bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of corn, Zea mays, phenological stages in Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lep. Crambidae) oviposition
Authors: Moré M. , Trumper E. V. , Prola M. J. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract: Diatraea saccharalis F. is a major pest to maize, sorghum and sugarcane crops in Latin America and the most damaging insect pest of maize in Argentina. Female moths lay their eggs on lower and upper sides of leaves and sheaths of corn plants. Oviposition behaviour of different species of corn stem borers is influenced by host plant phenology in different ways. Host pubescence affects oviposition behaviour in different species of caterpillars. Oviposition preferences for phenological stages, leaf surface and vertical distribution in corn plants were investigated. Corn plots of 120 m2 were sown with a Pioneer pubescent cultivar in six planting dates, each one replicated three times according to a completely randomized design. Throughout the season 14 samplings were carried out, during which plants were randomly chosen within each of the six treatments and exhaustively examined in order to count the number of egg masses and their location in the leaf surface and in the vertical structure of the plant. Diatraea saccharalis preferred laying their eggs on the lower sides of leaves located in the middle stratum of corn plants whose phenological stages were older than V10. Our study suggests that attention should be paid to the influence of crop phenological stage in the location of egg masses in futures studies, as oviposition preference can change through plant maturation.
Application of the cognitive therapy model to initial crisis assessment
Authors: Calvert Patricia , Palmer Christine 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTThis article provides a background to the development of cognitive therapy and cognitive therapeutic skills with a specific focus on the treatment of a depressive episode. It discusses the utility of cognitive therapeutic strategies to the model of crisis theory and initial crisis assessment currently used by the Community Assessment & Treatment Team of Waitemata District Health Board on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand. A brief background to cognitive therapy is provided, followed by a comprehensive example of the use of the Socratic questioning method in guiding collaborative assessment and treatment of suicidality by nurses during the initial crisis assessment.
De‐escalating aggression and violence in the mental health setting
Authors: Cowin Leanne , Davies Rhian , Estall Graham , Berlin Theresa , Fitzgerald Maria , Hoot Sandra 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTAggressive and violent incidents in the health‐care setting are increasing phenomena around the world. The evidence from current literature suggests that changes in health‐care access, nursing staff shortages and patient acuity are some of the possible causes. De‐escalation is a valuable intervention that can be used by nurses to help counter the growing problems of aggression and violence. The de‐escalation project, discussed in the present paper, aimed to explore de‐escalation as an important therapeutic process and is an event of considerable potential in the management of aggression and violence. While de‐escalation is not a new tool, particularly in the mental health‐care setting, an educative programme aimed at renewing nurses’ knowledge and skills in de‐escalation is a timely project. The final de‐escalation kit included a large glossy poster, a nursing staff survey, an in‐service education session and a literature‐based discussion paper. The de‐escalation kit can be of considerable benefit to those nurses who are transient within the workplace, such as casual and agency nurses.
Information for assistants of repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation
Authors: Pridmore Saxby , Khan Umeed , Rosa Moacyr A. , George Mark S. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTRepeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an exciting new technology being used in psychiatric and neurological research in many centres around the world. rTMS has been accepted as a routine treatment of depression in Canada and Israel. To this point, it has been exclusively conducted by medical officers. As knowledge and experience grows, it is probable that professionals with other backgrounds will have the opportunity to play a role. The aim of this paper is to provide information that will be valuable to assistants. Electromagnetic principles are harnessed to deliver electric currents to localized regions of the cortex. rTMS does not involve anaesthesia or seizure. Side‐effects appear to be few. Much remains uncertain, however, even including the most appropriate treatment parameters.
Telomerase activity in renal cell carcinoma by modified telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay
Authors: Segawa Naoki , Gohji Kazuo , Azuma Haruhito , Iwamoto Yusaku , Ohnishi Kenji , Katsuoka Yoji 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground: Previous assessments by the conventional telomeric repeat amplification protocol have not been reliable for the quantitation of telomerase activity. We, therefore, determined telomerase activity in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissue by the modified sensitive telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay.Methods: Telomerase activity was examined in 23 cases of RCC and in the adjacent normal kidney tissue, and assessed for associations with clinical and pathological variables of the disease.Results: The linearity and quantitation of the modified method was confirmed. Mean telomerase activity of RCC (1987.889 ± 1232.801 units) was significantly greater than that of normal renal tissue (173.467 ± 241.893 units) (P = 0.0001). Telomerase activity in RCC was, however, not associated with clinical or pathological variables such as clinical stage (P = 0.8941), grade (P = 0.8043) or pathological subtype (P = 0.9739).Conclusion: The results suggest that telomerase might play a crucial role in an initial step of the development of RCC, but not in the progression of the disease.
Predicting disease outcome of non‐invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder using an artificial neural network model: Results of patient follow‐up for 15 years or longer
Authors: Fujikawa Keita , Matsui Yoshiyuki , Kobayashi Takashi , Miura Katsuki , Oka Hiroya , Fukuzawa Shigeki , Sasaki Miharu , Takeuchi Hideo , Okabe Tatsushiro 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground: Patients with non‐invasive (Ta/T1) transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder are often observed without progression in the long‐term follow‐up period, although many of them experience recurrence of disease. It is difficult to accurately predict the disease outcome of each patient with Ta/T1 TCC using conventional prognostic criteria. In this study, we examined the usefulness of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict the long‐term disease outcome of patients with TCC of the urinary bladder.Methods: A retrospective, prognostic study of 90 patients with Ta/T1 TCC of the urinary bladder, diagnosed by transurethral resection of the bladder tumor between April 1981 and March 1985, and then followed up for 15 years or longer, was carried out. Data were analyzed using the Bayesian network tool of SPSS Neural Connection 2.1. The input neural data consisted of tumor stage, grade, tumor number, age, gender, tumor architecture and estimates of mean nuclear volume. The data set was randomly divided into 68 training and 22 testing examples for the prediction of disease progression and tumor recurrence within 15 years.Results: During 15 years follow‐up, tumor recurrence was noted in 42/90 (47%) Ta/T1 tumors. The ANN model could not predict tumor recurrence. Conversely, disease progression was noted in 17/90 (19%) Ta/T1 tumors, and, in the test set, 4/22 (18%) Ta/T1 tumors underwent disease progression. The sensitivity of the ANN model to predict progression was 100% (specificity 67%; positive predictive value 40%; negative predictive value 100%). Patients who were judged to have a favorable prognosis using ANN analysis did not progress within the 15‐year follow‐up period.Conclusion: The results of the ANN study indicate that long‐term progression‐free survival of patients with non‐invasive TCC of the urinary bladder can be precisely predicted. A favorable prognosis using ANNs would be one of the exclusion criteria for immediate or future total cystectomy.
Postoperative morbidity, functional results and quality of life of patients following orthotopic neobladder reconstruction
Authors: Yoneda Tatsuaki , Igawa Mikio , Shiina Hiroaki , Shigeno Kazushi , Urakami Shinji 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim: To evaluate postoperative morbidity, functional results and health‐related quality of life of patients with an orthotopic neobladder.Methods: A total of 37 patients with orthotopic neobladder (modified Studer method: 35 cases; Hautmann method: one case; sigmoid neobladder: one case) were included in the present study. Postoperative morbidity and neobladder function were analyzed. To determine quality of life, the Sickness Impact Profile questionnaire was used. The quality of life of patients who underwent orthotopic neobladder was compared with that of patients who underwent ileal conduit.Results: In 37 consecutive patients with neobladder reconstruction, early complications included 10 cases of pyelonephritis (27.0%) and one of stenosis of ureterointestinal anastomosis (2.7%). Two patients died of ARDS and sepsis following peritonitis and pneumonia in the perioperative period. Late complications included pyelonephritis in three patients (8.6%). In 32 cases, except for an early postoperative case and those that died, complete daytime and night‐time continence was achieved in 31 patients (96.9%) and 16 patients (50.0%), respectively. Concerning health‐related quality of life, the mean sum scores per category of the Sickness Impact Profile were calculated for 32 patients with orthotopic neobladder and 30 patients with ileal conduit. There were no significant differences in overall satisfaction, however, the scores for patients with orthotopic neobladder reconstruction were significantly higher than those for patients with ileal conduit in the three categories of emotions, feelings and sensation, social interaction and recreation.Conclusion: Orthotopic neobladder reconstruction exhibited good functional results with acceptable complications. Patients who underwent neobladder reconstruction were satisfied with their voiding. Assessment of quality of life using the Sickness Impact Profile questionnaire demonstrated that orthotopic neobladder improved their quality of life better than ileal conduit, especially with regard to mental, physical and social functioning in daily life.
Pathological effects of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy help predict progression of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy
Authors: KITAGAWA YASUHIDE , KOSHIDA KIYOSHI , MIZOKAMI ATSUSHI , KOMATSU KAZUTO , NAKASHIMA SHINICHI , MISAKI TOSHIMITSU , KATSUMI TETSUO , NAMIKI MIKIO 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground: It is not clear whether pathological changes following neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) prior to radical prostatectomy have any value as predictors of progression in prostate cancer.Methods: We conducted a study of 100 patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy following NHT. We used the Japanese general rule as the criterion to assess the biochemical recurrence rate and pathological changes after NHT.Results: In terms of preoperative risk factors, the probability of recurrence was significantly higher for patients with more than 20 ng/mL of pretreatment serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and/or a Gleason score of 7 or higher for biopsy specimens. We defined these pretreatment findings as high‐risk factors. Among 65 patients with high‐risk factors, patients with a post‐NHT pathological effect of grade 3 according to the Japanese general rule showed no recurrence, whereas patients with a grade 0 had a poor prognosis. Patients with a PSA nadir 0.5 ng/mL or less tended to have a better prognosis.Conclusion: Despite preoperative high‐risk factors, patients showing good pathological effects after NHT tend to have a favorable prognosis after radical prostatectomy. Therefore; assessment of the pathological effects of NHT using the Japanese general rule as the criterion proved to be useful for the prediction of biochemical recurrence.
Emphysematous pyelonephritis and renal amoebiasis in a patient with diabetes mellitus
Authors: GUVEL SEZGIN , KILINC FERHAT , KAYASELCUK FAZILET , TUNCER ILHAN , OZKARDES HAKAN 
Published: December 2004

AbstractEmphysematous pyelonephritis is an uncommon and life‐threatening infection of the kidney that is characterized by gas formation within or around the kidney and is associated with diabetes mellitus and urinary tract infection. Amoebiasis is a protozoal infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica. In its invasive forms, the disease is characterized by visceral abscess formations. We present a case of concomitant emphysematous pyelonephritis and renal amoebiasis in a 42‐year‐old female with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The patient did not respond well to initial supportive treatment and antibiotherapy. Therefore, nephrectomy was performed. She did extremely well after the operation and was discharged with antidiabetics and antibiotics.
Pheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder without typical symptoms
Authors: ONISHI SAKATA TAKEHISA, YUKO , YONEMURA SHIGENORI , SUGIMURA YOSHIKI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractPheochromocytoma of the urinary bladder is an unusual tumor that typically presents with hypertensive crises related to micturition. We report, herein, the case of a 62‐year‐old woman with bladder pheochromocytoma. The patient presented with a bladder tumor that was incidentally found by computed tomography (CT) without the triad of sustained hypertension, hematuria and postmicturitional syncope. Cystoscopy revealed a yellowish submucosal tumor in the right lateral wall of the bladder. Treatment consisted of transurethral resection in the initial diagnosis of bladder tumor. A definitive diagnosis was made postoperatively upon pathological examination. The patient has been followed up for 12 months and has shown no recurrence.
Variations of transition zone volume and transition zone index after transurethral needle ablation for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: FUJIMOTO KIYOHIDE , HOSOKAWA YUKINARI , TOMIOKA ATSUSHI , YAMAMOTO HIROAKI , TANAKA YOZO , OTANI TAKESHI , OZONO SEIICHIRO , HIRAO YOSHIHIKO , HAYASHI YOSHIKI 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground: Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) is less invasive than other therapies for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and produces coagulative necrosis within selected adenoma lesions. The action mechanism of TUNA is still obscure, even though many early studies have demonstrated good clinical results of TUNA. It is of interest and importance to know how TUNA influences the volume of the intraprostatic region responsible for bladder outlet obstruction in order to elucidate the anatomical action mechanism of TUNA.Methods: We retrospectively investigated postoperative variations in volumetric parameters of whole prostate volume (PV), transition zone volume (TZV) and transition zone index (TZI = TZV/PV) in 41 patients with symptomatic BPH who were treated with TUNA. The data were analyzed statistically in relation to the preoperative overall severity and postoperative therapeutic efficacy.Results: Both PV and TZV showed a significant decrease at 3 months after TUNA (P < 0.01) as did the symptom score, quality of life (QOL) score and functional variables, and a decreased level of PV and TZV was sustained until 12 months of follow‐up when compared to the baseline (P < 0.01 at 6 months, not significant at 12 months). TZI also showed a similar pattern with a significantly decreased level until the postoperative 6th month (P < 0.05 at 6 months, not significant at 12 months). In ‘moderate’ cases, TZI achieved the minimum value (0.44 ± 0.13, P < 0.05 compared to the baseline) at 3 months of follow‐up, but the level immediately increased, while in ‘severe’ cases, TZI gradually decreased and achieved the minimum value (0.44 ± 0.08, P < 0.05 compared to the baseline) at 12 months of follow‐up. In the evaluation by postoperative therapeutic efficacy, there were no significant differences in PV, TZV and TZI between ‘excellent and good’ cases (E/G group) and ‘fair and poor/worse’ cases (F/P group) at the baseline or 3 months of follow‐up. Both of the efficacy groups showed a significant decrease in PV, TZV and TZI at 3 months when compared to the baseline (P < 0.05). The mean decrease in TZI was significantly larger in the E/G group than in the F/P group (0.064 ± 0.13 vs 0.027 ± 0.12, P < 0.05).Conclusion: Therapeutic efficacy of TUNA did not depend on the baseline value of PV, TZV and TZI, but on variation of a decrease in TZI during follow‐up. Moreover, a slow and lasting decrease in TZI seemed to influence durability of the therapeutic efficacy of TUNA, which was clearly observed in ‘severe’ cases with a larger prostatic volume than in ‘moderate’ cases.
Progress towards achieving new vaccine and vaccination goals
Authors: Ada G. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract Viral and bacterial vaccines, especially for childhood use, are one of the most successful public health measures of the last two centuries and have a good safety record. However, there are still many diseases that are caused by infectious agents for which vaccines are not available. Our increasing ability to manipulate the immune system offers hope that, in the future, at least some of these infections may be prevented by vaccin­ation. A surprising recent development is the use of vaccine technology to test whether a range of other ­generally non‐communicable diseases can be prevented (or at least controlled) in this way. Investigation of these diseases is still mainly at the experimental level, however the list includes different types of cancers, allergies, drug addiction and neurodegenerative diseases. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 297−304)
Stroke prevention: what's new?
Authors: Gerraty R. P. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract Antithrombotic treatment has now been joined by other evidence‐based drug interventions for pre­vention of stroke, including angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and hydroxymethylglutaryl‐CoA reductase inhibitors. The efficacy of oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation has not been seen in other stroke‐prone groups, although trials are continuing. Diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging improves diagnostic accuracy in acute stroke, which is important in arriving at the right secondary pre­vention strategy. Carotid endarterectomy has been shown to be beneficial for 50−69% symptomatic ­stenosis but with a much narrower therapeutic index than for 70−99% stenosis. A comparison of endarter­ectomy with angioplasty and/or stent placement has been the subject of one small trial suggesting similar procedural stroke and mortality risks. Device closure of cardiac abnormalities increases in the absence of any trial data, and in spite of a low subsequent stroke risk for young patients with isolated patent foramen ovale treated with aspirin. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 177−181)
Helicobacter pylori infection in the Australian community: current prevalence and lack of association with ABO blood groups
Authors: Robertson M. S. , Cade J. F. , Savoia H. F. , Clancy R. L. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAims: To assess the current prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in an Australian urban population sample and to relate this to age, gender and ABO and Rhesus blood groups.Methods: We performed a prospective epidemio­logical survey of H. pylori serological status in 500 consecutive voluntary blood donors who presented for the purpose of blood donation at the central ­Melbourne branch of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, Victoria, Australia, and gave a Melbourne suburban home address.Results: The overall prevalence of specific anti‐H. pylori IgG antibodies in this cohort was 32% (95% confidence interval = 28−36%) and H. pylori sero­positivity increased with age. The rate of H. pylori infection was not significantly different in men and women, with anti‐H. pylori IgG anti­bodies detected in 35% (97/277) of men compared with 28% (63/233) of women (P = 0.12). Similarly, H. pylori serological status was not significantly different between subjects of different ABO (P = 0.18) or Rhesus blood groups (P = 0.55).Conclusion:  This study showed that, contrary to expectation, the updated prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity (32%) in this Melbourne sample is at least as high as that found in previous Australian studies over the past 19 years. Seropositivity increased with age, and was not related to gender, confirming the infection pattern seen in other developed nations. Despite epidemiological evidence of increased peptic ulcer disease in ABO blood group O subjects, and recent evidence that H. pylori adhesion to gastric epithelial cells is mediated by blood group epitopes, no significant association between blood groups and H. pylori serological status was detected. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 163−167)
Health and stress in Australian interns
Authors: Bruce C. , Thomas P. S. , Yates D. H. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract Over a 3‐year period, interns completed questionnaires on self‐reported health and stress during their orien­tation week at the beginning of the year, during mid year, and at the end of the first year. Interns experienced increased levels of stress and ill health in the middle of the year as compared with the start and end of the year (χ2 = 11.9, P = 0.003 and χ2 = 20.4, P < 0.001, respectively). Despite workplace reform for junior doctors, this study suggests that interns still feel overburdened with work expectations and this is having a negative effect on their health. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 392−395)
An update on asthma management
Authors: Jenkins C. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract Asthma remains a major cause of morbidity in the Australian community, despite enhanced strategies and interventions for achieving optimal outcomes. Although there is some evidence of over use of high doses of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), there is also evidence for under use of ICS, despite long‐term data demonstrating clear benefits of low doses. The present paper briefly discusses some of the issues that are pertinent to the development of sensitization and atopic disease, but focuses mainly on the current understanding of best clinical practice for adults with asthma and the optimal approach to management. A clear definition of asthma control and a systematic approach to down‐titration to minimize ICS doses is crucial to achieving better outcomes. Patient self‐management education and optimal therapy are the keys to achieving better outcomes, although uncertainty remains about recommendations for mild asthma, despite new data. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 365−371)
Ethical aspects of blood and organ donation
Authors: Whyte G. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract Ethics of blood and organ donation in Australia has been influenced by voluntarism and the Red Cross. The General Agreement on Trade in Services may threaten the principle of voluntary blood donation and self suf­ficiency of blood in Australia. However, a cooperative approach to managing the public good is more sustain­able than individual self interest and the author argues that voluntary blood and organ donation should be retained. (Intern Med J 2003; 33: 362−364)