bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards a European registry of severe allergic reactions: current status of national registries and future needs
Authors: Worm M. , Timmermans F. , Moneret‐Vautrin A. , Muraro A. , Malmheden Yman I. I. , Lövik M. , Hattersley S. , Crevel R. 
Published: February 2010

To cite this article: Worm M, Timmermans F, Moneret‐Vautrin A, Muraro A, Malmheden Yman II, Lövik M, Hattersley S, Crevel R. Towards a European registry of severe allergic reactions: current status of national registries and future needs. Allergy 2010; 65: 671–680.AbstractThe incidence of severe allergic reactions is largely unknown and information about triggering allergens, aggravating factors, demography of patients and medical care is lacking. A European wide registry could provide a powerful tool to improve the management of severe allergic reactions from both a medical and a public health perspective. Analysis of existing registries regarding the type and quality of data being collected was used to develop a plan for a pan‐European registry, including the type of system to be used and the range of data to be entered. Surveillance will provide evidence for the efficacy of risk management measures and may identify the emergence of new allergenic foods, and aid monitoring of novel foods, ingredients and technologies. Patients need a clear indication of factors that may increase their risk of having an adverse reaction, which such a registry can help compile. Based on the collected data, food businesses will be able to develop educational programmes for allergen risk assessment and allergen risk communication. Finally, and most importantly preventive measures can be developed and government agencies receive population based data which may be relevant for legislative purposes.
The costs and consequences of omalizumab in uncontrolled asthma from a USA payer perspective
Authors: Campbell J. D. , Spackman D. E. , Sullivan S. D. 
Published: February 2010

To cite this article:Campbell JD, Spackman DE, Sullivan SD. The costs and consequences of omalizumab in uncontrolled asthma from a USA payer perspective.Allergy2010;65: 1141–1148.AbstractBackground: Omalizumab, an anti‐immunoglobulin E antibody, reduces exacerbations and symptoms in uncontrolled allergic asthma. The study objective was to estimate the costs and consequences of omalizumab compared to usual care from a US payer perspective.Methods: We estimated payer costs, quality‐adjusted survival (QALYs), and the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) of omalizumab compared to usual care using a state‐transition simulation model that included sensitivity analyses. Every 2 weeks, patients could transition between chronic asthma and exacerbation health states. The best available evidence informed the clinical and cost input estimates. Five years of omalizumab treatment followed by usual care was assumed to estimate a lifetime horizon. Omalizumab responders (60.5% of treated) were modeled as a separate scenario where nonresponders reverted back to usual care after 16 weeks of active treatment.Results: The mean lifetime discounted costs and QALYs were $83 400 and 13.87 for usual care and $174 500 and 14.19 for omalizumab plus usual care resulting in $287 200/QALY (95% interval: $219 300, $557 900). The ICER was $172 300/QALY when comparing omalizumab to usual care in the responder scenario. One‐way sensitivity analyses indicated that the results were sensitive to the difference in treatment‐specific utilities for the chronic state, exacerbation‐associated mortality, omalizumab price, exacerbation rates, and response definition.Conclusions: The results suggest that adding omalizumab to usual care improves QALYs at an increase in direct medical costs. The cost‐effectiveness of omalizumab is similar to other chronic disease biologics. The value increases when omalizumab response is used to guide long‐term treatment.
Spectral entropy monitoring allowed lower sevoflurane concentration and faster recovery in children
Authors: CHOI S. R. , LIM Y. H. , LEE S. C. , LEE J. H. , CHUNG C. J. 
Published: February 2010

Background: Anesthetic titration using spectral entropy monitoring reduces anesthetic requirements and shortens recovery in adult surgical patients. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of entropy monitoring on end‐tidal sevoflurane concentration and recovery characteristics in pediatric patients undergoing sevoflurane anesthesia.Methods: Seventy‐eight children (aged 3–12 years) scheduled for a tonsillectomy and/or an adenoidectomy were randomly divided into one of two groups: standard practice (Standard) or entropy‐guided (Entropy). In the Standard group, sevoflurane was adjusted to maintain the heart rate and systolic blood pressure (BP) within 20% of the baseline values. In the Entropy group, sevoflurane was adjusted to achieve a state entropy of 40–50. We compared the entropy values, end‐tidal sevoflurane concentration and recovery times between groups.Results: During maintenance of anesthesia, the entropy and BP values were higher in the Entropy group (P<0.05). The end‐tidal sevoflurane concentration during maintenance was lower in the Entropy group (2.2 (0.3) vol%) compared with the Standard group (2.6 (0.4) vol%) (P<0.05). Recovery times were faster in the Entropy group (P<0.05).Conclusions: Compared with standard practice, we found that entropy‐guided anesthetic administration was associated with a reduced sevoflurane concentration and a slightly faster emergence and recovery in 3–12‐year‐old children.
Reduced interleukin‐12 release from stimulated monocytes in patients with sepsis after major cancer surgery
Authors: MOKART D. , LEONE M. , SANNINI A. , BRUN J. P. , TURRINI O. , LELONG B. , HOUVENAEGHEL G. , BLACHE J. L. , MEGE J. L. , MARTIN C. 
Published: February 2010

Background: Major cancer surgery is a high‐risk situation for sepsis in the post‐operative period. The aim of this study was to assess the relation between the monocyte production of IL‐12 and the development of post‐operative sepsis in patients undergoing major cancer surgery.Methods: In 19 patients undergoing major cancer surgery, the production of cytokines by basal and lipolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated monocytes was measured before and after (from day 1 to day 3 and day 7) surgery. Seven of them developed a post‐operative sepsis. Ten healthy volunteers were used as controls for the assessment of pre‐operative values.Results: Before surgery, the production of interleukin (IL)‐12 p40 by LPS‐stimulated monocytes was similar in the patients and the healthy volunteers. The production of IL‐12 p40 by unstimulated monocytes was higher in the patients than in the healthy volunteers. IL‐12 production did not differ between the septic and the non‐septic patients. After surgery, the production of IL‐12 p40 was dramatically reduced in the LPS‐stimulated monocytes of the septic patients from day 1 to day 3, as compared with that of the non‐septic patients. Before surgery, the production of IL‐6, IL‐10, and IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1ra) in the patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy volunteers for both stimulated and unstimulated monocytes. After surgery, the production of these cytokines by both stimulated and unstimulated monocytes of the septic patients was similar to that of the non‐septic patients. Intragroup analysis showed significant changes for IL‐6, IL‐10, and IL‐1ra under all conditions, with the exception of changes in unstimulated monocytes of septic patients that were not significant for IL‐10 release.Conclusion: After surgery, the septic patients showed drastic failure to up‐regulate monocyte LPS‐stimulated production of IL‐12 p40.
Reciprocal style polymorphisms are not easily categorised: the case of heterostyly inLithodoraandGlandora(Boraginaceae)
Authors: Ferrero V. , Chapela I. , Arroyo J. , Navarro L. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractInterest in reciprocal floral polymorphisms, such as heterostyly, has increased in recent decades because they can be used as suitable model systems to study mechanisms of outbreeding and disassortative mating in plants. Heterostylous plants are characterised by the presence of discrete morphs that differ in sex organ position and in some other ancillary traits. As regards sex organ deployment, different types of polymorphisms have been described, depending on number and type of discrete classes present in populations and degree of reciprocity between them. However, a clear‐cut characterisation of stylar polymorphisms does not appear to be the best approach when there is great variability among populations because of continuous variation of some of traits examined. A recent study inLithodora sensu lato(recently split into two separate genera,LithodoraandGlandora) showed a wide variation in sex organ position across species in the genus, which warrants precise population analysis of stylar polymorphism and its reciprocity. We provide a detailed morphometric analysis of flower sexual traits and include those considered to be ancillary characters. We report a wide variation in these traits in populations ofLithodora s.l. and highlight the subjectivity of the former characterisation of style polymorphism based on visual inspection. Ancillary traits appear repeatedly inLithodoraandGlandora, particularly in the latter. The appearance of these traits seems to be related to greater reciprocity between sexual whorls inGlandora, with the exception ofG. prostrata.These results agree with evolutionary steps proposed in the build‐up of heterostyly according to some evolutionary models. We also examined variation in polymorphisms in light of current models for evolution of heterostyly, and, more specifically, we sought to verify the prediction that flower traits as a whole (i.e., flower integration) respond to selective pressure to assure the exact location of pollen on the pollinator body. Most reciprocal populations and species, where between‐morph pollen transfer is expected to be higher, would show greater integration. Our results confirm this hypothesis.
Mechanisms of angiogenesis: Role of hydrogen sulphide
Authors: Wang Ming‐Jie , Cai Wen‐Jie , Zhu Yi‐Chun 
Published: February 2010

Summary1. Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) has recently been recognized as a gasotransmitter that regulates angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo under physiological and ischaemic conditions.2. In the present review, the mechanisms underlying angiogenesis are summarized briefly and the most recent progress in H2S‐induced angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro is described. The anti‐angiogenic effects of garlic extracts, which may serve as substrates for H2S‐generating enzymes in vivo, are also discussed.3. Hydrogen sulphide increases cell growth, migration and the formation of tube‐like structures in cultured endothelial cells. These effects are dependent on activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase–Akt–survivin signalling pathway. Neovascularization in vivo has also been demonstrated to be promoted in the mouse Matrigel plug assay, as well as in chicken chorioallantoic membranes. In a rat unilateral hindlimb ischaemic model, treatment with sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS), an H2S donor, promotes significant angiogenesis and improves regional blood flow. These effects may be mediated by interactions between upregulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in skeletal muscle cells and VEGF receptor 2 and the downstream signalling element Akt in vascular endothelial cells. However, H2S does not exhibit a pro‐angiogenic effect at a high concentrations/doses.4. Based on the studies reviewed in the present article, we assume that, at physiologically relevant doses/concentrations, H2S/HS− promote angiogenesis at least partly via the VEGF signalling pathway. At high doses, H2S/HS− may act on additional cellular targets to evoke mechanisms that counteract the pro‐angiogenic pathways. More studies need to be performed analysing the general interactions between H2S/HS− and other molecules, including other gasotranmitters, such as nitric oxide and carbon monoxide (CO).
Bifid epiglottis: Syndromic constituent rather than isolated anomaly
Authors: Tsurumi Haruko , Ito Masaki , Ishikura Kenji , Hataya Hiroshi , Ikeda Masahiro , Honda Masataka , Nishimura Gen 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground:  Bifid epiglottis is a congenital malformation defined as a midline‐cleft of the epiglottis, which can be presented as an isolated anomaly as well as a part of malformation complexes. Its common occurrence in Pallister–Hall syndrome (PHS) has recently been attracting special attention. In the embryo, epiglottis, hypothalamus, and digital buds develop synchronously. Some disturbances during this stage may account for the concurrence of bifid epiglottis, hypothalamic hamartoma, and polysyndactyly in PHS. The incidence of bifid epiglottis remains unknown.Methods:  We report here four children with bifid epiglottis out of 472 children who underwent laryngoscopy during the period from January 1995 to December 2004 in our hospital.Results:  All four children presented stridor of variable degrees. One had a partial cleft of the epiglottis associated with only tracheomalacia. The other three had a complete cleft of the epiglottis associated with complex malformations: one had accessory auricles with preauricular sinus, polycystic kidney disease with intrahepatic biliary dilatation, endocardial cushion defect, and postaxial polydactyly; another had hypothalamic hamartoma, Hirschsprung disease, and polydactyly, which warranted a diagnosis of PHS; the other had no other dysmorphic features.Conclusion:  Bifid epiglottis can be presented as a syndromic constituent of congenital malformation syndromes rather than as an isolated anomaly. A high index of suspicion of bifid epiglottis should be raised in children with brachy‐poly‐syndactyly and clinical symptoms of upper airway obstruction.
Efficacy and safety of linezolid in immunocompromised children with cancer
Authors: Moschovi Maria , Trimis Georgios , Tsotra Maria , Chatzi Fotini , Karamolegou Kalliopi , Santou Antina , Tourkantoni Natalia , Chrousos George 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground:  The aim of this study was to determine the safety, tolerance and efficacy of linezolid for the treatment of infections from Gram‐positive bacteria in immunocompromised children with cancer.Methods:  This was a prospective non‐comparative unblinded study in the Hematology/Oncology Unit over a two‐year period, administering linezolid as monotherapy in children with cancer.Results:  Seventeen children received linezolid (30 mg/kgr: 3 i.v. per day). Mean duration of linezolid administration was 12.2 days (range, 6–38 days), while the median age of the evaluable patients was 2.2 years (range, 6 months–11.2 years). Primary diagnosis was acute lymphoblastic leukemia (nine patients), brain tumor (three patients), multi‐organ Langerhans cell histiocytosis (two patients), rhabdomyosarcoma, Burkitt's lymphoma and ovarian tumor (one patient each). All patients were in the midst of chemotherapy cycles. Ten out of 17 children had positive blood cultures (methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, four patients; vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus, three patients; penicillin‐resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, three patients), while seven of the 17 had fever and vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus in stool cultures. All patients were considered clinically cured after the end of the linezolid regimen (100% efficacy). The main adverse events were thrombocytopenia grade 1–3 and anemia grade 2–3 (four and two patients, respectively). Chemotherapy‐induced myelotoxicity (six patients) was not worsened during linezolid therapy. No bleeding episodes were presented. Self‐limited diarrhea grade 1–2 was presented in four patients (mean duration 2 days). The total adverse event rate was 23.5%; however, there was no premature cessation of linezolid in any patient.Conclusions:  Linezolid may be another effective and safe therapy to treat infections from resistant Gram‐positive bacteria in immunocompromised children, even in young ages.
Development and validation of a qPCR‐based method for quantifying Shiga toxin‐encoding and other lambdoid bacteriophages
Authors: Rooks David J. , Yan Yaxian , McDonald James E. , Woodward Martin J. , McCarthy Alan J. , Allison Heather E. 
Published: February 2010

SummaryTo address whether seasonal variability exists among Shiga toxin‐encoding bacteriophage (Stx phage) numbers on a cattle farm, conventional plaque assay was performed on water samples collected over a 17 month period. Distinct seasonal variation in bacteriophage numbers was evident, peaking between June and August. Removal of cattle from the pasture precipitated a reduction in bacteriophage numbers, and during the winter months, no bacteriophage infecting Escherichia coli were detected, a surprising occurrence considering that 1031 tailed‐bacteriophages are estimated to populate the globe. To address this discrepancy a culture‐independent method based on quantitative PCR was developed. Primers targeting the Q gene and stx genes were designed that accurately and discriminately quantified artificial mixed lambdoid bacteriophage populations. Application of these primer sets to water samples possessing no detectable phages by plaque assay, demonstrated that the number of lambdoid bacteriophage ranged from 4.7 × 104 to 6.5 × 106 ml−1, with one in 103 free lambdoid bacteriophages carrying a Shiga toxin operon (stx). Specific molecular biological tools and discriminatory gene targets have enabled virus populations in the natural environment to be enumerated and similar strategies could replace existing propagation‐dependent techniques, which grossly underestimate the abundance of viral entities.
Gene diversity of CYP153A and AlkB alkane hydroxylases in oil‐degrading bacteria isolated from the Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Wang Liping , Wang Wanpeng , Lai Qiliang , Shao Zongze 
Published: February 2010

SummaryAlkane hydroxylases, including the integral‐membrane non‐haem iron monooxygenase (AlkB) and cytochrome P450 CYP153 family, are key enzymes in bacterial alkane oxidation. Although both genes have been detected in a number of bacteria and environments, knowledge about the diversity of these genes in marine alkane‐degrading bacteria is still limited, especially in pelagic areas. In this report, 177 bacterial isolates, comprising 43 genera, were obtained from 18 oil‐degrading consortia enriched from surface seawater samples collected from the Atlantic Ocean. Many isolates were confirmed to be the first oil‐degraders in their affiliated genera including Brachybacterium, Idiomarina, Leifsonia, Martelella, Kordiimonas, Parvibaculum and Tistrella. Using degenerate PCR primers, alkB and CYP153A P450 genes were surveyed in these bacteria. In total, 82 P450 and 52 alkB gene fragments were obtained from 80 of the isolates. These isolates mainly belonged to Alcanivorax, Bacillus, Erythrobacter, Martelella, Parvibaculum and Salinisphaera, some of which were reported, for the first time, to encode alkane hydroxylases. Phylogenetic analysis showed that both genes were quite diverse and formed several clusters, most of which were generated from various Alcanivorax bacteria. Noticeably, some sequences, such as those from the Salinisphaera genus, were grouped into a distantly related novel cluster. Inspection of the linkage between gene and host revealed that alkB and P450 tend to coexist in Alcanivorax and Salinisphaera, while in all isolates of Parvibaculum, only P450 genes were found, but of multiple homologues. Multiple homologues of alkB mostly cooccurred in Alcanivorax isolates. Conversely, distantly related isolates contained similar or even identical sequences. In summary, various oil‐degrading bacteria, which harboured diverse P450 and alkB genes, were found in the surface water of Atlantic Ocean. Our results help to show the diversity of P450 and alkB genes in prokaryotes, and to portray the geographic distribution of oil‐degrading bacteria in marine environments.
Type 2 diabetes in Canada: concentration of risk among most disadvantaged men but inverse social gradient across groups in women
Authors: Dasgupta K. , Khan S. , Ross N. A. 
Published: February 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 522–531 (2010)AbstractAims  To assess sex‐specific associations of educational and income levels with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods  Logistic regression analyses (Canadian Community Health Survey, cross‐sectional) adjusted for ethnicity, immigration, urban/rural, overweight/obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, chronic conditions and regular physician.Results  Compared to women with some post‐secondary education, Type 2 diabetes was more likely in both high school graduates without post‐secondary education [odds ratio (OR) 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.51] and high school non‐completers (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.47–2.04); among men, definitive conclusions in high school graduates without post‐secondary education could not be drawn (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.78–1.12), but Type 2 diabetes was more likely in high school non‐completers (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.08–1.48). Compared to women with the highest income, Type 2 diabetes was three times more likely in the lowest income group (OR 2.90, 95% CI 2.25–3.73), 2.53 times more likely in the low middle income group (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.98–3.24) and 55% more likely in the high middle income group (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.20–2.01). Among men, Type 2 diabetes was approximately 40% more likely in both the lowest (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.10–1.80) and low middle income groups (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.12–1.71); definitive conclusions in the high middle income group could not be drawn (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.87–1.28).Conclusions  In women, Type 2 diabetes increased monotonically with lower educational and income levels; in men, Type 2 diabetes was concentrated in the least educated and least affluent. Our findings support the need for policies and practices that lower diabetes risk among the most disadvantaged women and men and moderately disadvantaged women.
Occurrence of microalbuminuria in young people with Type 1 diabetes: importance of age and diabetes duration
Authors: Alleyn C. R. , Volkening L. K. , Wolfson J. , Rodriguez‐Ventura A. , Wood J. R. , Laffel L. M. B. 
Published: February 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 532–537 (2010)AbstractAims  To determine the occurrence of microalbuminuria in young people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus followed prospectively for 2 years and to relate the presence of persistent elevations in urinary albumin excretion (UAE) to age, diabetes duration, puberty and other factors.Methods  During a 2 year period, random urine samples were obtained from 471 patients, aged 8–18 years (mean ±sd 12.9 ± 2.3 years) with Type 1 diabetes duration 5.6 ± 3.0 years, as part of routine clinical care. Urine albumin and creatinine concentrations were measured in 1310 samples (median, 3 samples per patient) and the albumin:creatinine ratio was calculated (in micrograms albumin per milligram creatinine). Height, weight, blood pressure (BP), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood glucose monitoring frequency and Tanner staging were collected from patients’ medical records.Results  Twenty‐three per cent of patients had one or more sample with elevated UAE (≥20 μg/mg) and 9.3% had persistent elevations (≥2 samples ≥20 μg/mg). Those with and without persistent microalbuminuria did not differ significantly in age, diabetes duration, z–score for body mass index, pubertal status or BP percentile. Ten per cent of children <13 years old and 9% of children ≥13 years old had persistent microalbuminuria. Persistent microalbuminuria was significantly associated with diabetes duration only in older children (duration 0.5–3 years, 4%; 4–6 years, 8%; ≥7 years, 14%; P = 0.02, trend test). Mean HbA1c over the 2 years was 8.7 ± 1.2%. In a logistic regression model, mean HbA1c was the only significant predictor of persistent microalbuminuria (odds ratio 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.0–1.6, P = 0.05).Conclusions  Microalbuminuria in older children with Type 1 diabetes is likely to be clinically significant. In younger children, it may reflect functional, reversible renal changes. Longitudinal analysis is needed to confirm the probable transient nature of microalbuminuria in young patients with Type 1 diabetes.