bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Treatment with Pivmecillinam in Patients with Recurrent Bacteriuria
Authors: Bresky B , Lincoln K 
Published: January 2017

Thirty out-patients with chronic recurrent urinary tract infections, who had failed to respond to 10 days treatment with either pivmecillinam and/or amoxycillin, received a 3-month course of pivmecillinam at a dose of 200 mg, three times daily. Twenty-seven patients had bacteriuria due to Enterobacteriaceae, mainly Escherichia coli, sensitive to mecillinam in vitro. Pivmecillinam eradicated all the initial urinary pathogens. Reinfections occurred during treatment in three patients, who remained asymptomatic. Four subjects complained of gastro-intestinal side-effects, and therapy was withdrawn in three instances. Another three patients described unusual adverse events towards the end of the course of treatment, described as an odd sensation in the body and a desire for salt. The sensation disappeared a few days after the end of treatment. Treatment with pivmecillinam had no adverse effect on haematopoietic, hepatic or renal function.
Hydrocortisone 17-Butyrate (Locoid®) 0·1% Cream versus Hydrocortisone (Uniderm®) 1% Cream in the Treatment of Children Suffering from Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Veien N K , Hattel T , Justesen O , Nørholm A , Verjans H L 
Published: January 2017

A randomized, double-blind, left-right study to compare the therapeutic efficacy of hydrocortisone 17-butyrate (Locoid) 0·1% cream with hydrocortisone (Uniderm) 1% cream was performed in forty children suffering from atopic dermatitis. The medications were applied to symmetrical bilateral skin lesions twice daily for a maximum of 4 weeks or until complete clinical clearance of such lesions had occurred. Complete clearance of skin symptoms was found in 36% of the Locoid-treated sides and in 23% of the Uniderm-treated sides following 2 weeks of therapy and in 60% and 30%, respectively, after 4 weeks of treatment. This difference in clearance rate after 4 weeks between both preparations was significantly in favour of Locoid cream. The expressed preferences of patients/parents and investigator were also significantly in favour of Locoid cream, both after 2 and 4 weeks. No serious side-effects were reported during this study. It is concluded that Locoid cream is significantly superior to Uniderm cream in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in children.
Awareness, Comprehension, and Use of Newly-Mandated Nutrition Labels Among Mestiza and Indigenous Ecuadorian Women in the Central Andes Region of Ecuador
Authors: Orozco Fadya , Ochoa Diana , Muquinche Maria , Padro Manuel , Melby Christopher L. 
Published: January 2017

Background: In 2014, Ecuador became the first country in Latin America to adopt the nutritional traffic light labeling system as a public policy aimed at guiding informed food choices. Objective: To describe the differences in comprehension and use of the new nutrition label in 2 different ethnic populations residing in a limited resource area of central Ecuador. Methods: A total of 394 women (18-75 years, 54.8% indigenous and 45.2% mixed-race mestizas) were randomly selected in the Chimborazo Province and were requested by a questionnaire to provide information regarding their awareness and comprehension of the traffic light nutritional labeling system and personal use of the food label in food selection. Results: Indigenous women had a high percentage who lacked any formal education (43.5%) and a greater proportion were not aware of the labeling system when compared with the mestizas (84.3% vs 46%; P = .001). In both groups, the main reason for not reading labels was lack of understanding of its meaning (50% indigenous vs 32.7% mestiza; P < .05). The reported use of the labeling system for food choices was low—on average, 32% of the mestizas and 5% of the indigenous women reported using nutrition label information to guide their purchase and consumption of packaged food items. Conclusion: The use of nutritional labeling is low in both mestiza and indigenous Ecuadorians, although higher among the mestizas. Among the indigenous women, mostly likely owing to less education, limited nutrition-related health knowledge, and higher risk for food insecurity, the utility of the new traffic light food label is limited.
Raynaud's Phenomenon: Infrared Functional Imaging Applied to Diagnosis and Drugs Effects
Authors: Merla A. , Romani G.L. , Di Luzio S. , Di Donato L. , Farina G. , Proietti M. , Pisarri S. , Salsano F. 
Published: January 2017

A non-invasive, innovative approach to the study of Raynaud's Phenomenon is proposed. A group of patients, with respect of a control group, underwent a simultaneous assessment of thermal properties of all ten fingers using infrared functional imaging (IRFI). The assessment highlighted a quite different behaviour between patients with Primary- (PRP) and those with scleroderma - Raynaud's Phenomenon (SSc) and, compared with other existing techniques, seems to be an objective and effective tool to discriminate between PRP and RP secondary to SSc. 18 healthy volunteers (Norm), 20 Primary Raynaud's Phenomenon (PRP) and 20 Secondary Scleroderma (SSc) patients were studied subsequently to clinical evaluation and nail fold capillaroscopy. High-resolution infrared imaging of finger re-warming processes, immediately after a 2 min cold stress, allowed to identify objective parameters. Temperature integral Q (the temperature evaluation of the area under the time-temperature curve along the re-warming period) provided particularly effective figures in describing thermal properties of the fingers. Grand average Q values were (383.4 ± 12.5) °C/min, (502.9 ± 88.1) °C/min and (1022.0 ± 110.2) ±C/min for the PRP, SSc and Normal groups, respectively. Separate evaluation of the temperature integral for each finger leads to very similar results for the fingers of all the PRP patients; a different thermoregulatory response was observed in SSc patients. The sensitivity of the method in order to distinguish healthy from ill fingers was 100 %. The specificity in distinguishing SSc from PRP was 95%. In addition, IRFI parameters provided a better understanding of the impaired control of the finger's temperature in PRP and SSc with respect to the Normal group. This pilot study also applied IRFI for the measurement of drug effects in patients with Raynaud's Phenomenon. Sixteen out of twenty SSc patients were tested in a single 1-hour session of N-acetylcysteine infusion. IRFI clearly documented a significant increase of face and hands temperature during the drug administration. The grand average value of the finger's temperature after the 1 hour NAC administration was (29.6 ± 3.7) °C, while its value before was (27.9 ± 3.7) °C (p<0.001). N-acetylcysteine seems to act as a vasodilator in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis (scleroderma).
Detection and Sequence Analysis of Human Polyomaviruses DNA from Autoptic Samples of HIV-1 Positive and Negative Subjects
Authors: Pietropaolo V. , Fioriti D. , Simeone P. , Videtta M. , Di Taranto C. , Arancio A. , Orsi N. , Degener A.M. 
Published: January 2017

The distribution of DNA of BK and JC human polyomaviruses (BKV and JCV) was investigated in samples from autopsies of different organs in 2 groups of patients: Human Immunodeficiency Virus −1 (HIV) positive and negative. Samples from various organs were analysed by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the non-coding control and for the VP1 regions of both viruses. The results obtained showed that BKV DNA was present in both males and females with a higher prevalence in HIV-positive subject samples (spleen: 33%; kidney: 44%; brain: 22%, uterine cervix:100%; prostatic urethra: 50%). In prostatic urethra samples of HIV-positive subjects, the JCV DNA was revealed in a low percentage (33%), while it was not found at all in uterine cervix samples of both groups. The varying presence of BK and JC viral DNA in the different organs seems to reflect the different pathogenetic attitude of these viruses. JCV was mainly present in the brain (55%), confirming its typical neurotropism and its etiological role in neurological disorders found in immunodeficient patients. BKV, on the other hand, was mainly present in the kidney (44%) and in genital organs (uterine cervix: 100%; prostatic urethra: 50%) with the latter finding favouring the hypothesis of a possible sexual transmission of BKV. Furthermore, our results confirm the crucial role of the immune system in the persistence of human polyomaviruses in the host.
Mesenteric Traction Syndrome or Gut in Distress
Authors: Avgerinos D.V. , Theoharides T.C. 
Published: January 2017

The mesenteric traction syndrome (MTS) remains, seventeen years after its first designation as a distinct pathologic entity, an aspect of surgical practice that has received limited attention. Apart from its symptomatology, there is mostly speculation about its exact causes and pathophysiologic mechanisms. Even though full-blown MTS is rather rare, the advent of laparoscopic surgery has indicated that there are different stages of stress associated with open abdominal surgery. Some evidence points to the involvement of mast cell derived vasoactive mediators and suggests possible pharmacologic management.
Quantity, Distribution and Immunophenotypical Modification of Dendritic Cells upon Biological Treatments in Psoriasis
Authors: Prignano F. , Ricceri F. , Bianchi B. , Lotti T. 
Published: January 2017

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease which affects a large world population. It has long been considered a dermatological disorder in which keratinocytes and lymphocytes play a relevant pathogenic role. The aim of our study is to more closely observe and better define the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in psoriasis. We made a comparative analysis of the antigenic profile and the number, by immunohistochemical and electron microscopical study, of skin biopsy samples from psoriatic patients before and 4 months after biological treatments. Our results demonstrate an abundant distribution of activated DCs in lesional skin of psoriatic plaques and a marked decrease after biological therapies [a decrease of 70% for Langerhans cells (LCs) and mature myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and of 50% for plasmocytoid dendritic cells (pDCs)]. Both previous reports and the results of the present study support an underlying persistent immune response involving DCs in the onset and persistence of psoriasis. As DCs play a pivotal role in pathogenesis of psoriasis by presenting antigens via major histocompatibility complex class (MHC) II molecules, the present study supports the view that biological therapies are also effective in clearing psoriatic lesions as well as in reducing the number of DCs.
Effect of Interleukin-4 on Cytolytic T Cells
Authors: Mondelli M.U. 
Published: January 2017

Recent studies indicate that interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a potent T-cell growth factor which may have a significant stimulatory effect on alloreactive cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). In this study, it was found that exposure of a recombinant retrovirus (RVpC)-specific, MHC-restricted, polyclonal CTL line to IL-4 resulted in the generation of CTL which efficiently lysed RVpC-infected as well as uninfected autologous target cells. A number of CTL cloned lines was generated from the parental line grown for 2 weeks with autologous stimulator cells in IL-4-containing media which again lysed RVpC-expressing as well as uninfected autologous target cells but not their allogeneic HLA-mismatched counterparts. These results extend previous observations in allogeneic systems and suggest that, in a syngeneic system, IL-4 may stimulate the recruitment of autoreactive CTL in vitro. This is a previously unrecognised property of IL-4, the in vivo significance of which remains to be established.
Immunomodulating Effects of Various Phenothiazines and Related Tricyclic Compounds in Vitro and in Vivo
Authors: Lilius Esa-Matti , Bakay Marta , Berencsi Klara , Petri I. , Földeak S. , Molnar J. 
Published: January 2017

A biotechnological approach to the immunomodulating ability of various phenothiazines and related tricyclic compounds in vitro and in vivo was made. The effect of these compounds was studied on various mononuclear leukocyte functions such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, blast transformation of lymphocytes by three mitogens, phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen (PWM), rosette formation with erythrocytes and with antibody coated erythrocytes (EA), as well as on polymorphonuclear leukocyte functions including phagocytosis and chemiluminescence emission. Moreover, the ability of these compounds to modulate the bioluminescence emission capacity of Escherichia coli cloned with lux genes was measured. Also in vivo studies were made by measuring the number of haemolytic plaque forming cells in the spleen of mice after drug administration. The electrochemical structure of these tricyclic compounds was shown to be in good correlation with their immunomodulating activity on all the functions except EA rosette formation and on blast transformation by PWM showing the role of charge transfer complex formation in the drug-target cell interaction. These results suggest that the biological effectiveness of phenothiazines and related tricyclic compounds can be presumed from their electrochemical properties and a tricyclic compound with a given biological effect can be theoretically designed.
The Complement System
Authors: Agostoni A. , Cicardi M. , Gardinali M. , Bergamaschini L. 
Published: January 2017

The human complement system (C) acts to lyse susceptible cells, to promote phagocytosis of target particles, and to solubilize immune-complexes, its activation generates peptides that mediate features of the inflammatory response. It is comprised of a series of plasma zymogens, activated by proteolytic cleavage in a cascade manner, and of plasma and cell membrane control proteins. Activation is achieved by two independent routes: the classical pathway, started by immunoglobulins, and the alternative pathway, started by cell membrane components. Both of them promote the generation of an enzyme-complex (C3 convertase) able to cleave the pivotal protein of the complement system, C3, thus initiating the common pathway with the formation of the lytic complex (Figure 1). In this paper we will briefly review the physiologic phenomena related to the complement activation and its role in pathogenesis of illness particularly focusing on the studies carried out in our laboratory.
The Effect of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) on Respiratory Burst of Human Peripheral Blood Phagocytes
Authors: Cofta J. , Lacki J.K. , Mackiewicz S.H. , Wiktorowicz K.E. 
Published: January 2017

The effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) on the oxidative response of human peripheral blood monocytes and granulocytes was investigated. The respiratory burst of phagocytes induced by phorbol-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) or opsonized zymosan (OZ) was measured in luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. The effect of CRP on PMA-induced monocyte chemiluminescence (CL) depended both on CRP concentration and incubation time. A short incubation of cells with CRP (15–30 min.) enhanced the oxidative burst. Preincubation of cells for 1h (or longer) with low doses of CRP (about 2 μg/ml) increased, while with higher (>10 μg/ml) inhibited PMA-stimulated chemiluminescence. CRP reduced also PHA or OZ-induced monocyte respiratory response. CRP diminished PMA, PHA, and OZ-induced granulocyte chemiluminescence, except the response to PHA in the presence of low doses CRP (about 5 μg/ml). The action of CRP on phagocytes probably involves activation of some intracellular mechanisms. During immune response, CRP could protect tissues against damage by excess of free oxygen and its biological active derivatives.
Predictors of Service Use and Social Conditions in Patients with Psychotic Disorders
Authors: Malla Ashok K , Norman Ross MG , Scholten Derek 
Published: January 2017

Objective: To determine independent predictors of outcome on 3 separate dimensions—namely, relapse and service use, employment, and living conditions—in patients with psychotic disorders. Method: One hundred and thirty-four patients, most with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (94%), were treated and followed up in a comprehensive treatment program with inpatient and community treatment components. Complete data on several predictor and outcome variables were available on 93 patients. Relationships between predictor variables and each dimension of outcome were analyzed using Spearman correlation and multiple regression analysis. Results: Results showed that the use of inpatient resources (days in hospital) during the follow-up period was predicted by days in hospital prior to entry into the program, as was employment status. Although substance abuse was related to employment status, it did not have any predictive value. Better living conditions were predicted by being female and having a later age of onset. Conclusions: Use of inpatient resources and social dimensions of outcome in schizophrenia may be predicted by different patient- or illness-related variables. These relationships are likely to be modified by the nature and content of treatment received.
Why are Children in the Same Family So Different? Nonshared Environment a Decade Later
Authors: Plomin Robert , Asbury Kathryn , Dunn Judith 
Published: January 2017

Objective: To review recent developments in the study of nonshared environment; that is, the environmental influences that make children growing up in the same family different, rather than similar. Method: We review several recent influential books and papers on the subject of nonshared environment from the decade following the 1987 paper that highlighted its importance in psychological development. Results: Modest progress has been made toward identifying the specific aspects of the environment responsible for nonshared environment. Although parents treat their multiple children differently, such differential treatment accounts for only a small amount of nonshared environmental influence, once genetic factors are controlled. It has been suggested that some degree of nonshared environment may be due to the fact that siblings react differently to ostensibly shared environmental influences. Peer influence and other experiences outside the family may be more important sources of systematic nonshared environment. Conclusions: Despite the difficulties encountered in identifying specific sources of nonshared environment, the fact remains that most environmental variance affecting the development of psychological dimensions and psychiatric disorders is not shared by children growing up in the same family. More research and theory are needed to explain why such siblings are so different. Chance, in the sense of idiosyncratic experiences, also needs to be considered.
Antipsychotic Polypharmacy: A Survey of Discharge Prescriptions from a Tertiary Care Psychiatric Institution
Authors: Procyshyn Ric M , Kennedy Nathan B , Tse Gordon , Thompson Barbara 
Published: January 2017

Objective: To perform a retrospective survey of discharge medications at a tertiary care psychiatric facility and to assess the incidence of antipsychotic polypharmacy. Method: This is a retrospective survey that used the Department of Pharmacy's computer database to obtain relevant discharge information on all nongeriatric patients with schizophrenia discharged from Riverview Hospital between November 1, 1996 and October 31, 1998. From a total of 492 eligible patients, 229 met the inclusion criteria and formed the database for the survey. Results: The main finding of the survey was that 27.5% of our discharged patients diagnosed with schizophrenia left our facility on an antipsychotic polypharmacy regimen. Compared with patients discharged on a single antipsychotic, the pooled data revealed a significantly greater use of anticholinergic agents in those patients prescribed an antipsychotic polypharmacy regimen. Further, of the atypical agents, only risperidone showed a statistically significant reduction in dosage when coprescribed with a second antipsychotic. Conclusion: Although antipsychotic polypharmacy persists today, as it has over the past 30 years, evidence-based data to support this controversial treatment strategy is lacking. As a result clinicians are relying on their clinical experience, and perhaps intuition, to design antipsychotic polypharmacy treatment protocols. Efforts should be made to replace subjective clinical impression with a more rational approach to antipsychotic polypharmacy—one that is based on pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic understanding of drug action.
Regional Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Never-Medicated Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Clark Campbell , Kopala Lili , Li David K , Hurwitz Trevor 
Published: January 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess regional cerebral glucose metabolism in patients with schizophrenia who had never received antipsychotic medication and whose olfactory identification ability had been assessed. Two hypotheses were examined. First, the patients were compared with normal controls to determine whether differences in regional cerebral metabolism were apparent. Second, regional rates of metabolism were correlated with olfactory ability and the relation between them determined. Methods: The patient (n = 26) and control (n = 32) subjects were scanned at rest using positron emission tomography (PET) after administration of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). In addition, the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test was administered to each patient. Results: Patients with schizophrenia had reduced rates of glucose metabolism in the right and left thalamus that reached significance if not corrected for multiple comparisons. However, if a Bonferroni correction was applied over the 27 regions of interest, the differences were not significant. Scores on the Smell Identification Test were negatively correlated with 8 regions of interest. When scores were analyzed using multiple regression, the left frontal cortex and the medial parietal cortex were significant predictors. Conclusions: The finding of reduced metabolism in the thalami is consistent with some of the previous literature, whereas the negative correlations between specific regions and olfactory function are not consistent with studies using activation paradigms.
Olanzapine Augmentation of Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors in Obsessive—Compulsive Disorder: An Open Study
Authors: Francobandiera Giorgio 
Published: January 2017

Objective: This study evaluates the clinical response to olanzapine used in association with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or clomipramine in treatment-resistant obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Methods: We describe the cases of 9 patients with serotonin uptake inhibitor-resistant OCD who were given an open-label adjunctive treatment of olanzapine for a minimum of 6 weeks. The response was assessed by using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Results: Six patients showed improvement of symptoms after the augmentation with olanzapine. One patient (treated with clomipramine) discontinued olanzapine due to side effects, and another 2 did not respond. Conclusion: Olanzapine augmentation of SSRIs in treating OCD showed a good (two-thirds) response rate, and it could therefore be considered as a treatment option when conventional therapies have failed.