bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Age and Gender on Drug Use in the United Kingdom—A Review
Authors: Bloor Roger
Published: May 2006

The aim of this study is to review UK epidemiological research in light of studies on the influence of age and gender on drug use in young people. Literature for this review came from English language publications using a structured search strategy. Within the UK, drug use is commoner in young males than other population groups. When integrated social development models are employed, drug use is seen to be determined by the complex interaction of factors such as age, parental monitoring, and peer group associations. Suggested research directions include combining structural equation modeling with large‐scale, UK‐based longitudinal social development model studies to develop prevention and intervention efforts that are sensitive to the role of individual, social, and cultural factors.
Satisfaction with Family Physicians and Specialists and the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Israel
Authors: Shmueli Amir , Shuval Judith
Published: May 2006

Higher utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is commonly explained by dissatisfaction or disappointment with conventional medical treatment. To explore, at two points in time in Israel, the associations between six domains of satisfaction (attitude, length of visits, availability, information sharing, perceived quality of care and overall) with conventional family physicians′ and specialists′ services and the likelihood of consulting CAM providers. This is a secondary analysis of interviews, which were conducted with 2000 persons in 1993 and 2500 persons in 2000, representing the Israeli Jewish urban population aged 45–75 in those years. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used in the investigation. In 1993, users of CAM were less satisfied than non‐users with both family physicians′ and specialists′ care. Lower satisfaction with the attitude of, the amount of information sharing by and in general with family physicians, and with the length of visits and perceived quality of care of specialists were significantly associated with CAM use. In 2000, lower satisfaction with specialists′ attitude, length of visits, availability and in general was significantly related to the use of CAM. Lower satisfaction with family physicians and specialists is significantly associated with consulting CAM providers. However, with CAM becoming a mainstream medical care specialty in its own, lower satisfaction with conventional medicine specialists becomes the most important factor.
Genetic diversity within and between European pig breeds using microsatellite markers
Authors: SanCristobal M. , Chevalet C. , Haley C. S. , Joosten R. , Rattink A. P. , Harlizius B. , Groenen M. A. M. , Amigues Y. , Boscher M.‐Y. , Russell G. , Law A. , Davoli R. , Russo V. , Désautés C. , Alderson L. , Fimland E. , Bagga M. , Delgado J. V. , Vega‐Pla J. L. , Martinez A. M. , Ramos M. , Glodek P. , Meyer J. N. , Gandini G. C. , Matassino D. , Plastow G. S. , Siggens K. W. , Laval G. , Archibald A. L. , Milan D. , Hammond K. , Cardellino R.
Published: May 2006

An important prerequisite for a conservation programme is a comprehensive description of genetic diversity. The aim of this study was to use anonymous genetic markers to assess the between‐ and the within‐population components of genetic diversity for European pig breeds at the scale of the whole continent using microsatellites. Fifty‐eight European pig breeds and lines were analysed including local breeds, national varieties of international breeds and commercial lines. A sample of the Chinese Meishan breed was also included. Eleven additional breeds from a previous project were added for some analyses. Approximately 50 individuals per breed were genotyped for a maximum of 50 microsatellite loci. Substantial within‐breed variability was observed, with the average expected heterozygosity and observed number of alleles per locus being 0.56 [range 0.43–0.68] and 4.5 respectively. Genotypic frequencies departed from Hardy–Weinberg expectations (P < 0.01) in 15 European populations, with an excess of homozygotes in 12 of them. The European breeds were on average genetically very distinct, with a Wright FST index value of 0.21. The Neighbour‐Joining tree drawn from the Reynolds distances among the breeds showed that the national varieties of major breeds and the commercial lines were mostly clustered around their breeds of reference (Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace, Large White and Piétrain). In contrast, local breeds, with the exception of the Iberian breeds, exhibited a star‐like topology. The results are discussed in the light of various forces, which may have driven the recent evolution of European pig breeds. This study has consequences for the interpretation of biodiversity results and will be of importance for future conservation programmes.
The future prospects of pharmacogenetics in oral anticoagulation therapy
Authors: Kamali Farhad , Pirmohamed Munir
Published: May 2006

Coumarins are the mainstay of oral anticoagulation for the treatment and prophylaxis of thromboembolic disorders. They have a narrow therapeutic index and regular monitoring is therefore required to avoid serious adverse effects. There is wide interindividual variability in dosage requirements, which makes anticoagulation response unpredictable. Current dosing titrations are haphazard and inconvenient and poor initial control leads to morbidity, and occasional mortality, because of bleeding and further thromboembolism. Recent discoveries have helped to characterize the factors that contribute to the interindividual variability in responses to coumarins. Patient and environmental factors that affect anticoagulation response to coumarins include age, body size, dietary vitamin K status, concurrent disease and drug interactions. More recently, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 2C9 isoform of cytochrome P450 (CYP2C9) and vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) have been shown to make significant contributions to the variability in coumarin dosage requirements. Polymorphisms in other genes that mediate the actions of coumarins may also contribute to this variability. Racial and cultural differences influence dosage requirements, which can be explained, at least in part, by genetic and dietary factors. Incorporation of genetic and environmental factors could help in the prediction of more individualized loading and maintenance doses for safer anticoagulation therapy.
Oxidative stress, antioxidants, and vascular damage
Authors: Minuz Pietro , Fava Cristiano , Cominacini Luciano
Published: May 2006

Oxidative stress has been recognized as a key mechanism in the development of vascular damage, particularly atherosclerosis. In spite of substantial experimental evidence demonstrating reversal of endothelial dysfunction and prevention of atherosclerosis in experimental settings, no benefits have been observed in large clinical trials in which antioxidants have been given in high‐risk patients for the prevention of cardiovascular events. Evaluation of the clinical relevance of the oxidative modification hypothesis requires identification of potential molecular targets of antioxidant interventions and effective antioxidant agents. Future research should necessarily consider quantification of interindividual variations in oxidative stress using appropriate biomarkers.
Effects of high‐dose sublingual immunotherapy on quality of life in patients with seasonal asthma: a pilot study
Authors: Incorvaia C. , Riario‐Sforza G. G. , Pravettoni C. , Frati F.
Published: May 2006

Allergen immunotherapy by subcutaneous route was demonstrated by meta‐analysis studies as an effective treatment in allergic asthma, but the clinical efficacy on asthmatic symptoms of the sublingual route is less investigated. We evaluated the effects of high‐dose sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) on quality of life (QoL) and clinical control of the disease in patients with seasonal asthma. Thirteen patients (six males, seven females, mean age 32.7±6.2 years) with seasonal allergic asthma from at least 2 years were included in the study. In six cases asthma was caused by grass pollen, in five by ragweed pollen, and in two by birch pollen. SLIT was performed by extracts from Stallergénes standardized in index of reactivity (IR) by a build‐up phase in 11 days and a maintenance phase with 300 IR three times a week for the duration of the study. An equal number of patients (seven males, six females, mean age 31.8±7.1 years) was treated with an association of 500 mcg of fluticasone and 50 mcg of salmeterol b.i.d. each day during the pollen season. Before and after the treatment, QoL was measured by the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), and clinical control was assessed by the asthma control test (ACT). The mean scores of the Mini‐AQLQ before and after treatment were 3.45±0.51 and 5.59±0.48 for SLIT, and 3.32±0.63 and 5.23±0.39 for salmeterol–fluticasone association. The mean scores of the ACT before and after treatment were 11.46±3.38 and 20.54±2.47 for SLIT, and 10.87±2.28 and 19.12±3.20 for salmeterol–fluticasone association. All these differences had a comparable significance, with a P<0.001. High‐dose SLIT with standardized extracts of the most common pollens significantly improves QoL and asthma control in patients with seasonal asthma, with a level of changes comparable with the fluticasone–salmeterol association.
Mast cell‐mediated airway remodelling
Authors: Okayama Y. , Okumura S. , Yamashita N. , Ohta K. , Saito H.
Published: May 2006

Airway structural changes (remodelling) in asthma include increased smooth muscle mass, mucus gland hypertrophy, deposition of extracellular matrix components, thickening of reticular basement membrane, and angiogenesis. The extent of remodelling correlates with severity of asthma, and since patients with extensive remodelling may be resistant to steroids therapy, prevention of airway remodelling is a promising therapeutic strategy for curing patients with severe asthma. Mast cells play a pivotal role in allergic inflammatory diseases including asthma and rhinitis. Both early‐phase mediators such as tryptase and chymase and late‐phase mediators such as cytokines released by mast cells are capable of modulating airway smooth muscle cell function and inducing goblet cell hyperplasia. Nasal remodelling in patients with rhinitis seems far less extensive than that which occurs in bronchi of asthmatic patients. Because cytokine production by smooth muscle cells may partly explain the differences in remodelling at these two sites, further investigation of the interaction between human mast cells and airway smooth muscle cells is required to identify new therapeutic strategies for reducing airway remodelling in asthma.
Gene expression profiles of human mast cells and basophils
Authors: Saito H. , Tsukidate T. , Nakajima T. , Okayama Y.
Published: May 2006

Both human mast cells and basophils have metachromatic granules and high‐affinity IgE receptors (FcɛRI) and play important roles in allergic inflammation. However, comprehensive roles and global molecular expression profiles of these two cell types are largely unknown. We review the recent literature regarding the roles of basophils and mast cells and analyse the whole gene expression (transcriptome) of various cell types using a public database. We found that mast cell samples from different tissues preferentially express a unique set of transcripts distinct from those preferentially expressed by granulocytes including basophils. We also found that basophils strongly express mRNA for cytokines whose receptors mast cells express at high levels. Similarly, mast cells preferentially express chemokines whose receptors basophils express at high levels. Hence mast cells and basophils may play a complementary role in allergic inflammation. Disconnecting the mutual activation of these cell types may be expected to lead to future therapies against allergic diseases.
Inflammatory patterns in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Foley S. , Hamid Q.
Published: May 2006

Allergic rhinitis results from allergen‐triggered early and late responses that are mediated by an array of inflammatory cells and mediators. Exposure to allergen induces the proliferation of T‐helper type 2 (Th2) lymphocytes in allergic individuals leading to the subsequent release of a characteristic combination of cytokines that promotes IgE and mast cell production. Within the allergic epithelium, there is proliferation of mucosal mast cells that express IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6 and tryptase. The resultant inflammatory mediators and cytokines enhance endothelial expression of adhesion molecules, such as vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1. Chemoattractants, such as eotaxin, RANTES and IL‐5, are responsible for the characteristic infiltration of the nasal mucosa by eosinophils, basophils, mast cells and Th2 lymphocytes that is seen in the late‐phase allergic response.
Effectiveness of nurse‐led brief alcohol intervention: a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lock Catherine A. , Kaner Eileen , Heather Nick , Doughty Julie , Crawshaw Andrea , McNamee Paul , Purdy Sarah , Pearson Pauline
Published: May 2006

Aim.  This paper reports an evaluation of the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of nurse‐led screening and brief intervention in reducing excessive alcohol consumption among patients in primary health care.

Background.  Excessive alcohol consumption is a major source of social, economic and health problems. However, such consumption is responsive to brief alcohol intervention. To date, brief intervention research in primary health care has focused on general practitioner‐led interventions, and there is only circumstantial evidence of effectiveness in nurse‐led interventions. However, nurses are increasingly taking a lead in health promotion work in primary care.

Methods.  A pragmatic cluster‐randomized controlled trial was carried out between August 2000 and June 2003 to evaluate the effects of a brief intervention compared with standard advice (control condition). A total of 40 general practice clusters (intervention = 21 and control = 19) recruited 127 patients (intervention = 67 and control = 60) to the trial. Excessive consumption was identified opportunistically via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. After baseline assessment, patients received either a 5–10 minutes brief intervention using the ‘Drink‐Less’ protocol or standard advice (control condition). Follow‐up occurred at 6 and 12 months postintervention.

Results.  Analysis of variance weighted for cluster size revealed no statistically significant differences between intervention and control patients at follow up. A majority of patients in both conditions reduced their alcohol consumption between assessment and subsequent measurement. Economic analysis suggested that the brief intervention led to no statistically significant changes in subsequent health service resource use relative to standard treatment.

Conclusion.  The brief intervention evaluated in this trial had no effect over standard advice delivered by nurses in primary health care. However, there was a reduction in excessive drinking across both arms of the trial over time. Due to nurse drop‐out, this trial was significantly underpowered. Future research should explore barriers to nurses’ involvement in research trials, particularly with an alcohol focus. A larger trial is required to evaluate the effectiveness of nurse‐led screening and brief alcohol intervention in primary care.
The experience of surviving traumatic brain injury
Authors: Chamberlain Diane J.
Published: May 2006

Aim. This paper reports a study describing the experience of surviving traumatic brain injury as narrated by individuals 1 year after injury.

Background. The experience of surviving traumatic brain injury is an individual and invisible experience. Healing and resolution of grief is still problematic for many years after injury. This experience includes those with severe injury. There is limited literature focusing on the survivor.

Methodology. Sixty people with hospital admission diagnoses of traumatic brain injury were interviewed 1 year after injury using the Extended Glasgow Outcome Score questionnaire. Survivors then described their experiences of recovery. Data were collected through unstructured in‐depth interviews, transcribed from audio‐tapes and analysed into references. Qualitative content analysis was used to compile their frequencies from recurring themes.

Findings. Sixty survivors with a median age of 35 years were enrolled in the study, with 100% follow‐up. Twelve per cent returned to full preinjury functioning, 35% had residual psychosocial and physical sequelae, 38% had significant restrictions in lifestyle and work capacity, and 15% were unable to care for themselves throughout the 24‐hour period. The common narratives were classified into five categories: ‘regret and grief within self’; ‘insensitivity of health professionals’; ‘invisibility of self’; ‘stranded self’; and ‘recovery in self’. These self‐narratives reflected renewed ways to view the self, which were conceptualized to be intact ‘in spite of’ or to be worthwhile ‘because of’ the traumatic brain injury.

Conclusions. Self‐narratives could be a worthwhile focus of psychological intervention by substituting positive narratives for negative ones, demonstrating hope and a positive outlook on life in order to enhance self‐reflection and improve mental health. They can assist people to minimize, avoid or overcome devaluation and, as such, provide a basis for considerable nursing rehabilitation practice, even in those with severe injury.
Protecting sick children from exposure to passive smoking through mothers' actions: a randomized controlled trial of a nursing intervention
Authors: Chan Sophia , Lam Tai Hing
Published: May 2006

Aims.  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a nursing educational intervention with mothers of sick children to decrease passive smoking exposure.

Background.  Passive smoking represents a serious health hazard and is a substantial threat to child health causing major risk factors for acute respiratory illness in children. Nurses are in a vital position to conduct health education to improve children's health, which is a legitimate activity in a pediatric ward.

Methods.  A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the general paediatric wards of four major hospitals in Hong Kong. The participants were non‐smoking mothers of sick children admitted to the paediatric ward and with smoking husbands living in the same household.

Findings.  A total of 1483 women were randomized into the intervention (n = 752) and control (n = 731) group. The intervention group received from the nurses (1) standardized health advice; (2) two purpose‐designed booklets about preventing exposure to passive smoking and helping fathers quit; (3) a no smoking sticker; and (4) a telephone reminder 1 week later. No intervention was given to the controls. Baseline comparison showed no significant differences between the two groups in the mothers’ actions to protect the children from passive smoking exposure. More mothers in the intervention group than the control group had always moved the children away when they were exposed to the fathers’ smoke at home at 3‐month follow up (78·4% vs. 71·1%; P = 0·01) but became non‐significant at 6 and 12 months.

Conclusions.  A simple health education intervention provided by nurses to the mothers in a busy clinical setting can be effective in the short‐term to motivate the mothers to take actions to protect the children from exposure to passive smoking produced by the fathers.
Organizational factors: impact on administration violations in rural nursing
Authors: McKeon Christine M. , Fogarty Gerard J. , Hegney Desley G.
Published: May 2006

Aim.  This paper reports a study investigating organizational factors contributing to procedural violations by nurses during medication administration.

Background.  Health care is not as safe as it could be, with research indicating that errors involving medications are a leading cause of unintended harm to patients. In the safety literature, strong claims are made about the connection between violation of procedures and adverse occurrences but, in the healthcare field in particular, there is limited empirical evidence that can serve as a basis for understanding why workers deviate from established procedures.

Method.  Quantitative and qualitative data were collected by questionnaire in 2002 to 627 nurses working in rural and remote areas in Queensland, Australia. The response rate was 31%. The data were used to build a model that shows how organizational variables can produce conditions that improve work practices that fall short of best practice standards.

Results.  The statistical model accounted for a reliable 19% of the variance in self‐reported violations. A higher level of knowledge was found to be associated with lower levels of violations. Conversely, higher workloads and higher expectations by doctors were associated with a higher incidence of violations. Qualitative comments tended to support the conclusions drawn from the model and helped to explain the observed associations.

Conclusions.  Attempts to deal with deviations from work procedures through interventions such as retraining or disciplinary action are likely to be ineffective unless they take a more holistic management approach aimed at the individual, the team, the task, the workplace, and the institution as a whole and are directed at the weaker points in the system. These interventions may take the form of training programmes, systems redesign, or the injection of resources. The costs of providing adequate resources to a healthcare system are likely to be offset by savings gained through worker productivity, and better patient outcomes.
A new depression scale designed for use with adults with mental retardation
Authors: Meins W.
Published: May 2006

A sample of 51 mentally retarded adults with DSM‐III‐R criteria for depressive disorders, and 41 without depressive disorders but a high rate of other psychiatric disorders were rated on 27 items from the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS). The newly developed CPRS depression subscale consists of nine items which can also be assessed in almost all of the people with severe or profound mental retardation in the sample. The scale is able to distinguish between depressive and non–depressive cases, and between subgroups of depression. The two factors derived from factor analysis were open to clear interpretation.
Homo‐erotomania for a delusional parent: erotomania with Capgras and Fregoli syndromes in a young male with learning difficulties
Authors: Mann J. , Foreman D. M.
Published: May 2006

A 19‐year‐old male with learning difficulties exhibited erotomania associated with first‐rank symptoms of schizophrenia; the subject responded to neuroleptic medication. The love object was a male neighbour believed by the subject to be his father. This is the first recorded case where erotic desire has been coupled with the delusion that the object is also the parent of the sufferer. We propose a multifactorial aetiology, considering the possibility of complex psychodynamics in the presence of learning difficulties.
Testosterone and Aggression: Berthold, Birds and Beyond
Authors: Soma K. K
Published: May 2006

Berthold's classic study of domesticated roosters in 1849 demonstrated that testicular secretions are necessary for the normal expression of aggressive behaviour. Although this conclusion is undoubtedly correct, field studies of wild songbirds have yielded important modifications and limitations of Berthold's original hypothesis. For example, studies of the North American song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) during the breeding season reveal that not only does testosterone increase aggression, but aggressive interactions also increase plasma testosterone levels. Furthermore, in winter, nonbreeding song sparrows have low plasma testosterone levels but are very aggressive, and castration of nonbreeding song sparrows does not decrease aggression. Interestingly, an aromatase inhibitor (fadrozole) does decrease male aggression in the nonbreeding season, and the effects of fadrozole can be rescued with oestradiol. In winter, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) from the periphery can be metabolised within the brain to supply oestradiol to specific neural circuits. Additionally, oestradiol might be synthesised de novo from cholesterol entirely within the brain. These mechanisms may have evolved to avoid the ‘costs’ of circulating testosterone in the nonbreeding season. Recent studies in tropical birds, hamsters, and humans suggest that these neuroendocrine mechanisms are important for the control of aggression in many vertebrate species.
Aesthetic effect of minor changes in incisor angulation: an internet evaluation
Authors: BRUNZEL S. , KERN M. , FREITAG S. , WOLFART S.
Published: May 2006

summary  The aim of this study was to evaluate the aesthetic assessment of different tiltings of the upper incisors with surrounding tissues. A picture of a smiling mouth revealing the upper anterior teeth from 15 to 25 was digitally transformed producing different tiltings of the incisors. These seven versions presented in a web‐based survey were evaluated concerning their attractiveness. Overall 439 judges joined the evaluation. However, 249 judges were included in analysis, because only judges with normal wellbeings and completed questionnaires were accepted. These judges consisted of 38 dentists, 26 dental and 24 other students, 45 academics and 89 non‐academics, while 27 gave no data about their profession. The results [median (first; third quartile)] showed significant that symmetrical incisors [67·5 (47·5; 85·0)] and minor changes in the angulation of one [65·0 (42·5; 80·0)] or both lateral incisors [65·0 (42·5; 80·0)], respectively, are aesthetically more attractive than the angulation of one [45·0 (27·5; 62·5)] or both central incisors [27·5 (16·3; 45·0)], or the combination of one tilted lateral and central incisor [37·5 (25·0; 60·0)]. These results confirm the results of a previous study where similar image versions without surrounding tissues were assessed concerning their attractiveness on printed photos.
Effect of adding impression material to mandibular denture space in Piezography
Authors: IKEBE K. , OKUNO I. , NOKUBI T.
Published: May 2006

summary  The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of adding impression material on denture space using a piezographical record. Subjects were ten voluntary edentulous patients, aged from 61 to 84 years old. A maxillary trial denture with anterior artificial teeth and a mandibular base plate with a keel were inserted into the oral cavity. Three ml of tissue‐conditioning materials was injected on the base plate for each trial. Afterwards, the patients were instructed to pronounce various phonemes, so that tongue, cheeks and lips conformed to the denture space. The impression complexes were cut at the level of the estimated occlusal plane. Occlusal analogues were made by duplicating the impression complexes. Measurements were performed for five analogues from the first to fifth additions for each subject. The data were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and a Friedman's test followed by a Bonferroni test for multiple comparisons with a level of significance at 5%. At the molar and premolar positions, the bucco‐lingual widths of the occlusal table increased significantly at incremental injection of impression materials from P1 to P4. The midpoints of the analogues were located at a distance of 1.5 mm buccally at the molar position and at a distance of 1.9 mm buccally at the premolar position from the top of the alveolar crest, independent of the addition of impression material. It was concluded that denture space was regulated by volume of material and was located slightly on the buccal side from the crest of the residual alveolar ridge.
Reactionary dentinogenesis after applying restorative materials and bioactive dentin matrix molecules as liners in deep cavities prepared in nonhuman primate teeth
Authors: DUQUE C. , HEBLING J. , SMITH A. J. , GIRO E. M. A. , OLIVEIRA M. F. , DE SOUZA COSTA C. A
Published: May 2006

summary  Objective:  The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the response of the pulp‐dentin complex following application of resin‐modified glass‐ionomer cement, calcium hydroxide hard‐setting cement and EDTA‐soluble preparation of dentine matrix proteins (ESDP) in deep cavities prepared in non‐human primate teeth.

Methods:  Eighteen deep Class V buccal cavities were prepared in premolars of four capuccin monkeys. In Groups 1 and 2, the cavity floor was lined with ESDP or a resin‐modified glass‐ionomer cement (Vitrebond ‐ 3M ESPE), respectively. In Group 3 (control), the cavity was lined with a hard setting calcium hydroxide cement (Dycal ‐ Dentsply). The cavities were subsequently filled with amalgam. After 6 months, the animals were sacrificed and the teeth were prepared for microscopic assessment. Six‐micron thick serial sections were stained with H/E, Masson's trichrome and Brown & Brenn techniques.

Results:  No inflammatory pulpal response was observed for all experimental and control Groups. However, the amount of reactionary dentin deposition differed between groups in the rank order ESDP (Group 1) > calcium hydroxide (Group 3) > resin‐modified glass‐ionomer (Group 2). These differences were statistically significant.

Conclusions:  All materials were biocompatible when applied in deep cavities. ESDP stimulated higher deposition of reactionary dentin matrix than Vitrebond and Dycal.
Nd:YAG laser penetration into cast titanium and gold alloy with different surface preparations
Authors: WATANABE I. , BABA N. , CHANG J. , CHIU Y.
Published: May 2006

summary   This study investigated the effect of surface preparation on the Nd:YAG laser penetration into cast titanium and gold alloy. Cast blocks of each metal were given four different surface preparations: (i) coloured with black marker; (ii) air‐abraded with 50 μm Al2O3; (iii) ground with SiC points and (iv) polished with 1 μm Al2O3 (mirror‐polished). Two blocks with each of the surface preparations were abutted and laser‐welded at their interface using the voltages of 210–260 V in increments of 10 V. After the welded blocks were mechanically separated, the laser penetration was measured using computer graphics. Regardless of the surface preparation, an increase in voltage increased the laser penetration for both metals. The laser penetration into titanium prepared with black marker and air‐abrasion was significantly deeper than into the titanium ground with SiC points and mirror‐polished. Although there were no statistical differences in penetration among the surface preparations for the gold alloy, the penetration in the mirror‐polished specimens was shallower than any of the other preparation methods at higher voltages of 240–260 V. The results obtained in this study suggested that broken metal frameworks with finished surfaces should be painted with black marker or air‐abraded before laser welding.
Genotoxicity evaluation of five different dentin bonding agents by chromosomal aberration analysis
Authors: PRICA D. , GALIĆ N. , ŽELJEŽIĆ D. , PRICA A.
Published: May 2006

summary  Dentin bonding agents became unavoidable in today's aesthetic restorative dentistry. Nevertheless, more and more evidences on their possible cytotoxity and/or genotoxicity emerge. Still, only limited number of studies has been published on that issue. In our work we evaluated possible genotoxicity of five different adhesives: AdperTR Single Bond, AdperTR Single Bond 2 with nanofiller, Excite®, OptiBond® Solo PlusTR and PromptTR L‐pop. Genotoxicity assessment was carried out on human lymphocytes in vitro, using chromosomal aberration analysis. Polymerized adhesives were tested at three different dilutions of the 0·5 g mL−1 eluate stock (2·5 × 1:106, 1:106 and 1:105) after 1 h, 24 h and 5 days of elution. Slight but significant increase in the number of chromatid breaks was observed after 24‐h elution period, for adhesives AdperTR Single Bond 2, Excite®, and OptiBond® Solo PlusTR at dilutions of 1:106 and 1:105, and for other two only at dilution of 1:105. First three adhesives also appeared to be slightly genotoxic after 1 h of elution but only at 1:105. As a bonding agent remains in close contact with living dental tissue over a long period of time, information on their possible genotoxicity and carcinogenicity should be more clearly clarified in the near future.
Hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignancies: role of precore stop‐codon and basic core promoter mutations
Authors: Alexopoulou A. , Theodorou M. , Dourakis S. P. , Karayiannis P. , Sagkana E. , Papanikolopoulos K. , Archimandritis A. J.
Published: May 2006

Summary.  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains carrying the precore stop‐codon mutation (A1896) have been considered among the predisposing factors for reactivation during chemotherapy for malignancies. The role of the T1762/A1764 basic core promoter (BCP) mutations has not been fully evaluated. We aimed to record any changes in HBV serological markers after reactivation, detect the presence of A1896 and BCP mutations and evaluate the type of cytotoxic drugs involved. We retrospectively screened eight patients presenting with HBV reactivation following chemotherapy for malignancies. The chemotherapy regimens used included corticosteroids (CSs), fludarabine and cyclophosphamide/adriamycine. The INNO‐LiPA HBV PreCore kit was used for the detection of the A1896 and BCP mutations. Six patients who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐(+)/hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐(−) before chemotherapy, had disease reactivation following a mean of four cycles of chemotherapy. Four survived and two died of hepatic failure. At the time of reactivation, all six patients carried the A1896 and five of them the BCP mutations. The remaining two patients were HBsAg‐(−)/anti‐HBs‐(+)/anti‐hepatitis B core (HBc)‐(+)/HBeAg‐(−) before chemotherapy. One of them reverted to HBeAg‐(+) status but remained HBsAg‐(−), while the other became HBsAg‐(+)/HBeAg‐(+), following three and eight cycles of fludarabine treatment, respectively. The former carried the A1896 and the latter the wild‐type virus. Both died from causes associated with their haematological disease. All but one of our patients with HBV reactivation during chemotherapy carried the precore stop‐codon and BCP mutations. Whether this occurs more frequently in such patients than those carrying the wild‐type virus needs further investigation. Fludarabine should be added to the list of drugs inducing HBV reactivation. HBV reactivation following fludarabine treatment occurred in HBsAg‐(−) patients who had been anti‐HBs‐(+).
Longitudinal evaluation of a fibrosis index combining MMP‐1 and PIIINP compared with MMP‐9, TIMP‐1 and hyaluronic acid in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated by interferon‐alpha and ribavirin
Authors: Trocme C. , Leroy V. , Sturm N. , Hilleret M.‐N. , Bottari S. , Morel F. , Zarski J.‐P.
Published: May 2006

Summary.  We have recently described a fibrosis index combining serum procollagen type III N‐terminal peptide (PIIINP) and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP‐1) concentrations for evaluating the amount of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients. The aims of the present study were to validate this score in another cohort of patients and to assess its variations along those of TIMP‐1, hyaluronic acid (HA) and MMP‐9 during antiviral treatment. Seventy‐nine patients treated by interferon‐alpha and ribavirin for 24 or 48 weeks were included. A liver biopsy was performed within the 6 months before the start of treatment. Serum markers were measured in serum collected the day of the liver biopsy, at start of treatment, and every 3 months during treatment and a 6‐month follow‐up period. The PIIINP/MMP‐1 index was significantly correlated to the METAVIR fibrosis (r = 0.68, P < 0.001). Its overall diagnostic value defined by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curves was 0.77 for discriminating F1 vs F2F3F4, and 0.81 for discriminating F1F2 vs F3F4, and was better than that observed for HA and TIMP‐1. At the end of follow‐up, the PIIINP/MMP‐1 index significantly decreased in responders and remained stable in nonresponder patients. This decrease occurred early and continued regularly during the treatment period. This variation was because of both a decrease of PIIINP and an increase of MMP‐1 concentrations. HA and TIMP‐1 serum concentrations were also significantly lower at the end of follow‐up in responder patients, but early changes were minimal and not influenced by the response to treatment. Our study shows that a noninvasive index combining PIIINP and MMP‐1 is a useful tool to follow‐up fibrosis change during and after antiviral therapy chronic hepatitis C patients.
Validation and comparison of indexes for fibrosis and cirrhosis prediction in chronic hepatitis C patients: proposal for a pragmatic approach classification without liver biopsies
Authors: Bourliere M. , Penaranda G. , Renou C. , Botta‐Fridlund D. , Tran A. , Portal I. , Lecomte L. , Castellani P. , Rosenthal‐Allieri M. A. , Gerolami R. , Ouzan D. , Deydier R. , Degott C. , Halfon P.
Published: May 2006

Summary.  Noninvasive indexes have been developed to predict fibrosis staging. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of these indexes in comparison with liver histology in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected patients. A total of 235 consecutive patients with HCV infection from the Fibropaca multicentre independent study were included in this paper. FibroTest (FT), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and Forns score were assessed in the cohort and compared with liver histology performed on the same day. The main end point was the area under characteristic curves (AUCs) for the diagnosis of significant fibrosis (F2–F4) and cirrhosis (F4) by the METAVIR classification. Mean age was 46 (±11) years, 55% were males, 42% (n = 99) had significant fibrosis (F2–F4) and 7% (n = 16) had cirrhosis (F4). For the diagnosis of significant fibrosis, respective AUCs of FT, APRI and Forns score were 0.81 (95% confidence interval: 0.76–0.86), 0.71 (0.67–0.79) and 0.76 (0.70–0.82); for cirrhosis prognosis, AUCs of FT and APRI were 0.82 (0.77–0.87) and 0.81 (0.76–0.86) (AUCs not significantly different). Using each index independently, all patients were classified by FT, 214 (91%) patients were classified by APRI and 129 (55%) by Forns score. There were significantly more cases of discordances between APRI and liver biopsy than between FT or Forns score and liver biopsy (P < 0.05). Performing all scores (FT, Forns and APRI) without liver biopsy allowed fibrosis to be well evaluated in 191 patients (81.3%), including patients with FT failure. Liver biopsy remained mandatory to evaluate fibrosis in 44 patients (18.7%). Our study shows that performing all the tests and liver biopsy improves the diagnostic accuracy for liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients without patent comorbidities. The combination of all tests with liver biopsy allowed 225/235 (96%) patients to be correctly classified. The combination of all tests without liver biopsy allowed 191/235 (81.3%) patients to be correctly classified; liver biopsy remained mandatory in some patients (18.7%).
Avian foraging studies: an overlooked source of distribution data for macroecological and conservation studies
Authors: Grim Tomas
Published: May 2006

Macroecological and biogeographical studies and their applicability for biological conservation vitally depend on distribution data. These are usually taken from distribution atlases and databases or maps found in identification guides. A previous study pointed to another little explored source of data — local faunistic studies. Here, I would like to draw attention to another potential source. Papers that analysed the food composition of some taxa (e.g. insectivorous birds) are an overlooked source of rich information on taxa distributions. These studies frequently include an ‘Appendix’ with a list of food items determined to the species level. These studies also contain data on abundances, number of samples, sampling time, and geographical location as a rule. Foraging birds naturally provide data on invertebrate distributions with good spatio‐temporal coverage and reasonably large samples. Importantly, birds frequently collect rare and by entomological methods hardly detectable species (i.e. those living high, in tree canopies, in very dense vegetation, or with secretive lifestyle). Data from bird dietary studies may help to ameliorate one of the most serious problems in distribution studies — zero inflation. I briefly discuss pros and cons of this so far neglected source of biogeographical data.
Developmental malformations of the eye: the role of PAX6, SOX2 and OTX2
Authors: Hever AM , Williamson KA , Van Heyningen V
Published: May 2006

Eye development initiates as an evagination of the early neural plate, before the closure of the neural tube. Structural malformations of the eye such as anophthalmia and microphthalmia arise very early in development. It is not surprising therefore that three of the genes currently identified to play a significant role in these developmental eye anomalies are also major players in brain development and regionalization. However, as has been emerging for a high proportion of transcriptional regulators studied, these genes have evolved to play multiple roles throughout development, and perhaps even in adult tissue maintenance. This complex spatiotemporal expression pattern requires elaborate regulatory systems which we are beginning to unravel. A major component of these complex regulatory networks is a series of cis‐acting elements, highly conserved through evolution, which spread large distances from the coding region of each gene. We describe how cross regulation for PAX6, SOX2 and perhaps OTX2 has now been uncovered, pointing to the mechanisms that can fine‐tune the expression of such essential developmental components. These interactions also help us understand why there is significant phenotypic overlap between mutations at these three loci.
Genetic heterogeneity of synpolydactyly: a novel locus SPD3 maps to chromosome 14q11.2‐q12
Authors: Malik S , Abbasi AA , Ansar M , Ahmad W , Koch MC , Grzeschik K‐H
Published: May 2006

Syndactyly type II or synpolydactyly (SPD) is the second most frequent syndactyly type and is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. The cardinal features of this malformation are the cutaneous or bony fusion of third and fourth fingers, and fourth and fifth toes associated with additional digital elements within the web. It shows incomplete penetrance and high inter‐ and intrafamilial phenotypic variability. Two loci are known for SPD (MIM 186000, MIM 608180) associated with mutations in HOXD13 and FBLN1, respectively. Here, we report further genetic heterogeneity for SDP. Employing a whole genomic screen, we demonstrate, in a large Pakistani kindred, that the classical phenotype of SPD maps on a new locus at chromosome 14q11.2‐q12. The highest LOD score (Zmax = 4.06) was obtained with microsatellite marker D14S264, and the multipoint LOD score reached a maximum of 5.01. Haplotype analysis revealed that the disease interval is flanked by microsatellite markers D14S283 and D14S1060, encompassing a physical distance of 10.72 Mb. We propose to allocate to this locus the symbol SPD3 (synpolydactyly 3), and to name the loci associated with HOXD13 or FBLN1 mutations SPD1 and SPD2, respectively.
Mortality risk score in liver transplantation: Changes over time in its predicting power
Authors: Del Pino Mariana , Cervio Guillermo , Dip Marcelo , Giannivelli Silvina , Buamscha Daniel , Ciocca Mirta , García de Dávila Maria Teresa , Imventarza Oscar , Lejarraga Horacio
Published: May 2006

Abstract:  Since the onset of our liver transplantation program in 1992, 362 transplants were performed in 338 children. A risk score for predicting mortality was designed and implemented over time. The description of a method utilized to design the risk score, changes in mortality rate over 12 yr and the analysis of factors that might have influenced these changes are presented and discussed in this paper.

Patients and methods:  Cox regression analysis was applied to a retrospective sample of 110 patients with liver cirrhosis, transplanted between 1992 and 2000. A risk score was prepared using β coefficients of the two significant variables related to survival time: age (1.08, p=0.02) and bilirubin levels (0.93, p=0.03), and two groups were identified: low‐ and high‐risk score. The score was applied in two consecutive samples: 2000–2002 and 2002–2004.

Results:  In the first sample (1992–2000), we found 69 and 41 as low‐ and high‐risk patients, with a median survival time of 93.13 and 2.93 months (p=0.0001). In the 2000–2002 sample, a median survival time of 41.7 and 2.33 months (p=0.03) was found for low‐ and high‐risk groups, respectively. In the third sample (2002–2004), there was a remarkable decrease in mortality in the high‐risk group (n=29) and the score did not discriminate between high‐ and low‐risk groups (p=0.35).

Conclusion:  A scoring system to identify risk levels in liver transplantation patients is an operative and powerful tool during a given period of time but it has to be updated as risk factors will vary following the team's learning curve.
Food protein sensitivity with partial villous atrophy after pediatric liver transplantation with tacrolimus immunosuppression
Authors: Blanchard Samra Sarigol , Gerrek Marla , Czinn Steve , Chelimsky Gisela , Seaman David , Siegel Christopher , Splawski Judy
Published: May 2006

Abstract:  We report three pediatric liver transplant recipients receiving tacrolimus immunosuppression presented with vomiting, heme‐positive stools and failure to thrive, who had subtotal villous atrophy in their histology because of food protein sensitivity. Case findings and current literature of the casual relationship between tacrolimus and food allergies briefly reviewed.