bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the Defibrillation Efficacy for 5‐ms Waveforms
Authors: GUAN DONGXU , MALKIN ROBERT 
Published: April 2004

Introduction: Empirical studies have shown that biphasic defibrillation waveforms are more efficacious than monophasic waveforms. However, a more systematic approach to waveform development might be more productive. This study tested 147 multiphasic waveforms uniformly sampled from all possible 5‐ms waveforms. Methods and Results: One hundred ninety‐eight guinea pigs (850–1,050 g) received 30 episodes of ventricular fibrillation followed by transthoracic defibrillation. The first 10 shocks were used to determine the ED50 for a biphasic control. Then, 20 waveforms including 2 controls were tested once at the ED50. Of the 147 waveforms tested here, 21 waveforms showed equivalent or greater efficacies than the biphasic control, with one being statistically more efficacious (P < 0.05). Two fundamental assumptions were addressed: (1) similarly efficacious waveforms are analytically similar, and (2) a single optimal waveform can be described. The mean percentage of similarly efficacious waveforms with similar shapes was greater than zero in the most efficacious 21 waveforms (P = 0.023), but less efficacious waveforms showed randomly distributed shapes. Cluster analysis revealed that the best waveforms share a major phase containing most of the defibrillation energy. The optimal waveform shape extrapolated from the sample waveforms was a 2.5/1‐ms biphasic‐type waveform (highest correlation r = 0.701, P < 0.001). Conclusion: This work supports the assumption that efficacious waveforms are similarly shaped and the notion that one single optimum exists. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 447‐454, April 2004)
Use of Double‐Potential Barrier to Identify Functional Isthmus at the Cavotricuspid Isthmus for Facilitating Catheter Ablation of Isthmus‐Dependent Atrial Flutter
Authors: LAI LING‐PING , LIN JIUNN‐LEE , LIN JIH‐MIN , DU CHAO‐CHENG , TSENG YUNG‐ZU , HUANG SHOEI K. STEPHEN 
Published: April 2004

Introduction: The aim of the study was to identify an alternative target for more effective radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of isthmus‐dependent atrial flutter (AFL). Methods and Results: We hypothesized that a functional isthmus formed by preexisting double potential barrier at the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) could serve as a new target site for facilitating RFCA of AFL. Forty‐three consecutive patients with recurrent isthmus‐dependent AFL were studied using three‐dimensional navigated magnetic mapping and ablation technique. Twenty patients (47%, group A) were shown to have a narrower functional channel at the CTI (functional isthmus). The remaining 23 patients did not have this feature (53%, group B). In group A, double potentials were clustered near the border of the inferior vena cava (IVC) of the CTI and served as a functional channel along the tricuspid annulus (TA). The interspike interval of double potentials was 87 ± 26 ms near the IVC border and 45 ± 17 ms (P < 0.0001) near the TA border of CTI. RFCA targeting at the functional isthmus in group A resulted in interruption of bidirectional transisthmus conduction with fewer radiofrequency pulses (6.7 ± 4.7 in group A vs 21.1 ± 17.1 pulses in group B, P < 0.001), shorter ablation line (11.6 ± 4.0 mm vs 37.8 ± 7.2 mm, P < 0.0001) with no arrhythmia recurrence. These functional isthmuses were found to be located at the lateral third of CTI in 12 patients, middle third in 7, and medial third in 1. This finding is different from that obtained by the conventional method in group B (lateral in 5, middle in 16, medial in 2, P < 0.038). Conclusion: In our study, a functional, rather than anatomic, isthmus formed by preexisting double‐potential barrier at the CTI was identified in 47% of patients with isthmus‐dependent AFL. It is a useful guide to facilitate RFCA of isthmus‐dependent AFL. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 396‐401, April 2004)
Assessment of Pulmonary Vein Anatomic Variability by Magnetic Resonance Imaging:
Authors: MANSOUR MOUSSA , HOLMVANG GODTFRED , SOSNOVIK DAVID , MIGRINO RAYMOND , ABBARA SUHNY , RUSKIN JEREMY , KEANE DAVID 
Published: April 2004

Introduction: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for atrial fibrillation (AF) currently is performed using either an ostial or an extra‐ostial approach. The objective of this study was to analyze by three‐dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) the anatomy of the PVs in order to detect structural variability that would impact the choice of ablation approach. Methods and Results: Three‐dimensional MRA was performed in 105 patients undergoing PV isolation. The ostial diameter, branching pattern, and PV angulation were analyzed. Fifty‐nine (56%) patients had the typical pattern of 4 PVs with 4 separate ostia, 30 (29%) patients had an additional PV, and 18 (17%) patients had a left common PV trunk. In two patients, there were three right‐sided veins and a common left‐sided trunk, giving rise to four ostia: three on the right and one on the left. Two different populations of right middle PVs were noted: one where the additional vein projected anteriorly to drain the right middle lobe and one posterior to drain the superior portion of the right lower lobe. The average intrapatient variability in PV diameter was 7.9 ± 4.2 mm. The PV ostium was <10 mm in 26 (25%) patients and >25 mm in 15 (14%) patients. The first branch originated 6.7 ± 2.3 mm from the ostium. The left superior, right superior, right inferior, and left inferior PVs were found to enter the left atrium at the following angles: 32 ± 13°, 131 ± 11°, 206 ± 16°, and 329 ± 14°, respectively. Forty‐nine patients (47%) had at least one funnel shaped PV. Conclusion: This largest PV imaging study to date demonstrates that MRA is a valuable tool that allows detection of marked intrapatient and interpatient anatomic variability of the PVs. These findings suggest that, at least in some patients, circumferential extra‐ostial left atrial encirclement of the PVs may be preferable to ostial PV isolation. These findings also may have significant implications on the future development of coil‐ and balloon‐based catheter ablation designs for AF ablation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 387‐393, April 2004)
Effects of Systemic Steroid Treatment in Chronic Polypoid Rhinosinusitis Evaluated with Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Damm Michael , Jungehülsing Markus , Eckel Hans E. , Schmidt Matthias , Theissen Peter 
Published: April 2004

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of a combined (local and systemic) steroid therapy on the extent of chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis and patient symptoms.METHODS AND PATIENTSSubjects of this study were 20 patients with severe chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis with total or subtotal narrowing of the all sinuses. A nasal budesonide spray (2 × 0.1 mg/day) and an oral fluocortolone medication with a daily reduction during a 12‐day period (total dose: 560 mg = group 1) and a 20‐day period (total dose: 715 mg = group 2), respectively, were administered. Before and after the steroid treatment we evaluated the extent of the sinusitis with MRI and patient symptoms with symptom‐related questionnaires.RESULTSA significant reduction (>30%) of the chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis was observed in 50% of MRI findings. The steroid effect on polypoid masses was heterogeneous in different anatomic areas (maxillary sinus 40%, anterior ethmoid 19%, posterior ethmoid 33%, sphenoidal sinus 61%, frontal sinus 46%). Most sinusitis‐related symptoms were distinctly diminished in most patients (80%). No major side effects were observed.CONCLUSIONSA combined short‐term steroid therapy is highly effective in chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis, reducing the mucosal inflammation mainly in the large sinuses and reducing the incidence of symptoms significantly. However, this therapy was insufficient in the anterior ethmoid and cannot replace the current surgical treatment concept of the osteomeatal complex in CPR. The indication for such a short‐term steroid therapy is the preoperative treatment. It facilitates functional endoscopic sinus surgery by reducing the extent of surgical procedures, the time, and thereby the risks of sinus surgery. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;120:517‐23.)
Relationship of the Posterior Cricoarytenoid Muscle to the Posterior Cricoid Lamina
Authors: Goding George S. , Bierbaum Ralph W. 
Published: April 2004

OBJECTIVEEarly experiments in functional electrical stimulation of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscle (PCA) in human beings have involved placement of the electrode along the undersurface of the PCA. The anatomy of the posterior cricoid lamina (PCL) was examined to obtain a quantitative understanding of this region.METHODSThirty fresh‐frozen cadaver larynges were dissected. Measurements of the cricoid cartilage and PCA were obtained with a caliper or calibrated probe.RESULTSTwenty male and 10 female adult larynges were examined. Sex differences were found for the height of the PCL. All larynges had approximately 4 mm of exposed cartilage along the inferior surface of the PCL. The origin of the PCA on the PCL was thinner in the medial‐vertical attachment than in the inferior‐horizontal. The average inferolateral to superomedial diagonal width of the PCA was 4 mm greater in the male than in the female larynges. Asymmetry between the left and right sides was seen.CONCLUSIONSThe PCA can be divided into 2 muscle groups based on its origin on the PCL as well as its insertion into the muscular process of the arytenoid. The quantitative information obtained has implications for electrode design and placement for laryngeal stimulation. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;120:493‐8.)
Role of Screening Chest Computed Tomography in Patients with Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Tan Luke K. S. , Greener Christopher C. , Seikaly Hadi , Rassekh Christopher H. , Calhoun Karen H. 
Published: April 2004

OBJECTIVEThe presence of pulmonary metastases significantly alters the treatment of patients with head and neck cancers. Currently, a chest radiograph (CXR) is used as a screening examination, although a chest CT (CCT) can detect smaller lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of CCT as a screening tool in patients with newly diagnosed advanced head and neck cancers.METHODNew patients with stage III and IV head and neck squamous cell carcinomas were enrolled in this prospective study from August 1994 to December 1995. Twenty‐five patients underwent CXR ($71) and CCT ($597) within 2 weeks of diagnosis of the index cancer.RESULTSIn 20 patients neither the CXR nor the CCT showed any evidence of pulmonary malignancy. Two patients had normal CXRs but possible metastases on CCT. Both the pulmonary lesions resolved on follow‐up evaluation. Two patients had suspicious lesions on CXR, 1 of whom had a normal CCT. The second patient underwent CT‐guided biopsy which was negative for malignancy. Both the CXR and CCT of the final patient, who had a bronchogenic carcinoma, were suspicious.CONCLUSIONIn 2 patients CCT detected suspicious lesions missed on CXR, although neither revealed malignancy. Three patients with suspicious CXRs would have had CCTs anyway. Thus 22 of 25 CCTs done at the additional cost of $13,314 did not add to the sensitivity of the screening for pulmonary metastasis or second lung primary.
Laser Surgery for Allergic Rhinitis: The Effect on Seromucinous Glands
Authors: Elwany Samy , Salaam Sedik Abel 
Published: April 2004

Ten patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were subjected to CO2 laser turbinectomy. Tiny (1 mm3) biopsy specimens were taken at the time of surgery and 1 month thereafter. The biopsy specimens were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Also, the activity of succinic dehydrogenase and cholinesterase enzymes was measured. The study showed that laser turbinectomy was followed by reduction in the number and activity of the glandular acini in the laser‐treated areas. This reduction is ascribed to the local destructive effect of laser energy on the glandular acini and on the surrounding cholinergic nerve fibers. The enzymatic activity of the cholinergic nerve fibers themselves, however, did not diminish, indicating that laser surgery has no inhibitory effect on the local allergic reaction.
Exophytic and Papillary Squamous Cell Carcinomas of the Larynx: A Clinicopathologic Series of 104 Cases
Authors: Thompson Lester D. R. , Wenig Bruce M. , Heffner Dennis K. , Gnepp Douglas R. 
Published: April 2004

Exophytic and papillary squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are uncommon variants of SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract mucosa. The histomorphologic distinction between these variants has not been previously attempted or correlated with prognostic outcome. One hundred four cases of exophytic and papillary SCCs of the larynx were identified in the files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from 1971 to 1991. The patients included 25 women and 79 men, aged 27 to 89 years (average 60.7 years). Patients had hoarseness at presentation, and many patients were using tobacco (n = 87) and/or alcohol (n = 49). Tumors measured up to 6 cm in greatest dimension. The larger tumors were associated with vocal cord impairment (n = 39). Histologically, the SCCs were divided into 2 growth patterns: papillary‐frond (n = 12) or broad‐based, exophytic (n = 92). Patients were treated with excisional biopsy, vocal cord stripping, and/or laryngectomy, in conjunction with radiation therapy (n = 70). Eighty‐seven patients had no evidence of disease at last follow‐up (average follow‐up 8.6 years). Seventeen patients with an exophytic pattern died with disease (10 disseminated disease; 7 local disease). No patients with papillary patterns died of disease, although there had been 4 recurrences. In conclusion, patients with papillary and exophytic SCCs have a better prognosis than those with conventional SCCs, and the prognosis for those with papillary SCCs is even better.
Radiofrequency Tongue Base Reduction in Sleep‐Disordered Breathing: A Pilot Study
Authors: Powell Nelson B. , Riley Robert W. , Guilleminault Christian 
Published: April 2004

OBJECTIVEThis pilot study investigates the new technology of radiofrequency energy (RFe), as applied to the tongue base, for the purpose of assessing feasibility, safety, and possible efficacy in the treatment of sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB).METHODSEighteen patients with SDB, in whom at least palatopharyngoplasty had failed, were entered in this study. The mean respiratory disturbance index was 39.6, with a mean nadir oxygen (SaO2) of 81.9%. A radiofrequency electrode delivered energy to the subsurface tongue base with local anesthetic. Polysomnography, quantitative speech and swallowing studies, questionnaires, and visual analog scales were used to assess outcomes. MRI assessed changes in tongue volume.RESULTSSeparate RFe treatments (mean 5.5) at 4‐week intervals were given (mean 1543 J for 9 minutes at 80°C), for a mean energy total of 8490 J per patient. The posttreatment mean respiratory disturbance index was 17.8, and the SaO2 nadir was 88.3%. Weight increased slightly; speech and swallowing did not change. Questionnaires and visual analog scale scores showed improvement in study variables. Tongue volume was reduced by a mean of 17%. Pain was controlled by hydrocodone for 3 to 4 days. One infection was seen and resolved with incision and drainage.CONCLUSIONThis pilot study demonstrates feasibility, safety, and efficacy in reducing tongue volume using RFe. Additional cumulative energy may improve the cure rate for SDB.The application of radiofrequency energy (RFe) for medical and surgical purposes has been extensively researched in the past.1–4 We have recently applied these basic RFe principles to 3 consecutive investigations, which included 1 animal tongue model5 and 2 human airway models (palate and turbinates).6,7 These studies were done to specifically evaluate the biophysics and safety of RFe and to establish a scientific basis for the application of RFe to the human tongue in sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB). The primary goal of this pilot investigation was to evaluate whether RFe could, in those with SDB and hypopharyngeal obstruction, reduce tongue volume and possibly improve SDB.
STING Contacts: a web-based application for identification and analysis of amino acid contacts within protein structure and across protein interfaces
Authors: Mancini A. L. , Higa R. H. , Oliveira A. , Dominiquini F. , Kuser P. R. , Yamagishi M. E. B. , Togawa R. C. , Neshich G. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
Amino acid contacts in terms of atomic interactions are essential factors to be considered in the analysis of the structure of a protein and its complexes. Consequently, molecular biologists do require specific tools for the identification and visualization of all such contacts. Graphical contacts (GC) and interface forming residue graphical contacts (IFRgc) presented here, calculate atomic contacts among amino acids based on a table of predefined pairs of the atom types and their distances, and then display them using number of different forms. The inventory of currently listed contact types by GC and IFRgc include hydrogen bonds (in nine different flavors), hydrophobic interactions, charge–charge interactions, aromatic stacking and disulfide bonds. Such extensive catalog of the interactions, representing the forces that govern protein folding, stability and binding, is the key feature of these two applications. GC and IFRgc are part of STING Millennium Suite.
Availability: http://sms.cbi.cnptia.embrapa.br/SMS, http://trantor.bioc.columbia.edu/SMS, http://mirrors.rcsb.org//SMS, http://www.es.embnet.org/SMS and http://www.ar.embnet.org/SMS (Options: Graphical Contacts and IFR Graphical Contacts).
Bellerophon: a program to detect chimeric sequences in multiple sequence alignments
Authors: Huber Thomas , Faulkner Geoffrey , Hugenholtz Philip 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
Summary: Bellerophon is a program for detecting chimeric sequences in multiple sequence datasets by an adaption of partial treeing analysis. Bellerophon was specifically developed to detect 16S rRNA gene chimeras in PCR-clone libraries of environmental samples but can be applied to other nucleotide sequence alignments.
Availability: Bellerophon is available as an interactive web server at http://foo.maths.uq.edu.au/~huber/bellerophon.pl
MedPost: a part-of-speech tagger for bioMedical text
Authors: Smith L. , Rindflesch T. , Wilbur W. J. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
Summary: We present a part-of-speech tagger that achieves over 97% accuracy on MEDLINE citations.
Availability: Software, documentation and a corpus of 5700 manually tagged sentences are available at ftp://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/lsmith/MedPost/medpost.tar.gz
Alignment of RNA base pairing probability matrices
Authors: Hofacker Ivo L. , Bernhart Stephan H. F. , Stadler Peter F. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
Motivation: Many classes of functional RNA molecules are characterized by highly conserved secondary structures but little detectable sequence similarity. Reliable multiple alignments can therefore be constructed only when the shared structural features are taken into account. Since multiple alignments are used as input for many subsequent methods of data analysis, structure-based alignments are an indispensable necessity in RNA bioinformatics.
Results: We present here a method to compute pairwise and progressive multiple alignments from the direct comparison of base pairing probability matrices. Instead of attempting to solve the folding and the alignment problem simultaneously as in the classical Sankoff's algorithm, we use McCaskill's approach to compute base pairing probability matrices which effectively incorporate the information on the energetics of each sequences. A novel, simplified variant of Sankoff's algorithms can then be employed to extract the maximum-weight common secondary structure and an associated alignment.
Availability: The programs pmcomp and pmmulti described in this contribution are implemented in Perl and can be downloaded together with the example datasets from http://www.tbi.univie.ac.at/RNA/PMcomp/. A web server is available at http://rna.tbi.univie.ac.at/cgi-bin/pmcgi.pl
Proteins associated with diseases show enhanced sequence correlation between charged residues
Authors: Dima Ruxandra I. , Thirumalai D. 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
Motivation: Function of proteins or a network of interacting proteins often involves communication between residues that are well separated in sequence. The classic example is the participation of distant residues in allosteric regulation. Bioinformatic and structural analysis methods have been introduced to infer residues that are correlated. Recently, increasing attention has been paid to obtain the sequence properties that determine the tendency of disease-related proteins (Aβ peptides, prion proteins, transthyretin, etc.) to aggregate and form fibrils. Motivated in part by the need to identify sequence characteristics that indicate a tendency to aggregate, we introduce a general method that probes covariations in charged residues along the sequence in a given protein family. The method, which involves computing the sequence correlation entropy (SCE) using the quenched probability Psk(i,j) of finding a residue pair at a given sequence separation, sk, allows us to classify protein families in terms of their SCE. Our general approach may be a useful way in obtaining evolutionary covariations of amino acid residues on a genome wide level.
Results: We use a combination of SCE and clustering based on the principle component analysis to classify the protein families. From an analysis of 839 families, covering ∼500 000 sequences, we find that proteins with relatively low values of SCE are predominantly associated with various diseases. In several families, residues that give rise to peaks in Psk(i,j) are clustered in the three-dimensional structure. For the class of proteins with low SCE values, there are significant numbers of mixed charged-hydrophobic (CH) and charged-polar (CP) runs. Our findings suggest that the low values of SCE and the presence of (CH) and/or (CP) may be indicative of disease association or tendency to aggregate. Our results led to the hypothesis that functions of proteins with similar SCE values may be linked. The hypothesis is validated with a few anecdotal examples. The present results also lead to the prediction that the overall charge correlations in proteins affect the kinetics of amyloid formation—a feature that is common to all proteins implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.
Supertree algorithms for ancestral divergence dates and nested taxa
Authors: Semple Charles , Daniel Philip , Hordijk Wim , Page Roderic D.M. , Steel Mike 
Published: April 2004

Abstract
Motivation: Supertree methods have been often identified as a possible approach to the reconstruction of the ‘Tree of Life’. However, a limitation of such methods is that, typically, they use just leaf-labelled phylogenetic trees to infer the resulting supertree.
Results: In this paper, we describe several new supertree algorithms that extend the allowable information that can be used for phylogenetic inference. These algorithms have been recently implemented and we describe here two illustrative applications.
Availability: These new algorithms are freely available for application at http://darwin.zoology.gla.ac.uk/cgi-bin/build.pl