bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adverse effects of intralesional meglumine antimoniate and its influence on clinical laboratory parameters in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Esfandiarpour Iraj , Farajzadeh Saeedeh , Rahnama Zahra , Fathabadi Elahe Arabpoor , Heshmatkhah Amireh 
Published: September 2012

AbstractObjectives  Intralesional injection of pentavalent antimoniate is recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). This study aimed to evaluate the adverse effects of intralesional injection of meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®) and its influence on clinical laboratory parameters.Methods  A total of 105 patients with suspected lesions and therapeutic features of CL diagnosed by direct smear or skin biopsy were included in this study. Intralesional injection of Glucantime® was administered to treat CL. Fifty‐five of the 105 patients were checked for hematological features, liver and kidney function, and fasting blood sugar levels before and after treatment.Results  The observed side effects included pain (89.5%), burning sensation (81.9%), erythema (45.7%), pruritus (28.6%), secondary infection (17.1%), nausea (11.4%), vomiting (7.6%), urticaria (5.7%), necrosis (2.9%), sporotrichoid lesions (2.9%), dizziness (1.9%), dyspnea (1.9%), and anaphylactic shock (0.9%). No statistically significant differences were found in occurrences of adverse effects according to the part of the body affected, patient sex or age group, except for pruritus, which appeared more frequently in extremities than in other parts of the body (P < 0.001), and secondary infection, which was observed more frequently in people aged >45 years (P < 0.042). All clinical parameters remained normal after treatment.Conclusions  The occurrence of severe adverse reactions, particularly of anaphylactic shock, should be considered before treatment with Glucantime® is initiated. Thus, it is important that intralesional Glucantime® injections are administered in centers that are well equipped with appropriate resuscitation and support apparatus.
Corticosteroid‐induced hyperglycemia is increased 10‐fold in patients with pemphigus
Authors: Alavi Afsaneh , Lowe Julia , Walsh Scott , Juurlink David , Mortaz‐Hedjri Soroush , Shear Neil H. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis study aimed to highlight the importance of routine screening for hyperglycemia and to develop a standardized, evidence‐based approach for the management of pemphigus patients on prolonged systemic corticosteroid (CS) therapy. A cross‐sectional study was conducted in two university‐affiliated teaching hospitals using a referred sample of 200 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus, or mucous membrane pemphigoid. All patients were receiving systemic CS therapy. A total of 150 patients responded to the survey. Six participants were excluded and 144 were included. The main outcome measure was blood glucose level to detect hyperglycemia. New‐onset hyperglycemia was identified in 40% of patients who received CS therapy. None of the expected variables, including age, body mass index, family history of diabetes, corticosteroid dose, and duration of corticosteroid therapy, were independently associated with new‐onset hyperglycemia. These findings indicate that the prevalence of CS‐induced hyperglycemia in pemphigus patients is 40% and that in patients with pemphigus or MMP, CS therapy is associated with a markedly increased risk for hyperglycemia (odds ratio = 10.7, 95% confidence interval 1.38–83.50) compared with that of patients with the same diseases who do not receive CS therapy.
Acne in the adult female patient: a practical approach
Authors: Kamangar Faranak , Shinkai Kanade 
Published: September 2012

AbstractAcne vulgaris is a common reason why adult women present to dermatologists and can be a clinical challenge to treat. It may also be an important sign of an underlying endocrine disease such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Although standard acne therapies can be successfully used to treat acne in adult female patients, hormonal treatment is a safe and effective therapeutic option that may provide an opportunity to better target acne in this population, even when other systemic therapies have failed. In this article, a practical approach to the adult female patient with acne will be reviewed to enhance the dermatologist’s ability to use hormonal acne therapies and to better identify and evaluate patients with acne in the setting of a possible endocrine disorder.
Strong specificity in the interaction between parasitoids and symbiont‐protected hosts
Authors: Rouchet R. , Vorburger C. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractCoevolution between hosts and parasites may promote the maintenance of genetic variation in both antagonists by negative frequency‐dependence if the host–parasite interaction is genotype‐specific. Here we tested for specificity in the interaction between parasitoids (Lysiphlebus fabarum) and aphid hosts (Aphis fabae) that are protected by a heritable defensive endosymbiont, the γ‐proteobacterium Hamiltonella defensa. Previous studies reported a lack of genotype specificity between unprotected aphids and parasitoids, but suggested that symbiont‐conferred resistance might exhibit a higher degree of specificity. Indeed, in addition to ample variation in host resistance as well as parasitoid infectivity, we found a strong aphid clone‐by‐parasitoid line interaction on the rates of successful parasitism. This genotype specificity appears to be mediated by H. defensa, highlighting the important role that endosymbionts can play in host–parasite coevolution.
Why join a neighbour: fitness consequences of colony fusions in termites
Authors: Korb J. , Roux E. A. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe evolution of life is characterized by major evolutionary transitions during which independent units cooperated and formed a new level of selection. Relatedness is a common mechanism that reduces conflict in such cooperative associations. One of the latest transitions is the evolution of social insect colonies. As expected, they are composed of kin and mechanisms have evolved that prevent the intrusion of nonrelatives. Yet, there are exceptions an extreme case is the fusion of unrelated colonies. What are the advantages of fusions that have colonies with a high potential for conflict as a consequence? Here, we investigated fitness costs and benefits of colony fusions in a lower termite species, Cryptotermes secundus, in which more than 25% of all colonies in the field are fused. We found two benefits of colony fusion depending on colony size: very small colonies had an increased probability of survival when they fused, yet for most colony sizes mainly a few workers profit from colony fusions as their chance to become reproductives increased. This individual benefit was often costly for other colony members: colony growth was reduced and the current reproductives had an increased chance of dying when fusions were aggressive. Our study suggests that fusion of colonies often is the result of ‘selfish’ worker interests to become reproductives, and this might have been important for the termites' social evolution. Our results uniquely shows that selfish interests among related colony members can lead to the formation of groups with increased potential for conflict among less related members.
Long‐term radical prostatectomy outcomes among participants from the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) Rotterdam
Authors: Loeb Stacy , Zhu Xiaoye , Schroder Fritz H. , Roobol Monique J. 
Published: September 2012

Study Type – Therapy (cohort)Level of Evidence 2bWhat's known on the subject? and What does the study add?Radical prostatectomy was previously shown to improve long‐term outcomes among men with clinically‐detected prostate cancer. Our data suggests that radical prostatectomy is also associated with improved outcomes in men with screen‐detected prostate cancer.OBJECTIVE
To examine the long‐term outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP) among men diagnosed with prostate cancer from the screening and control arms of the Rotterdam section of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC).
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Among 42 376 men randomised during the period of the first round of the trial (1993–1999), 1151 and 210 in the screening and control arms were diagnosed with prostate cancer, respectively.
Of these men, 420 (36.5%) screen‐detected and 54 (25.7%) controls underwent RP with long‐term follow‐up data (median follow‐up 9.9 years).
Progression‐free (PFS), metastasis‐free (MFS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) rates were examined, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine whether screen‐detected (vs control) was associated with RP outcomes after adjusting for standard predictors.
RESULTS
RP cases from the screening and control arms had statistically similar clinical stage and biopsy Gleason score, although screen‐detected cases had significantly lower prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels at diagnosis.
Men from the screening arm had a significantly higher PFS (P= 0.003), MFS (P < 0.001) and CSS (P= 0.048).
In multivariable models adjusting for age, PSA level, clinical stage, and biopsy Gleason score, the screening group had a significantly lower risk of biochemical recurrence (hazard ratio [HR] 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23–0.83, P= 0.011) and metastasis (HR 0.18, 95% CI 0.06–0.59, P= 0.005).
Additionally adjusting for tumour volume and other RP pathology features, there was no longer a significant difference in biochemical recurrence between the screening and control arms.
Limitations of the present study include lead‐time bias and non‐randomised treatment selection.
CONCLUSIONS
After RP, screen‐detected cases had significantly improved PFS, MFS and CSS compared with controls within the available follow‐up time.
The screening arm remained significantly associated with lower rates of biochemical recurrence and metastasis after adjusting for other preoperative variables.
However, considering also RP pathology, the improved outcomes in the screening group appeared to be mediated by a significantly lower tumour volume.
Longitudinal analysis of integrase N155H variants in heavily treated patients failing raltegravir‐based regimens
Authors: Nguyen HL , Charpentier C , Nguyen N , de Truchis P , Molina J‐M , Ruxrungtham K , Delaugerre C 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesThe mechanism of raltegravir (RAL)‐resistant evolutions has not already been elucidated. Because the emergence of RAL resistance is usually initiated by the N155H mutant, we assessed the role of minor N155H‐mutated variants in circulating RNA and archived DNA in five heavily treated patients experiencing long‐term RAL therapy failure and harbouring three different resistance profiles determined by standard genotyping.MethodsAllele‐specific polymerase chain reaction (AS‐PCR) was used to detect N155H mutants in longitudinal stored plasma and whole‐blood samples before, during and after RAL‐based regimens in five patients infected with the HIV‐1 B subtype.ResultsNo minor N155H‐mutated variant was found by AS‐PCR in either plasma or whole‐blood samples collected at baseline and after RAL withdrawal in any of the five patients. During RAL failure, the mutation N155H was detected at different levels in three patients displaying the N155H pathway and gradually declined when the double mutant Q148H+G140S was selected in one patient. In two patients with the Q148H resistance pathway, no N155H variant was identified by AS‐PCR in either viral RNA or DNA.ConclusionsThe N155H mutation present at various levels from minority to majority showed no relationship with the three RAL‐associated resistance profiles, suggesting that this mutant may not play a role in determining different resistance profiles. Moreover, pre‐existing N155H is very infrequent and, if selected during RAL failure, the N155H mutant disappears quickly after RAL withdrawal.
Predictors of symptomatic HIV‐associated neurocognitive disorders in universal health care
Authors: McCombe JA , Vivithanaporn P , Gill MJ , Power C 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to determine the risk factors predictive of symptomatic HIV‐associated neurocognitive disorders (sHAND) among HIV‐infected patients receiving active medical care.MethodsBaseline demographic and clinical characteristics were analysed in patients with sHAND (HIV‐associated dementia and minor neurocognitive disorder) in a population‐based longitudinal cohort of HIV‐infected patients with access to universal health care, including combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) from 1999 to 2008. Variables evaluated for their association with sHAND included age and ethnicity, survival duration with HIV‐1 infection, vascular disease risk factors, and laboratory indices such as blood CD4 T‐cell count at its nadir and at cART initiation, using both univariable and multivariable logistic regression models.ResultsA total of 1320 patients were investigated, including the patients diagnosed with sHAND (n = 90) during the study period. In univariable analyses, increased age, increased length of survival with HIV, low nadir CD4 and CD8 T‐cell counts, high baseline viral load (> 1 000 000 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL), and African origin were predictive of a diagnosis of sHAND (P < 0.05). In multivariable analysis, increased age, increased length of survival, low nadir CD4 T‐cell counts, and high baseline viral load remained predictive of sHAND (P < 0.05). Remarkably, CD4 T‐cell counts at cART initiation, hepatitis C virus coinfection, and vascular disease risk factors failed to predict sHAND in both analyses.ConclusionsIncreased age and survival duration, lower nadir CD4 T‐cell counts, and higher baseline viral load were consistent predictors of the development of sHAND among persons with HIV/AIDS in universal health care, underscoring the importance of attention to these variables in clinical care.
Number of daily pills, dosing schedule, self‐reported adherence and health status in 2010: a large cross‐sectional study of HIV‐infected patients on antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Gianotti N , Galli L , Bocchiola B , Cahua T , Panzini P , Zandonà D , Salpietro S , Maillard M , Danise A , Pazzi A , Lazzarin A , Castagna A 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to assess whether pill burden is associated with self‐reported adherence to current combination antiretroviral regimens and health status in a large sample of unselected and chronically treated HIV‐infected patients.MethodsAn adherence and health status questionnaire was offered to all patients collecting their drugs between March and May 2010 at our clinic; both parameters were primarily evaluated using a visual analogue scale. Linear correlations were evaluated using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Wilcoxon's rank‐sum test and the χ2 test were used to compare quantitative and qualitative variables. The generalized linear model was used in multivariable analyses.ResultsAmong 2763 subjects on treatment during the study period, 2114 (78.8% male; mean age 46.9 ± 8.84 years) were tested for adherence; 1803 (85.3%) had viral loads < 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL.After adjusting for age, gender, HIV risk factor, current CD4 count, pill burden and dosing interval, adherence was higher in patients with undetectable HIV RNA (P < 0.0001) and directly associated with current CD4 count (P = 0.029). After adjusting for the same variables, health status was better in patients with undetectable viraemia (P = 0.004) and in men who have sex with men (MSM) and heterosexuals compared with injecting drug users and those with other risk factors (P < 0.0001 for MSM and P = 0.008 for heterosexuals); it was also directly associated with current CD4 count (P < 0.0001) and inversely associated with age (P < 0.0001) and pill burden (P = 0.019).ConclusionsIn this highly adherent population, the number of daily pills was related to self‐reported health status but not to self‐reported adherence, whereas the dosing interval did not influence self‐reported adherence or health status.
Pancreatic insufficiency in patients with HIV infection: role of didanosine questioned
Authors: Martin TCS , Scourfield A , Rockwood N , Martin NK , Patel N , Nelson M , Gazzard BG 
Published: September 2012

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to identify possible causes of pancreatic insufficiency in patients with HIV infection.MethodsA retrospective analysis of 233 HIV‐positive patients for whom faecal elastase measurement was available was performed to investigate potential associations with core demographic data, HIV infection characteristics, degree of immunosuppresion, exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART), alcohol misuse, diabetes, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, triglyceride and cholesterol levels and symptomatology. The response to pancreatic enzyme replacement for patients with evidence of insufficiency was also evaluated.ResultsOf 233 patients, 104 (45%) had evidence of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (faecal elastase < 200 mcg/g). A positive association with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency was found for HCV infection (P = 0.007), previous or current HCV treatment (P = 0.003), alcohol misuse history (P = 0.006) and the presence of steatorrhoea (P = 0.03). There was no demonstrated association between exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and didanosine (ddI) exposure (P = 0.43) or stavudine (d4T) exposure (P = 0.62). Seventy‐seven per cent of patients who were treated with pancreatic enzymatic supplementation reported a subjective improvement in symptoms.ConclusionsFaecal elastase sampling should form part of the routine work‐up for HIV‐positive patients with chronic diarrhoea even in the absence of ‘traditional’ risk factors such as ddI exposure. In particular, if the patient has steatorrhoea, a history of alcohol exposure or their HCV serology is positive, they should be considered for investigation. Treatment with pancreatic enzyme supplementation appears to be effective in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea caused by pancreatic insufficiency in the majority of patients.
Rewarding Excellent Teaching: The Translation of a Policy Initiative in the United Kingdom
Authors: Turner Rebecca , Gosling David 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe need to provide more significant rewards for ‘teaching excellence’ in order to provide parity of status with research in higher education has often been asserted. This paper examines ways in which the idea of rewarding excellent teaching has been understood and translated within a large teaching and learning initiative that was overtly based on rewarding and recognising excellent teaching. The initiative studied here, was the formation of 74 Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, established by the Higher Education Funding Council for England in 2004. The findings are based on research that traced the ‘translation’ of this policy aim in 15 institutions. The research found that the process of translation resulted in multiple interpretations of this agenda, including some that rejected the notion completely, raising some pertinent questions about policy formation in relation in teaching and learning.
Wage and hour violations in urban labour markets: a comparison ofLosAngeles,NewYork andChicago
Authors: Milkman Ruth , González Ana Luz , Ikeler Peter 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis article compares violations of minimum wage laws and other labour standards inNewYorkCity,LosAngeles andChicago.LosAngeles has the highest violation rates, due to such factors as its industrial composition and disproportionately large number of small establishments, as well as its vast unauthorised immigrant population. In addition,LosAngeles’ higher rates reflect the stricter legal standards inCalifornia. We conclude that, although stronger workplace laws and regulations are crucial, in the absence of effective enforcement, they may fail to prevent workplace violations.
Genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens
Authors: Oliver Richard 
Published: September 2012

SummaryGenome sequencing has been carried out on a small selection of major fungal ascomycete pathogens. These studies show that simple models whereby pathogens evolved from phylogenetically related saprobes by the acquisition or modification of a small number of key genes cannot be sustained.The genomes show that pathogens cannot be divided into three clearly delineated classes (biotrophs, hemibiotrophs and necrotrophs) but rather into a complex matrix of categories each with subtly different properties. It is clear that the evolution of pathogenicity is ancient, rapid and ongoing. Fungal pathogens have undergone substantial genomic rearrangements that can be appropriately described as ‘genomic tillage’. Genomic tillage underpins the evolution and expression of large families of genes – known as effectors – that manipulate and exploit metabolic and defence processes of plants so as to allow the proliferation of pathogens.

Contents

Summary
1015

I.
Introduction
1015

II.
Magnaporthe oryzae
1016

III.
Stagonospora nodorum
1017

IV.
Fusarium graminearum
1018

V.
Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium verticilioides
1018

VI.
Mycosphaerella graminicola
1019

VII.
Leptosphaeria maculans
1019

VIII.
Blumeria graminis
1019

IX.
Genomic tillage and the crop of effectors
1020

X.
Research priorities
1020

Acknowledgements
1021

References
1021
Comparative Cost‐Effectiveness of Interventions to Improve Medication Adherence after Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Ito Kouta , Shrank William H. , Avorn Jerry , Patrick Amanda R. , Brennan Troyen A. , Antman Elliot M. , Choudhry Niteesh K. 
Published: September 2012

ObjectiveTo evaluate the comparative cost‐effectiveness of interventions to improve adherence to evidence‐based medications among postmyocardial infarction (MI) patients.Data Sources/Study SettingCost‐effectiveness analysis.Study DesignWe developed aMarkov model simulating a hypothetical cohort of 65‐year‐old post‐MIpatients who were prescribed secondary prevention medications. We evaluated mailed education, disease management, polypill use, and combinations of these interventions. The analysis was performed from a societal perspective over a lifetime horizon. The main outcome was an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) as measured by cost per quality‐adjusted life year (QALY) gained.Data Collection/Extraction MethodsModel inputs were extracted from published literature.Principal FindingsCompared with usual care, only mailed education had both improved health outcomes and reduced spending. Mailed education plus disease management, disease management, polypill use, polypill use plus mailed education, and polypill use plus disease management cost were $74,600, $69,200, $133,000, $113,000, and $142,900 perQALYgained, respectively. In an incremental analysis, only mailed education had anICERof less than $100,000 perQALYand was therefore the optimal strategy. Polypill use, particularly when combined with mailed education, could be cost effective, and potentially cost saving if its price decreased to less than $100 per month.ConclusionsMailed education and a polypill, once available, may be the cost‐saving strategies for improving post‐MImedication adherence.