bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
National guidelines for analysis of cerebrospinal fluid for bilirubin in suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage
Authors:   UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Immunochemistry Working Group
Published: September 2003

It is crucially important to detect subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in all patients in whom it has occurred in order to select patients for angiography and preventative surgery. A computed tomography (CT) scan is positive in up to 98% of patients with SAH presenting within 12h but is positive in only 50% of patients presenting within 1 week. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bilirubin spectrophotometry can be used to determine the need for angiography in those few CT-negative patients in whom clinical suspicion of a SAH remains high; it may remain positive for up to 2 weeks after the event. The lumbar puncture (LP) should only be performed >12h after the onset of presenting symptoms. Whenever possible, collect four sequential CSF specimens. Always ensure that the last CSF sample taken is sent for bilirubin analysis. Protect the CSF from light and avoid vacuum tube transport systems if possible. Always use spectrophotometry in preference to visual inspection. All CSF specimens are precious and should be analysed no matter how they were transported, where necessary with appropriate notice of the caveats regarding oxyhaemoglobin. Centrifuge the specimen at >2000 rpm for 5 min as soon as possible after receipt in the laboratory and in any case within 1 h of collection. Store the supernatant at 4°C in the dark until analysis. An increase in CSF bilirubin is the key finding which supports the occurrence of SAH, but it is not specific for this. In most positive cases bilirubin will occur with oxyhaemoglobin. Oxyhaemoglobin occurring on its own is difficult to interpret and may be increased as a result of in vitro haemolysis of red cells introduced into the CSF during lumbar puncture. This process is exacerbated by vacuum tube transport systems. Results should be interpreted in the light of other investigations (e.g. if scan shows bilirubin then measure serum bilirubin and CSF oxyhaemoglobin and protein) and other confounding variables such as the time elapsed from presentation to LP.
Cystamine inhibits transglutaminase and caspase‐3 cleavage in glutamate‐exposed astroglial cells
Authors: Ientile R. , Campisi A. , Raciti G. , Caccamo D. , Currò M. , Cannavò G. , Li Volti G. , Macaione S. , Vanella A. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractAlthough the precise role of transglutaminase in cell death is unknown, several findings demonstrate that tissue transglutaminase selectively accumulates in cells undergoing apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Calcium‐dependent transglutaminase reactions are also implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, including alterations in the release of excitatory amino acids. One prevalent theme in cell damage induced by excitotoxic stimuli in different regions of the CNS is that apoptosis may be executed by intracellular caspase proteases. Furthermore, the presence of functional ion channel‐gated receptors in glial cells suggests that also astrocytes can be susceptible to glutamate's toxic effects. In this study, we demonstrated that prolonged exposure to glutamate (100 μM) of cultured astrocytes caused an increase in the expression of tissue transglutaminase (tTG). This effect was prevented by preincubation with GYKI 52466, an antagonist of AMPA/KA receptors. Glutamate exposure also promoted an increase in caspase‐3 compared with control cultures. Confocal laser microscopy analysis demonstrated the presence of activated caspase‐3 in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus. The inhibition of TG‐catalyzed reactions by cystamine (1 mM) blocked the activation pathway of caspase‐3, with an evident reduction of enzyme cleavage. These results suggest that glutamate increased both TG and caspase‐3 in astroglial cells early in the excitotoxin‐induced events. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
‘Ultimate’ robustness in meshing an arbitrary polyhedron
Authors: George P. L. , Borouchaki H. , Saltel E. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractGiven a boundary surface mesh (a set of triangular facets) of a polyhedron, the problem of deciding whether or not a triangulation exists is reported to be NP‐hard. In this paper, an algorithm to triangulate a general polyhedron is presented which makes use of a classical Delaunay triangulation algorithm, a phase for recovering the missing boundary facets by means of facet partitioning, and a final phase that makes it possible to remove the additional points defined in the previous step. Following this phase, the resulting mesh conforms to the given boundary surface mesh. The proposed method results in a discussion of theoretical interest about existence and complexity issues. In practice, however, the method should provide what we call ‘ultimate’ robustness in mesh generation methods. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surgical Treatment of Gunshot Injuries to the Mandible
Authors: Newlands Shawn D. , Samudrala Sreedhar , Katzenmeyer W. Kevin 
Published: September 2003

OBJECTIVESOur goal was to review and identify risk factors for complications from treatment of mandible fractures due to gunshot wounds.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTINGWe conducted a retrospective review of treatment outcomes in 90 patients with gunshot wounds to the mandible treated over a 10‐year period at 2 tertiary care centers.RESULTSOur series of 90 patients with mandibular injuries due to gunshot wounds included 68 patients who underwent surgical procedures on the mandible. There were 14 complications in this group. Complications were more common in patients whose mandibles were rigidly fixated; however, these patients' injuries were more severe. Complications were significantly increased in patients who lost a segment of mandible in the injury.CONCLUSIONSComplications were related to severity of injury and independent of treatment modality.SIGNIFICANCEThe complication rate for patients with gunshot injuries can be very high, particularly if bone is missing. Stabilization of remaining mandibular segments with potentially multiple subsequent reconstructive procedures is often required to restore mandibular continuity in these patients.
Feline pansteatitis revisited: Hazards of unbalanced home-made diets
Authors: Niza M.M.R.E , Vilela C.L , Ferreira L.M.A 
Published: September 2003

Pansteatitis is caused by the consumption of high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and/or the insufficient intake of vitamin E, leading to inflammation of adipose tissue. This disease has been related to fish-based diets. However, non-conventional diets must also be considered. The authors present case records of two cats with pansteatitis, for which diet consisted mostly of pig's brain, comparing them with eight cases of disease in cats eating mainly oily fish. Cats fed pig's brain did not show clinical signs, while cats eating oily fish presented inappetence, depression, reluctance to move and subcutaneous nodules painful on palpation. Cats eating pig's brain did not show any change in blood parameters, while cats fed oily fish presented leukocytosis and anaemia. Histological examination confirmed pansteatitis in all cats, independently of the diet. All animals except one of the cats eating oily fish recovered after medical treatment and change of the feeding regime.
n‐2‐Hydroxyglutaric aciduria with absence of corpus callosum and neonatal intracranial haemorrhage
Authors: Wang X. , Jakobs C. , Bawle D. V. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractSummary: We report D‐2‐hydroxyglutaric aciduria in a neonate with intracranial haemorrhage and absence of the corpus callosum. D‐2‐hydroxyglutaric acid was confirmed by specific chiral derivatization gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Absence of the corpus callosum and spontaneous neonatal intracranial haemorrhage should raise the suspicion for metabolic disease, and especially organic acidurias.
Abnormal lysosomal inclusions in liver hepatocytes but not in fibroblasts in congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG)
Authors: Grünewald S. , De Vos R. , Jaeken J. 
Published: September 2003

AbstractSummary: We report a retrospective electron‐microscopical study of liver biopsies and fibroblast cultures of 19 patients with congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) of different subtypes. A constant finding in liver biopsies of all CDG‐I cases was that of abnormal lysosomal lamellar inclusions in the hepatocytes, which were not found in CDG‐II. None of the patients showed significant abnormalities in their fibroblasts.
Photosynthesis and Growth of Tobacco with a Substituted Bacterial Rubisco Mirror the Properties of the Introduced Enzyme
Authors: Whitney Spencer M. , Andrews T. John 
Published: September 2003

Abstract
Complete replacement, by biolistic plastid transformation, of the hexadecameric ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) with the dimeric version from the bacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum, resulted in fully autotrophic and reproductive tobacco plants that required high CO2 concentrations to grow (Whitney SM, Andrews TJ [2001] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98: 14738-14743). Growth and photosynthesis of these plants was compared with that of nontransformed tobacco and other controls where the rbcL gene for the large subunit of tobacco Rubisco was linked to the aadA selectable-marker gene, simulating the gene arrangement of the transformants with R. rubrum Rubisco. An arrangement of the rbcL and aadA genes that gave rise to an abundant monocistronic rbcL transcript and a one-fifth as abundant bicistronic rbcL-aadA transcript had Rubisco levels and photosynthetic properties similar to those of nontransformed tobacco. Direct linkage of the rbcL and aadA genes, resulting in exclusive production of a bicistronic mRNA transcript analogous to that of the transformants with R. rubrum Rubisco, reduced transcript abundance and tobacco Rubisco content. The analogous transcript with the R. rubrum rbcM gene substituted for rbcL was not only reduced in abundance, but was also translated less efficiently. The photosynthetic rates of the transformants and controls were measured at high CO2 concentrations, using a mass spectrometric method. The rates and their responses to atmospheric CO2 concentration mirrored the amounts and the kinetic properties of the Rubiscos present. The contents of total nitrogen, carbohydrates, and photosynthetic metabolites of the leaves were also consistent with the content and type of Rubisco.
The Contemporary Presidency: Rating the Presidents: A Tracking Study
Authors: Lonnstrom Douglas A. , Kelly, II Thomas O. 
Published: September 2003

This article, based on four presidential tracking studies by academics conducted over a 20‐year period, seeks, through analysis of those studies, to answer five questions:1. Is there any correlation between views held about a president early in his term/s or immediately after his term ends, and those held much later?2. Is there a pattern to such rankings as they change over time?3. Can we explain why change occurs?4. Can actions taken by a president after he has left office significantly alter his ranking?5. When might the process of change be, to all intents and purposes, complete? Is there, for example, a 25‐year rule? 50?
Stay!
Authors: Llewelyn John 
Published: September 2003

AbstractStay! That is to say, either stay with your decision or stay your hand. Demeure: either remain or delay. Morari or moriri: either life or death. The alternation is also a hyphenation, a connection-disconnection, as with that of Judaeo-Christianity and the ethicoreligious. How are these hyphenations construed in Kierkegaard's divergence from Kant and Hegel and in the responses of Derrida and Levinas to Johannes de silentio's story of what happened and did not happen on Mount Moriah? Perfect duties and imperfect duties fall under the responsibility of absolute duty. If the ethical is externally related to natural life, the life that is internal to the ethical is due to another externality, that of responsibility to the absolute other - or God, if you like. Another alternation. Another hyphenation? Or a dash? And would it be a dash that separates justice from love? And is love ever separate from self-love or from narcissisim? What sort of narcissism is exemplifed in Kierkegaard's search for salvation? Meanwhile Abraham waits, and with him or against him but without demur, so do Isaac (or is it Ishmael?), the ram, and a host of hostages, guests, and asylum-seekers, one by one.
Treatment of Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer in the Real World: Population-Based Practices and Effectiveness
Authors: Krzyzanowska Monika K. , Weeks Jane C. , Earle Craig C. 
Published: September 2003

Purpose: To evaluate the use and effectiveness of cancer-directed therapy in elderly patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Methods: We used the linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicare database to perform a retrospective cohort study in 1,696 patients diagnosed with LAPC between 1991 and 1996. We calculated cancer-directed treatment use rates, then used logistic regression to identify patient and health system factors that were associated with receipt of treatment. Effectiveness of treatment was estimated using Cox proportional hazards models and propensity score methods. Results: In our cohort, 44% of patients received some form of cancer-directed therapy (24% radiation with concurrent chemotherapy, 13% radiation alone, and 7% chemotherapy alone). Older age, lower socioeconomic status, presence of comorbid illness, no care in a teaching hospital, and residence in the western United States were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving treatment (P ≤ .05). Among those treated, younger age and certain geographic locations were the only predictors of receiving combined-modality therapy. The adjusted hazard ratio for death associated with any treatment in the Cox model was 0.53 (P < .0001). Effectiveness estimates obtained using propensity score methods were similar. Conclusion: This analysis supports the effectiveness of cancer-directed treatment in elderly patients with LAPC, but use is low. Receipt of treatment is strongly correlated with non–disease-related factors, especially sociodemographic characteristics, indicating possible disparities in access to care.
Catheter Design Influences Recurrence of Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection in Children With Cancer
Authors: Flynn Patricia M. , Willis Brian , Gaur Aditya H. , Shenep Jerry L. 
Published: September 2003

Purpose: Multiple studies have demonstrated that catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBI) can be successfully treated without catheter removal (in situ therapy), but there is insufficient information available to determine if catheter design can influence the eradication of bacteremia or recurrence. Patients and Methods: Bacteremic episodes in patients at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital between January 1996 and May 2001 were identified and patient records were reviewed. Results: A total of 172 unique episodes of CRBI were identified. In situ therapy resulted in successful eradication of bacteremia in 87% of the episodes. Bacteremia recurred in 10% of the episodes. Although catheter design (Hickman and Broviac versus totally implantable central venous catheter) did not influence short-term eradication of bacteremia, totally implantable central venous catheters were significantly associated with recurrence of bacteremia (odds ratio, 10; 95% confidence interval, 3.1 to 33.3). In a multivariable analysis, this association between catheter design and recurrence remained statistically significant after adjustment for other factors that influenced recurrence in this study (isolation of coagulase-negative staphylococci and inadequate duration of initial antibiotic therapy). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that patients with CRBI with a totally implantable central venous catheter in place are more likely to develop recurrent bacteremia. Management strategies to prevent recurrence in this setting should be explored.
The available‐enthalpy cycle. I: Introduction and basic equations
Authors: Marquet Pascal 
Published: September 2003

AbstractA diagnostic package is derived from the concept of specific available enthalpy, leading to the definition of a local and complete energy cycle. It is useful to understand the transformations of energy occurring at any particular pressure level or pressure layer of a limited‐area domain. The global version of this diagnostic tool is very similar to the cycle of Lorenz, but the local counterpart contains several additional terms, with zonal, eddy and static‐stability components close to definitions already given by Pearce. The new cycle takes into account the flow of energy components across the vertical and horizontal boundaries, with additional conversion terms involving potential energy, leading to accurate computations of dissipation and generation terms obtained as residuals. A new accurate temporal scheme is proposed in order to allow use of a large time interval in future numerical applications. Finally, comments are made on the arbitrary choice of two constant reference values for pressure and temperature. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society
Primary hyperaldosteronism
Authors: Nadar Sunil , Lip Gregory YH , Beevers D Gareth 
Published: September 2003

Primary hyperaldosteronism is an important cause of hypertension. Its true prevalence is still a matter of debate, since about 10% of hypertensives may have underlying hyperaldosteronism. Primary hyperaldosteronism is due to aldosterone-secreting tumours, bilateral adrenal hyperplasia or, rarely, adrenal carcinoma or genetic causes. There is considerable debate over the optimal screening methods for detecting hyperaldosteronism. The patients who benefit the most from screening are young hypertensives, those with resistant hypertension and patients with serum potassium of less than 3.5 mmol/L, especially in the presence of a high sodium. Various tests are available for screening patients with hypertension for hyperaldosteronism. Serum potassium is an unreliable marker for hyperaldosteronism, although a low value in a patient not taking diuretics should make one suspect the diagnosis. The use of serum potassium as a screening test would miss about a third of cases. Determination of the ratio of plasma aldosterone concentration to plasma renin activity is widely accepted as the test of choice for screening. Tests such as diurnal variations in aldosterone concentration and response to angiotensin II help to demonstrate the autonomy of the aldosterone secretion. Once the diagnosis of hyperaldosteronism is made, further tests such as magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomographic scanning and adrenal vein sampling should be undertaken to determine the aetiology of the hyperaldosteronism. Depending on the findings and the lateralization of the lesion, either surgery or medical therapy may be advised for the patient. Spironolactone would be the drug of choice for medical treatment. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become a widely employed method of surgically removing adrenal tumours. Hyperaldosteronism represents one of the few treatable causes of hypertension and a systematic approach is therefore needed to ensure that the few patients with an aldosterone-secreting adrenal adenoma are identified. It is important to identify these patients so that only those patients with proven adenomas are referred for adrenalectomy.
Poor specificity and recovery of urinary free cortisol as determined by the Bayer ADVIA Centaur extraction method
Authors: Gray G , Shakerdi L , Wallace AM 
Published: September 2003

Background: Immunoassay methods for urinary free cortisol (UFC) lack specificity, and many procedures have not been fully evaluated for routine use. In the current study we evaluated the Bayer ADVIA Centaur extraction UFC immunoassay and compared results to those obtained by a specific gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Results: The Bayer ADVIA Centaur cortisol assay lacked specificity. Cortisone, a steroid present in urine at concentrations similar to those of cortisol, demonstrated a cross-reactivity of 44%. In addition, the choice of matrix used to resuspend steroids after solvent extraction from urine affected recovery. Recovery was improved if the recommended urine reconstruction buffer was replaced by steroid-free serum. Conclusion: Irrespective of the sample matrix used, the Centaur method overestimates UFC, giving results up to twice those obtained by a specific GC-MS method.
Mediator mentors: Improving school climate, nurturing student disposition
Authors: Lane‐Garon Pamela S. , Richardson Tim 
Published: September 2003

AbstractMediator Mentors, a collaborative research and service project, was begun by California State University‐Fresno faculty and the staff of an
elementary school (K–8) in the Central San Joaquin Valley. The purpose of the research was to assess conflict resolution program effects
on students (N = 300) and school climate. Cross‐age mentoring is an important component of this collaborative project.
University students preparing for roles in helping professions served as mentors to elementary students. Impacts on student cognitive and affective
perspective taking were assessed and student perceptions of school safety were explored.
Optimal noise removal using an adaptive Wiener filter based on a locally stationary Gaussian mixture distribution model for images
Authors: Yamane Nobumoto , Morikawa Yoshitaka , Kawakami Youichi , Takahashi Hidekazu 
Published: September 2003

AbstractThis paper proposes an adaptive Wiener filter (AWF) based on the Gaussian mixture distribution model (GMM) as a realization of an optimum restoration filter. The proposed method is a kind of simple adaptive WF that classifies image blocks according to their local statistical properties and selects a matched WF from a class of a priori deduced WFs. In this method, the optimum filter is realized based on the fact that the minimum mean square error filter is reduced to a WF when the image and noise signals are both Gaussian. In addition, the probability distribution function of the signals in each class can be transformed to Gaussian by using the GMM as a statistical model for the image. In order to improve the accuracy of variance estimation and to reduce the computational complexity in deducing the WFs, a universal mixture model obtained from various kinds of training images is used as the underlying mixture model. In this paper, in restoring images corrupted with white noise, the method of estimating the covariance matrices in locally stationary processes and the method of designing the mixture model are studied, and the adaptive WF is designed. Finally, simulation results show the efficiency of the proposed method compared with conventional methods. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 87(1): 49–60, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjc.10082