bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal analyses of chest radiographs from the European Carbon Black Respiratory Morbidity Study
Authors: van Tongeren M.J.A. , Gardiner K. , Rossiter C.E. , Beach J. , Harber P. , Harrington M.J. 
Published: October 2002

High levels of exposure to carbon black have been linked with an increased prevalence of chest radiograph abnormalities. However, it is unclear to what extent current levels of exposure in the carbon black manufacturing industry are associated with new cases of and progression in small opacities.Longitudinal analyses were carried out on data from workers in the European carbon black manufacturing industry who provided three full-size chest radiographs sequentially between 1987–1995. All chest radiographs were independently read by three experienced readers according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) classification.After exclusion of participants with previous lung diseases or injuries, females, unreadable chest radiographs and from factories with a low participation rate, data from 675 workers were available for the longitudinal analyses. An association was observed between cumulative carbon black exposure and new cases of chest radiograph abnormalities (ILO category ≥1/0) and progression in small opacities. These associations were mainly related to changes in chest radiographs from workers at one factory. A large percentage of workers with chest radiograph abnormalities reversed to normal chest films; however, after adjusting for other factors, this was not associated with levels of exposure to carbon black dust.In conclusion, the results show that exposure to carbon black is associated with increased risk of chest radiographic abnormalities, which may be reversible after reduction or cessation of exposure.
Adverse pulmonary vascular effects of high dose tricyclic antidepressants: acute and chronic animal studies
Authors: Liu X. , Emery C.J. , Laude E. , Herget J. , Gill G. , Cope G. , Barer G.R. 
Published: October 2002

Overdose of tricyclic antidepressants, which inhibit cellular serotonin (5-HT) uptake, sometimes causes acute respiratory syndrome-like symptoms. Their acute and chronic cardiopulmonary actions, which might be implicated, utilising bothin vivoandex vivoanimal studies, were investigated in this study.Acute amitriptyline (AMI), iprindole and imipramine caused dose-dependent prolonged rises in pulmonary artery pressure and oedema in anaesthetised catsin vivo. Acute AMI, in isolatedex vivoblood-perfused rat lungs, also caused dose-dependent sustained vasoconstriction, which could be attenuated with either calcium channel inhibition or a nitric oxide donor. It was demonstrated that the pressor effects of AMI were not due to release of histamine, serotonin, noradrenaline, or the activities of cycloxygenase or lipoxygenase. After AMI, hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and the pressor actions of 5‐HT and noradrenaline were diminished, possibly due to uptake inhibition. Activities of the endothelial-based enzymes, nitric oxide synthase and endothelin-converting enzyme, were undiminished. Large acute doses of AMI caused oedema with rupture of capillaries and alveolar epithelium.Chronic iprindole raised pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricle (RV)/left ventricle (LV) + septal (S) weight. Chronic AMI led to attenuation of the pressor action of 5‐HT, especially when associated with chronic hypoxic-induced pulmonary hypertension. RV/LV+S weight increased, attributable to LV decline.The acute and chronic effects observed might have relevance to clinical overdose, while the attenuation of acute effects offers possible therapeutic options.
Allergy and immunity to fungal infections and colonization
Authors: Crameri R. , Blaser K. 
Published: October 2002

Innate and cell-mediated immunity are considered as the principal defence lines against fungal infections in humans. Most opportunistic mycoses occur in individuals with defective innate and/or adaptive cellular immunity. The morbidity and mortality rates associated with infections caused by fungal pathogens are high, and prevention, diagnosis and treatment of these infections remain quite difficult.A variety of pathological conditions, including impaired immune function, are believed to cause host susceptibility to fungal infections as well as to determine the severity and characteristics of the associated pathology. Nonspecific cellular immunity, mediated by macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer cells, provides efficient protection against fungal infections in healthy individuals. A major reason for the increase in systemic mycoses is undoubtedly related to an increased number of patients with congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies.However, there is increasing clinical and experimental evidence indicating that antigen-specific cellular immunity may also play a critical role in host protection against fungi. A better understanding of reciprocal regulation between innate, humoral and adaptive immune responses in the development of an optimal antifungal immunity and, in particular, the improved definition of fungal antigens, may lead to a clarification of the mechanisms involved in host immunity to fungal infections.Molecular cloning and characterization of fungal antigens reveals the involvement of related cross-reactive molecular structures produced by different fungi as pathological molecules involved in development of allergic reactions.
Relationship between exhaled air temperature and exhaled nitric oxide in childhood asthma
Authors: Piacentini G.L. , Bodini A. , Zerman L. , Costella S. , Zanolla L. , Peroni D.G. , Boner A.L. 
Published: October 2002

Airway inflammation is a characteristic of asthma. Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) has been demonstrated to be related to actual levels of airway inflammation in asthmatic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the temperature of exhaled air is related to eNO levels.Temperature of exhaled air and eNO were measured in 52 asthmatic children with a cross-sectional design.A significant relationship was demonstrated between eNO and temperature of peak and plateau exhaled air temperature. The relationship between both the peak and the plateau values and eNO was more evident when it was corrected for environmental temperature.These results suggest a relationship between exhaled nitric oxide and the temperature of exhaled air in asthmatic patients not treated with systemic steroids.
Tachykinins and airway microvascular leakage induced by HCl intra-oesophageal instillation
Authors: Daoui S. , D'Agostino B. , Gallelli L. , Emonds Alt X. , Rossi F. , Advenier C. 
Published: October 2002

Gastro-oesophageal reflux is a common clinical disorder associated with a variety of respiratory symptoms, including chronic cough and exacerbation of asthma. In this study, the potential role of acid-induced tachykinin release was examined in guinea pigs and rabbits, by examining the effects of the tachykinin NK1and NK3receptors antagonists (SR 140333 and SR 142801, respectively) (1–10 mg·kg−1) on plasma protein extravasation induced in airways by hydrochloric acid (HCl) infusion in the oesophagus.Guinea pigs were anaesthetised with urethane, while rabbits were subject to neuroleptoanalgesia with hypnorm. Airway vascular leakage was evaluated by measuring extravasation of Evans blue dye. All animals were pretreated with atropine (1 mg·kg−1i.p.), propranolol (1 mg·kg−1i.p.), phosphoramidon (2.5 mg·kg−1i.v.) and saline or tachykinin receptor antagonists (1–10 mg·kg−1i.p.).Infusion of 1 N HCl into the oesophagus led to a three- and five-fold increase in plasma extravasation in the main bronchi and trachea, respectively. This increase was largely prevented by the tachykinin NK1and NK3receptor antagonists SR 140333 and SR 142801 (1–10 mg·kg−1).These results suggest that protein extravasation in the airways, as induced by intra-oesophageal HCl infusion, is mainly dependent on the release of tachykinins, and that both NK1and NK3tachykinin receptors are involved. The results suggest that HCl-induced sensory nerve stimulation may act in the periphery on intermediate neurons and/or ganglia where NK3receptors have been shown to play an important role.
The association between diet and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in subjects selected from general practice
Authors: Watson L. , Margetts B. , Howarth P. , Dorward M. , Thompson R. , Little P. 
Published: October 2002

It is unclear why some smokers develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) whilst the majority do not. Antioxidants found in food may protect against lung tissue injury, but previous epidemiological studies are inconsistent and do not focus on those most at risk of COPD, namely smokers. This case-controlled study measured the difference in dietary intake between smokers and exsmokers with and without COPD.Cases were patients >45 yrs of age with >10 pack-yrs of smoking, a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) of ≤70% and a FEV1of ≤80% of predicted. Controls were patients >45 yrs of age with >10 pack-yrs of smoking, a FEV1/FVC of >70% and a FEV1>80% pred. Data were collected using validated questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis for an unmatched case-controlled study was performed.After controlling for other independent predictors of COPD, those with vegetable intake of ≥1 portion·day−1(93 g) were less likely to have COPD, as were those consuming ≥1.5 portions·day−1of fruit. This was not due to an overall reduction in food/calorie intake caused by the disease because: 1) adjusting for body mass index did not alter the estimates; 2) the effect was specific to fruit and vegetables,i.e.not other food groups; and 3) the estimates from incident cases were similar.In conclusion, fruit and vegetable consumption is inversely associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and may explain why some smokers do not develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Omalizumab provides long-term control in patients with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma
Authors: Buhl R. , Solèr M. , Matz J. , Townley R. , O'Brien J. , Noga O. , Champain K. , Fox H. , Thirlwell J. , Della Cioppa G. 
Published: October 2002

The ability of omalizumab, an anti-immnoglobulin‐E agent, to maintain long‐term disease control in patients with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma was investigated in a 24‐week double-blind extension to a 28‐week core trial.During the extension, 483 of the initial 546 patients were maintained on randomised treatment and the lowest sustainable dose of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) as established during the steroid-reduction phase of the core trial. The use of concomitant asthma medication was permitted and investigators were allowed to adjust the BDP dose or switch patients from BDP to other asthma medications if deemed necessary.More omalizumab-treated patients (33.5%) than placebo-treated patients (13.5%) were able to complete the extension period without requiring inhaled corticosteroid treatment. The mean BDP equivalent dose throughout the extension was lower in the omalizumab group (25 µg·day−1) than in the placebo group (43 µg·day−1). Disease control was sustained in 76% of omalizumab patients compared with 59.4% of placebo patients free from an asthma exacerbation during the extension period. Compared with placebo, fewer patients in the omalizumab group used other concomitant asthma medication during the extension. Treatment with omalizumab was well tolerated and the incidence of adverse events was similar between groups.In conclusion, these results suggest that omalizumab is a promising new agent for the long-term control of allergic asthma.
Improved quality of life after lung volume reduction surgery
Authors: Hamacher J. , Büchi S. , Georgescu C.L. , Stammberger U. , Thurnheer R. , Bloch K.E. , Weder W. , Russi E.W. 
Published: October 2002

Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) improves dyspnoea, pulmonary function, and physical performance in patients with severe pulmonary emphysema. This study investigated the impact of LVRS on health-related quality of life (HRQL) over a 2-yr period following surgery.Thirty-nine consecutive patients were prospectively assessed before LVRS, and followed over 24 months postoperatively. The assessments included pulmonary function, dyspnoea (Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea score), 6-min walking distance (6MWD) and HRQL using the Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36) .Several domains of SF-36 improved considerably over 2 yrs after surgery: Physical Functioning: 39±4 (mean±sem)versus16±2 (p<0.01); Vitality: 51±3versus32±3 (p<0.01); Social Functioning: 72±4versus51±5 (p<0.01). Also, improvements in pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1): 27±1% predicted, residual volume (RV)/total lung capacity (TLC): 0.65±0.01), 6 MWD (274±16 m) and dyspnoea (MRC: 3.9±01) were sustained for up to 2 yrs after LVRS (FEV136±2% pred, RV/TLC: 0.58±0.02; 6 MWD: 342±19 m; MRC: 2.0±0.2; p<0.05).In patients with severe emphysema, lung volume reduction surgery had positive effects on health-related quality of life and pulmonary function over 2 yrs.
Detection ofChlamydia pneumoniaein unexplained pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Theegarten D. , Anhenn O. , Aretz S. , Maass M. , Mogilevski G. 
Published: October 2002

The pathogenesis of primary pulmonary hypertension is still unclear. The case of a 68-yr-old female patient who complained of recurrent dizzy spells and collapses over a period of 6 weeks and died of global cardiac failure is presented.Autopsy revealed severe pulmonary hypertension, slight chronic bronchitis, and bronchiolitis as well as intra-alveolar accumulation of macrophages. Chlamydiae were detected within the pulmonary arteries and in intramural and intra-alveolar macrophages by immunofluorescence, confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nonradioactive deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) hybridization of PCR products from pulmonary arteries revealedChlamydia pneumoniaeDNA.Chlamydia pneumoniaehas already been detected in atherosclerosis and in pulmonary emphysema. It can induce proliferation of smooth muscle cells.Chlamydia pneumoniaemight be relevant in aggravation of primary pulmonary hypertension and might perhaps be a trigger factor in some cases.
Gravimagnetic similarity in anomaly formulas for uniform polyhedra
Authors: Holstein Horst 
Published: October 2002

Gravitational and magnetic anomalies of an arbitrary target body are linked through Poisson's differential relation. For a uniform polyhedral target, Poisson's relation reduces to an algebraic link between gravity and magnetic anomaly formulas. The derivation is given in tensor form. It identifies for each target facet edge a vector function, in terms of which the gravitational and magnetic potential and field anomaly formulas are similarly expressed as appropriately weighted linear combinations. This similarity unifies the theory of uniform polyhedral anomalies. It benefits analysis and construction of software that naturally embraces all anomalies in a single code. The analysis is exemplified by a discussion of singularities and by the adaptation of three gravity‐field algorithms to the remaining gravitational and magnetic cases, while retaining the respective computational advantages of the former gravity‐field algorithms.
Cross‐borehole geological interpretation model based on a fuzzy neural network and geotomography
Authors: Janakiraman Kalyan Kumar , Konno Masao 
Published: October 2002

This paper demonstrates a method of predicting subsurface geological characteristics in the region between boreholes using a fuzzy neural network (FNN), inverted geophysical data (geotomogram), and fuzzy geological knowledge. Traditionally, geological interpretations are often of inadequate reliability in cross‐borehole regions because of the scarcity of quantitative data. Hence, geological interpretation has been a subjective process. Although there is a paucity of data, a fair amount of information exists in the form of human perception, summarized as either “rough maps” or “vague descriptions.” Here, a method based on fuzzy set theory that can extract rough information from conventional geological interpretations is described. The extracted data can be used with geophysical tomography data in a FNN to improve geological interpretation. The proposed method was applied to the geological evaluation of a site where construction of an underground hydroelectric power‐generation facility was being considered. The site was roughly 500 m below the surface and is generally composed of Mesozoic sedimentary rock. The results indicate that a significantly superior geologic interpretation is obtained by incorporating rough information and by using the proposed FNN model.
Automatic velocity analysis by differential semblance optimization
Authors: Mulder W. A. , ten Kroode A. P. E. 
Published: October 2002

We present a method for automatic velocity analysis of seismic data based on differential semblance optimization (DSO). The data are mapped for each offset from the time domain to the depth domain by a Born migration scheme using ray tracing with the efficient wavefront construction method. The DSO cost functional is evaluated by taking differences of the migration images for neighboring offsets. The gradient of this functional with respect to the underlying velocity model is obtained by a first‐order approximation of the adjoint‐state method, leading to an optimal complexity: the cost of evaluating the gradient is about the same as that of evaluating the functional. The method has been applied to a marine line. Multiples turned out to be a problem, but were handled effectively by incorporating a multiple filter inside the DSO cost functional.
An optimization of the inverse scattering multiple attenuation method for OBS and VC data
Authors: Ikelle Luc T. , Amundsen Lasse , Yoo Seung 
Published: October 2002

The inverse scattering multiple attenuation (ISMA) algorithm for ocean‐bottom seismic (OBS) data can be formulated in the form of a series expansion for each of the four components of OBS data. Besides the actual data, which constitute the first term of the series, each of the other terms is computed as a multidimensional convolution of OBS data with streamer data, and aims at removing one specific order of multiples. If the streamer data do not contain free‐surface multiples, we found that the computation of only the second term of the series is needed to predict and remove all orders of multiples, whatever the water depth. As the computation of the various terms of the series is the most expensive part of ISMA, this result can produce significant savings in computation time, even in data storage, as we no longer need to store the various terms of the series. For example, if the streamer data contained free‐surface multiples, OBS seismic data of 6‐s duration, corresponding to a geological model of the subsurface with 250‐m water depth, require the computation of five terms of the series for each of the four components of OBS data. With the new implementation, in which the streamer data do not contain free‐surface multiples, we need the computation of only one term of the series for each component of the OBS data. The saving in CPU time for this particular case is at least fourfold.The estimation of the inverse source signature, which is an essential part of ISMA, also benefits from the reduction of the number of terms needed for the demultiple to two because it becomes a linear inverse problem instead of a nonlinear one. Assuming that the removal of multiple events produces a significant reduction in the energy of the data, the optimization of this problem leads to a stable, noniterative analytic solution.We have also adapted these results to the implementation of ISMA for vertical‐cable (VC) data. This implementation is similar to that for OBS data. The key difference is that the basic model in VC imaging assumes that data consist of receiver ghosts of primaries instead of the primaries themselves. We have used the following property to achieve this goal. The combination of VC data with surface seismic data, which do not contain free‐surface multiples, allows us to predict free‐surface multiples and receiver ghosts as well as the receiver ghosts of primary reflections. However, if the direct wave arrivals are removed from the VC data, this combination will not predict the receiver ghosts of primary reflections. The difference between these two predictions produces data containing only receiver ghosts of primaries.
The Rivermead Assessment of Somatosensory Performance (RASP): standardization and reliability data
Authors: Winward Charlotte E , Halligan Peter W , Wade Derick T 
Published: October 2002

Objective: To develop a standardized, clinically relevant, quantitative assessment of somatosensory performance in patients with stroke. Design: Prospective observational study and test evaluation. Setting: Local Oxford hospitals and a regional neurological rehabilitation centre. Subjects: Stroke patients with a ”rst, lateralized acute stroke in hospital, and age-matched control subjects. Method: Each patient was assessed in a structured way using a new battery of formal tests of somatosensory performance. Results: A total of 100 patients and 50 controls were fully investigated. Control subjects performed at or near ceiling on all tests, but patients showed impaired performance on all tests. The Rivermead Assessment of Somatosensory Performance (RASP) showed good intra-rater and inter-rater reliability for all subtests. There were however only weak relationships between scores of sensory impairment and scores of motor impairment or mobility and dependence. Conclusions: The RASP provides a practical and reliable assessment of sensory loss, which provides the clinician with a comprehensive picture of the patient’s performance and can be used to inform and monitor rehabilitation and recovery.
A completed audit cycle and integrated care pathway for the management of depression following brain injury in a rehabilitation setting
Authors: Hassan Nibras , Turner-Stokes Lynne , Pierce Katherine , Clegg Frances 
Published: October 2002

Objective: To develop an evidence-based multidisciplinary integrated care pathway (ICP) for the management of depression following brain injury in a rehabilitation setting, and to assess its impact on standards of care and documentation. Setting: A regional rehabilitation unit providing inpatient rehabilitation for young patients (16–65) with complex disabilities mainly resulting from brain injury. Methods and design: A completed cycle of audit including: standards set for documentation, assessment, management and review; L an initial retrospective audit of documented patient management against those standards during a five-year period (26 patient records); ICP development by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, psychologists and nurses based on clinical opinion and systematic review of the literature; re-audit from the ICP documentation (48 patient records) over a period of 15 months. Results: The initial audit demonstrated borderline acceptable documentation of baseline mood state and start of medication (54–61%), but poor documentation of review (29%) and subsequent treatment (27%). Introduction of the ICP improved all standards of documentation to 94–100%, except for assessment using a validated measure (84%) and follow-up assessment (76%). Conclusions: This ICP raised staff awareness of depression, leading to improved documentation and possibly also standards of care.