bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of pegylated interferon and ribavirin for patients with chronic hepatitis C treated in routine clinical practice
Authors: Grishchenko Marina , Grieve Richard D. , Sweeting Michael J. , De Angelis Daniela , Thomson Brian J. , Ryder Stephen D. , Irving William L. ,   the Trent HCV Study Group
Published: March 2009

Objectives:This study assesses whether pegylated interferon and ribavirin is cost-effective compared with no antiviral treatment provided in routine clinical practice, for different patient subgroups.Methods:The cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) uses a Markov decision model to estimate the lifetime cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of antiviral treatment compared with no treatment. The model is populated with data on sustained virological responses, costs, and transition probabilities all taken from a large representative sample of UK cases and centers (Trent HCV database).Results:The CEA found that pegylated interferon and ribavirin was cost-effective for most patient subgroups. The CEA found that for patients with genotype non-1, the intervention led to cost reductions and gains of at least 0.5 QALYs. For genotype 1 cases with mild or moderate disease, and younger cirrhotic patients (aged 40 or less), costs per QALY remained below £20,000 ($40,000 or €29,000). For genotype 1 cases with cirrhosis aged 50, the mean cost per QALY rose to over £60,000 ($120,000 or €87,000).Conclusions:The study concludes that, based on cost and effectiveness data collected from routine clinical practice, treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin is generally cost-effective. The study shows that there are variations according to patient subgroup and for older (aged 50 or over) genotype 1 patients with cirrhosis, antiviral treatment appears less cost-effective.
Chinese Thinking on the Future of International Relations: Realism as theTi, Rationalism as theYong?
Authors: Lynch Daniel 
Published: March 2009

AbstractChina's evidently unstoppable “rise” energizes PRC political and intellectual elites to think seriously about the future of international relations. How will (and should) China's international roles change in the forthcoming decades? How should its leaders put the country's rapidly-increasing power to use? Foreign China specialists have tended to use an overly-streamlined “resisting” the West versus “co-operating” with it (or even simpler “optimistic” versus “pessimistic”) scale to address such questions, partly reflecting the divide between Realism and Neoliberalism in American international relations theory. By 2002, a near-consensus had developed (though never shared universally) that China had become an increasingly co-operative power since the mid-1990s and would continue to pursue the policy prescriptions of Neoliberal international relations theory. But using more nuanced “English school” analytical techniques – and examining the writings of Chinese elites themselves, aimed solely at Chinese audiences – this article discovers an unmistakably cynical Realism to be still at the core of Chinese thinking on the international future. Even elites who appear sincere in their promotion of co-operation firmly reject “solidarism” among the world's leading states and insist upon upholding the difference between China and all others. Many demand – and foresee – China using its future power to pursue world objectives that would depart in significant respects from those of the other leading states and non-state actors.
The illustrated press under siege: technological imagination in the Paris siege, 1870–1871
Authors: MARTIN MICHÈLE , BODNAR CHRISTOPHER 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTDuring the Franco-Prussian War, Paris was besieged by the Prussians from the middle of September 1870 until the end of January 1871. During most of the period, the main means of transportation – railways, roads, telegraph, bridges, etc. – were cut off by the Prussians. This article shows that, given the elimination of the main means of diffusion of news, some novel strategies were used to preserve a democratic distribution of information. An analysis of the content of four illustrated periodicals –The Illustrated London NewsandThe Graphicin London andL'IllustrationandLe Monde Illustréin Paris – shows that innovative methods involving such things as the balloon and the carrier pigeon were used to circulate news inside and outside the fortifications of Paris and beyond the surrounding Prussian army. The article also demonstrates that while this distribution had a different form from that occurring in normal situations, it did not prevent the papers from reaching a balance among the various issues related to the war and covered by their content.
Clinical usefulness of a supplementary cyclosporin administration with a topical application of maxacalcitol ointment for patients with moderate psoriasis vulgaris
Authors: ABE Masatoshi , SYUTO Tomoko , HASEGAWA Michiko , YOKOYAMA Yoko , ISHIKAWA Osamu 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTIn this study, we aimed at confirming the clinical usefulness of a supplementary additional cyclosporin microemulsion preconcentrate (CyA MEPC) administration in 15 patients with psoriasis vulgaris whose disease activity had been unchanged or exacerbated with topical maxacalcitol treatment. Each patient took a supplementary CyA MEPC administration, 2.5 mg/kg per day in addition to maxacalcitol ointment therapy. When the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score revealed over a 75% decrease against the initial value, the administration of CyA MEPC was tapered off, and a topical application of maxacalcitol ointment was continued for the maintenance phase. All patients could obtain improvement within 12 weeks. In 12 patients whose PASI score reduced over 75%, CyA MEPC was tapered off. Of those, five patients remained in remission by maxacalcitol ointment for over 12 months and three patients for 6 months. In conclusion, this preliminary study may suggest that supplementary therapy of short‐term CyA MEPC administration in combination with topical vitamin D3 treatment may be worth trying for patients with moderate psoriasis vulgaris.
Comparative study of direct polymerase chain reaction, microscopic examination and culture‐based morphological methods for detection and identification of dermatophytes in nail and skin samples
Authors: UCHIDA Takao , MAKIMURA Koichi , ISHIHARA Katsuhito , GOTO Hideaki , TAJIRI Yoshito , OKUMA Mariko , FUJISAKI Ryuichi , UCHIDA Katsuhisa , ABE Sigeru , IIJIMA Masafumi 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTThe positive rates of dermatophytes isolated and identified by conventional methods are rather low. Moreover, clinical isolates sometimes show atypical morphology, and in such cases microscopic methods are not applicable for identification. The present study was performed to assess the utility of specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based methods for Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes as diagnostic tools for dermatophytoses. Both conventional morphological identification and specific PCR methods based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS)1 DNA sequence were performed to identify dermatophyte species from clinical specimens of patients who visited Kawasaki Social Insurance Hospital between 16 May and 17 August 2005. Specific PCR methods were also directly applied to clinical specimens, and the results of the two methods were compared. The clinical samples examined consisted of 126 skin scale specimens and 80 nail specimens. The positive rates of culture isolation from clinical specimens were 67% and 33% for skin scale and nail specimens, respectively. In contrast, PCR analysis yielded a positive rate of 100% for clinical isolates from both skin scales and nails, and rates of 95% and 99% were obtained by direct application to clinical specimens. The results of the present study indicated that specific PCR is highly advantageous as a diagnostic tool for detection and identification of dermatophytes on direct application to skin scale or nail specimens.
Plasmocytosis circumorificialis successfully treated with topical fusidic acid ointment
Authors: SARUYA Kanako , FUKUDA Hidetsugu , SAITO Ryuzo , URUSHIBATA Osamu , MUKAI Hideki 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTPlasmocytosis circumorificialis is a benign chronic inflammatory disease, which causes erythema, erosions, ulcers, nodules and related changes in and around the openings of the human body, and is histopathologically characterized by dense infiltration of the dermis by plasma cells. We recently encountered a 49‐year‐old man in whom this disease affected the lower lip. On initial examination in our department, a well‐demarcated region of erosion (10 mm × 5 mm), accompanied in part by formation of a crust, was noted on the left side of his lower lip. Histopathologically, the mucosal epithelium exhibited erosions, and dense plasma cell infiltration, without signs of atypia, was noted in the upper through middle layers of the lamina propria. On the basis of these findings, plasmocytosis circumorificialis was diagnosed. Because the patient had experienced repeated cycles of remission and relapse, despite topical treatment with various drugs (e.g. topical antibiotics and steroids), prior to referral to our department, we administered topical 2% fusidate sodium or Fucidin (Leo Pharmaceutical, Ballerup, Denmark) ointment. His eruption healed approximately 3 weeks after the start of this treatment. We report this case and discuss the findings reported in Japan on the development of plasmocytosis circumorificialis of the lips.
Evaluation of the effect of autologous mesenchymal stem cell injection in a large‐animal model of bilateral kidney ischaemia reperfusion injury
Authors: Behr L. , Hekmati M. , Lucchini A. , Houcinet K. , Faussat A.‐M. , Borenstein N. , Noel L.‐H. , Lelievre‐Pegorier M. , Laborde K. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractObjectives: Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been proven to be of benefit to the kidney in different experimental models of renal injuries. All studies have been performed in valuable rodent models, but the relevance of these results to large mammals and ultimately, to humans remains unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of MSC transplantation in an alternative ovine large‐animal model of bilateral kidney ischaemia reperfusion injury.Material and methods: Sheep were divided into three groups: one sham‐operated group and two groups submitted to renal bilateral ischaemia for 60 min. Animals with ischaemia reperfusion injury were treated with injection of autologous MSCs or with vehicle medium.Results: The model sheep presented with renal histological manefestations that closely resembled lesions seen in patients. Transplanted MSCs were found in glomeruli but not in tubules and did not express glomerular cell markers (podocin, von Willebrand factor), but functional evaluation showed no beneficial effect of MSC infusion. Morphological and molecular analyses corroborated the functional results. MSCs did not repair kidney parenchyma and failed to modulate cell death and proliferation or cytokine release (tumour necrosis factor‐alpha, vascular endothelial growth factor alpha (VEGF‐α), Bcl‐2, caspase).Conclusion: In this unique autologous large‐animal model, MSCs did not exhibit reparative or paracrine protective properties.
Welcome back New Zealand: regional biogeography and Gondwanan origin of three endemic genera of mite harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi)
Authors: Boyer Sarah L. , Giribet Gonzalo 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAim  Biogeographers have long been intrigued by New Zealand’s biota due to its unique combination of typical ‘continental’ and ‘island’ characteristics. The New Zealand plateau rifted from the former supercontinent Gondwana c. 80 Ma, and has been isolated from other land masses ever since. Therefore, the flora and fauna of New Zealand include lineages that are Gondwanan in origin, but also include a very large number of endemics. In this study, we analyse the evolutionary relationships of three genera of mite harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones, Cyphophthalmi) endemic to New Zealand, both to each other and to their temperate Gondwanan relatives found in Australia, Chile, Sri Lanka and South Africa.Location  New Zealand (North Island, South Island and Stewart Island).Methods  A total of 94 specimens of the family Pettalidae in the suborder Cyphophthalmi were studied, representing 31 species and subspecies belonging to three endemic genera from New Zealand (Aoraki, Neopurcellia and Rakaia) plus six other members of the family from Chile, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Australia. The phylogeny of these taxa was constructed using morphological and molecular data from five nuclear and mitochondrial genes (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and histone H3, totalling c. 5 kb), which were analysed using dynamic as well as static homology under a variety of optimality criteria.Results  The results showed that each of the three New Zealand cyphophthalmid genera is monophyletic, and occupies a distinct geographical region within the archipelago, grossly corresponding to palaeogeographical regions. All three genera of New Zealand mite harvestmen fall within the family Pettalidae with a classic temperate Gondwanan distribution, but they do not render any other genera paraphyletic.Main conclusions  Our study shows that New Zealand’s three genera of mite harvestmen are unequivocally related to other members of the temperate Gondwanan family Pettalidae. Monophyly of each genus contradicts the idea of recent dispersal to New Zealand. Within New Zealand, striking biogeographical patterns are apparent in this group of short‐range endemics, particularly in the South Island. These patterns are interpreted in the light of New Zealand’s turbulent geological history and present‐day patterns of forest cover.
Selective recruitment of proteins to 5′ cap complexes during the growth cycle in Arabidopsis
Authors: Bush Maxwell S. , Hutchins Andrew P. , Jones Alexandra M.E. , Naldrett Mike J. , Jarmolowski Artur , Lloyd Clive W. , Doonan John H. 
Published: March 2009

SummaryTranslation of most mRNAs is performed in a cap‐dependent manner, requiring a protein complex, the cap complex, to regulate the accessibility of the message to the 40S ribosome. The cap complex initiates protein translation by binding to the 5′ cap of an mRNA and recruiting ribosomes to begin translation. Compared to animals and yeast, there are significant plant‐specific differences in the regulation of cap‐dependent mRNA translation, but these are poorly understood. Here, we purified proteins that bind to the 5′ cap during the Arabidopsis growth cycle. The protein profile of the cap‐binding complexes varies during the various stages of the growth cycle in suspension culture cells. Using Western blotting, the cap complexes of quiescent cells were found to be composed of only three major proteins: eIF4isoE, which is primarily a cytoplasmic protein, and eIF4E and CBP80, which accumulate in the nucleus. However, when cells proliferate, at least 10 major proteins bind directly or indirectly to the 5′ cap. Proteomic, Western blotting and immunoprecipitation data establish that the spectrum of RNA helicases in the cap complexes also changes during the growth cycle. Cap complexes from proliferating cultures mainly contain eIF4A, which associates with at least four cap complexes, but eIF4A is replaced by additional helicases in quiescent cells. These findings suggest that the dynamic and selective recruitment of various proteins to mRNA 5′ cap complexes could play an important role in the regulation of gene expression.
Immunohistochemical staining of liver grafts with a monoclonal antibody against HCV‐Envelope 2 for recurrent hepatitis C after living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Sadamori Hiroshi , Yagi Takahito , Iwagaki Hiromi , Matsuda Hiroaki , Shinoura Susumu , Umeda Yuzo , Ohara Nobuya , Yanai Hiroyuki , Ogino Tetsuya , Tanaka Noriaki 
Published: March 2009

AbstractAim:  We evaluated the expression of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antigen on liver grafts by immunohistochemical staining (IHS) using IG222 monoclonal antibody (mAb) against HCV‐envelope 2 (E2).Methods:  The study material was 84 liver biopsy specimens obtained from 28 patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for HCV infection. The biopsy samples were examined histopathologically, and by IHS using IG222 mAb against HCV‐E2. Serum HCV‐RNA level was measured in all patients. The IHS grades were compared among the three groups classified according to the time elapsed from LDLT (at 1–30, 31–179 and ≥180 days post‐LDLT) and among four post‐transplant conditions, including acute cellular rejection (ACR).Results:  Immunoreactivity to IG222 was detected in 78.6% of the specimens obtained during the first month after LDLT, and there were no significant differences on the IHS grades between the three groups classified according to the time elapsed from LDLT. The IHS grades were significantly stronger in definite recurrent HCV (n = 12) and probable recurrent HCV (n = 7) than in definite ACR (n = 7) and other complications (n = 8). There were no significant differences in serum HCV‐RNA levels among the four post‐transplant conditions. There was no significant correlation between the IHS grades using IG222 mAb and serum HCV‐RNA levels when data of 84 liver biopsy specimens were analyzed.Conclusions:  Constant HCV‐E2 expression was observed in liver biopsy specimens obtained 1 month or longer. The strong HCV‐E2 expression on liver grafts were associated with recurrent hepatitis C after LDLT, but the serum HCV‐RNA levels were not.
Hepatitis B virus genotypes, subgenotypes, precore, and basal core promoter mutations in the two largest provinces of Pakistan
Authors: Ahmed Choudhary Shoaib , Wang Zhan‐hui , Bin Zhou , Chen Jin‐jun , Kamal Mustafa , Hou Jin‐lin 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotyping has been done in most countries, but unfortunately, in Pakistan, HBV genotypic distribution is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalent genotype and subgenotype in the two most populated provinces in Pakistan: Punjab and Sind.Methods:  In total, 236 HBV DNA‐positive samples were selected for genotyping by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The RFLP results were further confirmed with whole genome and partial genome sequencing.Results:  Genotype D was detected as the most prevalent (93.22%) genotype in all eight cities of both provinces; genotype C was present in 5.93% and genotype A was present in 0.85% of the samples. The D1 subtype was present in 84%, and D2 was present in 8% of 25 whole genome‐sequenced samples. The C2 subtype was detected in 58.33% of S gene‐sequenced samples, while D1 was detected in the remaining 41.67% of 24 samples sequenced for the S gene. Subtype D1 is the most dominant in D, while C2 is dominant in genotype C. Eight‐ and 15‐bp deletion mutations were also detected in genotype D samples. Other precore and basal core promoter (BCP) mutations included T1915 (100%), A1679 (86.96%), T1762 (39.13%), and A1764 (30.43%), which were also detected in the genotype D samples.Conclusion:  Genotype D subtype D1 is the most prevalent HBV strain in Pakistan with 8‐bp deletion mutants the most common in HBV carriers.
Review article: Progress of treatment in ANCA‐associated vasculitis
Authors: JAYNE DAVID 
Published: March 2009

SUMMARYThis study reports on innovations in the field of, and current approaches to, the therapy of ANCA‐associated vasculitis (AAV). Randomized clinical trials and prospective open label trial of newer therapies performed in the last 15 years in Wegener's granulomatosis and microscopic polyangiitis or both (AAV) were reviewed. Although cyclophosphamide remains the favoured immunosuppressive for remission induction, the use of alternative immunosuppressives and of intravenous pulsed administration have reduced cyclophosphamide exposure and are likely to increase the safety of treatment. Mycophenolate mofetil, leflunomide and deoxyspergualin are newer immunosuppressive drugs which have been evaluated in AAV, while tumpur necrosis factor, alemtuumab and rituximab are ‘biologic’ agents that have received attention. There is insufficient study of the dosing of glucocorticoids. Plasma exchange is indicated for severe renal vasculitis. Outcomes for elderly patients presenting with severe renal impairment are often poor despite optimal therapy. The development of collaborative networks in Europe and the USA has facilitated the conduct of larger randomized controlled trials. These have led to consensus recommendations on how AAV should be treated. Many newer agents are currently under evaluation which have the potential to improve AAV outcomes in the future.
Comparison of neonatal outcome for inborn and outborn very low‐birthweight preterm infants
Authors: Chung Mei‐Yung , Fang Po‐Chiung , Chung Ching‐Hung , Chen Chih‐Cheng , Hwang Kao‐Pin , Chen Feng‐Shun 
Published: March 2009

AbstractBackground:  The aim of the present study was to compare the neonatal outcome of very low‐birthweight (VLBW) preterm infants with regard to inborn and outborn status in a medical center of Southern Taiwan, where short‐distance neonatal transport is the rule and maternal transport was not well established.Methods:  This retrospective study included outborn VLBW preterm infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung after neonatal transport during the period from 1999 through 2003. An equal number of inborn preterm infants matched for gender and birthweight were included as controls. Infants with lethal congenital anomalies or who died in the delivery room were excluded. Data were collected from reviewing medical charts.Results:  A total of 34 inborn VLBW infants and 34 outborn VLBW infants with neonatal transport were included. Chronic lung disease (CLD) was significantly more frequent in the outborn group according to McNemar test (P = 0.0124) and logistic regression. Logistic regression also showed that outborn status (P = 0.0173) and birthweight (P = 0.0024) were the two most important risk factors for development of CLD.Conclusion:  Well‐trained short distance neonatal transport is useful and valuable for VLBW infants with gestation age of 27–34 weeks in Southern Taiwan. The respiratory outcome, however, was poor in the outborn group in terms of incidence of CLD. To improve the respiratory outcome, further modification of respiratory care during transportation or antenatal maternal transport is crucial.