Scientific output quality of 40 globally top-ranked medical researchers in the field of osteoporosis.

The study presents the research output of 40 globally top-ranked authors, publishing in the field of osteoporosis. Their h-index is compared with the Scientific Quality Index (SQI), a novel indicator. Using SQI, 92.5% of the authors changed their initial positions in the general ranking. SQI partially depends on bibliometric measures different from those influencing h-index and may be considered as an assessment tool, reflecting more objective, qualitative, rather than quantitative, features of individual scientific output. PURPOSE: The study approaches the research output of 40 globally top-ranked authors in the field of osteoporosis. METHODS: The assessed authors were identified in the Scopus database, using the key word "osteoporosis" and the h-index data, collected during the last decade (2008-2017). The data, concerning the scientific output, expressed by the h-index, were compared with a novel indicator of scientific quality-called the Scientific Quality Index (SQI). SQI is calculated according to the following formula: Parameter No. 1 + Parameter No. 2, where: Parameter No. 1 (the percent of papers cited ≥ 10 times) the number of papers cited ≥ 10 times (excluding self-citations and citations of all co-authors) is divided by the number of all the published papers (including the papers with no citation) × 100%, Parameter No. 2 (the mean number of citations per paper) the total number of citations (excluding self-citations and citations of all co-authors) divided by the number of all published papers (including papers with no citation). RESULTS: The following research output values were obtained: the citation index, 2483.6 ± 1348.7; the total number of papers, 75.1 ± 23.2; the total number of cited papers, 69.3 ± 22.0; the number of papers cited, at least, 10 times, 45.4 ± 17.2; the percent of papers cited, at least, 10 times, 59.9 ± 10.0; and the mean citations per paper, 32.8 ± 15.0. The mean value of Hirsch index was 24.2 ± 6.2 and SQI 92.7 ± 22.3. Using SQI, only three authors did not change their initial ranking position, established according to the h-index; 18 authors noted a decrease, while other 19 improved their initial ranking position. The h-index correlated with SQI; r = 0.72; p < 0.0001. CONCLUSION: Qualitative features of scientific output, reflected by SQI, have changed the classification of 92.5% of authors. SQI may be considered as an assessment tool which is more strongly determined by qualitative than quantitative features of individual scientific output.

Angiosarcoma of the chest wall in a patient with fibrous dysplasia.

We have experienced a case of angiosarcoma of the chest wall in a patient with fibrous dysplasia. The patient was a 64-year-old man and had large bilateral thoracic masses. Each tumor, resected metachronously with the chest wall, was diagnosed as angiosarcoma. One of these tumors had a histological component of fibrous dysplasia. The patient died from brain metastasis 19 months after the first operation. Angiosarcoma associated with fibrous dysplasia of the chest wall is very rare.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic harvesting of an omental pedicle in the treatment of complicated chronic empyema.

We describe a new method for hand-assisted laparoscopic harvesting of an omental pedicle and its use in the treatment of chronic empyema with a bronchopulmonary fistula. This technique may also be appropriate as a less invasive surgical procedure in the treatment of a number of other thoracic infectious conditions.

Scarless endoscopic thyroidectomy: breast approach for better cosmesis.

An original technique for performing endoscopic thyroidectomy using a breast approach to avoid an operative scar in the neck was developed. The subcutaneous space in the breast area and the subplatysmal space in the neck were bluntly dissected through a 15-mm incision between the nipples, and CO2 was insufflated at 6 mm Hg to create the operative space. Three trocars were inserted at the breast, and dissection of the thyroid and division of the thyroid vessels and parenchyma were performed endoscopically using an ultrasonically activated scalpel. Four hemithyroidectomies and one partial resection of the thyroid for five female patients with thyroid adenomas 5 to 7 cm in diameter were successfully performed using this procedure. There were no conversions to open surgery or complications. No scars were apparent in the neck, and all patients were fully satisfied with the cosmetic results. Endoscopic thyroidectomy using a breast approach and low-pressure subcutaneous CO2 insufflation is a feasible and safe procedure, which results in satisfactory cosmetic results.

[A case of inoperable advanced gastric cancer remarkably responding to combined chemotherapy with UFT-E, MMC and PSK].

A 55-year-old male consulted a local doctor with the complaint of epigastralgia. Examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract revealed gastric cancer (Borrmann Type II) and he was referred to our hospital for operation. A few lymph nodes were palpable in the left supraclavicular fossa, and the biopsy of those lymph nodes revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma. The CT scan of the abdomen showed enlargement of paraaortic lymph nodes. Then, the patient was determined inoperable (T3, N4, H02 P01, M1 stage IVb). He was treated as an outpatient with UFT-E (300 mg/day, orally), Krestin (PSK 3.0 g/day, orally) and Mitomycin C (MMC 6 or 8 mg once a week, intravenously repeated interval of 4 weeks). The total dose of UFT-E, PSK and MMC was 219 g, 1,095 g and 136 mg, respectively. One month later, lymph nodes in the supraclavicular fossa disappeared, and the lesion in the stomach completely responded. We have followed the patient for more than one year. He visits our the outpatient department and has kept working until now.

Identification of "binge-prone" women: an experimentally and psychometrically validated cluster analysis in a college population.

This study investigated the escape model of binge eating through a cluster analysis using standardized measures. A sample of 126 undergraduate women underwent a manipulation of their level of cognition and were asked to "taste-test" several flavors of ice cream. Questionnaire data from these women were entered into a cluster analysis. Two groups emerged: women in the "binge-prone" group were significantly more depressed, had lower self-esteem, had more chaotic and extreme eating patterns, and were more self-conscious than those in the control group. In validation work, binge-prone women were shown to report elevated levels of bulimic symptomatology and, when in the presence of a food they enjoyed, to respond to increases in level of cognition by eating more. These results were consistent with some, but not all, of the components of the escape model.

[A study on the concentrations of levofloxacin in the gallbladder tissue and bile of patients].

Concentrations of levofloxacin (LVFX, DR-3355), optically active (-)-ofloxacin, in the gall-bladder tissue and bile were determined in patients, and the results were as follows: 1. A single dose of LVFX (100 mg) was administered orally to 6 patients with cholelithiasis about 2 to 3 hours before operation. The range in the gallbladder tissues was 0.34 to 1.59 micrograms/g, while the range in sera was 0.20 to 1.05 micrograms/ml. The ranges in the adipose tissues, gallbladder bile, and common duct bile were 0.07 to 0.26 micrograms/g, 1.8 to 12.2 micrograms/ml, and 1.4 to 5.8 micrograms/ml, respectively. 2. A single dose of LVFX (100 mg) was administered orally to 5 patients with indwelling T-tube. Concentrations of LVFX in excreted bile samples were 1.2 to 2.4 micrograms/ml, 1.3 to 3.5 micrograms/ml, and 1.3 to 2.4 micrograms/ml at 2 to 4, 4 to 6, and 6 to 12 hours after administration, respectively. Therefore, it appears that LVFX may be effective in biliary tract infections, because of its sustained high concentrations in biliary system.

High-risk infants: the need for nursing follow-up.

The goal of perinatal care can no longer focus only on the medical management of mother and infant, but instead must take a more global approach and focus on the entire family. One aspect of family care is to provide comprehensive nursing follow-up to the high-risk family at the time of the mother's and infant's discharge. To meet this need, a program was developed to educate all interested community nurses to the specific needs of the high-risk family. Evaluation indicates that the program helped nurses to provide consistent comprehensive care to these families, who were very grateful for home visits by a community nurse.