bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of microvessel densities in rat prostate tissues treated with finasteride, bicalutamide and surgical castration: A preliminary study
Authors: KAYA CEVDET , OZYUREK MUSTAFA , TURKERI LEVENT N 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackground: A group of anti‐androgens with different mechanisms of action and adverse effects have been investigated in patients with gross hematuria related to benign prostate hyperplasia; however, there is not yet any consensus about the standard management of these patients. The present study aims to identify if any one type of the hormonal intervention is superior in terms of the suppression of microvessel formation in the prostate.Materials and methods: A total of 28 mature, healthy male Sprague–Dawley rats (300 ± 50 g) were used in this study. The rats were randomly assigned to one of four groups (n = 7 per group). The effects of three different hormonal therapies on angiogenesis and microvascularity in rat ventral prostate were compared. Groups 1 and 2 were treated for 28 days with finasteride and bicalutamide, respectively, and rats from Group 3 underwent surgical castration. Following treatment, all rats included in the study underwent dissection of the ventral prostate and immunohistochemical analysis of microvessel density by factor VIII‐related antigen.Results: The mean number of microvessels in the finasteride and bicalutamide groups was 24.5 (±8.44 SE) and 27 (±9.89 SE) respectively. In contrast, the castration and control groups had microvessel numbers of 12.9 (±5.35 SE) and 40.3 (±5.03 SE) respectively. Differences were statistically significant between all three treatment groups and the controls (P < 0.005); the number of microvessels in rat prostate tissues of the control group was significantly higher than the treatment groups. Mean microvessel densities in the bicalutamide and finasteride groups were significantly higher than microvessel densities in the castration group (P < 0.005). There was no statistically significant difference between mean microvessel number in rat prostate tissue treated with finasteride or bicalutamide (P > 0.05).Conclusions: Even though finasteride was not as effective as castration in reducing microvessel number, its effect was equal to that of bicalutamide in terms of suppressing the angiogenesis in prostatic tissue. Based on the findings of the present study, finasteride might offer a viable option in the management of macroscopic hematuria by inhibition of microvessel formation within the prostatic tissue. Further clinical studies are warranted.
Sexual behavior survey and screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in university students in South Korea
Authors: LEE SEUNG‐JU , CHO YONG‐HYUN , HA U‐SYN , KIM SAE WOONG , YOON MOON SOO , BAE KYUNGHEE 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackground: The purpose of the present study was to define the prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections and status of sexual risk behavior among university students (18–25 years old) in the capital region of South Korea.Methods: Participants filled out a self‐administered questionnaire related to sexuality. First‐void urine was analyzed for chlamydial and gonococcal infection by strand displacement amplification (BDProbTecET, BD Diagnostic Systems, MD).Results: A total of 622 students from 15 colleges in three universities took part in the study. The median age was 21 and 39.1% of them reported having sexual intercourse at least once. The prevalence of C. trachomatis among sexually active men and women was 8.4% and 10.6%, respectively. Gonococcal infection was noted in one symptomatic male. Factors significantly associated with infection were the number of sexual partners during past year and lifetime and condom use.Conclusions: This is the first sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening in university students in South Korea. Urine‐based STI screening was both feasible and acceptable in university students in South Korea. It should be considered a routine part of programs to control STI nationally.
SPACE–TIME MODELLING OF SYDNEY HARBOUR WINDS
Authors: Cripps Edward , Nott David , Dunsmuir William T.M. , Wikle Christopher 
Published: February 2005

SummaryThis paper develops a space‐time statistical model for local forecasting of surface‐level wind fields in a coastal region with complex topography. The statistical model makes use of output from deterministic numerical weather prediction models which are able to produce forecasts of surface wind fields on a spatial grid. When predicting surface winds at observing stations, errors can arise due to sub‐grid scale processes not adequately captured by the numerical weather prediction model, and the statistical model attempts to correct for these influences. In particular, it uses information from observing stations within the study region as well as topographic information to account for local bias. Bayesian methods for inference are used in the model, with computations carried out using Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms. Empirical performance of the model is described, illustrating that a structured Bayesian approach to complicated space‐time models of the type considered in this paper can be readily implemented and can lead to improvements in forecasting over traditional methods.
DYNAMICAL AND STATISTICAL MODELS FOR EXPLOITED POPULATIONS†
Authors: Lebreton Jean‐Dominique 
Published: February 2005

SummaryHuman activities have indirectly modified the dynamics of many populations, accelerating considerably the natural rate of species extinction and raising strong concerns about biodiversity. In many such cases, the underlying ‘natural’ dynamics of the population has been modified by human‐induced increases in mortality, even if the populations are not exploited or harvested in the strict sense. Both dynamical and statistical models are needed to investigate the consequences of human‐induced mortality on the overall dynamics of a population. This paper reviews existing approaches and the potential of recent developments to help form a conceptual and practical framework for analysing the dynamics of exploited populations. It examines both the simple case of an extra source of mortality instantaneously in time, and the theory involved when both risks compete over a continuous time scale. This basic theory is expanded to structured populations, using matrix population models, with applications to the conservation biology of long‐lived vertebrates. The type and degree of compensation expected and approaches to detect it are reviewed, and ways of handling uncertainty are discussed.
Effects of glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor on isolated developing mouse Sertoli cells in vitro
Authors: Wu Zhenyu , Templeman Jenny L. , Smith Robert A. , Mackay Sarah 
Published: February 2005

AbstractCell proliferation is a key factor in sex determination where a size increase relative to the XX gonad is one of the first signs of testis differentiation. Moreover, proliferation of Sertoli cells during development is important in building up the stock of supporting cells necessary for subsequent successful fertility. Because proliferation is such an essential part of testis development, the hypothesis under long‐term investigation is that it is under fail‐safe control by multiple alternative growth factors. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on developing mouse Sertoli cells in vitro. Sertoli cells, isolated from mouse embryos at three stages of testis development, were maintained for 2–7 days in vitro (div) in the presence or absence of GDNF at 1, 10 and 100 ng mL−1. Overall the presence of extracellular matrix gel had little effect on proliferative activity, but encouraged expression of the epithelial phenotype. A statistically significant difference in proliferation, assessed by immunocytochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, was seen with GDNF at embryonic day (E)12.5 after 2 div (at both 10 and 100 ng mL−1, P < 0.001) and 7 div (at both 10 and 100 ng mL−1, P < 0.05); at E13.5 after 3 div (at both 10 and 100 ng mL−1, P < 0.05) and at E14.5 after 7 div (100 ng mL−1, P < 0.01), compared with controls cultured without growth factor. In conclusion, GDNF stimulates mitosis throughout this critical developmental window. The in vitro approach used here is a useful adjunct to the knockout mouse model and has been applied to show that GDNF exerts a proliferative effect on developing mouse Sertoli cells.
Morphogenesis of the juxtaoral organ in humans
Authors: Mérida‐Velasco J. R. , Rodríguez‐Vázquez J. F. , De La Cuadra‐Blanco C. , Salmerón J. I. , Sánchez‐Montesinos I. , Mérida‐Velasco J. A. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe juxtaoral organ was studied using light microscopy in 55 human embryos and 90 fetuses at different stages of development. The juxtaoral organ arises from the epithelium at the bottom of the transverse opening of the primitive mouth during O’Rahilly stage 16 and becomes detached from the epithelium after O’Rahilly stage 18. The juxtaoral organ is innervated by the buccal nerve from O’Rahilly stage 20 onward, and its connective tissue capsule is clearly visible after week 11 of development. This study enabled us to describe three main periods of juxtaoral organ development: (1) the period of epithelial condensation and invagination, at O’Rahilly stages 16–17; (2) the period during which the juxtaoral organ becomes detached from the oral epithelium and is innervated, at O’Rahilly stages 18–23; and (3) the period during which the connective tissue capsule is formed, after week 11 of development. We also analysed the juxtaoral organ of five additional fetuses by immunohistochemistry with anti‐NF‐200 to verify their innervation. The results show that the juxtaoral organ may have a function in the mechanical activity of the region.
Anti‐müllerian hormone as a marker of ovarian reserve*
Authors: TREMELLEN Kelton P. , KOLO Michele , GILMORE Alan , LEKAMGE Dharmawijaya N. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractObjective:  To analyse the usefulness of plasma anti‐müllerian hormone (AMH) measurement as a tool for assessing ovarian reserve in a general infertility population.Materials and methods:  Plasma AMH levels were analysed in 238 women aged 18–46 years during day 3–5 of their menstrual cycle. All 238 patients had follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels less than 10 i.u./L, suggesting normal ovarian reserve on traditional FSH criteria. Eighty‐seven patients gave their consent to correlate their AMH levels with IVF oocyte retrieval outcome. Patients producing ≥ 8 oocytes were classified as having normal ovarian reserve, while those producing ≤ 4 oocytes were classified as having poor ovarian reserve.Results:  Plasma AMH levels remained relatively static (20–25 pmol/L) from 18 to 29 years of age. By 30 years of age, plasma AMH levels start to drop rapidly, reaching only 10 pmol/L by 37 years. Despite this 50% fall in AMH levels between 29 and 37 years of age, minimal changes in FSH levels were observed. Using a cut off value of 8.1 pmol/L, plasma AMH assessment could predict poor ovarian reserve on a subsequent IVF cycle with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 85%.Conclusions:  Plasma AMH assessments are superior to FSH in identifying women with reduced ovarian reserve. Anti‐müllerian hormone assessment should be considered as a useful adjunct to FSH/oestradiol levels and antral follicle count when estimating ovarian reserve.
Coexistence of verrucous and squamous carcinoma of the vulva
Authors: HAIDOPOULOS Dimitrios , DIAKOMANOLIS Emmanuel , RODOLAKIS Alexandros , VOULGARIS Zannis , VLACHOS George , MICHALAS Stylianos 
Published: February 2005

AbstractAim:  To evaluate the coexistence of verrucous and squamous carcinoma of the vulva and to assess the clinical course, survival and rate of recurrent disease of these patients.Methods:  The records of 17 patients who were diagnosed with verrucous carcinoma of the vulva over a 12‐year period were studied retrospectively. Presence of genuine verrucous carcinoma or coexistence of verrucous and squamous carcinoma of the vulva on vulvar biopsies, results of histopathological assessment of final vulva and inguino‐femoral node specimens and histological evaluation of recurrent disease specimens were the main outcome measures.Results:  Five of the 17 patients (29.5%) initially underwent radical vulvectomy and inguino‐femoral lymphadenectomy. Histology of the specimens verified the coexistence of verrucous and squamous carcinomas in four of the five cases. Twelve women (70.5%) underwent simple vulvectomy for genuine verrucous carcinoma; in the final histology, 10 of these women (58.8%) were confirmed as having genuine verrucous carcinomas while two (11.7%) were found to have both verrucous and squamous carcinomas and were further managed by lymphadenectomy. None of our patients died of the disease. Three women (17.5%) presented with local relapse of the tumour, and were managed by wide local excision of the tumour.Conclusions:  In the present study, 35% of patients with verrucous carcinomas of the vulva had coexistent squamous carcinoma. Separation of the cases of genuine verrucous carcinoma from coexistent verrucous and squamous tumours is based on the establishment of correct diagnosis by a large and deep vulvar biopsy as well as the meticulous assessment of the specimen by the pathologist. This will result in the decrease of the rate of over‐ and under‐treatment of these patients.
How useful are hospital morbidity data for monitoring conditions occurring in the perinatal period?
Authors: TAYLOR Lee K , TRAVIS Susan , PYM Margaret , OLIVE Emily , HENDERSON‐SMART David J 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackground:  There is currently no published information on the full range of morbid conditions affecting mothers and newborns in Australia. Hospital morbidity data collections are a possible source of this information, but have not been widely utilised due to concerns about data quality.Aims:  To assess the accuracy and reliability of perinatal morbidity reporting to the New South Wales Inpatient Statistics Collection (NSW ISC).Methods:  A sample of 1000 records relating to 500 mothers and 500 newborns were randomly selected from the NSW ISC for the financial year 1999–2000 and compared with information obtained from medical records. Sensitivities and specificities were calculated for conditions of clinical relevance.Results:  There was a wide range of sensitivities among the 41 conditions selected, indicating a variable level of under‐enumeration. Only 17 (41%) had a sensitivity of 80% or more. Sensitivities were more than 95% for gestational diabetes, prolonged pregnancy, perineal laceration, single live birth, low birth weight, and intracranial haemorrhage. However, numbers are small and confidence intervals wide for some of these conditions. Specificities were generally high. Neonatal conditions tended to be more accurately reported than maternal conditions. The pattern of results was similar to that reported for state perinatal data collections.Conclusions:  While hospital administrative data are readily available, data quality is a valid concern. However, if the data are viewed critically and information on accuracy is available, they can be a useful resource for monitoring the health of mothers and babies.
Effects of tibolone on the quality of life, anxiety‐depression levels and cognitive functions in natural menopause: An observational follow‐up study
Authors: GÜLSEREN Leyla , KALAFAT Devrim , MANDACI Hatice , GÜLSEREN Şeref , ÇAMLI Lütfü 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe effects of tibolone on the quality of life (QoL), depression‐anxiety levels and cognitive functions were investigated. Seventeen women received tibolone and 25 women did not receive any medication. At the end of the 6‐month follow‐up period, the QoL was better in the tibolone group in the area of mental health. Disability, anxiety symptoms, menopausal symptoms were significantly reduced in this group.
Alterations in levator ani morphology in elite nulliparous athletes: A pilot study
Authors: KRUGER Jennifer A. , MURPHY Bernadette A. , HEAP Stuart W. 
Published: February 2005

AbstractBackground:  A difficult vaginal birth is known to be one of the causes of damage to the pelvic floor muscles. Prolonged second stage of labour is thought to be one of the implicating factors in this damage. If the muscles of the pelvic floor were hypertrophied in response to repetitive high impact training, then the ‘suspected phenomenon’ of a more difficult childbirth for very athletic women might be related to these muscles reducing pelvic floor compliance.Aim:  To document the muscle morphology of the pelvic floor using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a group of nulliparous female athletes and to compare this to the findings in a similar group of age‐matched nulliparous nonathletic women.Methods:  Static Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging of the pelvic floor was performed with particular reference to the muscle morphology of levator ani and puborectalis. The cross‐sectional area of the urogenital hiatus and the diameter of the bony pelvic outlet were also assessed.Results:  Significant differences in the cross‐sectional area and width of the pelvic floor muscles, measured in the line of the anal canal, were found between the athletic group and the controls. There were no differences found between the two groups in the cross‐sectional area of the urogenital hiatus, and the adequacy of the pelvic outlet was established with reference to normative data.Conclusions:  The differences shown in the pelvic floor muscles in the athletes and nonathletes provide a focus for further research into this area. This change might influence the function of the pelvic floor muscles in this subgroup of women.
Total versus subtotal hysterectomy: An observational study with one‐year follow‐up
Authors: GIMBEL Helga , ZOBBE Vibeke , ANDERSEN Birthe M. , GLUUD Christian , OTTESEN Bent S. , TABOR Ann ,   the Danish Hysterectomy Group
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe aim of this study was to compare total and subtotal abdominal hysterectomy for benign indications, with regard to urinary incontinence, postoperative complications, quality of life (SF‐36), constipation, prolapse, satisfaction with sexual life, and pelvic pain at 1‐year postoperative. Eighty women chose total and 105 women chose subtotal abdominal hysterectomy. No significant differences were found between the 2 operation methods in any of the outcome measures at 12 months. Fourteen women (15%) from the subtotal abdominal hysterectomy group experienced vaginal bleeding and three women had their cervix removed.
Pelvic floor trauma in childbirth – Myth or reality?
Authors: DIETZ H. P. , SCHIERLITZ Lore 
Published: February 2005

AbstractThe issue of traumatic damage to the pelvic floor in childbirth is attracting more and more attention amongst obstetric caregivers and laypersons alike. This is partly due to the fact that elective Caesarean section, as a potentially preventative intervention, is increasingly available and perceived as safe. As there are a multitude of emotive issues involved, including health economics and the relative roles of healthcare providers, the discussion surrounding pelvic floor trauma in childbirth has not always been completely rational. However, after 25 years of urogynaecological research in this field it should be possible to determine whether pelvic floor trauma in childbirth is myth or reality. On reviewing the available evidence, it appears that there are sufficient grounds to assume that vaginal delivery (or even the attempt at vaginal delivery) can cause damage to the pudendal nerve, the caudal aspects of the levator ani muscle, fascial pelvic organ supports and the external and internal anal sphincter. Risk factors for such damage have been defined and variously include operative vaginal delivery, a long second stage, and macrosomia. It is much less clear, however, whether such trauma is clinically relevant, and how important it is in the aetiology of pelvic floor morbidity later in life.
Change in Sensory Functioning Predicts Change in Cognitive Functioning: Results from a 6‐Year Follow‐Up in the Maastricht Aging Study
Authors: Valentijn Susanne A. M. , Van Boxtel Martin P. J. , Van Hooren Susan A. H. , Bosma Hans , Beckers Henny J. M. , Ponds Rudolf W. H. M. , Jolles Jelle 
Published: February 2005

Objectives: To examine the longitudinal relationship between sensory functioning and a broad range of cognitive functions after 6 years follow‐up and whether cataract surgery or first‐time hearing aid use affected cognition.Design: Hierarchical regression procedures were employed to determine whether sensory functioning was predictive of cognitive performance.Setting: Maastricht University and the University Hospital Maastricht, the Netherlands.Participants: Older Dutch adults (≥55) enrolled in the Maastricht Aging Study (N=418).Measurements: Visual and auditory acuity, the Visual Verbal Learning Test (VVLT), the Stroop Color Word Test (SCWT), the Concept Shifting Task (CST), the Verbal Fluency Test, and the Letter‐Digit Substitution Test (LDST).Results: A change in visual acuity was associated with change in most cognitive measures, including the total and recall scores of the VVLT, the mean score of the first two SCWT cards, the mean score of the first two CST cards and the LDST. In addition, a change in auditory acuity predicted change in memory performance (VVLT total and recall scores), and auditory acuity measured at baseline predicted change in the mean score of the first two SCWT cards and the LDST.Conclusion: The findings support the notion of a strong connection between sensory acuity in auditory and visual domains and cognitive performance measures, both from a cross‐sectional and a longitudinal perspective. They also suggest that it is essential to screen older individuals in a clinical context for sensory functioning so that changes in visual or auditory acuity are not interpreted as changes in cognitive performance.
Accuracy of Self‐Reported Depression in Persons with Dementia
Authors: Snow A. Lynn , Kunik Mark E. , Molinari Victor A. , Orengo Claudia A. , Doody Rachelle , Graham David P. , Norris Margaret P. 
Published: February 2005

Objectives: To investigate the reliability and validity of self‐reported depression in demented elderly patients.Design: This is the first study to combine the use of multiple depression criteria with dementia and depression control groups.Setting: Houston Veterans Affairs nursing home and geropsychiatric inpatient unit and outpatient clinic, Baylor College of Medicine's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.Participants: The total sample included 121 volunteer participants, their informants, and their clinicians, forming four diagnostic groups (27 controls, 37 dementia only, 28 depression only, 29 dementia and depression).Measurements: Scales assessing depression, deficit awareness, physical illness, functional disability, caregiver burden, and severity of cognitive impairment were used.Results: Analyses of variance using informant‐ and clinician‐rated depression categories found main effects on patient‐reported depression scores for deficit awareness and depression diagnosis but not for dementia diagnosis. Chi‐square analyses revealed that demented and depressed patients underreported depression at similarly high rates compared with clinician and informant reports. Regression analyses revealed that deficit awareness accounted for significant variance in self‐reported depression accuracy, whereas clinician‐ or informant‐rated depression, severity of cognitive impairment, physical disability, functional status, and caregiver burden were not significant.Conclusion: The results of this investigation suggest that the presence of dementia per se does not predict inaccurate depression self‐reports. Deficit awareness, which covaries with dementia, appears to account for the majority of the variance in self‐report accuracy. These findings were stable across informant‐ and clinician‐rated depression criteria and multiple analyses.