bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Safety and efficacy of vardenafil in patients with erectile dysfunction: Result of a bridging study in Japan
Authors: NAGAO KOICHI , ISHII NOBUHISA , KAMIDONO SADAO , OSADA TAKAO ,   THE VARDENAFIL (LEVITRA) CLINICAL TRIAL GROUP
Published: July 2004

Abstract  Aim:  Vardenafil is a selective and highly potent phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), with improved selectivity for PDE5 and demonstrated efficacy for improving sexual function in men with ED. The current study investigated the safety and efficacy of this new PDE5 inhibitor in Japanese men with ED.Methods:  This was a prospective, double blind, randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vardenafil. Following a 4‐week treatment‐free observation period, 283 eligible patients were randomized to 12 weeks treatment with vardenafil 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, or placebo. Primary efficacy responses were assessed using the scores of Q3 and Q4 of the international index of erectile function (IIEF).Results:  All three vardenafil doses showed significantly better improvement than the placebo group in Q3 and Q4 scores of the IIEF questionnaire, either at 12 weeks or at the ‘last observation carried forward’ (LOCF, P < 0.0001). Q3 scores were improved to 4.06 with vardenafil 5 mg, 4.53 with vardenafil 10 mg, and 4.64 with vardenafil 20 mg, versus 3.17 with placebo. Comparable scores for Q4 were 3.47, 4.15 and 4.31 versus 2.31 for placebo. Up to 86% of patients achieved improved erections as assessed by the global assessment question (GAQ). Reported adverse event rates were 35.3%, 45.3% and 54.5% with vardenafil 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg, respectively, versus 21.1% in the placebo group. No serious adverse drug reactions were reported. The most common treatment‐emergent adverse events were transient headache, flushing and rhinitis, which were mostly mild.Conclusion:  Vardenafil is an effective and well‐tolerated treatment for ED and provides improvement in key indices of erectile function among Japanese men with ED. The results of our trial show that up to nearly 90% of patients achieve improved erections with the administration of vardenafil.
The trend of managing prostate cancer in Taiwan
Authors: WONG WAI‐YAN , CHEN SHYH‐CHYAN , CHUEH SHIH‐CHIEH , CHEN JUN 
Published: July 2004

Abstract  Background:  The purpose of this study is to investigate the current trends of Taiwanese urologists in managing prostate cancer (CaP). This will help us to establish our own consensus and recommend appropriate treatment options to the related patients.Methods:  From November 2000 to April 2001, a questionnaire concerning the alertness of detecting CaP, diagnostic tools used for establishing the staging of CaP before radical surgery, the tolerated age for surgery and the use of hormone therapy for advanced CaP was mailed to the 465 urologists in active practice in the Taiwan area.Results:  A total of 240 (51.6%) physicians responded to our questionnaire. 89.1% of the respondents would add serum prostatic‐specific antigen (PSA) to detect suspected malignancy during the work‐up for benign prostatic hyperplasia in their daily practice. About three quarters of the respondents adopted free/total PSA in assisting the decision for prostate biopsy. 78% require a bone scan before radical surgery even when PSA is less than 10 ng/mL and the age tolerated for radical surgery is 75 years. 60.8% still believed that maximal androgen blockade is effective for advanced CaP.Conclusions:  The trend of treating CaP provides a useful insight into the variations in clinical practice of Taiwanese urologists and may help to develop a more widely accepted guideline by our urological community.
The etiology of erectile dysfunction and contributing factors in different age groups in Turkey
Authors: CASKURLU TURHAN , TASCI ALI IHSAN , RESIM SEFA , SAHINKANAT TAYFUN , ERGENEKON ERBIL 
Published: July 2004

Abstract  Background:  The aim of the present study was to determine the pathophysiological factors which cause erectile dysfunction (ED), as well as the risk factors in different age groups in Turkey.Methods:  A total of 948 patients with ED who were admitted to three andrology clinics were evaluated in terms of etiological factors. They underwent a multidisciplinary diagnostic evaluation. Erectile dysfunction was classified as primarily organic, primarily psychogenic, mixed or unknown in etiology.Results:  Psychogenic ED was diagnosed in 65.4% of the patients and organic ED was diagnosed in 34.6% of patients overall. In patients under 40 years, the rate of psychogenic ED was 83% and the rate of organic ED was 17%, but in the patients over 40 years, the rate of psychogenic ED was 40.7% and the rate of organic ED was 59.3%. The causes of organic ED were identified as arteriogenic ED, 40.5%; cavernosal factor (venogenic) ED, 10%; neurogenic ED, 12.5%; endocrinologic ED, 1.8%; mixed type ED, 11.8%; and drug induced ED, 4.5%.Conclusion:  Our data represent a higher ratio of ED in patients under 40, which are mostly psychogenic, This finding potentially results from local social and cultural differences.
Erectile dysfunction in hemodialysis patients with diabetes mellitus: Association with age and hemoglobin A1c levels
Authors: MIYATA YASUYOSHI , SHINDO KAZUHIKO , MATSUYA FUKUZO , NOGUCHI MITSURU , NISHIKIDO MASAHARU , KOGA SHIGEHIKO , KANETAKE HIROSHI 
Published: July 2004

Abstract  Aim:  Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) as well as those undergoing hemodialysis (HD). The purpose of this study is to investigate the frequency and severity of ED in HD patients with DM and those without DM. In addition, we examined the relationship between erectile function and several risk factors, including presence of DM and hemoglobin A1c levels in HD patients.Methods:  This study involved 180 patients on HD, including 66 HD patients with DM (DM‐HD) and 114 patients without DM (non‐DM‐HD). We evaluated erectile function using an abridged five‐item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF‐5). Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between presence of ED and several risk factors.Results:  The total score of IIEF‐5 in DM‐HD patients (9.5 ± 4.2) was significantly lower than in non‐DM‐HD patients (13.5 ± 5.7). The prevalence of severe ED was 42.4% and 18.4% in DM‐HD patients and non‐DM‐HD patients, respectively. Age, cardiovascular disease history, and DM were identified as independent risk factors for the presence of ED. Furthermore, age and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels were identified as independent risk factors for the presence of severe ED.Conclusion:  DM‐HD patients are more likely to have ED, and particularly severe forms of ED, than non‐DM‐HD patients. DM and elevated hemoglobin A1c levels were associated with the presence of ED or severe ED, respectively. Aging was identified as an independent factor in both ED and severe ED.
Influence of pain and urinary symptoms on quality of life in young men with chronic prostatitis‐like symptoms
Authors: KU JA HYEON , KWAK CHEOL , OH SEUNG‐JUNE , LEE EUNSIK , LEE SANG EUN , PAICK JAE‐SEUNG 
Published: July 2004

Abstract  Background:  Our aims in the present study were to estimate the influences of pain and urinary symptoms on quality of life, and to determine which of these two variables has the most predictive power with respect to quality of life in young men with chronic prostatitis‐like symptoms.Methods:  Chronic prostatitis‐like symptoms were measured by the National Institutes of Health‐Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. Of the 28 841 men aged 20 years who lived in the study community, 18 495 men (a response rate 64.1%) agreed to participate in the study. A total of 1057 men who complained of symptoms indicative of chronic prostatitis were included in the study. The influences of pain and urinary symptoms on quality of life were determined using logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to estimate the predictive ability of each of these variables with respect to quality of life.Results:  Results from multivariate analysis showed that both pain and urinary symptoms were associated with an increased likelihood of impaired quality of life, although pain contributed more to a reduced quality of life than urinary symptoms. Relative to men who experienced mild pain, men who experienced moderate pain had a 3.9‐fold risk of poor quality of life (odds ratio [OR], 3.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.86–5.23; P < 0.001) and those who experienced severe pain had a 15.7‐fold risk of reduced quality of life (OR, 15.68; 95% CI, 6.59–37.35; P < 0.001). Moderate urinary symptoms were associated with a 1.4‐fold risk of bother (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01–1.99; P < 0.001) and severe urinary symptoms were associated with 2.4‐fold risk (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.37–4.12; P < 0.001), relative to mild urinary symptoms. Comparison of the effects of pain and urinary symptoms showed that pain severity had the most predictive power for bother, quality of life, and quality‐of‐life impact. The areas under the ROC curves for bother, quality of life, and quality‐of‐life impact were 71.3%, 69.3% and 72.5%, respectively.Conclusion:  Urinary symptoms and pain might be associated with an increased likelihood of impaired quality of life in young men with chronic prostatitis‐like symptoms. In addition, our findings suggest that pain severity is the most influential variable for determining quality of life in this population.
Two Japanese kindreds occurring endometrial cancer meeting new clinical criteria for hereditary non‐polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), Amsterdam Criteria II
Authors: Banno Kouji , Susumu Nobuyuki , Hirao Takeshi , Yanokura Megumi , Hirasawa Akira , Aoki Daisuke , Udagawa Yasuhiro , Sugano Kokichi , Nozawa Shiro 
Published: July 2004

AbstractHereditary non‐polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also called Lynch syndrome, is an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder of cancer susceptibility. Patients with HNPCC exhibit an increased risk for HNPCC‐associated extracolonic tumors such as cancer of the endometrium. HNPCC is associated with germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes: hMLH1, hMSH2 and hMSH6.Here, we describe two Japanese kindreds (0.5%) who met the new clinical criteria for HNPCC, Amsterdam criteria II, from among 375 endometrial cancer patients treated at Keio University Hospital from 1990 to 2002. From these results, it was found that female HNPCC patients comprised approximately 0.5% of all endometrial cancer patients. Decreased expression of two MMR gene protein products (hMLH1 and hMSH6) was confirmed immunohistochemically in these two endometrial tumors in HNPCC kindreds. This case report provides important information on Japanese HNPCC patients occurring endometrial cancer.
Germ cell tumors of the ovary: A clinicopathologic study of 121 cases from Nepal
Authors: Sah Shatrughan Prasad , Uprety Dhruba , Rani Sudha 
Published: July 2004

AbstractBackground:  Although many reports have been published about germ cell tumors of the ovary in developed countries, there has been no such documentation from Nepal. The retrospective study presented here reports the clinicopathologic profile of germ cell tumors of the ovary studied at B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal.Methods:  A retrospective analysis of 121 histopathologically proven cases of germ cell tumor of the ovary operated on at either our institute or somewhere else (but processed in our institute) from November 1995 to April 2001 (5.5 years) was done. Clinical data, histopathologic findings and complications were recorded.Results:  The prevalence of germ cell tumors was 43.36% (121/279) of all ovarian neoplasms. Patient age varied from 8 to 65 years (median 31 years). Tumor occurrence was most frequent in patients aged 21–40 years. Only eight of 121 cases (6.61%) were malignant; the rest (93.39%) were mature teratomas. Of great interest was the unexpectedly high number of cases (47.93%) found in patients who were hill natives such as Rai and Gurung. Pain and abdominal fullness were common symptoms noted in 85.95% and 79.31% of patients, respectively. Seventeen (14%) asymptomatic cases were found either on routine physical examination (12 cases) or during pregnancy (five cases). The left ovary was involved in 39.7% cases and the right in 35.5%. Bilateral involvement was seen in 24.8% of cases. Torsion was noted in 20.66% and was the most common complication. Of all the germ cell tumors 93.39% were cystic and only 6.61% were solid on gross appearance. There were three cases of monodermal benign teratoma, four cases of immature teratoma and one case of malignant transformation.Conclusion:  Mature teratoma is the most common germ cell tumor and accounts for 40.50% of all ovarian neoplasms. The high prevalence of germ cell tumors of the ovary found among patients who were hill natives needs to be explored further.
Prospective study of glove perforation in obstetrical and gynecological operations: Are we safe enough?
Authors: Malhotra Monika , Sharma Jai Bhagwan , Wadhwa Leena , Arora Raksha 
Published: July 2004

AbstractObjectives:  To assess the glove perforation rate, efficacy of double gloving, effect of duration of surgery, expertise of surgeon and operative urgency on the glove perforation rate in obstetrical and gynecologic operations.Methods:  From February to September 2002, double glove protocol was made necessary for all major obstetrical and gynecologic procedures. The operating surgeon, first and second assistant were included in the study. Gloves damage was noted (overt by inspection, occult by hydroinsufflation technique).Results:  Of the 156 procedures included in study, 32 procedures were performed (all emergency operations) single‐gloved because surgeons found double gloving clumsy (56%), made it difficult to tie knots due to lack of dexterity (24%), or were too tight (20%). One thousand one hundred and twenty single gloves were examined after each procedure by hydroinsufflation. The overall perforation rate was 13.6% (single versus double outer gloves, 13.8%versus l3.2%, P > 0.05). Matching perforations were found in six cases (4.6%). Thus, the protection offered by double gloves was 95.4% even if the outer gloves were perforated. Four inner gloves had preexisting perforations. Sixty unused gloves checked similarly revealed a perforation rate of 1.6%. Emergency cases had higher perforation rate compared to elective surgeries (16.6%versus 10.8%, P < 0.00 1). Surgeries lasting for more than 40 min had a higher perforation rate compared to those finished in less than or equal to 40 min (18.6%versus 7.6%, P < 0.001). The middle finger of the left hand was the most commonly involved. The surgeon, first assistant and second assistant were involved in 73.6, 23.3 and 3.2% cases, respectively.Conclusion:  Double gloving offers considerable protection against exposure to contaminants in the blood and body fluids of the patient and should be made routine, especially in developing countries where HIV, hepatitis B and C are widely prevalent. Double gloving should be made mandatory in emergency procedures, which have a higher perforation rate due to operative urgency, and gloves should be changed in operations lasting for more than 40 min to ensure integrity of barrier.
Cervical varix accompanied by placenta previa in twin pregnancy
Authors: Yoshimura Kazuaki , Hirsch Emmet , Kitano Rei , Kashimura Masamichi 
Published: July 2004

AbstractBackground:  Uterine cervical varix is a rare complication in pregnant women and can be the cause of obstetric hemorrhage in the vagina resulting in adverse events for both the mother and fetus.Case:  A 34‐year‐old Japanese woman was hospitalized at 18 weeks gestation because of cervical varix and placenta previa. Prophylactic tocolysis successfully controlled the obstetric hemorrhage. At 27 weeks gestation, emergent cesarean section was performed because of intractable hemorrhage from the marginal placenta previa. Intraabdominal findings revealed no vascular malformation of the uterus, and the operation was performed uneventfully. A speculum examination of the vagina and cervix at 1 month postpartum were unremarkable.Conclusion:  It is important to recognize the clinical features and available treatments for cervical varix.
Antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies in recurrent early pregnancy loss and mid‐to‐late pregnancy loss*
Authors: Sugi Toshitaka , Matsubayashi Hidehiko , Inomo Akifumi , Dan Lu , Makino Tsunehisa 
Published: July 2004

AbstractAim:  Associations have been reported between antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), mainly anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) and/or the lupus anticoagulant, and recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL). However, relatively few studies describing antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies (aPE) have been reported. We describe the prevalence of aPL to both cardiolipin and phosphatidylethanolamine in patients with RPL.Methods:  Patients with recurrent early pregnancy losses (n = 145) and mid‐to‐late pregnancy loss(es) (n = 26) were screened for aPE and aCL.Results:  In patients with recurrent early pregnancy losses, prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) aPE (17.9%, P = 0.001) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) aPE (12.4%, P = 0.01) was significantly higher than in the control group. In patients with mid‐to‐late pregnancy loss(es), prevalence of IgM aPE (19.2%, P = 0.008) and IgG aCL (23.1%, P = 0.02) was significantly higher than in the control group.Conclusion:  Our data suggest that aPE may be a risk factor in patients with mid‐to‐late pregnancy loss(es) as well as recurrent early pregnancy losses.
Space‐Time Hierarchical Radiosity with Clustering and Higher‐Order Wavelets
Authors: Damez Cyrille , Holzschuch Nicolas , Sillion François X. 
Published: July 2004

Abstract We address in this paper the issue of computing diffuse global illumination solutions for animation sequences. The principal difficulties lie in the computational complexity of global illumination, emphasized by the movement of objects and the large number of frames to compute, as well as the potential for creating temporal discontinuities in the illumination, a particularly noticeable artifact. We demonstrate how space‐time hierarchical radiosity, i.e. the application to the time dimension of a hierarchical decomposition algorithm, can be effectively used to obtain smooth animations: first by proposing the integration of spatial clustering in a space‐time hierarchy; second, by using a higher‐order wavelet basis adapted for the temporal dimension. The resulting algorithm is capable of creating time‐dependent radiosity solutions efficiently.
An Integer One‐Pass Algorithm for Voxel Traversal
Authors: Liu Y. K. , Žalik B. , Yang H. 
Published: July 2004

Abstract Voxel traversing along a line in a uniformly divided voxel space is frequently needed in different applications of computer graphics. The paper presents a new integer one‐pass algorithm for this problem. In 2D, the proposed approach is based on a modification of the well‐known Bresenham algorithm. The algorithm is then extended in 3D where a special case may occur. It is characterized by a simple discriminator. A derivation for this discriminator given in the paper confirms that all calculations can be realized using only integer arithmetic. In this way, the accumulation of rounding errors is completely eliminated, and a robust and compact implementation can be easily achieved. One of the main advantages of the proposed algorithm is that it visits 1–3 voxels during each iteration thus assuring its efficiency. The algorithm has been compared with other algorithms for voxel traversing by measuring spent CPU time. For comparison, Cleary & Wyvill's, Amanatides & Woo's, and Code‐based algorithm have been used. The proposed algorithm is faster than the referenced algorithms.
Modeling Trees with Hypertextures
Authors: Strnad D. , Guid N. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractIn the paper, a new method for modelling trees at medium detail is presented. The method is based on a volumetric representation of trees, generated by an iterated function system (IFS). Alleviating the modeling restrictions of fractal techniques, extensions to the standard IFS are introduced. Practical aspects of modeling and rendering of trees, such as data structures and bounding volumes, are discussed. The advantages of the new method are described at the end together with some results.
The State of the Art in Flow Visualization: Dense and Texture‐Based Techniques
Authors: Laramee Robert S. , Hauser Helwig , Doleisch Helmut , Vrolijk Benjamin , Post Frits H. , Weiskopf Daniel 
Published: July 2004

AbstractFlow visualization has been a very attractive component of scientific visualization research for a long time. Usually very large multivariate datasets require processing. These datasets often consist of a large number of sample locations and several time steps. The steadily increasing performance of computers has recently become a driving factor for a reemergence in flow visualization research, especially in texture‐based techniques. In this paper, dense, texture‐based flow visualization techniques are discussed. This class of techniques attempts to provide a complete, dense representation of the flow field with high spatio‐temporal coherency. An attempt of categorizing closely related solutions is incorporated and presented. Fundamentals are shortly addressed as well as advantages and disadvantages of the methods.
Distributed and Collaborative Visualization
Authors: Brodlie K. W. , Duce D. A. , Gallop J. R. , Walton J. P. R. B. , Wood J. D. 
Published: July 2004

Abstract Visualization is a powerful tool for analyzing data and presenting results in science, engineering and medicine. This paper reviews ways in which it can be used in distributed and/or collaborative environments. Distributed visualization addresses a number of resource allocation problems, including the location of processing close to data for the minimization of data traffic. The advent of the Grid Computing paradigm and the link to Web Services provides fresh challenges and opportunities for distributed visualization—including the close coupling of simulations and visualizations in a steering environment. Recent developments in collaboration have seen the growth of specialized facilities (such as Access Grid) which have supplemented traditional desktop video conferencing using the Internet and multicast communications. Collaboration allows multiple users—possibly at remote sites—to take part in the visualization process at levels which range from the viewing of images to the shared control of the visualization methods. In this review, we present a model framework for distributed and collaborative visualization and assess a selection of visualization systems and frameworks for their use in a distributed or collaborative environment. We also discuss some examples of enabling technology and review recent work from research projects in this field.