bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Endoluminal hydrogel films made of alginate and polyethylene glycol: Physical characteristics and drug‐eluting properties
Authors: Livnat Maya , Beyar Rafael , Seliktar Dror 
Published: August 2005

AbstractDrug‐eluting stents signify a major achievement in reducing the incidence of coronary restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. However, where drug‐eluting stents have been unsuccessful, endoluminal gel‐paving strategies offer renewed optimism, mainly in a variety of vascular procedures requiring catheter‐based sustained, localized delivery of therapeutic drugs, and biological factors. Despite promising results in animals, endoluminal paving has met with very limited clinical success because of the technical difficulties and stringent safety demands. The current study presents an alternative to gel paving using 40‐μm‐thick biodegradable polymeric films for deployment onto the artery wall during balloon angioplasty and stenting. The films are made from a durable yet compliant network of alginate and polyethylene glycol (PEG), and are securely held affixed to the vessel wall by the expanded stent struts. The alginate‐based films are characterized by measuring their strength, elasticity, degree of swelling, degradability in water and saline, and drug release properties. The combination of alginate and PEG afforded the films sufficient strength and compliance for endoluminal deployment using an in vitro organ culture system. In characterizing the film degradability, it was discovered that the ionic concentration of the buffered saline was the main determinant in regulating the degradation kinetics and the release kinetics of the drug molecule Paclitaxel. These results suggest that the use of alginate‐based, PEG‐containing polymeric films for endoluminal coverage offers an alternative solution to conventional drug‐eluting stents, with the added advantage of uniform endoluminal coverage of the treated segment and homogeneous endoluminal application of the active substance. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2005
Assessing the impact of cancer: development of a new instrument for long‐term survivors
Authors: Zebrack Brad J. , Ganz Patricia A. , Bernaards Coen A. , Petersen Laura , Abraham Laura 
Published: August 2005

AbstractObjective: To develop and evaluate a new instrument that measures aspects of long‐term survivorship not measured by existing tools.Methods: In qualitative interviews, 47 long‐term cancer survivors (LTS) detailed ways that cancer has impacted their lives. Content analysis resulted in the creation of 325 candidate items for inclusion in a new Impact of Cancer (IOC) instrument. Following expert review, item reduction and pilot testing, 81 items were administered with other established health status and quality of life (QOL) instruments to 193 LTS of breast, prostate, colorectal cancers and lymphoma. Internal consistency reliability and validity of newly‐derived scales was assessed.Results: Factor analysis of items using a priori QOL domains resulted in the derivation of ten new and specific subscales: Health Awareness, Body Changes, Health Worries, Positive and Negative Self‐Evaluation, Positive and Negative Life Outlook, Social Life Interferences, Relationships, and Meaning of Cancer. Internal consistency measurements for these subscales ranged from 0.67 to 0.89. Expected associations within and among the IOC subscales and standardized measures of health status and QOL were observed, as were some unexpected findings.Conclusions: Psychometric analysis indicated that this initial version of the Impact of Cancer instrument measures distinct and relevant constructs for LTS. Future work is necessary to confirm the factor structure, responsiveness and further validation of the instrument. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Heterotic strings on homogeneous spaces
Authors: Israël D. , Kounnas C. , Orlando D. , Petropoulos P.M. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractWe construct heterotic string backgrounds corresponding to families of homogeneous spaces as exact conformal field theories. They contain left cosets of compact groups by their maximal tori supported by NS‐NS 2‐forms and gauge field fluxes. We give the general formalism and modular‐invariant partition functions, then we consider some examples such as SU (2)/U (1) ~
S2 (already described in a previous paper) and the SU (3)/U(1)2 flag space. As an application we construct new supersymmetric string vacua with magnetic fluxes and a linear dilaton.
Carbon at Si(111)‐twins: TEM analysis supported by molecular dynamics structure relaxations
Authors: Scheerschmidt Kurt , Werner Martina 
Published: August 2005

AbstractCarbon supersaturation and high density of twin lamellae influence the physical properties of multi‐crystalline silicon and restrict its applicability as a material in photovoltaics. To understand, e.g., the resulting structural modifications and the stress relief, the carbon incorporation in silicon has to be investigated by total energy minimizations using molecular dynamics simulations either at ab‐initio level or applying classical methods with empirical potentials. The relaxed structure models support the interpretation of transmission electron micrographs by contrast simulations and thus the analysis of carbon incorporation at twins or elsewhere in silicon. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
PTIS investigation of hydrogenated CVD diamond films
Authors: Hikavyy A. , Clauws P. , Deferme W. , Bogdan G. , Haenen K. , Nesladek M. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractPhoto‐thermal ionization spectroscopy has been applied for investigation of hydrogenated diamond. All investigated films have shown presence of B after hydrogenation though no PTIS could be measured when they were oxidized. The presence of shallow levels with energy around 100 meV has been found in all hydrogenated samples at temperatures lower than 120–77 K depending on the sample. The photocurrent spectrum due to these shallow levels consists of features similar to two‐phonon absorption in diamond. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Exploring protein energy landscapes with hierarchical clustering
Authors: Gront Dominik , Hansmann Ulrich H. E. , Kolinski Andrzej 
Published: August 2005

AbstractIn this work we present a new method for investigating local energy minima on a protein energy landscape. The Cα(CA), Cβ(B), and the center of mass of the side chain (CABS) method was employed for generating protein models, but any other method could be used instead. Cα traces from an ensemble of models are hierarchical clustered with the hierarchical clustering of protein models (HCPM) method. The efficiency of this method for sampling and analyzing energy landscapes is shown. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Automated mechanism generation: From symbolic calculation to complex chemistry
Authors: Ratkiewicz Artur , Truong Thanh N. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractDifferent aspects of the symbolic algebra computations for generating elementary reactions of complex systems are reviewed. Such calculations are the heart of each automated mechanism generator system and are employed extensively in different stages of mechanism generation. The range of symbolic calculation topics and basic ideas of these implementations, together with some specific examples, are given. Particular attention is devoted to the transition between the symbolic calculation and the real complex chemistry. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2006
Autonomic influences on colorectal motility and pelvic surgery
Authors: Varma J. S. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe nervous control of the motility of the human distal bowel was investigated by two physiological studies of electrical stimulation of sacral parasympathetic outflow in patients with high spinal injuries and in patients with intractable constipation following pelvic surgery. Identical and reproducible motility responses of the left colon, rectum, and anal sphincters were obtained by sequential electrical stimulation of anterior sacral roots S2, S3, and S4 in patients with spinal injury. S2 stimulation provoked isolated low‐pressure colorectal contractions. S3 stimulation initiated frequency‐dependent high‐pressure colorectal motor activity which appeared peristaltic and was enhanced with repetitive stimuli. S4 stimulation increased colonic and rectal tone. Quantitative responses were maximal at the splenic flexure and rectum. Pelvic floor activity was stimulated in increasing magnitude from S2 to S4. These results of distal bowel motility were achieved by an implanted Brindley stimulator. A newer generation of externally active stimulators are envisaged for the control of lower bowel in fecal incontinence.Women with intractable constipation following hysterectomy had significantly increased rectal volume and compliance together with deficits of rectal sensory function. Following stimulation with Prostigmin (neostigmin) a colorectal motility gradient was paradoxically reversed in the patients following hysterectomy, thus constituting a functional obstruction. Denervation supersensitivity was demonstrable in 2 patients tested with carbachol provocation. These findings suggest dysfunction in the autonomic innervation of the hindgut in some patients following hysterectomy.
Fecal incontinence: Indications for repairing the anal sphincter
Authors: Penninckx F. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractIncontinent patients should be comprehensively investigated by objective tests, especially manometry, continence tests, and electromyography. Manometry can be used to predict the functional outcome and to calibrate the sphincter repair. Pure anatomical defects of the anal and pelvic musculature deserve surgical correction with or without overlapping the muscle ends. If the repair is delayed it should be done after a 3 month interval. A protective colostomy has to be performed in complex cases and in cases with septic complications. Before closing the colostomy, the ano‐rectal function should be assessed. Acceptable continence can be restored in the majority of the patients, the outcome depending on the extent of local defects and the severity of concomitant pelvic floor neuropathy. Skeletal muscle transposition remains an esoteric approach to be used only in selected patients; the implantation of a neuromuscular stimulator seems to be warranted. In the presence of important functional deficits, sphincter repair may create a situation where additional conservative measures become more effective. A post‐anal repair may be considered 3–12 months after rectopexy or sphincter repair. Incontinence based on pure functional defects is initially treated conservatively. A post‐anal repair may improve the situation in two thirds of the patients but fails to help those who need it most. Failure seems to be related to a continuing neuropathic process. A peri‐anal prosthetic band implant may be a valuable alternative in such patients. A sigmoidostomy is a measure of last resort. The prevention of fecal incontinence is most important and concerns surgeons, obstetricians, and physicians.
Anismus: The cause of constipation? Results of investigation and treatment
Authors: Duthie G. S. , Bartolo D. C. C. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractAnismus, or failure of the somatic sphincter apparatus to relax at defecation, has been implicated as a major contributor to the problem of obstructed defecation. Current diagnostic methods depend on laboratory measurements of attempted defecation and the most complex, dynamic proctography has been the mainstay of diagnosis. Using a new computerized ambulatory method of recording sphincter function in these patients at home, we report an 80% reduction in our diagnostic rate suggesting that conventional tests fail to accurately diagnose this condition, probably because they poorly represent the natural physiology of defecation. Treatment of this distressing condition is more complex and a variety of surgical and pharmacological measures have failed. Biofeedback retraining of anorectal function of these patients has been very successful and represents the management of choice.
The results of pouch surgery after ileo‐anal anastomosis for inflammatory bowel disease: The manometric assessment of pouch continence and its reservoir function
Authors: Pescatori Mario 
Published: August 2005

AbstractAnal sphincter function after restorative proctocolectomy has mainly been investigated by anal manometry. A significant decrease of basal pressure up to 45%, has been recorded postoperatively, possibly due to sphincter stretch during endoanal mucosectomy. Both abdominal mucosectomy and anastomosis at the level of the anorectal ring have been reported to prevent anal sphincter damage and lead to better continence. The striated sphincter is not significantly affected by the surgical procedure. Pouchanal inhibitory reflex is partly maintained in the presence of a rectal cuff which leaves the ganglionic plexus unaltered; a satisfactory continence is also retained in the absence of the reflex when the rectum is totally excised.Pouch capacity, compliance and motility have been investigated by endoluminal balloon and probes. Pouch emptying has been studied by a “porridge” test, by a semi‐solid medium labelled with technetium‐99, and by other methods. A more effective storage function is achieved by large capacity reservoirs which lower the bowel frequency. The motor response to pouch distension, to a meal, and to pharmacological stimuli is usually counteracted by sphincter contraction. Ileal hypermotility may lead to fecal leakage mainly in the presence of weak sphincters. Poor pouch emptying may be related to an anal stricture.
Crush injury and crush syndrome
Authors: Michaelson Moshe 
Published: August 2005

AbstractCrush injury is caused by continuous prolonged pressure on the limbs. It is found in patients extricated after being trapped for at least 4 hours. The main injury is to the muscles of the limbs. Treatment should be conservative and fasciotomy should be avoided. If fasciotomy is performed, it should be followed by radical debridement of the injured muscle in an attempt to avoid infection of the injured limb. Infection endangers the patient's life and is the main cause of morbidity and mortality today. The outcome of conservative local treatment of crush injury is much superior to that of operative treatment. The pathophysiology of crush injury is not fully understood and no good animal model is known. Crush syndrome, which is the general manifestation of crush injury, is better understood. If not prevented, it will lead to acute renal failure. A method for preventing acute renal failure is discussed and a protocol is described. There is no doubt that prevention of acute renal failure is the goal in the treatment of crush syndrome and can be achieved.
Triage: In austere environments and echeloned medical systems
Authors: Llewellyn Craig H. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractAlthough triage as a medical sorting process was originally developed and applied to echeloned military field medical systems dealing with mass casualties, the term has now permeated most aspects of medical practice. This essay attempts to refocus on triage in military and disaster settings, emphasizing the relationship of the echeloned system organization to the triage process, and the various non‐medical factors which may influence triage decisions and priorities. Due to the lack of any analogous civilian experience, it is essential that all health personnel who may be involved in an echeloned care system gain and maintain proficiency by frequent involvement in appropriate training exercises, the characteristics of which are described.
The red cross classification of war wounds: The E.X.C.F.V.M. scoring system
Authors: Coupland Robin M. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractThe Red Cross classification of war wounds is based upon features of the wound, not upon weaponry. It is proposed as a new means of understanding, communicating, and gathering information about war wounds and their management. The wound score is based on the skin wounds and the presence of a cavity, fracture, vital injury, or metallic bodies in the wound. All wounds so scored can be graded according to severity and typed according to structures injured; consequently, wounds are identified by their clinical significance. A study of 247 wounds shows the feasibility of scoring wounds in the field and yields surgically relevant information about bullet and fragment wounds. The applications of the classification are to wound assessment, establishing a scientific basis to war surgery, surgical audit, and collecting wound data from the field.
Prevention of deep vein thrombosis in patients with hip fractures: Low molecular weight heparin versus dextran
Authors: Oertli D. , Hess P. , Dūrig M. , Laffer U. , Fridrich R. , Jaeger K. , Kaufmann R. , Harder F. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractA randomized open trial was undertaken to compare the antithrombotic efficacy of a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH; Sandoparin®) with that of dextran 70 in patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture. One hundred thirteen patients received LMWH once daily subcutaneously at a fixed dosage while 103 patients received intravenous dextran 70. Postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was assessed by a diagnostic algorithm using the125Iodine fibrinogen uptake test as screening and Duplex ultrasonography and/or ascending venography as confirming techniques for suspected DVT. The frequency of DVT was significantly lower in the LMWH group than in the dextran group (15.5 versus 32.6%,p<0.005). Proximal DVT was rare in both groups (LMWH: 2%, Dextran: 1%). Only one case of fatal fat pulmonary embolism was observed during the 10 day prophylaxis period in a patient receiving Dextran. Three cases of pulmonary embolism occurred later; one fatal event in the dextran group on day 14, and two cases in the LMWH group (one fatal and one non‐fatal event) on day 14 and 17, respectively. There was no major bleeding complication in either group. We conclude that the LMWH we used is safe, was well tolerated, and has a significantly better thromboprophylactic effect than dextran 70.
Patterns of internal echoes in lymph nodes in the diagnosis of lung cancer metastasis
Authors: Lee Noritoshi , Inoue Kiyotoshi , Yamamoto Ryoji , Kinoshita Hiroaki 
Published: August 2005

AbstractIn 1989–90, all 37 lung cancer patients scheduled for surgery underwent transesophageal endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for pre‐operative detection of hilar and mediastinal lymph node metastases. An electronic ultrasonic fiberscope with a linear array (EPB‐503‐FS, Machida‐Toshiba) was used. Of 380 nodes surgically removed and that could have been detected by EUS, the detection rates for histologically metastatic and non‐metastatic nodes were 65% (33 of 51) and 44% (144 of 329), respectively (p<0.01). Metastatic nodes were detected readily in every lymph node site, especially subaortic and subcarinal. Non‐metastatic nodes were detected at low rates, especially in the superior mediastinum, paratracheal, and tracheobronchial locations. For greater long or short axes of the detected nodes, or for rounder nodes, the metastasis rate was higher. Detected nodes were classified into six types by their internal echo patterns; three were rarely metastatic (called “negative”) and the other three were often metastatic (called “positive”). Of the “negative” nodes histologically proved to be metastatic, metastasis was often diffuse. The “positive” nodes found to be metastatic tended to have one of two patterns of internal echoes when invasion was diffuse and a third pattern when it was localized. In an examination of the diagnostic usefulness of EUS, we made more correct diagnoses from the internal echo pattern than by reference to either the long or short axis alone. The short axes, node shape, and internal echoes were examined by Hayashi's second method of quantification. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the diagnoses were 85%, 84%, and 84%, respectively, superior to those by computed tomography done of the same patients.
24‐Hour intragastric pH measurement in the assessment of duodenogastric reflux
Authors: Brown T. H. , Holbrook I. , King R. F. G. , Ibrahim K. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractIn this study we compared the results of measurement of duodenogastric reflux using 24‐hour intragastric pH monitoring and nasogastric aspiration with analysis of bile acid and alpha amylase concentrations. Eight patients were studied at least 5 months after biliary and/or gastric surgery. The correlation coefficient of pH and bile acid concentration was 0.36 (p<0.001) and of pH and amylase concentration was 0.48 (p<0.001). If a pH > 4.0 was taken to indicate duodenogastric reflux this had a sensitivity of 84% compared with either high bile acid or amylase concentration. Bile acid concentration has been the “standard” method of measuring duodenogastric reflux. pH monitoring is relatively simple to perform, causes little patient distress, and can measure episodes of duodenogastric reflux over a continuous 24‐hour period.
Surgical problems in octogenarians: Epidemiological analysis of 1,083 consecutive admissions
Authors: Reiss R. , Deutsch A. , Nudelman I. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractPatients older than 80 years of age are the most rapidly increasing group among surgical admissions and patients visiting emergency rooms. Epidemiological data of this group are of enormous medical and economic relevance. The principle aim of this study was to determine factors predictive of operative mortality in octagenarians, their clinical profiles, and length of stay compared to younger patients in similar diagnostic categories. A computer‐based registry of geriatric surgery was used to record and analyze all relevant clinical and epidemiological data. The rate of admissions in octogenarians increased during the 18‐year period (1973–1989) from 0.7% to 7.5% of all admissions. The number of patients undergoing surgery was 700. Three hundred and seventy‐one of the procedures were elective and 329 were emergencies. Operations in octagenarians as a percentage of all operative procedures increased during the period considered from 1.1% to 5.1%. The operative mortality in this series was 10.5% prior to 1984 and decreased to 6% during the last 5 years. The average hospital stay of octagenarians was 9.8 days as opposed to 4.9 days in patients <70 years of age. The prognostic classification described by the authors proved very helpful in predicting mortality.
Pre‐Operative radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment in rectal cancer
Authors: Izar F. , Fourtanier G. , Pradere B. , Chiotasso P. , Bloom E. , Fontes‐Dislaire I. , Bugat R. , Daly N. 
Published: August 2005

AbstractFrom January, 1975 to December, 1987, 241 patients with rectal cancer underwent pre‐operative irradiation and surgical resection. The radiation was delivered with 25 MeV photons, 5 days per week by 2.4 grays fractions up to a total dose of 36 grays. Surgery was curative in 195 patients; 57% had abdomino‐perinal resection. Irradiation had to be discontinued in 3 patients and 4 patients subsequently developed severe acute ileitis. Postoperative mortality rate was 2.9%. The most frequent postoperative complications were delayed healing of abdominal wounds (18%) and perineal wounds (14%). Severe late complications occurred in 27 (13%) patients. The incidence of intestinal obstruction was 5%. Follow‐up survivors ranged from 18 months to 13 years. Local failure occurred in 24 (12%) of the 195 patients. Local failure rates were 10% for Dukes' A tumors, 11.6% for Dukes' B, and 22.7% for Dukes' C tumors. Five and 10 years actuarial survival rates after curative surgery were 70% and 52%. The Dukes' classification was the only factor that influenced survival.