Hand and wrist research productivity in journals with high impact factors: a 20 year analysis

Bibliometric analyses, which study trends in research productivity, have not previously been applied to hand and wrist research. This study analyses temporal and geographic trends in hand and wrist research from 1988 to 2007. Original research articles were collected from seven English language journals selected on the basis of impact factor. Research production and quality (level of evidence) were determined by country and global region. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate trends. No significant increase in research volume was observed, but journal impact factors have risen significantly since 1988. Western Europe contributed significantly more high-quality (Level I and II) studies than the United States. Research contributions show a geographical distribution concentrated in the US and Western Europe, but considerable changes in this distribution have occurred. From 1988 to 2007, there was a relative increase in research production from Europe, Latin America and Asia, and a relative decline from the US.

Peptic and Tryptic Hydrolysis of Native and Heated Whey Protein to Reduce Its Antigenicity

This study examined the effects of enzymes on the production and antigenicity of native and heated whey protein concentrate (WPC) hydrolysates. Native and heated (10 min at 100 degrees C) WPC (2% protein solution) were incubated at 50 degrees C for 30, 60, 90, and 120 min with 0.1, 0.5, and 1% pepsin and then with 0.1, 0.5, and 1% trypsin on a protein-equivalent basis. A greater degree of hydrolysis was achieved and greater nonprotein nitrogen concentrations were obtained in heated WPC than in native WPC at all incubation times. Hydrolysis of WPC was increased with an increasing level of enzymes and higher incubation times. The highest hydrolysis (25.23%) was observed in heated WPC incubated with 1% pepsin and then with 1% trypsin for 120 min. High molecular weight bands, such as BSA, were completely eliminated from sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE of both native and heated WPC hydrolysates produced with pepsin for the 30-min incubation. The alpha-lactalbumin in native WPC was slightly degraded when incubated with 0.1% pepsin and then with 0.1% trypsin; however, it was almost completely hydrolyzed within 60 min of incubation with 0.5% pepsin and then with 0.5% trypsin. Incubation of native WPC with 1% pepsin and then with 1% trypsin for 30 min completely removed the BSA and alpha-lactalbumin. The beta-lactoglobulin in native WPC was not affected by the pepsin and trypsin treatments. The beta-lactoglobulin in heated WPC was partially hydrolyzed by the 0.1 and 0.5% pepsin and trypsin treatments and was completely degraded by the 1% pepsin and trypsin treatment. Antigenicity reversibly mimicked the hydrolysis of WPC and the removal of beta-lactoglobulin from hydrolysates. Antigenicity in heated and native WPC was reduced with an increasing level of enzymes. A low antigenic response was observed in heated WPC compared with native WPC. The lowest antigenicity was observed when heated WPC was incubated with 1% pepsin and then with 1% trypsin. These results suggested that incubation of heated WPC with 1% pepsin and then with 1% trypsin was the most effective for producing low-antigenic hydrolysates by WPC hydrolysis and obtaining low molecular weight small peptides. Further research is warranted to identify the low molecular weight small peptides in the WPC hydrolysates produced by pepsin and trypsin, which may enhance the use of whey.

Establishment of a bovine leukemia virus-free dairy herd in Korea

In view of the high prevalence rate of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infections in cattle over the entire country, a large dairy farm in Chungnam province was chosen and 'test and segregate' program was instituted. On July 1999, ELISA test was performed on 491 animals on the farm and only 163 cattle (139 adult cows, 18 female and 6 male calves)were BLV-seronegative. From February 2000 through April 2004, the seronegative group was placed in barns 1,500 to 2,000 m from seropositive group and thereafter tested at 3-to 5-month intervals by ELISA. Animals seroconverted in consecutive tests were removed from the seronegative group immediately after the detection of anti-BLV antibodies. The changes in management were aimed at preventing iatrogenic transfer of blood between cattle. Replacement heifers imported from other countries and calves born at the farm were repeatedly tested by ELISA, and only seronegative animals were introduced into the group. As of April 2004, there were 311 cattle in the BLV seronegative group of the farm. Twenty four cows of the initial 139 adult cows were seroconverted in 2000, and no seropositive animals were found since February 2001. Follow up of the group, from which all seropositive cattle were moved to a separate location, revealed no recurrence of BLV infection for three years. The approach in the present study might be valuable for Korean producers who would like to move toward a BLV-negative status.

Observation of B --> J/psi K(1)(1270)

We report the first observation of the exclusive decay process B-->J/psi K(1)(1270) using a sample of 11.2M BB macro meson pairs collected in the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric energy e(+)e(-) collider. We measure branching fractions of B[B(0)-->J/psi K(0)(1)(1270)] = (1.30+/-0.34+/-0.32) x 10(-3) and B[B(+)-->J/psi K(+)(1)(1270)] = (1.80+/-0.34+/-0.39) x 10(-3), where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. These modes constitute approximately 15% of the total number of B-->J/psi X decays. No evidence is seen for B-->J/psi K(1)(1400) and we set an upper limit for this branching fraction.

Observation of Cabibbo suppressed B --> D(*)K- decays at Belle

We report observations of the Cabibbo suppressed decays B-->D((*))K- using a 10.4 fb(-1) data sample accumulated at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) storage ring. We find that the ratios of Cabibbo suppressed to Cabibbo favored branching fractions are B(B--->D0K-)/B(B--->D0pi(-)) = 0.079+/-0.009+/-0.006, B(B(0)-->D+K-)/B(B(0)-->D+pi(-)) = 0.068+/-0.015+/-0.007, B(B--->D(*0)K-)/B(B--->D(*0)pi(-)) = 0.078+/-0.019+/-0.009, and B(B(0)-->D(*+)K-)/B(B(0)-->D(*+)pi(-)) = 0.074+/-0.015+/-0.006. These are the first observations of the B-->D+K-, D(*0)K-, and D(*+)K- decay processes.

Observation of large CP violation in the neutral B meson system

We present a measurement of the standard model CP violation parameter sin2 phi(1) based on a 29.1 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed as a J/psi K(S), psi(2S)K(S), chi(c1)K(S), eta(c)K(S), J/psi K(L), or J/psi K(*0) decay and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. From the asymmetry in the distribution of the time intervals between the two B meson decay points, we determine sin2 phi(1) = 0.99+/-0.14(stat)+/-0.06(syst). We conclude that we have observed CP violation in the neutral B meson system.

Measurement of B(0)(d)-B_(0)(d) mixing rate from the time evolution of dilepton events at the upsilon(4S)

We report a determination of the B(0)(d)-&B_(0)(d) mixing parameter Deltam(d) based on the time evolution of dilepton yields in Upsilon(4S) decays. The measurement is based on a 5.9 fb(-1) data sample collected by the Belle detector at KEKB. The proper-time difference distributions for same-sign and opposite-sign dilepton events are simultaneously fitted to an expression containing Deltam(d) as a free parameter. Using both muons and electrons, we obtain Deltam(d) = 0.463+/-0.008 (stat)+/-0.016 (syst) ps(-1). This is the first determination of Deltam(d) from time evolution measurements at the Upsilon(4S). We also place limits on possible CPT violations.

Measurement of the CP violation parameter sin2 phi(1) in B(0)(d) meson decays

We present a measurement of the standard model CP violation parameter sin2 phi(1) (also known as sin2beta) based on a 10.5 fb(-1) data sample collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. One neutral B meson is reconstructed in the J/psiK(S), psi(2S)K(S), chi(c1)K(S), eta(c)K(S), J/psiK(L), or J/psipi(0) CP-eigenstate decay channel and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its charged particle decay products. From the asymmetry in the distribution of the time interval between the two B-meson decay points, we determine sin2 phi(1) = 0.58(+0.32)(-0.34)(stat)+0.09-0.10(syst).

Ability of a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (TopSS) to detect early glaucomatous visual field defect

AIMS

To evaluate the ability of the confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (TopSS) to detect early glaucomatous visual field defect using our unique discriminant criteria.

METHODS

The optic discs of 110 eyes of normal Korean subjects were examined and normal values for each variable were obtained according to the size of the optic disc. The five most sensitive optic disc variables for discriminating glaucoma were then applied to one eye of 80 Korean subjects with primary open angle glaucoma or normal tension glaucoma. Only eyes with an optic disc size of 2.0-3.0 mm(2) and a contour tilt of less than 3 degrees were included. These variables were used to develop unique discriminant criteria for detecting early glaucomatous visual field defect and their sensitivity and specificity were calculated in three groups of patients with visual field loss.

RESULTS

The five most sensitive variables were half the depth area, cup/disc (C/D) ratio, total area of the neuroretinal rim (NRR), volume above, and localised thinning of the NRR. The following criteria were used to diagnose glaucoma: (1) total area of the NRR decreased and one of the other four variables abnormal, and (2) total area of the NRR normal, localised thinning of the NRR, and one of the other three variables abnormal. The sensitivity of these criteria was 89.7% in patients with a mildly impaired visual field and 100% in those with a moderately or severely impaired visual field; the specificity was 89.1%.

CONCLUSIONS

The discriminant criteria used had high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of glaucoma and the TopSS can be useful in the early detection of changes in the glaucomatous optic disc.

Clinical characteristics of CHARGE syndrome

CHARGE syndrome, first described by Pagon, was named for its six major clinical features. They are: coloboma of the eye, heart defects, atresia of the choanae, retarded growth and development including CNS anomalies, genital hypoplasia and/or urinary tract anomalies, and ear anomalies and/or hearing loss. We experienced three cases of CHARGE syndrome who displayed ocular coloboma, heart defects, retarded growth and development, and external ear anomalies, and we also review the previously reported literature concerning CHARGE syndrome.