bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Viewpoint: HIV/AIDS and the health workforce crisis: What are the next steps?
Authors: Marchal Bruno , Brouwere Vincent De , Kegels Guy 
Published: March 2005

SummaryIn scaling up antiretroviral treatment (ART), financing is fast becoming less of a constraint than the human resources to ensure the implementation of the programmes. In the countries hardest affected by the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic, AIDS increases workloads, professional frustration and burn‐out. It affects health workers also directly, contributing to rising sick leave and attrition rates. This burden is shouldered by a health workforce weakened already by chronic deficiencies in training, distribution and retention. In these countries, health workforce issues can no longer be analysed from the traditional perspective of human resource development, but should start from the position that entire societies are in a process of social involution of a scale unprecedented in human history. Strategies that proved to be effective and correct in past conditions need be reviewed, particularly in the domains of human resource management and policy‐making, education and international aid. True paradigm shifts are thus required, without which the fundamental changes required to effectively strengthen the health workforce are unlikely to be initiated.
Zidovudine‐induced diaphragmatic contractile dysfunction: Impact of an antioxidant diet
Authors: WHEELER Sara , MAXWELL‐BAWDEN Anya , HERB Robert A. , GALLAGHER Gail E. , COAST J. Richard 
Published: March 2005

Objective:  Zidovudine (AZT) is a primary drug therapy used to treat HIV‐infected individuals. While AZT inhibits replication of HIV, it also induces a drug‐specific myopathy resulting in altered muscle mitochondria, increased oxidative stress and muscle contractile dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an antioxidant diet (high in vitamins C and E) on AZT‐mediated diaphragmatic contractile dysfunction in rodents.Methodology:  Adult, Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to feeding groups: control (CON, n = 9), AZT‐treatment (AZT, n = 8), antioxidant diet only (Anti‐Ox, n = 6), and AZT + antioxidant diet (AZT + Anti, n = 9). Two costal diaphragm strips were removed from each animal (under surgical anaesthesia) and evaluated for force‐frequency relationship, maximal specific tension, and fatigue resistance using an in vitro preparation.Results:  Results indicate significant reductions in normalized force production (20–200 Hz), including maximal specific tension, between AZT animals and all other groups. While AZT reduced diaphragm contractility, the addition of an antioxidant diet eliminated this decrease.Conclusion:  These data suggest that an increase in oxidative stress mediated by AZT may contribute to AZT‐induced muscle contractile dysfunction, and that antioxidant vitamin supplementation may help ameliorate this effect.
Usefulness of the Japanese Respiratory Society guidelines for community pneumonia: a retrospective analysis of community‐acquired pneumonia between 2000 and 2002 in a general hospital
Authors: MOTOMURA Kazushi , MASAKI Hironori , TERADA Mayumi , ONIZUKA Tomoko , FURUMOTO Akitsugu , ASOH Norichika , OISHI Kazunori , NAGATAKE Tsuyoshi 
Published: March 2005

Objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the causative organisms of community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) diagnosed between 2000 and 2002 and to evaluate the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) guidelines.Methodology:  A total of 124 cases of CAP diagnosed during the study period were analyzed, and the results were compared with those of a previous study by the authors’ research group. Determination of the causative organisms of CAP was based on Gram stain, morphology of colonies, quantitative culture of sputum, identification of bacterial isolates, and serological tests.Results:  During the study period, the causative organisms were identified in 42 cases (33.8%). Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis were the major causative organisms. Patients were classified into three groups based on the severity of CAP according to the JRS guidelines. The survival rates of patients with moderate and severe CAP were significantly lower than those of the mild group as evaluated by the Kaplan–Meier method (moderate vs mild, 70% vs 100%; severe vs mild, 40% vs 100%; P < 0.001 for both). Seven patients died during the study, and the risk factors were old age, bedridden status with cerebral infarction, and microaspiration, which was associated with recurrent pneumonia within 17 days.Conclusion:  This study indicates that the JRS guidelines for CAP are useful for treating patients with CAP in Japan.
Smoking reduction does work: Resulting alterations in the incidence and histological subtypes of lung cancer in New South Wales in the last 20 years
Authors: JOSHUA A.M. , BOYER M.J. , SUBRAMANIAN R. , CLARKE S.J. 
Published: March 2005

Background: There is irrefutable evidence of the association between lung cancer and smoking. The effects of public health campaigns to reduce population‐smoking rates on the incidence and the histological distribution of lung cancer were examined.Methods: The data held in the New South Wales Cancer Registry from 1972 to 2001 was accessed.Results: The data revealed a decreasing incidence of lung cancer amongst males and a rate that continued to increase amongst females. Interestingly, there was also an effect on the histological distribution of lung cancers, with falling rates of small cell lung cancer and squamous cell cancer, both of which have a high association with smoking; and an increasing incidence of adenocarcinomas.Conclusions: These trends reveal patterns seen worldwide. The increasing proportion of adenocarcinomas in particular may be related to the changing composition of cigarettes and filters.
Augmentation of allergic inflammation in the airways of cyclooxygenase‐2‐deficient mice
Authors: NAKATA Junko , KONDO Mitsuko , TAMAOKI Jun , TAKEMIYA Takako , NOHARA Michiko , YAMAGATA Kanato , NAGAI Atsushi 
Published: March 2005

Objective:  Airway cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) is induced by cytokine‐mediated inflammation such as occurs in asthma. However, the role of COX‐2 in the pathophysiology of asthma is not fully understood.Methods:  Allergic inflammation, airway responsiveness to methacholine and mucous cell metaplasia after ovalbumin sensitization in the airways of COX‐2 deficient (–/–) mice, COX‐2 (+/+) mice and C57BL/6J mice treated with a selective COX‐2 inhibitor, nimesulide were assessed. Histology, cell analysis, measurements of arachidonic acid metabolites and Th2 cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and measurement of serum IgE were performed.Results:  Eosinophil infiltration into the airway wall, and the number of eosinophils in BALF were greater in sensitized COX‐2 (–/–) mice than in sensitized COX‐2 (+/+) mice. The levels of cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTC4/D4/E4), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin (IL)‐13 as well as airway responsiveness did not differ in COX‐2 (–/–) mice and COX‐2 (+/+) mice. However, sensitized COX‐2 (–/–) mice had higher LTC4/D4/E4 and lower PGE2 concentrations compared with non‐sensitized COX‐2 (–/–) mice. The number of PAS/alcian blue‐positive airway epithelial cells and serum IgE were elevated in COX‐2 (–/–) mice. Nimesulide‐treated mice showed augmented eosinophilic inflammation, LTC4/D4/E4 concentrations and mucous cell metaplasia.Conclusion:  These data indicate that COX‐2 deficiency augments allergic inflammation and mucous cell metaplasia.
An Interactive Deformation System for Granular Material
Authors: Onoue Koichi , Nishita Tomoyuki 
Published: March 2005

Abstract Computer Graphics (CG) animations of natural phenomena are currently widely used for movies and in video games. Granular materials occur widely in nature, and therefore it is necessary that CG animations represent ground surfaces composed of a granular material as well as model deformations when the granular material comes into contact with other physical rigid objects (called solid objects). In this paper, we propose a deformation algorithm for ground surfaces composed of granular material. The deformation algorithm is divided into three steps: (1) detection of the collision between a solid object and the ground surface, (2) displacement of the granular material and (3) erosion of the material at steep slopes. The proposed algorithm can handle solid objects of various shapes, including concave polyhedra by additionally using a layered data structure called the Height Span Map. Furthermore, a texture sliding technique is presented to render the motion of granular materials. In addition, our implementation of the deformation algorithm can be used at interactive frame rates.
Acquisition, Synthesis, and Rendering of Bidirectional Texture Functions
Authors: Müller G. , Meseth J. , Sattler M. , Sarlette R. , Klein R. 
Published: March 2005

AbstractOne of the main challenges in computer graphics is still the realistic rendering of complex materials such as fabric or skin. The difficulty arises from the complex meso structure and reflectance behavior defining the unique look‐and‐feel of a material. A wide class of such realistic materials can be described as 2D‐texture under varying light‐ and view direction, namely, the Bidirectional Texture Function (BTF). Since an easy and general method for modeling BTFs is not available, current research concentrates on image‐based methods, which rely on measured BTFs (acquired real‐world data) in combination with appropriate synthesis methods. Recent results have shown that this approach greatly improves the visual quality of rendered surfaces and therefore the quality of applications such as virtual prototyping. This state‐of‐the‐art report (STAR) will present the techniques for the main tasks involved in producing photo‐realistic renderings using measured BTFs in details.
Application of Cutometer area parameters for the study of human skin fatigue
Authors: Dobrev Hristo 
Published: March 2005

Background/aim: The age‐related decrease of skin elasticity results in larger fatigue of adult skin than young skin after applying multiple stress at one and the same anatomic region. The aim of this study was to compare the informativeness of Cutometer standard R‐parameters with new area parameters regarding the age‐related changes in human skin fatigue.Materials/methods: A total of 40 healthy volunteers aged 12–82 years were studied. Mechanical parameters of the skin were determined using a non‐invasive suction skin elasticity meter (Cutometer). Measurements were made on the temporal region and volar forearm. Skin mechanical parameters analyzed by Win‐Cutometer MPA software were R3, R4 and R9 (R‐parameters), and F2 and F3 (area parameters).Results: The adult skin was characterized by significantly higher values of R4, R9 and F2, and lower F3 compared with young skin. R3 was not significantly altered. There were not any sex‐related differences. F2 correlated positively with parameters R3, R4 and R9, while F3 correlated negatively with R4. A positive correlation within the parameters R3, R4 and R9 was established at both anatomic regions.Conclusion: The non‐invasive method applied can be useful for objective and quantitative investigation of age‐related changes in skin fatigue and evaluation of the effects of cosmetic and antiaging topical products. The mechanical parameters R4 and F3 are most indicative of human skin fatigue.
Topography and anisotropy of the skin surface with ageing
Authors: Lagarde J.M. , Rouvrais C. , Black D. 
Published: March 2005

Background/purpose: Most studies of how the relief of the skin surface changes on ageing are based solely on topography, and a few have taken into account anisotropy parameters. However, the calculation of these parameters is often carried out manually and as the techniques of data acquisition have progressed rapidly, a certain degree of obsolescence has been reached. It is for this reason that we have undertaken a similar study but with more advanced equipment.Materials and Methods: The Dermatop system analyses the relief of Silflo negative prints of the skin surface. It is based on the projection of interference fringes and phase shift and provides surface parameters and not profiles. In addition, the Toposurf software enables image processing and the precise and automatic calculation of the topography parameters (roughness, developed surface area and peak–trough amplitude) and anisotropy (level of anisotropy and furrow density). These parameters were studied on the forearm and temple of 40 men and 40 women evenly distributed into two groups: the first including subjects aged 25–35 years and the second 50–65 years.Results:

Roughness of both sites increases with age, independent of sex, but to a lesser extent in women than in men.
The developed surface area and the peak–trough amplitude increase significantly with age irrespective of the site and the sex.
The level of anisotropy increases with age, in both men and women, on the forearm and the temple, the site more exposed to light being more affected.
The density of the furrows decreases with age in both sexes and both sites but with a greater increase for the temple, which is more exposed to solar ageing.

Conclusion: The study of these new parameters will allow objective evaluation of the action of topical dermatological and cosmetic treatment, and new techniques in plastic surgery (e.g. laser resurfacing), and will enable the accurate follow‐up of certain pathologies.
Skin changes induced by a zinc oxide dressing compared with a hydrocolloid dressing in healthy individuals
Authors: Nielsen Lene Feldskov , Blume Niels , Romme Tina , Samuelsen Peter , Everland Hanne , Ifversen Peter , Karlsmark Tonny 
Published: March 2005

Background/purpose: Incidence of skin complications in ostomy patients constitutes a well‐known and well‐described problem. The reasons are, however, very difficult to describe because of the many factors contributing to the problem. This article describes the skin changes derived exclusively from the adhesives used in a carefully controlled, long‐term study using two fundamentally different types of adhesives: a hydrocolloid adhesive and a zinc oxide adhesive.Methods: The adhesives were changed daily on the volar forearm of 11 volunteers for a 4‐week period. Once a week, transepidermal waterloss (TEWL), water content of the skin, erythema and the peel force applied for removal of the adhesives were measured. On the last day of the study, a replica of the skin surface was obtained to determine changes in the skin topography, and a biopsy was taken to study changes at the cellular level.Results and conclusion: We found increased TEWL and decreased water content in skin treated with the zinc oxide adhesive, but increased waterloss and water content when the hydrocolloid adhesive was used. In addition, the area treated with zinc oxide adhesive showed significant increase of epidermal thickness, scaly appearance and parakeratosis with similarities to pathological dry skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, changes that were not found when using the hydrocolloid adhesive. The skin response seems to be the result of the content of zinc oxide and the mechanical interaction of the zinc oxide adhesive. We conclude that the nature of the adhesive plays an important role in the skin response to repeated application of adhesives, as seen in peristomal skin.
Automatic measurement of dermal thickness from B‐scan ultrasound images using active contours
Authors: Lagarde Jean‐Michel , George Jéróme , Soulcié Romain , Black David 
Published: March 2005

Background/purpose: Measurement of dermal thickness is useful in the evaluation of dermo‐cosmetics for assessing not only morphological changes but also mechanical properties of this layer. Our aim was first to standardise the manual dermal thickness measurement procedure on B‐scan ultrasound images, then to develop an automatic operator independent method to detect the boundaries of the dermis.Material and methods: The Dermcup® 20 MHz B‐scan ultrasound system was used. The method used for detecting the boundaries was adapted from active contour algorithms. The innovative aspect of the method consists in an automatic initialisation of the first step of the algorithm. To validate the method, we correlated measurements obtained by the manual and automatic approaches from a set of images from different anatomical sites.Results and conclusion: The results showed for the two measurement methods, 72% of the images were perfectly correlated. The remaining images required manual initialisation of the boundaries by a non‐expert operator before the active contour process could be used. Subsequent to this semi‐automatic procedure, the correlation was very high.
Hip ulcer secondary to foreign body reaction and vacuum‐assisted closure therapy: report of a case
Authors: Moreno‐Coutiño Gabriela , Estrada‐Chávez Guadalupe , Domínguez‐Cherit Judith 
Published: March 2005

AbstractPatients who have a foreign body reaction are at risk of developing chronic ulcers secondary to necrosis, due to the inflammation present in the affected tissues or trauma, worsened by alterations in the vascular perfusion. These ulcers represent a therapeutic challenge for both physicians and patients.
Risk assessment of the diabetic foot and wound
Authors: Wu Stephanie , Armstrong David G 
Published: March 2005

AbstractDiabetic foot ulcers are among the most common severe complications of diabetes, affecting up to 68 per 1000 persons with diabetes per year in the United States. Over half of these patients develop an infection and 20% require some form of amputation during the course of their malady. The key risk factors of diabetic foot ulceration include neuropathy, deformity and repetitive stress (trauma). The key factors associated with non healing of diabetic foot wounds (and therefore amputation) include wound depth, presence of infection and presence of ischaemia. This manuscript will discuss these key risk factors and briefly outline steps for simple, evidence‐based assessment of risk in this population.
Effect of Kami-kihi-to (Jia-Wei-Gui-Pi-Tang) for Experimental Osteopenia
Authors: Kanai Shigeyuki , Taniguchi Norimasa , Higashino Hideaki 
Published: March 2005

In order to examine the effects of Kami-kihi-to (KKT or Jia-Wei-Gui-Pi-Tang) on osteopenia, we measured bone mineral density using computed X-ray absorptometry and monitored metabolism and bone tissue in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. Bone mineral density was significantly lower in the OVX group than in normal group 3 months after ovariectomy. However, the bone mineral density of the OVX group administered KKT was clearly higher than that of the untreated OVX group. Locomotor activity was regular in the normal group and in the OVX groups before administration of KKT. After 6-month administration of KKT, in OVX groups, the pattern of locomotor activity became diphasic with clear active and resting phases, as was also observed in the normal group. The locomotor activity did not decrease in the OVX groups after administration of KKT. At 6 months, the continuity of the trabecular bone was higher in the OVX group administered KKT than in the untreated OVX group. These results indicate that KKT improved the menopausal symptoms and increased the locomotor activity of the OVX group, thereby increasing bone mineral density.
Effects of Medicinal Herb Tea on the Smoking Cessation and Reducing Smoking Withdrawal Symptoms
Authors: Lee Ho-Jae , Lee Jae-Hwan 
Published: March 2005

Medicinal herbs (21 species) were screened for the antioxidant activity and nicotine degradation activity (NDA) in vitro. Eleven of them with higher antioxidant activity and NDA were selected for preparation of the medicinal herb tea (MHT) and the effects of MHT on smoking cessation and reducing smoking withdrawal symptoms were evaluated in 100 male human smokers. Among these medicinal herbs, Eugenia aromaticum and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge showed the highest antioxidant activity ( IC 50 of 30.0 μg/mL) and NDA (1.81), respectively. MHT showed relatively high antioxidant activity ( IC 50 of 50.6 μg/mL) and NDA (1.23). The urinary cotinine level, a metabolite of nicotine, increased in the first 2 weeks and greatly decreased from the 2nd to 4th week in the MHT taking group, which indicates that MHT accelerates the conversion of nicotine into cotinine. Human groups taking MHT for 4 weeks underwent reduced smoking withdrawal symptoms compared to the non-MHT taking subjects, and 38% of subjects taking MHT succeeded in smoking cessation, while only 12% of non-MHT taking subjects succeeded in quitting smoking.
The Impact of Horizontal Resolution on the Tropical Heat Budget in an Atlantic Ocean Model
Authors: Jochum Markus , Murtugudde Raghu , Ferrari Raffaele , Malanotte-Rizzoli Paola 
Published: March 2005

Abstract
An ocean general circulation model (OGCM) of the tropical Atlantic is coupled to an advective atmospheric boundary layer model. This configuration is used to investigate the hypothesis that resolving tropical instability waves (TIWs) in OGCMs will remove the equatorial cold bias that is a feature common to coarse-resolution OGCMs. It is shown that current eddy parameterizations cannot capture the TIW heat flux because diffusion in coarse-resolution OGCMs removes heat from the warm pool to heat the equatorial cold tongue, whereas TIWs draw their heat mostly from the atmosphere. Thus, they can bring more heat to the equatorial cold tongue without cooling the warm pool, and the SST in the warm pool is higher and more realistic. Contrary to expectations, the SST in the equatorial cold tongue is not significantly improved. The equatorial warming due to TIWs is slightly greater than the warming due to diffusion, but this increased equatorial heat flux in the high-resolution experiment is compensated by increased equatorial entrainment there. This is attributed to the Equatorial Undercurrent being stronger, thereby increasing the entrainment rate through shear instability. Thus, higher resolution does not significantly increase the total oceanic heat flux convergence in the equatorial mixed layer.