bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumors: Factors that Predict Outcome
Authors: Van Gompel Jamie J. , Sippel Rebecca S. , Warner Tom F. , Chen Herbert 
Published: April 2004

AbstractGastrointestinal (GI) carcinoids are neuroendocrine tumors originating in multiple locations throughout the GI tract. The prognosis for patients with GI carcinoid tumors is diverse. To determine the factors that significantly affect prognosis, we reviewed our experience. Between 1992 and 2000 a total of 70 patients with GI carcinoid tumors underwent surgical resection at our institution. The patients were grouped into three categories based on the origin of the carcinoid tumor: foregut, midgut, hindgut. The mean age of the patients was 56 ± 2 years. All patients with foregut carcinoids had symptoms upon presentation, whereas 61% of those with midgut carcinoids and only 37% of those with hindgut carcinoids had symptoms (p < 0.001). The factors that most strongly affected survival on univariate analysis were a symptomatic presentation and the site of origin. Patients with foregut or midgut lesions had lower 5‐year disease‐free survivals than those with hindgut tumors. Moreover, the size of the primary tumor and the presence of liver metastases were not independent predictors of survival. Despite the larger tumor size and the higher incidence of liver metastases, patients with foregut carcinoids appear to have the same prognosis as those with midgut carcinoids. These data therefore suggest that the outcomes of patients with carcinoid tumors are highly dependent on the presence of symptoms and the site of origin.
High‐Energy Laser Therapy of Barrett’s Esophagus: Preliminary Results
Authors: Norberto Lorenzo , Polese Lino , Angriman Imerio , Erroi Francesca , Cecchetto Attilio , D’Amico Davide F. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract.We present the preliminary results obtained by our research group utilizing Nd:YAG and diode lasers to treat Barrett’s esophagus (BE). A total of 15 patients with BE (mean age 58 years) underwent endoscopic laser therapy: 11 with intestinal metaplasia, 2 with low‐grade dysplasia, and 2 with high‐grade dysplasia. The mean length of BE was 4 cm (range 1–12 cm). Six of these patients also underwent antireflux surgery, and nine were prescribed acid‐suppressive medication. Endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment was carried out from 1997 to 1999; thereafter, diode laser was employed. The mean follow‐up of these patients after the first laser session was 28 months. Patients underwent a mean of 6.5 laser sessions (range 3–17 sessions), with no apparent complications. The mean energy per session was 1705 JJ. Only six of these patients (40%) showed complete endoscopic and histologic remission, but a mean of 77% (SD 23.8%) of the total metaplastic tissue in all these patients was ablated. The percentage of healed mucosa was higher in patients with short‐segment BE (92%) (p < 0.05) and in subjects treated by two or more laser sessions per centimeter of BE length (89%) (p < 0.05). All four patients with dysplasia showed histologic regression to nondysplastic BE or to squamous epithelium, without recurrence during a mean follow‐up of 30 months. The patients who underwent antireflux surgery and those prescribed pharmacologic treatment had similar results. Nd:YAG and diode laser treatment of BE is a safe, effective procedure; it required two sessions per centimeter of metaplasia; and it achieved complete regression of the dysplasia. Further studies are necessary to quantify its effect on cancer incidence.
Assessment of Nonresponse Bias in an Internet Survey of Alcohol Use
Authors: Kypri Kypros , Stephenson Shaun , Langley John 
Published: April 2004

Abstract: Background: Decreasing survey response rates are a growing concern in epidemiological research, principally because prevalence estimates may be biased by selective nonresponse. Internet‐based methods have the potential to yield higher‐quality data with lower nonresponse rates and at a lower cost than traditional methods. Little research exists on nonresponse bias in Internet surveys of alcohol use. This investigation draws on a study of the implementation of an Internet‐based alcohol survey involving a random sample of 1910 university students with a response rate of 82% (n= 1564). Our aim was to identify nonresponse bias and to quantify its effects on estimates of alcohol consumption, the incidence of alcohol‐related problems, and the prevalence of hazardous drinking.Methods: Survey nonresponse has been characterized in terms of a continuum of resistance model, in which the propensity of individuals to respond is inferred from the level of effort required to elicit a response. Two methods were used to test this model: comparison of the demographic characteristics of the target sample with those of the respondents and comparison of alcohol variables for those who responded late with those who responded early.Results: The results attained with method 1 showed that bias varied as a function of gender, age, ethnicity, and living arrangement. The results attained with method 2 showed that the incidence of alcohol‐related problems and hazardous drinking prevalence varied as a function of response latency. If only the early and intermediate respondents had participated, the incidence of alcohol‐related problems and the prevalence of hazardous drinking would each have been underestimated by 3%.Conclusions: The findings reported here are consistent with the continuum of resistance model but show that the bias resulting from nonresponse is arguably too small to be of concern with respect to estimating consumption levels, the incidence of alcohol‐related problems, and the prevalence of hazardous drinking.
Efficacy of Brief Interventions for Hazardous Drinkers in Primary Care: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analyses
Authors: Ballesteros Javier , Duffy John C. , Querejeta Imanol , Ariño Julen , González‐Pinto Asunción 
Published: April 2004

Abstract: Background: Because recent research in primary care has challenged the findings of previous reviews on the efficacy of brief interventions (BIs) on hazardous drinkers, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to update the evidence of BIs as applied in the primary care setting.Methods: We obtained source material by searching electronic databases and reference lists and hand‐searching journals. We selected randomized trials providing frequency data that allowed assessment of the efficacy of BIs on an intention‐to‐treat basis. Results were summarized by the odds ratio (OR) of response. When appropriate, risk difference (RD) and its inverse (number needed to treat [NNT] to achieve a positive result) were also computed. Fixed and/or random effect models were fitted according to heterogeneity estimates.Results: Thirteen studies provided data for a dose‐effect analysis, 12 for comparison of BIs with reference categories. No clear evidence of a dose‐effect relationship was found. BIs outperformed minimal interventions and usual care (random effects model OR = 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.27–1.90; RD = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.06–0.16; NNT = 10, 95% CI = 7–17). Similar results were obtained when two influential studies were removed (fixed effect model OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.32–1.87; RD = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.07–0.15; NNT = 9, 95% CI = 7–15). The heterogeneity between individual estimates was accounted for by the type of hazardous drinkers (heavy versus moderate) and by the characteristics of the included individuals (treatment seekers versus nontreatment seekers). The funnel plot did not show evidence of publication bias.Conclusion: Our results, although indicating smaller effect sizes than previous meta‐analyses, do support the moderate efficacy of BIs. Further research is outlined.
Evidence that tilapia islets do not express α‐(1,3)gal: implications for islet xenotransplantation
Authors: Leventhal Joseph R. , Sun JingDong , Zhang Jenny , Galili Uri , Chong Anita , Baker Marshall , Kaufman Dixon B. , Wright James R. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract:  Background:  Cell therapy for diabetes using teleost fish islet tissue has emerged as an intriguing alternative to the use of islet tissue from mammalian pancreases. The islet tissue, called Brockman bodies (BBs), is anatomically distinct from the pancreatic exocrine tissue and can be easily identified and isolated. Islets harvested from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), when transplanted into streptozotocin‐diabetic nude mice, produce long‐term normoglycemia and achieve mammalian‐like glucose tolerance profiles. We asked whether tilapia express the α‐(1,3)gal epitope, the immunodominant target of human xenogeneic responses.Methods and Results:  Immunostaining with the α‐(1,3)gal‐specific IB4 lectin on tilapia BB, liver, heart, spleen, and head kidney was negative, as was staining with murine anti‐α‐gal‐specific monoclonal antibodies. Absence of α‐gal‐specific binding of IB4 or murine anti‐gal mAbs to dispersed BBs was confirmed by fluorescent‐activated cell sorter analysis. Tilapia BB cell membranes failed to reduce binding of anti‐α‐(1,3)gal‐specific mAb in an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition assay, while porcine and murine tissue lysates did. Tilapia BB cell lysates were shown to be devoid of α‐1,3 galactosyltransferase activity by ELISA. Transplantation of tilapia BBs into diabetic α‐gal knockout (gal KO) mice was not associated with accelerated xenograft rejection when compared with wild type control recipients (mean survival time 6.5 days vs. 7.2 days). Tilapia BBs failed to induce a rise in anti‐gal IgG and IgM titers in gal KO mice, while the transplant of wild type mouse islets into gal KO mice caused a significant rise in anti‐gal IgG and IgM antibodies.Conclusions:  We conclude that tilapia BBs are devoid of α‐gal expression, and may offer an alternative to swine as a donor species for islet xenotransplantation.
Incorporating Systematic Reviews into Nursing Education
Authors: Stevens Kathleen R. , Long JoAnn D. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract(1) Systematic reviews of research are important to the quality of nursing care. A number of sources of systematic reviews of nursing research are available. Nursing education programs should introduce students to these as crucial resources for utilizing research in practice. This article describes sources of systematic reviews and proposes teaching strategies for incorporating the use of systematic reviews into undergraduate and graduate programs. Nurse educators are invited to contribute to this ongoing column their accounts of successful teaching strategies.
Three absolute photonic gaps from 2d square compound lattices
Authors: Yuntuan Fang , Tinggen Shen 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe photonic band structures of two‐dimensional square compound lattices are calculated by the plane‐wave method. Four air hole cylinders drilled in a square dielectric cylinder which locate at each square lattice site are embedded in a background of air. Three absolute photonic band gaps common to E and H polarized waves are created when given proper structure parameters. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Investigation of carrier scattering mechanisms in TlInS2 single crystals by Hall effect measurements
Authors: Qasrawi A. F. , Gasanly N. M. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractTlInS2 single crystals are studied through the conductivity and Hall effect measurements in the temperature regions of 100‐400 and 170‐400 K, respectively. An anomalous behavior of Hall voltage, which changes sign below 315 K, is interpreted through the existence of deep donor impurity levels that behave as acceptor levels when are empty. The hole and electron mobility are limited by the hole‐ and electron‐phonon short range interactions scattering above and below 315 K, respectively. An energy level of 35 meV and a set of donor energy levels located at 360, 280, 220 and 170/152 meV are determined from the temperature dependencies of the carrier concentration and conductivity. A hole, electron, hole‐electron pair effective masses of 0.24 mo, 0.14 mo and 0.09 mo and hole‐ and electron‐phonon coupling constants of 0.50 and 0.64, respectively, are obtained from the Hall effect measurements. The theoretical fit of the Hall coefficient reveals a hole to electron mobility ratio of 0.8. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Kalman estimator using two directions of angular velocity
Authors: Kawamoto Daisuke , Hashirao Masataka , Kawase Tetsuya , Satoh Reiji , Sasase Iwao 
Published: April 2004

AbstractA Kalman filter that can estimate equal velocity and equal angular velocity by means of angular velocities in two directions is proposed. In the proposed tracking filter, the angular velocity is calculated in two directions from the difference of the two velocity vectors obtained from the observation values of the past three samples. By making use of the fact that the speed of rotation of the velocity vector coincides with the angular velocity in constant‐speed circular motion, the variation of the velocity is expressed without using an acceleration term. Since the calculation of the rotating acceleration is not needed, the error due to shift of the estimated center and the estimated radius in Ref. 10 can be made zero and the tracking accuracy can be improved. The effectiveness of the proposed tracking filter is demonstrated with regard to the tracking accuracy and computational load by computer simulation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 87(10): 67–80, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.10160
Chemical composition of the essential oils of Anthemis altissima L. grown in Iran
Authors: Javidnia K. , Miri R. , Kamalinejad M. , Sarkarzadeh H. , Jamalian A. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe essential oils of the ﬂowers, leaves and stems of Anthemis altissima growing wild in Iran were separately obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC–MS. A total of 123 components were identiﬁed in the essential oils of the investigated organs. The main components of the ﬂower and leaf essential oils were β‐caryophyllene (25.3% and 17.2%), caryophyllene‐oxide (6.5% and 9.6%) and spathulenol (5.4% and 17.4%), respectively. Non‐terpenic compounds were the main components of the stem oil. Palmitic acid (39.6%) and linoleic acid (36.2%) constituted the main compounds of the stem oil. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmental decisions and electronic democracy
Authors: Geldermann Jutta , Rentz Otto 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThis paper gives a brief overview on new tendencies in environmental policy regarding electronic democracy, with two examples of environmental directives. The European Commission proposed Internet technology for the first time for the dissemination of the Solvent Directive (1999/13/EC), in order to display available information for the numerous affected sectors. Moreover, the possibility of an information exchange between the Commission, the Member States and approximately 400 000 companies concerned by the Directive was created.Another major topic of European Environmental Policy is the IPPC‐Directive (96/61/EC), which requires an information exchange on and determination of the best available techniques for most industrial sectors in Europe. The decision making process is described in this paper, with special emphasis on the possibilities of electronic democracy.Based on these considerations, aspects of decision‐making behaviour, in the context of integrated decision support for complex issues in the environmental domain, are analysed and put forth for discussion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
e‐democracy and participatory decision processes: lessons from e‐negotiation experiments
Authors: Kersten Gregory E. 
Published: April 2004

Abstracte‐Democracy takes place at different levels, ranging from local to regional to state governments. It also takes different forms: voting, consultation and the participation in the construction of the alternative course of actions. This paper is concerned with the use of information and communication technologies in participative e‐democracy at community and local government levels. It postulates that to design participating systems the needs of the potential users must be determined and models of decision‐making and conflict resolution that can be used by lay people need to be constructed. A general framework for the design of systems for participatory decision‐making is presented. The experiences with the design and deployment of the Inspire e‐negotiation support system, its use by a large number of people from many countries, and the results of studies of the users and the use of Inspire are presented. Based on these experiences, an example of the implementation of the general framework is given. The paper also stresses the need for the development of aids and materials for lay people who wish to educate themselves in participating in e‐democratic processes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Chinese medicine Banxia‐houpu decoction regulates c‐fos expression in the brain regions in chronic mild stress model in rats
Authors: Zhang Weiyun , Li Jianmei , Zhu Jixiao , Shi Zhenqiu , Wang Yong , Kong Lingdong 
Published: April 2004

AbstractBanxia‐houpu decoction is a safe and effective traditional Chinese medicinal formula used in the treatment of mild and manic‐depressive disorders for centuries. There has been increasing interest in its therapeutic application in depression. However, the mechanisms behind behavioural changes are still poorly understood. Chronic mild stress (CMS)‐induced preference behaviour change has been used as a model to predict the clinical efﬁcacy of many types of antidepressant treatment. Both EtOH and water extracts (AE and WE) of Banxia‐houpu decoction exhibited a signiﬁcantly increased sucrose intake in the CMS model in rats, but there was no effect in unstressed animals. In the present study, it was found that the c‐fos expression in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum corpora were very high in the CMS model in rats. WE and AE at a dose of 130 mg/kg exhibited a signiﬁcantly decreased c‐fos expression in the cerebral regions in CMS model in rats, respectively. The former was more potent than the latter. However, no signiﬁcant changes in the c‐fos expression were observed in unstressed rats treated with the decoction. Fluoxetine not only signiﬁcantly reduced c‐fos expression in all regions in the CMS model in rats, but only showed a marked decrease in c‐fos expression in the hippocampus in unstressed animals. A different molecular mechanism of Banxia‐houpu decoction and ﬂuoxetine may be implied. The cerebral cortex, hippocampus and striatum conpora might be important structural substrates in the central nervous system mediating the section of the Banxia‐houpu decoction on preference behaviour in CMS‐induced rats, and fos protein might be the common substrate of the signal transduction process of the decoction. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Agreeing access policy in a general medical practice: a case study using QPID
Authors: Liddell W. G. , Powell J. H. 
Published: April 2004

AbstractThe UK National Health Service (NHS) Plan has focused attention on the need to improve patient access to general practice. In trying to achieve the targets set for access, general practitioners (GPs) encounter a number of managerial dilemmas. For example, consultation times need to be limited, but the needs of individual patients for immediate care are unpredictable; continuity of care is highly valued, but GPs must be released for administration, training and other duties; delegation of tasks to other healthworkers can improve access, but dictates the need for training and the deﬁnition of legal and ethical responsibility. The management of access in general practice involves a number of constituencies including doctors, nurses, reception staff and, not least, patients themselves. Access to general practice constitutes a hybrid system, having some components that can be objectively viewed and quantiﬁed and others that remain qualitative, either because they are subjective by nature (e.g., morale and professionalism) or because data on that facet of the operation is simply not available. Hybrid management problems are amenable to treatment by qualitative systems methods and this paper describes an ex ante, real‐life intervention using a qualitative system dynamics approach known as QPID (Qualitative Politicised Inﬂuence Diagrams). The method ascribes agents and actors to the connections in an inﬂuence diagram of the system under consideration. This process structures thinking about the appropriate actions (aimed at these agents and actors) for managing the system behaviour. The method is applied to the process of developing patient access policies for a large NHS practice in the South of England. It demonstrates the use of QPID to derive practical action plans for the management of this challenging aspect of general practice. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Palliation of Metastatic Gastric Cancer: Impact of Preoperative Symptoms and the Type of Operation on Survival and Quality of Life
Authors: Kahlke Volker , Bestmann Beate , Schmid Andreas , Doniec Julius Marek , Küchler Thomas , Kremer Bernd 
Published: April 2004

AbstractPatients with advanced, incurable gastric cancer may present with mild symptoms or require immediate therapeutic intervention. The influence of the intensity of preoperative symptoms on postoperative survival and quality of life (QoL) was evaluated in a palliative setting. In a historical cohort analysis of 492 patients with gastric cancer treated between 1992 and 2001, a total of 169 (34.4%) patients had incurable disease (i.e., pTxNxM1). Patients were classified as having major symptoms if they presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (i.e., hematemesis or bloody stools), gastric inlet or outlet obstruction (i.e., symptomatic and endoscopically proven stenosis), or perforation caused by the tumor. All other patients were defined as having minor symptoms. QoL was assessed prospectively using the EORTC questionnaire. The questionnaire was given to the patients before operation, before discharge, and 3 months after operation; and it was analyzed by the Mann‐Whitney U‐test. Survival, demographic data, and histopathologic characteristics were assessed and analyzed by the log‐rank test and the χ2 test, respectively. Of the 169 patients, 75 (44.3%) presented with major symptoms and 94 (55.7%) with minor symptoms. The distribution of patients undergoing resection or exploration was comparable for the two groups [major: 61 (81.5%)/14 (18.5%); minor: 77 (81.9%)/17 (18.1%)]. Despite comparable demographic and histopathologic characteristics with equal hospital mortality and morbidity (14.6% vs. 8.5%/49.3% vs. 40.4%), the median survival rates in two groups were 4 and 6 months, respectively (p < 0.05). This was not influenced by the type of operation. QoL was not different in patients with major or minor symptoms before operation or 3 months thereafter. However, preoperative symptoms such as nausea/vomiting and melena were rated significantly higher in patients with major symptoms. In patients with incurable gastric cancer the preoperative intensity of symptoms has a significant impact on survival and QoL, which is not influenced by the operation. The necessity of surgery in patients with minor symptoms requires careful consideration.