bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The exstrophy‐epispadias complex: is aesthetic appearance important?
Authors: Meyer K.F. , Freitas Filho L.G. , Martins D.M.S. , Vaccari M. , Carnevale J. 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVETo show the relevance of cosmetic appearance in the adequate treatment of patients with exstrophy‐epispadias complex (EEC), and to indicate that surgery by experienced teams can improve the long‐term treatment forecast and the patient's body image.PATIENTS AND METHODSFrom 1978 to 2002, 71 patients diagnosed with EEC were treated in the authors’ institution; 24 (aged 2–23 years) were selected to undergo different surgical procedures. The criterion for surgery considered interviews conducted by the psychology team with the parents and children. The plastic surgery and paediatric urology teams carried out the procedures jointly; the follow‐up was 0.33–7 years.RESULTSFive female patients and six male had abdominoplasty to treat multiple scars; eight had intermittent catheterization conduits repositioned from the right iliac fossa to the umbilicus. Six female patients had plastic surgery of the external genitalia and three had a broad mobilization of the urogenital sinus. Thirteen male patients had a small penis and had the corpora cavernosa fully mobilized and the penis reconstructed. Five female patients and one male had anterior osteotomy. One patient with no left testis had it replaced and one patient with uterine prolapse had the uterus fixed to the posterior abdominal wall. Six patients had a second procedure, in two because the outcome of the initial operation was poor and in the others to complement the initial treatment. In all but one patient there was an improvement in the objective criteria, e.g. school absences, difficulty in establishing long‐lasting social relationships and refusal to participate in sports activities. However, none of the patients would attempt sexual intercourse.CONCLUSIONSBody image, self‐esteem, sexuality, sexual function and fertility are deemed crucial by adolescents; in patients with EEC customised surgical procedures can give a satisfactory aesthetic outcome, and be a further reason for adequately following occasional urinary complications and renal function, to avoid loss to follow‐up.
Urothelium regeneration using viable cultured urothelial cell sheets grafted on demucosalized gastric flaps
Authors: Shiroyanagi Y. , Yamato M. , Yamazaki Y. , Toma H. , Okano T. 
Published: May 2004

Most of the papers in this section are studies of cellular biology in urological cancer. Each of the four papers assess a particular aspect of four different types of cancer: prostate, bladder, renal, and testicular. The other two reports are on unrelated issues; in the first, the authors write about urothelial regeneration using viable cultured urothelial cell sheets grafted onto demucosalized gastric flaps, and in the second, on the in vivo expression of nitric oxide synthase.OBJECTIVETo evaluate urothelium regeneration by grafting viable cultured urothelial cell sheets, harvested from temperature‐responsive culture surfaces, on demucosalized gastric flaps in a dog model.MATERIALS AND METHODSViable urothelium was obtained from eight beagle dogs by partial cystectomy. Harvested urothelial cells were seeded on temperature‐responsive culture dishes modified with the thermally sensitive polymer, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide). Urothelial cells cultured for 3 weeks generated contiguous urothelial cell sheets that were noninvasively harvested with no enzymatic treatment from these dishes, by reducing culture temperature. Urothelial cell sheets were autografted onto surgically demucosalized gastric flaps. Three weeks after autografting the dogs were killed and the gastric flaps with the urothelial cell sheets were examined. Cell and tissue characteristics were compared between these urothelial cell sheet‐grafted gastric flaps and native urothelium. Ultrafine structures were also examined by electron microscopy.RESULTSFive of the eight urothelial cell sheet‐grafted flaps showed viable urothelial regeneration. Urothelial cell sheets attached spontaneously to demucosalized tissue surfaces completely, with no suture or fixing, and developed into a stratified viable epithelium very similar to native urothelium. Regenerated urothelium remained unstained by antiproton pump antibody, which typically stains epithelial cells positively in gastric mucosal layers. On three of the eight flaps where there were severe haematomas, grafted cell sheets were not adherent and there was no urothelial regeneration.CONCLUSIONSUrothelial cell sheets were autografted onto dog demucosalized gastric flaps successfully, with no suture or fixation, generating a multilayered urothelium in vivo. The novel intact cell‐sheet grafting method rapidly produces native‐like epithelium in vivo. This versatile technology should prove useful in urinary tract tissue engineering and surgical reconstruction.
Growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest effects of epigallocatechin gallate in the NBT‐II bladder tumour cell line
Authors: Chen J.J. , Ye Z.‐Q. , Koo M.W.L. 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVESTo examine the growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major constituent of green tea polyphenols, on the NBT‐II bladder tumour cell line.MATERIALS AND METHODSGrowth inhibition and cell cycle arrest effects of EGCG were evaluated by the tetrazolium assay, flow cytometry and apoptotic DNA ladder tests. The cell cycle‐related oncogene and protein expressions in NBT‐II bladder tumour cells, when incubated with EGCG, were detected with reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Western blot analysis.RESULTSEGCG inhibited growth of the NBT‐II bladder tumour cells in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. Flow cytometry showed a G0/G1 arrest in cells when cultured with EGCG at doses of 10, 20 or 40 µmol/L for 48 or 72 h. The apoptotic DNA ladder test showed that EGCG at 10 µmol/L induced early apoptosis after 48 h of incubation. A down‐regulation of cyclin D1 was detected by RT‐PCR when the cells were incubated with EGCG (20 µmol/L for 48 h. EGCG also down‐regulated protein expression of cyclin D1, cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/6 and phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein, in both a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner, when detected by Western blot.CONCLUSIONEGCG had growth inhibition and cell‐cycle arrest effects in NBT‐II bladder tumour cells by down‐regulating the cyclin D1, cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/6 and retinoblastoma protein machinery for regulating cell‐cycle progression.
Prognostic value of the expression of Ki‐67, CD44 and vascular endothelial growth factor, and microvessel invasion, in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Yildiz E. , Gokce G. , Kilicarslan H. , Ayan S. , Goze O.F. , Gultekin E.Y. 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVETo determine if use of cell proliferation, cell adhesion, level of angiogenesis‐related factors and presence of microscopic vascular invasion (MVI) could better predict the biological behaviour of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which has a widely variable clinical outcome despite the use of conventional prognostic factors (staging and grading).MATERIALS AND METHODSThe expression of Ki‐67, CD44H and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assessed immunohistochemically in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissues from 48 RCCs, using a Ki‐67 labelling index (LI), CD44 LI and level of VEGF expression, respectively. In addition all the pathological slides were reviewed retrospectively for the presence and absence of MVI. The prognostic value of all the variables assessed was then evaluated, and correlated with the usual prognostic variables and cancer‐specific survival.RESULTSUnivariate analysis of cancer‐specific survival showed that tumour stage (P < 0.001), tumour size (P = 0.005), metastasis, MVI, Ki‐67 LI, CD44H LI and VEGF expression (all P < 0.001) were predictors of tumour‐related death. There was a statistical correlation between CD44H LI and each of Ki‐67 LI (r = 0.61), expression level of VEGF (r = 0.72) and presence of MVI (r = 0.71). Independent predictors of cancer‐specific survival in a multivariate analysis were: in all patients with RCC, the MVI (P = 0.003) and VEGF expression (P = 0.01); in those with no metastases, MVI (P = 0.01); in patients with no MVI, VEGF (P = 0.04); and in patients with MVI, Ki‐67 LI (P = 0.003). No independent predictor was identified in patient with metastases.CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that cell proliferation, cell adhesion, the level of VEGF expression and the presence of MVI represent a complex tumour‐host interaction that may favour the progression of RCC. Cell proliferation, CD44H and VEGF expression appear to be powerful markers for identifying patients with an adverse prognosis.
Effect of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 on apoptosis of rat testicular germ cells induced by testicular torsion
Authors: Ozkurkcugil C. , Yardimoglu M. , Dalcik H. , Erdogan S. , Gokalp A. 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible protective role of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1, reported to have a protective effect in experimental models of hypoxic ischaemia), and the involvement of apoptotic cell death in a model of torsion/detorsion of the rat testis.MATERIALS AND METHODSAdult male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of five rats each. Group 1 underwent a sham operation as a control; in group 2 the testis was twisted and in group 3 then untwisted; in group 4 IGF‐1 was injected subcutaneously just before bilateral torsion, and then the right testis removed after 4 h and the left after 24 h; in group 5, IGF‐1 was injected immediately after bilateral detorsion and then the testes removed as in group 4. Both testicles were examined histologically, with apoptosis detected using the in situ DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) system, with combined enzymology and immunohistochemistry techniques.RESULTSIn groups 2 (torsion) and 3 (detorsion), light microscopy of the testis showed some degenerative changes in the germ cells. Compared to group 1, apoptosis was more significant in group 3 than in the other groups. Group 4 (torsion/IGF‐1) had a similar number of apoptotic germ cells as in group 2 (torsion) after 24 h, but fewer than the same group after 4 h. In group 5 (detorsion/IGF‐1), apoptosis was reduced by IGF‐1 significantly more than in group 3 (P < 0.05). Apoptosis was significantly less in spermatids in group 5 than in group 3 (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONSIGF‐1 seems to lower the levels of germ cell apoptosis, which may be important for protecting the testes from torsion/detorsion injury. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate this protective effect in testicular torsion/detorsion.
Ureteric stenting after ureteroscopy for ureteric stones: a prospective randomized study assessing symptoms and complications
Authors: Jeong H. , Kwak C. , Lee S.E. 
Published: May 2004

OBJECTIVETo compare patients with and with no stenting after ureteroscopy for ureteric calculi, as placing such stents is routine, although many patients complain of pain and urinary symptoms.PATIENTS AND METHODSIn all, 45 patients with ureteric calculi amenable to ureteroscopic management were prospectively randomized into a stented (23) or an unstented (22) group. Standard ureteroscopic basketing and lithotripsy was used, through a ureteroscope (8.5 F) with or without ureteric dilatation. Symptom questionnaires were completed by the patients after treatment, and they were followed radiographically to assess stone‐free rate and evidence of obstruction.RESULTSThere was no statistically significant difference in age, stone size, operative duration or hospital stay between the groups (P > 0.05). Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in flank pain or urinary symptoms (P > 0.05), except haematuria, between the groups; haematuria was more severe and prolonged in the stented group (P = 0.001).CONCLUSIONSUncomplicated ureteroscopy for removing calculi is safe with no stent after treatment, and after considering complications and side‐effects we think that the routine use of ureteric stents after uncomplicated ureteroscopy for stone extraction is unnecessary.
Knowledge Discovery from Area‐Class Resource Maps: Data Preprocessing for Noise Reduction
Authors: Qi Feng 
Published: May 2004

AbstractSpatial data mining techniques have been investigated to extract valuable knowledge from natural resource maps. One challenge in applying general‐purpose data mining algorithms to knowledge discovery from these maps is that the unavoidable existence of errors in traditional area‐class resource maps introduces noise to the process and impacts the accuracy of the extracted knowledge. This paper examines the effect of data preprocessing in knowledge discovery from area‐class resource maps. Presented here is a sampling method designed to obtain samples that exclude noise and are representative of the central concepts of the mapped classes. The method is based on selecting only the pixels that fall in modes of environmental histograms for each individual class. A case study in extracting knowledge from soil maps shows that data preprocessing plays an important role in the knowledge discovery process, and that the sampling method based on environmental histograms significantly improves the knowledge discovery performance.
Integrated Framework for the Simulation of Biological Invasions in a Heterogeneous Landscape
Authors: Ming Peng , Albrecht Jochen 
Published: May 2004

AbstractIn the integrated framework presented in this article, a geographical information system serves as a shell to integrate spatial, dynamic and stochastic perspectives of biological invasions in a coherent workflow. A decision tree model stratifies the landscape with respect to spatial susceptibility and builds the spatial biophysical structure for the simulation of species invasion. A dynamic diffusion model evaluates the temporal changes of species to provide the dynamic parameters for the simulation. A simulation model derived from percolation theory simulates species invasion by combining spatial and dynamic information, and explicitly representing spatio‐temporal patterns of invasions within the GIS‐percolation environment. The simulation illustrates the great influence of spatial structure and connectivity of landscape on the diffusion of the species.
Selection of Streets from a Network Using Self‐Organizing Maps
Authors: Jiang Bin , Harrie Lars 
Published: May 2004

AbstractWe propose a novel approach to selection of important streets from a network, based on the technique of a self‐organizing map (SOM), an artificial neural network algorithm for data clustering and visualization. Using the SOM training process, the approach derives a set of neurons by considering multiple attributes including topological, geometric and semantic properties of streets. The set of neurons constitutes a SOM, with which each neuron corresponds to a set of streets with similar properties. Our approach creates an exploratory linkage between the SOM and a street network, thus providing a visual tool to cluster streets interactively. The approach is validated with a case study applied to the street network in Munich, Germany.
A Hybrid Spatio‐Temporal Data Model and Structure (HST‐DMS) for Efficient Storage and Retrieval of Land Use Information
Authors: Sengupta Raja , Yan Chen 
Published: May 2004

AbstractWhile the incorporation of geographical and environmental modeling with GIS requires software support for storage and retrieval of spatial information that changes over time, it continues to be an unresolved issue with modern GIS software. Two complementary approaches have been used to manage the spatial and temporal heterogeneity within datasets that use a field‐based representation of the world. Some researchers have proposed new data models that partition space into discrete elements on an as‐needed basis following each temporal event, while others have focused on eliminating duplication of repeated data elements present in spatio‐temporal information. It is proposed in this paper that both approaches have merit and can be combined to create a Hybrid Spatio‐Temporal Data Model and Structure (HST‐DMS) that efficiently supports spatio‐temporal data storage and querying. Specifically, Peuquet and Duan's (1995) Event‐based Spatio‐Temporal Data Model (ESTDM) and the Overlapping R‐tree (Guttman 1984, Tzourmanis et al. 2000) are utilized to create a prototype used to store information about urban expansion for the town of Carbondale, Illinois.
GIS Methodology for Characterizing Historical Conditions of the Willamette River Flood Plain, Oregon
Authors: Oetter Doug R , Ashkenas Linda R , Gregory Stanley V , Minear Paula J 
Published: May 2004

AbstractRecent environmental developments have stimulated an interest in conservation and restoration of the historical Willamette River flood plain, both to protect against flooding and to provide wildlife habitat. In order to best utilize scarce resources, we characterized historical and modern river channel and flood‐plain conditions to evaluate changes and help prioritize restoration sites. Using cartographic and photographic data sources, we developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) to map active channels, side channels, islands and tributaries for four separate dates, as well as riparian and flood‐plain vegetation characteristics for pre‐European settlement and modern time periods. Coverages based on flood records and other boundaries were used to partition the flood plain into spatial subsets for analysis. The GIS allowed comparisons between historical and present conditions for a variety of environmental factors. Much of the pre‐settlement channel complexity has been removed. Total channel length in 1995 was 26% less than in 1850, with almost 58% of the river's side channels disconnected from the system. In addition, we found a 72% loss of flood‐plain forest from 1850 to 1995, since it was converted to agricultural and urban land uses. Selected river and flood‐plain variables were made available for a spatial model to prioritize potential locations for flood‐plain restoration.
Fibrates or statins and lipid plasma levels in 245 patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy. Aquitaine Cohort, France, 1999–2001
Authors: Bonnet F , Balestre E , Thiébaut R , Mercié P , Dupon M , Morlat P , Dabis F ,   for the Groupe d'Epidémiologie Clinique du SIDA en Aquitaine (GECSA)
Published: May 2004

ObjectivesTo describe the effect and tolerance of lipid‐lowering drugs (LLD; fibrates and statins) in patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).MethodsA prospective study was performed in a large cohort of HAART‐treated HIV‐infected patients using guidelines for case management of dyslipidaemia. Inclusion criteria were: age over 18 years; HIV infection treated with HAART including at least one protease inhibitor (PI) or nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI); total cholesterol (TC)>5.5 mmol/L and/or triglycerides (TG)>2.2 mmol/L; and initiation of fibrates or statins. Viral load, CD4 cell count, plasma lipid levels and liver enzymes were measured at baseline (M0) and 3(M3) and 12(M12) months thereafter. Muscular enzymes were not assessed.ResultsFibrates were prescribed to 179 patients and statins to 66 patients. There was a significant mean decrease of TG in the fibrates group between M0 and M3 [−2.29 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval (CI)=−3.53, −1.05; P<10−4] and between M0 and M12 (−2.25 mmol/L; 95% CI:−4.23, −0.29; P<10−4); a significant decrease of TC was also noticed between M0 and M3 (−0.55 mmol/L; 95% CI:−0.95, −0.15; P=0.008) but not at M12 (−0.33 mmol/L; 95% CI:−0.94, 0.26; P=0.27). In the statins group, TC significantly decreased between M0 and M3 (−0.78 mmol/L; 95% CI:−1.3, −0.27; P=0.004) and between M0 and M12 (−0.70 mmol/L; 95% CI:−1.31, −0.09; P=0.03). There was no significant difference between the decreases of TG or TC observed in patients treated with PI or NNRTI. There were no significant modifications of viral load, CD4 cell count or liver enzymes during the 12 months of followup.ConclusionsIn this HAART‐treated cohort, fibrates and statins were safe and associated with a favourable but moderate effect on lipid plasma levels.
A multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of primary cryptococcal meningitis prophylaxis in HIV‐infected patients with severe immune deficiency
Authors: Chetchotisakd P , Sungkanuparph S , Thinkhamrop B , Mootsikapun P , Boonyaprawit P 
Published: May 2004

ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy and survival benefit of low‐dose fluconazole (400 mg weekly) for primary prophylaxis for cryptococcal meningitis in patients with advanced HIV infection.MethodsA prospective multicentre, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was carried out in HIV‐infected patients with CD4 counts <100 cells/μL.ResultsOf 90 patients enrolled, 44 received fluconazole and 46 received placebo. The baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. On an intent‐to‐treat basis, 10 cases of cryptococcal meningitis developed, three (6.8%) in the fluconazole group and seven (15.2%) in the placebo group. Patients in the placebo group were more likely to develop cryptococcal meningitis than those in the fluconazole group [hazard ratio=2.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.58–8.63; P=0.245]. The survival benefit of fluconazole was greater than that of the placebo. The number of deaths per 10 000 person‐days was 2.7 for the fluconazole group (2/7342) and 11.7 for the placebo group (9/7713) (rate difference=9; 95% CI: 0.4–17.5; P=0.046). Based on survival analysis, patients in the placebo group were 4.3 times more likely to die than those in the fluconazole group (95% CI: 0.9–19.8; P=0.065).ConclusionFluconazole 400 mg once weekly for primary prophylaxis for cryptococcal meningitis in Thailand should be considered in HIV‐infected patients, as our study suggested a survival benefit. However, a larger study should be conducted to confirm our findings.
Association of hypocholesterolaemia with hepatitis C virus infection in HIV‐infected people*
Authors: Polgreen PM , Fultz SL , Justice AC , Wagner JH , Diekema DJ , Rabeneck L , Weissman S , Stapleton JT 
Published: May 2004

ObjectiveTo study the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) status on serum cholesterol levels in HIV‐infected patients.MethodsWe retrospectively analysed data from the 881 participants of the Veterans Ageing Cohort 3 Site Study. Four different models were constructed using total cholesterol, low‐density lipid (LDL) cholesterol, high‐density lipid (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides as dependent variables. The relevant covariates included HCV antibody status, HIV medication class, CD4 count, HIV viral load, glucose level, lipid‐lowering drug use, gender, race, age, liver function test results, ethanol use, drug use, and HIV exposure category. Variables excluded from the final model included niacin use, gender, race, age, current ethanol use, and HIV exposure category.ResultsOf the 881 HIV‐positive patients enrolled in the study, 700 (79%) were screened for HCV antibody, with 300 (42.8%) HCV antibody positive and 400 (57.2%) HCV antibody negative. A positive HCV antibody status was independently associated with lower total cholesterol levels (P=0.001) and LDL cholesterol levels (P<0.001) but not with lower HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels. HCV‐positive patients had predicted LDL levels 19 mg/dL lower than those of HCV‐negative subjects. HCV infection was also associated with a decreased use of lipid‐lowering medication, and protease inhibitor use was associated with increased LDL and total cholesterol levels.ConclusionsHCV infection has been associated with lower cholesterol levels in HIV‐negative individuals, and the same appears to be true with HIV‐infected patients. This is an interesting finding given that HCV particles bind to LDL receptors in vitro and also because HCV–lipid interactions appear to be important in the HCV replication cycle.