bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Late blight resistance in a diploid full‐sib potato family
Authors: Costanzo S. , Christ B. J. , Haynes K. G. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractLate blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, is the most destructive disease of potato worldwide. As this pathogen can rapidly overcome major race‐specific resistance genes, identifying the basis for enhanced quantitative resistance has become a crucial element for implementing advanced breeding strategies. A population of 230 full‐sib progeny derived from a cross between two diploid hybrid Solanum phureja × S. stenotomum clones was evaluated for foliage resistance against late blight in replicated trials at multiple locations in Pennsylvania between 1999 and 2002. In field experiments, plants were evaluated visually for per cent defoliation, and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) was determined. The two parents and three control cultivars (‘Atlantic’, ‘Kennebec’ and ‘Katahdin’) were included in all trials. In all three experiments, the presence of a significant number of clones exhibiting transgressive segregation were observed. There were significant differences among environments as well as among clones, and the clone × environment interaction was also significant. Stability analysis revealed that 37 clones made a significant contribution to the overall environment × clone interaction. Broad‐sense heritability for resistance, measured as AUDPC, was estimated as 0.67. The overall results indicate the presence in this potato family of a high level of field resistance against late blight. This segregating diploid family appears to be a good candidate for quantitative trait loci mapping to identify and characterize the genetic components of partial late blight resistance.
Antitumor effect of simultaneous transfer of interleukin‐12 and interleukin‐18 genes and its mechanism in a mouse bladder cancer model
Authors: HIKOSAKA SATOKO , HARA ISAO , MIYAKE HIDEAKI , HARA SHOJI , KAMIDONO SADAO 
Published: July 2004

Abstract  Background:  The objectives of this study were to evaluate the antitumor effects of the simultaneous introduction of interleukin 12 (IL‐12) and IL‐18 genes into a mouse bladder cancer cell line (MBT2). We intended to compare these with those of either gene alone and to investigate the mechanism of the effects induced by the transfer of IL‐12 and/or IL‐18 genes in this model system.Methods:  We transfected the IL‐12 and/or IL‐18 genes into MBT2 cells by the liposome‐mediated gene transfer method. We confirmed the secretion of IL‐12 and/or IL‐18 by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Parental (MBT2/P), IL‐12‐transfected (MBT2/IL‐12), IL‐18‐transfected (MBT2/IL‐18) or both IL‐12‐ and IL‐18‐transfected (MBT2/Both) cells were subcutaneously or intravenously injected into syngeneic C3H mice. To analyze the mechanism of tumor rejection, these clones were subcutaneously injected into naive nude mice and those depleted with natural killer (NK) cells by antibody.Results:  MBT2/IL‐12, MBT2/IL‐18 and MBT2/Both were completely rejected when they were injected subcutaneously or intravenously into syngeneic mice. However, MBT2/IL‐12, but not MBT2/IL‐18, could grow in nude mice. Moreover, the antitumor effect of MBT2/IL‐18 was partially abrogated when injected into nude mice of which NK cells were depleted by antibody treatment. MBT2/Both was completely rejected in both nude mice with and without NK cells.Conclusion:  The results of the present study indicate that T cells and NK cells seem to play important roles in the antitumor effects by the secretion of IL‐12 and IL‐18, respectively, and MBT2/Both possesses both mechanisms.
Health related quality of life in Japanese men after radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer
Authors: NAMIKI SHUNICHI , TOCHIGI TATSUO , KUWAHARA MASAAKI , IORITANI NAOMASA , TERAI AKITO , NUMATA ISAO , SATOH MAKOTO , SAITO SEIICHI , KOINUMA NOBUO , ARAI YOICHI 
Published: July 2004

Abstract  Background:  We performed a retrospective survey of general and disease specific health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) after radical prostatectomy (RP) and external beam radiotherapy (XRT) in Japanese men.Methods:  A total of 186 patients underwent RP and 78 underwent XRT for clinically localized prostate cancer between 2000 and 2002. We measured the general and disease specific HRQOL with the MOS 36‐Item Health Survey and the University of California, Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index, respectively. Each treatment group was further divided into four subgroups according to the time scale.Results:  Patients from the RP group were significantly younger than those from the XRT group. The tumor characteristics differed significantly in their distributions among the treatment groups. Patients undergoing XRT had low scores in most of the general measures of HRQOL just after treatment, but after 6 months there were no differences between the treatment groups, except for the physical domains. The RP group was associated with worse urinary function, whereas the XRT group had worse bowel function and bother during the first 6 months after treatment. Thereafter, however, urinary and bowel domain did not differ between the groups. Both groups reported poor sexual function, although the RP group scored lower sexual bother.Conclusion:  The patients who underwent RP had significantly worse urinary and better bowel function than those treated with XRT. Both treatment groups had decrements in sexual function throughout the post‐treatment period; careful attention should be paid to this side‐effect in preoperative counselling, especially in younger patients, regardless of the primary treatments.
Transrectal ultrasound‐guided transperineal 14‐core systematic biopsy detects apico‐anterior cancer foci of T1c prostate cancer
Authors: KAWAKAMI SATORU , KIHARA KAZUNORI , FUJII YASUHISA , MASUDA HITOSHI , KOBAYASHI TSUYOSHI , KAGEYAMA YUKIO 
Published: July 2004

Abstract  Aim:  The optimal biopsy strategy for prostate cancer detection, especially in men with isolated prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) elevation, remains to be defined. We evaluated diagnostic yield and safety of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)‐guided transperineal systematic 14‐core biopsy and compared the spatial distribution of cancer foci detected with this technique in men with and without abnormality on digital rectal examination (DRE).Methods:  In a prospective study, 289 men aged between 50 and 87 years (median age, 70 years) underwent TRUS‐guided transperineal systematic 14‐core prostate biopsy because of elevated PSA and/or abnormal DRE findings. Using the fan technique, 12 cores from the peripheral zone and two cores from the transition zone were obtained systematically. To characterize the spatial distribution of cancer positive cores, site‐specific overall and unique cancer detection rates were compared between stage T1c and T2 cancers.Results:  Prostate cancer was detected in 105 of the 289 patients (36%). Major complications requiring prolonged hospital stay or re‐hospitalization during a 4‐week postbiopsy period were rare (1.4%). Sixty‐seven stage T1c cancers were identified. These cancers were associated with significantly lower PSA and a smaller number of cancer positive cores when compared with stage T2 cancers (n= 38). The overall cancer detection rate was highest at the anterior peripheral zone and the posterior peripheral zone in stage T1c and stage T2 cancers, respectively. The unique cancer detection rate at the anterior peripheral zone was significantly higher in stage T1c cancers than in stage T2 cancers. Therefore, when the prostate is extensively biopsied using the transperineal approach, cancer positive cores are characteristically distributed anteriorly in stage T1c cancers and posteriorly in stage T2 cancers.Conclusions:  TRUS‐guided transperineal systematic 14‐core biopsy showed an apico‐anterior distribution of cancer foci in stage T1c prostate cancers.
Accuracy of the Tonosafe disposable tonometer head compared to the Goldmann tonometer alone
Authors: Kim Peter , Lertsumitkul Somsak , Clark Meaghan , Gardner Leeanne , Macken Peter 
Published: July 2004

Abstract Purpose: To assess the accuracy of the Tonosafe dispos­able prism tonometer head via a randomised controlled prospective trial. Methods: The intraocular pressure (IOP) of 69 patients (31 men, 38 women) involving 137 eyes was measured using both the Tonosafe disposable and the Goldmann tono­meter head. The average age of patients was 66.5 years (range 23−93 years). The two examiners (PM and SL) who performed tonometry were masked while a separate observer read the IOP measurements. The order was randomised between Tonosafe and Goldmann devices. The minimum interval between the two measurements was 15 min. Patients with corneal and external diseases were excluded from the study. Results: The mean IOP using the Goldmann tonometer head was 17.44 ± 4.97 mmHg. The mean IOP using the Tonosafe disposable head was 17.58 ± 5.03 mmHg. The mean difference was 0.14 ± 1.73 mmHg (95% CI −0.44, 0.16, P= 0.36). Subgroup analysis on eyes with IOP > 21 mmHg showed the Tonosafe disposable head was on average 0.15 ± 2.40 mmHg higher than the Goldmann tonometer head. There was a high level of correlation between the IOPs obtained with the Goldmann and Tonosafe heads. Pearson's coefficient of correlation was 0.94 (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: The Tonosafe disposable prism head was found to be accurate in IOP measurement, even in the higher range.
Operative revision of non‐functioning filtering blebs with 5‐fluorouracil to regain intraocular pressure control
Authors: Paris Gianmarco , Zhao Ming , Sponsel William E 
Published: July 2004

Abstract Purpose: To determine the efficacy of extensive microsurgical needling revision of failed filtering blebs followed by serial 5‐fluorouracil subconjunctival injections. Methods: Thirty‐six eyes of 34 consecutive patients with progressive open‐angle glaucoma refractory to topical therapy submitted to needling revision as a major procedure. All patients required multiple antiglaucoma medications preoperatively, and had completely flat or densely encapsulated filtering blebs. All patients underwent elaborate needling revision (limbus to superior rectus >8 mm diameter, >3 mm elevation, entry‐site sutured with 8−0 vicryl and bleb reformed via paracentesis with viscoelastic) in the operating room, followed by serial 5‐fluorouracil. The patients were followed for up to 6 months postoperatively. The main outcome measures were intraocular pressure (IOP) and the number of antiglaucoma medications used. Results: Thirty‐one eyes (86%) maintained mean IOP below 15 mmHg postneedling without medication. Overall the mean IOP postneedling was >9 mmHg lower than medicated preoperative levels (P < 0.0001). IOP reduction in encapsulated blebs was marginally superior to that in flat blebs. Conclusions: Extensive needling revision in the operating room is safe, straightforward, and produces reproducible restoration of filtering function.
External ophthalmic findings in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B
Authors: Parker Douglas G , Robinson Bruce G , O'Donnell Brett A 
Published: July 2004

Abstract Purpose: To identify external ophthalmic abnormalities in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2B (MEN2B), which may facilitate early detection and prophylactic thyroidectomy to prevent medullary thyroid carcinoma. Methods: Three patients with MEN2B were examined by an oculoplastic surgeon and external ophthalmic findings were recorded. Results: All patients had prominent corneal nerves, thickened eyelids, mild ptosis and eversion of the upper eyelids. Two patients displayed eyelid nodules and one exhibited lower lid margin eversion. Conclusion: Ptosis and lower lid margin eversion are previously unreported findings in patients with MEN2B. Medullary thyroid carcinoma is the most serious consequence of MEN2B and has a high mortality if untreated. Early diagnosis and prophylactic thyroidectomy may be lifesaving. Gene mutations can be identified but the sporadic tendency of the syndrome emphasizes the importance of early clinical detection. MEN2B is one of a number of systemic malignancies with ophthalmic manifestations. Ophthalmologists should be aware of the external features of this rare but lethal malignancy.
Clinical Case Notes
Authors: Foroozan Rod 
Published: July 2004

AbstractProgressive, painful blurred vision and proptosis developed in the left eye of a 32‐year‐old man over an 8‐day period. On initial neuro‐ophthalmic evaluation the visual acuity in the left eye was no light perception. Erythema of the periorbital skin, 5 mm of proptosis, and ophthalmoplegia were noted on the left side. Funduscopy revealed occlusion of the central retinal artery and central retinal vein. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed marked distension of the left optic nerve and enhancement of the contents within the left orbit, with clear paranasal sinuses. The diagnosis of orbital inflammatory pseudotumour was made and the orbital signs improved rapidly with 80 mg of prednisone per day. Combined occlusion of the central retinal artery and vein is a rare complication of orbital inflammatory pseudotumour. It is postulated that marked distension of the optic nerve caused mechanical compression of the central retinal vessels leading to the vascular occlusions.
Clinical Case Notes
Authors: Pierre‐Filho Paulo de Tarso P , Rocha Eduardo Melani , Natalino Renato , Cintra Maria Letícia , Caldato Roberto 
Published: July 2004

AbstractMelkersson−Rosenthal syndrome is an uncommon disorder of uncertain aetiology characterized by orofacial oedema, facial nerve palsy and lingua plicata. The triad is seldom seen in its complete form, and oligo‐symptomatic or mono‐symptomatic forms are more common. An unusual case of Melkersson−Rosenthal syndrome involving the left upper eyelid is presented. The pathology, clinical features and management of this disorder are discussed.
Clinical Case Notes
Authors: Essex Rohan W , Charles Patrick GP , Allen Penelope J 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThree cases of post‐traumatic endophthalmitis caused by unusual bacteria are presented. The pathogens identified were: (i) Bacillus cereus and Citrobacter freundii; (ii) Pseudomonas fluorescens; and (iii) Chryseobacterium meningosepticum and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Two of these pathogens have not previously been reported to cause endophthalmitis. The available literature regarding the individual cases is summarized and a brief discussion of post‐traumatic endophthalmitis is presented, with reference to a recently published large series at the authors’ institution.
Chediak–Higashi syndrome in the intensive care unit
Authors: Demirkiran Oktay , Utku Tughan , Urkmez Seval , Dikmen Yalim 
Published: July 2004

SummaryChediak–Higashi Syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent infections, giant cytoplasmic granules and oculocutaneous albinism. We describe the clinical and laboratory findings of a patient with Chediak–Higashi syndrome who was diagnosed and treated in the intensive care unit because of bleeding tendency after surgery.
Endoscopic intratracheal carbon dioxide measurements during pediatric flexible bronchoscopy
Authors: Chang Anne B , Moloney Gregory E , Harms Peter J , Brent Masters I 
Published: July 2004

SummaryBackground : CO2 monitoring is recommended for thoracic telescopic procedures and for spontaneous breathing general anesthesia in children. During flexible bronchoscopy (FB) in children, the various currently available methods of CO2 measurements are limited. The CO2 falls and increases have been reported in FB but it is unknown whether airway lesions predispose to CO2 change. The aim of this study was to describe and validate endoscopic intratracheal CO2 measurements in children undergoing FB under spontaneously breathing GA.Methods : Endtidal CO2 (PECO2) measurements at the start (Start‐CO2) and end (End‐CO2) of FB on 100 consecutive children were performed using a newly designed endoscopic intratracheal method. To validate the method blood gas sampling was simultaneously performed in 28 children and results analyzed using the Bland and Altman method, intraclass correlation and 95% range for repeatability.Results : End‐CO2 and CO2‐change (End‐CO2 minus Start‐CO2) were significantly different in children with airway lesions (CO2 change: no lesion = 3 mmHg, extrathoracic airway lesion = 4.5, intrathoracic airway lesion = 8, P = 0.038). There was no significant difference in Start‐CO2 values among the groups. CO2‐change in those aged ≤12 months was similar to those >12 months. Intratracheal CO2 measurements were comparable with arterial blood values in the Bland and Altman plots. The intraclass correlation was 0.69 and 95% range for repeatability was 3.7–4.17 mmHg.Conclusions : Midtracheal PECO2 provides a useful estimate of PaCO2 for monitoring the respiratory status of children undergoing FB. The presence of airway lesions rather than age is associated with significant increased PCO2 rise.
Cuff compliance of pediatric and adult cuffed tracheal tubes: an experimental study
Authors: Devys J.‐M. , Schauvliège F. , Taylor G. , Plaud B. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryBackground : Tracheal mucosal damage related to tracheal intubation has been widely described in pediatric and adult patients. High volume–low pressure cuffs (HVLPC) are being advertised as safe to avoid this particularly unpleasant complication. Compliances of these supposed pediatric and adult HVLPC are not mentioned by manufacturers and still remain unknown.Methods : The compliance of HVLPC was measured in vitro and defined as the straight portion of the pressure–volume curve. Cuff pressure was measured after incremental 0.1 ml filling volumes of air for sizes 3.0–8.0 of internal diameter of RüschTM and MallinckrodtTM tracheal tubes. Compliances were assessed in air and in a rigid tube. The filling volume to achieve a 25‐mmHg intracuff pressure was also measured.Results : In air, each 0.1 ml step almost linearly increased cuff pressure by 1 mmHg (size 8.0) to 9 mmHg (size 3). In air, the volume needed to maintain a cuff pressure < 25 mmHg was small for sizes 3–5.5 (0.35–2 ml). The 25 mmHg inflated cuff volume and compliance were decreased within a rigid tube, especially for adult sizes. In a rigid tube simulating a trachea, the compliances of almost every RüschTM tracheal tube were statistically higher than those of the MallinckrodtTM.Conclusion : We conclude that the tested tracheal tube cuffs have low compliance and cannot be defined as high volume–low pressure.
From east to west: Nepalese women's experiences
Authors: Rolls C. , Chamberlain M. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractBackground:  Nepal is a small mountainous South Asian country located between the nations of India and China. Forty‐two per cent of the 22 million Nepalese people live in poverty. As a result, immigration to a developed country is the dream of many but available to few. Some immigrants from Nepal have arrived in Australia in recent years entering the ‘Skill’ stream of eligibility categories. Nepalese immigrants to Australia are predominantly young married couples with professional education qualifications.Aim:  To generate knowledge of the childbirth and early experiences of Nepalese women in their mother country and in Australia. The aspect presented here is the immigration experiences of Nepalese women to Australia.Method:  An ethnographic, grounded theory approach was used to observe and analyse the experiences of 11 Nepalese participants.Findings:  Analysis of data suggests that Nepalese female immigrants with the ability to comprehend and speak English and a level of education and skill required by Australia can successfully negotiate the change of culture and adapt to their new society. Major benefits of immigration for the women were the opportunities to work, become independent and to share in decision making for their family.Conclusion and implications for nursing practice:  Severance from the Nepalese joint family, a male dominant hierarchical society, and a new way of life allow a Nepalese woman to become an individual rather than a member of a collective. This study has produced transcultural information from the perspective of the educated professional Nepalese female immigrant that will assist in the provision of midwifery and nursing care.
Trade Liberalization and the Profitability of Domestic Mergers
Authors: Gaudet Gérard , Kanouni Rams 
Published: July 2004

AbstractIt is often thought that a tariff reduction, by opening‐up the domestic market to foreign firms, should lessen the need for a policy aimed at discouraging domestic mergers. This implicitly assumes that the tariff in question is sufficiently high to prevent foreign firms from selling in the domestic market. However, not all tariffs are prohibitive, so that foreign firms may be present in the domestic market before it is abolished. Furthermore, even if the tariff is prohibitive, a merger of domestic firms may render it nonprohibitive, thus inviting foreign firms to penetrate the domestic market. Using a simple example, the authors show that, in the latter two cases, abolishing the tariff may in fact make the domestic merger more profitable. Hence trade liberalization will not necessarily reduce the profitability of domestic mergers.
Do Patent Rights Regimes Matter?
Authors: Co Catherine Y. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThe paper asks whether exports are affected by importers’ patent rights regimes using a gravity trade equation. US export data to 71 countries from 1970 to 1992 are used. A two‐way random‐effects panel indicates that patent rights regimes per se do not matter; they matter with importing countries’ imitative abilities. For a country with an “average” imitative ability, US R&D‐intensive exports increase by 4–9% for a unit increase in the patent rights index; a unit increase in the patent rights index leads to a drop in US non‐R&D‐intensive exports by about 8–11%.
On Assisting Domestic Industries under Bertrand Competition
Authors: Egli Dominik , Westermann Frank 
Published: July 2004

AbstractIn a homogeneous‐good duopoly game with a home and a foreign firm, which compete on prices, it has been shown that the optimal way to assist the domestic industry is by a production subsidy. The argument here is that the subsidy is used to keep potential competitive pressure on the foreign firm. This paper analyzes under which conditions this threat of entry of a subsidized home firm is credible. It is shown that in markets where the firms move before the government, a subsidy is not credible and dominated by a tariff in terms of welfare.
Job Creation, Job Destruction, and the International Division of Labor
Authors: Jansen Marion , Turrini Alessandro 
Published: July 2004

AbstractThe authors incorporate equilibrium unemployment due to imperfect matching into a model of trade in intermediate inputs. Firms are assumed to be price‐takers and their size is given by technology. Firms enter the market as long as expected profits cover the search cost they incur initially; jobs are endogenously destroyed by random shocks that affect firms’ price–cost margins. Trade increases productivity in the final good and then demand for each intermediate input. Steady‐state unemployment is reduced after trade integration because the rate of job destruction is reduced, which in turn induces an indirect positive effect on job creation. A more volatile environment faced by firms does not necessarily increase unemployment. However, the rate of job destruction unambiguously rises, and rises more under free trade.