bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Question‐answering systems as efficient sources of terminological information: an evaluation
Authors: Olvera‐Lobo María‐Dolores , Gutiérrez‐Artacho Juncal 
Published: June 2010

AbstractBackground:  Question‐answering systems (or QA Systems) stand as a new alternative for Information Retrieval Systems. Most users frequently need to retrieve specific information about a factual question to obtain a whole document.Objectives:  The study evaluates the efficiency of QA systems as terminological sources for physicians, specialised translators and users in general. It assesses the performance of one open‐domain QA system, START, and one restricted‐domain QA system, MedQA.Method:  The study collected two hundred definitional questions (What is…?), either general or specialised, from the health website WebMD. Sources used by the open‐domain QA system, START, and the restricted‐domain QA system, MedQA, were studied to retrieve answers, and later a range of evaluation measures (precision, Mean Reciprocal Rank, Total Reciprocal Rank, First Hit Success) were applied to mark the quality of answers.Results:  It was established that both systems are useful in the retrieval of valid definitional healthcare information, with an acceptable degree of coherent and precise responses from both. The answers supplied by MedQA were more reliable that those of START in the sense that they came from specialised clinical or academic sources, most of them showing links to further research articles.Conclusions:  Results obtained show the potential of this type of tool in the more general realm of information access, and the retrieval of health information. They may be considered a good, reliable and reasonably precise alternative in alleviating the information overload. Both QA systems can help professionals and users can obtain healthcare information.
Ethics in operations research and sustainable development
Authors: Brans Jean‐Pierre , Kunsch Pierre L. 
Published: June 2010

AbstractDuring the last 100 years, major social, economic, environmental and technical problems have arisen that today jeopardise mankind's very existence. The authors argue that operations research (OR) should be more strongly involved by developing models to face today's crucial challenges. OR should change drastically because it is traditionally involved mainly with optimisation problems, which are often counterproductive in the sense of ethical behaviour: new basic approaches are required. This paper provides some avenues on how to develop instruments for addressing mankind's sustainability problems, and for complying with ethical principles. It is proposed to have a mix of techniques, mainly: systems thinking, multi‐criteria decision‐making and dynamic control. A global framework, called ASMC (Adaptive, Systemic, Multi‐criteria, Control procedure), is proposed for developing these ideas. Some sustainable development applications are presented.
Différences de satisfaction au travail entre les travailleurs à salaire élevé et à bas salaires en Europe
Authors: POULIAKAS Konstantinos , THEODOSSIOU Ioannis 
Published: June 2010

Résumé.Les données de six vagues d'enquětes du Panel européen des ménages (1996–2001) collectées dans onze pays indiquent que les travailleurs à bas salaire de l'Europe du Sud sont, contrairement à ceux de l'Europe du Nord, nettement moins satisfaits de leur emploi que les travailleurs à salaire élevé. En calculant par approximation la satisfaction au travail pour évaluer la qualité de l'emploi, les auteurs montrent que, si bas salaire ne rime pas nécessairement avec emploi de mauvaise qualité, les travailleurs de certains pays sont néanmoins doublement pénalisés: ils sont mal rémunérés et ont un travail de mauvaise qualité. Selon les auteurs, ce dualisme des marchés du travail en Europe correspond à des approches différentes au niveau national du compromis entre flexibilité et sécurité, cette dernière devant ětre privilégiée au plan politique pour améliorer la qualité de l'emploi.
ErbB receptors and fatty acid synthase expression in aggressive head and neck squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Silva SD , Cunha IW , Younes RN , Soares FA , Kowalski LP , Graner E 
Published: June 2010

Oral Diseases (2010) 16, 774–780Summary:  Overexpression of ErbB receptors is frequent in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) and seems to be correlated with tumor progression and metastasis. Fatty acid synthase (FASN), the key lipogenic enzyme responsible for the endogenous synthesis of fatty acids, is regulated by ErbB2 and overexpressed in several human malignancies.Methods:  This study was performed to examine the immunohistochemical expression patterns of ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB3, ErbB4, and FASN in a tissue microarray, containing 33 representative areas from aggressive primary HNSCC (whose patients had distant metastasis), and 21 matched lung metastasis.Results:  Strong correlation among the expression of ErbB family receptors was found (ErbB1–ErbB2 P = 0.008, ErbB1‐ErbB4 P = 0.018, EbB2‐ErbB3 P = 0.001, ErbB2‐ErbB4 P = 0.006, ErbB3‐ErbB4 P = 0.012) in the HNSCC. FASN expression was significantly associated with ErbB2 (P = 0.024). Lymphatic permeation was correlated with ErbB3 (P = 0.033) and histological grade with ErbB4 staining (P = 0.050). ErbB1 and ErbB2 were found mainly in patients with smoking habit (P = 0.011 and P = 0.027), and ErbB2 was associated with alcohol consumption and clinical stage (P = 0.014 and P = 0.031). Finally, FASN was overexpressed in lung metastasis, in comparison with matched HNSCC samples (P = 0.006).Conclusions:  The results showed that high FASN immunohistochemical expression is a feature of HNSCC lung metastasis, and ErbB1‐ErbB2, ErbB1‐ErbB4, ErbB2‐ErbB3, ErbB2‐ErbB4, and ErbB3‐ErbB4 expression levels are correlated in the respective primary tumors, being ErbB2 the preferred coexpression partner of all the other ErbB receptors.
Effects of smoking on trace metal levels in saliva
Authors: Kim Y‐J , Kim Y‐K , Kho H‐S 
Published: June 2010

Oral Diseases (2010) 16, 823–830Objectives:  To compare the salivary levels of trace metals between non‐smokers and smokers using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP‐MS). The effect of pretreatment methods on the accuracy of ICP‐MS analysis and daily variations in trace metal levels in saliva were also investigated.Subjects and methods:  The participants were 10 male non‐smokers (mean age: 27.4 ± 3.4 years) and 30 male smokers (mean age: 26.5 ± 4.1 years). Unstimulated whole saliva was collected. Salivary flow rate, the number of metal restorations in the oral cavity, the level of blood contamination in the saliva and the levels of cotinine and trace metals in the saliva of each participant were determined.Results:  Direct dilution of saliva samples with nitric acid showed the most accurate ICP‐MS results. Trace metal levels in saliva showed wide daily variations. They were not affected by the number of metal restorations. Trace metal concentrations of saliva samples without blood contamination were much lower than the previously reported values. Salivary levels of cotinine and aluminum were significantly increased in smokers.Conclusions:  Saliva can be a medium for trace metal analysis. Salivary levels of cotinine and aluminum can be useful markers to evaluate smoking status.
Confirmed Exposure to Tick‐Borne Encephalitis Virus and Probable Human Cases of Tick‐Borne Encephalitis in Central/Northern Anatolia, Turkey
Authors: Ergünay K. , Saygan M. B. , Aydoğan S. , Litzba N. , Şener B. , Lederer S. , Niedrig M. , Hasçelik G. , Us D. 
Published: June 2010

SummaryTick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the aetiological agent of tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE), a potentially fatal central nervous system infection of humans. TBE is endemic in many areas of Europe and Asia; however, very scarce data on TBEV activity are available from Turkey. We aimed to identify TBEV exposure in healthy blood donors and the impact of TBEV in central nervous system infections in Central/Northern Anatolia. Two‐thousand four hundred and fifty four sera, collected from blood donors at Ankara, Konya, Eskişehir and Zonguldak branches of the Turkish Red Crescent Middle Anatolia Regional Blood Center, were analysed for TBEV serosurveillance. Paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 108 patients with the diagnosis of aseptic meningitis/encephalitis of unknown aetiology were also evaluated to identify TBE and neuroborreliosis cases. Commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and indirect immunofluorescence tests were employed for antibody detection. Forty‐seven donor samples (1.9%) were reactive for TBEV IgG. In 25 persons with IgG reactivity (53.1%), risk factors for tick‐borne infections were revealed. One sample from Zonguldak province (1/198; 0.5%) in the Black Sea region of Turkey was confirmed to possess neutralizing antibodies via plaque reduction neutralization test. TBEV IgM was detected in 9.2% (8/108) of the patients. IgM was accompanied by IgG reactivity in two persons where, in one, recent history of a tick bite was also identified. Intrathecal antibody production for TBEV could not be demonstrated. No evidence for Borrelia infections could be found. Confirmed exposure to TBEV and/or an antigenically similar tick‐borne flavivirus is documented for the first time in blood donors in Zonguldak in Northern Anatolia. Probable cases of TBE have also been identified from Central Anatolia. The epidemiology of TBEV activity in Turkey needs to be assessed and benefits of vaccination for general population, risk groups or travellers must be considered.
Ranitidine bismuth citrate with clarithromycin for the treatment of duodenal ulcer
Authors: Bardhan K D , Dallaire C , Eisold H , Duggan A E 
Published: June 2010

Background/Aims—To investigate the effect of the new Helicobacter pylori eradication regimen, ranitidine bismuth citrate (RBC) and clarithromycin (CLAR) dual therapy, on duodenal ulcer healing and absence of ulcer recurrence during 24 weeks follow up (overall success).Methods—Two hundred and thirty two H pylori positive patients with active duodenal ulcer received four weeks treatment with RBC 400 mg twice daily alone (RBC400) (n=82), or RBC 400 or 800 mg twice daily co-prescribed with clarithromycin 250 mg four times daily for 14 days, followed by 14 days of RBC 400 mg twice daily alone (RBC400+CLAR and RBC 800+CLAR, respectively, n=75 for each).Results—The co-prescription regimens gave highH pylori eradication rates determined using two tests (CLOtest and 13C-urea breath test) for the presence of the organism. These rates were 92% and 81% for RBC400+CLAR (n=62) and RBC800+CLAR (n=63) respectively, compared with 2% for RBC400 (n=66) (p<0.001). With respect to overall success as estimated by life table analysis, RBC400+CLAR (89%) and RBC800+ CLAR (87%) were significantly more effective than RBC400 alone (51%) (p<0.001). All regimens were safe and well tolerated. Trough plasma bismuth concentrations at week 4 were low (treatment medians less than 6.6 ng bismuth/ml).Conclusions—Ranitidine bismuth citrate is a well tolerated and efficacious ulcer healing drug which, when co-prescribed with clarithromycin, affords effective H pylorieradication therapy and prevents ulcer relapse in most patients with duodenal ulcer.
Oral budesonide is as effective as oral prednisolone in active Crohn’s disease
Authors: Campieri M , Ferguson A , Doe W , Persson T , Nilsson L-G ,   the Global Budesonide Study Group
Published: June 2010

Background—The use of corticosteroids in active Crohn’s disease often becomes limited by side effects. Budesonide is a potent corticosteroid with low systemic bioavailability due to an extensive first pass liver metabolism.Aims—To compare the efficacy and safety of two dosage regimens of budesonide and prednisolone in patients with active Crohn’s disease affecting the ileum and/or the ascending colon.Patients and methods—One hundred and seventy eight patients were randomised to receive budesonide controlled ileal release (CIR) capsules 9 mg once daily or 4.5 mg twice daily, or prednisolone tablets 40 mg once daily. The treatment period was 12 weeks. The primary efficacy variable was clinical remission, defined as a Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) of 150 or less.Results—After eight weeks of treatment, remission occurred in 60% of patients receiving budesonide once daily or prednisolone and in 42% of those receiving budesonide twice daily (p=0.062). The presence of glucocorticoid associated side effects was similar in all groups; however, moon face was more common in the prednisolone group (p=0.0005). The highest frequency of impaired adrenal function, as measured by a short ACTH test, was found in the prednisolone group (p=0.0023).Conclusions—Budesonide CIR, administered at 9 mg once daily or 4.5 mg twice daily, is comparable to prednisolone in inducing remission in active Crohn’s disease. The single dose administration is as promptly effective as prednisolone and represents a simpler and safer therapeutic approach, with a considerable reduction in side effects.
N-acetyltransferase 2 genotype in colorectal cancer and selective gene retention in cancers with chromosome 8p deletions
Authors: Hubbard A L , Harrison D J , Moyes C , Wyllie A H , Cunningham C , Mannion E , Smith C A D 
Published: June 2010

Background—Genetic polymorphisms inN-acetyltransferase (NAT2) can change the normally fast acetylation of substrates to slow acetylation, and have been associated with the development of some cancers. The NAT2 locus may also suffer dysregulation during cancer progression, as the gene resides on chromosome 8p22, a region which is frequently deleted in colorectal cancer.Subjects and Methods—A polymerase chain reaction based method was used to determine NAT2 genotype in 275 patients with colon cancer and 343 normal control DNAs. Within the cancer group, 65 cases known to contain deletions in chromosome 8p were examined for loss of heterozygosity at the NAT2 locus.Results—Overall, there was no statistical difference in frequency or distribution of NAT2 alleles and genotype between colon cancer and control groups. There was a significant association between the slow acetylation genotype and early age of onset. NAT2 genotype did not vary with other clinical features of colon cancer, which included Dukes’s stage, site of tumour, and sex. Of 48 informative cases, only three (6%) showed loss of heterozygosity, indicating that the NAT2 locus is not commonly deleted in colorectal cancer. This suggests that NAT2 is retained during the process of allele loss possibly because of its proximity to a gene necessary for cell viability.Conclusions—NAT2 does not play a major role in colorectal cancer risk, but may influence risk in some age groups. The nature of the loss of heterozygosity at the chromosome 8p site is complex and is worthy of further study.
Effect of cereal fibre source and processing on rectal epithelial cell proliferation
Authors: Macrae F A , Kilias D , Selbie L , Abbott M , Sharpe K , Young G P 
Published: June 2010

Background—Low fat and wheat bran interventions significantly reduced the growth of small to large adenomas and modestly suppressed rectal epithelial cell proliferation in the Australian Polyp Prevention Project.Aim—To study the effect of unprocessed wheat bran, unprocessed oat bran and processed wheat bran (Kellogg’s All Bran) on rectal epithelial cell proliferation.Patients—Twenty subjects with recent adenomas and a high fat background diet were recruited.Methods—Rectal biopsy specimens were taken at entry and at the end of three six-week periods of oat bran (64 g/day), wheat bran (25 g/day) and All Bran (38 g/day), all in association with a diet <25% energy as fat, in a randomised cross-over trial. Each of the bran supplements had a total of 11 g dietary fibre. The biopsy specimens were fixed in methacarn and stained immunohistochemically for presence of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The kinetics used to measure proliferation were labelling index, whole distribution of labelled cells, and labelled cells in the top two-fifths of crypts using analysis of variance.Results—There were no significant differences in mean labelling indexes between the four diets or in the percentage of labelled cells in the top two-fifths (p=0.59), but activity in the top two-fifths of crypts was lowest with wheat bran. The mean (SD) labelling indexes were 2.23 (0.11)% for control, 2.13 (0.08)% for wheat bran, 2.19 (0.09)% for oat bran, and 2.12 (0.08)% for All Bran. The proportion in the top two-fifths of the crypts was 2.6 (0.6)% for control, 2.15 (0.5)% for wheat bran, 3.3 (0.9)% for oat bran, and 3.1 (0.9)% for All Bran. On analysis of whole distribution, there was no significant overall effect of diets but there was a difference between subjects. Analysis including total fibre intake also did not identify effects on proliferation.Conclusion—In this study of high risk subjects with initial high fat diets, dietary fibre in association with a low fat diet had no effect on rectal epithelial cell proliferation, although wheat bran had the greatest effect on percentage of labelled cells in the top two-fifths of crypts.
Mitochondrial damage: a possible mechanism of the “topical” phase of NSAID induced injury to the rat intestine
Authors: Somasundaram S , Rafi S , Hayllar J , Sigthorsson G , Jacob M , Price A B , Macpherson A , Mahmod T , Scott D , Wrigglesworth J M , Bjarnason I 
Published: June 2010

Background—The “topical” effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) seems to be an important cause of NSAID induced gastrointestinal damage.Aim—To examine the possible mechanism of the “topical” phase of damage in the small intestine.Methods—Electron microscopy and subcellular organelle marker enzyme studies were done in rat small intestine after oral administration of indomethacin (doses varied between 5 and 30 mg/kg). The effect of conventional and non-acidic NSAIDs on rat liver mitochondrial respiration was measured in vitro in a Clarke-type oxygen electrode.Results—The subcellular organelle marker enzymes showed mitochondrial and brush border involvement within an hour of indomethacin administration. Electron microscopy showed dose dependent mitochondrial changes following indomethacin administration consistent with uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation (or inhibition of electron transport) which were indistinguishable from those seen with the uncoupler dinitrophenol. Parenteral indomethacin caused similar changes, but not in rats with ligated bile ducts. A range of NSAIDs, but not paracetamol or non-acidic NSAIDs which have a favourable gastrointestinal tolerability profile, uncoupled oxidative phosphorylation in vitro at micromolar concentrations and inhibited respiration at higher concentrations. In vivo studies with nabumetone and aspirin further suggested that uncoupling or inhibition of electron transport underlies the “topical” phase of NSAID induced damage.Conclusion—Collectively, these studies suggest that NSAID induced changes in mitochondrial energy production may be an important component of the “topical” phase of damage induction.
Photochemically induced colonic ischaemic lesions: a new model of ischaemic colitis in rats
Authors: Yano Y , Yao H , Aoyagi K , Kawakubo K , Nakamura S , Doi K , Ibayashi S , Fujishima M 
Published: June 2010

Background—Recent clinical studies suggest that ischaemic colitis is caused by a microcirculatory disturbance that involves thrombosis of the colon.Aim—To establish a new model of photochemically induced ischaemic colitis in rats.Methods—Thirty male Wistar rats were anaesthetised with amobarbital, the femoral veins were cannulated and laparotomies were performed. The serosal surface of the proximal colon was irradiated by using a krypton laser (wavelength 568 nm, 20  mW) for four minutes. An intravenous infusion of a photosensitising dye, rose bengal (20 mg/kg body weight), was administered over 90 seconds, beginning at the start of irradiation. Rats were killed immediately (n=4), 12 hours (n=2), 24 hours (n=10), three days (n=4), seven days (n=4), 14 days (n=2), or 28 days (n=2) after irradiation. Two control rats received laser irradiation without dye infusion. Specimens of the irradiated sites were examined by using histopathology.Results—Localised ulcers of the colon were present in rats killed at 12 hours, 24 hours, three days, and seven days after irradiation. Microscopy findings were consistent with the features of human ischaemic colitis. Reproducible ulcerative lesions were produced by photothrombosis of microvessels in the colon.Conclusion—This model may be useful for further investigation of the pathophysiology of ischaemic colitis.
Helicobacter pylori independent chronological change in gastric acid secretion in the Japanese
Authors: Kinoshita Y , Kawanami C , Kishi K , Nakata H , Seino Y , Chiba T 
Published: June 2010

Background—Gastric acid secretion in Japanese subjects decreases with aging. One of the possible causative mechanisms of this attenuated acid secretion is speculated to be aHelicobacter pylori induced chronic gastritis. The infection rate of this microorganism has decreased recently in Japan.Aims—To investigate whether gastric acid secretion has altered over the past 20 years, and if so, what the influence of H pylori infection might be in the Japanese population.Subjects and methods—Gastric acid secretion, serum gastrin and pepsinogen I and II concentrations, and H pylori infection were determined in 110 Japanese subjects in both the 1970s and 1990s.Results—Basal acid output as well as maximal acid output have greatly increased over the past 20 years, not only in individuals with H pylori infection but also in those without infection. Furthermore, subjects with H pyloriinfection tended to show decreased gastric acid secretion in comparison with those without infection, particularly in geriatric subjects. There was a positive correlation between gastric acid secretion and serum pepsinogen I concentrations.Conclusions—In Japan, both basal and stimulated gastric acid secretion have increased over the past 20 years; some unknown factors other than the decrease in H pylori infection may play an important role in this phenomenon.
Role of cholecystokinin in the regulation of liquid gastric emptying and gastric motility in humans: studies with the CCK antagonist loxiglumide
Authors: Schwizer W , Borovicka J , Kunz P , Fraser R , Kreiss C , D’Amato M , Crelier G , Boesiger P , Fried M 
Published: June 2010

Background—Exogenous cholecystokinin (CCK) inhibits antral motility and slows gastric emptying (GE) but the effect of endogenous CCK on the gastric motor mechanisms responsible for GE remains unclear.Methods—The effect of the CCK-A antagonist loxiglumide (LOX) on GE and motility was studied using magnetic resonance imaging in six healthy volunteers after ingestion of 500 ml Intralipid 10% (550 kcal). Subjects were studied in the supine position on two occasions during intravenous infusion of LOX (66 μmol/kg/h for 10 min followed by 22 μmol/kg/h) or placebo. GE was determined every 15 minutes using transaxial abdominal scans and motility was studied by means of 120 coronal scans, 1.2 seconds apart. For each coronal image the proximal and distal (antral) diameters were measured at a fixed point in the stomach to determine contraction frequency (ACF) and amplitude (AMP).Results—GE was faster during LOX infusion than placebo (t1/2 31 (22) versus 115 (67) minutes, p<0.03). There was little variation in the diameter of the proximal stomach with either LOX or placebo. In the distal stomach marked contractile activity was observed during LOX (ACF 2.9 (0.2) versus 1.5 (2.9) during placebo, p<0.01). AMP also increased during LOX compared with placebo (56 (22)% versus 27 (16)%, p<0.001).Conclusion—The increases in antral motility are likely to contribute to the acceleration of GE and suggest that CCK may regulate GE by acting on the distal stomach although an effect on the proximal stomach cannot be excluded.