bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antiangiogenic Properties of a Novel Shark Cartilage Extract: Potential Role in the Treatment of Psoriasis
Authors: Dupont Éric , Savard Pierre E. , Jourdain Camille , Juneau Christina , Thibodeau Alain , Ross Neil , Marenus Kenneth , Maes Daniel H. , Pelletier Georges , Sauder Daniel N. 
Published: July 2017

Background: A number of inflammatory and immune diseases are associated with vascular changes. Psoriasis, as an example, is a common inflammatory skin disease with dilation of capillaries as an early histological change. In more developed psoriatic lesions there is proliferation of blood vessels and neovascularization. The use of agents that target these vascular changes represents a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Since cartilage is an avascular tissue, it has been hypothesized that there may be factors found in cartilage that inhibit blood vessel formation. Objective: The objectives of this study were 1) to determine whether extracts of cartilage could inhibit angiogenesis, and 2) since altered angiogenesis is associated with certain diseases, including psoriasis, to examine whether inhibition of angiogenesis could potentially contribute to the treatment of psoriasis. Methods: Extracts of shark cartilage were prepared by homogenization and ultrafiltration to derive the active agent termed Æ-941. This agent was tested for antiangiogenesis activity using the embryonic vascularization test, which is a modification of the ex vivo chick embryo culture (CAM). Since one of the first steps in angiogenesis is degradation by metalloproteinases of the basement membrane of capillaries, Æ-941 was tested for collagenase activity using a fluorogenic peptide substrate. Anti-inflammatory properties were tested using a cutaneous irritation model in humans. Results: A dose dependent inhibition in embryonic neovascularization as well as in collagenase activity by Æ-941 was demonstrated. When test compounds were applied on the forearms of test subjects, Æ-941 was shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Anecdotal data suggested that topical Æ-941 had a beneficial effect in psoriasis. Conclusion: Our results show that Æ-941 has anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties. Antiangiogenesis agents such as Æ-941 provide an entirely new class of agents to treat cutaneous and systemic diseases associated with altered vascularity.
Xeroderma Pigmentosum: Spinal Cord Astrocytoma with 9-Year Survival after Radiation and Isotretinoin Therapy
Authors: DiGiovanna John J. , Patronas Nicholas , Katz David , Abangan Donita , Kraemer Kenneth H. 
Published: July 2017

Background: Patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) frequently develop sunlight-induced skin cancer. Infrequently, internal neoplasms may also occur. A 21-year-old patient with XP, who had many skin cancers, developed a rare internal tumour — a grade II diffuse fibrillary spinal cord astrocytoma — during a break in a therapeutic trial of isotretinoin for skin cancer prevention. Treatment of neoplasms in XP patients presents special difficulties because of their defect in DNA repair. Objective: The study objective was to raise awareness of the cancer surveillance process in XP patients and the concerns involved in choice of therapy. Methods: Since the spinal cord tumour was inoperable, the patient was treated with x-radiation, continued on isotretinoin treatment and was followed closely for tumour response. Results: Despite sensitivity to sunlight, the patient had a normal acute response to the x-ray treatment without excessive skin reaction. Serial examinations by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) starting 8 months after x-ray treatment was initiated, showed a marked gadolinium enhancement followed by regression. This clearing was first seen at 2 years after biopsy and persisted to at least 9 years after treatment. Conclusion: In contrast to the exaggerated sensitivity to UV radiation, XP patients may tolerate therapeutic doses of x-radiation. Isotretinoin treatment may have contributed to the good response of this spinal cord astrocytoma.
Geneticists Share the Family Jewels: How Inbreeding Has Contributed to Understanding Hereditary Skin Disease
Authors: Bale Sherri J. 
Published: July 2017

Background: Offspring resulting from consanguineous marriages have been important in advancing research in genodermatoses. Objective: The concepts of consanguinity and inbreeding are reviewed and their contributions to research in hereditary skin diseases explained. Methods: Examples are given in which inbred individuals with hereditary skin disease have increased our knowledge of skin disease genetics. Results: An enhanced understanding of the genetics of xeroderma pigmentosum, lamellar ichthyosis, and Werner's syndrome, among others, has arisen from the observation of populations and families in which inbreeding has occurred. Conclusion: Populations practicing inbreeding and consanguineous marriages in generally outbred populations have provided important observations for determining the inheritance pattern of several genodermatoses and for identifying the responsible genes.
Kaposi's Sarcoma in Women: A Clinicopathologic Study
Authors: Smith Kathleen J. , Nelson Ann , Angritt Peter , Morz Al , Skelton Henry G. 
Published: July 2017

Background: Although all epidemiologic subsets of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) (i.e., sporadic, endemic, epidemic, and iatrogenic) have an association with human herpes virus 8 (HHV8), these subsets occur in patient populations with distinctive clinical features. To a variable degree men outnumber women in all subsets. Objective: A retrospective study of women with histologically proven cutaneous KS was undertaken to determine the clinical and histopathologic features, as well as any associations. Methods: Two hundred and fifty cases of cutaneous KS in women from 1975 to 1993 were reviewed. Results: Of the patients, 80% were more than 60 years of age, and of the patients less than 60 years old, 28 were from areas of the world with endemic KS. All HTV+ patients but one were from areas of endemic KS. Two patients were renal transplant patients. Sixty-four percent of the patients had single lesions and 21% recurrent lesions. Twelve patients had, or were known to develop, internal involvement, and in six patients the cause of death was KS. All but four cases histologically showed areas of solid proliferations of tumour cells consistent with plaque or tumour stage. An angiosarcoma-like histologic pattern appeared to be associated with more aggressive epidemiologic subsets. High mitotic rates were rarely seen and did not correlate with aggressive epidemiologic subsets. Conclusion: Kaposi's sarcoma in women is diagnosed almost exclusively in plaque or tumour stage. The majority of women within our study fit within the epidemiologic subset of sporadic KS.
In vitro C3 mRNA Expression in Pemphigus Vulgaris: Complement Activation is Increased by IL-1α and TNF-α
Authors: Feliciani Claudio , Toto Paola , Amerio Paolo , Amerio Pierluigi 
Published: July 2017

Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a potentially life-threatening disease, characterized immunohistologically by IgG deposits and complement activation on the surface of keratinocytes. Complement activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis with C3 deposits in about 90% of patients. Objective: In order to further elucidate the role of complement in PV and to define which cytokines play a role in C3 mRNA expression, we performed an in vitro study in human keratinocytes. Methods: Normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHuK) were incubated with PV serum and C3 mRNA was measured. We previously had shown that IL-1α and TNF-α are expressed in PV in vivo and in vitro. Since cytokines are able to modulate complement activation, mRNA expression was evaluated in a similar experiment after pretreatment using antibodies against IL-1α and TNF-α. Results: Incubation of NHuK with PV sera caused their detachment from the plates after 20–30 minutes with a complete acantholysis within 12 hours. An early C3 mRNA expression was seen after 30 minutes with a peak level after 1 hour. Blocking studies, using antibodies against human IL-1α and TNF-α in NHuK together with PV-IgG, showed reduction of in vitro induced acantholysis and inhibition of C3 mRNA expression. Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesis that complement C3 is important in PV acantholysis and that complement activation is increased by IL-1α and TNF-α.
Recent Advances in Gene Mapping of Skin Diseases: Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum: A Satisfying Sibling Study
Authors: Bale Sherri J. 
Published: July 2017

Background: A review of the recent progress made in mapping of the hereditary skin disease pseudoxanthoma elasticum is presented. Methods: Affected sib pair methods, parametric linkage analysis, and linkage heterogeneity tests are reviewed as applied to the effort to identify the location of the pseudoxanthoma elasticum gene. Results: Families segregating either autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive pseudoxanthoma elasticum mapped to chromosome 16p13.1. Conclusion: There is a gene for pseudoxanthoma elasticum on chromosome 16p. The underlying molecular defect remains to be elucidated.
Prognostic Models: Evidence-Based Approach to Predicting Disease Outcome
Authors: Kantor Jonathan , Margolis David J. 
Published: July 2017

Background: A thorough understanding of the techniques underlying prognostic modelling, the potential shortcomings of prognostic models, and their applicability to dermatology are important for both clinicians and researchers. Objective: This article distinguishes between prognostic and explanatory (causal) models, discusses some of the techniques used in developing a prognostic model, and addresses the importance of model generalizability. Conclusion: Prognostic models may be useful to the clinician, but must be used with care. It is important to critically appraise prognostic models and to assure that they are relevant to the population of interest. The ability to critically appraise prognostic models is predicated on a thorough understanding of the techniques used in their development and evaluation.
Rapidly Growing Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Billingsley Elizabeth M. , Davis Nicole , Helm Klaus F. 
Published: July 2017

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) may present with a history of rapid growth. Although multiple subtypes have been described regarding histologic characteristics and etiology, the subset of rapidly growing squamous cell carcinomas (RGSCC) has not been described. Objective: To evaluate and describe the clinical and histologic characteristics of squamous cell carcinomas that grow rapidly. Methods: Recorded clinical data and biopsies of 26 lesions with a history of rapid growth and histologically diagnosed as SCC were reviewed. Results: Rapidly growing SCC occurred most commonly on the head and neck, followed by hands and extremities, and had an average duration of 7 weeks before diagnosis. The average size of the lesions was 1.29 cm and nearly 20% occurred in immunosuppressed patients. Conclusions: Some SCCs may grow rapidly. The reason for the rapid growth is not clear and several hypotheses are discussed including immunosuppression and viral etiology. These lesions should be treated aggressively as their behaviour and prognosis are not yet well described.
Good for the Goose — Good for the Gander?
Authors: Chapman Simon , McKay Bernie 
Published: July 2017

Complaints and judgements about smoking and anti-smoking advertisements under advertising self regulation. The advertising self-regulatory system in Australia has recently dealt with two complaints concerning cigarette smoking. Two advertisements from a large-scale smoking control program were the subject of a complaint from the tobacco industry, resulting in one being effectively banned. Complaints were also sent to the same self-regulatory body by a consumer group about three cigarette advertisements. These were not upheld. Details of the complaints and their outcomes are given, with the critical conclusion being drawn that considerably greater latitude in what was judged to be acceptable was afforded the cigarette advertisers than was the smoking control program: Inherent limits on the impartiality of self-regulatory systems are discussed.
How People Use Advertising — And How to Understand it
Authors: Lannon Judie 
Published: July 2017

The key question is what people do with advertising rather than the more traditional ‘what does advertising do to people’. Advertising transforms products into brands. What a brand is to people is culturally determined. It differs with cultures. Research which looks at how people use advertising must examine what they expect from a product field, what conventions they associate with it and what evaluative judgements they make. Brands have functional messages. But they also communicate messages about the user, about the manufacturer, about the role of the brand. Today's consumers are more creative and sophisticated. They need more creative research techniques which will also best suit the needs of creative people. Defining the precise rote of advertising helps link the brief with the evaluation.
Increase in Years of Life after Eliminating Causes of Death: Significance for Health Priorities
Authors: Hemminki Elina , Hemminki Kari , Hakulinen Timo , Hakama Matti 
Published: July 2017

Increase in years of life after eliminating causes of death: Significance for health priorities. Hemminki, E., Hemminki, K., Hakulinen, T. and Hakama, M. (Dept. of Public Health Sciences, University of Tampere, Dept. of Medical Chemistry, University of Helsinki and the Finnish Cancer Registry, Finland). The theory of competing risks of death has been applied in this study for the construction of two indices: (1) increase in the expectation of life as a function of age, and (2) increase in the average number of years to be lived by a newborn up to various ages, when selected causes of death are eliminated. The indices have been applied to the 1970 mortality in Finland. Vascular diseases comprise the most important cause of death in both sexes, when the first index is applied. According to the second index, considering ages up to 65 years, violent deaths emerge as the most important cause of death among men and neoplasms appear equally important as vascular diseases among women. The magnitude of a health problem was found to be dependent on the index selected, which should be considered in health planning.
The North Karelia Project: a Programme for Community Control of Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Puska Pekka , Koskela Kaj , Pakarinen Hilkka , Puumalainen Pirjo , Soininen Väinö , Tuomilehto Jaakko 
Published: July 2017

The North Karelia Project: a programme for community control of cardiovascular diseases. Puska, P., Koskela, K., Pakarinen, H., Puumalainen, P., Soininen, V., and Tuomilehto, J. (Co-ordinating Centre of the North Karelia Project, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland). In this article the background and principles of the intervention and evaluation of the North Karelia Project are presented. The project is a comprehensive community control programme concerning cardiovascular diseases in the province of North Karelia, Eastern Finland. In the baseline survey of the project (1972), 25–59-year-old males had a particularly high of CVD level risk factors: there were 54% current smokers, the mean cholesterol was 269 mg% and the mean casual blood pressure was 147/90 mmHg. According to the myocardial infarction register the incidence rate of acute myocardial infarction was, during the first year of the project (1972), 13.8 per thousand among 30–64-yearold males. During the first 2 1/2 of the intervention the percentage of current smokers decreased among males from 54 to 42. The percentage of males using low-fat milk increased from 17 to 48. The percentage of males who had had their blood pressure measured during the previous half year increased from 28 to 56 and those under antihypertensive drug treatment from 3.1 to 9.1. Local groups for secondary prevention of myocardial infarction were established all over the province. On the basis of the accumulated experience and theoretical considerations, the project plan has further been elaborated.
Hypertension Programme of the North Karelia Project
Authors: Tuomilehto Jaakko , Puska Pekka , Nissinen Aulikki 
Published: July 2017

Hypertension programme of the North Karelia Project. Tuomilehto, J., Puska, P., and Nissinen, A. (Coordinating Centre of the North Karelia Project, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland). The present article describes the background and principles of a programme for community control of hypertension, which is part of the North Karelia project—a comprehensive community programme for the control of cardiovascular diseases. The hypertension programme also forms part of an international co-operative study by WHO. The programme consists of a community intervention integrated with the service structure. The methods used include health education of the public, education of health service personnel, organization of a service for the spreading of information and also for screening, treatment and follow-up. Every hypertensive person in the community is registered in the hypertension register and checked on annually. The evaluation is made mainly on baseline and terminal survey data from the intervention area and a reference area, the hypertension register, a myocardial infarction register and a stroke register in the intervention area.
Medical Records in Family Practice
Authors: Warren Michael D. 
Published: July 2017

Medical records in family practice. A review. Warren, M. D. (Health Services Research Unit, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, England). The organisation of general practice in England is outlined and the independent contractor basis of the family practitioner emphasised. Data from family practice, like data from hospital practice, may be used for clinical management, practice management, or research. Examples of applications in each of these fields are given. The basic records used in family practice—the medical record envelope, the prescription form and the claim for sickness benefit—are described. Some practices record morbidity (E Book or Diagnostic Index), some record systematically details of their activities (L Book or Activities Ledger) and some maintain age and sex registers and other registers of their patients; all these developments are outlined. Attention is drawn to the introduction of problem orientated records and to the use of computers in family practice, but these innovations are not discussed. Outstanding issues are the same as those in hospital record systems—accuracy, definitions, coverage, confidentiality, clerical support and costs, and the use made of the information.
Sick-leave after Road Traffic Accidents
Authors: Hansson Per G. 
Published: July 2017

Sick-leave after road traffic accidents. Hansson, P. G. (Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery I, Sahlgren Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden). 425 road traffic casualties, all covered by the National Insurance Scheme, were followed up regarding duration of inability to work. The average for the whole group was 35 days. There was a close relation between seriousness of injury and time off work. Motorcyclists had the longest time off work and cyclists injured in bicycle accidents the shortest. Casualties with orthopaedic injuries were off work for 120 days, on average, and accounted for 67% of the total paid sick-leave, although they constituted only 20% of those injured. The responsibility for the treatment of trauma is discussed.
Alcohol Problems among Male Disability Pensioners
Authors: Medhus Asbjörn 
Published: July 2017

Alcohol problems among male disability pensioners. Medhus A. (Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Lund, Sweden). The study covers two materials from Malmö: 1. All 235 men who were granted temporary or permanent disability pension for the first time in 1964. 2. A group of 235 men randomly chosen from the 893 men who were granted temporary or permanent disability pension for the first time in 1974. In both materials, the number of convictions for drunkenness during the period 1932–74 was about 4.5 times as high as for Swedish men of the same age. One pensioner in three had been convicted. During the period 1939–74, one pensioner in ten in each material had been subjected to compulsory treatment by Temperance Boards.
Electrocardiographic Findings in Men and Women aged 18 to 65
Authors: Jonsson Björn , Åstrand Irma 
Published: July 2017

In an epidemiological study—the REBUS study—about 2500 men and women aged 18 to 65 underwent an electrocardiographic (ECG) examination at rest and a subsample of about 1000 persons also performed an ECG exercise test. The ECG recordings were coded according to the modified Minnesota code (2). At rest, 55% of the population had normal ECGs. In the subsample the figure was 65%, indicating a certain selection. During and/or after the exercise test 80% of the men and 70% of the women had no major ST-and T-wave changes, arrhythmias or ectopic beats. In both men and women the percentage of abnormal changes in the exercise ECG rose with age, for the men from 45 years, and for the women from the age of 35. ST depressions were the most common abnormal changes recorded. At rest, 20% of the women and 9% of the men had ST depressions. The corresponding figures (major and minor changes) during and/or after the exercise test were 78% and 60% for the women and the men respectively. Out of 184 major ST depressions recorded during the exercise test (codes 4.1–4.4) 14 (7%) were not present immediately after the test. During and/or after the exercise test, 8% of the men and 20% of the women, having no ST changes at rest, had ST changes of the major type. Those subjects who had arrhythmias or ectopic beats at rest, had in general no such changes during and/or after the exercise test.
Patient-derived xenografts of low-grade B-cell lymphomas demonstrate roles of the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Burack W. Richard , Spence Janice M. , Spence John P. , Spence Stephen A. , Rock Philip J. , Shenoy Gautam N. , Shultz Leonard D. , Bankert Richard B. , Bernstein Steven H. 
Published: July 2017

Key PointsThe relative survival/proliferation advantage of lymphoma B cells compared with nonneoplastic B cells is dependent on environmental factors. The tumor environment can dictate the differentiation of neoplastic B cells.
Case history: A 5 km long waterborne geophysical survey along the Po river within the city of Turin (northwest Italy)
Authors: Sambuelli Luigi , Fiorucci Adriano , Dabove Paolo , Pascal Ivan , Colombero Chiara , Comina Cesare 
Published: July 2017

The geologic investigation of water-covered areas is often difficult and inefficient with only the use of traditional surveying techniques (i.e., local drilling and sampling). Waterborne geophysical surveys can offer a valuable alternative to achieve adequate data coverage in a cost-effective way. Two geophysical waterborne methods were combined in this study for the delineation of the submerged subsurface geology along a 5 km stretch of the Po river, within the urban area of Turin. The adopted methods were: continuous vertical electrical sounding (CVES) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Special attention was devoted to the accurate geo-referencing of both surveys for combined interpretation. GPR results provide a high-quality representation of the river bed forms, with identification of clear sand dunes in the finer alluvial sediments. CVES resistivity sections enable a deeper characterization, identifying the interface between the shallow alluvial deposits and the deeper low-resistivity marls of the Turin-Hill succession. Our work strengthens the effectiveness of waterborne surveys for geologic prospecting of water-covered and difficult-to-access areas.