bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Studies on the molecular evolution of the crocodylia: footprints in the sands of time
Authors: Dessauer Herbert C. , Glenn Travis C. , Densmore Llewellyn D. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractA reasonably large number of studies focusing on the molecular evolution of crocodilians have been completed during the past 100 years. Proteins were initially studied before DNA was known to carry the genetic information of cells and organisms, and were subsequently studied to infer changes at the DNA level. More recently, studies on the DNA itself have been completed. We have had the pleasure of taking part in or facilitating many studies conducted over the past 50 years, especially several of the earliest studies done using newly developed molecular techniques. We provide a review of the molecular genetic studies on crocodilians, summarizing the findings of these studies as well as the context in which they were undertaken. This review is a personal look at the history of molecular studies on the evolutionary biology of crocodilians. Our excuse for this focus is that our professors, our students and we have had the opportunity to be among the first to apply many new techniques to studies of crocodilians since 1950, when one of us (HCD) was a graduate student of Roland Coulson and Tom Hernandez. Although we will review much of the material in this subject area, we do not claim that it is complete. Instead, we focus our presentation on work in which we have participated or with which we are particularly familiar. We especially focus on materials relevant to the research presented at the 2nd International Crocodilian DNA Workshop, 7–9 November, 2001, at the San Diego Zoo. Thus, the following review also stands as a tribute to our mentors, students, and colleagues. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 294:302–311, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Increased risk of chronic hepatitis in children with cancer
Authors: Sevinir Betül , Meral Adalet , Günay Ünsal , Özkan Tanju , Özuysal Sema , Sinirtas Melda 
Published: December 2002

AbstractBackgroundThere is a risk of viral hepatitis for children with cancer. Both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in countries with high prevalence cause major problems in the management of cancer patients. In this study, we evaluated the incidence and chronicity of HBV and HCV infections in children with malignant diseases receiving chemotherapy.ProcedureOne hundred ninety‐eight children with cancer (mean age = 7.5 ± 2.5 years) and 100 healthy children as a control group were screened for HBV and HCV. Liver function tests, the number of transfusions, HBV and HCV serology were regularly monitored. In seropositive children, HBV‐DNA and HCV‐RNA were measured. Chronic hepatitis was defined as having an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level three times of upper normal limit, positive HBV and HCV antigenemia for longer than 6 months. Liver biopsies were performed in all children with chronic hepatitis. The relationship between the chronic hepatitis and study parameters was statistically analyzed.ResultsHBsAg positivity, anti‐HCV, and mixed (HBV and HCV) infection were found in 11.6, 5.5, 2% of children, respectively. Most HBV infected children developed chronic hepatitis (48%) while 26 and 21.7% became carriers and immune, respectively. One died of acute fulminant HBV hepatitis. Of HCV infected children, 63.6% also had positive HCV‐RNA. Four children with mixed infection (100%) all progressed to chronic hepatitis. In this setting, chronic hepatitis was observed in 22 of 38 infected children (57.8%). The majority had leukemia and lymphoma. Children with HBsAg antigenemia developed chronic hepatitis in shorter time than HCV positive children (median 13 months vs. 51 months, P < 0.001).ConclusionWe observed an increased incidence of chronic hepatitis and even mortality due to HBV infection. This suggests that HBV and HCV infections are serious causes of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:104–110. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin as continuation treatment of febrile neutropenia in pediatric cancer patients
Authors: Park Julie R. , Coughlin James , Hawkins Douglas , Friedman Debra L. , Burns Jane L. , Pendergrass Thomas 
Published: December 2002

AbstractBackgroundThe empiric administration of anti‐microbial therapy significantly reduces the morbidity and mortality associated with febrile neutropenic episodes in oncology patients. Outpatient empiric antibiotic therapy can be safely administered to a subset of febrile neutropenic patients at low risk for clinical complications.ProcedurePediatric cancer patients presenting with febrile neutropenia after non‐myeloablative chemotherapy and who met institutional criteria for early hospital discharge following a minimum of 48‐hr inpatient empiric intravenous ceftazidime were eligible for the study. The feasibility and efficacy of an outpatient continuation therapy of oral ciprofloxacin (CPR) 25–30 mg/kg/day divided BID and amoxicillin (AMX) 30–50 mg/kg/day divided TID was assessed.ResultsThirty febrile neutropenic episodes in 26 patients were treated with outpatient oral CPR/AMX therapy. Oral CPR/AMX therapy was feasible in 28 (93%) and efficacious in 26 (87%) of treatment episodes. CPR/AMX was discontinued due to abdominal pain and diarrhea (n = 2), recurrent fever (n = 3), or gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 1). No patient developed new bacteremia or cardiopulmonary decompensation. Bone/joint pain or gastrointestinal symptoms occurred in 27% of treatment episodes. Duration of neutropenia, lower absolute neutrophil count (ANC) (< 100/mm3) at start of oral antibiotic therapy and active malignant disease were associated with failure of oral antibiotic therapy.ConclusionsIt is feasible to administer oral CPR/AMX as continuation antibiotic therapy for a selected subgroup of febrile neutropenic episodes defined after initial hospitalization and empiric antibiotic therapy. Prospectively randomized trials will be required to analyze adequately the efficacy of an oral CPR/AMX outpatient antibiotic regimen for treatment of febrile neutropenia in pediatric oncology patients. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:93–98. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Perfusion MRI and SPECT of brain after treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Pääkkö Eija , Lehtinen Satu , Harila‐Saari Arja , Ahonen Aapo , Jauhiainen Jukka , Torniainen Pentti , Pyhtinen Juhani , Lanning Marjatta 
Published: December 2002

AbstractBackgroundTreatment of childhood leukemia may cause perfusion defects in the brain observed by SPECT. Perfusion MRI is a novel method to study brain perfusion which has not been used previously in this setting. This study was performed to compare SPECT with perfusion MRI in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after treatment.ProcedureNineteen children or young adults underwent perfusion MRI at the cessation of treatment (n = 9) or 4–8 years after the treatment (n = 10). Seventeen of them also underwent SPECT at the time of MRI (within 0–3 days, n = 14) or a couple of months later (1.5–6 months, n = 3). SPECT images and relative cerebral blood volume (CBV) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps from perfusion MRI were analyzed visually. Relative CBV ratios of gray matter to white matter and thalamus to white matter were also calculated from the perfusion MRI.ResultsPerfusion MRI did not show any focal perfusion defects, while small defects were observed by SPECT in five of 17 children (29%) in the basal, frontal or temporal areas on the left. No significant differences were observed by perfusion MRI in the relative CBV ratios in the different treatment groups. Time since treatment, age at diagnosis, brain irradiation, or findings in conventional MRI or SPECT did not have any effect on the relative perfusion values either.ConclusionsSPECT may show small perfusion defects after treatment for childhood leukemia which are not visible by perfusion MRI. The clinical significance or prognosis of these defects is not known. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:88–92. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Post‐induction residual disease in translocation t(12;21)‐positive childhood ALL
Authors: Seyfarth Jeanette , Madsen Hans O. , Nyvold Charlotte , Ryder Lars P. , Clausen Niels , Jonmundsson Gudmundur K. , Wesenberg Finn , Schmiegelow Kjeld 
Published: December 2002

AbstractBackgroundt(12;21)(p1 3;q22), the most frequent chromosomal translocation found in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), occurs in ∼ 25% of B‐lineage ALL cases and has been claimed to carry a good prognosis.ProcedureAs part of the Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (NOPHO) ALL‐MRD 95 study, which includes children from Iceland, Norway, and Denmark diagnose d with ALL, patients were screened for the presence of t(12; 21) by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) at diagnosis, and their residual disease was quantified after 4 weeks of induction therapy (prednisolone, vincristine, doxorubicin, i.t. methotrexate) by a competitive, clone‐specific, semi‐nested PCR analysis.ResultsAmong 96 children diagnosed with ALL, and quantified for post induction residual disease, 32 were t(12;21)‐positive. The median residual disease was similar for B‐precursor ALL patients with and without t(12;21) (0.009 vs. 0.03%, P  = 0.12).ConclusionsAl though patients with t(12;21)‐positive ALL have been claimed to have a good outcome, these data indicate that this does not reflect a high sensitivity to prednisolone, vincristine, and doxo rubicin given during induction therapy. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:82–87. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Gamma‐knife radiosurgery in pediatric cerebral and skull base tumors
Authors: Hirth Asle , Pedersen Paal‐Henning , Baardsen Roald , Larsen John Ludvig , Krossnes Bård K. , Helgestad Jon 
Published: December 2002

AbstractBackgroundThis retrospective study of 12 children with cerebral or skull base tumors was undertaken to evaluate morbidity and outcome after gamma‐knife surgery.ProcedureTwelve consecutive children treated with stereotactic radiosurgery in a curative intent were reviewed. There were five girls and seven boys. The mean age at diagnosis was 5.8 years and at radiosurgical treatment 8.4 years. There were four pilocytic astrocytomas, two craniopharyngeomas, two pineoblastomas, two ependymomas, and two other tumors of high malignancy. We used a 201‐source Co60 Leksell gamma knife and all children were treated in general anesthesia.ResultsThe mean tumor volume was 3.7 cm3 and the mean tumor margin dose was 13.8 Gy. Seven patients remained stable after gamma‐knife treatment with a mean follow‐ up of 78.6 months. One patient died during follow‐up. The remaining four patients had progressive disease, two within and two outside the irradiated field, and have received further treatment. They are still alive with and without disease with a mean follow‐up of 96.8 months.ConclusionGamma‐knife surgery is an effective treatment in some non‐resectable cerebral and skull base pediatric tumors. In most cases, it is used in combination with other therapeutic modalities. It is safe and well tolerated. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:99–103. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A discourse: The 2002 Wataru W. Sutow lecture Hodgkin disease in children—perspectives and progress
Authors: Donaldson Sarah S. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractThe PioneerWataru W. Sutow, 1912–1981, was a remarkable and pivotal leader in pediatric oncology. Early in his medical career, he conducted important clinical and anthropometric studies among Japanese and Marshall Island children exposed to atomic radiation. These studies established standards for childhood growth and development still in use today. Dr. Sutow pioneered the multidisciplinary approach to childhood cancer by combining multidrug chemotherapy protocols with surgery and radiotherapy in the common childhood solid tumors. The textbook “Clinical Pediatric Oncology,” of which he was the senior editor, served to define the discipline of pediatric oncology and educate a new era of oncologists in the curative treatment for childhood cancer.The Past and PresentThe first edition of “Clinical Pediatric Oncology,” published in 1973, demonstrated that only children with early‐stage localized Hodgkin disease had a realistic opportunity for cure. Soon the use of combined‐modality therapy consisting of low‐dose, involved‐field radiation plus multi‐agent chemotherapy emerged, and made the goal of cure realistic for all patients. This approach is now universal. Today, the 5‐year relative survival rate for American children with Hodgkin disease, who are under 14 years of age, is 94%, a dramatic and remarkable achievement.FutureManagement of children with Hodgkin disease now involves clinical staging and risk‐adapted, combined‐modality therapy. Clinical and translational research initiatives that hold promise for children with Hodgkin disease in the future include: use of the WHO Classification System combining morphologic and biologic criteria; noninvasive staging procedures with increased sensitivity and specificity; development of a useful prognostic index to define groups for risk‐adapted therapy; high‐dose therapy with stem cell transplantation; and novel therapies. Med Pediatr Oncol 2003;40:73–81. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A new suboptimal control design for cascaded non‐linear systems
Authors: Qu Zhihua , Cloutier James R. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractA new suboptimal control design technique is proposed for a class of cascaded non‐linear systems. The design is based on a forward recursive design rather than a backstepping design, and it utilizes a non‐linear tracker derived using the state‐dependent algebraic Riccati equation approach. The proposed design has two distinct features. First, it provides suboptimal performance with respect to a performance index that is defined in terms of the original state and control variables and thus can be prescribed. Second, the forward recursive procedure eliminates differentiation of fictitious controls (or their functions), which makes the design much simpler in applications. Due to the use of the non‐linear tracker, the proposed design has the potential of producing less conservative results than non‐linear servo results. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Decentralized control strategies for dynamic routing
Authors: İftar Altuğ , J. Davison Edward 
Published: December 2002

AbstractThe routing problem in multi‐destination data communication networks is considered. A dynamic model, which can incorporate arbitrary, different, time‐varying processing delays at different nodes, is developed to describe the network dynamics. Based on this model, controllers for routing control are proposed. The structures of the proposed controllers are motivated by an optimal control problem. These proposed controllers are completely decentralized in the sense that all necessary on‐line computations are done locally at each node. Furthermore, the information needed for these computations is related only to the queue lengths at the present node and the adjacent downstream nodes. Both cases when the controls can be continuously changed and when the controls are updated at discrete time instants are considered. In the latter case the controls at different nodes may be updated at different time instants (i.e. the network is not necessarily synchronous). It is shown that the controllers enjoy many desirable properties; in particular, they clear all the queues of the network in the absence of external message arrivals, in finite time. Furthermore, the controllers do not direct messages around a loop. They also have certain robustness properties. Some simulation results relating to a number of realistic problems are presented to illustrate various features of the controllers. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plasma and red blood cell zinc in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Akanli Leyla , Lowenthal Diana B. , Gjonaj Suzette , Dozor Allen J. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to measure plasma and red blood cell (RBC) zinc concentrations in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and examine their relationship to nutritional status and pulmonary function. Plasma and RBC zinc levels were compared in 53 CF patients ranging in age from 0.5–46 years. Their relationships to weight (% ideal weight) and forced expired volume in 1 sec (FEV1) (% predicted value) were examined. After excluding improperly handled specimens, RBC zinc levels in 51 patients and plasma zinc concentrations in 40 patients were included for analysis. Sixteen of 51 (31%) patients had low RBC zinc levels compared to 4 of 40 (10%) with low plasma zinc concentrations (P < 0.01). Thirteen of 38 patients (34%) in whom both values were obtained had low RBC zinc concentrations compared to 4 of 38 (11%) with low plasma zinc levels (P < 0.022). Neither low RBC nor plasma zinc levels correlated with nutritional status or lung function.In conclusion, about one third of patients with CF had low RBC zinc levels. Plasma zinc concentrations may not adequately reflect overall zinc status. This deficiency did not appear to be related to either nutritional status or lung function. The significance of low RBC zinc in CF is unknown. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:2–7. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Anterior bridging bronchus
Authors: Rishavy Thomas J. , Goretsky Michael J. , Langenburg Scott E. , Klein Michael D. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractPreviously reported patients with a bridging bronchus (BB) presented with respiratory distress. In addition, each patient had one or more associated anomalies. All but two patients progressed to cardiopulmonary failure and death. We describe a case of an anterior BB without associated anomalies, who did well without operative intervention. This patient presented with a cough at 6 months of age. Chest X‐ray was normal, but due to suspicion of foreign body aspiration, bronchoscopy was performed, which revealed a third bronchus at the carina. Bronchography demonstrated the anatomy of the BB. The patient has continued to do well without further intervention. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:70–72. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Is patient dropout from a longitudinal study of lung function predictable and reversible?
Authors: Turner Stephen W. , le Souëf Peter N. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractPredictive factors for individuals dropping out from a longitudinal study of lung function have not been described, nor have methods for re‐recruiting dropouts been developed. Our aims were to identify factors predictive of dropout and methods of re‐recruiting dropouts from a longitudinal study of lung function. Details at enrollment into a longitudinal birth cohort study were compared between those who dropped out and those who were assessed 6 and 11 years later. Strategies for identifying individuals successfully contacted at 11 but not 6 years were described.Of 253 infants enrolled prenatally, 123 (49%) were followed up at age 6 and 194 (77%) at age 11 years. At 6 years, independent risk factors for a child dropping out were: no other sibling enrolled (OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.6, 10.1; P = 0.003); being first‐born (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.5, 5.2; P = 0.001); mother completing education at age 15 years (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.3, 4.9; P = 0.007); and mother born overseas (OR, 2.3; 95% CI; 2.8; P = 0.01). The following were predictive of a child dropping out at 11 years: mother born overseas (OR, 4.8; 95% CI, 2.2, 10.2; P < 0.001); paternal smoker (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.5, 6.5; P = 0.003); no other sibling enrolled (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.1, 15.7; P = 0.04); and being first‐born (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0, 4.3; P < 0.05). Of the 74 families successfully followed up at 11 but not 6 years, 35 (47%) were contacted by using data already held in study records, and 32 (43%) were contacted by databases available to the public.In conclusion, factors present at enrollment and predictive of dropout from a longitudinal cohort study can be identified. Using a variety of methods, re‐recruitment is possible for many individuals who previously dropped out. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:29–33. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pulmonary function tests leading to the diagnosis of vascular ring in an infant
Authors: Amirav Israel , Rotschild Moshe , Bar‐Yishay Ephraim 
Published: December 2002

AbstractA 5‐month‐old baby was referred to our pulmonary clinic because of chronic cough and wheeze, unresponsive to antiasthmatic treatment. Examination in the Infant Pulmonary Function Laboratory suggested an upper airway obstruction. An aberrant right subclavian artery was subsequently confirmed by a barium swallow, flexible bronchoscopy, and an angiographic reconstructed chest CT study. Due to modest symptoms a conservative medical approach was taken. At follow‐up 1 year later, the patient had fewer respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:62–66. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of urokinase in childhood pleural empyema
Authors: Barbato A. , Panizzolo C. , Monciotti C. , Marcucci F. , Stefanutti G. , Gamba P.G. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractUrokinase is an enzyme with a fibrinolytic effect that facilitates pleural empyema drainage through a chest tube. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of pneumothorax, the need for pleural debridement surgery, the persistence of fever, and the number of days in hospital in a group of children with parapneumonic pleural empyema treated with urokinase.This was an uncontrolled retrospective study on children suffering from parapneumonic empyema. Data collected on 17 children treated with urokinase were compared with 11 children treated prior to the advent of urokinase (the “historic” group). The urokinase was instilled in the pleural cavity over a period ranging from 2–8 days, amounting to a median total dose per kilogram of body weight of 18,556 IU (range, 7,105–40,299). Surgical treatment of the empyema involved drainage tube placement and/or debridement of the pleural cavity.Three children developed pneumothorax during their hospital stay, and one more case occurred 6 months after the child had recovered from his empyema; there were 3 cases of pneumothorax during the acute phase in the “historic” group (P = 0.54). Five children in the urokinase group were debrided and 12 were only drained, as opposed to 9 and 2, respectively, in the “historic” group (P = 0.02). The overall hospital stay was 17 days for the urokinase group, and 24 for the “historic” group (P = 0.02). No bleeding or other major complications were reported in the group treated with urokinase.In conclusion, urokinase treatment does not carry a risk of pneumothorax, while it does reduce hospital stay and the need for pleural debridement. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 35:50–55. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A magnitude‐robust control chart for monitoring and estimating step changes for normal process means
Authors: Pignatiello Joseph J. , Simpson James R. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractStatistical process control charts are intended to assist operators of a usually stable system in monitoring whether a change has occurred in the process. When a change does occur, the control chart should detect it quickly. If the operator can also be provided information that aids in the search for the special cause, then critical off‐line time can be saved. We investigate a process‐monitoring tool that not only provides speedy detection regardless of the magnitude of the process shift, but also supplies useful change point statistics. A likelihood ratio approach can be used to develop a control chart for permanent step change shifts of a normal process mean. The average run length performance for this chart is compared to that of several cumulative sum (CUSUM) charts. Our performance comparisons show that this chart performs better than any one CUSUM chart over an entire range of potential shift magnitudes. The likelihood ratio approach also provides point and interval estimates for the time and magnitude of the process shift. These crucial change‐point diagnostics can greatly enhance special cause investigation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.