androgen‐independent prostate cancer (AIPC), we treated 15 patients with 10 mg/kg rhuMAb VEGF every 14 days for six infusions (one cycle), followed by additional treatment for selected patients who had a response or were stable. Results: After one cycle, none of the 15 patients who were evaluable for tumor response had an objective complete or partial response. Three possible mixed responses were observed. No patient achieved a >50% decrease in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level after one cycle. Four patients (27%) had a PSA decline of <50%, three patients (20%) had a PSA level increase of <50%, and eight patients (53%) had a PSA increase of >50%. The median time to objective progression was 118 days, and the median time to PSA progression was 57 days. Toxicity was generally mild, with asthenia present in 6 (40%) of 15 patients. Severe hyponatremia developed in two patients, although the association with rhuMAb VEGF was unclear. Conclusions: We concluded that single‐agent rhuMAb VEGF in this dose and with this schedule did not produce significant objective responses in patients with AIPC. Further development of this agent in patients with prostate cancer should focus on earlier stage disease or should evaluate it in combination with other therapies.
Treatment of Metastatic Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer with Ketoconazole, Hydrocortisone, and Cyclophosphamide
Authors: Pecora Andrew , Richter Frank , Pavlick Anna , Lanteri Vincent , Scheuch John , Levy Stuart , Rosenberg Gene , Vitenson Jack 
Published: March 2003

ABSTRACTObjective: Patients with metastatic hormone‐refractory prostate cancer have a poor overall survival rate. Newer agents have shown promise in slowing disease progression but are mostly ineffective in improving the overall survival rate, are toxic, and require intravenous administration. In an attempt to maintain treatment efficacy, but to minimize toxicity and improve ease of use, we conducted a pilot trial of an oral regimen consisting of ketoconazole, hydrocortisone, and cyclophosphamide combination therapy.Materials and Methods: Twenty‐seven patients with metastatic hormone‐refractory prostate cancer were treated with an oral regimen of ketoconazole, 400 mg tid, and hydrocortisone, 20 mg qam and 10 mg qpm, on Days 1–28. Cyclophosphamide, 100 mg/m2, was added on Days 1–14. Treatment was recycled every 28 days. Progression of disease was defined by a progressively rising prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, new lesions as seen on bone scans, or progression of soft‐tissue disease. Patient age ranged from 57 to 87 years. Performance status (PS; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scale) was 0–2. Pretreatment PSA values ranged from 5.8 ng/mL to 3400 ng/mL (median 68).Results: Twenty‐one (78%) of 27 patients with elevated PSA levels demonstrated a ≥50% decline in PSA level for 3 consecutive months. Of the remaining six patients (22%), two progressed within 3 months, two withdrew from the study due to toxicity, and two responded with <50% decline in PSA level. Nadir PSA values ranged from <0.2 to 155, with a median nadir of 5.1. Mean and median declines in PSA levels were 79% and 93%, respectively. The duration of response ranged from 3 to >96 months, with a median response duration of 9 months. Twenty‐two (81%) of 27 patients experienced no significant toxicity, 4 of 27 patients experienced Grade I–III gastrointestinal toxicity, and 1 of 27 patients experienced Grade III hematologic toxicity.Conclusions: The combination of ketoconazole, hydrocortisone, and cyclophosphamide is a well‐tolerated oral regimen for the treatment of patients with metastatic hormone‐refractory prostate cancer with significant disease activity, and it warrants further investigation.
Promoting Positive Affect and Diminishing Loneliness of Widowed Seniors Through a Support Intervention
Authors: Stewart Miriam , Craig Dorothy , MacPherson Kathleen , Alexander Sharon 
Published: March 2003

Seniors are most vulnerable to conjugal bereavement. Although social support buffers the effects of bereavement, widows and widowers have lower levels of social support than married individuals. Self‐help/support groups can supplement support from their depleted natural networks. Accordingly, the aim of this demonstration project was to examine the impact of support groups on widowed seniors' loneliness, affect, and perceived support. Four face‐to‐face support groups for widowed seniors were conducted weekly for a maximum of 20 weeks.Participants completed pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest measures of support need and support satisfaction, positive and negative affect, and loneliness/isolation. The statistically significant impacts of the intervention were enhanced support satisfaction, diminished support needs, and increased positive affect. There was a trend toward decreased social isolation and emotional loneliness. In postintervention semistructured interviews, bereaved seniors reported increased hope, improved skills in developing social relationships, enhanced coping, new role identities, and less loneliness. Community health nurse researchers could conduct randomized controlled trials of face‐to‐face and telephone support groups for bereaved people of all ages. Community health nurse practitioners could benefit from lessons learned about timing, duration, and selection of sensitive outcomes.
Prediction of Vegetation Succession in Human‐Disturbed Habitats Using an Expert System
Authors: Prach Karel , Pyšek Petr , Šmilauer Petr 
Published: March 2003

AbstractDetailed information, both quantitative and observational, on the course of vegetation succession in various human‐disturbed habitats in Central Europe was used to construct an expert system named SUCCESS. Using the system, it is possible to predict tentatively the sequence of seral stages and dominant species exchange in successional seres initiated on bare ground and lasting up to 50 years. Simple information on geographical position, type of substratum, relief, moisture, nutrient content, character of surrounding vegetation, and size of the disturbed area is taken into consideration to predict site‐specific succession in the particular habitats. The expert system is supposed to help landscape managers, nature conservationists, and environmental impact assessment experts in decision‐making procedures to take into account the development of vegetation in man‐made sites. Moreover, it also summarizes scientific information on the pattern of vegetation change in human‐disturbed habitats in the geographical area considered.
Success of Instream Habitat Structures After a 50‐Year Flood in Gold Creek, Montana
Authors: Schmetterling David A. , Pierce Ronald W. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractGold Creek, in western Montana, lost complexity and diversity of fish habitat following riparian logging activities, removal of instream wood, and subsequent scouring. In the 4.8‐km study area, the stream was almost totally void of large woody debris (4.2 pieces/km) and associated pools (1.3 pools/km). We constructed 66 structures made of natural materials (rock and wood) that resulted in 61 new pools in the study area in an attempt to restore salmonid habitat in the fall of 1996. An estimated 50‐year recurrence interval flood occurred in the following spring. Of the original 66 structures, 55 (85%) remained intact and stable. Laterally confined reaches retained significantly more pools than laterally extended reaches. Owing to a history of anthropogenic impacts in forested streams in the intermountain west, restoration efforts are needed. If instream structures are tailored to specific morphologic channel types, fish habitat restoration can be successful and withstand major floods.