bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bovine Colostrum in the Management of Nonorganic Failure to Thrive: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Panahi Yunes , Falahi Gholamhossein , Falahpour Morteza , Moharamzad Yashar , Khorasgani Mohammad Rabbani , Beiraghdar Fatemeh , Naghizadeh Mohammad Mehdi 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTObjective:The objective of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of oral bovine colostrum in the management of nonorganic failure to thrive (FTT).Materials and Methods:In a randomized clinical trial, 120 children (1–10 years of age) of either sex with mild or moderate nonorganic FTT were divided into 2 groups. Both groups were matched with regard to age, sex, weight, and height. One group (control) received routine treatments for FTT and the other group (case), besides routine treatments, received supplementary bovine colostrum at the dose of 40 mg · kg−1 · day−1 for a 3‐month period. Following the initial visit, subsequent visits were completed following 1, 2, and 3 months of supplementation. For quantitative measurements, Waterlow I (height for age) and Gomez (weight for age) indices were used.Results:The mean value of Gomez index in the case group (81.72) was significantly higher than the control group (77.12) at the end of the third month of supplementation (P = 0.003). Such a difference was not reported based on Waterlow I index between the case and control groups (92.91 vs 91.71; P = 0.094). According to Gomez index 12 patients (20%) who received colostrum became healthy at the end of the third month, which was significantly higher than the control group (2 cases, 3.3%); P = 0.006.Conclusions:Bovine colostrum supplementation for a 3‐month period is a useful method without any side effects, in addition to known medical and psychological treatments, to increase the weight of children with nonorganic FTT.
Development of a Quality of Life Instrument for Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Qualitative Interviews
Authors: Acierno SP , Chilcote HC , Edwards TC , Goldin AB 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTObjectives:Antireflux procedures (ARP) are commonly performed in children and there is no disease‐specific quality of life (QOL) instrument for gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in children. The aim of this study was to identify the relevant domains for developing such an instrument. These domains will be validated in a future study.Patients and Methods:Parents of 19 patients (age 2 months–18 years) clinically diagnosed with GERD were recruited to complete semistructured interviews. Seven patients with adequate verbal skills were also interviewed. Patients were treated medically (13 patients) or with an ARP (6 patients). The interviews were analyzed using grounded theory.Results:GERD affects QOL through the following domains: symptom severity, feeding quality, sleep quality, hygiene, growth and development, social quality, self‐image, coping skills, family QOL, health care usage, and impact of ARP. A greater‐than‐expected effect on parental QOL and remarkable use of accommodation were identified.Conclusions:A pediatric GERD‐specific instrument cannot rely on QOL perception alone, but must address broadly the impact of the disease and the effect of coping skills on the child and his or her family in their activities of daily living and interaction with society. We have identified reproducible domains that will serve as the foundation for such an instrument.
Celiac Disease Seropositivity in Saharawi Children: A Follow‐up and Family Study
Authors: Teresi Saverio , Crapisi Mimì , Vallejo Maria Dolores Cantarero , Castellaneta Stefania Paola , Francavilla Ruggiero , Iacono Giuseppe , Ravelli Alberto , Menegazzi Patrizia , Louali Mahana , Catassi Carlo 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTBackground:Celiac disease (CD) is a common disease in the Saharawi population of Arab‐Berber origin. Saharawi patients with CD and their families were invited to participate in a follow‐up study aimed at checking the CD serology status in patients being treated with the gluten‐free diet (GFD) and investigating the prevalence of CD in first‐degree relatives.Patients and Methods:We investigated 975 subjects (62.8% females and 37.2% males, age range 0.7 to 75.4 years, median age 13.4 years) belonging to 212 families, by determining the serum immunoglobulin A anti‐transglutaminase and anti‐endomysial antibody levels. Thirty‐two first‐degree relatives were already receiving GFD when tested.Results:Overall, 42.2% of the 244 treated subjects with CD showed a borderline/positive anti‐transglutaminase determination, and 36.6% were also anti‐endomysial positive. The serologic family screening detected 33 previously undiagnosed CD cases. The 65 affected first‐degree relatives were sibling (42), mother (12), son/daughter (7), and father (4). The overall prevalence of CD among first‐degree relatives was 65 of 763 (8.5%, 95% confidence interval 6.5–10.5). Based on our previous estimate of CD prevalence in the pediatric Saharawi population (5.6%), the sibling relative risk was 1.5.Conclusions:The risk of CD in the Saharawis is only modestly increased in first‐degree relatives compared with the general population, probably because of the higher frequency of CD predisposing genes in the general population. Saharawi patients with CD receiving GFD showed poor adherence to the treatment, which could contribute to residual CD‐related morbidity and mortality.
Lactobacillus reuteri Modulates Cytokines Production in Exhaled Breath Condensate of Children With Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Miniello Vito Leonardo , Brunetti Luigia , Tesse Riccardina , Natile Miria , Armenio Lucio , Francavilla Ruggiero 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTWe measured the concentration of interferon‐γ and interleukin‐4 in the exhaled breath condensate of children with atopic and nonallergic dermatitis receiving a probiotic supplementation (Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC 55730) or placebo for 8 weeks. We demonstrated that the levels of these cytokines increased and decreased respectively only in atopic subjects receiving active treatment. Our data suggest that the oral administration of a specific probiotic strain in patients with atopic dermatitis can modulate in vivo the cytokine pattern at a different site from intestine.
CELLULOSE SYNTHASE9 Serves a Nonredundant Role in Secondary Cell Wall Synthesis in Arabidopsis Epidermal Testa Cells
Authors: Stork Jozsef , Harris Darby , Griffiths Jonathan , Williams Brian , Beisson Fred , Li-Beisson Yonghua , Mendu Venugopal , Haughn George , DeBolt Seth 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
Herein, we sought to explore the contribution of cellulose biosynthesis to the shape and morphogenesis of hexagonal seed coat cells in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Consistent with seed preferential expression of CELLULOSE SYNTHASE9 (CESA9), null mutations in CESA9 caused no change in cellulose content in leaves or stems, but caused a 25% reduction in seeds. Compositional studies of cesa9 seeds uncovered substantial proportional increases in cell wall neutral sugars and in several monomers of cell wall-associated polyesters. Despite these metabolic compensations, cesa9 seeds were permeable to tetrazolium salt, implying that cellulose biosynthesis, via CESA9, is required for correct barrier function of the seed coat. A syndrome of depleted radial wall, altered seed coat cell size, shape, and internal angle uniformity was quantified using scanning electron micrographs in cesa9 epidermal cells. By contrast, morphological defects were absent in cesa9 embryos, visually inspected from torpedo to bent cotyledon, consistent with no reduction in postgermination radical or hypocotyl elongation. These data implied that CESA9 was seed coat specific or functionally redundant in other tissues. Assessment of sections from glutaraldehyde fixed wild-type and cesa9 mature seeds supported results of scanning electron micrographs and quantitatively showed depletion of secondary cell wall synthesis in the radial cell wall. Herein, we show a nonredundant role for CESA9 in secondary cell wall biosynthesis in radial cell walls of epidermal seed coats and document its importance for cell morphogenesis and barrier function of the seed coat.
Enzyme Activity Profiles during Fruit Development in Tomato Cultivars and Solanum pennellii
Authors: Steinhauser Marie-Caroline , Steinhauser Dirk , Koehl Karin , Carrari Fernando , Gibon Yves , Fernie Alisdair R. , Stitt Mark 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
Enzymes interact to generate metabolic networks. The activities of more than 22 enzymes from central metabolism were profiled during the development of fruit of the modern tomato cultivar Solanum lycopersicum ‘M82’ and its wild relative Solanum pennellii (LA0716). In S. pennellii, the mature fruit remains green and contains lower sugar and higher organic acid levels. These genotypes are the parents of a widely used near introgression line population. Enzymes were also profiled in a second cultivar, S. lycopersicum ‘Moneymaker’, for which data sets for the developmental changes of metabolites and transcripts are available. Whereas most enzyme activities declined during fruit development in the modern S. lycopersicum cultivars, they remained high or even increased in S. pennellii, especially enzymes required for organic acid synthesis. The enzyme profiles were sufficiently characteristic to allow stages of development and cultivars and the wild species to be distinguished by principal component analysis and clustering. Many enzymes showed coordinated changes during fruit development of a given genotype. Comparison of the correlation matrices revealed a large overlap between the two modern cultivars and considerable overlap with S. pennellii, indicating that despite the very different development responses, some basic modules are retained. Comparison of enzyme activity, metabolite profiles, and transcript profiles in S. lycopersicum ‘Moneymaker’ revealed remarkably little connectivity between the developmental changes of transcripts and enzymes and even less between enzymes and metabolites. We discuss the concept that the metabolite profile is an emergent property that is generated by complex network interactions.
Efficacy and safety of liposome‐encapsulated 4‐n‐butylresorcinol 0.1% cream for the treatment of melasma: A randomized controlled split‐face trial
Authors: HUH Sun Young , SHIN Jung‐Won , NA Jung‐Im , HUH Chang‐Hun , YOUN Sang‐Woong , PARK Kyoung‐Chan 
Published: March 2010

AbstractMelasma is an acquired pigmentary disorder that most commonly occurs in women of child‐bearing age. Melasma is therapeutically challenging, and most commercially available hypopigmenting agents include tyrosinase inhibitors, which regulate the rate‐limiting step of melanogenesis. 4‐n‐Butylresorcinol has received considerable attention as a novel hypopigmenting agent in the last 15 years because it has an inhibitory effect against tyrosinase and tyrosinase‐related protein‐1. However, the hypopigmenting effect of 4‐n‐butylresorcinol in human subjects has only been shown in a few studies. Liposome encapsulation is known to improve stabilization and enhance penetration of the product. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the hypopigmenting efficacy and safety of liposome‐encapsulated 4‐n‐butylresorcinol 0.1% cream in patients with melasma. This was a randomized, double‐blind, vehicle‐controlled and split‐face comparison study. Twenty‐three patients with a clinical diagnosis of melasma were included. 4‐n‐Butylresorcinol 0.1% cream or vehicle was applied to each side of the face twice daily for 8 weeks. Clinical and photographic evaluations, Mexameter measurements and assessment of patient satisfaction and side‐effects were performed at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. All subjects completed the study. Mexameter measurements demonstrated that the melanin index of the 4‐n‐butylresorcinol‐treated side showed a significant decrease when compared with the vehicle‐treated side after 8 weeks (P = 0.043). No adverse reactions were observed throughout the study. Subjectively, 4‐n‐butylresorcinol was considered to be efficacious in more than 60% of the patients after 8 weeks of treatment. In conclusion, liposome‐encapsulated 4‐n‐butylresorcinol 0.1% cream was well tolerated and showed significant higher efficacy than vehicle alone for the treatment of melasma.
Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide in Japanese psoriatic arthritis patients
Authors: MAEJIMA Hideki , AKI Ryouichi , WATARAI Akira , SHIRAI Kyoumi , HAMADA Yuko , KATSUOKA Kensei 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAnti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti‐CCP) are highly considered to indicate disease severity and be predictive markers in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA patients who are positive for anti‐CCP tend to progress more frequently to joint deformity and functionally deteriorate more than negative patients. A study concerning the presence of anti‐CCP in Japanese patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been published. Our aim was to clarify that anti‐CCP could be a potentially useful marker in PsA patients. We herein describe a PsA patient with presence of anti‐CCP. We examined anti‐CCP in 15 patients with PsA, and compared with 18 controls who had other types of psoriasis. Three PsA patients were positive for anti‐CCP, but no controls showed positive. The anti‐CCP‐positive patients had higher counts of radiographic erosion, higher prevalence rates of polyarticular disease, use of disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs, and the human leukocyte antigen DRB1*04 shared epitope than negative patients. Our study demonstrated that anti‐CCP was potentially both predictive and a severity marker of joint involvement in PsA, the same as in RA.
Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala jeanselmei in a patient with polymyalgia rheumatica
Authors: ARAKAKI Osao , ASATO Yutaka , YAGI Nobutake , TAIRA Kiyohito , YAMAMOTO Yu‐ichi , NONAKA Kimiko , HOSOKAWA Atsushi , KAYO Susumu , HAGIWARA Keisuke , UEZATO Hiroshi 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAn 87‐year‐old man, a gardener in Okinawa, first noticed a tumor on the dorsum of his right hand in November 2005. He had been taking prednisolone for the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica since 2000. A nearby dermatologist incised the tumor for pus drainage in February 2006. In April of the same year, the dome‐like tumor reappeared. The same treatment was repeated. Because the culture of the pus revealed fungi at that time, terbinafine hydrochloride and minocycline were administrated under the diagnosis of a deep fungal infection. After a short remission, the tumor recurred in November of the same year and in May and August of 2007 regardless of the repeated incision and pus drainage. He was referred to our hospital on 27 September 2007. His first physical examination at our outpatient office showed a skin‐colored, well‐demarcated, multilocular, cystic subcutaneous tumor on the dorsum of his right hand. Histopathological examination revealed a pseudocyst with fibrous walls of connective tissue. Continuous, bead‐like hyphae, positive with periodic acid‐Schiff stain and Grocott stain, were found within the pseudocyst. Morphological and molecular biological examinations of the separately cultured specimens identified the causative agent as Exophiala jeanselmei. The entire cyst was removed under local anesthesia, and an artificial dermis made of silicon membrane was applied to the wound. Skin graft was performed in November after confirming no recurrence of the fungal infection. Terbinafine hydrochloride 125 mg/day has continued. No recurrence has been observed up to now.
Ciprofloxacin utility as antifibrotic in the skin of patients with scleroderma
Authors: RUBÉN Enríquez‐Casillas , MANUEL Vázquez‐Rodríguez , AGUSTÍN Ochoa‐Ramírez , HUERTA Miguel , ANTONIO Fraga‐Mouret , IVÁN Delgado‐Enciso 
Published: March 2010

AbstractScleroderma is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder that is characterized by microvascular injury, excessive fibrosis of the skin, and distinctive visceral changes that can involve the lungs, heart, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. To date, although several drugs have been used to reduce fibrosis in scleroderma, there exists no effective pharmacological treatment. To determine if oral ciprofloxacin reduces the severity of scleroderma, a controlled, double‐blind randomized clinical trial, with placebo, was conducted on 32 patients with diffuse and limited scleroderma, who received oral ciprofloxacin (250 mg) or placebo every 12 h. Skin induration and thickness of the patients were clinically evaluated using the modified Rodnan skin score at the beginning and once per month during 6 months of treatment with ciprofloxacin. To monitor progression of the disease, a monthly hematological exam and clinical evaluation was done to explore renal and hepatic function for each patient. Thirty patients completed the study; one from the treatment group was excluded when presenting a skin reaction and another from the placebo group abandoned the study due to an exacerbation of disease. At the sixth month of the study, the ciprofloxacin group of patients showed a diminution in the modified Rodnan skin score (58% vs 18%, P = 0.003), showing no significant alterations in the laboratory assays in either groups of patients. Our results suggest that oral administration of ciprofloxacin for 6 months reduces the severity of symptoms affecting the skin of patients with systemic scleroderma, and does so without important secondary effects.
Age‐dependent distribution of juvenile southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) on the continental shelf off southwest Australia determined by acoustic monitoring
Authors: HONDA KENTARO , HOBDAY ALISTAIR J. , KAWABE RYO , TOJO NAOKI , FUJIOKA KO , TAKAO YOSHIMI , MIYASHITA KAZUSHI 
Published: March 2010

AbstractJuvenile southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii, SBT) were monitored in nearshore waters off southwest Australia using acoustic tagging and monitoring over five austral summers (2002/2003–2006/2007) to determine patterns in age‐based distribution of SBT. A total of 20–70 receivers were deployed in early December along one to three cross‐shelf transects and at three inshore topographic features (lumps) where SBT are known to occur; and a total of 59–84 juvenile SBT (41–90 cm fork length) were tagged and released each year. After several months, receivers were recovered, and data extracted. In 2002/2003 and 2003/2004, 2‐yr‐old SBT were detected more frequently in nearshore areas than did 1‐yr old fish. Similarly in 2004/2005 and 2006/2007, it was the larger 1‐yr‐old SBT that were detected more frequently at inshore lumps (>85% of detections) while small 1‐yr‐old SBT were detected more widely over the study area. In 2005/2006, although large 1‐yr‐old SBT were still detected more frequently at inshore lumps than small 1‐yr old SBT, the percentage of all detections at lumps was lower at 31.5%, indicating wider distribution of both small and large age‐1 fish. The observed age‐dependent distribution pattern may be enhanced by the distribution of prey, which disperse or concentrate depending on the local oceanography.
Juvenile cod (Gadus morhua) mortality and the importance of bottom sediment type to recruitment on Georges Bank
Authors: LOUGH R. GREGORY 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThe demersal settlement of pelagic juvenile fish has been considered a critical period in which the final adjustment is made to the size of a year class. Distribution patterns of pelagic and recently settled juvenile cod (Gadus morhua) were examined from nine surveys on Georges Bank during the summer over 5 years, 1984–1989, to relate juvenile survival to the sedimentary environment. Pelagic juveniles were widespread across Georges Bank in June, and by mid‐July they occurred on all bottom types from sand to gravel on eastern Georges Bank. However, by late July‐early August they were mostly abundant on the northeastern edge gravel deposit, which with its complex relief, provides abundant prey and refuge from predators. A bank‐wide estimate of pelagic juvenile abundance in 1986 and 1987 was used to assess mortality of the recently settled juveniles and to evaluate the relative importance of survivors from the northeastern edge gravel area to recruitment of the Georges Bank population. Settlement mortality rates over 1–2 months on the northeastern gravel area ranged from 3 to 8% day−1, which compared reasonably with other studies. The seasonal abundance of the pelagic juveniles was almost an order of magnitude higher in 1987 than 1986; however, recruitment at age 1 was similar, indicating that a high mortality of the demersal juveniles occurred in 1987. The limited northeastern gravel area on Georges Bank may represent a survival bottleneck depending on the variability in the distribution and abundance of juvenile cod settlement in relation to that of their predators.
Trade‐offs and habitat constraints in the establishment of epiphytic bryophytes
Authors: Löbel Swantje , Rydin Håkan 
Published: March 2010

Summary 1. Diversity of patch‐tracking epiphyte metacommunities depends on successful colonization of new habitats. Habitat constraints and critical stages in the establishment have gained little attention in metacommunity studies, but a trade‐off between dispersal ability and establishment rate is often assumed. This assumption remains largely untested, and alternative dispersal and reproductive strategies offer several trade‐offs to be explored. 2. We used in vitro experiments to identify critical stages in the establishment of obligate epiphytic bryophytes with contrasting dispersal strategies [sexual via small (<20 μm) or large (>20 μm) spores, asexual via gemmae or gemmae‐like branchlets], and to identify habitat constraints of diaspore establishment and trade‐offs among species traits. 3. Across all stages of the establishment process, large asexual diaspores performed better than small sexual ones. Asexual species also had a higher ability to establish from fragments than sexual species. Germination of all diaspore types was limited by pH with highest germination rates at intermediate pH. Large moss spores showed a higher desiccation tolerance than small ones, but lower germination and protonemal growth rates. Liverwort spores had the lowest desiccation tolerance, germination and protonemal growth rates, but rapidly developed gametophytic shoots once they had germinated. 4. Combining the results with earlier studies on dispersal distances in epiphytes, our study demonstrated a trade‐off between dispersal distance and establishment ability, which may be central for the evolution of asexual dispersal in epiphytes. The evolution of spore size may additionally involve trade‐offs between high germination and protonemal growth rates, desiccation tolerance, and a rapid development from protonema to shoots. We suggest that trade‐offs in epiphytes are shaped by conflicting selection pressures imposed by habitat patchiness, landscape dynamics and irregular water supply.
A salivary serine protease of the haematophagous reduviid Panstrongylus megistus: sequence characterization, expression pattern and characterization of proteolytic activity
Authors: Meiser C. K. , Piechura H. , Meyer H. E. , Warscheid B. , Schaub G. A. , Balczun C. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractA cDNA encoding a trypsin‐like protease from the salivary glands of the haematophagous reduviid Panstrongylus megistus was cloned and sequenced. The deduced protein sequence showed similarities to serine proteases of other hemipterans but with substitutions in the catalytic triad and the substrate binding site. The expression of the gene increased more than sixfold after feeding. Saliva showed the highest proteolytic activity at neutral to slightly basic pH. Substrate and inhibitor profiles and zymography indicated the presence of a trypsin‐like protease with preference for Arg and Lys at P1. Using chromatography, a fibrinolytic enzyme was purified whose sequence was identified by tandem mass spectrometry as that encoded by the cDNA.