bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cystic fibrosis and Russell‐Silver syndrome in a child with maternal isodisomy of chromosome 7
Authors: Sonnappa Samatha , Prescott Katrina , Adler Beryl , Dinwiddie Robert , Wallis Colin 
Published: June 2005

AbstractA 6‐year‐old Asian girl was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 3 months of age, following investigations for failure to thrive. She had intrauterine growth retardation and continued to have restricted postnatal growth, despite adequate caloric intake and enzyme replacement therapy. Further investigations were initiated when she was 5 years old, as her growth was not responding to the usual treatment measures. These tests revealed that she had maternal isodisomy of chromosome 7. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2005; 40:166–168. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dead‐time correction of synchrotron radiation‐based XRF measurements at decaying storage ring current
Authors: Görner W. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractStrong requirements due to the certification of reference materials or to lowering substantially the limits of determination of elements may require the analyst using XRF at a synchrotron beamline to carry out very long measurements, especially during unattended night runs. In this case, the problem of correction of the combined effect of the exponentially decaying fluorescence radiation, caused by the diminishing electron current of the storage ring, and the resulting time‐dependent dead‐time fraction of the spectrometer has to be faced. This effect cannot be treated solely by dead‐time meter or by beam monitor and will deteriorate the quantitative correctness of the analytical results. Fortunately, the exponential behaviour of the irradiating beam transfers to all components of the fluorescence spectrum. Therefore, it is possible to obtain an analytical solution for the time integral of the measurement. The equation is identical with that found for the dead‐time affected measurement of a pure short‐lived isotope. Graphs for correcting the apparent peak pulse rates in order to obtain true rates at the beginning of the measurement and for error propagation of half‐life and dead‐time are presented. As the case of non‐extended dead‐time was dealt with, the correction of extended dead‐time will have to be treated in the future. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interphalangeal Joint Stiffness Following Claw Hand Reconstruction
Authors: SUNDARARAJ G. D. , MANI K. 
Published: June 2005

Conventional immobilisation following surgery for claw hand reconstruction necessitates altogether more than six weeks of post-operative physiotherapy. Two to four weeks of physiotherapy was required for re-education of the transferred tendons and an additional period of physiotherapy was needed to overcome the interphalangeal joint stiffness seen in all hands—even those with no pre-operative I.P. stiffness. Fifty hands with no pre-operative I.P. stiffness were immobilised post-operatively following claw hand correction by three different techniques, (Conventional technique 20 hands; Modification type 1, 10 hands and Modification type 2, 20 hands). Modification type 1 produced unsatisfactory results. Modification type 2 however, resulted in near total absence of I.P. stiffness with no additional physiotherapy required to overcome the minimal stiffness, without interfering with the results of reconstructive surgery. Type 2 immobilisation was achieved by a volar plaster slab extending from just below the elbow to the finger tips with circumferential plaster up to just beyond the metacarpophalangeal joints. Modification type 2 is recommended.
Precipitation of Dispersed Fine-Particle Magnetite
Authors: Slaten Lynore E. 
Published: June 2005

A method has been developed for preparing well-dispersed fine-particle magnetite by precipitationin situ. A solution of Fe++ and Fe+++ is formed into a sol by the addition of agar-agar and polyvinyl alcohol;magnetite particles are then precipitated by diffusing NaOH into the resulting semi-rigid gel. The size range of these particles is from 40 A to 800 A. Typical magnetite films exhibit a coercivity of about 50 oe,with a Br/Bs ratio of 0.4.
A study of the precipitation reaction has shown that the properties of the resulting magnetic particles appear to be limited by factors intrinsic in the mechanism of the reaction rather than by the limitations imposed by the gel-resin system used.
Rifaximin dose‐finding study for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Authors: LAURITANO E. C. , GABRIELLI M. , LUPASCU A. , SANTOLIQUIDO A. , NUCERA G. , SCARPELLINI E. , VINCENTI F. , CAMMAROTA G. , FLORE R. , POLA P. , GASBARRINI G. , GASBARRINI A. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryBackground : Few controlled studies assessing choice and duration of antibiotic therapy for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth are available.Aim : To assess efficacy, safety and tolerability of different doses of rifaximin, a broad spectrum non‐absorbable antibiotic, for intestinal bacterial overgrowth eradication.Methods : We enrolled 90 consecutive patients affected by small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. The presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth was based on the occurrence of a rise of H2 values >12 p.p.m. above the basal value after 50 g glucose ingestion. Patients were randomized in three 7‐day treatment groups: rifaximin 600 mg/day (group 1); rifaximin 800 mg/day (group 2) and rifaximin 1200 mg/day (group 3). Glucose breath test was reassessed 1 month after the end of therapy. Compliance to the treatment and incidence of side‐effects were also evaluated.Results : No drop‐outs were observed in the three groups. Glucose breath test normalization rate was significantly higher in group 3 (60%) with respect to group 1 (17%; P < 0.001) and group 2 (27%, P < 0.01). No significant differences in patient compliance and incidence of side‐effects were found among groups.Conclusions : Higher doses of rifaximin lead to a significant gain in terms of therapeutic efficacy in small intestinal bacterial overgrowth eradication without increasing the incidence of side‐effects.
Developing and validating a tool to measure parenting self‐efficacy
Authors: Kendall Sally , Bloomfield Linda 
Published: June 2005

Aims.  This paper reports the development of a tool to measure parenting self‐efficacy as an aid to evaluating parenting programmes.Background.  Whilst there has been increasing interest in parenting programmes from parents, government and professionals, there is a lack of rigorous evaluation studies of their effectiveness, particularly their longer‐term outcomes. Equally, there is little research evidence of the views and experiences of parents themselves. It is important to develop robust outcome measures which draw on well‐developed theoretical constructs to measure parents’ perceived abilities to manage their children based on their own views and experiences. Self‐efficacy, a self‐perception of one's ability to perform competently and effectively in a particular task or setting, may provide such a framework.Methods.  Data from 12 focus groups conducted with parents and parenting programme facilitators informed the development of the tool. A thematic analysis of the focus group transcripts identified key items to be included in the self‐efficacy instrument, and these were developed into 82 Likert‐format statements. A multi‐method approach was used to test the instrument for validity and reliability.Findings.  Nine domain specific sub‐scales of parenting were identified from the analysis of the focus group data. Internal reliability coefficients for the subscales ranged from 0·80 to 0·89, and the overall scale reliability was 0·94. External reliability coefficients ranged from rs = 0·58 (n = 19, P < 0·01) to rs = 0·88 (n = 19, P < 0·01).Conclusion.  A valid and reliable tool to measure parenting self‐efficacy has been developed, which will aid evaluation of parenting programmes.
Surgical treatment of stage pT3b renal cell carcinoma in solitary kidneys: a case series
Authors: Sengupta Shomik , Zincke Horst , Leibovich Bradley C. , Blute Michael L. 
Published: June 2005

OBJECTIVETo describe the surgical management of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a solitary kidney (managed preferentially by nephron‐sparing surgery, NSS, to avoid dialysis) and extending into the renal vein or inferior vena cava (T3b).PATIENTS AND METHODSWe identified 13 patients treated surgically between 1977 and 2002 for stage T3b RCC in a solitary kidney; their charts were reviewed to ascertain details of management, pathology and outcomes.RESULTSNSS was successful in seven patients (four in situ and three extracorporeally). Five patients had radical nephrectomy (RN), four after failed NSS. The mean (sem) operative duration was longer for NSS, at 5.8 (0.7) h, than RN, at 3.3 (0.6) h. There was one death during surgery before nephrectomy, and eight other complications in six patients. At a median (range) follow‐up of 24 (0–204) months, eight patients had died, four from RCC (all having had NSS) at a median interval of 9.5 (7–16) months. Of the five patients alive at a median follow‐up of 25 months, four had no identifiable disease, whilst one had systemic recurrence.CONCLUSIONSNSS combined with venous tumour thrombectomy for treating T3b RCC involving a solitary kidney is feasible, albeit complicated. There was oncological success in a third of the patients. The treatment of these patients needs to be individualized, as alternatives to NSS (RN or observation) have obvious disadvantages.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation‐induced haemorrhagic cystitis
Authors: Neheman Amos , Nativ Ofer , Moskovitz Boaz , Melamed Yehuda , Stein Avi 
Published: June 2005

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) for treating haemorrhagic cystitis.PATIENTS AND METHODSFrom February 1997 to April 2004, seven patients with radiation‐induced haemorrhagic cystitis were treated with HBO; they received a mean (range) of 30 (18–57) HBO treatments and the follow‐up was 24 (3–53) months.RESULTSThe haematuria resolved completely in all seven patients shortly after treatment; one had an improvement but died from complications relating to cancer shortly after completing treatment, and two had recurrence of gross haematuria. They were re‐treated with HBO until the haematuria resolved.CONCLUSIONSRadiation‐induced haemorrhagic cystitis can be treated successfully with HBO primarily or after failure of standard regimens. This method was well tolerated even in patients debilitated by advanced cancer and blood loss. Long‐term remission is possible in most patients, and re‐treatment effectively manages recurrent bleeding.
Down syndrome, paternal age and education: comparison of California and the Czech Republic
Authors: Dzurova Dagmara , Pikhart Hynek 
Published: June 2005

Abstract
Background
The association between maternal age and risk of Down syndrome has been repeatedly shown in various populations. However, the effect of paternal age and education of parents has not been frequently studied. Comparative studies on Down syndrome are also rare. This study evaluates the epidemiological characteristics of Down syndrome in two culturally and socially contrasting population settings, in California and the Czech Republic.

Methods
The observed live birth prevalence of Down syndrome was studied among all newborns in the California counties monitored by California Birth Defects Monitoring Program from 1996 to 1997, and in the whole Czech Republic from 1994 to 1998. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data.

Results
A total of 516,745 (California) and 475,834 (the Czech Republic) infants were included in the analysis. Among them, 593 and 251, respectively, had Down syndrome. The mean maternal age of children with Down syndrome was 32.1 years in California and 26.9 years in the Czech Republic. Children born to older mothers were at greater risk of Down syndrome in both populations. The association with paternal age was mostly explained by adjusting for maternal age, but remained significant in the Czech Republic. The association between maternal education and Down syndrome was much stronger in California than in the Czech Republic but parental age influences higher occurrence of Down syndrome both in California and in the Czech Republic.

Conclusion
The educational gradient in California might reflect selective impact of prenatal diagnosis, elective termination, and acceptance of prenatal diagnostic measures in Californian population.
A 63 element 1.75 dimensional ultrasound phased array for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Authors: Saleh Khaldon Y , Smith Nadine Barrie 
Published: June 2005

Abstract
Background
Prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia are very common diseases in older American men, thus having a reliable treatment modality for both diseases is of great importance. The currently used treating options, mainly surgical ones, have numerous complications, which include the many side effects that accompany such procedures, besides the invasive nature of such techniques. Focused ultrasound is a relatively new treating modality that is showing promising results in treating prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Thus this technique is gaining more attention in the past decade as a non-invasive method to treat both diseases.

Methods
In this paper, the design, construction and evaluation of a 1.75 dimensional ultrasound phased array to be used for treating prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia is presented. With this array, the position of the focus can be controlled by changing the electrical power and phase to the individual elements for electronically focusing and steering in a three dimensional volume. The array was designed with a maximum steering angle of ± 13.5° in the transverse direction and a maximum depth of penetration of 11 cm, which allows the treatment of large prostates. The transducer piezoelectric ceramic, matching layers and cable impedance have been designed for maximum power transfer to tissue.

Results
To verify the capability of the transducer for focusing and steering, exposimetry was performed and the results correlated well with the calculated field. Ex vivo experiments using bovine tissue were performed with various lesion sizes and indicated the capability of the transducer to ablate tissue using short sonications.

Conclusion
A 1.75 dimensional array, that overcame the drawbacks associated with one-dimensional arrays, has been designed, built and successfully tested. Design issues, such as cable and ceramic capacitances, were taken into account when designing this array. The final prototype overcame also the problem of generating grating lobes at unwanted locations by tapering the array elements.
Case mix, outcome and activity for obstetric admissions to adult, general critical care units: a secondary analysis of the ICNARC Case Mix Programme Database
Authors: Harrison David A , Penny James A , Yentis Steve M , Fayek Samia , Brady Anthony R 
Published: June 2005

Abstract
Introduction
Risk prediction scores usually overestimate mortality in obstetric populations because mortality rates in this group are considerably lower than in others. Studies examining this effect were generally small and did not distinguish between obstetric and nonobstetric pathologies. We evaluated the performance of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II model in obstetric admissions to critical care units contributing to the ICNARC Case Mix Programme.

Methods
All obstetric admissions were extracted from the ICNARC Case Mix Programme Database of 219,468 admissions to UK critical care units from 1995 to 2003 inclusive. Cases were divided into direct obstetric pathologies and indirect or coincidental pathologies, and compared with a control cohort of all women aged 16–50 years not included in the obstetric categories. The predictive ability of APACHE II was evaluated in the three groups. A prognostic model was developed for direct obstetric admissions to predict the risk for hospital mortality. A log-linear model was developed to predict the length of stay in the critical care unit.

Results
A total of 1452 direct obstetric admissions were identified, the most common pathologies being haemorrhage and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. There were 278 admissions identified as indirect or coincidental and 22,938 in the nonpregnant control cohort. Hospital mortality rates were 2.2%, 6.0% and 19.6% for the direct obstetric group, the indirect or coincidental group, and the control cohort, respectively. Cox regression calibration analysis showed a reasonable fit of the APACHE II model for the nonpregnant control cohort (slope = 1.1, intercept = -0.1). However, the APACHE II model vastly overestimated mortality for obstetric admissions (mortality ratio = 0.25). Risk prediction modelling demonstrated that the Glasgow Coma Scale score was the best discriminator between survival and death in obstetric admissions.

Conclusion
This study confirms that APACHE II overestimates mortality in obstetric admissions to critical care units. This may be because of the physiological changes in pregnancy or the unique scoring profile of obstetric pathologies such as HELLP syndrome. It may be possible to recalibrate the APACHE II score for obstetric admissions or to devise an alternative score specifically for obstetric admissions.
Achieving Optimal Outcomes After Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Saranchuk Jeffery W. , Kattan Michael W. , Elkin Elena , Touijer A. Karim , Scardino Peter T. , Eastham James A. 
Published: June 2005

Purpose The most favorable outcome that can be achieved after radical prostatectomy is complete tumor resection without recurrence and full recovery of continence and potency. Risks of erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and disease recurrence are well described, but in isolation, do not adequately inform patients of the possibility of becoming cancer-free while at the same time returning to their preoperative functional state. We sought to determine the frequency of optimal outcomes after radical prostatectomy and the time to such outcomes. Patients and Methods Patients who underwent radical prostatectomy performed at a tertiary referral center between July 1998 and July 2003 for clinical stage T1 to T3 prostate cancer were identified. Patients were excluded if they were incontinent or impotent preoperatively, or if they had received radiotherapy or neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy previously. Six hundred forty-seven patients were analyzed for time to recovery of full continence and potency without cancer recurrence after surgery. Optimal outcome probability was calculated with a Markov state transition model to simulate clinical outcomes in the first 4 years following radical prostatectomy. Results Mean patient age was 58 years, and mean pretreatment prostate-specific antigen was 6.9 ng/mL. Cancer-free status with full continence and potency was achieved in 30% of men at 12 months, 42% at 24 months, 47% at 36 months, and 53% at 48 months postoperatively. Conclusion Optimal outcomes after radical prostatectomy can be achieved in a small majority of cases. Time to full recovery is primarily dictated by recovery of erectile function. This information is helpful for patients interested in their chances of returning to their preoperative functional state.
Melanocortinergic Modulation of Cholecystokinin-Induced Suppression of Feeding through Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling in Rat Solitary Nucleus
Authors: Sutton Gregory M. , Duos Bronwyn , Patterson Laurel M. , Berthoud Hans-Rudolf 
Published: June 2005

Abstract
Signals from the gut and hypothalamus converge in the caudal brainstem to control ingestive behavior. We have previously shown that phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the solitary nucleus (NTS) is necessary for food intake suppression by exogenous cholecystokinin (CCK). Here we test whether this intracellular signaling cascade is also involved in the integration of melanocortin-receptor (MCR) mediated inputs to the caudal brainstem. Using fourth ventricular-cannulated rats and Western blotting of NTS tissue, we show that the MC4R agonist melanotan II (MTII) rapidly and dose-dependently increases phosphorylation of both ERK1/2 and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). Sequential administration of fourth ventricular MTII and peripheral CCK at doses that alone produced submaximal stimulation of pERK1/2 produced an additive increase. Prior fourth ventricular administration of the MC4R antagonist SHU9119 completely abolished the CCK-induced increases in pERK and pCREB and, in freely feeding rats, SHU9119 significantly increased meal size and satiety ratio. Prior administration of the MAPK kinase inhibitor U0126 abolished the capacity of MTII to suppress 2-h food intake and significantly decreased MTII-induced ERK phosphorylation in the NTS. Furthermore, pretreatment with the cAMP inhibitor, cAMP receptor protein-Rp isomer, significantly attenuated stimulation of pERK induced by either CCK or MTII. The results demonstrate that activation of the ERK pathway is necessary for peripheral CCK and central MTII to suppress food intake. The cAMP→ERK→CREB cascade may thus constitute a molecular integrator for converging satiety signals from the gut and adiposity signals from the hypothalamus in the control of meal size and food intake.
Spermatogenesis in testis primary cell cultures of the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Tokalov S.V. , Gutzeit H.O. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractSpermatogenesis in vertebrates is controlled by endocrine and paracrine factors and involves the communication between somatic and germ line cells. To elucidate some of the relevant factors in the complicated molecular control processes, we established an in vitro test system using primary cultures of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) testis cells. The cultures were enriched for germ line cells and Sertoli cells and largely depleted of spermatozoa. By staining the cells with propidium iodide and carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE), different cell populations could be identified cytologically and, in addition, quantified by flow cytometry. Cells that had gone through one or more divisions could be identified unequivocally based on their CFSE staining intensity. In parallel cultures maintained for up to 16 days in the presence of 11‐ketotestosterone (KT), insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF), and/or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) the initiation of meiotic and mitotic divisions was monitored. Although KT was important for the initiation of meiosis, spermatogonial mitotic divisions between 10 days and 16 days of culture were promoted by IGF and/or hCG in the presence of KT. These results illustrate the potential of the established in vitro test system for the analysis of the molecular control mechanisms of spermatogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 233:1238–1247, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
SOFC System Operating Strategies for Mobile Applications
Authors: Holtappels P. , Mehling H. , Roehlich S. , Liebermann S. S. , Stimming U. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractSOFC systems, working at high temperatures of about 800 °C, have recently attracted significant interest for application as automotive and stationary power supply systems, based on gasoline or diesel heating. For periodically changing operation, the thermal management of the system, including start‐up and load following capability, is considered a crucial point. In this work, the thermal behaviour during start‐up, operation, shut down, and restart of a simple SOFC system for mobile applications is studied. Different operating strategies, such as keeping the system at operating temperature and thermal cycling, are investigated and compared with respect to heat management, energy consumption, and start‐up performance. The characteristics depend on the system size and weight. For a 50 kWel system, with suitable insulation, immediate restart of the vehicle should be achievable for up to three days, hence no external heat is needed within that period of time. Smaller systems, e.g., Auxiliary Power supply Units (APU), replacing the conventional alternator in vehicles, cool down more rapidly. If an immediate restart is desirable ‘keeping the system at temperature’ would be the more favourable strategy.