bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How phenobarbital revolutionized epilepsy therapy: The story of phenobarbital therapy in epilepsy in the last 100 years
Authors: Yasiry Zeid , Shorvon Simon D. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryPhenobarbital (phenobarbitone) was first used as an antiepileptic drug 100 years ago, in 1912. This article tells the story of the discovery of its antiepileptic action, its early development, and the subsequent course of its clinical use over the 100‐year period. The side effects, pharmacokinetics, and misuse of barbiturates are considered, along with the more recent clinical trials and the drug’s current clinical utilization. The introduction of controlled drug regulations, the comparative cost of phenobarbital, and its inclusion on the World Health Organization (WHO) essential drug list are discussed. It is one of the few drugs on the formulary in 1912 that is still listed today, and remarkably its efficacy in epilepsy has not been significantly bettered. The current recommendation by the WHO is that phenobarbital should be offered as the first option for therapy for convulsive epilepsy in adults and children if availability can be ensured. This is rated as a strong recommendation because of the proven efficacy and low cost of phenobarbital, and despite its perceived side‐effect profile and the practical problems of access. Whether this recommendation puts “a hierarchy on the brain,” as has been suggested, is arguable. Much still needs to be learned about the drug’s effects, and the issues raised by phenobarbital have lessons for all antiepileptic drug therapy.
Diagnostics différentiels de l’acné du visage sur peau noire
Authors: Poli Florence 
Published: December 2012

RésuméLe diagnostic d’acné est habituellement facile, certains pièges sont néanmoins àéviter. « L’ acné chéloïdienne de la nuque » et la folliculite de la barbe ne sont pas des acnés au sens propre: ce sont toutes deux des réactions inflammatoires puis fibreuses des follicules porteurs de cheveux et poils crépus, il n’y a pas de lésions rétentionnelles – comédons et microkystes‐ visibles. Les folliculites à gram négatifs surviennent classiquement chez les sujets masculins acnéiques traités de façon prolongée par antibiothérapie générales ou antiseptiques locaux, mais il existe des cas « de novo ». Sur peau noire, cette affection n’est pas exceptionnelle, elle survient dans les deux sexes et prend habituellement la forme nodulaire. Devant toute aggravation d’une acné, résistante au traitement classique, comportant des nodules douloureux des joues, le diagnostic est àévoquer. Le traitement repose sur une antibiothérapie adaptée pendant plusieurs semaines et éventuellement dans un deuxième temps sur l’Isotrétinoïne. Les folliculites pityrosporiques sont localisées principalement sur le tronc. Plus fréquente chez l’homme que chez la femme, elles s’observent sur‐tout chez les sujets vivants en climat chaud et humide. La démodécie se manifeste par des poussées de lésions papuleuses ou papulo‐pustuleuses du visage. Sur peau noire, le principal diagnostic différentiel est l’acné. La présence de nombreux parasites est nécessaire au diagnostic. Cliniquement, un signe important est l’atteinte des paupières. L’Ivermectine est efficace. Une dermatose acnéiforme peut être induite par les préparations dépigmentantes contenant des dermocorticoïdes puissants. Il est donc important, devant une acné très inflammatoire, de rechercher les autres signes cliniques de la dépigmentation volontaire. L’hydradénite du visage et du dos peut être confondue avec une acné nodulaire. En pays d’endémie, il faut penser à la lèpre lépromateuse. D’autres dermatoses courantes peuvent simuler une acné ou bien lui être associées, comme les hidradénomes éruptifs ou les molluscum contagiosum, L’analyse des différentes lésions élémentaires et l’absence de lésions rétentionnelles permet en général de rétablir le diagnostic.
Acne and skin bleaching in Lomé, Togo
Authors: Kombaté Koussake , Mouhari‐Toure Abas , Saka Bayaki , Akakpo Abla Séfako , Maboudou Akouavi , Pitché Palokinam , Tchangaï‐Walla Kissem 
Published: December 2012

AbstractObjective  This study aims at describing the clinical characteristics of patients with acne using skin bleaching (SB) products.Patients and methods  This is a prospective study conducted over 8 months in three dermatology departments and one private clinic. All patients examined for acne were included in the study.Results  The study included 119 patients examined for acne from March to October 2010. Among them 48 (40.7%) did SB. Hydroquinone was the first product used for SB (26 of 48), followed by topical corticosteroids (17 of 48). The elementary lesions were papules (99.2%), comedos (36.1%), pustules (63.9%), pigmentation (26.1%), scars (21%), and nodules (20.2%). The extent of acne on the face was observed in all patients (100%). The lesions were extensive among 43.7% of the patients. The extent of acne lesions was not statistically associated with SB. Other body areas concerned were the chest (20.2%), back, and shoulders (41.2%). The relative risk of having lesions on the back and/or shoulders when the patient practiced SB was 2.71 (CI: 1.08–6.84), which is significant.Conclusion  The study suggests that the back and shoulders can be the main areas for acne lesions associated with the practice of SB. The influence of different types of product is unclear.
Epidemiological study of fixed drug eruption in Pointe‐Noire
Authors: Ognongo‐Ibiaho A. N. , Atanda H. L. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryA prospective study was conducted over a 27 month period in order to determine the epidemiological profile of fixed drug eruption (FDE) observed during a dermatological consultation at Pointe‐Noire.  During the study period 54 out of 9,070 persons consulting (0.6%) suffered from clinically diagnosed FDE. The variables studied were: age, sex, medicine and point of sale.  The average age of onset was 30 years.  The frequency of onset was higher in males (38 patients) than in females (16 patients).  The incriminated medicines were: the sulfamides (48 patients) including Cotrimoxazole (45 patients ) and Sulfadoxine and Pyremethamine (3 patients) Coartem® + Doliprane® (1 patient), Chloramphenicol® (1 patient), Amidol® (1 patient), Duocotexin® + Paracetamol® (1 patient), Surquina® (1 patient), Amodiaquine® (1 patient).  The point of sale was illicit (peddlers, markets) for 44 patients; for 10 patients it was a lawful outlet (pharmacies).  This study shows that cotrimoxazole bought at illicit points of sale is the main etiology of FDE in the department, confirming that these medicines are counterfeit. The involvement of dermatologists in the fight against the illicit sale of medicines should be made a priority.
Pruritus in dermatological hospital in Bamako, Mali
Authors: Faye Ousmane , Cisse Lamissa , Berthe Siritio , Dicko Adama , Ndiaye Hawa Thiam , Traore Pierre , Coulibaly Karim , Keita Somita 
Published: December 2012

AbstractPruritus is a symptom frequently encountered in dermatology consultations. For practitioners working in a tropical environment, particularly in Africa, the diagnosis of pruritus remains a constant problem. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemioclinical aspects and the etiologies of pruritus encountered at the dermatological hospital in Bamako. We conducted a prospective survey on a cohort of patients attending the Department of Dermatology at the Centre National d’Appui (CNAM‐Ex Institut Marchoux) in the Fight against Disease over a 1‐year period (June 1, 2009–May 31, 2010). Consequently, the study included every patient, whatever their age and gender, that agreed to take part in the survey and whose main reason for attending for a consultation was “pruritus.” The clinical and biological data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info software, version 6.04 fr. A total of 232 patients (163 women, 69 men) attended because of pruritus out of 1761 overall patients (i.e., a prevalence of 13.17%). The mean age of the patients was 33 ± 19 years. Dermatological causes represented 95% of the etiologies. This work allowed us to observe the systemic causes of pruritus in the dermatological environment in Mali and greater likelihood of black women to attend because of pruritus.
Prurit en consultation hospitalière à Bamako, Mali
Authors: Faye Ousmane , Cisse Lamissa , Berthe Siritio , Dicko Adama , Thiam Ndiaye Hawa , Traore Pierre , Coulibaly Karim , Keita Somita 
Published: December 2012

RésuméLe prurit est un symptôme fréquemment rencontré en consultation dermatologique. Pour le praticien exerçant en milieu tropical, notamment en Afrique, le diagnostic du prurit demeure une problématique constante. Le but de ce travail était de décrire les aspects épidémio‐cliniques et les étiologies du prurit en milieu hospitalier dermatologique à Bamako. Nous avons mené une enquête prospective sur une cohorte de malades consultant dans le service de Dermatologie du Centre National d’Appui à la lutte contre la Maladie (CNAM‐Ex Institut Marchoux) sur une période d’un an (01/06/2009 au 31/05/2010). Ainsi, ont été inclus dans l’étude, tous malades, quelque soit l’âge et le sexe, acceptant de participer à l’enquête et dont le motif principal de consultation était le « prurit ». Les données cliniques et biologiques ont été saisies et analysées à l’aide du logiciel Epi Info version 6.04 fr. Au total, 232 malades (163 femmes, 69 hommes) ont consulté pour prurit sur 1761 malades consultants, soit une prévalence de 13.17%. L’âge moyen des malades était de 33 ± 19 ans. Les causes dermatologiques représentaient 95% des étiologies. Ce travail nous a permis de noter la rareté des causes systémiques du prurit en milieu dermatologique au Mali et une plus grande susceptibilité de la femme noire à consulter pour prurit.
Informal formalisation in a hybrid property space: The case of smallholder oil palm production in Solomon Islands
Authors: Allen Matthew G. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractAcross post‐colonial Melanesia, the benefits and costs of ‘mobilisation’ of customary land for economic development remain much debated among scholars, activists, policy‐makers and the donor community. This paper presents a case study from Solomon Islands of a hybrid property space in which smallholder oil palm blocks are being established on customary land through an informal ‘smallholder land use approval’ system. This system provides salutary evidence of how customary land can be engaged for commercial agricultural activity without recourse to formalisation. It also potentially provides a more equitable pathway for landowners, especially women and young men, to engage in the oil palm sector, with the only current alternative being the registration and leasing of land directly to the oil palm company. However, enthusiasm for the scheme must be tempered by an explicit awareness of the relationships between land, development and conflict on the island Guadalcanal where the oil palm operation is located. The nascent ‘informal formalisation’ and commercialisation of customary land that is taking place on Guadalcanal is subjected to a conflict analysis informed by both the recent history of violent conflict in the area and comparative experience from the village oil palm sector in neighbouring Papua New Guinea. A number of potential conflict stresses are identified and recommendations made to mitigate them.
Adjusting Treatment Effect Estimates by Post-Stratification in Randomized Experiments
Authors: Miratrix Luke W. , Sekhon Jasjeet S. , Yu Bin 
Published: December 2012

SummaryExperimenters often use post-stratification to adjust estimates. Post-stratification is akin to blocking, except that the number of treated units in each stratum is a random variable because stratification occurs after treatment assignment. We analyse both post-stratification and blocking under the Neyman–Rubin model and compare the efficiency of these designs. We derive the variances for a post-stratified estimator and a simple difference-in-means estimator under different randomization schemes. Post-stratification is nearly as efficient as blocking: the difference in their variances is of the order of 1/n2, with a constant depending on treatment proportion. Post-stratification is therefore a reasonable alternative to blocking when blocking is not feasible. However, in finite samples, post-stratification can increase variance if the number of strata is large and the strata are poorly chosen. To examine why the estimators’ variances are different, we extend our results by conditioning on the observed number of treated units in each stratum. Conditioning also provides more accurate variance estimates because it takes into account how close (or far) a realized random sample is from a comparable blocked experiment. We then show that the practical substance of our results remains under an infinite population sampling model. Finally, we provide an analysis of an actual experiment to illustrate our analytical results.
A Social‐Ecological‐Infrastructural Systems Framework for Interdisciplinary Study of Sustainable City Systems
Authors: Ramaswami Anu , Weible Christopher , Main Deborah , Heikkila Tanya , Siddiki Saba , Duvall Andrew , Pattison Andrew , Bernard Meghan 
Published: December 2012

SummaryCities are embedded within larger‐scale engineered infrastructures (e.g., electric power, water supply, and transportation networks) that convey natural resources over large distances for use by people in cities. The sustainability of city systems therefore depends upon complex, cross‐scale interactions between the natural system, the transboundary engineered infrastructures, and the multiple social actors and institutions that govern these infrastructures. These elements, we argue, are best studied in an integrated manner using a novel social‐ecological‐infrastructural systems (SEIS) framework. In the biophysical subsystem, the SEIS framework integrates urban metabolism with life cycle assessment to articulate transboundary infrastructure supply chain water, energy, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission footprints of cities. These infrastructure footprints make visible multiple resources (water, energy, materials) used directly or indirectly (embodied) to support human activities in cities. They inform cross‐scale and cross‐infrastructure sector strategies for mitigating environmental pollution, public health risks and supply chain risks posed to cities. In the social subsystem, multiple theories drawn from the social sciences explore interactions between three actor categories—individual resource users, infrastructure designers and operators, and policy actors—who interact with each other and with infrastructures to shape cities toward sustainability outcomes. Linking of the two subsystems occurs by integrating concepts, theories, laws, and models across environmental sciences/climatology, infrastructure engineering, industrial ecology, architecture, urban planning, behavioral sciences, public health, and public affairs. Such integration identifies high‐impact leverage points in the urban SEIS. An interdisciplinary SEIS‐based curriculum on sustainable cities is described and evaluated for its efficacy in promoting systems thinking and interdisciplinary vocabulary development, both of which are measures of effective frameworks.
Standard Operating Procedures for Peyronie's Disease
Authors: Levine Laurence A. , Burnett Arthur L. 
Published: December 2012

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Peyronie's disease (PD) refers to a penile deformity that is associated with sexual dysfunction.

Aim
To provide recommendations and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) based on best evidence for diagnosis and treatment of PD.

Methods
Medical literature was reviewed and combined with expert opinion of the authors.

Main Outcome Measures
Recommendations and SOPs based on grading of evidence–based medical literature.

Results
PD is a fibrotic wound-healing disorder involving the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa. The resulting scar is responsible for a variety of deformities, including curvature, shortening, narrowing with hinge effect, and is frequently associated in the early phase with pain. Patients frequently experience diminished quality erections. All of these conditions can compromise sexual function for the affected male. The etiopathophysiology of PD has yet to be clarified and as a result, effective, reliable, mechanistic directed non-surgical therapy is lacking.

Conclusions
The management of PD consists of proper diagnosis and treatment, ranging from non-surgical to surgical interventions. The main state of treatment for PD rests at this time on surgical correction that should be based on clear indications, involve surgical consent, and follow a surgical algorithm that includes tunica plication, plaque incision/partial excision and grafting, and penile prosthesis implantation.
Effects of Increasing Salinity Stress and Decreasing Water Availability on Ecophysiological Traits of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Grown in a Mediterranean‐Type Agroecosystem
Authors: Cocozza C. , Pulvento C. , Lavini A. , Riccardi M. , d'Andria R. , Tognetti R. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractQuinoa is a native Andean crop for domestic consumption and market sale, widely investigated due to its nutritional composition and gluten‐free seeds. Leaf water potential (Ψleaf) and its components and stomatal conductance (gs) of quinoa, cultivar Titicaca, were investigated in Southern Italy, in field trials (2009 and 2010). This alternative crop was subjected to irrigation treatments, with the restitution of 100 %, 50 % and 25 % of the water necessary to replenish field capacity, with well water (100 W, 50 W, 25 W) and saline water (100 WS, 50 WS, 25 WS) with an electrical conductivity (ECw) of 22 dS m−1. As water and salt stress developed and Ψleaf decreased, the leaf osmotic potential (Ψπ) declined (below −2.05 MPa) to maintain turgor. Stomatal conductance decreased with the reduction in Ψleaf (with a steep drop at Ψleaf between −0.8 and 1.2 MPa) and Ψπ (with a steep drop at Ψπ between −1.2 and −1.4 MPa). Salt and drought stress, in both years, did not affect markedly the relationship between water potential components, RWC and gs. Leaf water potentials and gs were inversely related to water limitation and soil salinity experimentally imposed, showing exponential (Ψleaf and turgor pressure, Ψp, vs. gs) or linear (Ψleaf and Ψp vs. SWC) functions. At the end of the experiment, salt‐irrigated plants showed a severe drop in Ψleaf (below −2 MPa), resulting in stomatal closure through interactive effects of soil water availability and salt excess to control the loss of turgor in leaves. The effects of salinity and drought resulted in strict dependencies between RWC and water potential components, showing that regulating cellular water deficit and volume is a powerful mechanism for conserving cellular hydration under stress, resulting in osmotic adjustment at turgor loss. The extent of osmotic adjustment associated with drought was not reflected in Ψπ at full turgor. As soil was drying, the association between Ψleaf and SWC reflected the ability of quinoa to explore soil volume to continue extracting available water from the soil. However, leaf ABA content did not vary under concomitant salinity and drought stress conditions in 2009, while differing between 100 W and 100 WS in 2010. Quinoa showed good resistance to water and salt stress through stomatal responses and osmotic adjustments that played a role in the maintenance of a leaf turgor favourable to plant growth and preserved crop yield in cropping systems similar to those of Southern Italy.
Melasma pathogenesis and influencing factors – an overview of the latest research
Authors: Passeron T. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractMelasma is an acquired, symmetrical hypermelanosis of the face. The pathogenesis of melasma is complex and the treatment is often challenging with frequent relapses. Genetic background, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and female sex hormones are classical influencing factors. To the light of the recent literature, other factors could promote melasma lesions. Moreover, there are increasing evidences showing that melanocytes are not the only cells involved, and that other players probably have a key role in the development and the relapses of melasma. Identifying those associated factors should provide new targets for a more efficient treatment of melasma and a better prevention of the relapses.
4‐n‐butylresorcinol, a highly effective tyrosinase inhibitor for the topical treatment of hyperpigmentation
Authors: Kolbe L. , Mann T. , Gerwat W. , Batzer J. , Ahlheit S. , Scherner C. , Wenck H. , Stäb F. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackground  Hyperpigmentary disorders like melasma, actinic and senile lentigines are a major cosmetic concern. Therefore, many topical products are available, containing various active ingredients aiming to reduce melanin production and distribution. The most prominent target for inhibitors of hyperpigmentation is tyrosinase, the key regulator of melanin production. Many inhibitors of tyrosinase are described in the literature; however, most of them lack clinical efficacy.Methods  We were interested in evaluating the inhibition of skin pigmentation by well‐known compounds with skin‐whitening activity like hydroquinone, arbutin, kojic acid and 4‐n‐butylresorcinol. We compared the inhibition of human tyrosinase activity in a biochemical assay as well as inhibition of melanin production in MelanoDerm™ skin model culture. For some compounds, the in vivo efficacy was tested in clinical studies.Results  Arbutin and hydroquinone only weakly inhibit human tyrosinase with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) in the millimolar range. Kojic acid is 10 times more potent with an IC50 of approximately 500 μmol/L. However, by far the most potent inhibitor of human tyrosinase is 4‐n‐butylresorcinol with an IC50 of 21 μmol/L. In artificial skin models, arbutin was least active with an IC50 for inhibition of melanin production > 5000 μmol/L. Kojic acid inhibited with an IC50 > 400 μmol/L. Interestingly, hydroquinone inhibited melanin production in MelanoDerms with an IC50 below 40 μmol/L, probably due to a mechanism different from tyrosinase inhibition. Again, 4‐n‐butylresorcinol was the most potent inhibitor with an IC50 of 13.5 μmol/L. In vivo efficacy of 4‐n‐butyl‐resorcinol was confirmed in clinical studies. Subjects with age spots on the forearm treated twice daily two age spots with a formula containing 4‐n‐butylresorcinol and two control age spots with the corresponding vehicle. Within 8 weeks, 4‐n‐butylresorcinol reduced visibly the appearance of age spots, while the control spots showed no improvement. A second study showed that 4‐butylresorcinol was more effective than 4‐hexylresorcinol and 4‐phenylethylresorcinol.Conclusion  The present in vitro and in vivo data prove the high inhibitory capacity of 4‐n‐butylresorcinol on human tyrosinase activity, exceeding by far the potency of hydroquinone, arbutin and kojic acid. The resulting clinical improvement of skin hyperpigmentations reveals 4‐n‐butylresorcinol as a very valuable active compound for the management of pigmentation disorders.
Trypanosomatid Pin1‐Type Peptidyl‐Prolyl Isomerase Is Cytosolic and Not Essential for Cell Proliferation
Authors: Erben Esteban D. , Nardelli Sheila C. , de Jesus Teresa C. L. , Schenkman Sergio , Tellez‐Iñon Maria T. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractPin1‐type peptidyl‐prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) isomerise the peptide bond of specific phosphorylated (Ser/Thr)‐Pro residues, regulating various cellular events. Previously, we reported a Pin1‐type PPIase in Trypanosoma cruzi, but little is known about its function and subcellular localization. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that in contrast with Pin1‐like proteins from diverse organisms, TcPin1 mainly localized in the cytoplasm and was excluded from the nuclei. In addition, RNAi‐mediated downregulation of TbPin1 in Trypanosoma brucei did not abolish cell proliferation. Using yeast two‐hybrid assay, we identified a MORN domain‐containing protein as putative Pin1‐binding partners. These data suggest that Pin1‐mediated signaling mechanism plays a different role in protozoan parasites.