bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Malassezia species in healthy skin and in dermatological conditions
Authors: Prohic Asja , Jovovic Sadikovic Tamara , Krupalija‐Fazlic Mersiha , Kuskunovic‐Vlahovljak Suada 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe genus Malassezia comprises lipophilic species, the natural habitat of which is the skin of humans and other warm‐blooded animals. However, these species have been associated with a diversity of dermatological disorders and even systemic infections. Pityriasis versicolor is the only cutaneous disease etiologically connected to Malassezia yeasts. In the other dermatoses, such as Malassezia folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis, these yeasts have been suggested to play pathogenic roles either as direct agents of infection or as trigger factors because there is no evidence that the organisms invade the skin. Malassezia yeasts have been classified into at least 14 species, of which eight have been isolated from human skin, including Malassezia furfur, Malassezia pachydermatis, Malassezia sympodialis, Malassezia slooffiae, Malassezia globosa, Malassezia obtusa, Malassezia restricta, Malassezia dermatis, Malassezia japonica, and Malassezia yamatoensis. Distributions of Malassezia species in the healthy body and in skin diseases have been investigated using culture‐based and molecular techniques, and variable results have been reported from different geographical regions. This article reviews and discusses the latest available data on the pathogenicity of Malassezia spp., their distributions in dermatological conditions and in healthy skin, discrepancies in the two methods of identification, and the susceptibility of Malassezia spp. to antifungals.
Scanning electron microscopy of hair treated in hard water
Authors: Srinivasan Gautham , Chakravarthy Rangachari Srinivas 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundHardness of water is determined by the amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) dissolved in it. Hardness of water used for washing hair may damage the hair.ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to observe the surface changes due to hard water usage and compare the thickness of hair between hard and soft water treated samples.MethodsTen to 15 hair strands of length 15–20 cm, which were lost during combing, were obtained from 15 healthy female volunteers. Each hair sample was cut into two equal halves to obtain two sets per volunteer. Each hair sample was wrapped around a glass rod. One set of 15 samples was washed with hard water, and the other set was washed with distilled water for 10 minutes on alternate days and air‐dried. This procedure was carried out for 30 days. The surface of hair treated in hard and soft water was examined under a scanning electron microscope.ResultsThe CaCO3 and MgSO4 content of hard and distilled water samples were determined as 212.5 ppm of CaCO3 and 10 ppm of CaCO3 respectively. The mean calcium deposition in hard and distilled water treated hair was determined as 0.804% and 0.26%, respectively. The mean magnesium deposition in hard and distilled water treated hair was determined as 0.34% and 0.078%, respectively. The mean thickness of hair treated in hard water and distilled water were 72.78 and 78.14 μm, respectively.ConclusionThe surface of hard water treated hair has a ruffled appearance with higher mineral deposition and decreased thickness when compared with the surface of distilled water treated hair.
Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides: clinical and epidemiological evaluation in a single center in Brazil
Authors: Deonizio Janyana M. D. , Ascef Rogers Diego , Sanches José Antonio 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundFolliculotropic mycosis fungoides (FMF) is a rare variant of mycosis fungoides with clinical peculiarities, refractoriness to conventional treatments, and worse prognosis when compared to classic mycosis fungoides.ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of FMF patients in a single center in Brazil.MethodsData were retrospectively collected from patients with FMF who attended the Cutaneous Lymphoma Clinic, University of São Paulo Medical School, between 1987 and 2013.ResultsThirty‐three patients were included (median age 46 years old at diagnosis; 20 male; 27 white). The median disease duration before diagnosis was 3 years. Regarding stage at diagnosis, 61% had advanced stage disease (≥IIb). Follicular papules were reported in 66% and alopecia in 59% of the cases. The most involved regions were limbs, followed by trunk and head. Pruritus was present in 81% of the patients. The median time of patients’ follow‐up was 38 months. At the last follow‐up visit, 67% of the patients were alive with active disease, 27% deceased, and 6% were in complete remission. Four patients had large cell transformation. At the time of diagnosis, 25% of the patients showed eosinophilia.LimitationsRetrospective study with partial unavailable data.ConclusionsThe characteristics of our patients with FMF correlated with aspects previously described in the literature, which were at a more advanced stage at diagnosis and had a less favorable outcome. Pruritus is a very common complaint. Large cell transformation should be monitored as it is implicated in poor prognosis.
Antimelanogenic activity of a novel adamantyl benzylbenzamide derivative, AP736: a randomized, double‐blind, vehicle‐controlled comparative clinical trial performed in patients with hyperpigmentation during the summer
Authors: Jeong Yeon Su , Kim Jeong‐Hwan , Choi Joonho , Baek Heung Soo , Joo Yung Hyup , Lee Chang Seok , Shin Hong‐Ju , Park Young‐Ho , Kim Beom Joon , Shin Song Seok 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackground/PurposeAP736 is a novel compound with an adamantyl benzylbenzamide moiety that has shown antimelanogenic activity in melanocytes in vitro and in artificial skin equivalent through the inhibition of key melanogenic enzymes and suppression of the cAMP‐phosphokinase A‐cAMP response element‐binding protein signaling pathway. To estimate the clinical effectiveness of AP736 for the treatment of facial hyperpigmentation, we examined the efficacy and safety of a topical formulation containing AP736 compared with a vehicle formulation in human facial skin. To evaluate the degree of whitening when used in a real‐life situation, subjects with hyperpigmentation conditions were selected and the trial was performed from mid‐May to the end of June, when there are strong UV rays in Korea.Materials and MethodsForty‐eight healthy Korean women aged 20–60 years were enrolled in this study for 6 weeks. Women who were pregnant or undergoing any concurrent therapy were excluded. Subjects were instructed to apply a randomly assigned formulation containing 0.5% AP736 (test formulation; n = 24) or vehicle (vehicle control; n = 24) in addition to an assigned sunscreen with a twice‐daily application protocol. The degree of facial pigmentation was measured objectively using a Mexameter MX18 and Chromameter CM700, in addition to assessment by physicians using clinical photographs.ResultsThe AP736 formulation was significantly (P < 0.05) more effective than the vehicle control formation in reducing the appearance of pigmentation at 3‐ and 6‐week follow‐up visits.ConclusionA formulation containing a novel skin whitening ingredient, AP736, effectively reduced pigmentation and was well tolerated by study subjects in summer season.
Effect of antipsoriatic therapy on oxidative stress index and sialic acid levels in patients with psoriasis
Authors: Rajappa Medha , Shanmugam Rathika , Munisamy Malathi , Chandrashekar Laxmisha , Rajendiran Kalai Selvi , Thappa Devinder Mohan 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackground and objectivesRecent studies have implicated the association between oxidative stress and inflammation in pathogenesis of psoriasis and its associated comorbidities. Hence, we undertook to study inflammatory markers such as sialic acids and the oxidative stress index (OSI) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.MethodsSixty cases and 60 healthy controls were included in this cohort study. Disease severity was assessed by psoriasis area severity index scoring. Serum levels of oxidative stress (total oxidant status, total antioxidant status) and inflammation (highly sensitive C‐reactive protein [hs‐CRP], total sialic acid, protein bound sialic acid) markers were estimated in controls and cases at baseline and on follow‐up. OSI was calculated as the ratio of total oxidant status to total antioxidant status.ResultsBaseline serum levels of OSI, hs‐CRP, and sialic acids were significantly higher in cases compared to controls. Baseline OSI and sialic acids demonstrated a significant correlation with disease severity. After 12 weeks of therapy, there was a significant decline in OSI and serum levels of hs‐CRP and sialic acids.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that oxidative stress and inflammation are significantly associated with psoriasis, and treatment with methotrexate results in a significant decline of both the inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters.
Policy Streams and Immigration to Russia: Competing and Complementary Interests at the Federal and Local Levels
Authors: Hofmann Erin Trouth , Carboni Julia L. , Mitchneck Beth , Kuznetsov Igor 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThis article uses Kingdon's Multiple Streams Framework to explain forms of national‐ and region‐level governance used in the Russian Federation to manage unprecedented levels of international immigration. First, we identify the ways that the Russian federal government has legislated and governed international migration from 1991 through 2010. We then compare the federal level to the case of the Krasnodar region, an ethnically diverse region in the North Caucasus. We find that that migration policy adoption in Russia at the federal level is relatively immune to economic trends or labour needs but more sensitive to foreign and domestic political objectives. At the regional level, local socio‐political and economic concerns predominate and political objectives are secondary. Finally, we argue that migration policy changes or adopted policy at the regional level may be explained by an interaction effect between changes in political leadership, federal level policy adoption, and regional level context.
Transmembrane domain is crucial to the subcellular localization and function of Myc target 1
Authors: Wu Shuai , Gui Jinghua , Yin Xiaofei , Pan Qiang , Liu Xinyuan , Chu Liang 
Published: December 2015

AbstractDeregulation of c‐MYC occurs in a variety of human cancers. Overexpression of c‐MYC promotes cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, transformation and genomic instability. MYC target 1 (MYCT1) is a direct target gene of c‐MYC, and its murine homologue MT‐MC1 recapitulated multiple c‐Myc‐related phenotypes. However, the molecular mechanism of MYCT1 remains unclear. Here, we identified the transmembrane (TM) domain of MYCT1, not the nuclear localization sequence, is indispensable to the vesicle‐associated localization of MYCT1 protein in the cytoplasmic membrane vesicle. Overexpression of MYCT1, not MYCT1 (ΔTM), decreased cell viability under serum deprivation and increased tumour cell migration ability. We further identified CKAP4 interacted with MYCT1 and contributed to the function of MYCT1. In addition, we found that a mutation, A88D, which is observed in patient sample, changed the localization, and abolished the effect on cell viability and cell migration, suggesting that the TM domain is critical to MYCT1.
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as an alternative to systemic antibiotics: results from a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, clinical study on type 2 diabetics
Authors: Ramos Umberto D. , Ayub Lauro G. , Reino Danilo M. , Grisi Márcio F.M. , Taba Mário , Souza Sérgio L.S. , Palioto Daniela B. , Novaes Arthur B. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAimThis double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical study compared multiple applications of the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) treatment protocol, to systemic doxycycline as adjuvant to scaling and root planing (SRP) on type 2 diabetic patients on clinical, systemic and immune‐inflammatory outcomes.Materials and MethodsThirty patients with Hba1c >7% were allocated in two groups, SRP + Doxy (n = 15) using systemic doxycycline 100 mg/day (14 days) and SRP + aPDT (n = 15) with multiple applications (0, 3, 7 and 14 days). Primary outcome was glycated haemoglobin levels (HbA1c). Clinical parameters: plaque score (PS), bleeding on probe, probing depth, suppuration, gingival recession, and clinical attachment level, percentage of pockets with desired clinical endpoint were measured at baseline and 3 months after therapy. Cytokine profile was assessed at 0, 1 and 3 month to measure IL1‐β, TNF‐α and TGF‐β on gingival crevicular fluid.ResultsNo significant difference was detected on HbA1c, between treatments. The SRP + aPDT group showed advantage on reducing moderate pockets in single‐rooted teeth at 3 months. SRP + aPDT presented better results at 3 months on IL1‐β levels. There were no significant differences between TNF‐α and TGF‐β.ConclusionsBoth treatments improved clinical and systemic outcomes (Hba1c). SRP + aPDT performed better in moderate probing pocket depth on single‐rooted teeth, reduced favourably inflammation in short term, and may be an alternative to systemic antibiotics. (Clinicaltrials.org ID NCT01595594).
Telomere length and periodontal attachment loss: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Thomson William Murray , Zeng Jiaxu , Broadbent Jonathan M. , Foster Page Lyndie A. , Shalev Idan , Moffitt Terrie E. , Caspi Avshalom , Williams Sheila M. , Braithwaite Antony W. , Robertson Stephen P. , Poulton Richie 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAimThe aim of the study was to examine the association between telomere erosion and periodontitis in a long‐standing prospective cohort study of New Zealand adults. Specific hypotheses tested were as follows: (i) that exposure to periodontitis at ages 26 and 38 was associated with accelerated leucocyte telomere erosion and (ii) that accelerated leucocyte telomere erosion was associated with higher rates of periodontitis by ages 26 and 38.Materials and MethodsPeriodontal attachment loss data were collected at ages 26 and 38. Blood samples taken at the same ages were analysed to obtain estimates of leucocyte telomere length and erosion over a 12‐year period.ResultsOverall, the mean telomere length was reduced by 0.15 T/S ratio (adjusted) from age 26 to 38 among the 661 participants reported on here. During the same period, the mean attachment loss increased by 10%, after adjusting for sex, socio‐economic status and smoking. Regression models showed that attachment loss did not predict telomere length, and that telomere erosion did not predict attachment loss.ConclusionsAlthough both periodontitis and telomere length are age‐dependent, they do not appear to be linked, suggesting that determination of leucocyte telomere length may not be a promising clinical approach at this age for identifying people who are at risk for periodontitis.
‘All theKing's horses …’: the problematical fate of born‐again evidence‐based medicine: commentary onGreenhalgh,T.,Snow,R.,Ryan,S.,Rees,S., andSalisbury,H. (2015) six ‘biases’ against patients and carers in evidence‐based medicine.BioMedCentralMedicine, 13:200
Authors: Wyer Peter , Alves da Silva Suzana 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe phrase ‘evidence‐based medicine (EBM)' is being used by bothEBMadvocates and adversaries to broadly denote the production and use of clinical research throughout the healthcare system. Recently, this trend was joined by a call for a general expansion and rebirth ofEBMto encompass a diverse range of healthcare activities otherwise corresponding to person‐centred care. The call asserts thatEBMis to blame for anti‐patient biases within clinical practice and in policy and public health domains. Effective critique of eitherEBMor of the healthcare system requires thatEBMitself be properly identified as a research literacy movement that grew out of clinical epidemiology of the 1970's and 1980's. We demonstrate the ineffectiveness of inappropriately targeted critiques of healthcare under the banner of born‐againEBM. We identify the strengths and weaknesses ofEBMas an educational movement drawing on the concept of literacy associated with the Brazilian educator Paolo Freire. We consider the relationship ofEBMto clinical epidemiology and conclude that it cannot fruitfully divorce itself from the latter. We briefly consider existing precedents for philosophically sound conceptual platforms for advocacy of person‐centred healthcare and broad based critique of the healthcare system including relationship‐centred care. We conclude that traditionalEBM, as a framework for research literacy training of both clinicians and policy makers, must continue to play a subsidiary role within an expanding patient‐centred healthcare system and that advocacy efforts on behalf of patient voice and engagement are best pursued unencumbered by subsidiary agendas.
Suppression of colitis‐associated carcinogenesis through modulation of IL‐6/STAT3 pathway by balsalazide and VSL#3
Authors: Do Eun‐ju , Hwang Sung Wook , Kim Sang‐Yeob , Ryu Yeon‐Mi , Cho Eun A. , Chung Eun‐Ju , Park Sunha , Lee Hyo Jeong , Byeon Jeong‐Sik , Ye Byong Duk , Yang Dong‐Hoon , Park Sang Hyoung , Yang Suk‐Kyun , Kim Jin‐Ho , Myung Seung‐Jae 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackground and AimRecent studies suggest that the anti‐inflammatory agent balsalazide (BSZ) and probiotic agent VSL#3 have potential therapeutic benefits for the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, their effectiveness in preventing colitis‐associated carcinogenesis (CAC) remains uncertain. The aim of the present study was to determine the chemopreventive effects of BSZ and VSL#3 in the murine azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model.MethodsC57B/L6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: CAC group, BSZ group, VSL#3 group, and BSZ + VSL#3 group. After 2 weeks, the AOM/DSS model was induced by AOM injection followed by two cycles of 2% DSS.ResultsDuring first and second cycles of DSS, the number of F4/80‐positive macrophages was significantly lower in the drug‐treated groups compared with the CAC group (P < 0.05). At the endpoint, the total numbers of tumors in the drug‐treated groups were significantly low compared with the CAC group (P < 0.05), and the drug‐treated groups had significantly lower F4/80‐positive macrophages in the tumor stroma (P < 0.01). The protein production of macrophage inflammatory protein 1 beta, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, interleukin (IL)‐6, and IL‐10 in the colon tissues decreased in concordance with the plasma concentrations of the cytokines (P < 0.05). The drug‐treated groups revealed lower expression of p‐STAT3 compared with the CAC group. In addition, BCL2 decreased, and BAX increased markedly in the BSZ + VSL#3 group.ConclusionsThese results revealed that BSZ and VSL#3 have chemopreventive effects against CAC through IL‐6/STAT3 suppression. BSZ and VSL#3 could be suitable options for chemoprevention of colorectal cancer.
STATED PREFERENCES FOR PUBLIC SERVICES: A CLASSIFICATION AND SURVEY OF APPROACHES
Authors: Schläpfer Felix 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe wider range of stated preference approaches to value public goods has not been systematically reviewed in recent years. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of this literature and to evaluate the strengths and limitations of alternative approaches. Since the public referendum has served as a ‘blueprint’ for survey design, two key dimensions by which many surveys differ from the public referendum are used for a simple classification of approaches. This yields eleven approaches, including different variants of micro‐based demand surveys, referendum surveys, budget allocation surveys and contingent valuation surveys. Their evaluation in terms of the preference information they produce and the assumptions they require suggests there is no single preferred approach. Instead, each approach has its characteristic profile of strengths and limitations which follow from how it strikes the balance between the conflicting goals of measuring entire willingness‐to‐pay distributions and presenting manageable, credible and incentive compatible questions. Ultimately, judgments about the suitability of alternative approaches for specific objectives should rely on empirical evidence. Progress in the field could greatly benefit from a routine implementation of powerful experimental validity tests in applied work.
Pattern of galectins expression in actinic cheilitis with different risks of malignant transformation
Authors: Lopes Maria Luiza Diniz de Sousa , Nonaka Cassiano Francisco Weege , Queiroz Lélia Maria Guedes , de Souza Lélia Batista , Miguel Márcia Cristina da Costa , da Silveira Éricka Janine Dantas 
Published: December 2015

BackgroundActinic cheilitis (AC) is a chronic inflammatory lesion that in some situations can turn into squamous cell carcinoma of the lip. The molecular mechanisms involved in this process are not yet completely understood. This study aimed to investigate the expression pattern of galectins in actinic cheilitis according to the histopathological grading.MethodsImmunoexpression of galectin‐1, galectin‐3, galectin‐7, and galectin‐9 was semiquantitatively analyzed in 65 cases of actinic cheilitis graded as low risk (n = 40) or high risk (n = 25) of malignant transformation. Association between the location of the galectins in the cellular compartments and histopathological grading was analyzed.ResultsGalectin‐1 was mainly observed in the cell cytoplasm, and was elevated (score 3) in 60% of cases, regardless of the histopathological grade (P > 0.05). Galectin‐3 expression was higher in high‐risk group than in the low‐risk group (P < 0.05), with a predominant expression in the cytoplasm and nucleus of low‐risk (67.5%), and only in the cytoplasm of high‐risk cases (60%) (P < 0.05). Galectin‐7 expression did not show significant differences between low‐risk and high‐risk groups (P > 0.05). With respect to galectin‐9, 89.2% of cases were positive, showing decrease in median of scores as there was an increase in histological grade (P < 0.001), with predominant expression in the nucleus and cytoplasm.ConclusionsThis study is the first indication of galectins involvement in the pathogenesis and morphologic progression of actinic cheilitis, particularly galectin‐3 and galectin‐9.