bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term efficacy of etanercept in hidradenitis suppurativa: results from an open‐label phase II prospective trial
Authors: Pelekanou Aimilia , Kanni Theodora , Savva Athina , Mouktaroudi Maria , Raftogiannis Maria , Kotsaki Antigone , Giamarellos‐Bourboulis Evangelos J. 
Published: September 2009

Please cite this paper as: Long‐term efficacy of etanercept in hidradenitis suppurativa: results from an open‐label phase II prospective trial. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 538–540.Objective:  To evaluate the long‐term efficacy of etanercept for the management of hidradenitis suppurativa.Methods:  Analysis was based on the long‐term follow‐up (weeks 24–144) of 10 patients enrolled in a prospective open‐label phase II study; etanercept was initially administered subcutaneously 50 mg once weekly for 12 weeks in 10 patients. Disease recurrence and the need to restart etanercept were recorded.Results:  Three patients did not report any disease recurrence. A second course of treatment with etanercept was needed in seven patients. Favourable responses were found in five; two patients failed treatment.Conclusions:  The first treatment course achieved long‐term disease remission in almost one‐third of patients. The remaining needed a second treatment course but even in that case, their disease severity at restart was significantly lower compared with baseline.
CC chemokines as potential immunologic markers correlated with clinical improvement of atopic dermatitis patients by immunotherapy
Authors: Kwon Yeon Sook , Oh Sang Ho , Wu Wen Hao , Bae Byung Gi , Lee Hee Jung , Lee Min‐Geol , Lee Kwang Hoon 
Published: September 2009

Please cite this paper as: CC chemokines as potential immunologic markers correlated with clinical improvement of atopic dermatitis patients by immunotherapy. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 246–251.Abstract:  Although immunotherapy is not accepted as a curative treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD), most studies have shown positive effects of immunotherapy on AD patients. The serum levels of CC chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17), CCL22 and CCL18 have been reported to be highly correlated with disease severity, which suggests important roles for CC chemokines in the pathogenesis of AD.Objective:  The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in clinical and immunologic markers before and after immunotherapy and to find which CC chemokines correlate with clinical improvement after immunotherapy with house dust mite (HDM) allergens in AD patients.Methods and Results:  A total of 20 AD patients who were sensitized to HDM allergens through a skin‐prick test and Pharmacia CAP system were treated with subcutaneous immunotherapy using HDM allergens (treatment duration 12–60 months). Eczema area and severity index scores in 20 patients with AD decreased significantly after immunotherapy (P < 0.001). Serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus‐specific IgE levels tended to decrease after treatment although this was not statistically significant, and the D. farinae‐specific IgE level showed no change. Serum CCL17, CCL22 and CCL18 levels decreased significantly from baseline after treatment (P = 0.043, 0.017 and <0.001, respectively). The percentage reductions in serum CCL17 and CCL22 level were significantly correlated with reductions in disease severity (P = 0.007, R2 = 0.301 and P = 0.037, R2 = 0.177, respectively).Conclusion:  We suggest that CCL17 and CCL22 are good immunological marker candidates that can be used to assess clinical improvement after immunotherapy in AD patients.
Tyrosine kinase 2 and interferon regulatory factor 5 polymorphisms are associated with discoid and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Authors: Järvinen Tiina M. , Hellquist Anna , Koskenmies Sari , Einarsdottir Elisabet , Koskinen Lotta L. E. , Jeskanen Leila , Berglind Linda , Panelius Jaana , Hasan Taina , Ranki Annamari , Kere Juha , Saarialho‐Kere Ulpu 
Published: September 2009

Please cite this paper as: Tyrosine kinase 2 and interferon regulatory factor 5 polymorphisms are associated with discoid and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 123–131.Abstract:  Lupus erythematosus (LE) is a heterogeneous disease ranging from skin‐restricted manifestations to a progressive multisystem disease. The specific skin lesions include chronic cutaneous, subacute cutaneous and acute cutaneous LE. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the development of LE. However, reports on the genetic background of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) forms, namely discoid (DLE) and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), are sparse. We investigated whether the known systemic LE (SLE) susceptibility genes also predispose to CLE. Altogether, 219 Finnish patients with DLE or SCLE and 356 healthy controls were recruited. Single nucleotide polymorphisms tagging reported risk genes were genotyped. Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) rs2304256 was associated with increased risk of DLE (P = 0.012, OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.01–1.98). Expression of TYK2 was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry in macrophage‐like cells and neutrophils and interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) in macrophage‐ and fibroblast‐like cells of DLE, SCLE and SLE skin. IRF5 rs10954213 showed association with DLE (P = 0.017, OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.06–1.86) and SCLE (P = 0.022, OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.09–3.21). A haplotype of cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 (CTLA4) showed association with DLE (P = 0.0065, OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.25–5.04). Our results show that the TYK2, IRF5 and CTLA4 genes previously associated with SLE also confer risk for DLE and SCLE, suggesting that different LE subphenotypes may share pathogenetic pathways.
Overcoming barriers to physical activity among culturally and linguistically diverse older adults: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Borschmann Karen , Moore Kirsten , Russell Melissa , Ledgerwood Kay , Renehan Emma , Lin Xiaoping , Brown Colin , Sison Jasmine 
Published: September 2009

Aim:  To investigate by randomised trial, health professional facilitated sessions aiming to overcome barriers to physical activity (PA), improve readiness to undertake PA, increase PA participation and improve fitness among older Australian adults from Macedonian and Polish backgrounds.Method:  One hundred and twenty‐one participants (mean age 70 years, 63% female) were block randomised to the intervention group (three one‐hour group education and goal setting sessions over 7 weeks) or control group (one‐hour health promotion talk) following baseline assessment, with reassessment approximately 9 weeks later.Results:  No significant differences were found between experimental groups in primary (Stages of Change Questionnaire (SocQ), steps per day and Human Activity Profile) or secondary outcomes.Conclusion:  This study has highlighted methodological considerations for PA health promotion and research with older adults from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in a community setting. Investigation of older CALD adults' perceptions of what are ‘adequate levels of PA’ and methods of increasing PA is warranted.
The Debrecen Stroke Database: Demographic Characteristics, Risk Factors, Stroke Severity and Outcome in 8088 Consecutive Hospitalised Patients with Acute Cerebrovascular Disease
Authors: Bereczki D. , Mihálka L. , Fekete I. , Valikovics A. , Csépány T. , Fülesdi B. , Bajkó Z. , Szekeres C. , Fekete K. , Csiba L. 
Published: September 2009

Background High stroke mortality in central-eastern European countries might be due to higher stroke incidence, more severe strokes or less effective acute care than in countries with lower mortality rate. Hospital databases usually yield more detailed information on risk factors, stroke severity and short-term outcome than population-based registries. Patients and methods The Debrecen Stroke Database, data of 8088 consecutively hospitalised patients with acute cerebrovascular disease in a single stroke centre in East Hungary between October 1994 and December 2006, is analysed. Risk factors were recorded and stroke severity on admission was scored by the Mathew stroke scale. The modified Glasgow outcome scale was used to describe patient condition at discharge. Results Mean age was 68 ± 13 years, 11·4% had haemorrhagic stroke. The rate of hypertension on admission was 79% in men, and 84% in women, 40·3% of men and 19·8% of women were smokers, and 34% of all patients had a previous cerebrovascular disease in their history. Case fatality was 14·9%, and 43% had some disability at discharge. Outcome at discharge was worse with higher age, higher glucose, higher blood pressure, higher white cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and more severe clinical signs on admission. In multivariate analysis admission blood pressure lost its significance in predicting outcome. Conclusions In this large Hungarian stroke unit database hypertension on admission, smoking and previous cerebrovascular disease were more frequent than in most western databases. These findings indicate major opportunities for more efficient stroke prevention in this and probably other eastern European countries.
The Asymptomatic Carotid Emboli Study: Study Design and Baseline Results
Authors:   The ACES Investigators
Published: September 2009

Background Better methods of identifying which patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis will develop stroke, are required to improve the risk-benefit ratio of carotid endarterectomy. A promising method is the detection of asymptomatic embolic signals using transcranial Doppler. Embolic signals predict stroke risk in symptomatic carotid stenosis, but their predictive role in asymptomatic carotid stenosis is uncertain. Aims The Asymptomatic Carotid Emboli Study is a prospective observational study in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis ≥70%. Method Two 1-h transcranial Doppler recordings from the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery are performed at baseline, and a single-hour recording is performed at 6, 12 and 18 months. Follow-up is for 2 years. All recordings are centrally blinded to subject identity during analysis. The primary hypothesis is: do embolic signals on either of two 1-h recordings at entry predict ipsilateral transient ischaemic attack and stroke risk over the following 2 years? The major secondary hypothesis is: does the presence of embolic signals on a single-hour-long recording at baseline or at 6, 12 or 18 months predict ipsilateral transient ischaemic attack and stroke risk over the subsequent 6-month period? Results Recruitment was completed in October 2007 with 482 subjects. At the baseline, the proportion of subjects with embolicsignals was 10·7% on recording 1,10·8% on recording 2 and 16·7% on either of the two recordings. Embolic signal prevalence on the two recordings was significantly associated (χ2 27·48, P<0·0005). Patients without embolic signals were more likely to be treated with antiplatelets (90·8 vs 76·9%, P<0·0005) and this difference persisted on multivariate analysis. Conclusions Asymptomatic Carotid Emboli Study will determine whether embolic signal is a useful predictor in asymptomatic carotid stenosis, and detection allows its predictive value to be compared with clinical features, imaging parameters and ultrasound plaque morphology. Baseline data show antiplatelet therapy is associated with fewer embolic signals.
Aetiology and outcome in 90 cats presenting with dyspnoea in a referral population
Authors: Swift S. , Dukes‐McEwan J. , Fonfara S. , Loureiro J. F. , Burrow R. 
Published: September 2009

Objectives: Dyspnoea is an unspecific severe presenting sign, which can be life threatening and requires prompt treatment. Dyspnoeic cats often have significant underlying disease. Underlying aetiologies in cats that presented with dyspnoea were reviewed, and associations with patient signalment and outcome were investigated. Methods: The case records of 90 dyspnoeic cats were retrospectively reviewed and separated into different groups depending on aetiology (cardiac, respiratory, neoplastic and trauma). Duration of clinical signs, presentation, hospitalisation length and survival were analysed. Results: Cardiac (38 per cent), respiratory (32 per cent) and neoplastic (20 per cent) diseases were common causes of feline dyspnoea. Cats with respiratory causes had longer duration of clinical signs (P<0·001) before presentation. Cats with neoplasia were significantly older (P<0·001). No significant difference in respiratory rates was present between the groups (P = 0·154). High heart rates (P<0·001) and abnormalities on cardiac auscultation were more likely in the cardiac group. Clinical Significance: Frequent causes of dyspnoea in cats were cardiac disease followed by respiratory causes and neoplastic conditions. Heart rate on presentation and presence of heart murmurs or gallops are useful to identify cardiac causes. Improved proportion surviving was found in the respiratory group (P = 0·027), whereas cats with neoplasia had the worst outcome.
Inflammatory phenotypes in adult asthma: clinical applications
Authors: Gibson Peter Gerard 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground:  The pattern of granulocyte infiltration can be used to identify different inflammatory phenotypes in asthma. Recognized granulocyte phenotypes using induced sputum are eosinophilic (EA), neutrophilic, mixed granulocytic and paucigranulocytic asthma.Methods:  The recognition and importance of inflammatory phenotype analysis using induced sputum in adult asthma are reviewed using published literature.Results:  Knowledge of inflammatory phenotype is useful because it relates to treatment response, mechanistic pathways involved in disease pathogenesis and future disease risk. The population attributable risk of asthma because of eosinophilic inflammation is about 50%, and conversely, this means that up to 50% of asthma cannot be attributed to eosinophilic inflammation, and represents asthma associated with non‐eosinophilic processes. In these patients, bronchial biopsy shows significantly fewer eosinophils in the bronchial mucosa than subjects with EA. This confirms that non‐eosinophilic asthma is a consistent pattern/phenotype in the airway lumen and the airway mucosa. A key aspect of asthma inflammatory phenotype analysis is that it can be applied to individual patients.The underlying principle relates to the association between a clinical response to corticosteroids and the presence of a selective sputum eosinophilia.Conclusions:  Clinically useful applications of induced sputum analysis are the detection of non‐adherence to corticosteroid therapy, assessment of adequacy of inhaled corticosteroid therapy, long‐term therapy management in asthma, oral corticosteroid dose adjustment in refractory asthma and assessment of occupational asthma.Please cite this paper as: Gibson PG. Inflammatory phenotypes in adult asthma: clinical applications. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2009; 3: 198–206.
Incidence and prevalence of adult asthma is associated with low socio‐economic status
Authors: Ekerljung Linda , Sundblad Britt‐Marie , Rönmark Eva , Larsson Kjell , Lundbäck Bo 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBackground:  Low socio‐economic status is often related to health problems; however, previous studies on asthma, usually cross‐sectional, yield inconsistent results. In this study, longitudinal and cross‐sectional data on the association between socio‐economic status and asthma as well as respiratory symptoms among adults are presented.Methods:  A postal questionnaire was sent on two occasions, 1996 and 2006, to a randomly selected sample of subjects aged 20–69 years in 1996. In total, 4479 subjects participated in both surveys. The questionnaire included questions on asthma, respiratory symptoms and possible determinants. Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for potential confounders, was used to study the association between asthma, respiratory symptoms and socio‐economic status.Results:  Manual workers in service had the highest prevalence and cumulative incidence for all investigated symptoms and asthma. Despite a large decrease in smokers, the increase in incident bronchitic symptoms was higher than the increase of incident asthma and incident asthmatic symptoms. Low socio‐economic status, rhinitis and a family history of asthma were risk factors for having and developing asthma and respiratory symptoms.Conclusion:  Low socio‐economic status is significantly associated with an increased risk for prevalent and incident asthma and respiratory symptoms in this longitudinal population‐based survey. The increase in risk was most pronounced in manual workers. Several studies have recently shown an association between low socio‐economic status and respiratory symptoms and we conclude that asthma can not be considered as a disease that mainly affects the middle and upper socio‐economic classes.Please cite this paper as: Ekerljung L, Sundblad B‐M, Rönmark E, Larsson K and Lundbäck B. Incidence and prevalence of adult asthma is associated with low socio‐economic status. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2010; 4: 147–156.
The Politicisation of Culture and the Contestation of Iranian National Identity in Khatami's Iran
Authors: Holliday Shabnam 
Published: September 2009

AbstractIslam and nationalism are often linked in Iranian political discourses. While looking at Islam is crucial to an understanding of Iranian nationalism, it is essential to highlight that it is not the only basis of nationalism. The political discourses during Seyyed Mohammad Khatami's presidency (1997–2005) illustrate the complexity of nationalism in Iran. This paper examines discourses of national identity that are contested by addressing the role of culture. The aim of this paper is to illustrate that the basis of the contestation is a perceived dichotomy between two cultures: Iraniyyat ‐ being Iranian in terms of Iran's pre‐Islamic heritage and exclusion of the Islamic heritage — and Islamiyyat— being Islamic in terms of Iran's Islamic heritage and exclusion of pre‐Islamic heritage.
Angiotensin receptors in the eyes of arterial hypertensive rats
Authors: Vaajanen Anu , Lakkisto Päivi , Virtanen Ismo , Kankuri Esko , Oksala Olli , Vapaatalo Heikki , Tikkanen Ilkka 
Published: September 2009

Abstract.Purpose: The aim of the present study was to determine whether the eye tissues of arterial hypertensive rats evince expression of angiotensin receptors (AT1and AT2) as well as the novel Mas receptor, whose endogenous ligand is vasorelaxingAngiotensin(1–7) [Ang(1–7)].Methods: Enucleated eyes from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and double transgenic rats harbouring human renin and angiotensinogen genes (dTGR) and their normotensive controls were used. Half of the rats were pretreated orally with anAngiotensin II(Ang II) type 1 receptor blocker (ARB). The eyes were snap‐frozen in isopentane at −40° and stored at −70° for subsequent reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis orin vitroautoradiography.Results: The mRNA expression of AT1aand AT2as well as the novel Mas receptor was detected in all rat groups, being markedly higher in the retina than in the ciliary body. dTGR had significantly more receptors than SHR, but no direct relation to blood pressure level was seen. According to the autoradiography, treatment with ARB blocked a part of AT1receptors but had no clear effect on AT2receptors.Conclusion: The novel Mas receptor was found by RT‐PCR in eye tissue for the first time. Its specific ligand,Ang(1–7), may be involved in the regulation of intraocular pressure – as recently demonstrated by us – and in the pathogenesis of retinal diseases as a counter‐regulatory component for the vascular and proliferative actions ofAng II. The results suggest that the density of AT1receptors in the eye is independent of the blood pressure level of the animal.
Neuroform stent assisted aneurysm treatment: evolving treatment strategies, complications and results of long term follow-up
Authors: Fiorella D , Albuquerque F C , Woo H , Rasmussen P A , Masaryk T J , McDougall C G 
Published: September 2009

IntroductionThis report details experience with the Neuroform stent, with an emphasis on evolving treatment strategies, complication rates and treatment durability.MethodsAll patients undergoing Neuroform stent assisted aneurysm treatment were registered in prospectively maintained endovascular databases at two institutions.Results284 patients with 302 aneurysms underwent aneurysm treatment with Neuroform during a 42-month study period. Imaging follow-up was available for 166 of 286 saccular aneurysms which were treated with stents and coils (average interval 12.9 months). 80 demonstrated progressive thrombosis (48.2%), 40 were unchanged (24.1%) and 46 (27.7%) demonstrated re-canalization, 25 (15.1%) of which were major recanalizations requiring retreatment. The vast majority of recanalizations and retreatments were observed in large or giant aneurysms. A cumulative total of 25 ischemic strokes (8.8%) and eight neurovascular deaths (2.8%) were recorded in these patients. Ten of these strokes were associated with transient deficits which went on to complete resolution by the time of discharge or at the initial clinical follow-up, yielding a significant stroke rate of 5.3%. Delayed (>48 h) complications, including four deaths—related to stroke (n=2, 6 days and 8 weeks post-procedure) and spontaneous parenchymal hemorrhages (n=2)—represent events which are a direct consequence of stenting and likely would not have been encountered in the context of standard non-stent supported embolization techniques.ConclusionNeuroform facilitates the endovascular treatment of complex and wide necked cerebral aneurysms. However, complete occlusion at angiographic follow-up remains uncommon and is observed in only one-third of patients. Delayed complications (>48 h) represent an important component of the overall complications associated with Neuroform assisted aneurysm embolization.
TOWARDS GRASP-ORIENTED VISUAL PERCEPTION FOR HUMANOID ROBOTS
Authors: BOHG JEANNETTE , BARCK-HOLST CARL , HUEBNER KAI , RALPH MARIA , RASOLZADEH BABAK , SONG DAN , KRAGIC DANICA 
Published: September 2009

A distinct property of robot vision systems is that they are embodied. Visual information is extracted for the purpose of moving in and interacting with the environment. Thus, different types of perception-action cycles need to be implemented and evaluated. In this paper, we study the problem of designing a vision system for the purpose of object grasping in everyday environments. This vision system is firstly targeted at the interaction with the world through recognition and grasping of objects and secondly at being an interface for the reasoning and planning module to the real world. The latter provides the vision system with a certain task that drives it and defines a specific context, i.e. search for or identify a certain object and analyze it for potential later manipulation. We deal with cases of: (i) known objects, (ii) objects similar to already known objects, and (iii) unknown objects. The perception-action cycle is connected to the reasoning system based on the idea of affordances. All three cases are also related to the state of the art and the terminology in the neuroscientific area.