bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pituitary stalk interruption syndrome in 58 Chinese patients: clinical features and genetic analysis
Authors: Yang Yan , Guo Qing‐hua , Wang Bao‐an , Dou Jing‐tao , Lv Zhao‐hui , Ba Jian‐ming , Lu Ju‐ming , Pan Chang‐yu , Mu Yi‐ming 
Published: December 2012

SummaryObjectivesPituitary stalk interruption syndrome (PSIS) is rare and its clinical features and pathogenesis are poorly understood. This study characterized the clinical and genetic features of PSIS in Chinese patients.Design and patientsClinical data of 58 patients with PSIS and 46 patients with GH deficiency but a normal pituitary stalk (NPS) were retrospectively analysed. HESX1, LHX4, OTX2 and SOX3 polymorphisms were screened in 33 PSIS patients, and GH1 and GHRHR in 4 NPS patients.ResultsDeficiency of GH was 100% in both PSIS and NPS groups. Other deficiency rates for PSIS and NPS groups were as follows: ACTH, 77·6% and 23·9%; TSH, 43·1% and 10·9%; LH/FSH, 94·2% and 47·4%; and combined pituitary hormone, 93·1% and 41·3% respectively. In PSIS and NPS patients, the percentages of anterior pituitary hypoplasia were 98·3% and 54·3%, pituitary stalk abnormality were 100% and 0%, and ectopic neurohypophysis were 91·4% and 0%. A novel heterozygous sequence variant (c.142A>T, p.T48S) was found in HESX1 in one PSIS patient, 3 polymorphisms (c.63T>C, p.G21G; c.450C>T, p.N150N; and c.983A>G, p.N328S) in LHX4 in 7, 1 and 31 PSIS patients, respectively, and a hemizygous polymorphism (c.157G>C, p.V53L) in SOX3 in one PSIS patient. No OTX2 abnormality was detected in PSIS patients, and no GH1 or GHRHR polymorphisms in NPS patients.ConclusionsCompared with NPS, PSIS patients had more severe anterior pituitary hormone deficiency, lower anterior pituitary hormone secretion and higher probability of abnormal pituitary morphology. HESX1, LHX4 and SOX3 polymorphisms may be associated with PSIS.
Circulating interleukin 6 and soluble forms of its receptors in relation to resting energy expenditure in women with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Karczewska‐Kupczewska Monika , Adamska Agnieszka , Nikołajuk Agnieszka , Otziomek Elżbieta , Górska Maria , Kowalska Irina , Strączkowski Marek 
Published: December 2012

AbstractContextAnorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder, resulting in sustained low weight and marked decrease in fat mass. Interleukin 6 (IL‐6) may play a role in appetite, energy expenditure and body weight control. IL‐6 acts through binding with membrane receptor (IL‐6R) and activates glycoprotein 130 (gp130) signalling. Both IL‐6R and gp130 are present in the blood in the soluble forms (sIL‐6R and sgp130 respectively). sIL‐6R sensitizes cells towards IL‐6, whereas sgp130 inhibits gp130 signalling.ObjectiveTo estimate circulating IL‐6/sIL‐6R/sgp130 system and its relationships with body weight and resting energy expenditure (REE) in AN women.PatientsWe examined 19 women with AN and 27 healthy normal‐weight female controls.MeasurementsIndirect calorimetry and the measurement of serum IL‐6, sIL‐6R and sgp130 concentrations were performed in all the subjects.ResultsREE was decreased in AN women (P < 0·001). Serum IL‐6 was higher in AN women in comparison with control group (P = 0·005). Serum sIL‐6R was lower (P = 0·009) and serum sgp130 was higher (P = 0·004) in AN women in comparison with controls. IL‐6 and sIL‐6R were related to REE in the entire study population (r = −0·54, P < 0·001 and r = 0·48, P = 0·001 respectively) and in AN group (r = −0·54, P = 0·024 and r = 0·60, P = 0·011 respectively).ConclusionsIncreased IL‐6 in AN seems to be compensated by the changes in sIL‐6R and sgp130, which are directed towards inhibition of IL‐6 action. The balance between these factors might play a role in the regulation of energy expenditure in AN.
Circulating apelin level in relation to nutritional status in polycystic ovary syndrome and its association with metabolic and hormonal disturbances
Authors: Olszanecka‐Glinianowicz Magdalena , Madej Paweł , Nylec Marcin , Owczarek Aleksander , Szanecki Wojciech , Skałba Piotr , Chudek Jerzy 
Published: December 2012

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of the study was to analyse relationships between plasma apelin‐36 and apelin‐12 levels, nutritional status, insulin resistance and hormonal disturbances, as well as plasma adiponectin, leptin and resistin concentrations inPCOSwomen.Study design patients and measurementsA cross‐sectional study involving 87PCOS(48 obese) and 67 non‐PCOSwomen (36 obese). Anthropometric parameters and body composition were determined. Serum glucose, androgens,FSH,LH,SHBG, insulin, apelin‐36, apelin‐12, adiponectin, leptin and resistin were measured in the fasting state.ResultsPlasma apelin‐36 and apelin‐12 levels were significantly higher in normal weight women than in the obese women withPCOS(3·1 ± 2·2vs1·2 ± 0·7 μg/l,P < 0·001; 2·9 ± 2·4vs0·5 ± 0·7 μg/l;P < 0·001 respectively). Both plasma apelin‐36 and ‐12 levels correlated positively with adiponectin levels, and inversely with leptin or resistin levels. There was a negative correlation between plasma apelin‐36, apelin‐12 and serumLHlevels. In addition, an inverse correlation between apelin‐12 level andLHtoFSHratio was found. In multiple regression analysis 9% ofLHvariability was explained by apelin‐12 levels (β = −0·14;P < 0·001).ConclusionsNutritional status seems to have different effects on apelin release, particularly, its active isoform, in women withPCOScompared with women withoutPCOS. This may be partially caused by changes in leptin and resistin secretion and may enhance pituitary‐ovarian axis disturbances. The association between both isoforms of apelin and insulin resistance seems to be bidirectional.
Immunological pathways to β‐cell damage in Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Peakman M. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractFollowing almost 30 years of intensive research, initiated by the observation that Type 1 diabetes development is associated with a characteristic pancreatic immune cell infiltrate, a picture is emerging of which of the diverse effector arms of the immune system are involved in β‐cell destruction. Like any chronic pathology, there is considerable complexity, and our ability to model the disease is hampered by a lack of ready access to the target organ and limited longitudinal analyses. However, it seems that putative pathways can start to be ruled in and out, in part as a result of focused mechanistic studies that make use of new technologies, and in part through analysis of the outcomes of clinical trials of new agents aimed at halting the disease process. The picture that emerges suggests a pathway to prevention that may require combinations of therapeutic agents that target different aspects of the immune system and will need to be used with due attention to their risk‐benefit profiles.
Insulin degludec improves health‐related quality of life (SF‐36®) compared with insulin glargine in people with Type 2 diabetes starting on basal insulin: a meta‐analysis of phase 3a trials
Authors: Freemantle N. , Meneghini L. , Christensen T. , Wolden M. L. , Jendle J. , Ratner R. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractAimTo compare the effect of insulin degludec and insulin glargine on health‐related quality of life in patients with Type 2 diabetes starting on insulin therapy.MethodsPatient‐level data from three open‐label, randomized, treat‐to‐target trials of 26 or 52 weeks' duration were pooled using a weighted analysis in conjunction with a fixed‐effects model. Insulin‐naive patients received either insulin degludec (n = 1290) or insulin glargine (n = 632) once daily, in combination with oral anti‐diabetic drugs. Glycaemic control was assessed via HbA1cand fasting plasma glucose concentrations. Rates of hypoglycaemia, defined as plasma glucose < 3.1 mmol/l (< 56 mg/dl), were recorded. Health‐related quality of life was evaluated using the 36‐item Short Form (SF‐36®) version 2 questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using a generalized linear model with treatment, trial, anti‐diabetic therapy at baseline, gender, region and age as explanatory variables.ResultsInsulin degludec was confirmed as non‐inferior to insulin glargine based on HbA1cconcentrations. In each trial comprising the meta‐analysis, fasting plasma glucose and confirmed overall and nocturnal (00.01–05.59 h) hypoglycaemia were all numerically or significantly lower with insulin degludec vs. insulin glargine. At endpoint, the overall physical health component score was significantly higher (better) with insulin degludec vs. insulin glargine [+0.66 (95% CI0.04–1.28)], largely attributable to a difference [+1.10 (95% CI0.22–1.98)] in the bodily pain domain score. In the mental domains, vitality was significantly higher with insulin degludec vs. insulin glargine [+0.81 (95% CI0.01–1.59)].ConclusionsCompared with insulin glargine, insulin degludec leads to improvements in both mental and physical health status for patients with Type 2 diabetes initiating insulin therapy.
Can computerized clinical decision support systems improve diabetes management? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Jeffery R. , Iserman E. , Haynes R. B. ,   the CDSS Systematic Review Team
Published: December 2012

AbstractAimsTo systematically review randomized trials that assessed the effects of computerized clinical decision support systems in ambulatory diabetes management compared with a non‐computerized clinical decision support system control.MethodsWe included all diabetes trials from a comprehensive computerized clinical decision support system overview completed in January 2010, and searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, INSPEC/COMPENDEX and Evidence‐Based Medicine Reviews (EBMR) from January 2010 to April 2012. Reference lists of related reviews, included articles and Clinicaltrials.gov were also searched. Randomized controlled trials of patients with diabetes in ambulatory care settings comparing a computerized clinical decision support system intervention with a non‐computerized clinical decision support system control, measuring either a process of care or a patient outcome, were included. Screening of studies, data extraction, risk of bias and quality of evidence assessments were carried out independently by two reviewers, and discrepancies were resolved through consensus or third‐party arbitration. Authors were contacted for any missing data.ResultsFifteen trials were included (13 from the previous review and two from the current search). Only one study was at low risk of bias, while the others were of moderate to high risk of bias because of methodological limitations. HbA1c (3 months' follow‐up), quality of life and hospitalization (12 months' follow‐up) were pooled and all favoured the computerized clinical decision support systems over the control, although none were statistically significant. Triglycerides and practitioner performance tended to favour computerized clinical decision support systems although results were too heterogeneous to pool.ConclusionsComputerized clinical decision support systems in diabetes management may marginally improve clinical outcomes, but confidence in the evidence is low because of risk of bias, inconsistency and imprecision.
Rapid innate control of antigen abrogates adaptive immunity
Authors: Pembroke Thomas P. I. , Gallimore Awen M. , Godkin Andrew 
Published: December 2012

SummaryNatural killer (NK) cells provide an immediate first line of defence against viral infections. Memory responses, maintained by CD4+ T cells, require exposure to viral antigen and provide long‐term protection against future infections. It is known that NK cells can promote the development of the adaptive response through cytokine production and cross‐talk with antigen‐presenting cells. In this paper however, we summarize a series of recent publications, in mouse models and for the first time in man, with the unifying message that rapid viral antigen control by the innate immune system limits antigen exposure to CD4+ cells thereby abrogating the development of a memory response. We discuss the significant implication of these studies on viral treatment strategies and immunization models.
Memory for One‐Time Experiences in the Second Year of Life: Implications for the Status of Episodic Memory
Authors: Bauer Patricia J. , Leventon Jacqueline S. 
Published: December 2012

Memory based on a one‐time experience is an important element of its definition as “episodic.” Infants' memories for one‐time experiences over long delays are largely unexplored. Using elicited imitation, we tested 20‐ and 16‐month‐olds' (Experiment 1) and 13‐month‐olds' (Experiment 2) memories as a function of number of experiences and delay. Over 1 month, 20‐ and 16‐month‐olds remembered individual actions of one‐time events; 20‐month‐olds also remembered temporal order; with verbal reminders, 16‐month‐olds did as well. Over 3 months, recall depended on multiple experiences. Thirteen‐month‐olds' required multiple experiences, even over 1 month. The findings speak to the gradual emergence of an important element of episodic memory, namely the ability to preserve memories of one‐time experiences over long periods of time.
A prospective study of chemotherapy immunologic effects and predictors of humoral influenza vaccine responses in a pediatric oncology cohort
Authors: Kersun Leslie S. , Reilly Anne , Coffin Susan E. , Boyer Jean , Luning Prak Eline T. , McDonald Kenyetta , Hou Xiaoling , Jawad Abbas F. , Sullivan Kathleen E. 
Published: December 2012

Please cite this paper as: Kersun et al. (2013) A prospective study of chemotherapy immunologic effects and predictors of humoral influenza vaccine responses in a pediatric oncology cohort. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(6), 1158–1167.Background: Pediatric oncology patients represent a cohort of individuals uniquely at risk of complications from influenza, yet less likely to respond to the vaccine. It is not yet clear how to best protect this vulnerable population.Methods: We performed a prospective analysis of 177 pediatric oncology patients to define the predictors of influenza vaccine responses. Each variable was examined over three time points and a repeated measure analysis was performed.Results: Patients with ALL vaccinated during induction phase had superior influenza vaccine responses than those subjects vaccinated during post‐induction or maintenance phases (P = 0·0237). Higher aggregate HAI titer responses were associated with a higher baseline B‐cell count (P = 0·0240), and higher CD4 and CD8 influenza‐specific T‐cell responses, suggesting prior antigen exposure is a significant contributor. The solid tumor cohort had equivalent responses during all time frames of chemotherapy.Discussion: The optimal protection from influenza of pediatric patients on chemotherapy should include vaccination, but it is clear that not all patients produce high titers of antibodies after vaccination. This study identified biomarkers that could be used to individualize vaccine approaches. Immunologic predictors might have a role in targeting resources, as B‐cell counts predicted of vaccine responses among the patients with ALL.
Pandemic H1N1 influenza surveillance in Haiti, July–December 2009
Authors: Fitter David L. , Freeman Nicole M. , Buteau Josiane , Magloire Roc , Sessions Wendy M. , Guo Lizheng , Katz Mark A. , Boncy Jacques 
Published: December 2012

Please cite this paper as: Fitter et al. (2012) Pandemic H1N1 influenza surveillance in Haiti, July–December 2009. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses DOI: 10.1111/irv.12060.From June 2009 through December 2009, Haiti conducted sentinel surveillance for influenza. 499 samples were collected and tested using real‐time RT‐PCR. 197 (39.5%) were positive for influenza, including 95 (48%) pandemic (H1N1) 2009, 57 (29%) seasonal influenza A and 45 (23%) influenza B. The median age of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases was 21.7; two‐thirds of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases were in patients aged 6 years – 35 years. Pandemic activity peaked in September and co‐circulated with other influenza subtypes. The age distribution and seasonality of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in Haiti were similar to other countries in the Caribbean region.
Comparison of therapeutic effect of topical Nigella with Betamethasone and Eucerin in hand eczema
Authors: Yousefi M. , Barikbin B. , Kamalinejad M. , Abolhasani E. , Ebadi A. , Younespour S. , Manouchehrian M. , Hejazi S. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackground  Nigella sativa has been used in traditional medicine. Although it was investigated in different studies, its effect on hand eczema has not been studied yet.Objective  To compare the effects of Nigella, Betamethasone and Eucerin on severity of hand eczema and patients’ life quality.Methods  In this randomized, controlled, double‐blinded clinical trial, we allocated new cases of hand eczema with 18–60 years of age in three therapeutic groups (Nigella, Betamethasone and Eucerin) by using permuted blocks for randomization. Patients applied medications twice a day and followed in a 4‐week period. The primary outcome of the study was changes in severity and life quality, which were assessed at the beginning, 14th and 28th days of the study by Hand Eczema Severity index (HECSI) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) respectively.Results  Sixty patients recruited in the study with 20 patients allocated in each study arm. Eighteen, 19 and 15 patients in Eucerin, Nigella and Betamethasone groups, respectively, attended at least one of the therapy sessions. Nigella and Betamethasone showed significantly more rapid improvement in hand eczema compared with Eucerin (P = 0.003 and P = 0.012 respectively); Nigella and Betamethasone ointments caused significant decreases in DLQI scores compared with Eucerin (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.007 respectively). No significant difference was detected in mean DLQI and HECSI of the Nigella and Betamethasone groups over time (P = 0.38 and P = 0.99 respectively).Conclusion  It seems that Nigella might have the same efficacy as Betamethasone in improvement of life quality and decreasing severity of hand eczema.
Postoperative DAV‐IFN‐β therapy does not improve survival rates of stage II and stage III melanoma patients significantly
Authors: Matsumoto T. , Yokota K. , Sawada M. , Sakakibara A. , Shibata S. , Yasue S. , Tomita Y. , Yatsuya H. , Akiyama M. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackground  DAV‐interferon (IFN)‐β therapy is a combination chemotherapy of dacarbazine (DTIC), nimustine (ACNU) and vincristine (VCR) with local subcutaneous injection of IFN‐β that is widely employed as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy to treat malignant melanoma in Japan. However, the efficacy of DAV‐IFN‐β therapy has not been confirmed by randomized controlled trials and the benefit of DAV‐IFN‐β therapy has not been established yet. This study evaluated the contribution of DAV‐IFN‐β therapy to improve survival of postoperative patients with cutaneous melanoma.Methods Patients with stage II or III cutaneous melanoma seen at Nagoya University Hospital from January 1998 to December 2009 were eligible for this study. Disease‐free survival rates and melanoma‐specific survival rates were evaluated. A propensity score was calculated to control for the effects of variables related to decisions regarding the application of DAV‐IFN‐β therapy.Results  Eighty‐two stage II and 60 stage III melanoma patients were included. In the post‐matched stage II patients (17 matched pairs), the mean (±SE) disease‐free survival rates were 39.9±13.7% for DAV‐IFN‐β therapy and 73.1±11.7% for non‐use (hazard ratio for recurrence, 2.06; 95% CI, 0.63–6.69; P = 0.23), and the melanoma‐specific survival rates were 66.2±20.0% for DAV‐IFN‐β therapy and 86.2±9.1% for non‐use (hazard ratio for death, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.17–6.82; P = 0.93). In the post‐matched stage III patients (nine matched pairs), the disease‐free survival rates were 29.6±16.4% for DAV‐IFN‐β therapy and 33.3±15.7% for non‐use (0.69; 95% CI, 0.22–2.17; P = 0.53), and the melanoma‐specific survival rates were 55.6±16.6% for DAV‐IFN‐β therapy and 44.4±16.6% for non‐use (0.67; 95% CI, 0.18–2.50; P = 0.55).Conclusions  DAV‐IFN‐β therapy brought no significant improvement in either disease‐free survival rates or melanoma‐specific survival rates of patients with stage II or III cutaneous melanoma. A randomized controlled trial would be required to further evaluate the efficacy of DAV‐IFN‐β therapy as an adjuvant chemotherapy.
Dermoscopy of apocrine hidrocystomas: a morphological study
Authors: Zaballos P. , Bañuls J. , Medina C. , Salsench E. , Serrano P. , Guionnet N. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackground  The dermoscopic morphology of apocrine hidrocystomas remains to be elucidated.Objective  To evaluate the morphological findings of apocrine hidrocystomas under dermoscopic observation.Methods  Dermoscopic examination of 22 cases of apocrine hidrocystomas was performed to evaluate specific dermoscopic criteria and patterns.Results  The most frequently occurring dermoscopic features were found to be: (i) A translucent to opaque, homogeneous area which occupies the whole lesion in all apocrine hidrocystomas (100%). The colour of this homogeneous area was skin‐colored in 31.8% of our cases; yellow, in 31.8% and blue, in 22.7% of apocrine hidrocystomas. (ii) Vascular structures were identified in 81.8% of our cases; arborizing vessels, in 68.2% and linear‐irregular vessels in 9.1% of our cases; and (iii) Whitish structures were identified in 22.7% of the lesions. The results of our study reveal that the presence of a homogeneous area that occupies the whole lesion and arborizing vessels is the most common dermoscopic pattern in apocrine hidrocystomas (68.2%).Conclusion  Apocrine hidrocystomas, above all in its pigmented variant, may represent a dermoscopic pitfall, being difficult to differentiate clinically and dermoscopically from basal cell carcinomas.
Pleuro‐pulmonary endometriosis in baboons (Papio spp.): insights into pathogenesis
Authors: Jagirdar J. , Sirohi D. , Dick E.J. , Hubbard G. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundHuman pleuro‐pulmonary endometriosis (PPE) is rare. Recently, we identified several cases of abdominal endometriosis in baboons that developed PPE.Materials and MethodsTen cases of PPE and four of intra‐abdominal endometriosis (three simultaneous) were identified at necropsy in baboons (Papio spp.) found dead due to natural causes. The endometriotic lesions were evaluated using immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe stromal (CD10+) and epithelial cells in intra‐abdominal cases were estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) positive and thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF‐1) negative similar to that seen in humans. In contrast, the PPE cases displayed TTF‐1‐positive epithelium lining the cystic spaces, while the stroma was ER/PR positive similar to that in abdominal endometriosis. Both lymph nodes and spindle cell rests in lung interstitium contained ER/PR‐positive stromal cells.ConclusionsThe lung lesions were different from the abdominal lesions in having a TTF‐1‐positive lining epithelium. The deep pulmonary interstitial and lymph node endometrial stromal rests probably arrive via lymphatic route. The endometrial stroma is the driving force in PPE upon which the lung‐specific epithelium condenses and may require a novel approach to therapy.