bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Drug Profile: Tanderil Eye Ointment
Authors: Murphy J Eric 
Published: January 2017

Tanderil® (oxyphenbutazone) is a pyrazole similar in structure to phenylbutazone of which it is a naturally occurring metabolite. It has been used for many years as an anti-inflammatory compound in rheumatic conditions and soft tissue inflammation. Its use in ophthalmology is well documented. It is absorbed across the corneoscleral barrier in therapeutic amounts from an oily based oculent, and it does not produce the problems of cataract formation, rise in intra-ocular pressure and enhancement of viral replication, which may be associated with steroid therapy. Clinically Tanderil Eye Ointment is useful in the suppression of inflammatory response associated with endogenous disease, trauma and operative intervention. It is well tolerated by the majority of patients and presents a safe topical antiinflammatory preparation which may be used as an alternative to steroids.
A Multicentre General Practice Study of Cinnarizine in the Treatment of Peripheral Vascular Disease
Authors: Donald J F 
Published: January 2017

A multicentre, double-blind, crossover study monitoring walking distance and symptomatology was set up to compare the efficacy of cinnarizine with that of placebo in the treatment of patients with intermittent claudication. Walking distances were statistically significantly increased by cinnarizine treatment when it was given before placebo. This improvement was maintained without further significant deterioration when the patients were switched to placebo therapy. A smaller but statistically significant increase in walking distance was observed after the first 12 weeks of the study for the patients treated with placebo first. During the final phase of cinnarizine treatment an additional increase in mean walking distance, comparable to that seen during the first half of the study, was observed in these subjects. This improvement failed to reach a level of statistical significance because of the variation in response between individual patients.
Once Daily Beta-Blocker in Hypertension – Oxprenolol Slow-Release
Authors: Gordon R D , Ziesak M , Rowe W S , Strakosch C R , Row G 
Published: January 2017

In a within-patient comparison of conventional oxprenolol administered twice daily with slow-release oxprenolol administered once daily in the treatment of hypertension, twenty patients previously responsive to beta-blockers took each formulation for 4 weeks, after wash-out periods off beta-blocker of 2 weeks' duration. The order of administration of the two forms was randomized, and sixteen patients continued medication with cyclopenthiazide 0.5 mg daily. Blood pressure levels at the end of the 4-week treatment periods were compared with levels at the end of the preceding 2-week wash-out periods. Both formulations lowered blood pressure and pulse rate significantly. There was no difference in their effects on pulse rate or on blood pressure, whether measured by the doctors using standard sphygmomanometers or by the hypertension sister using a random-zero sphygmomanometer. In four patients who measured their own blood pressures at home each morning (before medications), afternoon and night, mean levels were similar with the two formulations. Both formulations were very well tolerated.
A New Skeletal Muscle Relaxant (DS 103-282*) Compared to Diazepam in the Treatment of Muscle Spasm of Local Origin
Authors: Hennies O L 
Published: January 2017

The myotonolytic activity of a new muscle-relaxant, DS 103-282, was compared with that of diazepam in a randomized double-blind study on thirty patients suffering from acute muscular spasm due to disorders of the cervical and lumbar segments of the spine. Fifteen patients received 4 mg DS 103-282 and fifteen received 5 mg diazepam on a three times daily regime for 7 days. DS 103-282 was found to alleviate symptoms and improve mobility to a significant degree (p ≥ 0.05) in all parameters evaluated and was also significantly superior to diazepam in 5 of these. Onset of action was particularly rapid for DS 103-282. Both medications were well tolerated and there was no significant difference between them. On the basis of these data DS 103-282 may be considered a more powerful and faster-acting myotonolytic agent than diazepam with which it was compared in similar clinical indications.
Clinical Assessment of a Trimethoprim-Sulfamethopyrazine Combination (Kelfiprim) in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Authors: Harazim H , John M , Pandelitschka E , Bröll H , Jackwerth G 
Published: January 2017

The new combination of trimethoprim 250 mg and sulfamethopyrazine 200 mg was used in fourteen out-patients and eighteen in-patients with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, pneumonia or bronchopneumonia due to sensitive bacteria. The drug was given for 1 to 2 weeks as one capsule daily (following a double loading dose on the first day), and ampicillin, 500 mg capsules q.i.d., was administered to another group of eleven in-patients for comparison. Overall results, based on clinical, radiological and laboratory findings, were excellent or good in 85% and 67%, respectively, of out- and in-patients receiving the combination drug; definite failures were one out of fourteen and two out of eighteen cases, and the remainder were assessed as fair. In three out of thirty-two patients mild to moderate gastro-intestinal side-effects were observed during treatment. The drug compared favourably to ampicillin for both effectiveness and safety.
Efficacy of Mexiletine in the Medium-Term Treatment of Ventricular Arrhythmias. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Trial against Placebo in Ambulatory Patients
Authors: Masotti G , Morettini A , Casolo G C , Ieri A , Zipoli A , Serneri G G Neri 
Published: January 2017

A double-blind, crossover study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of mexiletine with that of placebo in reducing premature ventricular complexes (PVC) in ambulatory patients and to find out the dose which gives a good therapeutic response with a minimal incidence of side-effects. Twenty-six patients, who had on average 427·9 PVCs/hour, were admitted to the study. The doses given were designed to reduce the frequency of PVCs by 50% or more from the baseline value. Two out of the twenty-six patients stopped treatment because of major side-effects. In the remaining twenty-four patients the 3 weeks of treatment with mexiletine significantly reduced the rate of PVCs by comparison with placebo (-63·8% versus +7·5%). In the nineteen responders (per cent reduction of PVCs over 50%) the dose of mexiletine was 600 mg daily (200 mg every 8 hours). In the non-responders plasma levels of mexiletine proved to be in the therapeutic range, not in any way different from responders. The most frequent side-effects were digestive difficulties (fifteen patients taking mexiletine and six taking placebo). These results show that mexiletine is an effective anti-arrhythmic drug in the management of ventricular arrhythmias occurring in ambulatory patients. In the majority of patients mexiletine was found to be effective even at the lowest dose studied of 600 mg/day.
Diclofenac Increases Beta-Endorphin Plasma Concentrations
Authors: Martini A , Bondiolotti G P , Sacerdote P , Pierro L , Picotti G B , Panerai A E , Restelli L , Zancaner F , Monza G 
Published: January 2017

Plasma and ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Beta-endorphin concentrations were evaluated after chromatographic separation in patients carrying a ventricular shunt before and after the administration of diclofenac orplacebo. In the same subjects the ventricular CSF concentrations of the serotonin and the catecholamine metabolites 5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA) and MOPEG were also evaluated. Plasma, but not ventricular, Beta-endorphin concentrations increased significantly after diclofenac, while placebo was ineffective. No significant changes in ventricular 5-HIAA, HVA or MOPEG levels were observed. These data suggest a role for Beta-endorphin in the analgesic effect of diclofenac.
A Double-Blind Controlled Evaluation of the Nasal Decongestant Effect of Day Nurse® in the Common Cold
Authors: Lea P 
Published: January 2017

A rhinomanometric technique was used to evaluate the nasal decongestant effect of a single dose of Day Nurse® over a 4-hour post-dosing period in human volunteers suffering from nasal congestion due to a common cold. A significant improvement in nasal congestion was obtained at the 1 hour, 2 hour, 3 Hour and 4 hour post-dosing interval, from initial values compared to a placebo group. The study therefore demonstrated by an objective technique that Day Nurse® provides relief of nasal congestion and related symptoms in cold sufferers.
Genivir (DIP-253) 1% Cream versus Placebo Cream in the Treatment of Recurrent Genital Herpes: A Double-Blind Study
Authors: Lassus A , Dahlgren A , Linnavuori K 
Published: January 2017

A total of 100 heterosexual adults of either sex with frequent episodes of recurrent genital herpes were allocated to treatment with either Genivir (DIP-253) 1% cream or placebo cream. All patients had genital herpes previously verified by a positive viral culture. The study was carried out as a double-blind parallel group trial. Fifty patients were allocated to each of the two treatment groups. The treatment was initiated within 24 hours after the first sign of a recurrence, and at the pre-treatment examination all patients had developed typical lesions with blisters and/or sores. At baseline a sample for herpes virus culture and typing was obtained. The creams were applied four times daily for five days. Follow-up examinations were carried out on days 1, 2, 4 and if needed on days 7, 10 and 14. The major factor used for assessment of efficacy was the time to complete healing of all lesions. Duration of pruritus and pain were also recorded. In the group of patients treated with Genivir cream the time to complete healing was 3.3 days and in the placebo group 6.1 days. The difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). The mean duration of pain was 1.3 days in the Genivir group and 2.5 days in the placebo group: this difference also reached significance ( P<0.01). The duration of pruritus was about the same in both groups. The active agent in Genivir, DIP-253, is a heterocyclic aromatic complex with confirmed anti-herpetic activity and with evidence of a local immunomodulatory effect. It was concluded that the efficacy of topical application of DIP-253 may be due to combined antiviral and immunomodulatory activities.
AIDS Education in Rural Uganda—A Way Forward
Authors: Anderson S R , Bainbridge J W B , Shah A , El-Jassar P , Schofield G , Brook H D D , Kapila M 
Published: January 2017

A survey of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related knowledge and attitudes was conducted during July and August 1988 in rural SW Uganda. The aim was to assess the impact of Uganda's AIDS education programme and to consider how future programmes could be more effectively implemented. Four hundred and seventy-six individuals aged 12–45 years were selected by a quota method, to form a sample stratified by age and sex. Mass AIDS education has successfully raised levels of knowledge but misconceptions persist. However, it has failed, firstly, to stress the urgency of AIDS as a personal issue, and secondly, to change negative attitudes toward people with AIDS: 57% would avoid or stigmatise an individual with AIDS. Unexpectedly findings show that a correlation exists ( P<0.05) between high levels of ‘correct’ beliefs and negative attitudes toward people with AIDS. To achieve future behavioural and attitude changes, possible ways forward for Ugandan AIDS education include involvement of HIV carriers in education, small-scale targetted approaches developed by active participation of the target group and through role playing of people with AIDS.
CD4 Lymphocyte Numbers after Splenectomy in Patients Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency virus
Authors: Fairley Christopher K , Spelman Denis , Street Alison , Jennens Ian D , Spicer W John , Crowe Suzanne 
Published: January 2017

Splenectomy has been reported to alter inconsistently the CD4 lymphocyte numbers in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). To further assess the effect of splenectomy we have retrospectively examined the charts of 10 patients who were infected with HIV and who had undergone splenectomy. There was a significant increase in the mean CD4 numbers following splenectomy (mean increase of 326/μl, or 2.1-fold, P = 0.0009), the total lymphocyte numbers (mean increase of 1.55/ml, or 2.2-fold, P = 0.001) and in the CD8 lymphocyte count (mean increase of 968/μl, or 2.3–fold, P = 0.014). No significant difference was observed in the percentage CD4 lymphocytes ( P = 0.95) or in the CD4:CD8 lymphocyte ratio ( P = 0.76). In two patients, symptoms suggestive of impaired immune function developed post-splenectomy, at a time when their CD4 lymphocyte numbers were markedly higher than their pre-splenectomy values. One developed oral candidiasis (CD4 960/μl, percentage CD4 32%), and in one patient a 7 kg weight loss was associated with recurrent mouth ulcers (CD4 680/μl, percentage CD4 7%). We conclude that the total CD4 count increases significantly after splenectomy while the percentage CD4 lymphocyte count and CD4:CD8 lymphocyte ratio do not. Our data suggest that the CD4 lymphocyte count overestimates the immune function in these patients, although our findings are not conclusive.
Who is blinded in randomized clinical trials? A study of 200 trials and a survey of authors
Authors: Haahr Mette Thorlund , Hróbjartsson Asbjørn 
Published: January 2017

Background Insufficient blinding of persons involved in randomized clinical trials is associated with bias. The appraisal of the risk of bias is difficult without adequate information in trial reports. Purpose We wanted to study how blinding is reported in clinical trials and how lack of reporting relate to lack of blinding. Methods A cohort study of 200 blinded randomized clinical trials published in 2001 randomly sampled from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and a questionnaire survey of the trial authors. Results One-hundred and fifty-six (78%) articles described trials as ‘double blind’. In three (2%) of such articles the blinding status of patients, health care providers and data collectors was explicitly described. Eighty-eight (56%) articles did not describe the blinding status of any trial person, and 41 articles (26%) reported no blinding relevant information at all beyond the trial being ‘double blind’. One-hundred and thirty (65%) surveyed authors responded. Patients were blinded in 101 (97%) ‘double blind’ trials, and health care providers in 93 (89%). Twenty (19%) ‘double blind’ trials had not blinded either patients, health care providers or data collectors. Survey responders provided 15 different operational meanings of the term ‘double blind’, and typically felt that their preferred definition was the most widely used. Limitations The proportions in the author survey may be too optimistic due to reporting bias. It is not known how the increased use of the CONSORT guidelines may have afffected reporting in years after 2001. Conclusions The blinding status of key trial persons was incompletely reported in most randomized clinical trials. Unreported blinding may be frequent, but one of five ‘double blind’ trials did not blind either patients, treatment providers or data collectors. Authors, referees, and journal editors could improve the completeness of reporting of blinding, eg, by adhering to the CONSORT statement. It is inappropriate to presume blinding of key trial persons based only on the ambiguous term ‘double blind’.
Comparing an experimental agent to a standard agent: relative merits of a one-arm or randomized two-arm Phase II design
Authors: Taylor Jeremy MG , Braun Thomas M , Li Zhiguo 
Published: January 2017

Background Phase II clinical trials in cancer are used to assess whether a new agent has sufficiently promising efficacy to proceed on to a larger definitive study comparing the new agent to a standard agent. Purpose A crucial issue in determining the usefulness of a one-arm design is the uncertainty of the historical response rate of the standard therapy. Therefore, we contrast the usual one-arm design of a Phase II trial with a randomized two-arm design that uses the same number of patients. Methods We use simulations and analytical approximations to compare the two designs under a range of realistic values for the historical rate uncertainty and a range of treatment effects. We also extend the simulation model to compare the efficiency of the two designs in settings where multiple Phase II studies are used to make decisions about moving on to a Phase III study. Results For a one-arm design the probability of correctly identifying an effective experimental agent tends to be at least 0.7 in the cases considered, with the corresponding value for a randomized two-arm design within 0.05-0.10 above or below the one-arm design. An increase in total sample size from 30 patients to 80 patients tends to increase the probability of correctly identifying an effective experiment agent more in the two-arm design than the the one-arm design, particularly when the uncertainty in the historical response rate is large. Limitations These results for binary response measures are derived from the specific scenarios and assumptions considered in the simulation study and may not apply to situations outside the range considered. Conclusions We find that a one-arm design is preferred for small sample sizes, but a two-arm design may be preferred with larger sample sizes or if the uncertainty in the historical response rates is large.
Latent human cytomegalovirus enhances HIV-1 infection in CD34+ progenitor cells
Authors: Cheung Allen Ka Loon , Huang Yiru , Kwok Hau Yee , Chen Min , Chen Zhiwei 
Published: January 2017

Key PointsHCMV latency modulates host CD34+ cells in favoring HIV-1 infection. Latent HCMV upregulates HIV entry coreceptors and downregulates HIV restriction factors in CD34+ cells.
Flow-induced anisotropic viscosity in short FRPs
Authors: Bertóti Róbert , Böhlke Thomas 
Published: January 2017

Abstract
Background
The commonly used flow models for Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRPs) often neglect the flow-induced anisotropy of the suspension, but with increasing fiber volume fraction, this plays an important role. There exist already some models which count on this effect. They are, however, phenomenological and need a fitted model parameter. In this paper, a micromechanically-based constitutive law is proposed which considers the flow-induced anisotropic viscosity of the fiber suspension.

Methods
The introduced viscosity tensor can handle arbitrary anisotropy of the fluid-fiber suspension which depends on the actual fiber orientation distribution. Assuming incompressible material behaviour, a homogenization method for unidirectional structures in contribution with orientation averaging is used to determine the effective viscosity tensor. The motion of rigid ellipsoidal fibers induced by the flow of the matrix material is described based on Jeffery’s equation. The reorientation of the fibers is modeled in two ways: by describing them with fiber orientation vectors, and by fiber orientation tensors. A numerical implementation of the introduced model is applied to representative flow modes.

Results
The predicted effective stress values depending on the actual fiber orientation distribution through the anisotropic viscosity are analyzed in transient and stationary flow cases. In the case of the assumed incompressibility, they show similar effective viscous material behaviour as the results obtained by the use of the Dinh-Armstrong constitutive law.

Conclusions
The introduced model is a possible way to describe the flow-induced anisotropic viscosity of a fluid-fiber suspension based on the mean field theory.
Planar cell polarity in moving cells: think globally, act locally
Authors: Davey Crystal F. , Moens Cecilia B. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACT
The planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway is best known for its role in polarizing epithelial cells within the plane of a tissue but it also plays a role in a range of cell migration events during development. The mechanism by which the PCP pathway polarizes stationary epithelial cells is well characterized, but how PCP signaling functions to regulate more dynamic cell behaviors during directed cell migration is much less understood. Here, we review recent discoveries regarding the localization of PCP proteins in migrating cells and their impact on the cell biology of collective and individual cell migratory behaviors.
Fairness in scientific publishing
Authors: Matthews Philippa C. 
Published: January 2017

Major changes are afoot in the world of academic publishing, exemplified by innovations in publishing platforms, new approaches to metrics, improvements in our approach to peer review, and a focus on developing and encouraging open access to scientific literature and data. The FAIR acronym recommends that authors and publishers should aim to make their output Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. In this opinion article, I explore the parallel view that we should take a collective stance on making the dissemination of scientific data fair in the conventional sense, by being mindful of equity and justice for patients, clinicians, academics, publishers, funders and academic institutions. The views I represent are founded on oral and written dialogue with clinicians, academics and the publishing industry. Further progress is needed to improve collaboration and dialogue between these groups, to reduce misinterpretation of metrics, to minimise inequity that arises as a consequence of geographic setting, to improve economic sustainability, and to broaden the spectrum, scope, and diversity of scientific publication.
Behavioral Status Influences the Dependence of Odorant-Induced Change in Firing on Prestimulus Firing Rate
Authors: Li Anan , Guthman E. Mae , Doucette Wilder T. , Restrepo Diego 
Published: January 2017

The firing rate of the mitral/tufted cells in the olfactory bulb is known to undergo significant trial-to-trial variability and is affected by anesthesia. Here we ask whether odorant-elicited changes in firing rate depend on the rate before application of the stimulus in the awake and anesthetized mouse. We find that prestimulus firing rate varies widely on a trial-to-trial basis and that the stimulus-induced change in firing rate decreases with increasing prestimulus firing rate. Interestingly, this prestimulus firing rate dependence was different when the behavioral task did not involve detecting the valence of the stimulus. Finally, when the animal was learning to associate the odor with reward, the prestimulus firing rate was smaller for false alarms compared with correct rejections, suggesting that intrinsic activity reflects the anticipatory status of the animal. Thus, in this sensory modality, changes in behavioral status alter the intrinsic prestimulus activity, leading to a change in the responsiveness of the second-order neurons. We speculate that this trial-to-trial variability in odorant responses reflects sampling of the massive parallel input by subsets of mitral cells.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe olfactory bulb must deal with processing massive parallel input from ∼1200 distinct olfactory receptors. In contrast, the visual system receives input from a small number of photoreceptors and achieves recognition of complex stimuli by allocating processing for distinct spatial locations to different brain areas. Here we find that the change in firing rate elicited by the odorant in second-order mitral cells depends on the intrinsic activity leading to a change of magnitude in the responsiveness of these neurons relative to this prestimulus activity. Further, we find that prestimulus firing rate is influenced by behavioral status. This suggests that there is top-down modulation allowing downstream brain processing areas to perform dynamic readout of olfactory information.