bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preliminary investigation of topical nitroglycerin formulations containing natural wound healing agent in diabetes‐induced foot ulcer
Authors: Hotkar Mukesh S , Avachat Amelia M , Bhosale Sagar S , Oswal Yogesh M 
Published: June 2013

AbstractNitroglycerin (NTG) is an organic nitrate rapidly denitrated by enzymes to release free radical nitric oxide and shows improved wound healing and tissue protection from oxidative damage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether topical application of NTG in the form of gel/ointment along with a natural wound healing agent, aloe vera, would bring about wound healing by using diabetes‐induced foot ulcer model and rat excision wound model. All these formulations were evaluated for pH, viscosity, drug content and ex vivo diffusion studies using rat skin. Based on ex vivo permeation studies, the formulation consisting of carbopol 974p as a gelling agent and aloe vera was found to be suitable. The in vivo study used streptozotocin‐induced diabetic foot ulcer and rat excision wound models to analyse wound healing activity. The wound size in animals of all treated groups was significantly reduced compared with that of the diabetic control and marketed treated animals. This study showed that the gel formed with carbopol 974p (1%) and aloe vera promotes significant wound healing and closure in diabetic rats compared with the commercial product and provides a promising product to be used in diabetes‐induced foot ulcer.
The identification of potential aeroallergen/irritant(s) from oilseed rape (Brassica napus spp. oleifera): volatile organic compounds emitted during flowering progression
Authors: BUTCHER R. D. , MACFARLANE‐SMITH W. , ROBERTSON G. W. , GRIFFITHS D. W. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryVolatile organic compounds emitted by growing intact oilseed rape plants have been detected using an entrainment apparatus enabling volatile headspace analysis by thermal desorption coupled to capillary gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. In total, 22 volatile compounds were identified as being emitted during the flowering period. The main constituents were α‐farnesene (a sesquiterpene); β‐myrcene (a monoterpene); linalool (a monoterpene alcohol) and the ‘green leaf’ volatile (E)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol acetate. These compounds constituted between 50 and 87% (mean 68%) of the total volatiles emitted in all of the entrainments carried out with flowering oilseed rape plants. The remaining constituents consisted of a range of compounds including other terpenoids, the characteristic ‘green leaf’ volatile (E)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, short chain alcohols and ketones, organic sulphides and nitrogen‐containing compounds. These were generally present as minor constituents but some plant entrainments revealed that higher relative amounts could be emitted. This was particularly apparent for dimethyl disulphide, 3‐methyl‐2‐pentanone, 3‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone, sabinene, isomyrcenol and (E)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol. The possible role of the 22 compounds in respiratory mucosa and conjunctiva irritation associated with airborne releases from oilseed rape is discussed.
The anaphylaxis hypothesis of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): mast cell degranulation in cot death revealed by elevated concentrations of tryptase in serum
Authors: HOLGATE S. T. , WALTERS C. , WALLS A. F. , LAWRENCE S. , SHELL D. J. , VARIEND S. , FLEMING P. J. , BERRY P. J. , GILBERT R. E. , ROBINSON C. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryA series of cases of sudden unexpected post‐neonatal deaths from two centres in the UK have been investigated for evidence of mast cell activation using the biochemical markers tryptase and 9α,11β‐PGF2. Tryptase was selected as a possible marker because it is a component of mast cell secretory granules and, unlike histamine, it is not released from basophils. The prostaglandin 9α,11β‐PGF2 is an initial and pharmacologically active metabolite of PGD2, the major mast cell‐derived cyclo‐oxygenase product. This prostaglandin was chosen to serve as a marker of newly generated mediator release. In the study, unexplained infant deaths were associated with a higher concentration of tryptase in serum compared with cases of unexpected, but subsequently explained death. However, 9α,11β‐PGF2 was found to be an unsuitable post mortem marker in this situation. These results provide direct evidence that mast cell degranulation, possibly as a result of anaphylaxis, may be occurring around the time of death in some cases of cot death.
Cow milk allergy within the spectrum of atopic disorders
Authors: HILL D. J. , BANNISTER D. G. , HOSKING C. S. , KEMP A. S. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryIn order to examine the relationship between cow milk allergy (CMA) and atopic disorders in childhood, a consecutive group of 42 infants with IgE mediated CMA was followed for at least 2 years. The incidence of sensitization to common food and inhalant antigens and the development of eczema, asthma, and food allergies was examined for the cohort and compared between patients whose CMA remitted and those with persistent disease. In this cohort the prevalence of eczema was 57%, asthma 69%, egg allergy 67%, peanut allergy 55%, and 83% of infants demonstrated positive skin‐prick tests to three or more allergens. At the end of the study CMA had remitted in 13 patients (median age 44 months) whereas in 29 patients it persisted (median age 44 months). Although there was no significant difference in the incidence of eczema or asthma during the study between these two patient groups, the incidence of allergy to egg and peanut butter was significantly greater for children with persistent CMA. Consistent with our hypothesis that children with persistent CMA have a more severe dysregulation of IgE synthesis than those whose disease remits, patients with persistent CMA had a significantly higher incidence of and level of skin sensitivity to inhalant and other dietary allergens. Sensitization to the inhalant allergens Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, cat dander and rye grass was frequently seen in early infancy and increased during the study period. Thus, children with IgE mediated CMA frequently generate IgE responses to multiple dietary and inhalant allergens in infancy and early childhood and develop immediate hypersensitivity to other foods as well as clinical eczema, and asthma.
Eosinophil inflammation of the nasal mucosa in allergic and non‐allergic rhinitis measured by eosinophil cationic protein levels in native nasal fluid and serum
Authors: RASP G. , THOMAS P. A. , BUJÍA J. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryEosinophil inflammation is essential in many cases of allergic and non‐allergic rhinitis. Activated eosinophils release toxic granule proteins. In this study, we compared the degree of local nasal and systemic eosinophil activation by the determination of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in serum and native nasal fluid from 119 patients. We found no significant differences in serum ECP levels of the various patient groups. In all patient groups, except in the vasomotor rhinitis group, nasal fluid ECP levels differed significantly from normal controls. We found a nasal fluid ECP (mean ± SEM) of 32·6 ± 81 ng/ml for normals, 106 ± 39·7 for non‐rhinitic atopics, 87·6 ± 20·8 ng/ml for patients with chronic non‐allergic sinusitis, 101·3 ± 40·4 ng/ml for patients with a history of pollinosis, 150·5 ± 35·1 ng/ml for patients with acute pollinosis, 84·7 ± 24·7 ng/ml for individuals with perennial allergic rhinitis and 112·9 ± 25·6 ng/ml for patients with both perennial and seasonal allergy. Patients with nasal polyps had mean nasal ECP levels of 146·9 ± 57·7 ng/ml in absence of allergy and 147·9 ± 54·9 ng/ ml in the presence of allergy. Nasal ECP was 67·0 ± 22·4 for patients with hyperreactive rhinitis. We found a significant correlation of 0·95 between nasal eosinophils and nasal ECP. Nasal ECP and a subjective symptom score only correlate significantly for chronic sinusitis. We conclude that monitoring native nasal fluid ECP levels may be useful in the diagnosis and mangement of nasal inflammation. Elevated ECP in nasal secretion may originate from upregulated eosinophil degranulation and thus is a marker for local inflammation although not specific for any particular nasal disease.
Effects of castration and testosterone on Fel d I production by sebaceous glands of male cats: I—immunological assessment
Authors: ZIELONKA T. M. , CHARPIN D. , BERBIS P. , LUCIANI P. , CASANOVA D. , VERVLOET D. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryFel d I is produced by salivary and sebaceous glands. Hormonal control of sebum production is clearly established. The influence of cat castration and supplementary treatment with testosterone on the production of sebum and Fel d I in cat skin have been researched in this study. On day 1, 12 male cats were anaesthetized and three skin areas carefully shaven. Then the level of lipids on skin surface was measured by means of a photometric method. Finally, the three areas of skin were washed with 5 ml of distilled water through a plastic cylinder. Fel d I collected in the washes was measured with a two‐site monoclonal antibody based ELISA. On day 2, six cats were castrated, the other six were used as a control group. Two and 4 weeks later, the levels of lipids and Fel d I in skin washes were measured again in all cats. On day 30, the six castrated cats were injected intramuscularly with prolonged‐action testosterone. Two weeks later, quantification of lipids and Fel d I in all animals was repeated. Sebum and Fel d I levels decreased in all castrated animals. Injecting the castrated cats with testosterone led to a significant increase in sebum and Fel d I production. Our findings indicate that Fel d I production is influenced by the production of hormones.
Effects of castration and testosterone on Fel d I production by sebaceous glands of male cats: II—morphometric assessment
Authors: CHARPIN C. , ZIELONKA T. M. , CHARPIN D. , ANSALDI J.‐L. , ALLASIA C. , VERVLOET D. 
Published: June 2013

SummaryA morphometric study of cat sebaceous glands was performed to evaluate the effects of castration and testosterone treatments. Skin biopsies were taken in six cats before castration, after castration and after the testosterone injections administered after castration (total number of biopsies: 18). Ninety 8μm thick sections of each biopsy were assessed for image analysis processing (SAMBA 2005, ALCATEL TITN). The variations in glands and cells size were evaluated on digitized microscopic images by morphometric parameters included in the SAMBA software package. An original software was developed for the analysis of the spacial gland structure. The best morphometric parameters were selected in a first step of the study, and included the nuclear surface (NS), the cell surface (CS) and the nuclear/cellular surface ratio (N/C). These three parameters were then compared in each group of samples for the six cats. It was shown that after castration the N/C (21%) significantly increased compared with prior to castration (12±6%). This 59±8% increase was mainly due to cell cytoplasm shrinking reflecting a decrease of the cell activity. The testosterone administered after castration produced a reverse effect with a N/C ratio back to normal (11·4%) and a significant cell cytoplasm and gland enlargement as shown by the three dimension constructions. This morphometric data correlated with the measurement of sebum and Fel d I productions. The negative effects of castration and the positive effects of testosterone on the sebaceous cells and glands volume favour the hypothesis that cat sebaceous cells are subject to hormonal control this is also likely to apply to the Fel d I production.
Gouvernance et croissance économique en Afrique
Authors: Atangana Ondoa Henri 
Published: June 2013

RésuméL'objectif majeur de ce travail est d'identifier les indicateurs de la gouvernance qui peuvent relancer la croissance économique en Afrique. Pour cela, l'auteur a intégré les indicateurs de la gouvernance dans un modèle de croissance. L'estimation en panel dynamique du modèle ainsi conçu, à partir des données de la Banque Mondiale ainsi que celles de la CNUCED pour la période 1998–2011, a permis de relever que certains indicateurs de la gouvernance tels que la stabilité politique et la régulation de l'activité économique exercent une influence positive sur la croissance économique en Afrique. La lutte contre la corruption peut davantage booster la croissance économique dans les pays riches en ressources naturelles et qui appliquent les principes démocratiques. Par contre, les autres indicateurs de la gouvernance en l'occurrence la maitrise de la corruption, le respect des principes de l'Etat de droit ne produisent pas encore des effets escomptés dans les pays pauvres en ressources naturelles qui sont surtout des PMA. De ce fait, les autorités politiques doivent améliorer les indicateurs de la gouvernance, notamment la stabilité politique, la maîtrise de la corruption.
Intervention Designs for Household Food Security: Lessons from Kenya
Authors: Lemba Jacinta , D'Haese Marijke , D'Haese Luc , de Winter Anne‐Marie , Speelman Stijn 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThe study on this paper seeks to identify intervention design(s) which have had an impact on household food security in Kenya's drylands, and could be replicated in other places with similar conditions. Five different ex‐post interventions in the drylands of Kenya were evaluated using descriptive statistics and econometric models. It was shown that the intervention project design which had integrated provision of irrigation water and access to markets for both farm inputs and produce in its development strategies had an impact through improvement in the levels and stability of household incomes. Access to markets included institutional organization and provision of transport. In conclusion, food security policy in the drylands should focus on creating an enabling environment for farmers in terms of market organization and provision of irrigation infrastructure.
Optimal Portfolio Allocation for Corporate Pension Funds
Authors: McCarthy David , Miles David 
Published: June 2013

AbstractWe model the asset allocation decision of a stylised corporate defined benefit pension plan in the presence of hedgeable and unhedgeable risks. We assume that plan fiduciaries – who make the asset allocation decision – face non–linear payoffs linked to the plan's funding status because of the presence of pension insurance and a sponsoring employer who may share any shortfall or pension surplus. We find that even simple asymmetries in payoffs have large and highly persistent effects on asset allocation, while unhedgeable risks exert only a small effect. We conclude that institutional details are crucial in understanding DB pension asset allocation.
Stochastic Volatility Jump‐Diffusions for European Equity Index Dynamics
Authors: Kaeck Andreas , Alexander Carol 
Published: June 2013

AbstractMajor research on equity index dynamics has investigated only US indices (usually the S&P 500) and has provided contradictory results. In this paper a clarification and extension of that previous research is given. We find that European equity indices have quite different dynamics from the S&P 500. Each of the European indices considered may be satisfactorily modelled using either an affine model with price and volatility jumps or a GARCH volatility process without jumps. The S&P 500 dynamics are much more difficult to capture in a jump‐diffusion framework.
Has social mobility in Britain decreased? Reconciling divergent findings on income and class mobility
Authors: Erikson Robert , Goldthorpe John H. 
Published: June 2013

AbstractSocial mobility has become a topic of central political concern. In political and also media circles it is widely believed that in Britain today mobility is in decline. However, this belief appears to be based on a single piece of research by economists that is in fact concerned with intergenerational income mobility: specifically, with the relation between family income and children's later earnings. Research by sociologists using the same data sources – the British birth cohort studies of 1958 and 1970 – but focusing on intergenerational class mobility does not reveal a decline either in total mobility rates or in underlying relative rates. The paper investigates these divergent findings. We show that they do not result from the use of different subsets of the data or of different analytical techniques. Instead, given the more stable and generally less fluid class mobility regime, it is the high level of income mobility of the 1958 cohort, rather than the lower level of the 1970 cohort, that is chiefly in need of explanation. Further analyses – including ones of the relative influence of parental class and of family income on children's educational attainment – suggest that the economists' finding of declining mobility between the two cohorts may stem, in part at least, from the fact that the family income variable for the 1958 cohort provides a less adequate measure of ‘permanent income’ than does that for the 1970 cohort. But, in any event, it would appear that the class mobility regime more fully captures the continuity in economic advantage and disadvantage that persists across generations.
Who intermarries in Britain? Explaining ethnic diversity in intermarriage patterns
Authors: Muttarak Raya , Heath Anthony 
Published: June 2013

AbstractThis paper investigates trends, patterns and determinants of intermarriage (and partnership) comparing patterns among men and women and among different ethnic groups in Britain. We distinguish between endogamous (co‐ethnic), majority/minority and minority/minority marriages. Hypotheses are derived from the theoretical literatures on assimilation, segmented assimilation and opportunity structures. The empirical analysis is based on the 1988–2006 General Household Surveys (N = 115,494). Consistent with assimilation theory we find that, for all ethnic minority groups, the propensity to intermarry is higher in the second generation than in the first. Consistent with ideas drawn from segmented assimilation theory, we also find that substantial differences in propensity to form majority/minority marriages persist after controls for individual characteristics such as age, educational level, generation and length of residence in Britain, with men and women of Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi background having higher propensities to form endogamous partnerships. However, we also find that opportunity structures affect intermarriage propensities for all groups alike, with individuals in more diverse residential areas (as measured by the ratio of majority to minority residents in the area) having higher likelihood to form majority/minority partnerships. We conclude then that, beginning from very different starting points, all groups, both minority and the majority groups exhibit common patterns of generational change and response to opportunity structures. Even the groups that are believed to have the strongest community structures and the strongest norms supporting endogamy appear to be experiencing increasing exogamy in the second generation and in more diverse residential settings. This suggests that a weak rather than a strong version of segmented assimilation provides the best account of British patterns.
Infections in hospitalised Russian children with AIDS
Authors: Makarova N , Yurin O , Pokrovsky V , Tappuni AR 
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVES: (1) To determine the most common infections in hospitalised children with AIDS. (2) To identify the pathogens causing the above infections. (3) To investigate the possibility of nosocomial transmission of potential pathogens in a Russian AIDS hospital. SETTING: Russian AIDS Hospital for Children.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Swabs/samples of skin, mouth, nose, urine and stool were collected from 95 hospitalised children with AIDS, 12 of their mothers and 11 health care workers in contact with the children. Hospital objects were also sampled. The predominant isolates from the infection sites were speciated. Antibiotic sensitivity profiles, phagotyping and gel electrophoresis of cell lysates were used for the epidemiological marking of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae.RESULTS: Oral infections were the most prevalent infections in this study group. The most frequently isolated micro‐organisms were C. albicans, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The results of the epidemiological study suggests nosocomial transmission of these strains.CONCLUSIONS: The present chemoprophylaxis programme for opportunistic oral infections requires revision. Systems of microbiological surveillance and cross‐infection control monitoring in relation to immunocompromised patients need to be developed to decrease the possibility of nosocomial transmission of potential pathogens between hospitalised children with AIDS, their mothers and health care providers.
Oral ulceration in HIV infection: Investigation and pathogenesis
Authors: MacPhail LA , Greenspan JS 
Published: June 2013

Oral ulcerations associated with HIV infection include recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU). Whereas RAU prevalence is not increased, lesion severity is: among a group of HIV+ patients, 66% had the more severe herpetiform or major RAU. This increased severity suggests that HIV disease‐related changes in the immune system may exacerbate RAU.In the peripheral blood of healthy subjects with RAU, CD4:CD8 cell ratios may be reversed and the proportion of T cell receptor‐γδ+ cells increased. HIV disease‐related immune system changes are characterized by reversed CD4:CD8, lowered CD4 cell counts and an inverse correlation between CD4 cell counts and per cent activated γδ lymphocytes.Adhesion molecules and cytokines involved in lymphocyte homing may be important in RAU pathogenesis: ICAM‐I and ELAM are strongly expressed, and TNFα production is increased in peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy patients with RAU. In patients with active HIV disease/AIDS, serum TNFα levels are increased. Thalidomide, which inhibits TNFα production, is effective treatment for RAU.Some RAU patients have vitamin B12 or folate deficiencies, levels of which are commonly low in HIV+/AIDS patients. However, in a case control study of HIV+ patients, vitamin B12‐ or folate‐deficiencies were not found to be significant risk factors for RAU.
Intergroup comparisons of oral lesions in HIV‐positive South Africans
Authors: Arendorf TM , Bredekamp B , Cloete C , Wood R , O'Keefe E 
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there are any differences in the oral manifestations of sub‐groups of persons with HIV. These data could provide information for planning of oral health promotion and prevention programmes.DESIGN: A comparative inter‐group cross‐sectional investigation of the oral manifestations of HIV. Ethnic, gender and sexual orientation differences were taken into consideration.SETTING: Three large general hospitals that offer comprehensive medical investigations and care to persons with HIV.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 485 HIV‐positive adults participated. Clinical examination and, where necessary, swabs or smears of lesions for microbiology, biopsies for histology.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of lesions, associated signs, incidence and type of micro‐organisms. RESULTS: A total of 485 HIV‐positive persons were examined over a period of 3 years consisting of 225 Blacks, 191 Coloureds (persons of ‘mixed’ descent) and 69 Whites. Data were analysed using, where relevant, the X2 test or Fisher's exact test. Heterosexual males revealed a higher prevalence of all oral lesions combined when compared with heterosexual females. A similar finding was evident when HIV‐associated periodontal diseases was compared in these two groups. Homosexual males had a higher prevalence of candidal infections than heterosexual males. Coloured heterosexuals had a higher prevalence of oral lesions combined than black heterosexuals. All these results showed statistical significance.CONCLUSIONS: The study tends to show that different patterns of prevalence emerge when inter‐group comparisons are made of oral soft tissue diseases evident in HIV‐infected South Africans.