bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interferon-α-induced CD100 on naïve CD8+ T cells enhances antiviral responses to hepatitis C infection through CD72 signal transduction
Authors: Li Bing Jie , He Yu , Zhang Ying , Guo Yong Hong , Zhou Yun , Zhang Pei Xin , Wang Wei , Zhao Jie Ru , Li Jin Ge , Zuo Wei Ze , Fan Chao , Jia Zhan Sheng 
Published: January 2017

Objectives We investigated the effects of CD100 on naïve CD8+ T cells during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after interferon-α (IFN-α) therapy to clarify the mechanism underlying the effect of IFN-α in enhancing the antiviral response. Methods The CD100 molecules on subsets of CD8+ T cells were analysed with flow cytometry. The effects of CD100-overexpressing naïve CD8+ T cells were determined with ELISAs and an MTT cytotoxicity assay. The role of CD100–CD72 signal transduction was analysed with a neutralization and transwell assays. Results HCV infection reduced CD100 expression on CD8+ T cells, whereas IFN-α treatment significantly increased CD100 expression on naïve CD8+ T cells. The increased CD100 interacted with the CD72 receptor and enhanced PBMC cytokine secretion (IFN-γ and tumour necrosis factor-α) and cytotoxicity. Conclusions IFN-α-induced CD100 on naïve CD8+ T cells promotes PBMC cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity through CD100–CD72 signalling during HCV infection.
Shortened preoperative fasting for prevention of complications associated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Duo , Zhu Xuejiao , Xu Yuan , Zhang Liqing 
Published: January 2017

Objective Routine fasting (12 h) is always applied before laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but prolonged preoperative fasting causes thirst, hunger, and irritability as well as dehydration, low blood glucose, insulin resistance and other adverse reactions. We assessed the safety and efficacy of a shortened preoperative fasting period in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to 20 November 2015 and selected controlled trials with a shortened fasting time before laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We assessed the results by performing a meta-analysis using a variety of outcome measures and investigated the heterogeneity by subgroup analysis. Results Eleven trials were included. Forest plots showed that a shortened fasting time reduced the operative risk and patient discomfort. A shortened fasting time also reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting as well as operative vomiting. With respect to glucose metabolism, a shortened fasting time significantly reduced abnormalities in the ratio of insulin sensitivity. The C-reactive protein concentration was also reduced by a shortened fasting time. Conclusions A shortened preoperative fasting time increases patients’ postoperative comfort, improves insulin resistance, and reduces stress responses. This evidence supports the clinical application of a shortened fasting time before laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Clinical Trial of Debrisan in Superficial Ulceration
Authors: Mummery R V , Richardson W W 
Published: January 2017

A total of thirty cases of sacral and leg ulceration, burns, and infected sinuses were treated with Debrisan in glycerine (4/1 v/v), after removal of adherent necrotic tissue surgically. The preparation was effective in cleansing the wound, in most cases reducing the bacterial colonization, and lessening the local inflammation and oedema. Production of healthy granulation tissue resulted and the lesions healed faster than expected. One-third of the lesions failed to respond to treatment, and the reasons for this are discussed. With some patient selection, this preparation proved to be valuable in the treatment of superficial ulcers and surgical wounds, in those lesions with sufficient exudate to enable Debrisan to act.
A Comparative Clinical Trial of Diflunisal and Ibuprofen in the Control of Pain in Osteoarthritis
Authors: Keet J G M 
Published: January 2017

A randomized double-blind study in ambulatory patients with osteoarthritis of hip and/or knee was conducted, comparing the efficacy and safety of diflunisal 500 mg daily with ibuprofen 1200 mg daily, over a period of 8 weeks. Thirty-five patients participated in the study. The results revealed no significant differences between the treatment groups with regard to the efficacy parameters.
Treatment of Osteoarthrosis with Piroxicam in General Practice: Long-Term Follow-Up in a Multicentre Study
Authors: Gordon A J , Estabrooks T F , Dessain P 
Published: January 2017

Thirty-eight investigators in Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy and The Netherlands participated in a long-term follow-up of 154 patients who had shown adequate response without toleration problems in a short-term multicentre trial in osteoarthrosis. Patients were from 37 to 85 years of age (mean 63) and 68% were female. They received piroxicam from 92 to 344 days (mean 182). The starting dose of 20 mg once daily was maintained throughout for 69% of patients; for 12% the final dose was 30 mg, for 16% it was 10 mg, and for 3% it was 40 mg. Forty-seven per cent of patients reported they were taking concurrent anti-inflammatory/analgesic medication at baseline but by the end of therapy only 18% were. Most patients had moderate or severe involvement in one or more of the knee, hip, spine, shoulder, and finger joints. By the final visit, between 84% and 94% showed marked or moderate improvement in the physician's assessment of joint tenderness and limitation of motion. These results were in good agreement with patient self assessment: 83% to 90% reported marked or moderate improvement in ability to move and use joints and in their general overall feeling (‘quality of life’ measurement). Furthermore, steady improvement was observed throughout therapy in patient self-assessment of pain and stiffness relative to baseline. The 50% to 60% pain reduction recorded over the short-term (6 to 12 weeks) reached 70% at the end of therapy. The figures for stiffness were 50% to 55% short-term and 61% long-term. Onset of morning pain which occurred on the average within 1 hour of waking at baseline had risen to 8.4 hours (740% increase) by the end of therapy. The drug was well tolerated with sixteen patients (10%) reporting side-effects attributed to piroxicam. Nearly all were mild or moderate and occurred without disruption of therapy during the first 1 or 2 months of treatment. Most adverse reactions were upper gastro-intestinal but there were no reports of ulceration. One patient, with gastro-intestinal pain after 99 days on drug, was discontinued. In their global evaluation, physicians judged the efficacy of piroxicam as marked in 71%, moderate in 24%, slight in 4%, and not effective in 1% of patients. Toleration was considered excellent in 83%, good in 14 %, fair in 2%, and poor in only 1%. Compared to prior therapy, piroxicam was rated by the investigators as better in 90% of the 114 assessable cases. The results suggest that patients with osteoarthrosis who respond well to piroxicam during a short course of treatment are likely to continue their good response and possibly obtain increased relief of symptoms during longer treatment periods.
Comparative Trial of Fucidin Ointment and Fucidin Cream in Skin Sepsis
Authors: Pakrooh H 
Published: January 2017

A study has been conducted on 101 patients with superficial skin sepsis comparing the effectiveness of topical treatment with 2% sodium fusidate ointment and a new preparation containing 2% fusidic acid in a cream base. The results showed that both topical preparations were equally effective in terms of the number of days for healing to take place and in the subjective assessment of the clinical response. Bacteriological investigation of the swabs from ninety-one patients showed Staphylococcus aureus to be the most frequently isolated pathogen. Both preparations were well tolerated and no adverse reactions were observed. It is suggested that the new 2% fusidic acid cream is particularly suitable for use on lesions requiring no dry dressing, whereas the 2% sodium fusidate ointment is preferred for those conditions where a dressing is applied.
Comparison of Efficacy of Timiperone, a New Butyrophenone Derivative, and Clocapramine in Schizophrenia: A Multiclinic Double-Blind Study
Authors: Nakazawa T , Ohara K , Sawa Y , Edakubo T , Matsui H , Sawa J , Kawaguchi K , Hattori S , Nakajima M 
Published: January 2017

The clinical efficacy and safety of timiperone, a new butyrophenone derivative, on chronic schizophrenia was compared with clocapramine by the double-blind method using a total of eighty-eight patients, consisting of forty-four patients in each group. In the final global improvement rating, the global improvement rating in each week and the general usefulness rating, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. However, in the global improvement rating in each symptom, timiperone was significantly superior to clocapramine in delusion and showed a superior tendency to clocapramine in contact. Timiperone showed a higher improvement rate than clocapramine in hallucination and disturbance of self-conciousness. In the over-all safety rating, there were no significant differences between the two groups, but in accompanying symptoms and side-effects, timiperone showed significantly less tendency than clocapramine in dyskinesia, insomnia, constipation and nausea. From these results, including the analysis by stratification, it was considered that timiperone was a superior or equivalent neuroleptic in comparison with clocapramine against the negative symptoms as well as the positive ones of chronic schizophrenia, and was equally safe or safer than clocapramine.
A Beta-Blocker as Anxiolytic and Haemostatic in Tonsillectomy
Authors: Basjrah Rizal , Lubis Harun R , Tann Gino 
Published: January 2017

Administration of a beta-blocker, pindolol, was utilized in the pre-medication of patients selected for tonsillectomies (dissection), to study anxiolytic effects. A curious result observed was that bleeding during and after operation in patients on pindolol was remarkably reduced compared to those not on beta-blocker treatment. This effect was further explored in a small controlled study. Nineteen patients were given pindolol, 5 mg the evening before and on the morning, an hour prior to surgery. Seventeen controls were on placebos. The amount of bleeding was measured in both groups. Patients on pindolol show significantly reduced bleeding when compared to controls (1·77 ± 1·15 ml versus 7·0 ± 6·05 ml; p < 0·005). Coagulation and fibrinolytic profiles were studied in a number of patients in both groups attempting to clarify the cause of the reduced bleeding. The results will be reported. This preliminary study shows that pindolol is a useful drug for controlling bleeding in tonsillectomies. To our knowledge the haemostatic properties of pindolol have never been reported before.
Clinical Comparison of Alclometasone Dipropionate Cream 0·05% with Hydrocortisone Butyrate Cream 0·1% in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Children
Authors: Lassus Allan 
Published: January 2017

Alclometasone dipropionate cream 0·05% was compared to hydrocortisone butyrate cream 0·1% in the treatment of atopic dermatitis in forty children, 5 to 11 years old. In this double-blind, parallel-group trial, the experimental creams were applied twice daily for 2 weeks, without occlusion, to the study areas. Efficacy was evaluated 1 and 2 weeks after the start of treatment. Both creams were effective treatments for atopic dermatitis; however, alclometasone dipropionate was judged slightly more efficacious. Improvement in erythema, induration, and pruritus averaged 76% for alclometasone dipropionate-treatedpatients and 70% for hydrocortisone butyrate-treated patients. At the end of treatment, the physician's global evaluation indicated nineteen of twenty patients in the alclometasone dipropionate group had between 51% and 100% improvement in disease signs and symptoms, compared with sixteen of twenty patients treated with hydrocortisone butyrate. Two patients in the alclometasone dipropionate-treated group and one in the hydrocortisone butyrate-treated group reported mild stinging.
Herpes Zoster Treatments: Results of a Clinical Trial Relative to the Use of Rifamycin SV versus Neuramide
Authors: Bruni L , Tagliapietra G , Innocenti P 
Published: January 2017

The authors describe a controlled clinical study in which rifamycin SV 250 mg intramuscularly and topical b.i.d. was compared to intramuscular neuramide b.i.d. plus, where necessary, other drugs (antibiotics, polivitamins, analgesics, etc.) for the treatment of two groups of thirty randomly selected patients suffering from herpes zoster. In all patients the symptoms were controlled by both treatments but statistical tests revealed that rifamycin SV was able to heal pain (p < 0·05), vesicles, crusts and burning sensation (p < 0·1) faster than neuramide. Furthermore, by the seventh day of therapy, the authors found that rifamycin SV reduced the intensity of both pain and erythema (p < 0·01 for pain; p < 0·05 for erythema) more than neuramide.
Celestone® Phosphate Injection High Dose: Treatment of Septic Shock and Impending Transplant Rejection
Authors: Carreño C A 
Published: January 2017

Celestone® Phosphate Injection was administered as an intravenous bolus to twenty patients, eighteen with septic shock and two with impending acute renal transplant rejection. Within 4 hours following the diagnosis of septic shock, adjunctive corticosteroid therapy in a dosage ranging from 2·88–3·11 mg/kg was given every 4 hours. The two patients with impending acute renal transplant rejection were dosed every 24 hours. Intravenous fluids, ventilatory assistance, antimicrobial agents, vasoactive agents, diuretics, digitalis and antipyretics were among the concomitant therapies. Among measurements monitored during the study, vital signs, arterial blood gases, central venous pressure, complete blood count, blood chemistry, electrocardiograms and chest radiographs indicated improvement in each patient's condition by the end of therapy. Rapid clinical improvement occurred within 4–8 hours for patients with septic shock and within 48 hours for patients with kidney transplants. Two to three doses of medication were required. Complete reversal of shock was achieved in eighteen (100%) patients with septic shock; both (100%) renal transplant patients experienced reversal of impending rejection. Tolerance was good and no adverse experiences were reported.
An Open Trial of Ceftazidime in the Treatment of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Ferreira A Matos , Coelho Helder , de Carvalho M Pina 
Published: January 2017

In an open prospective trial, twenty-two patients (twenty-one males and one female) with complicated urinary tract infections were treated with 2 g of ceftazidime every 12 hours (nineteen patients were treated intramuscularly and three intravenously for 7 or 10 days). The weight, age and underlying disorders of the urinary tract are indicated for each patient, as well as infecting pathogens and corresponding MICs. Clinical cure, as defined by complete resolution of symptoms and signs was obtained in all the patients. The over all bacteriological clearance rate was 93·3%. Four out of five Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections were cleared. There were no adverse events during ceftazidime treatment except for slight pain around the site of intramuscular injection. No changes in laboratory parameters attributable to ceftazidime therapy were noted. Ceftazidime is a safe and effective drug in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections.
A Comparison of the Incidence of Peptic Ulceration for Fenbufena, Indomethacin and Aspirin Treated Patients Compared with the General Population
Authors: Cohen P M 
Published: January 2017

Survival analysis techniques were used to compare the long-term incidence of peptic ulceration occurring in fenbufen, indomethacin and aspirin treated patients with a “background” incidence for the whole population. The results of this analysis indicate that the incidence of peptic ulceration occurring in patients receiving long-term therapy with fenbufen is comparable to the background incidence for the whole population
A Double-Blind Randomized Comparison of the Effect and Tolerance of Varidase® versus Saline when Instilled in the Urinary Bladder in Patients with Catheter Problems
Authors: Andersson Håkan 
Published: January 2017

Thirty-eight patients with problems with their urinary catheters were randomly treated with Varidase® or normal saline solution once a day for 10 days. Photographs were taken by using a cystoscope before treatment, at day 10 and day 24 after the commencement of treatment. The photographs were evaluated according to the occurrence of pus, debris, coagula and rubor. In the Varidase® group the improvements from baseline to day 10 and day 24 were statistically significant (p < 0·05) in all parameters while there were no statistically significant improvements in the saline group. Comparing the two treatment groups, regarding the changes from baseline to day 10 and day 24, it was statistically demonstrated that Varidase® was significantly more effective than saline in all parameters (p < 0·05). In conclusion, this study shows that Varidase® effectively cleans the urinary bladder from pus, fibrin, necrotic tissue and blood clots.
Diclofenac Sodium versus Acetylsalicylic Acid: A Randomized Study in Febrile Patients
Authors: Bettini R , Grossi E , Rapazzini P , Giardina G 
Published: January 2017

One hundred and twenty adult patients with high temperatures (≥38°C) brought about by influenza viruses or other conditions were randomly treated with two different antipyretics: a) a 25 mg sodium diclofenac tablet (Novapirina) every 12 hours for 2 consecutive days; b) a 500 mg tablet of acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) every 8 hours for 2 consecutive days. Antipyretic action (assessed at 6 hours following the first administration) was found to be equally rapid and consistent in both cases but significantly longer-lasting in the Novapirina-treated group than the Aspirin-treated group (p < 0·01). Mean temperature changes over the 48 hours of observation and the over-all judgement on the antipyretic effect expressed at the end of each day of treatment were similar for both groups and good in all cases. The antiphlogistic-painkilling properties of both drugs were found to be effective in improving the symptomatology accompanying the high temperature during the course of the bout of influenza. The effectiveness/tolerability ratio was found to be satisfactory for both groups: only one case of gastric intolerance to Novapirina was recorded and five cases of gastric intolerance to Aspirin.
Development of a Clinical Grade Procedure for Generation of mRNA Transfected Dendritic Cells from Purified Frozen CD34+ Blood Progenitor Cells
Authors: Mu L.J. , Lazarova P. , Gaudernack G. , Sæbøe-Larssen S. , Kvalheim G. 
Published: January 2017

Enriched CD34+ peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPC) are frequently used as stem cell support in cancer patients following high dose therapy. Since precursor dendritic cells (DCs) originate from haematopoietic progenitor cells, purified CD34+ cells might also serve as starting cells for ex-vivo production of DC. In the present study we developed a clinical grade procedure for ex-vivo production of DC derived from enriched CD34+ cells. Different concentrations of CD34+ cells were grown in gas-permeable Teflon bags with different serum-free and serum-containing media supplemented with GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-α, SCF, Flt-3L and INF-α. Serum-free CellGroSCGM medium for 7 days followed by CellGroDC medium in 7 days gave the same results as serum-containing medium. After incubation the cultured cells containing immature DCs were concentrated and transfected with tumour mRNA from human prostate cancer cell lines employing a highly efficient electroporation procedure. Thawed transfected DCs were able to elicit primary T-cell responses in vitro against antigens encoded by the prostate cancer mRNA as shown by ELISPOT assay using mock-transfected DCs as control. Our results show that frozen enriched CD34+ cells can be an alternative and efficient source for production of DCs for therapeutic purpose.
Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Pannone G. , Bufo P. , Caiaffa M. F. , Serpico R. , Lanza A. , Muzio L. Lo , Rubini C. , Staibano S. , Petruzzi M. , De Benedictis M. , Tursi A. , De Rosa G. , Macchia L. 
Published: January 2017

Cyclooxygenase (COX), the key enzyme in prostaglandin cascade, is expressed in two isoforms: the constitutive COX-1 and the inducible COX-2. Hyper-expression of COX-2 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of colon-rectal cancer in humans but it appears to play a significant role as a tumour progression factor also in other forms of human cancer, including oral cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of COX-2, at the protein level, in 45 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Standard immunohistochemical streptavidin-biotin peroxidase analysis was carried out with a highly specific antibody against human COX-2 and cell specific markers, in 45 oral squamous cell carcinomas. Our study revealed a moderate to high COX-2 expression in 35 out of the 45 oral squamous cell carcinoma specimens (77.8%). COX-2 expression appeared particularly abundant in the superficial ulcerated layers of relatively well differentiated carcinomas. However, we were unable to assess any statistically significant association between COX-2 hyper-expression and tumor site, tumor grading, tumor size, presence of lymph node metastases, tumor stage and age at onset, respectively. Interestingly, COX-2 expression was detected not only in areas of epithelial dysplasia adjacent to the primary layers (86% of the cases) but also in normal-appearing epithelium at the boundaries of squamous cell carcinomas (77%), indicating a possible involvement in tumour progression by the apparently normal tissue surrounding the lesion. Moreover, intense COX-2 staining was observed in endothelial cells of intra-tumour vessels and extra-tumour vessels adjacent to the tumour nests, in a high proportion of cases (82%). COX-2 positivity was associated with CD34 and VEGF positivity, indicating that these vessels were probably neo-formed. From this study, as well as from other works, it appears that COX-2 is over-expressed in this important human malignancy. However, further studies are necessary to understand the exact magnitude of this over-expression and, mostly, the possible role of COX-2 in the pathogenesis and progression of oral cancer.
Differential Effects of Sodium Cromoglycate on Adriamycin-Induced Histamine Release from Isolated Rat and Mouse Mast Cells
Authors: Decorti Giuliana , Klugmann Fiora Bartoli , Candussio L. , Baldini L. 
Published: January 2017

Adriamycin-induced histamine release has been studied on purified mast cells obtained from peritoneal cavities of mice and rats. The activity of the antineoplastic drug was compared with that of the classic basic secretagogue compound 48/80. Rat and mouse mast cells were similarly responsive to adriamycin, on the contrary, the activity of compound 48/80 was more marked in rat than in mouse. The antianaphylactic agent sodium cromoglycate was extremely effective in preventing adriamycin-induced histamine release in both species, whereas, an inhibitory activity against compound 48/80 was evident only in rat mast cells.