bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intracervical misoprostol and prostaglandin E2 for labor induction
Authors: Chang Y.‐K. , Chen W.‐H. , Yu M.‐H. , Liu H.‐S. 
Published: January 2003

AbstractObjectives: To compare the safety and efficacy of misoprostol with PGE2 for induction of labor by intracervical administration. Methods: Eighty‐six women with indications for labor induction at term were randomly assigned to two groups. Each woman received either 50 μg of misoprostol or 0.5 mg of prostaglandin E2 intracervically. If labor was not initiated after 4 h, the same dose was repeated every 4 h to a maximum of 200 μg of misoprostol or 1.5 mg of PGE2 until adequate labor was achieved. Results: Forty‐three women were allocated to the misoprostol group and 43 to the prostaglandin E2 group. Misoprostol was more effective than PGE2 in producing cervical changes (P<0.025). Delivery within 12 h after the first administration occurred more often in the misoprostol group than in the PGE2 one (85% vs. 56%, P<0.05). Less patients in the misoprostol group required oxytocin augmentation than in the PGE2 one (16.3% vs. 39.5%, P<0.05). Uterine tachysystole and hyperstimulation occurred more frequently in the misoprostol group (44.1%) than in the PGE2 group (18.7%) (P<0.05). Nevertheless, no statistically significant differences were noted between the two groups including mode of delivery and neonatal or maternal adverse outcome. The interval from induction to vaginal delivery was significantly shorter in the misoprostol group (480±172 min vs. 657±436 min, P<0.01). Conclusions: Compared with prostaglandin E2, intracervical misoprostol is more effective in cervical ripening and labor induction at term. The higher frequency of uterine hypercontractility associated with the use of misoprostol did not increase the risk of adverse intrapartum and neonatal outcomes.
Effect of clomiphene citrate on endometrium thickness and echogenic patterns
Authors: Dehbashi S. , Parsanezhad M.E. , Alborzi S. , Zarei A. 
Published: January 2003

AbstractObjective: To study the effect of clomiphene citrate (CC) on the thickness and echogenic pattern of the endometrium using vaginal sonography. Method: In this experimental prospective study, CC was given to 31 women with unexplained infertility. Thickness and echo patterns of the endometrium, as well as estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) levels, were compared in women taking CC and in control patients during both the late proliferative and midsecretory phases of the menstrual cycle. Results: Endometrial thickness was significantly thinner in women taking CC (P<0.03) than in controls during the late proliferative phase but there was no significant difference during the midsecretory phase. The endometrial echogenic patterns of women taking CC who had conceived revealed endometrial thicknesses of grade III and grade IV on midsecretory days, but these findings were not significantly different from those of women who had not conceived (P=0.3). Serum E2 level was higher in women taking CC than in the controls on both late proliferative and midsecretory days (P<0.05). Conclusion: CC affects endometrium thickness on late proliferative days but not on midsecretory days, and does not alter the echogenic pattern of the endometrium.
Chute stationnaire d’un solide dans un fluide visqueux incompressible le long d’un plan incliné
Authors: Hillairet M , Serre D 
Published: January 2003

The three-dimensional space is filled by a Newtonian fluid above a fixed ramp. A spherical solid body falls in the fluid under the action of the gravity. We are interested in permanent regimes, in which gravity and the action of the stress tensor of the fluid on the solid compensate. We prove that there exist such regimes, in which some parameters are given (including the gravity, the velocity of the solid and its distance to the ramp), but others, such the mass and the angular velocity, are determined by the motion.

We encounter two main difficulties. First in establishing a (non-explicit)
a priori
estimate. Last, because we are not able to convert the problem into the search of a zero of some outgoing vector field in a ball.

Résumé
Un demi-espace, dont le bord est un plan incliné, est rempli d’un liquide Newtonien. Un solide spherique tombe dans le liquide, sous l’action de la gravité. Nous considérons ici le régime permanent, dans lequel la gravité et le tenseur des contraintes exercées par le fluide sur le solide se compensent. Le solide est donc en translation uniforme parallèle au bord, avec une rotation propre à vitesse constante.
Nous prouvons qu’il existe un tel régime, dans lequel certains parametres sont donnés (en particulier la gravité, la vitesse du solide et sa distance au bord) tandis que d’autres, tels que la masse du solide et sa vitesse angulaire, font partie des inconnues.
La difficulté essentielle est l’estimation a priori, qui n’est pas explicite. En particulier, nous ne sommes pas capables de ramener le problème, ou un problème approché, à la recherche d’un zéro d’un champ de vecteur sortant sur une boule.
On the convergence of numerical schemes for the Boltzmann equation
Authors: Vasseur A. , Horsin T. , Mischler S. 
Published: January 2003

We consider a time and spatial explicit discretisation scheme for the Boltzmannequation. We prove some Maxwellian bounds on the resulting approximated solution anddeduce its convergence using a new time-discrete averaging lemma.

Résumé
Nous considérons une discrétisation explicite en temps et espace de l’équation de Boltzmann. Nous exhibons des bornes au moyen de Maxwelliennes et en déduisons la convergence en utilisant un nouveau lemme de moyennisation discret en temps.
Sexual dimorphism in rat cerebrum and cerebellum: different patterns of catalytically active creatine kinase isoenzymes during postnatal development and aging
Authors: Ramı́rez Oscar , Jiménez Esperanza 
Published: January 2003

AbstractDuring postnatal development, maturation and aging the Wistar rat cerebrum and cerebellum synthesize, in a different sex‐dependent manner, catalytically active dimeric cytosolic (c) muscle‐type (MM) and heart‐type (MB) creatine kinase (CK), besides the supposedly sole type brain‐specific (BB) CK. In both sexes, typical and atypical neuromuscular cCK isoenzymes were present during the study for 26 months. As in rat heart, females showed more cerebral cCK variants (41%) in comparison to males. Female rats exhibited about 93% more cerebellar variants of cCK isoenzymes as compared to males. The male cerebellum showed predominantly BB‐ and MB‐CK during the whole study in comparison to the female one that contained all neuromuscular cCK variants. Only female rats showed decreases and increases of cerebral CK specific activity. In contrast to males, coinciding with the weaning period, cerebral female CK activity decreased 45% from 14 to 21 days and increased about 3‐fold in female rats and only 1.3‐fold in males from 21 to 45 days of age. Contrary to the remarkable 4‐fold increase of chicken brain CK specific activity exhibited at old age, the rat did not show another cerebral CK activity increase during senescence in either sex. However, sex differences of CK specific activity appeared in the cerebellum at all ages. From the sex‐specific plateau phase at 45–60 days until 2.2 years of age, about a 41% independent increase of cerebellar CK specific activity was observed in both sexes. After puberty, the differential cerebellum–cerebrum values of CK specific activity were higher for female rats than males during youth, adulthood and senescence. The present work shows that in rat cerebrum and cerebellum, production of ATP through anaerobic transphosphorylation by the CK/PC system is sex‐and age‐specific, especially in the cerebellum, when glycolysis and the Krebs cycle lose capacity. As in rat heart, under physiological conditions at all ages the several cCK isoenzymes do participate in a gender‐specific manner, in favor of females, in diverse functions of the different cell compartments of glial and neuronal cells with regard to their high and fluctuating energy demands not completely covered by anaerobic and aerobic glycolysis.
A second source of precursor cells for the developing enteric nervous system and interstitial cells of Cajal
Authors: Sohal G.S. , Ali M.M. , Farooqui F.A. 
Published: January 2003

AbstractThe enteric nervous system is believed to be derived solely from the neural crest cells. This is partly based on the belief that the neural crest cells are the sole neural tube‐derived cells colonizing the gastrointestinal tract. However, recent studies have shown that after the emigration of neural crest cells an additional population of cells emigrates from the cranial neural tube. These cells originate in the ventral part of the hindbrain, emigrate through the site of attachment of the cranial nerves, and colonize a variety of developing structures including the gastrointestinal tract. This cell population has been named the ventrally emigrating neural tube (VENT) cells. We followed the fate of these cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Ventral hindbrain neural tube cells of chick embryos were tagged with replication‐deficient retroviral vectors containing the LacZ gene, after the emigration of neural crest from this region. In control embryos, the viral concentrate was dropped on the dorsal part of the neural tube. Embryos were sacrificed from embryonic days 3–12 and processed for the detection of LacZ positive ventrally emigrating neural tube cells. These cells colonized only the foregut, specifically the duodenum and stomach. Immunostaining with the neural crest cell marker HNK‐1 showed that they were HNK‐1 negative, indicating that they were not derived from neural crest. Cells were detected in three locations: (1) the myenteric and submucosal plexus of the enteric nervous system; (2) circular smooth muscle cell layer; and (3) mucosal lining of the lumen. A variety of specific markers were used to identify their fate. Some ventrally emigrating neural tube cells differentiated into neurons and glial cells, indicating that the enteric nervous system in the foregut develops from an additional source of precursor cells. It was also found that some of these cells differentiated into interstitial cells of Cajal, which mediate impulses between the enteric nervous system and smooth muscle cells, whereas others differentiated into epithelium. Altogether, these results indicate that the ventrally emigrating neural tube cells are multipotential. More importantly, they reveal a novel source of precursor cells for the neurons and glial cells of the enteric nervous system. The developmental and functional significance of the heterogeneous origin of the cell types remains to be established.
Axonal localization of delta Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II in developing P19 neurons
Authors: Omar Faison M. , Perozzi Ed F. , Caran Nicole , Stewart Jennifer K. , Tombes Robert M. 
Published: January 2003

AbstractCa2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase, type II (CaMK‐II) is an enzyme encoded by four genes (α, β, γ and δ) and traditionally associated with synaptic function in the adult central nervous system, but also believed to play a role during neuronal development. P19 mouse embryonic cells are a model system for neurogenesis and primarily express isozymes of δ CaMK‐II. It is not yet known whether or where δ CaMK‐II is expressed in P19 neurons. Using an antibody specific for the δ CaMK‐II C‐terminal tail, we detected a 20‐fold increase in levels of δ CaMK‐II along axons after 8 days of development. This coincides with increased mRNA and protein levels of δC CaMK‐II, which contains the alternative tail. This follows the initial stages of neurite outgrowth and β3 tubulin expression, which occur after 4 days. δ CaMK‐II co‐localizes with the axonal protein GAP‐43, but not the dendritic microtubule‐associated protein MAP‐2, a known substrate of α CaMK‐II. Like δ CaMK‐II, GAP‐43 shows increased expression after 8 days. These findings demonstrate developmental regulation of the alternative C‐terminal δ CaMK‐II exon and implicate endogenous δ CaMK‐II in axonal development in embryonic cells.
Suppression of motor evoked potentials in a hand muscle following prolonged painful stimulation
Authors: Svensson Peter , Miles Timothy S. , McKay Darrin , Ridding Michael C. 
Published: January 2003

AbstractEarlier investigations have shown that stimulation of peripheral afferent nerves induces prolonged changes in the excitability of the human motor cortex. The present study compared the effect of experimental pain and non‐painful conditioning stimulation on motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the relaxed first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU) muscles. The MEPs were measured in 10 healthy subjects, and stimulus—response curves were generated before and after each of four stimulation paradigms conducted in random order on separate occasions: (a) control; (b) “dual stimulation” consisting of electrical stimulation of the FDI motor point paired with TMS; (c) painful infusion of hypertonic saline in the FDI muscle; and (d) pain combined with dual stimulation. There were no significant changes in FDI MEPs following the control paradigm, and dual stimulation induced an increase in the FDI MEPs only inconsistently. In contrast, the painful stimulation and the combined pain and dual stimulation paradigms were followed by significant suppression of the FDI MEPs at higher stimulus intensities. No changes were observed in the FCU MEPs following the four paradigms. In two additional subjects, the responses evoked in FDI by direct stimulation of the descending corticospinal tracts were significantly depressed following painful stimulation of the FDI, although the ulnar‐evoked M‐waves remained constant. It is concluded that muscle pain is followed by a period with profound depression of MEPs amplitudes in the resting muscle, but that these changes are at least in part due to a lasting depression of the excitability of the motoneurones in the spinal cord. Hence, painful stimulation differs from non‐painful, repetitive stimulation, which facilitates the corticomotor pathway.
The treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) involving upper extremity with continuous sensory analgesia
Authors: Margić Krunoslav , Pirc Jelka 
Published: January 2003

AbstractContinuous sensory analgesia of brachial plexus (CSA BP) was only occasionally reported to have been used in the treatment of CRPS. In the past four years, we have treated 21 patients with a working diagnosis of CRPS. The treatment was instituted one to six months after inciting injury. All patients were admitted to hospital. In the first two days, the therapy consisted of elevation, cryotherapy, and active exercises. Five patients responded well to this initial physiotherapy (5/21). In 16 cases, no evident improvement was observed and CSA BP was introduced. At follow‐up (3–36 months), the results were: 13/16 (81%) had at least good results (excellent 2, good without any sequelae 5, good with sequelae of initial injury 6, and poor 3).The results were judged as follows: excellent (completely normal hand); good (only temporary pain up to 2 on a 0–10 numeric rating scale; no signs of dysfunction of sympathetic nervous system; ROM of wrist over 50% of normal hand; ROM of fingers excellent or good; and the strength of hand grasp and key pinch over 50% of normal hand measured with dynamometer) and if any of the former criteria was missing, the result was defined as poor.
ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITORING
Authors: Banta H. David , Thacker Stephen B. 
Published: January 2003

Objectives: The assessment of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) carried out by the authors in the late 1970s provides an early case of a systematic review of evidence in health technology assessment. This paper identifies lessons pertinent for the present day in this field.Methods: We reviewed our own files for the description of our assessment and reactions to it. We also reviewed recent literature to evaluate our observations in relation to recent evidence.Results: Our findings of insufficient evidence of efficacy and concerns about safety have been confirmed by subsequent research. Still, despite findings and recommendations of prominent professional and governmental bodies, EFM continues in widespread use in the United States and Europe and is spreading into developing countries around the world. Aggressive attacks on our assessment as well as our skills and integrity have been mirrored in recent years by criticism of other researchers in health technology assessment.Conclusions: The case of EFM points to the limitations of assessment without other actions to assure the implementation of results. Health technologies that are accepted by the majority of clinicians in a particular field may require extraordinary efforts to assure appropriate use of technology assessments.
IMPACT OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS
Authors: Britton Mona , Jonsson Egon 
Published: January 2003

Objective: A recurring question is whether evidence from systematic reviews has any impact on medical practice. We have studied this question in relation to some conclusions in seven reports, where relatively simple means to monitor trends could be used.Results: As recommended, in the report preoperative routines the number of preoperative examinations diminished at six hospitals, during around 3,000 operations studied, a savings of SEK 130 million. After the report on moderately elevated blood pressure sales of the preferred drugs, diuretics and beta-blockers, stopped falling while calcium blockers and ACE inhibitors stopped rising. As concluded in the report, general prostate cancer screening has not been introduced, but tests as a sign of opportunistic screening have increased. Bone density measurements were not recommended for screening, and sales of equipment have declined after the report. The use of neuroleptics as unspecific calming therapy for old persons was discouraged due to the serious side effects. The frequency of patients given this medication diminished from 34% to 28% at nursing homes after 1 year. For smoking cessation, the use of nicotine substitution medications has increased, which is in line with suggestions presented in the report. For stomach pain proton pump inhibitors given for functional dyspepsia have diminished in a region of the country after special efforts to disseminate the message.Conclusions: It appears to be possible to monitor changes in practice corresponding to selected conclusions in systematic reviews. After rather extensive disseminating efforts, some results look encouraging.
The emergence of potent forms of methamphetamine in Sydney, Australia: a case study of the IDRS as a strategic early warning system
Authors: TOPP LIBBY , DEGENHARDT LOUISA , KAYE SHARLENE , DARKE SHANE 
Published: January 2003

AbstractA striking finding of the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) in recent years has concerned the emergence in Sydney of a number of different forms of potent methamphetamine. This paper demonstrates the operation of the IDRS in detecting and documenting an increase in both the availability and use of these forms of methamphetamine in Sydney, and Australia more widely, since 1998. Data from different components of the IDRS are utilized to propose that there are currently at least three forms of methamphetamine available in Sydney that are considered by the market to be distinct commodities: methamphetamine powder (‘speed’), base methamphetamine (‘base’) and crystalline methamphetamine (‘ice’/‘shabu’/‘crystal meth’). Base and ice are more potent forms of methamphetamine than speed, and international experience, along with preliminary data obtained from the IDRS, suggest that their use is associated with harms in a number of domains.
Perceived and self‐reported licit and illicit drug use among fishing industry workers on the mid‐north coast of Western Australia
Authors: CARRUTHERS SUSAN , BOOTS KEVIN , MIDFORD RICHARD 
Published: January 2003

AbstractThis paper describes the perceptions of boat owners and regional health workers about the use of alcohol and illicit substances within the West Australian mid‐west coast fishing industry. It also reports on a survey conducted among fishing industry workers concerning their consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs while at sea and in port. Boat owners and health workers perceived that cannabis and alcohol were the most commonly used substances, a perception borne out by the results of the survey. While the levels of illicit drug use for this group were lower than those reported in the fishing industry in an eastern Australian state (Queensland), they were nevertheless considerably higher than those recorded for the general population aged up to 35 years in a National Drug Survey. Cannabis was indeed the most frequently used illicit drug and injecting drug use was minimal. Alcohol use was particularly high and binge drinking described frequently. The results are compared with other industry findings and discussed in terms of occupational health and safety. Recommendations are suggested for future prevention programmes.
The effectiveness of cannabis crop eradication operations in New Zealand
Authors: WILKINS CHRIS , BHATTA KRISHNA , CASSWELL SALLY 
Published: January 2003

AbstractAt present the only information available on the effectiveness of the cannabis crop eradication programme in New Zealand is the total number of cannabis plants destroyed each year. These figures can only provide a very crude measure of the effectiveness of these operations. A better measure would be the percentage of total cannabis production destroyed—known as the drug seizure rate. This paper calculates the seizure rate of the cannabis crop eradication programme in New Zealand using the amount of cannabis reported consumed in the Alcohol and Public Health Research Unit's (APHRU) National Drug Survey. The seizure rate for the 1998 programme is calculated to be 26–31%. This compares favourably with drug seizure rates reported in other countries. The effectiveness of the cannabis crop eradication programme, and its apparent modest share of the total cannabis control budget, raises some intriguing questions about the role an expanded crop eradication programme could play in a future cannabis control strategy.
Programmes for the children of illicit drug‐using parents: issues and dilemmas
Authors: BANWELL CATHY , DENTON BARBARA , BAMMER GABRIELE 
Published: January 2003

AbstractConcern about the health and general well‐being of children whose parents use illicit drugs has contributed to an increased interest in intervention programmes, but the number of such services is still limited. We review published papers about residential, home‐visiting and non‐residential programmes and use these and our experience in studying playgroup‐based clinics to outline issues and dilemmas they face. These include balancing trust and acceptance with intervention when problems are identified, harmonizing accessibility and flexibility with the provision of child‐focused activities and adult education, finding a location that is both suitable and affordable, appropriately supporting staff, collaborating with other services and securing adequate funding, including for ongoing evaluation and monitoring.
Intramolecular Charge-Transfer Behavior of 1-Pyrenyl Aromatic Amides and Its Control through the Complexation with Metal Ions
Authors: Morozumi Tatsuya , Hiraga Hisafumi , Nakamura Hiroshi 
Published: January 2003

Abstract
New fluorescent ionophores containing 1-pyrenyl aromatic amides based on oligoethylene oxide (1 and 2) have been synthesized and its photochemical behaviors have been studied. In the absence of metal ion, 1-pyrenylbenzamide moiety showed almost no fluorescence emission. However, complexation with Ca2+ induced a large enhancement effect on the fluorescence intensity of 1 and 2 from the pyrene ring. This behavior can be explained by in terms of the similar twisted intramolecular charge-transfer relaxation mechanism.